# One God but many religions.

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-god-but-many-religions/553954>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [September 16, 2010, 10:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-god-but-many-religions/553954 "2010-09-16T10:10:40Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 20\
**Page:** 4

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**Author:** ![Captain\_Midnight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/977dab/32.png) [@Captain\_Midnight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Midnight)\
**Post date:** [September 20, 2010, 11:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-god-but-many-religions/553954/61 "2010-09-20T11:30:24Z")

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That one religion is right and the rest incorrect, or that they are all incorrect.

They cannot be all right because they are all different. Look at Christianity. How many different churches and sects are there? Baptists, Methodists, Episcopals, Lutherans, Prespyterians (I know it’s spelled wrong!) Church of God, Church of Christ, Church of the Nazerene, Russian Orthodox, Greek Orthodox, Mormonism, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Pentecostals, Catholics, Primitive Churches, Pentecostalism, Foursquare, Word Faith, Worldwide Church of God, 7th Day Adventist, Congregationalist, Amish, and about 50,000 different kinds of independent churches with no affliation to anybody in particular.

Christianity has many sects, and offshoots from sects and so on. Islam itself has several schools of thought. Wahhabism, Shiite, Sunni. All three of these sects consider the other two conterfeit, even though they are all Muslims. Hinduism in India spawned Buddhism, which spanned Shintoism, Taoism and many schools and branches of Buddhism itself. Can’t all be right. Then what about people who subscribe to none of the major religions, or the last of the isolate tribes in the Amazon that worship bung beatles and the sun. Or those goofballs in the South Pacific who believe that last cargo is a sign of the gods.

It goes on and on. I don’t do church. I don’t like joining anything, nor do I need someone to help or guide me through a “spiritual journey.”

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**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\
**Post date:** [September 20, 2010, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-god-but-many-religions/553954/62 "2010-09-20T13:13:58Z")

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Nitpick: Buddhism didn’t spawn Shintō - Shintō was the indigenous animist religion of Japan prior to the Buddhist conversion; Buddhism just accommodated it. Same with the Bön religion in Tibet.

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**Author:** ![E-Sabbath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e19adc/32.png) [@E-Sabbath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-Sabbath)\
**Post date:** [September 20, 2010, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-god-but-many-religions/553954/63 "2010-09-20T14:44:59Z")

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> [@Inigo\_Montoya](#):
>
> Oh for the love of shit, schizophrenic is not the same thing as being multiple.
> 
> Yaweh/Jehova is a multiple: “Thou shalt not kill”/“Kill the idolators!” (from that whole land of Canaan business). “Don’t lie”/“Go impregnate your brother’s widow and tell everyone the kid is your brother’s.” Crazy, omnipotent mofo.\

Oh, I was just thinking specifically of Zeus being both Zeus and Hera. Multiple is one thing, but that’s insaaaane.

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**Author:** ![Shot\_From\_Guns](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ccd318/32.png) [@Shot\_From\_Guns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shot_From_Guns)\
**Post date:** [September 20, 2010, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-god-but-many-religions/553954/64 "2010-09-20T18:10:08Z")

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> [@Captain\_Midnight](#):
>
> Hinduism in India spawned Buddhism, which spanned Shintoism, Taoism and many schools and branches of Buddhism itself.

\*\*jjimm \*\*caught Shinto, but Taoism isn’t an offshoot of Buddhism, either. If it’s related to anything, it’s Confucianism.

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**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\
**Post date:** [September 20, 2010, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-god-but-many-religions/553954/65 "2010-09-20T18:24:13Z")

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> [@Shot\_From\_Guns](#):
>
> > [@Captain\_Midnight](#):
> >
> > Hinduism in India spawned Buddhism, which spanned Shintoism, Taoism and many schools and branches of Buddhism itself.
> 
> \*\*jjimm \*\*caught Shinto, but Taoism isn’t an offshoot of Buddhism, either. If it’s related to anything, it’s Confucianism.

I’m Confused.

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**Author:** ![outlierrn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/outlierrn/32/3005_2.png) [@outlierrn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/outlierrn)\
**Post date:** [September 20, 2010, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-god-but-many-religions/553954/66 "2010-09-20T20:48:46Z")

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> [@indian](#):
>
> What does it tell you ?

