Existential unity and harmony of all religions

The first of the Scriptures of the world, the Rig Veda, contains the major Declaration of religious harmony: "it is true but sages call it by various names". In general, religious harmony has been the central theme of the eternal religion (Santana Dharma).

Buddhism was an attempt to reform Hinduism when he had become degenerate; but never spread by fire and sword was made much later in the case of Christianity and Islam. Message of Buddha's enlightenment penetrated everywhere in a peaceful manner. Emperor Ashoka, who was a staunch follower of Buddhism, conditioned the edict:

"Who out of respect for their own faith disparages the"

"beliefs of others inflicted the damage on their own".

The spirit of the enabled dynamic universalism Hindus assimilate into his double a number of racing - native and foreign - with its diversity of cultures and customs.

In the first centuries of the Christian era, many Christians came to the India as refugees, but many came later as conquerors, and trying to convert others to their faith, sometimes used force and various unfair means. Many missionaries supported by foreign rulers grossly wrong the hospitality of the India and vilified the Hindus who were tolerant to a fault. The India atmosphere with its religious harmony, however, was responsible for changing the attitude of some of the missionaries and Christian followers.

At the beginning this attitude was one of the wholesale denunciation and destruction wherever possible. The hindu religion was considered "a darkness weltering chaos, terror and uncertainty". It was "the work of Satan". Later, some of the leaders of Christian thought came to celebrate:

"In his (India) literature, philosophy, art and regulated life there is much"

It is useless, much also that is distinctly unhealthy; However, the Treasury of

"knowledge, wisdom and beauty that contain are too precious to be lost".

(Hymns of the saints of Tamil Saivite, Eds, f. Kingsbury & G.F. Phillips.) (Editorial preface).

It was the attitude of the following:

"Other religions are broken lights;" Christianity is complete and perfect light.

Other religions are prepared for the reception of Christianity. Christianity is

compliance. "Christ is the Crown of Hinduism."

A more tolerant and more recent perspective is now gaining ground in terms of different religions as 'legitimate', as well as different types of human language are genuine products of local conditions; but the attitude still maintains a sense of superiority: This reminds one of the comments of the English on the language of the Americans: "Speak the same language as us, but not so". "You speak that our cousins in America call English!" Something of this snobbery still exists among the best of the Christian missionaries in the India, but the spirit of universalism is certainly at work.

This is partly true also of Muslims who arrived as conquerors and finally settled on Earth. Despite occasional outbursts of fanaticism, has lowered a little militant faith of Islam, also. Under his influence of universalism, the Mughal Emperor Akbar tried to lay the foundations for a new, comprehensive and eclectic religion. He stated:

"Each person according to his condition gives the Supreme being"

"a name, but in reality to name the unknowable is vain."

His son Jehangir argued that the science of Vedanta is the science of Sufism or mysticism of Islam. Dara Shuko, grandson of Jehangir, recognized the universal spirit of Islam and Hinduism and was instrumental in having the Upanishads translated into Persian. This later resulted in a jargon of latin, Greek and Persian and drew the admiration of the German philosopher Schopenhauer, who declared:

"This incomparable book awakens the spirit to the depths of the soul."

It has been the solace of my life; "it will be the solace of my death."

(Cited by Prof. Max Müller). (The six systems of philosophy India).

Muslim fanatics destroyed many Buddhist and Hindu temples and converted people by force, but even so, the Hindus, in general, continued to allow them and other perfect freedom of worship. In this sense that Abdul Razak, the Persian Muslim Ambassador to the hindu Court in Calicut, India South, wrote in the mid-15th century, is very revealing:

"The (Calicut) people are infidels;" therefore I consider myself

be in an enemy country, as the Mohammedan considered each one to

It has not received the Koran. However, I recognize that I meet with perfect tolerance

and please even; "We have two mosques and are allowed to pray in public."

(Quoted by S. Radhakrishnan, Eastern and Western religions thought.)

Conditioned minds with preconceived notions of what religion is or should be may find it difficult to understand the hindu attitude that spiritualism is something else, in fact, infinitely more, than that of tolerance. It is the acceptance of all religions as true, the fact that God can and must be made through roads as many as possible, that is its true essence. This echo of Sanatana Dharma (eternal religion), which covers the voices of all religions - in his own universality and arrogance - has a lasting attraction for all of us.

Some kindly reader can leave a comment or "rating" of this article. Thank you.

Bhaskar Banerjee is deeply involved in the quest to unravel the source of force contained within all of us. Its diverse inspiration awareness programmes, talks, Exchange articles, newsletters, have helped many to take a look into the joy of his being. Currently associated with a Web site member 24-7 for products in high demand, you want to click below to have a look that could be of interest and value to you.

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Should religions taking responsibility for the wars of religion?

Religions are now again in the news. This time, religions are accused for the wars and conflicts in the world. Almost every day, there is some blast in some part of the world that is caused by so called Religious Fundamentalists and the victims are none other than their own brothers and sisters. As a result religions, particularly Islam, is accused to be the inspiration can cause of the terrorist attacks and violence that has gripped the world in last one decade as most people involved in the violence happens to be Muslims, the followers of Islam.

