I just posted the following on the interfaith "Study Circle" list:
I think that the unqualified statement, "All religions are one," is ludicrous on the face of it. However, if the statement can be broken down, it might be more manageable: 1. What is included by "all"? 2. What is our present definition of "religion"? 3. What, if anything, is the significance of "are" (as contrasted with *were* or *will be*)? 4. What is intended by "one" or oneness. Let me then suggest a qualified statement (though not a testable proposition): The Mind of God willed certain Prophets or Messengers to found religions. The religious teachings of those Prophets or Messengers are one in that, irrespective of their apparent differences, they all reflect God's intentionality or Will at a particular moment in history. Unless one specifies what one means by, "All religions are one," one is left with a sentence which any reasonable person can (and should) refute. Mark A. Foster * http://MarkFoster.net http://CompuServe.m.foster.name ---------- You are subscribed to Baha'i Studies as: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] To unsubscribe send a blank email to mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Baha'i Studies is available through the following: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] http://list.jccc.net/cgi-bin/lyris.pl?enter=bahai-st news://list.jccc.net/bahai-st http://www.escribe.com/religion/bahaist (public) http://www.mail-archive.com/[EMAIL PROTECTED] (public)