That religion is 5% inspiration and 95% institution, whether either one has real or practical merit I leave to another thread.

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**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\
**Post date:** [September 20, 2010, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-god-but-many-religions/553954/67 "2010-09-20T20:58:07Z")

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> [@E-Sabbath](#):
>
> Oh, I was just thinking specifically of Zeus being both Zeus and Hera. Multiple is one thing, but that’s insaaaane.

_\<Greek hero type is standing in front of Zeus on his throne\>_  
Zeus: “Greetings, mortal hero. I am Zeus, King of the Gods!”  
\*\<Zeus holds up one hand off to his side over an empty throne, gloved in a sock puppet with long blonde hair\> \*  
Zeus (in a squeaky voice): “And I am Hera, his wife. Welcome to Olympus!”

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**Author:** ![Shot\_From\_Guns](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ccd318/32.png) [@Shot\_From\_Guns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shot_From_Guns)\
**Post date:** [September 20, 2010, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-god-but-many-religions/553954/68 "2010-09-20T21:15:44Z")

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I think that’s the funniest thing I’ve ever seen you write.

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**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\
**Post date:** [September 20, 2010, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-god-but-many-religions/553954/69 "2010-09-20T21:18:50Z")

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Thanks. 🙂

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**Author:** ![outlierrn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/outlierrn/32/3005_2.png) [@outlierrn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/outlierrn)\
**Post date:** [September 20, 2010, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-god-but-many-religions/553954/70 "2010-09-20T23:05:26Z")

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> [@Der\_Trihs](#):
>
> > [@E-Sabbath](#):
> >
> > Oh, I was just thinking specifically of Zeus being both Zeus and Hera. Multiple is one thing, but that’s insaaaane.
> 
> _\<Greek hero type is standing in front of Zeus on his throne\>_  
> Zeus: “Greetings, mortal hero. I am Zeus, King of the Gods!”  
> \*\<Zeus holds up one hand off to his side over an empty throne, gloved in a sock puppet with long blonde hair\> \*  
> Zeus (in a squeaky voice): “And I am Hera, his wife. Welcome to Olympus!”

Yeah, but what’s his other hand doing, Hmm?

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**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\
**Post date:** [September 20, 2010, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-god-but-many-religions/553954/71 "2010-09-20T23:14:19Z")

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> [@outlierrn](#):
>
> > [@Der\_Trihs](#):
> >
> > _\<Greek hero type is standing in front of Zeus on his throne\>_  
> > Zeus: “Greetings, mortal hero. I am Zeus, King of the Gods!”  
> > \*\<Zeus holds up one hand off to his side over an empty throne, gloved in a sock puppet with long blonde hair\> \*  
> > Zeus (in a squeaky voice): “And I am Hera, his wife. Welcome to Olympus!”
> 
> Yeah, but what’s his other hand doing, Hmm?

Something to do with a lightning rod, I’m sure.

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**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\
**Post date:** [September 21, 2010, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-god-but-many-religions/553954/72 "2010-09-21T03:00:01Z")

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> [@outlierrn](#):
>
> > [@Der\_Trihs](#):
> >
> > _\<Greek hero type is standing in front of Zeus on his throne\>_  
> > Zeus: “Greetings, mortal hero. I am Zeus, King of the Gods!”  
> > \*\<Zeus holds up one hand off to his side over an empty throne, gloved in a sock puppet with long blonde hair\> \*  
> > Zeus (in a squeaky voice): “And I am Hera, his wife. Welcome to Olympus!”
> 
> Yeah, but what’s his other hand doing, Hmm?

His WIFE is a SOCK puppet. That’s all I’m gonna say about that.

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**Author:** ![Little\_Bird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Little\_Bird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Bird)\
**Post date:** [September 21, 2010, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-god-but-many-religions/553954/73 "2010-09-21T03:31:58Z")

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> [@Shot\_From\_Guns](#):
>
> > [@Captain\_Midnight](#):
> >
> > Hinduism in India spawned Buddhism, which spanned Shintoism, Taoism and many schools and branches of Buddhism itself.
> 
> \*\*jjimm \*\*caught Shinto, but Taoism isn’t an offshoot of Buddhism, either. If it’s related to anything, it’s Confucianism.

