Several
surveys conducted by research groups have shown that most adults think God is the same in
all religions. 65% of Americans in the Bama Research Survey felt that they all pray to the
same God, although they call Him by different names.
The
population group surveyed was randomly selected and was composed of Christians, Jews,
Muslims, Buddhists, etc. While it is clear
from such studies that we believe in the same Universal God, it has been customary for
each religious sect or congregation to consider their God as being only theirs - as being
unique to their belief.
It is very
surprising that highly educated people who put great thought into what college to seek
admission to, what kind of car to buy, etc., would accept unhesitatingly, without
question, in fact, blindly, the religion they were bom into, when it is in reality the
most important decision in their lives. Actually, even though the majority of us
believe in God, we have a human factor attached to the worship of God in one form or
another. The majority of us cannot envision
praying to God directly. Most believe that an
intercessor, usually in the form of a dead saint or prophet, is necessary for the ultimate
contact.
It is this
human factor that is causing division, hatred and bitter wars among the very people who
profess to believe in God. Common sense then
tells us that if we discard the human factor and pray to God alone, regardless of the name
used for God or for the religion, we would then be united and capable of solving our
problems.
The Lord Our God is Lord alone,
Therefore you shall adore the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your mind and with all your
strength. (Deuteronomy, 6:4-5 and Mark
12:29)
The Final
Testament considers all religions devoted to God alone as being valid and acceptable, as
long as certain minimal criteria are met. Devotion
to God alone guarantees salvation:
Surely those who believe, those who
are Jewish, the Christians, and the converts, anyone who believes in God and the Last Day and lead a righteous life will receive their recompense from their Lord. They have nothing to fear nor will they grieve. (Quran, 2:62)
While the
Old Testament talks about God as Lord of the heavens and the earth, so does the Final
Testament. The Old Testament has this to say
about God:
Know therefore this day, and consider
it in thine heart, that the Lord He is God, in the heavens above and upon the earth beneath. There is none
else. (Deuteronomy, 4:39)
The Final
Testament says:
Say, "I warn you, there is no
other God besides God, the One, the Supreme, the Lord of the heavens and the earth and everything between them; the Almighty, the Forgiving."
(Quran, 38:65-66)
Reflection
on the above verses by any individual who is literate and open minded will unerringly lead
him to the natural religion approved of by God - that of worshiping Him alone. It is the duty of all humans - be they Jews,
Christians, Muslims, Hindus, or any other religion - to recognize the absoluteness of God
as Lord of the Universe and not place any idols beside Him.
As the
Bhagvad Gita tells us:
He who worships Me alone, lives
in Me. (Bhagvad Gita, 6:30)
In Quran
30:28:
He cites for you herein an example from
among yourselves: Do you ever elevate your servants or subordinates to the level where
they rival you, and to the point that you pay them as much allegiance as is being paid to
you? We thus explain the revelations for people who understand. (Quran,
30:28)
God elaborates further in 30:30:
Therefore, you shall devote yourself to the
religion of strict monotheism. Such is the natural instinct placed into the people by God
- nothing can change such creation of God. This is the perfect religion, but most
people do not know. (Quran, 30:30)
Universal
Unity among the true believers is thus an indication of their utmost understanding of the
real religion, and is a
reflection of their devotion to the creator of the universe.
-Atef
Khalifa
