More Commonalities than Differences

8/17/2025

As human beings, we identify with these physical bodies, our human circumstances, and worldly experiences. Some of us relate so closely to our earthly conditions that we believe we are the norm, the standard by which all else should be judged. Our thoughts, beliefs, opinions, attitudes, and perspectives should be shared by everyone.

Because of this viewpoint some of us see differences everywhere: in our looks, our language, our religion, political persuasion, socioeconomic status, gender choices, clothing, hairstyles, toenail polish color, and the list goes on. And each of these differences becomes a potential source of judgment and impetus for division.

The lowest part of our human nature sees differences as bad, negative, even dangerous. I think we have all been there. We have all forgotten Christ’s commandment to love each other at some point, and looked at someone different from us with disdain, distrust, and disapproval. But the truth is that there are more commonalities between people, religions, or political parties than differences. It is just that we tend to focus on the differences.

Today, I want to speak about this profound truth as it applies to religions. Transcending any one church, temple, mosque, or sacred place our commonality unites all children of God and humanity’s highest aspirations across all cultures, faiths, and times. Despite our many differences, certain themes shine brightly as common threads weaving together the fabric of human spirituality.

One of the most beautiful and universally echoed teachings is the Golden Rule: “Do unto others what you would have others to do unto you.” Jesus said in Matthew 7:12, “So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.”

This principle echoes in other great traditions as well. The Quran teaches, “None of you truly believes until he wishes for his brother what he wishes for himself.” Confucius stated, “Do not do to others what you do not want done to yourself.” The Buddha said, “Hurt not others in ways that you yourself would find hurtful.”

This spiritual standard reflects the best of whom we are as spiritual human beings indwelling these human bodies. Beyond this Golden Rule, many faiths share common beliefs that speak to the commandment “love each other.” One such belief is that of compassion and kindness. Ephesians 4:32 implores us: “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” Similarly, Hindu scripture teaches, “One should never do that to another which one regards as injurious to one’s own self.” And Islam teaches, “Help one another in goodness and piety.” (Quran 5:2)

We must be careful to monitor the information that forms our opinions. To many people, because of the news and the incomplete information we receive, we think poorly of the Islamic people and their religion. Because we are only shown the negative behavior of a small splinter group of the Islam religion, we judge them all as jihadist Muslims who invoke violence and terrorism to achieve their religious and political goals. This is limited and erroneous thinking. The Islamic religion is a peaceful, non-violent creed. But because we are human, sometimes we take things we want into our own hands. That is what the jihadists have done, but they do not reflect the majority of Islamic faith.

That would be like judging Christianity by the activities of Hitler. He was a professed Christian, yet murdered millions of people for religious and political reasons. Even today, Christian extremist groups, such as the Army of God, perpetuate violence, kidnapping, property destruction, and murder to achieve their religious and political goals. There are Christian terrorist organizations formed by white supremist and anti-Semitic philosophies, spreading hatred, violence, and their political agenda in the name of God.

Mainstream Christian communities condemn these types of organizations, of course, just as the mainstream Islamic communities condemn the jihadist splinter groups. Regardless of what they may claim, terrorist organizations are ego-driven philosophies, not God-driven. But they exist, and we must see them for what they are: religious aberrations of the human mind.

But God speaks to His children through the heart and embeds within them His Law and message. As children of God, we may hear these words in diverse ways and create various religions around those God-principles, but those spiritual ideals show themselves regardless of the religion humankind has created.

Another spiritual tenet all religions profess is truthfulness and integrity. Ephesians 4:25 teaches: “Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor.” The Bhagavad Gita says, “Truth is the highest virtue.” And the Quran commands, “O you who believe! Fear Allah and be with those who are truthful.” Exodus 20:16 tells us - “Thou shalt not bear false witness,” which forbids any form of lying, deceit, or slander against our neighbor.

A civil, honorable, ethical, moral code is written on the heart of every child of God, whether we recognize a God or not. Some well-known non-theistic religions include Buddhism, Jainism, Taoism, Confucianism, and today we have secular humanism, and religious naturalism. In other cases, we all know ‘good’ people who do not believe in God, or at least the typical God represented by an old man in the sky keeping track of everything we do. People can be good, moral, loving, and kind because it is written on our hearts, implanted within our minds, and DNA. We do not have to disparage them, just recognize that the code of ethics God has placed within us is also within them.

Another of these principles that transcend all religious boundaries is being peaceful and nonviolent. Matthew 5:9 says, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.” Ahimsa (nonviolence) is central in Jainism: “Nonviolence is the highest religion.” The Quran states, “And the servants of the Most Merciful are those who walk upon the earth humbly… and when the ignorant address them [harshly], they say [words of] peace.”

Forgiveness is another spiritual precept that is common among religions. “Forgive, and you will be forgiven,” we are taught in Luke 6:37. The Quran teaches, “Forgive and overlook, until Allah delivers His command.” The Buddha taught, “To understand everything is to forgive everything.” This quote highlights forgiveness as a pathway to inner freedom, peace, and compassion, which are central to all spiritual practice.

Every religion also teaches respect for life and Creation. Psalm 24:1 teaches, “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it.”  The Torah commands in Deuteronomy 20:19, “You shall not destroy your neighbor’s trees.” The Quran states, “He created the heavens and the earth in true justice.”

The last commonality I wanted to share today is that of connecting with the Divine. 1 Thessalonians 5:17 asks that we, “Pray continually.” The Upanishads affirm, “That which is the finest essence, … that alone should you desire to know.” And the Quran promises, “Indeed, prayer prohibits immorality and wrongdoing.”

These are some of the shared values that function as a divine melody singing across the rich diversity of human faith. As we look at other religions know that they reveal the common heart of all children of God, beating with love, justice, mercy, and hope. We look differently, think differently, but it is my prayer that we can celebrate our unity in our diversity, and realize that we have more commonalities than differences. By embracing this truth deeply, we become living examples of God’s love, illuminating a path for all, building a world rooted in kindness, tolerance, and peace.