However, the truth is only partly revealed by terming one religion as violent while calling other religions as peaceful. It is only few decades ago that Christians were fighting against each other in the two World Wars that killed almost 65 millions of people, mostly Christian and resulted of the execution of more than 7 millions Jews including children just because they belonged to a particular religion. It is impossible to imagine how the followers of Christ, the God of love, can engage in such brutalities against each other. A German Philosopher, Arthur Schopenhauer has said sarcastically in 18th century

"The fruits of Christianity were religious wars, butcheries, crusades, inquisitions, extermination of the natives of America and the introduction of African slaves in their place"

It is easy to blame religion for the conflict, more so if the people committing violence do not belong to your religion. However, one dare to look in their own religion, they are bound to find out that their own religion had often been used and can be used for creating conflict and wars. The Biblical concept of "an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, a hand for a hand, a foot for a foot" appears in Bible (Exodus 21:22-27) had been used not only by Jews but also by the Christians. Gita, the Holiest book for Hindus, teaches the concept of eternity of Soul and the need for war in the following words of Lord Krishna

Considering your specific duty as a warrior, you should know that there is no better engagement for you than fighting on religious principles; and so there is no need for hesitation. O Partha, happy are the warrior to whom such fighting opportunities come unsought, opening for them the doors of the heavenly planets. (Gita 2:31-32)

The fact is that religions had always been used for wars.

Yet how correct it would be to blame a religion for the wars?

What's Wrong with Religion

Let us first understand what we mean by religion? Religions are based on the Scriptures which contains the "revealed knowledge" of the Prophets or saints. The knowledge of the scriptures contains certain truths that are believed by the followers of the religion. As per one definition

"A religion is a system of human thought which usually includes a set of narratives, symbols, beliefs and practices that give meaning to the practitioner's experiences of life through reference to a higher power, deity or deities, or ultimate truth".

However, most people of any religion have never read their scriptures and never known these "revealed truths". They consider themselves as part of the religion simply because they were born from the parents following their religion. Therefore, while they call themselves religious or "theist", they hardly understand anything of their religion. They are often guided by their Priests, Monks and Imams to know their religions. These people provide the people only "little knowledge' which suits their vested interest and as always "a little knowledge is a dangerous thing" and that danger is often manifested in the form of wars.

Not only religion, but every single piece of knowledge had been used constructively and destructively by human beings. The knowledge of relativity and mass-energy-equivalence discovered by Albert Einstein was not only responsible for the birth of "Modern Physics" and the modern development in the field of electronics but also responsible for the development of the nuclear bomb that killed millions of people in Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Can we call Einstein or the theory of relativity responsible for the nuclear weapon or the wars? Why should we not give Einstein the credit for the development of the modern science and technology and development of nuclear energy for the world?

Every single invention had been misused by the human race. "Dynamites" was not only used for breaking mountains to make roads but also used for making bombs that killed millions. Internet is not only being used for dissemination and communication of knowledge but also for pornography and a number of cyber crimes. The televisions and radios had been used not only for entertainments but also for propaganda.

Knowledge per-se is without any colour or attribute but people use the knowledge for pursuance of their own objective. The reveled knowledge of the scriptures is no exception.

Knowledge of God is as Immense as the Knowledge of Universe

The essence of all religion is spirituality i.e. a belief on a nonmaterial reality in this world that lies beyond the senses. This "Spirit" which permeates all creations of this universe is often called God. We know God as we too are part of God as God resides in all creations including each one of us. Thus the knowledge of God is "inherent" and as natural as the knowledge of the "self". It is for this reason that Hinduism does not distinguish between "Atman" (Soul) and Paramatman (God or Universal Soul) as there is no difference between a drop of ocean and ocean itself.

Thus the knowledge of God is extremely mysterious as one has to go "inside" the self to know God while all our sense organs only help us in seeing the outside world. Therefore, only with intuition and "Self-Enlightenment" one can know God.

There is no doubt that most of us are ignorant about God just like even the best scientists knows only a little about the universe. Even the father of science , Sir Isaac Newton admitted,

I do not know what I may appear to the world; but to myself I seem to have been only like a boy playing on the seashore, and diverting myself in now and then finding of a smoother pebble or a prettier shell than ordinary, whilst the great ocean of truth lay all undiscovered before me.

The same is true with our knowledge of God or the nonmaterial reality of the universe. The scriptures provide immense knowledge about the spiritual world, yet there is lot to be known and discovered by personal effort.

Religion in Theory

Religions had been used by people to achieve their political goals. They ignore all aspects of the religions which are beneficent to the humanity and use only such "words" of the religion that suits them to sow the seeds of hatred in the world and cause conflict and wars. How else a Christian can ignore these sermons of Christ and remember only "eye for eye",

"You have heard that it was said, 'Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.' But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. (Matthew 5:38-40)

The word "Islam" itself means "Submission to God." The Arabic word "Islam" means the submission or surrender of one's will to the will of the only true god worthy of worship, "Allah" (known as God "the Father" in Christianity). Anyone who does indeed submit to the will of Allah as required by Islam is termed a "Muslim," Islam teaches peace like any other religion as clearly stated in Quoran,

"And the servants of the Beneficent God are they who walk on the earth in humbleness, and when the ignorant address them, they say: Peace." (Quran 25.63 )

Religion in Practice

A truly religious person is one who follows the scripture or the words of God rather than "knows" the words of scripture by heart. A man becomes religious only if he follows the path shown in the scriptures. Thus to become Christian, it is needed to follow Christ and be become like Him. Yet people have found a way to defy everything that Christ said and yet claim that they are Christian.

In the same way, a true Muslim is one who follows the path shown by Prophet Mohammad. Still people call themselves Muslims despite of consuming alcohol and other intoxicants, accumulating wealth and following the path of violence forbidden in Islam.

Hinduism too pays lot of value on the practice and believes the principle of "Karma" which alone is considered virtuous in men. Yet many people engage in evil karma, corruption, adultery and yet call themselves Hindus.

