God is Not One
Thursday, June 3, 2010
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By Stephen Prothero (HarperOne, 2010)
In the comparative study of religion, there are two main lines of thought, both of which use the analogy of mountain climbing. One is that all religions take different routes up the same mountain and will meet at the peak, be it God or whatever you call it. The other is that adherents of each religion climb their own mountain. Not only are their paths unique, but the ultimate goal is as well.
With a book titled God Is Not One: The Eight Rival Religions That Run the World—and Why Their Differences Matter, it is clear Stephen Prothero sees religions as different paths to different destinations. A professor of religion at Boston University, Prothero has written an introductory class in religious studies in book form, including a brief summary of the unique beliefs and practices of the world religions that he deems most significant (Islam, Christianity, Confucianism, Hinduism, Buddhism, Yoruba religion, Judaism, and Daoism, plus “A Brief Coda on Atheism”).
God Is Not One is Prothero’s follow-up on Religious Literacy (HarperOne, 2007), in which he argued that it is essential for Americans to learn more about religion. Here he outlines the minimum of what he thinks we ought to know—and he is not afraid of being subjective. He offers his own assessment of the religions and the diversity within each tradition, highlighting the strengths and weaknesses (including extremism and violence) in each. His subjectivity isn’t bad, though, as it helps the American reader understand the significance of religion in today’s world.
After majoring in religion in college and taking much more than the introductory courses, I found the “one mountain” school more convincing: At some level of mysticism, beyond language, I think we’re all traveling up the same mountain. Still I found God Is Not One a valuable read. It’s important to remember that most people aren’t mystics, and, as Prothero says, religious differences do matter, especially as our world gets smaller.
This article appeared in the July 2010 issue of U.S. Catholic (Vol. 75, No. 7, page 43).
My Review of God is Not One
By Ubuntu Spirit (not verified) on Tuesday, March 8, 2011Thank you to US Catholic for the review of Stephen Prothero's book. Feel free to check out my review at http://ubuntuspirit.wordpress.com.
Gos Is Not One deals with the traditions of belief!
By Think Feel Create (not verified) on Friday, July 9, 2010Stephen Prothero makes it quite clear that he is not dealing so much with the spiritual oneness of god but with the differences occuring within each persons environment and hence tradition.
Obviously anyone praying to god, regardless of their name for god or their religious background will be praying to god. The big difference occurs when a group of people from different races, environments and different socio economic backgrounds isolated from each other for thousands of years create their own perceptions and traditions of god. Each of them claim that only their religion will provide salvation.
It is not the belief in god which is different, only the rules (traditions)created by man are different.
What drivel!!!
By Elsa (not verified) on Friday, June 11, 2010I find this kind of statement stomach turning:
¨Nowhere in Vatican II does it say that non-Catholics can be saved. Vatican II does say that non-Catholics (Protestants, Orthodox, Jews and Moslems) do have some truths and do have some good signs of charity. But it does not say that therefore they will be saved.¨
While it may be accurate in relation to Vatican II, why would any God-loving human being embrace such evil tripe? It is a simple minded statement from a simple minded group of people who are more interested in holding onto their power than they are opening wide the doors to Christ.
We are still in our spiritual infancy when we believe that the ¨Church¨ by which souls are saved is a man made insitution when in spiritual truth, the ¨Church¨ is and can only ever be our imitation of Christ on earth through our love and action, regardless of denomination or other man made defintions or affiliations.
Prothero on mystics
By Ron Krumpos (not verified) on Thursday, June 10, 2010In an earlier comment I had mentioned the similarity of the mystical traditions vs. the difference of orthodox religious doctrines, as outlined in my e-book at www.suprarational.org
In fairness to Dr. Prothero, I came across a later editorial review he which states: "Mystics often claim that the great religions differ only in the inessentials. They may be different paths but they are ascending the same mountain and they converge at the peak. Throughout this book I give voice to these mystics: the Daoist sage Laozi, who wrote his classic the Daodejing just before disappearing forever into the mountains; the Sufi poet Rumi, who instructs us to "gamble everything for love"; and the Christian mystic Julian of Norwich, who revels in the feminine aspects of God. But my focus is not on these spiritual superstars. It is on ordinary religious folk—the stories they tell, the doctrines they affirm, and the rituals they practice. And these stories, doctrines, and rituals could not be more different. Christians do not go on the hajj to Mecca; Jews do not affirm the doctrine of the Trinity and neither Buddhists nor Hindus trouble themselves about sin or salvation."
All religions lead to the same place...
By Byzcat (not verified) on Thursday, June 10, 2010Fourth Lateran Council, 1215 AD (ex cathedra) "There is but one universal Church of the faithful, outside of which no one can be saved." Unam Sanciam 1302 (ex cathedra) "We declare, say, define, and pronounce that it is absolutely necessary for the salvation of every human creature to be subject to the Roman Pontiff." Cantate Domino 1441 (ex cathedra) "The Most Holy Roman Church firmly believes, professes, and preaches that none of those existing outside the Catholic Church, not only pagans, but also Jews and heretics and schismatics, can have a share in life eternal; but they will go into the eternal fire which was prepared for the devil and his angels. Unless before death they are joined with her; and that so important is the unity of this ecclesiastical body that only those remaining within this unity can profit by the sacraments of the church unto salvation ... No one, let his almsgiving be as great as it may, no one, even if he pour out his blood for the name of Christ, can be saved, unless he remain within the bosom and the unity of the Catholic Church." Nowhere in Vatican II does it say that non-Catholics can be saved. Vatican II does say that non-Catholics (Protestants, Orthodox, Jews and Moslems) do have some truths and do have some good signs of charity. But it does not say that therefore they will be saved. See: 1 Tim. 2:4, Acts 4:12, Gal. 1:8, Tit. 3:10, 2 John 10.
I go with the one mountain
By earthen vessel (not verified) on Tuesday, June 8, 2010I go with the one mountain view because God is God. Separate mountains just speak of man and his relationship to the God of his choice. One mountain speaks of God whom people try to understand but who still remains above all our feeble attempts to do so. Many mountains make God an idol, a god of our ego. Every religion thinks they are right and that seems to be the most important thing rather than trying to live as we think God wants us to. Pushing what we think we know of God onto others seems to be a time-honored tradition of many religions but is it what God really wants?
What about the correct line
By wsxyz (not verified) on Friday, June 4, 2010What about the correct line of thought, namely, the Catholic religion, founded by Jesus Christ, is the only true religion, and every other religion is false?
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