Real Good Religion/Universals

—Religious Common Ground

Despite their diversity and pre-modern worldviews, the world’s religions teach several universal and enduring lessons for living wisely. These are summarized below and are important elements of a real good religion.

Virtue

Focusing on similarities rather than differences, reveals the importance of several virtues advocated by many of the world’s religions. These include compassion, love, forgiveness, the golden rule, charity, peace, nonviolence, justice, equity, and fairness. Many religions also encourage duty, mindfulness, and sustainability. Concepts of duty and community conceived by ancient tribal cultures need to be expanded to accommodate a modern global perspective to avoid xenophobia and other divisive conduct.

Ethical Foundations

Most religions have ethical foundations and seek to provide ethical guidance. Although detailed advice on ethical conduct and family values written thousands of years ago has lost its relevance, we can use our well-chosen moral reasoning along with norms of civil behavior to guide us.

Perennial Philosophy

Perennial philosophy is a perspective in philosophy and spirituality that views religious traditions as sharing a single, metaphysical truth or origin from which all esoteric and exoteric knowledge and doctrine has grown.

One popular interpretation argues for universalism, the idea that all religions, underneath seeming differences, point to the same Truth. In the early 19th century the Transcendentalists propagated the idea of a metaphysical Truth and universalism, which inspired the Unitarians, who proselytized among Indian elites. Towards the end of the 19th century, the Theosophical Society further popularized universalism, not only in the western world, but also in western colonies. In the 20th century, universalism was further popularized through the Advaita Vedanta and Sufism inspired Traditionalist School, which argued for a metaphysical, single origin of the orthodox religions, and by Aldous Huxley and his book The Perennial Philosophy, which was inspired by Neo-Vedanta.

Transcendent Reality

In traditional religions transcendence is the aspect of existence that is completely independent of the material universe, beyond all known physical laws. This is related to the nature and power of deities as well as other spiritual or supernatural beings and forces. This is contrasted with immanence, where a god is said to be fully present in the physical world and thus accessible to creatures in various ways.

In religious experience, transcendence is a state of being that has overcome the limitations of physical existence, and by some definitions, has also become independent of it. This is typically manifested in prayer, rituals, meditation, psychedelics, and paranormal "visions".

Modern science casts doubt on supernatural claims. In short, non-theism is the parsimonious worldview, and those who make supernatural claims bear the burden of proving those claims. This insight motives us to progress beyond theism. However, the concept of transcendence itself, the speculation that reality beyond our current comprehension exists and has yet to be discovered has not yet been falsified. Furthermore, lifelong practitioners of meditation, and users of entheogens attain insights and worldviews that transcend our egos and our consciousness and provide a glimpse of transcendent possibilities. Similarly, physicist are exploring the many worlds hypothesis and the foundations of physics.

Be curious and enjoy the possibilities of the unknown unknowns while facing facts and accepting the reality of the known knowns. This is the essence of the Stockdale paradox and provides a real basis for hope.

Although there are many mysteries, there is no magic.

Symbols and Rituals

Rituals are a feature of all known human societies. They include not only the worship rites and sacraments of organized religions and cults, but also rites of passage, atonement and purification rites, oaths of allegiance, dedication ceremonies, coronations and presidential inaugurations, marriages, funerals and more. Even common actions like handshaking and saying "hello" may be termed as rituals.

These rituals celebrate and express the awe inherent in each of the events that are both ordinary—because they occur routinely—and extraordinary because life on this earth is so amazing.

Celebrate events that bring meaning to life. Cherish the awe.  

Religious Experience

Religious experiences are awesome.

A religious experience (sometimes known as a spiritual experience, sacred experience, mystical experience, or numinous experience) is a subjective experience which is interpreted within a religious framework. These experiences often involve a sense of ecstasy, a sensation of being removed from ordinary life.

These experiences may involve ego death, or ego loss, which have a variety of scientific, psychedelic, and mystical descriptions. One description is "... complete transcendence − beyond words, beyond spacetime, beyond self. There are no visions, no sense of self, no thoughts. There are only pure awareness and ecstatic freedom.”

Various psychedelic substances can induce an ego death experience. For example, ayahuasca is a South American psychoactive brew, traditionally used by Indigenous cultures and folk healers in Amazon and Orinoco basins for spiritual ceremonies, divination, and healing a variety of psychosomatic complaints. Psilocybin can also occasion mystical-type experiences that are described as having spiritual significance.

Awe is the gateway to supernatural or paranormal beliefs. Maintain your grip on reality as you enjoy the community and awe-inspiring aspects of your chosen spiritual practices.

Interfaith Dialogue

Interfaith dialogue refers to cooperative, constructive, and positive interaction between people of different religious traditions (i.e. "faiths") and/or spiritual or humanistic beliefs, at both the individual and institutional levels.

In its best form, people experiencing differing viewpoints and worldviews practice dialogue to gain new insights and seek true beliefs. When participating in interfaith dialogue, expect intellectual honesty and ensure that atheists are fully included.

When practiced skillfully, interfaith dialogue is useful tool for those who are seeking real good.

Assignment

Focus on the common ground that is emerging from millennia of religious practice.

When studied at the level of virtues, important similarities among the prominent religions become apparent. Find this common ground. Perhaps a near-universal set of pro-social virtues is emerging from the ancient wisdom of the world’s religions.

Stay curious as you seek true beliefs and explore transcendent possibilities.  

Think scientifically and integrate a modern understanding of science and big history into your worldview while you cherish awe and rely on your well-chosen moral reasoning.

Live the virtues. Seek real good. Pray for peace. Imagine!

Live wisely.

Recommended Reading

Students interested in learning more about ancient wisdom may be interested in the following materials:

• Kidder, Rushworth M. (1994). Shared Values for a Troubled World: Conversations with Men and Women of Conscience. Jossey-Bass. pp. 332. ISBN 978-1555426033. 
• Yunkaporta, Tyson (May 18, 2021). Sand Talk: How Indigenous Thinking Can Save the World. HarperOne. pp. 256. ISBN 978-0062975621. 
• Goleman, Daniel; Davidson, Richard (September 5, 2017). Altered Traits: Science Reveals How Meditation Changes Your Mind, Brain, and Body  . Avery. pp. 336. ISBN 978-0399184383. 

I have not yet read the following books, but they seem interesting and relevant. They are listed here to invite further research.

• Forgotten Truth: The Common Vision of the World's Religions, by Huston Smith
• How to Change Your Mind: What the New Science of Psychedelics Teaches Us About Consciousness, Dying, Addiction, Depression, and Transcendence, by  Michael Pollan
• The Christian Bible
• The Hebrew Bible
• The Quran
• Buddhist texts
• Hindu texts
• Guru Granth Sahib
• Jain literature