Paula Johnson:
My 15 year old son Joshua wants to know. How can there be a God when there are so many religions? If there was really a God wouldn't there be just one, right religion???
Mike Ghouse:
Everything was intentionally created (came into being or evolved) to be different and unique and every piece of matter is designed to seek its own balance, that is what sustains and gives continuity.
Humans were not designed to auto-balance, we have the element of freedom to find that balance within ourselves and what surrounds us. Each group, community, nation or tribe finds (figures out) its own balance; social, spiritual, economic, physical, biological, cultural or other.
The creator is all about love and has gifted the humans with an ability to think and choose what is good for them, and has reached out each one of us and has delivered a beautiful formula called religion through the spiritual masters to live in peace with oneself and others.
However, to maintain diversity, a guaranteed element for survival, limitation was built into the ability of the masters to deliver that message. Jesus, Moses, Krishna, Buddha, Mohammad or Shamans… and all of them could reach only so many, but together they have reached every one.
Whether one is a theist or an atheist, humans find their own balance. I would rather say “we have created God in our own image and every image works for the follower.”... Read More
Religion and God are supplements to bring peace (balance) to each individual and what surrounds it; life and matter.
As beauty is in the eyes of the beholder, God is in the heart of the believer. Co-existence (Pluralism) is about accepting every which way one appreciates (worship) his creator and lives a full life without fear. No matter what name you call God, the source of all that has happend is same. All faith systems are beautiful and do what they are intended to do, if followed
The Pluralism Balance, a New equilibrium
Exclusive Claims on God worked when societies were exclusive - the whole nation was Catholic, Protestant, Wiccan, Zoroastrian, Jewish, Muslim, Buddhist.... each group found its own balance. (excesess were made against free will by men who donned religious lables) and some times those men shamelessly determined peace will come through violence.
As the societies evolve, exclusive conclaves of groups by faith, race, ethnicity or culture will fade. Greater acceptance.
15 ears ago, when I began the foundation for pluralism, many in the town did not even know how to pronounce the word, some thought it was a religion. The interfaith movement has brought a greater degree of acceptance of the otherness of other. The subscribers to Pluralism and interfaith are creating their own balance. They are comfortable in beleiving that God can be worshipped any way you want, my way works for me as your works for you, what is the problem? God is diversity
Mike Ghouse is a Dallas based Speaker, Writer, Thinker and a Moderator. He is a frequent guest on talk radio and television networks offering pluralistic perspectives on issues of the day including Pluralism, Interfaith, Islam, Peace, India and Civic issues. His comments, news analysis and opinions are on the Blogs listed at his personal website www.MikeGhouse.net. Mike is a Dallasite for three decades and Carrollton is his home town. He can be reached at MikeGhouse@gmail.com
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