Holy Books

[Opinion]
 

The Book of Mormon, the Tanakh, the Vedas, Upanishads, and Bhagavad Gita, and then there is the  Bible.

These are all holy book of different religions, and what do they have in common?

They are all books written by man and interpreting what god has said. Then those interpretations are then interpretative by another men (And occasionally women.) and then they tell other what they should believe.

It kind of reminds me of the old game “Telephone” where you whisper something to the person next to you and they pass it along to the person next to them, and at the end you see how the message got twisted.

Just look at all the main sects within Protestantism, there are many denominations and some of them are,

Anglican
Baptist
Calvinism
Congregationalists
Evangelical
Holiness churches
Methodist
Lutheran
Pentecostal
Presbyterian/Reformed

 

Some of them preach fire and brimstone while others preach love, understanding, and peace. But both read from the same book!

Islam have a number of sects and their own interpretations of their holy books and also the Jewish religion have many sects some have a hard line interpretations while other sects have a modern interpretations. 

 

Wars have been fought over who is right, and who is wrong.

What I see as the bottom-line is…

Treating other with respect, honesty, and dignity, and care for the environment for the future generations.

 

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I asked Perplexity AI: "I see all the major religions boil down to Treating other with respect, honesty, and dignity, and care for the environment for the future generations."

Answer
Your observation is insightful and touches on a fundamental aspect of many world religions and ethical systems. Indeed, there are common threads of morality and ethics that run through most major religions and philosophical traditions. Here's a more detailed look at your observation:

    Treating others with respect, honesty, and dignity:

•     This principle is often referred to as the "Golden Rule" and appears in various forms across many religions and ethical systems:
•     Christianity: "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you" (Matthew 7:12)
•     Islam: "None of you [truly] believes until he wishes for his brother what he wishes for himself" (An-Nawawi's Forty Hadith 13)
•     Judaism: "What is hateful to you, do not do to your fellow man" (Talmud, Shabbat 31a)
•     Hinduism: "This is the sum of duty: do not do to others what would cause pain if done to you" (Mahabharata 5:1517)
•     Buddhism: "Treat not others in ways that you yourself would find hurtful" (Udana-Varga 5.18)

    Care for the environment for future generations:
    While this concept is more explicitly stated in modern interpretations and teachings, many religions have long emphasized stewardship of the Earth:

•     Christianity: The concept of humans as stewards of God's creation
•     Islam: The principle of khalifah (stewardship) over the Earth
•     Judaism: The concept of Tikkun Olam (repairing the world)
•     Hinduism: The idea of living in harmony with nature
•     Buddhism: Emphasis on compassion for all sentient beings and mindful consumption

These shared values often form the basis for interfaith dialogue and cooperation. However, it's important to note that while these core ethical principles are similar, religions differ significantly in their specific beliefs, practices, and interpretations of these principles.

Moreover, how these principles are applied in practice can vary widely between and within religious traditions. Historical, cultural, and individual factors all play a role in how religious teachings are interpreted and lived out.

While these common ethical foundations are indeed a unifying factor, the diversity in religious beliefs, practices, and interpretations continues to be a significant aspect of human culture and society.

It is not the holy books that is the problem but rather the ones who are interpenetrating the books.

 

[/Opinion]