I have written in the past how it is possible for someone to pick and choose things or practices from various religions to create their own customized individual religion. This can be taken beyond the individual to the entire world through the creation of a new global religion based on a common framework rather than specific common beliefs like that of heaven or the consciousness going on after death as expressed in commonality by Muslims, Christians, Hindus, and Buddhist for example. Common belief would work as well but the common framework will allow for adaptation and change much as does the framework known as the American Constitution.
Throughout this essay I will talk about certain religions. This does not mean that I recognize these as the only religions but that for the sake of simplicity or my own knowledge I limit it to these few and not all the world’s religions all of which can fit into the idea or framework of a new global religion.
Well what are the components of this common framework? To begin many religions create a foundation of laws and ethics for all to follow. This tradition is seen in Judaism, Islam and Confucianism. Such religious laws are then adopted by societies as part of the common secular laws of a people.
Many religions believe in prayer or meditation as a way to reach a certain state of mind or contact with a higher force. This can be seen in Taoism, Christianity, Buddhism and Islam among others. It is amazing how many of these religions from far off corners of the globe all developed similar traits like prayer or meditation without knowledge in most cases of the practice of other religions giving rise to the possibility that one can join all these religions into one new religion for the world.
Many religions are devotional in character and this can be seen in Hinduism, Buddhism and Christianity. Though Buddhism and Hinduism are related to one another Christianity was generally unknown to the other two and vice versa giving rise once again that a blending of religions is a possibility because of these common frameworks. Though it is worth mentioning that there is a connection between certain religions already like between Hinduism and Buddhism or Christianity, Judaism and Islam or Confucianism and Taoism.
Jews, Muslims, Christians, Hindus and Buddhists all have temples or churches or mosques or in general holy places of worship. All also have places that are of a holy nature. And all are led by priests or gurus or teachers or rabbis or imams.
Many religions including Hinduism, Judaism, Buddhism, Christianity and Islam believe in a divine nature or divinity. Many of them also have prophets or historic figures. This can be seen in Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, Confucianism and Taoism. They also have beliefs based on scriptures, ritual and song or sound.
Taken together faiths have an overwhelming impact that goes far beyond the impact of each religion taken individually giving hope for a future where people are at peace with one another and themselves around the world. There are certain periods in world history when religions arise. They are usually times of strife or suffering. Perhaps our times are ripe for a new rising, a new spring. Only time and the actions of the world’s peoples will determine that and the possibility of this premise becoming a reality.