Why the Many Religions?
by Dr. Stewart Bitkoff
Q: If God/Light is One, why the many religions?
The many religions exist because travelers and cultures are different; these differences in religious form exist to help people better understand who they are.
In this matter, there is both an internal and external reality. The internal reality is the spiritual experience of God/Light; for all religious forms, the closer you get to God/Light, the more this experience is singular. Externally religious forms differ; religion puts on different clothes because the climate and traveler’s need vary.
Imagine religion as a beautiful woman. One day she travels to a land where it is cold. By necessity, she puts on a fur garment to keep warm. The next week, as circumstance dictate, she travels to another land where it is much hotter. In order to adjust, she sheds the fur and adorns a cotton dress.
Depending upon the day you meet her; you will describe her outward appearance in a different way. Yet beneath the clothing, she is the same beautiful woman and any difference in appearance may confuse travelers.
It is like this with religion. Travelers get caught-up with the externals; argue about the clothing and forget about the singularity of inner experience.
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The River
Before the Word was written
It was inscribed
On the hearts of travelers
With God’s Pen.
The stars and all the heavens
Sing God’s Story.
The land and all the waters
Proclaim His/Her Glory.
God sent Moses
And this Book was the first.
For the Hebrew people
A golden verse.
The River has flowed
And always will,
Feeding the forest
And caressing the hill.
God sent Jesus
With the message of Love
And humanity killed
The beautiful dove.
The River is One
Wherever it flows;
The direction it takes
Only God knows.
God sent Mohammed
Who was the Seal:
Mohammed taught us all
To bow and kneel.
We shall journey the River
To every stream
And humanity will live
A wondrous dream.
It is promised
The Dove shall return
And in every heart
The Light will burn.
Every traveler will experience
The parts of the whole
And journey the River
To the Divine Soul.
-SB
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Check-out my two books: Sufism for Western Seekers: Path of the Spiritual Traveler in Everyday Life and The Ferryman’s Dream . Both books are available through Amazon.com or local bookstore.
If you are interested in learning more about universal mysticism and Sufism contact: drbitkoff@yahoo.com.
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