The common ground of differing faiths
I know sounds impossible at best right? Would have said that myself a few minutes ago. I was reading a few posts on here though, and caught myself thinking you know he has a point. Now before my readers get their hopes up, no that does not mean I'm going to convert. Actually if anything the opposite is true. You see I've long held the belief that every faith that encourages certain things, love, consideration (both for the self and others), and the ability to look past physical worldly things for example, to be atleast partly right. The reason is simple, almost all of those faiths faiths acknolege in some fashion a central creative being/force/essence. Its a small step from realizing that to considering the fact that such an ifinite power could chose to present itself in any number of ways. that opinion has been not only strengthened but deepened as it it were tonight.
True faith, the ability to believe in something, anything, to such a degree that it affects the entirety of our lives is a rare thing in this age. That ability though along with a bit of abstraction is enough to provide a common ground between any faith, and in trun a common ground between any who hold it dear. For example, while I may hear of or see someone dieing young and for no appearent reason and see it as either their purpose in this incranation being fulfilled or the lessons of that life having been learned and the spirit moving on to its next life; someone else may see it as God's plan being simply too deep and to unknowable for mortal men to comprehend.
Yesterday i would have seen the diffrences of perception and left it at that. Now I see something more; both people seeing a higher purpose at work and finding comfort in it. And that, at least in my opinion, is, by far, more important. For while the only way to know the truth about the here after for certain is to get there, we can atleast in the mean time know that there is a hereafter. So long as our beleifs guide us to stive to be better than we are, to leave the world around us better for our passing, then the greater good has been served. And I for one find the concept of an after life where that doesn't matter in the least trully appaling.
ONe last note thats become something of a regular addition to my posts. No offense intended. While I know faith is a prickly subject I could not, not say this. In the end the purpose was simply to illustrate that even something as significant as faith doesn't have to be the root of so many problems. That in fact it can solve a great many (assuming we're willing to listen and then pause and consider).
Good night to all and to all a good night,
TR
P.S. Bonus cool points to the first person, besides morpheus, who can provide the word whos meaning translates (atleast roughly) to pause and consider.
True faith, the ability to believe in something, anything, to such a degree that it affects the entirety of our lives is a rare thing in this age. That ability though along with a bit of abstraction is enough to provide a common ground between any faith, and in trun a common ground between any who hold it dear. For example, while I may hear of or see someone dieing young and for no appearent reason and see it as either their purpose in this incranation being fulfilled or the lessons of that life having been learned and the spirit moving on to its next life; someone else may see it as God's plan being simply too deep and to unknowable for mortal men to comprehend.
Yesterday i would have seen the diffrences of perception and left it at that. Now I see something more; both people seeing a higher purpose at work and finding comfort in it. And that, at least in my opinion, is, by far, more important. For while the only way to know the truth about the here after for certain is to get there, we can atleast in the mean time know that there is a hereafter. So long as our beleifs guide us to stive to be better than we are, to leave the world around us better for our passing, then the greater good has been served. And I for one find the concept of an after life where that doesn't matter in the least trully appaling.
ONe last note thats become something of a regular addition to my posts. No offense intended. While I know faith is a prickly subject I could not, not say this. In the end the purpose was simply to illustrate that even something as significant as faith doesn't have to be the root of so many problems. That in fact it can solve a great many (assuming we're willing to listen and then pause and consider).
Good night to all and to all a good night,
TR
P.S. Bonus cool points to the first person, besides morpheus, who can provide the word whos meaning translates (atleast roughly) to pause and consider.