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To: Sarmad Y. Hermiz who wrote (68151)	3/2/2003 8:50:08 PM
From: Sun Tzu	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 70976

Let's see if I can summarize my answers to you and Zeev in one post. First, there is truth to Zeev's position of Man creating God(s) so as to provide answers to the unknown (or alternatively God clarifying the mysteries of the universe according to the limited intellect of the audience of the time). But this is not all that religions do. There is in fact a great need for all human beings through out history to seek meaning for their lives and the universe. To state gods are simply our creations due to our ignorance of the laws of physics ignores a very essential part of being human. Second, and this is more an answer to what your raise, all religions do try to answer the above need and they all do it through what can only be considered compassion and love. There are two major aspects to every religion. The first is the effects of environment that it was born in. The second is what that religion tried to contribute to that environment. No religion can radically depart from the culture that brought it to dominance. The population would not have accepted it if it was too different and you would have never heard of it. Yet every religion tries to improve the human conditions of its era and diminish the suffering. Ultimately it is only tolerance, love, and sense of unity with the universe at large that brings happiness to mankind. And this is in fact what every religion tries to bring to its community as much as the conditions of its time allows. Sun Tzu NB: Rumi would have ranked equivalent of a Muslim Arch Bishop. Reading his poetry it is quite clear that his position is unity of mankind and love of the universe through love of God. Christianity is so greatly influenced by Mithraism that in many ways they are indistinguishable. So the Great Love you talk about is common to the ancient Persians as well. Buddhists believe that everything has Buddha Nature and that once you can see through the veil of ignorance, you see all universe as one (and by implication you will have no hate). If I had deeper knowledge of every religion and its off-shoots, then perhaps I could provide more convincing threads for you to fallow. But it does not make sense to me that there would be a successful religion that promotes hate and intolerance.

To: Sarmad Y. Hermiz who wrote (68151)	3/2/2003 11:29:04 PM
From: Zeev Hed	Read Replies (3) \| Respond to of 70976

Sarmad, I fear you are a little mistaken, "Veahavta lereacha kamocha" (and thou shall love your brother like you love yourself), is not only prior to Jesus, it is the most dominant command in Judaism (in "matters that are between people" as against "matters between people and the almighty"). It is so important, that religious Jews recite this as part of the most central prayer (The one starting with Oh Listen Israel, Adonai is our god, Adonai is one), three times a day (some even a fourth time before going to sleep) and furthermore, it is so central that it is included on a small piece of parchment nailed to the entry of each Jewish home or apartment (in the Mezuza), and is on the parchment which is worn over the forehead and on the right arm during prayer as "tefilin". An old story about one of the early teachers (around the time of Jesus) Rabbi Akiva, tells of a farmer coming to the Rabbi and asking him, Rabbi, teach me how to live the life of a good and god fearing Jew, but Rabbi, I don't have much time, so could you teach me these while I am standing on only one leg. Rabbi Akiva told the farmer, stand on one leg and repeat after me "Thou shall love your brother like you love yourself". Get back on both your legs, if you do only that, you will be living the life of a good and god fearing Jew (why one has to fear god, is beyond my own understanding). Zeev

To: Sarmad Y. Hermiz who wrote (68151)	3/3/2003 3:03:59 AM
From: zonder	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 70976

I do know that amongst Moses, Jesus, and Mohammed, only Jesus asks you to love your neighbor. Far be it from me to defend a religion, but I do remember that either the Quran or the hadith say: "He who sleeps on a full stomach while his neighbour is hungry is not a Muslim". There are quite a few references to such solidarity and affection with one's neighbour in the Quran, although I cannot remember if the word "love" is used, but the meaning is quite unmistakable.