Religion is the Knowledge of God

There seems to be nothing wrong with any religion nor does any religion preach violence and hatred. Religions are nothing but a practice and ritual to know and realize the non-material reality of the world which we call God. It is only by prayers, humbleness, service, love that we can realize God. Yet, the true knowledge of God requires deep introspection and search within to develop the intuitive eyes that alone can help a man know God. Without self-realization, the knowledge of God is not only incomplete but also wrong as God is beyond any description of words. There are many people who are clever to use such ignorant people to realize their political and material goals.

Life is a mystery which can not be explained either by science or by scriptures. Truth has a body and a soul which we call science and religion. Contrary to popular perception, they are not opposed to each other but complement each other like body and soul. In fact, they can not exist without each other.

I am the founding member of The Science of Soul Foundation in India which works for the synthesis of the diverse disciplines of knowledge like science, religion, philosophy and arts. The website of the foundation is http://www.scienceofsoul.com.

I am working for the creation of a synthesis between science and religion through my articles. I believe that everyone can understand this Truth by the use of intuition and reason. You can contact me at aksinghirs [a] yahoo.com if you wish to know more about the mystery which we call life.

Veils of warriors of God that our religions command genocide

A woman goes to her doctor for a mammogram. The test revealed a cancerous tumor, but your doctor decides not to tell. Two weeks 71 year old tenor Luciano Pavorotti was recording an album of religious songs when he went to the hospital with fever. The tests revealed a cancerous tumor in his pancreas. What happens if their doctors had decided that he would not have been able to tolerate the news? How can we tolerate the news diluted for us by major media such as CNN and warriors of Christiane Amanpour Dios? The world is skis toward the extinction of life on Earth forever in there 3 nuclear war driven by our world religions that explicitly prohibit genocide of peace and command and reward of world with great rewards for mass murder in the world to come, but their main means of communication do not trust you to know this.

How to solve a problem when you don't know what is the problem? How to solve a problem like Maria? Does the mass media for 6 years after 9/11 continue to hide the fact that the Qur'an and Hadith clearly and explicitly command genocide of every Christian, Jewish and Muslim not on Earth to paradise eternal in heaven with Mount Sinai Dios, crystalline streams, 72 virgins for martyr and believer, endless wine without side effects and 80,000 civil servants by martyr and believer? Why not media trust that they know this? How Luciano Pavorotti have an surgery to remove a cancerous tumor in his pancreas when he doesn't know that he is there?

Are you afraid to spill the beans in the religions of the world for fear of reprisals the mainstream media? Is media ownership by religious people who are covering up the hatred in their Bibles? As Marvin Gaye asked him, "what is happening?" why CNN and Christiane Amanpour switched 8 months preparing Warriors of God to explain the root of religious conflict which they engulfing the world and tell us that Islamic violence is compromised only by a small percentage of Muslims who have a wild interpreation of Islam? The Qur'an says, "make war to Christians and Jews." Do battle with them. Kill the infidels, non-Muslims anywhere that you will find them. They besiege them and sit to wait for them with all kinds of ambush. Believers will be rewarded with eternal paradise in heaven with Dios of Mount Sinai, crystal clear Springs, trees covered with fruits, extended in the shade, flowing waters, 72 virgins and 80,000 civil servants. Muslims must not suffer winds pestilential and boiling water and live in a hot black smoke. (Koran, Sura, Chapter 9: 5, 29-30, chapter 56 and Hadith).

Is that mass media feared that if the Muslims knew what their religion had commanded of them as they would immediately exhausted and sacrifice to all non-Muslims? It is media feared that if Christians knew what Islam it was Christians would be immediately run out and kill every Muslim? To hide the truth is like saying that only a small percentage of golfers with an interpretation of the rules of the wild golf are penalized for hitting his ball in a water hazard. Islam prohibits the peace and the commands of genocide with great eternal rewards of mass murder and attempted murder suicide in this life. six years after 9/11 should be common in one class of each grade knowledge.

The truth shall set free you if you know the truth and take action to correct the problem. Christianity began 2,000 years ago and since then has spread by the sword in the Crusades, the Inquisition of 300 years, the pogroms and resulted in the Holocaust, "The war against the Jews". The New Testament says that when Jesucristo returns he will order the Christian people to throw all non-Christian men, women and children from 4 billion into the fire to burn alive because they are all devils. (Matthew 13: 36-43). CNN Christiane Amanpour in Warriors of God spent two hours discussing Christian Warriors of God and never mentioned the countless passages of the Christian Bible in command of the slaughter of non-believers. They instead spent two hours talking about abortion and gay marriage.

3 years George Bush publicly announced a crusade. The Crusades were 1,000 years ago, when the Pope marched his army of Christian throughout Europe massacred every Jew on his way to reclaim the Holy Land and placed in Muslim blood of knee. Even George Bush has conquered Muslim Afghanistan and Iraq and is now poised to attack Iran with weapons of mass destruction. George Bush expected to be gathered in Jeruslaem and congratulated by Jesus Christ to conquer the world for Christianity and then entranced in the eternal with Mount Sinai Dios paradise because he read this in his Bible.

Psalm 2 Old Testament Judaism describes how the Messiah have a rod of iron and smash every Jew not as a vessel of clay potter and conquer the world for the Jewish people. When Christianity adopted the old testament changed the Messiah to kill all the pagans, Christians not and conquer the world to Christianity. This is called counterfeiting. When Islam adopted the old testament changed for the Messiah will kill every non-Muslim infidel and conquer the world for Islam. It's a forgery of a forgery.

