It does not take long for questions concerning the relationship between world religion(s) and Christianity to be raised by people living in cosmopolitan settings. The city is a diverse place. It is an urban mash up of ethnicity, culture, religion and art. So, of course, questions concerning religious truth would be asked, and regularly.
There is a simple answer for the question of religious truth. It is this: All religions contain aspects of truth, just as all religions contain aspects of historical relativity, cultural relativity and myth. None were meant to be reduced to quick and easy checklists to be quickly applied to our present personal problems, but instead exist to inspire us in our own time and space to do the same sort of deep spiritual work and embark upon the same mysterious meaning-making journeys for which their founders and writers and original practitioners became famous.
Some would say, however, that no other religion offers truth but their own. Thankfully, that’s not the case. In fact, if one chooses to see it, aspects of truth can be found in all religions and sometimes this truth spills into multiple religions.
Consider, if you will, a few of parallel sayings attributed to Jesus of Nazareth and Siddhartha Gautama. The universality of these parallel sayings and the life teaching and meaning that they ultimately point toward are unarguably inspirational, but are they saying the same things? Look for the truth in these sayings and consider the relevance they have for life and living, universally. Ask yourself, are they saying the same things? Are they founded upon the same truths?
Jesus of Nazareth and Siddhartha Gautama on: Purity
Out of the heart come evil intentions, murder, adultery, fornication, theft, false witness, slander, These are what defile a person, but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile. – Jesus of Nazareth: Matthew 15.19-20
One does not become pure by washing, as do the multitude of mortals in this world; he who casts away every sin, great and small, he is a brahmin who has cast off sin. – Siddhartha Gautama: Udanavarga 33.13
Jesus of Nazareth and Siddhartha Gautama On: Compassion
“Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. From anyone who takes away your coat do not withhold even your shirt. Give to everyone who begs from you; and if anyone takes away your goods, do not ask for them again.” Jesus of Nazareth: Luke 6. 27-30
“Hatreds do not ever cease in this world by hating, but by love; this is an eternal truth … Over come anger by love, overcome evil by good. Overcome the miser by giving, overcome the liar by truth.” – Siddhartha Gautama: Dhammapada 1.5 and 17.3
Jesus of Nazareth and Siddhartha Gautama live: The Religious Journey
Many of his disciples turned back and no longer went about with him. Jesus of Nazareth: John 6.66
Sixty more gave up training and returned to the lower life, saying: “Hard is the task of the Exalted One!” – Siddhartha Gautama: Anguttara Nikaya 7.68
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C.S. Lewis makes this point beautifully in “The Abolition of Man” when he talks about “the tao” or “the way”. If you Google the title, there is a link to the Augustinian Society at Columbia University, which has the full text available. The appendix does the same thing you are doing above, but includes Norse, Egyptian, Confucian, and other texts as well.
Nicely done!
Really! Wonderful! I can point to Lewis when the heretic charges start flying then! :)
I kid, Dave. I actually did not know that was in the Abolition of Man. I admit, I’m not a big reader of Lewis, but I’m going to Google it and check it out!
Thanks, Dave!
It’s hard to charge one with heresy when all they are doing is textual comparison.
If you said that Siddhartha was an equal way to eternal life with the one and only God, my tone would be different.
We can all find various truths in religions other than our own, just as I can find truth in Shakespeare, Hemingway, Plato, or Nietszche.
It is worth pointing out, however, that Lewis’ reference in “Abolition” is predicated on the idea that Christianity and the Bible take these things further and more completely towards ultimate good than other religions.
You said you aren’t a big Lewis guy – is it a lack of reading him or having read him you disagree with his views?
“It’s hard to charge one with heresy when all they are doing is textual comparison.”
A lot of people approach the bible with more than a bit of idolatry. In fact, it could be called Bible worship in all honesty. The simple suggestion that the same concepts are present in other faiths is a scary thing for some.
Re: C.S. Lewis – I haven;t read enough of him to disagree with him. I just never really picked him up. Read the Screwtape Letters and that’s about it.
Abolition of Man is good, and makes a lot more sense when read side by side with Nietszche or Sartre.
Mere Christianity is classic, and speaks for itself better than I can speak for it.
The Problem of Pain and A Grief Observed are also excellent when read together, and make a nice companion read to some of the material in Sartre’s “No Exit”.
Screwtape is great too, but since you have read it I won’t get into it much.