The problem with Hick's comparison, though, is that the blind men in the story lack perspective and are constrained by their blindness. The reader or storyteller in this instance, however, is aware that the thing is an elephant, which profoundly alters how they see the circumstance. Similarly, while various religions present various viewpoints on the divine, it is crucial for people to seek knowledge and insight in order to attain a full grasp of the divine reality. In summary, although the blind men in the story might never fully comprehend what an elephant is, it can be argued that people are not fundamentally blind and have the capacity to seek a fuller comprehension of the divine.
But, don’t they all (religions) teach basically the same thing? To answer this question, we need to take a closer look at the basic doctrines of the world's major religions. Let's explore some of the most popular faiths and what they believe.
With more than 2 billion adherents around the world, Christianity is the most popular religion. The universe and everything in it were created by a single God, according to Christians. They believe that Jesus Christ is the son of God and that he died on the cross to save humanity from sin and reconcile them to God. Christians believe in God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit, collectively known as the Holy Trinity with 3 distinct persons, but one in essence. Christianity is a continuation to the Jewish faith.
More over 1.8 billion people worldwide practice Islam, making it the second most popular religion in the world. Muslims firmly believe that the universe and all things within it were created by the one Deity, Allah. The final prophet sent by Allah to lead humanity, according to them, is Muhammad. The Quran is regarded as Islam's holy book, and Muslims adhere to its precepts. They see Jesus Christ as one of the prophets but not God.
With over 14 million followers globally, Judaism is the oldest monotheistic religion in existence. Jews hold that there is only one God who made the entire universe and everything in it. The Torah, which comprises the laws and teachings of Judaism, is said to have been given to the Jewish people as part of a covenant that God established with them. Judaism's Tanakh and Christianity's Old Testament are identical. Moreover, Jesus Christ is not regarded as the Son of God by Judaism.
With over 1.2 billion followers around the world, Hinduism is the third most popular religion. Several gods and goddesses that stand for various facets of the universe are revered by Hindus. Many rituals and rites are used to worship these deities, and many Hindus also engage in meditation and yoga as means of advancing their spirituality. They hold the views that after death, a person's soul reincarnates in a new body and that karma, or the law of cause and consequence, exists.
With over 500 million adherents worldwide, Buddhism is an Indian origin religion. Buddhists reject the idea of a divine creator. Instead, they think that through meditation and adhering to the Eightfold Way, people can reach enlightenment, a condition of spiritual awakening and escape from suffering. They contend that suffering results from attachment to desires and that meditation, mindfulness, and moral conduct are the paths to freedom.
It is evident from the foundational tenets of various religions that they hold diverse views about God and the nature of the cosmos. For instance, Hinduism honors numerous gods and goddesses while Christianity and Islam revere only one God. Buddhism has no concept of a creator God.
The way that Hinduism and Buddhism view the self is one of the main contrasts. The self, or atman, is said to be eternal and unchanging in Hinduism, and liberation is attained by comprehending that one is an integral part of the divine. Buddhism, on the other hand, asserts that there is no permanent self and that suffering originates from the illusion of the self.
Furthermore, the gods of these different faiths often contradict each other. For example, the Christian God is said to be loving and forgiving, while the Hindu goddess Kali is associated with destruction and death. Jesus says, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” Hinduism expresses its supreme divinity in a triad of gods called the Trimurti (Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva). Krishna is the 8th incarnation of Vishnu who calls himself as the Eternal and Supreme being. Few other Hindu scriptures call Shiva as the supreme being. Others believe Brahma as the supreme creator. As you can see Hinduism itself has many sects.
Similarly, Islam teaches a works-based salvation and in this way is similar to other man-made religions. A Muslim must keep the five pillars of Islam: he must confess the shahadah (“there is no God but Allah, and Muhammed is his prophet”); he must kneel in prayer toward Mecca five times a day; he must fast during the daylight hours one month of the year (Ramadan); he must give money to the poor; and he must make a pilgrimage to Mecca sometime in his lifetime. Islam teaches that the day of judgment will involve a person’s good and bad deeds being weighed in a balance—so the standard for judgment is one’s own actions.
Christianity teaches a grace-based salvation. A person is saved by the grace (the undeserved blessing) of God, through faith in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Therefore, it is clear that all religions are not the same and do not point to the same God. While there may be some commonalities among them, such as the importance of moral principles or the belief in a higher power, it is impossible to conclude that all of their teachings are alike due to the fundamental distinctions between them.
Instead, either all religions are incorrect, or one of them is correct. As seekers of truth, we must be honest with ourselves and diligently search for the true God, who is the only real one and the creator of this universe. This investigation should be based on reasoned thought and open exploration rather than being prejudiced towards any one religion or faith. Finding a God that actually cares about us and leads us down the path of justice and compassion is ultimately vital.
In conclusion, understanding the basic doctrines of the world's major religions is important in recognizing their differences. It is clear that each religion has a unique perspective on God, the universe, and human life. While we should respect the people of other beliefs, we should also recognize that these beliefs are not the same and cannot be reconciled into one universal truth.