This is only the tip of the iceberg. On its web page 10 The Temple of Love aka the religion of world peace reveals the cause and the solution (according to the Mount Sinai Dios, Dios aka father, Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit, Alá, Yehovah, Elohim, Hashem and his common sense) for conflict world wide religious which leads us now everyone in hell of worldwide nuclear world war 3 and the extinction of life on Earth forever in its nuclear winter of sequels then ultraviolent summer, Mount Sinai Dios explained through every single biblical Prophet of Judaism, Christianity and Islam, particularly Jesus Christ, the expected Messiah born Jewish Christianity and Islam. Although the Temple of love is widely known on the internet, 2 years after its Foundation, the mainstream media has never mentioned. If they will not tell you the problem, then how can expect to show the solution?

We we have become too technologically advanced for the war. Each nuclear scientist knows that nuclear war 3 will have zero survivors. To avoid imminent nuclear world war 3, the Temple of love website must immediately be made compulsory reading and its link should be placed in each classroom, main newspaper, television station, radio station, blog, myspace, facebook and Web site on Earth. It's how you can help save the world. Prevented is prevented. Let's not go down like ostriches with your head buried in the sand. God's solution to their problems is simple. Go what solution of God is now while we still have time to read. Incidentally, Luciano Pavorotti is doing well two weeks before his doctors removed a cancerous tumor from his pancreas. Now follow the command of our Dios of Mount Sinai and eliminate the cancer of hatred of our religions. Go to see how. It is easy once you see.

Karen fish is a writer who lives in Los Angeles California. The Temple of love http://www.thetempleoflove.com

The Parable of the Parliament of the World's Religions

In 1893 an interfaith meeting was held in Chicago called the World's Parliament of Religions. Swami Vivekananda said, "Sisters and brothers of America. Sectariansm, bigotry, and its horrible descendant religious fanaticism have long possessed this beautiful Earth. They have filled this Earth with violence, drenched it often with human blood, destroyed civilization and sent whole nations to despair. Had it not been for these horrible demons human society would be far more advanced than it is now."

In 1993 the centennial Parliament of the World's Religions was held and 8,000 interfaith people from all over the world came to Chicago to discuss how the world religions could work together in peace and harmony. Further conventions were held in 1999 in Cape Town South Africa and in 2004 in Barcelona, Spain. The event, held every five years, is coming to Melbourne, Australia next week from Dec.3 - Dec.9 2,009. There will be speakers and programs and workshops and singing and 10,000 participants. Check the official website for the Parliament of the World's Religions. You can register online until Nov. 29 and then you can register in person in Melbourne.

Despite these meetings we find ourselves today in the middle of a world wide "War on Terror" aka "The Christian Crusade Against Islam", publicly declared by President George W. Bush after 9/11. Hatred + Hunger + Nuclear Bombs = Extinction. The only way to get a different total is to change the terms of the equation.

Two years ago Jordan's Prince Ghazi created a website called "A Common Word" 138 Muslim Scholars and political and religious leaders signed a letter to the world Christian leaders called "A Common Word Between You and Us, Love." What followed was a series of interfaith meetings involving Pope Benedict XVI, the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Chief Rabbi of Israel, and world Muslim Leaders, King Abdullah of Jordan and King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia. The idea was to bring peace among Christians, Muslims and Jews.

The Earth is 5 billion years old. Judaism was invented 4,000 years ago, Christianity 2,000 years ago and Islam 1,400 years ago. Since then we have seen the Christian Crusades, the 300 year Christian Inquisition, the War Against the Jews aka The Holocaust, 4 Muslim Empires and Caliphates, and now we sit on the brink of Armageddon as the 3 children of God of Mount Sinai aka God the Father, Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit, Allah, Yehovah, Elohim all possess nuclear bombs and bibles commanding them to kill all non group members in return for entrance into Heaven.

In Oct. 2009 Jordan's Prince Ghazi wrote a two year summary of his interfaith efforts. Prince Ghazi writes that despite some positive steps, the results so far have been disheartening. He says that Muslims and Christians still hate each other with a deep rooted hatred. Today pilgrims at the Hajj are walking around a stone idol in Mecca 7 times chanting "Death to America and Death to Israel." Prince Ghazi notes that the situations in Afghanistan and Pakistan are quickly deteriorating. Prince Ghazi writes, "In short, we are still a long way away from where we could and should be. We must do more. It is now time for a common deed."

If your lawn has weeds, and you mow your lawn, the weeds will return. Unless you get down on your knees with your $2 weeder and take the weeds out by the roots, the weeds will return. At Madonna's concert a Jew, a Christian and a Muslim hug. This is a short form version of the photo op called the Parliament of the World's Religions to be held next week in Melbourne, Australia.

Once upon a time in the late 1800's a game was invented by a man named Sheldon Hockey called ice hockey. The governing body is the 66 nation International Ice Hockey Federation. In hockey two teams skate around and use their hockey sticks to shoot the puck into the net. Helmets are not allowed. The rules command the players to use their hockey sticks to spear their opponents in the eyes. The team with the last player standing with at least one eye is declared the winner.

Every five years the nations meet to discuss how their game can be played without anyone losing their eyes. 10,000 hockey enthusiasts come from all over the world to find the solution. There are world famous speakers and workshops and sing alongs but the players continue to lose their eyeballs. At the 2004 Parliament of the World's Religions Deepak Chopra, brother of famed golfer Daniel Chopra said, "Religions are divisive; religions must evolve; a new tradition must evolve."

Jesus Christ the Jewish born Rabbi and Messiah of Christianity and Islam said that when he returned to save the world, he would command his Angels to bring the 3 billion Christians, Muslims and Jews and everyone else, and the 2 tablets carved in stone by God of Mount Sinai Himself into the new Temple of Love of God of Mount Sinai and Unite, and gather up the tares, the poisonous weeds, the Old Testaments, the New Testaments and the Korans, with their countless commands to kill all non group members and throw them into the fire. (Matt. 13:24-43).

