Ok, I'll be brave & start the ball rolling with my own thoughts on a topic:
Some religions are based entirely on exclusivity (only their members get to
Heaven, for example)
I'd lkke to suggest they are preaching it wrong:
It's that those in their group must follow their rules or suffer exclusion from
their group's rewards.
I believe God to be more universal -- after all He/She created all humans, not
only a single group (unless you count us all as one family, which I do)
God, however you understabd or don't understand God, obviously loves variety,
so why take away variety, in casing an ephemeral idea of homogeneity?
Certainly some laws are universal, & can be aptly summed up under the Golden
Rule. Humanism has develpoed this same framework for defining universal
commandments.
I think it can be summed up in two: 1. Don't be a jackass.
2. Do good.
I prefer to consider true religions, open to all, as: "To love and to learn"
Everything else is comsmetic -- you go to a church or club you feel;
comfortable with, with an affinity for the membership/rules.
I believe my purpose on this Earth, in the life, is to make the world a little
bit better than when I came into it (being born, & also each new day)
I personally feel the most affinity for Conservative Judaism & its
interpretation of the universal truths, so that's who I affiliate with.
They've formally accepted & ritualised this membership per their traditions for
such, so I'm officially part of a humumgous family who likewise seeks to do
good for others & to improve Earth for the sake of all.
--- BBBS/Li6 v4.10 Toy-5
* Origin: The Rusty MailBox - Penticton, BC Canada (1:153/757)
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