Equivocating About Sameness of Religions
We should push people who use sameness argument to clarify what they mean by it: identicalness or similarity in certain aspects. DO NOT let them equivocate.
Sugar and salt are both white with similar physical appearance. They are not the same because of their differences regardless of their similarities. Sugar and salt are similar in some respects but they are not identical. We understand what salt and sugar are by means of their differences, not by similarities.
What makes religions distinct is incompatible beliefs. That two religions have some common beliefs does not change anything and does not make them the same in all respects - we need to focus on the differences to pay attention to their defining beliefs.
If two religions A and B are the same and A came first, then B is merely a restatement of A and hence unnecessary. B is merely a duplicate.
If anyone claims sameness, ask them why they would not go with the original and drop the duplicates. Their response will invariably focus on the differences.
We should ask tye same question to Hindus who bring up sameness. If they truly believe Christianity and Islam are the same as Hinduism, why do they not go tell folks of those religions to drop duplicates and go with the original Hinduism?
Oh, may be they mean that there is some truth in all religions? That is not useful because it far from sufficient.
Understanding the purpose of sameness principle explains in what ways sameness is legitimate and in what ways it is limited.. Purpose of sameness is two fold: (1) philosophical recognition that an earnest desire to know the truth can manifest itself in multiple ways. This diversity is fundamental to human endeavor. (2) It is safe to say that two religions are distinct if and only if they have some incompatible beliefs. Thus, at most one religion can be true. All others have to be false. Until we have conclusive evidence and universal consensus that a particular religion is true, we should consider alternaties as likely and show them respect.
Understanding the purpose of sameness principle explains in what ways sameness is legitimate and in what ways it is limited.. Purpose of sameness is two fold: (1) philosophical recognition that an earnest desire to know the truth can manifest itself in multiple ways. This diversity is fundamental to human endeavor. (2) It is safe to say that two religions are distinct if and only if they have some incompatible beliefs. Thus, at most one religion can be true. All others have to be false. Until we have conclusive evidence and universal consensus that a particular religion is true, we should consider alternaties as likely and show them respect.
Hinduism differs from other faiths like Christianity and Islam in two ways. First of all, it does not believe in any dogma and rejects the exclusive claim of any individual, however highly evolved, to the monopoly of Truth. Rejection of such monopoly is what Hindus mean when they say there are multiple paths to God. That is what the appropriate meaning for sameness is.
You cannot have mutual respect just by focusing on what is common. Mutual respect requires acknowledging differences openly and acknowledging that, while no more than one religion can be true, no one religion can be shown to be true.
You cannot have mutual respect just by focusing on what is common. Mutual respect requires acknowledging differences openly and acknowledging that, while no more than one religion can be true, no one religion can be shown to be true.