Nope. Taoism is its own thing entirely. Confucianism is less a religion and more a deeply ingrained and respected philosophy akin to the West’s “Miss Manners”. 😉

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**Author:** ![Shot\_From\_Guns](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ccd318/32.png) [@Shot\_From\_Guns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shot_From_Guns)\
**Post date:** [September 21, 2010, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-god-but-many-religions/553954/74 "2010-09-21T15:47:00Z")

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> [@Little\_Bird](#):
>
> Nope. Taoism is its own thing entirely. Confucianism is less a religion and more a deeply ingrained and respected philosophy akin to the West’s “Miss Manners”.

Note that I said _vaguely related to_, not _evolved from_. IIRC Tao is a philosophical idea that’s shared by both, and there’s speculation that Taoism came about as \*a reaction to \*Confucianism.

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**Author:** ![MacTech](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c0e974/32.png) [@MacTech](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MacTech)\
**Post date:** [September 22, 2010, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-god-but-many-religions/553954/75 "2010-09-22T03:46:58Z")

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> [@Der\_Trihs](#):
>
> > [@E-Sabbath](#):
> >
> > Oh, I was just thinking specifically of Zeus being both Zeus and Hera. Multiple is one thing, but that’s insaaaane.
> 
> _\<Greek hero type is standing in front of Zeus on his throne\>_  
> Zeus: “Greetings, mortal hero. I am Zeus, King of the Gods!”  
> \*\<Zeus holds up one hand off to his side over an empty throne, gloved in a sock puppet with long blonde hair\> \*  
> Zeus (in a squeaky voice): “And I am Hera, his wife. Welcome to Olympus!”

It’s even funnier if you visualize Zeus in a red and white checked gingham dress, wearing pigtails, and “Hera” as a penguin glove puppet…

“You wouldn’t want to make Hera …cross…would you?”

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**Author:** ![Autolycus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/22d042/32.png) [@Autolycus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Autolycus)\
**Post date:** [September 22, 2010, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-god-but-many-religions/553954/76 "2010-09-22T04:25:40Z")

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It tells me that there are 14 k of g in an f p d.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![outlierrn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/outlierrn/32/3005_2.png) [@outlierrn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/outlierrn)\
**Post date:** [September 22, 2010, 5:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-god-but-many-religions/553954/77 "2010-09-22T05:26:16Z")

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but only once, for 20 minutes.

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**Author:** ![devilsknew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4da419/32.png) [@devilsknew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/devilsknew)\
**Post date:** [September 22, 2010, 10:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-god-but-many-religions/553954/78 "2010-09-22T10:03:16Z")

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Religion is organic and universal, God is Personal and man-made.

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**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\
**Post date:** [September 22, 2010, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-god-but-many-religions/553954/79 "2010-09-22T14:01:00Z")

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> [@MacTech](#):
>
> > [@Der\_Trihs](#):
> >
> > _\<Greek hero type is standing in front of Zeus on his throne\>_  
> > Zeus: “Greetings, mortal hero. I am Zeus, King of the Gods!”  
> > \*\<Zeus holds up one hand off to his side over an empty throne, gloved in a sock puppet with long blonde hair\> \*  
> > Zeus (in a squeaky voice): “And I am Hera, his wife. Welcome to Olympus!”
> 
> It’s even funnier if you visualize Zeus in a red and white checked gingham dress, wearing pigtails, and “Hera” as a penguin glove puppet…
> 
> “You wouldn’t want to make Hera …cross…would you?”

“Oh NO Hera! We couldn’t do that! Who’d clear up the mess?” 🙂

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Shot\_From\_Guns](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ccd318/32.png) [@Shot\_From\_Guns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shot_From_Guns)\
**Post date:** [September 22, 2010, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-god-but-many-religions/553954/80 "2010-09-22T15:22:35Z")

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> [@Autolycus](#):
>
> It tells me that there are 14 k of g in an f p d.

\*in \*\*a \*\*f p d

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