The Washington Post has initiated a discussion on sameness, similarity, and difference among religions, with the following prompt:
Are all religions the same?
The Dalai Lama, who just celebrated his 75th birthday, often refers to the ‘oneness’ of all religions, the idea that all religions preach the same message of love, tolerance and compassion. Historians Karen Asmstrong and Huston Smith agree that major faiths are more alike than not.
But in his new book “God is not One,” religion scholar and On Faith panelist Steve Prothero says views by the Dalai Lama, Armstrong and Smith that all religions “are different paths to the same God” is untrue, disrespectful and dangerous.
Who’s right? Why?
Respondents include Cal Thomas, Robert Thurman, Susan Jacoby, and David Wolpe. See their posts—and comments on them—here.