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Sometimes I think or feel like we (humanity) are all the "same"(or similar).
For example, despite our differences, we really are more alike than we realize.
In religion, I believe they are essentially the same; just different intrepretations, mutations etc. Sometimes we get so caught up in our focus or "narrow" views that we fail to see the similarities.
With regards to the Abrahamic religions, it seems to me to be more like a "family squabble, he-said-she-said" type of thing. The Jews do not recognize Jesus as the Messiah, they believe he hasn't arrived yet. Muslims believe Jews and Christians messed it up and that Mohammed is the last prophet and last chance for us humans to get it right. Amongst the three there are still more differences of opinion, dogma, intrepretations, splits and denominatoins etc. etc.
At the end of the day, we are still "mankind": fallible, weak, 'sinful', imperfect, etc...
I don't know much about other religions, especially Eastern ones (we live in a Westerncentric world) but I do know there are some similarities. Concepts of heaven and earth, deities, morality. I think there is even a saying in either Taoism or Confucianism: "Do not do unto others what you would not have done unto you." Sound familiar? A bit reversed but basically the same as the Gospels right?
Even in Greek and Roman mythology there was a "creation", a flood, Zeus sends his son Hercules to earth to help man and do good deeds etc.
I think that it is rather sad that we war so much in the name of our religions, especially when we are supposed to be peaceful (I know I'm making genralizatons, but I'm not a religious scholar). It seems ironic to me that we kill our fellow man because he doesn't follow or believe the same way we do. Or that we treat our "brothers" so poorly just because they are "savages" or different skin color etc. Doesn't seem very Christ-like or Godly to me. Hypocritical even. That's what gets me the most.
In regards to achievments: Art.
I am absolutely stunned at how religion touches the arts. It affects me sometimes I fall to my knees. I can't explain it: Whether a painting or requiem, divinely inspired arts really move me.
I think someday we'll get it it right, and maybe G*d or Jesus will come back and say, "Finally!" and applaud.
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