Unfortuantely this will not happen. The people will continue to spear each other's eyes out to get into Heaven, and attend interfaith peace conferences like the Parliament of the World's Religions, listen to speakers, sing songs and promise to meet again in 5 years. Unfortunately we will not be here in 5 years because we are about to follow the rules in our bibles and nuke all life on earth into the dirt to get into Heaven. Our religious leaders, our blind guides have us convinced that in order to bring about the advent of the Messiah and save the world we must first nuke all life on Earth into the dirt in the Apocalypse, Nuclear World War III.

Jesus Christ said, "A house divided against itself cannot stand." This means that the people of Earth must unite. On the website of the Parliament of the World's Religions "About Us" "Our Mission" "Our Approach" they say "The Council for a Parliament of the World's Religions seeks to promote interreligious harmony, rather than unity. The problem with seeking unity among religions is the risk of loss of the unique and precious character of each individual religious and spiritual tradition." No eye may be spared.

Karen Fish is a writer currently living in Los Angeles California.
The Temple of Love http://www.thetempleoflove.com/

Differences among religions after Post 9/11

Since the September 9/11 event, everything happens so fast that you can simply look at them to harassment. The war of Afghanistan, war of Iraq, attacks in Pakistan, London and Madrid. Everything seems devastating when I look. Each new day brings news of new murders and attacks.

These events are also giving another matter of concern to us, in other words, the differences between Islam and other religions, the gap between the Western societies and Eastern. These gaps are increasing and increasing day by day. I am afraid that this is loss of long term we are going to have in the near future. So it is a need of the time overcoming the shadows that are occupying us and create only the differences. We must realize that no religion or nation is going to kill each other. Each religion originated basically for the improvement of human beings. No religion requires to annihilate other human beings on the face of the Earth. We have to live on this earth and if they are not there; the end could be devastating in the future.

In this sense one of the most important factors is to understand the nature and problems of each side. We need issues the most important along with poverty and illiteracy, because they are two big sources of terrorism. We have to realize that every human being has the right to live in freedom and basic necessary. This can be achieved by offering only a normal co of State around the world.

Although it seems like a dream to get multiple world now, but I can see few growing Nations which may puts the world again in a stable note. We really do have that give each nation has two scenarios of its political face fold, one is the international and other national issues. We need only work with international face and leave it to resolve its internal affairs. Because the Government is the will of the people of that nation for which no nation has the right to put his thoughts on them. We must therefore must set limits and rules to protect the integrity of the Nations.

I must say that this is the time to think about this because if the gaps are beginning of enlargement, we have not ceased to fill again.
The prosperity of the world depends on the integration of each community in one. We can not combine if we cannot have a broad and open mind to others. We must realize this and if we do, then we can expect that world is becoming peace again.

The author is working as Manager of TI for Aarajura limited (http://www.edinburghaccommodation.biz) and I really appreciate this dialogue here that it compels me to write this article.

I am working as an IT administrator in limited Aarajura.

(http://www.aarajura.co.uk) (http://www.edinburghaccommodation.biz)

All Religions of This World Have Failed Pt 2

"Religion is not interested in the transformation of human beings. Religion is show. Religion is song. Religion is dance and a false worship. Religion is ritual, but religion is not the cultivation of a human being, that that human can refl etc God in our actions, in our character, in the way we deal with our children, and our wives and our community and our world. We have failed."(The Hon. Louis Farrakhan 10-17-2004)

In this article we will review some of the histories of the people of the book(Ahl Al-Kitab).

As Muslims we are taught to believe in all the prophets of the past and their revealed word(scripture). We are further taught not to make any distinction between them.

"Say: We believe in Allah and (in) that which has been revealed to us, and (in) that which was revealed to Abraham, and Ishmael and Isaac and Jacob and the tribes, and (in) that which was given to Moses and Jesus, and (in) that which was given to the prophets from their Lord, we do not make any distinction between any of them and to Him do we submit." (HQ 2: 136)

"The Messenger believes in what has been revealed to him from his Lord, and (so do) the believers. They all believe in Allah and His angels and His Books and His messengers. We make no difference between any of His messengers." (HQ 2: 285)

The Holy Qur'an teaches us that throughout the ages the merciful ALLAH has raised prophets and messengers when humanity has went off the path of divine favor.

We are taught that every time the prophet left or died the people fell down into their former behavior, while still claiming to be followers of their prophet and his message. So, after the people went back from whence they were called Almighty God raised up another prophet to correct them, but usually the people would reject the new prophet in favor of the former prophet, while not recognizing that the new prophet only bears witness to the former and desires to take you to the next level.

It is similar to how we advance in school. When we master our lessons and graduate to the next grade we don't go back and say our last teacher was wrong and the new teacher is right or reject the next grade, because we learned much in the last grade.

Moses and the Children of Israel

"O Children of Israel, call to mind My favor which I bestowed on you and that I made you excel the nations." (HQ 2: 122)

The children of Israel under the leadership of Moses, according to the Holy Qur'an, were brought out of a terrible circumstance in Egypt by Moses(Peace be upon him) and were being prepared by God to lead the nations in righteous conduct. However, they ultimately didn't fulfill their part of the covenant with God as the following words show: "And when We made a covenant with the Children of Israel: You shall serve none but Allah. And do good to (your) parents, and to the near of kin and to orphans and the needy, and speak good (words) to (all) men, and keep up prayer and pay the poor-rate. Then you turned back except a few of you, and you are averse." (HQ 2:83)

ALLAH kept sending prophets to warn, guide and renew the followers of Moses to the purity of his teachings. Yet, some prophets were killed, rejected or their teachings distorted by the scholars afterwards.

Finally, The Qur'an teaches(2:87) ALLAH took his favor away from the children of Israel and prepared another prophet to teach another community.

