This is always present in a belief system:
A singular being superior to mankind, or more than one being superior to mankind. In the case of a system having more than a dozen deities, there will be one that is dominant in some way, or there will be a hierarchy. If the singular omniscient being is not a being, it is represented somehow else; The Truth, Enlightenment, Oneness, Ultimate Reality, The Universe, Completion, Absolution, Perfection, whatnot. In the case of a god, this god is often merciful, forgiving, righteous, perfect, etc.; but s/he / they will also damn you to burn in hell, die, suffer for all eternity, suffer temporarily, grant you bad karma/dharma , or something similar. If you ask for forgiveness, or complete a purification ritual of some sort, you will be forgiven.
Play Nice, Be Nice.
In all religions, even ones considered to be "bad", you are instructed to do several things:
Keep promises, don't lie, don't steal, help people, take care of yourself, don't hurt people; attend a place of worship regularly, or worship regularly, or otherwise frequently affirm your faith. By praying, meditating, asking for forgiveness, repenting, etc., you give praise to the Higher and improve your standing with the Higher and/or come closer to being with the Higher.
All religions encourage good behavior, or moral behavior. Morality is generally taken as per the general meaning of 'good', but, in some rarified other religions, 'bad' is taken as the 'right' morality. I won't comment. See this: In Judaism, see Leviticus 19:18 NIB. "What is hateful to you, do not do to your fellowman." In Christianity, see Luke 6:31 NIB. "Do to others as you would have them do to you." In Islam, see a hadith recorded by al-Bukhari, Sunnah: "No one of you is a believer until he desires for his brother that which he desires for himself." In Hinduism: Mahabharata 5,1517: "Do naught onto others what you would not have them do unto you." Buddhism's Udana-Varga 5,18: "Hurt not others in ways that you yourself would find hurtful."
Of course, there are many others. See Taoism, Jainism, Confucianism, Zoroastrianism, Baha'i, Wicca, Old Egyptian faiths, and many others.
Life After Death, and Rewards.
Either eternal Heaven, or eternal Hell. If you're good in life, you'll be rewarded in death. If you're bad in life, you're punished in death. In Eastern religions, it's usually reincarnation, or a form of reincarnation. You assume the form of another being after you die, usually with no memory of what you once were. Sometimes you'll be reincarnated many times until you reach perfection, or something similar. In some beliefs, depending on how you behaved in life, you will reincarnate as either another person (being the best possible outcome next to Perfection) or you will become an animal (not as good, but not the worst), or you will become some lesser creature (the weakest creatures, or the ones with the least senses, or apparent sentience, are those that were the worst.).
One Mother, One Origin.
In many religions, one man and/or woman or one group of people were created first, and from them, came the rest of mankind. Usually organized as tribes, clans, or something similar. Tribal lands were eventually either torn into sections or consolidated between families, depending on feuds and conflicts. These lands became the countries we know today.
In many religions, the story goes, that at one time, everyone spoke one language, but mankind did something to incite the anger of the Higher, and the languages were scattered, and mankind stopped being able to communicate for a while.
A Messiah, or a Sacrifice; A 'Lamb', or Ritual 'Lambs'.
In most cases, there is a singular or multiple case or cases of sacrifice by either the Higher to Man or from Man to the Higher, in which Man achieves the forgiveness of the Higher for wrongs done. In the case of Christianity, the Higher (God) made a sacrifice (Jesus Christ) in order to save Man from sin. This singular sacrifice, in some cases, becomes, instead, a series of ritual 'sacrifices', which aren't actual sacrifices, but, actually, may be ritual bathing, ritual praying, or something similar.
The End of Days.
It's just about unanimous that, at the end of the world, there will be a great battle between good and evil, and Final Judgment will be made. Several religions indicate the coming of a prophet, a messiah (in the case of Christianity, the Second Coming of Christ), or something or someone similar.
With all these similarities, and with the Play-Nice ideal in mind, why can't we all just stop bombing each other? Obviously, it's because of minor idealogical differences, but we all believe, essentially, the same thing (unless you're an atheist; in which case, this isn't about you).
Published by Sly Navreet
I call myself Sly Navreet, and I've been a writer here at Associated Content for several years, now. Please disregard anything stupid I may have said in content since before the past year or so; I'm trying t... View profile
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- There are lots of similarities.
- Learn to love, or at least understand, your neighbor.
- We all essentially believe the same thing.

8 Comments
Post a CommentIm sure we will all agree that monarch or leaders existed before religion in the human race otherwise there would never have been any form of colonies, groups, villages or ppl living together. For anywhere in history where people are together there is some form of a leader whether its one person or many. This on its own stats and proves that morals or social codes (lets just call them The Rules) came before religion for if there wasnt there would only be anarchy. The bear basic of these rules (dont just kill, steal, etc.) are needed for all people to prosper and wasnt first seen on two blocks of stone for even in the bible The Rules where used before they were Given. If you deny this fact you are very naive and no amount of reasoning will change your mind.
Islam or religion lets say, is a way of life
yes atheists have morals but most come from religion as there r both believers in this world n non-believers.We live together n share these views
we shoud keep in mind that there is alwayz one out there who is superior than all of us, he cant b made of the same thing as his creations and cant be alike in any way
he is the supreme
hes beyond our imagination
from: http://comparative-religion-points.blogspot.com
religion points compared.
(1) Prohibition of Alcohol:- Manu Smriti: 9:235, 11:55; Rig Veda: 8:2:12, 8:21:14; //BIBLE: Proverbs: 20:1, 23:31; Ephesians: 5:18; //QURAN: 2:219, 5:93.
(2) Prohibition of Pork:- //BIBLE: Leviticus 11:7-8; Deuteronomy 14:8; //QURAN: 2:173, 5:4, 6:145, 16:115.
(3) Prohibition of Usury (Interest on Money/Loan/Credit):- Manu Smriti: 11:62, 8:152; //BIBLE: Leviticus 25:36-37; Ezekiel 18:13, 22:12; Psalms 15:5; //QURAN: 2:275, 3:130.
(4) Permission for Non-Vegetarian Food:- Ramayana: 2:20:29, 2:20:17-18; Manu Smriti: 5:30, 39; Mahabharata: 13:88; //BIBLE: Deuteronomy 14:4-6, 14:11; Leviticus 11:3; //QURAN: 5:2, 6:142, 16:5, 23:21.
(5) Permission for Multiple Spouses (Wives/Husbands):- Ramayana: 2:8:12, Dasaratha; Mahabharata: Draupadi, Krishna; //BIBLE: 3Kings 11:3; 2Kings (2Samuel) 5:13; 2Chronicles 11:21; Exodus 21:10; Deuteronomy 21:15; //QURAN: 4:3.
(6) Veil/Head Scarf/Modesty:- Rig Veda: 8:33:19; //
Similarity on a very high level:
Hinduism has 3 main deities, Christianity has 3 main deities, so does Muslim religion. We all came from the same origin.
moral codes do not require religions, , religions arize from the moral codes.
thease codes come from the built in instincts theat we realize ,
after we group up not as familys, but as vilages.
Juiceman,
What you're forgetting is that the moral codes, or social codes as you call them, were developed because of the different religions.
You mentioned that if you're atheist then this has nothing to do with you, but it actually does. We all live together and should adhere to some sort of social codes (don't kill me, I won't kill you...don't steal from me and I won't steal from you). This social code is the same as morals, it's a standard of behavior. Just because you're atheist, doesn't mean that you do not adhere to these standards. Atheists chose not to follow these religions because of the supernatural aspects of them. Morals do not have to have anything to do with the supernatural.
Ahmen.