Religion vs Spirituality revisited....

I have found myself arguing semantics yet again!!! I take the bait way to easily!! I have already discussed my views on how religion and spirituality differ in this post. However I feel the need to delve a little deeper and provide a few examples.

The usual warnings apply. I am an opinionated smart a$$ and this is my blog. If you are easily offended move along now! blah, blah, blah....

I would first like to elaborate on a statement I made in the above referenced post. "Religion is easy, spirituality takes work." With this statement I was referring to figuring out what you believe to be truth. Organized religion makes this an easy task. Most of them have a convenient, albeit wordy, 'user's manual'. For example, the Bible tells Christians just what their version of truth is and if you have difficulty understanding there is someone that will be happy to tell you just what everything means. Personal spirituality takes a bit more work than that. We must examine everything and decide for our self what is Truth.

The reason for the clarification is because what I am getting ready to say might sound like I am contradicting myself. I am not. If you think I am re-read everything and call me in the morning!

I recently got into a discussion about "Native American Spirituality". The argument was that there is no such thing as ONE Native American spirituality. Each group has their own spiritual practices. My rebuttal was that if you were to break down these seemingly different practices to their very core reasoning that they would be the same.

Don't over think this. It isn't that difficult! (This is where I might sound like I am contradicting myself. Spirituality takes work but that work isn't necessarily hard!)

For example, certain groups hold a particular herb or food in great regard. This can seem, outwardly, like a spiritual difference. However, if you break down WHY these things are considered holy or special it usually relates to the nourishing way of Mother Earth. The way each groups honors Mother Earth's nourishing spirit has developed based on their location (this is a cultural filter) NOT their beliefs.

The spiritual belief is the same. Mother Earth nourishes us and provides us with a place to live.

The way that is honored is what is different. For the Hopi, corn holds a sacred place in their culture. That is because corn is a main source of nourishment. Corn is how Mother Earth provides for them therefore corn is sacred. Just because another groups honors Mother Earth through a different source does not make their core belief about Mother Earth different.

Religion results from a cultural filter being applied to spiritual belief.

Let's strip this down even further. I am going to go as far as saying most religions stem from the same root spiritual belief. That root? Well, that would be the Golden Rule. Can it really be possible that all the Christians out there actually share the same fundamental spiritual belief as me??

I know it is hard to believe! Still don't buy it?

Christianity:
"So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets." Matthew 7:12

Buddhism:
"...a state that is not pleasing or delightful to me, how could I inflict that upon another?" Samyutta Nikaya v. 353

"Hurt not others in ways that you yourself would find hurtful." Udana-Varga 5:18

Native American Spirituality:
"Respect for all life is the foundation." The Great Law of Peace.

"Do not wrong or hate your neighbor. For it is not he who you wrong, but yourself." Pima proverb.

Judaism:
"...thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself." Leviticus 19:18

"What is hateful to you, do not to your fellow man. This is the law: all the rest is commentary." 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

Islam:
"None of you [truly] believes until he wishes for his brother what he wishes for himself." Number 13 of Imam "Al-Nawawi's Forty Hadiths." 5

Bahá'í:
"Ascribe not to any soul that which thou wouldst not have ascribed to thee, and say not that which thou doest not." "Blessed is he who preferreth his brother before himself." Baha'u'llah

"And if thine eyes be turned towards justice, choose thou for thy neighbour that which thou choosest for thyself." Epistle to the Son of the Wolf

Confucianism:
"Do not do to others what you do not want them to do to you." Analects 15:23

"Tse-kung asked, 'Is there one word that can serve as a principle of conduct for life?' Confucius replied, 'It is the word 'shu' -- reciprocity. Do not impose on others what you yourself do not desire.'" Doctrine of the Mean 13.3

"Try your best to treat others as you would wish to be treated yourself, and you will find that this is the shortest way to benevolence." Mencius VII.A.4

Taoism:
"Regard your neighbor's gain as your own gain, and your neighbor's loss as your own loss." T'ai Shang Kan Ying P'ien.

"The sage has no interest of his own, but takes the interests of the people as his own. He is kind to the kind; he is also kind to the unkind: for Virtue is kind. He is faithful to the faithful; he is also faithful to the unfaithful: for Virtue is faithful." Tao Teh Ching, Chapter 49

(BTW, I can't take credit for the above list since I found it online. Unfortunately I can't give credit for it either because I can't remember where I found it!)

I think that ‘the Golden Rule’ is a fundamental link between all of humanity. I might go as far as calling it our one true instinct. Obviously, I have an optimistic outlook on the potential of humanity.

The many cultural filters that have been applied to this root belief is what is responsible for all the varied religions around the world.

So while we may not share religious beliefs, that doesn't mean we can't share spiritual ones. (WOW, there's the UU coming out in me!!)

So this begs the question....

Why can't we all just get along????