Jesus and the Christians

"And with those who say, We are Christians, We made a covenant, but they neglected a portion of that whereof they were reminded." (5:14)

Next we come to the history of the Christian community and their response to their prophet Jesus. (I am fully aware that the Christian belief is that Jesus was not a mere prophet and is God or the son of God, however I am not taking up that subject for the purpose of this article.) Jesus(Peace be upon him) came in the tradition of the prophets sent before him. He came to remind the Children of Israel of the supremacy of Almighty God, correct the errors that crept into the teachings of Moses and take them a step further in the revelation of the wisdom of God.

After the death of Jesus and his message going through Rome many changes would take place which would interpret his message quite differently that what he taught when he was among us. History teaches us that much of the doctrines that have been accepted as Christianity was formulated after the death of Jesus and was made official by vote at the Nicene Council in 325 AD.

After the emperor Constantine "accepted" Christianity he had a vision of the cross and Latin words translated which meant "With this sign we conquer". Jesus said, "This people honors me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me." (Mark 7:6)

We see in history of the bloodshed committed by the European Christians against the people of the earth including the Native Americans and the Africans. Jesus didn't teach the people to be bigoted towards others, enslave them or kill others that are different.

I am not trying to pick on those who are Jews or Christians and proclaim the Muslims to be some holy righteous people, because as we will see in the next section the Muslims followed the way of those before them step by step as Prophet Muhammad prophesied.

As was seen in the history of Moses, ALLAH took his favor away from those who call themselves followers of Jesus and re-revealed his message 600 years later to Muhammad ibn Abdullah and in the land of Arabia to make them a nation of obedience to God and a example to others.

Muhammad and the Muslims

"And thus We have made you an exalted nation that you may be the bearers of witness to the people and (that) the Messenger may be a bearer of witness to you." (HQ 2:143)

In the year 610 at the age of 40 Muhammad(Peace be upon him) began to receive revelations which would later be compiled as a book called Al-Qur'an. He found his people in a low degraded state and over a 23 year ministry he transformed his people, united them into a nation and made them an example for the world. The Muslim world at that time was know for leading a sleeping humanity to the exploration of the sciences, medicine, mathematics and knowledge.

Soon after the death of the Prophet the Muslims would face circumstances that would divide them and lead them off the path of divine favor. For over 1400 years the Muslims have been arguing over who had the rights to "successor ship" to Prophet Muhammad. I put successor ship in quotes, because no one truly succeeds a prophet but another prophet raised by God. However, the Muslim community needed to fill a leadership void created by the death of Muhammad.

There was disagreement between who should be the leader of the Muslim Ummah(community). Some agreed with the selections of Abu Bakr, Umar ibn Khataab and Uthman ibn Affan. However, there was another group who believed that Ali ibn Abu Talib, the prophet's relative and son in law, was the fittest person for the job. I will not be debating the arguments of both sides in this brief writing. To make a long story short, there were major disagreements which led to bloodshed and war among Muslim brothers and sisters, which have lasted till this day unfortunately. Two major sects of Islam(Sunni and Shiite) were created in the aftermath of the division and bloodshed.

The Prophet Muhammad warned the Muslims against killing each other in the following words:

"Once the sword is unsheathed among my followers, it will not be sheathed until the Last Day."

The Muslim world is currently manifesting major deviation from the path of Prophet Muhammad and his Sunnah. The followers of Muhammad have joined the followers of Jesus and Moses in deviation from the path of Almighty God ALLAH and divine favor.

The Holy Qur'an reminds Muslims, Christians and Jews of the ignorance of their division from each other.

"And surely this your community is one community, and I am your Lord, so keep your duty to Me. But they became divided into sects, each party rejoicing in that which was with them. So leave them in their ignorance till a time." (HQ 23:52-54)

Thank you for reading these few words.

Copyright2009 Mustafaa Muhammad

Mustafaa Muhammad is an "African American" who is a follower of the Islamic faith. Through independent religious studies developed an ecumenical view of the world's religions and the people of God. And while he is devoted to Islam as his faith he is at home in the Church (or other religious institutions) as he is in the Mosque.

He has been featured on the Radio, Newspapers, public speaking events and at Mosques/Churches telling his story and offering his understanding of Almighty God's plan for salvation.

Mustafaa is involved in community activity. He believes that our faith must inspire us to greater service to humanity or we may be making a mockery of the purpose of faith. Contact him @ http://mywalkwithfarrakhan.com

Books for the introduction of young children to the religions of the world

In our increasingly multicultural world, many of us are interested in presenting our children to religions other than our own. And what better way to do that through books? The following is a list of books for the introduction of children ages 3-9 religions other than their own. They include two books for each of the five major religions of the world, Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism and Christianity. There are a few mentions related to other traditions or prepared for older children, threw the end.

Buddhism

Becoming Buddha: the story of Siddhartha, Whitney Stewart - this is an introduction to the main themes of Buddhism through a narrative of the history of the life of the Buddha. One of the few offers of Buddhists targeting children this young, interesting illustration and fascinating history kept the interest of young children.

Peaceful piggy meditation, by Kerry Lee Maclean - this book introduces children to the meditation by portray as a tool that can be used to help them deal with difficult everyday situations more often face - had been ridiculed by his brothers, falling into the school, or served a dinner cannot be sustained.

Hinduism

A lamp of illumination: a history of Diwali by Jonny Zucker - geared for the younger end of this range of age, this book presents the Hindu festival of Diwali walking through the holding of a family of the day. It is part of the time series of Festival, a collection of books introduction of all the great religions holiday.

The little book of Hindu deities: the goddess of wealth on the sacred cow, by Sanjay Patel - this is not a book for children, but children love. The author is an animator with Pixar Studios and has pointed out the hip, colorful drawings of all the major Hindu gods, along with a brief description. An entertaining way for anyone of any age to learn about the Hindu pantheon.

Islam

Ramadan by Suhaib Hamid Ghazi - this book follows a young man named Hakeem through major rites of Ramadan, including fasting, prayer, and visits to the mosque. The illustrations are exquisite, capture of eyes and minds of children.

Salam: Story of an American Muslim boy, by Tricia Brown - a profile of a real-life American Muslim boy and his family, represented through simple text and pictures. This book presents the five pillars of Islam and cultural aspects of Islam as the hijab (veil of women) in an accessible way, as well as broaching the difficult issue of religious intolerance.

Judaism

What makes someone a Jew? by Lauren Seidman - rhyme text and color photographs, this book introduces children to the diversity of the Jews of the world. Focused on the shared principles of love and goodness, this book focuses more on a sense of inclusion than religious theology, but presents a powerful multicultural picture of modern Judaism.

Treasure of family of Beni for Jewish holidays, by Jane Breskin Zalben - for an introduction more informative but entertaining in early Judaism, try this collection of five stories about bear Beni and his family trials and tribulations while celebrating various Jewish holidays. These stories combine educational information and good storytelling of a rare form of religious books for children.

Christianity

First Christmas Humphrey, by Carol Heyer - this adorable version of the story of the Nativity is told from the perspective of Humphrey, a grumpy camel witnessing the event. Humphrey starts to appreciate the value of what is involved in, put aside their own grievances and learns the true meaning of Christmas - selfless giving and love.

The history of Easter, by Brian Wildsmith - the history of Easter is not easy to relay to children, with betrayal, suffering and prominent death. This beautifully illustrated version does justice, focusing on the deep meaning of each event without condensation on the details too. As in the previous book, an animal features prominently, this time the donkey Jesus riding in Jerusalem.

Honorable mentions

These books are designed for slightly older children, or try to religions other than those covered above.

One world, many religions: the ways we worship, by Mary Pope Osborne - study of religions around the world from perspectives of children, aimed for 9-12 years.

Religion (DK Eyewitness Series), by Myrtle Langley - another book of study for children aged 9-12, in the series of education known DK Eyewitness.

Meet Jesus: the life and teachings of a master loved, by Lynn Tuttle Gurney - accessible and universalist telling the life story of Jesus, suitable for Christian and non-Christian Liberals.

Moon walk by Anika Stafford - Aisha introduction to pagan festivals and celebrations throughout the year.

Short Zen, by Jon Muth - introduction to the Zen principles by a giant panda, aimed at children 9-12, but the images pulled my four-year-old in as well.

The Prince of elephant: the story of Ganesh, by Amy Novesky - beautifully illustrated story of Ganesh, the Hindu God.

Lisa Erickson is a MOM, teacher of meditation and writer. Visit his blog http://www.MommyMystic.wordpress.com for reviews of spiritual books and information on meditation and spirituality.

3 Religions - 2 Gods - 1 Truth

The three main monotheistic religions of Islam, Judaism and Christianity are much as members of the Government, according to which neither side wants to settle differences with each other. Each religion asserts worships the one true God, but it is a more controversial issue, "they worship the same God?" It will given that the leaders of these three religions have never had any lasting dialogue to try to resolve their differences, let's take a look at some of the issues that could arise that debate never take place.

The three religions claim kinship with a man named Abraham. According to the Jewish Torah, was God's promise to Abraham around the year 1950 BC, who was elected to become the father of the nation of Israel. Later, Dios chose a name Moses to lead the Jewish people from slavery in Egypt towards the promised land (Israel). Note, Abraham was not the founder of the religion of Judaism, but through the nation of Israel was established and inhabited by a people called Jews. Another interesting note here is that the Holy Book of Judaism is also contained within the Christian Bible's Old Testament.

In the same period of 1950 BC, Abraham had a son of the servant of his wife. However, the name of Abraham was Abram at the time of the birth of the child, whose name was Ishmael. Through the promise of God to Ishmael, they developed the Arab Nations. These Arab Nations are not the religion of Islam, but a town called the Arabs living in Arab Nations. A man named Mohammad founded Islam in 622 ad. Apparently, Mohammad received a series of posts by the Angel Gabriel. Their messages of establish that Abraham, Moses, Jesus and other prophets and messengers of the Bible were only precursors of the Prophet Mohammad. Muslims believe that Mohammad was the last Prophet of God. Most Arabs adopted the Islamic religion mainly through their culture. The Qur'an is the Holy Book of the Muslims and while Islam considers the corrupted Bible, considered Bible prophets as their own.

Nearly 2000 years after Abraham, a man named Jesus founded Christianity. The followers of Jesus who is God in the flesh due to his birth, many miracles and statements made by claiming equality with God. Jesus came from heaven to Earth to save man from death caused by sin and give eternal life. Christians believe in three manifestations of God through a concept called the Trinity. The Trinidad Express to God as the father, his son Jesus, and the Holy Spirit of God and these three are one. The Jewish Old Testament and the new testament of Christianity contains the Christian holy book called the Bible. Christians believe and worship the same God as the Jewish people. The religion of Christianity is not a considered a religion, but a relationship with Jesus, the founder of the faith.

The God of the Bible is God himself as honest by Jews and Christians. Muslims believe that Allah, Dios of the Koran, is the same God as the God of the Bible. Try to order things in a common sense way, many questions arise. For example, can the prophets of the Qur'an be the same prophets of the Bible that in the eyes of Islam, the Bible is corrupt? And still one hurdle to the unit focuses on the founder of the Christian religion. As mentioned, Jesus is the central part of Christian doctrine called Trinity. The Trinity professes that Jesus really is God in the flesh.

This is a stumbling block for Islam and Judaism. Each denies the existence of the Trinity. This occurs despite the fact that Judaism and Christianity share the same God. To add to the fray, many Jews believe that Jesus was a good man, but certainly it is not God in the flesh, while Muslims believe according to the Qur'an Jesus was simply a prophet or a Messenger of God. If we take into account both of these points of view, each of them contains inconsistencies. First that Jesus could not be a good man, if he is not God in the flesh because he would be the biggest liar who has ever lived. Billions today believe that it is God in the flesh and many of the previous generations who believed the same. Was Jesus a good man if he misled his followers?

Vision Islamic present Jesus as simply a Messenger or a prophet of God also means that the Jesus of the Qur'an cannot be the same Jesus of the Bible, because if Jesus was simply a Messenger of God, he was still reporting that God wanted us to know. One thing important Jesus told us was that he is the way, the truth and the life, and no one comes to the father but by him. If this is what God wanted that we know, why would want a Christian belongs to another religion, and makes Jesus the last Prophet and Mohammad not? In the light of these differences, it would seem that the dialogue on the Trinity would be a good starting point for hash differences, especially now fullness of the Trinity has been revealed to us since the last month of the 20th century.

There are many more differences between these three monotheistic religions; However, the position that each religion claims to be firm with regard to what it believes as truth. Do however, never find true peace in the world today to these three religions reach a full agreement on a theme: the God of Jesus in the flesh, or a simple man? It is a way of resolving this issue through dialogue. From the Trinidad is no longer a mystery, let's look at the evidence, because the evidence is clear and overwhelming. To continue our heads in the sand never you will achieve nothing. In addition to the return of Christ, a form and perhaps the only way for any similar peace is to remove this obstacle and taking a fresh look at the issue of Trinity again. As indicated by Scripture in Isaiah; "They come we reason together saith the Lord..."

Tom Bosse is a secular evangelist Minister, freelance writer and author of a book entitled "The Unveiling of the Trinity". http://www.trinityunveiled.com/

Islam And All Religions Teach Humanbeings To Make A Peace In The World

In nowdays there are so much wrong coments about Islam and moslem. I have to say that it is not true that moslems are terorists. In fact, a terorism has no relationship with relogions, but it conected with politic, social and idilogy. Well, may be there are some moslem organizations that considered as terorist, for exemple alqoidah, but it does not mean that all moslems are terorists.

Allah The God says in Quran that every humanbeing has a freedom to believe or not in a religion.. The Propeth Muhammad, may Allah bless him forever, also said ( hadist ) that every moslem or believer has to love his neighbours, if he still can't do it , it means that his faith is not ferfect. It is wonderful, isn't it ?

In the bible Jesus also said that everyone has to love his neighbours as he love to him self. That is the second golden law. I am sure that all religions come from The God. So there is not religion that teach the follower to make destrucions in this world.

When Muhammad The Massanger lived in Madinah Al-Munawaroh, beside he is a propeth, he was also a leader of a country. May be in nowdays he was a president. His people containts of varity humanbeings. Majority of them are moslems, others are cristians, jaws and atc. He ordered to his own people like this :" Whoever attacks anyone 'zimmi citizen' ( the not moslem citizen but live in Madinah peacfuly ) it is just the same that he attacks me ". It proofs that Islam is just the same with another religions, It teach and order to make a peace.

Since now, Hi Ladies and Gentlemen, lets say to all humanbeings in this world to make a peace. Stop terorism, stop colonialism and also stop war. To Mr. President USA, please don't make a war anymore. To Alqoidah, please stop your terorism. Lets do what Allah order to us. To you Israel, stop your colonialism to Palestine. Give Palestine His own freedom.

I am Tiknan, a traditional/alternative treatment practicer and a consultant of problem solving. You can contact me by tasmaun@yahoo.com and click at my blog at http://tiknan.blogspot.com

Peaceful Religions?

If you say that Christianity is a peaceful religion according to scripture then it can be said that Islam, according to scripture is peaceful. In reality, both the Koran and the Bible present a dichotomy, promoting peace and violence. They both contain quotes that are peaceful and some not so peaceful quotes.

In Luke 19:27, Jesus himself says,

"But those enemies of mine who did not want me to be king over them - bring them here and kill them in front of me."

Now the popular phrase...what would Jesus do?...doesn't sound to good, does it?

The Koran also has many quotes like 2:190,

"The believer is called upon to fight in the way of God with those that fight with you...but aggress not. God loves not the aggressors."

The point of using quotes is to show that using quotes is pointless. They can be twisted around and interpreted in a multitude of ways. Organized religion and now, politics,

are both guilty of using propaganda, containing quotes from the Bible or whatever text is appropriate, trying to influence the reader.

Fundamentalists are guilty of using religious texts and incorrectly interpreting them to arrive at the, "I am right, therefore you are wrong" mentality. This mentality can be dangerous; it can led to extremism. Extremists do not represent God but their own agenda. There have been countless cases of religious extremists justifying killing others by following quotes of scripture or I should say, their misguided interpretations of quotes of scripture.

Islam and Christianity have dark pasts (and in some cases, dark presents) because man got involved in interpreting the scriptures. Islam is no crueler than Christianity.

The "Golden Rule" is the key, not the Koran, the Bible, or any other organized religion's text. Some form of Christianity's Golden Rule is present in almost every religion. All religions preach peace but do the followers practice peaceful beliefs?

Jackie Wellman, author of Spiritual Clarity, http://www.hoppy.bravehost.com, http://spiritualclarity.blogspot.com