"Never mistake knowledge for wisdom. One helps you make a living, the other helps you make a life."~ Sandra Carey

Religion! The biggest problem with religion today is that so few people actually follow the ones they all claim to be a part of.

All three of the major holy texts are in a world that predominantly subscribes to an Abrahamic faith. All three religions closely link religion and morality. Religion is to be manifested by showing concern for the well-being and dignity of others, in a life of service to others, and in personal socio-ethical behavior.

G-D wants us to tell the truth and not to take from others what rightfully belongs to them. We are to respect the dignity of every person and help especially those who are not capable of helping themselves, such as widows, orphans, and the poor. All three religions foster modesty, moderation, and honest work. All three religions believe in a Golden Rule:

In Islam:

On the authority of Anas bin Malik, the servant of the messenger of Allah, that the prophet said :

"None of you [truly] believes until he wishes for his brother what he wishes for himself."

related by Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim

In Christianity:

"So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets." Matthew 7:12

"Do to others as you would have them do to you." Luke 6:31

In Judaism:

"Thou shalt not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the LORD." Leviticus 19:18

"What is hateful to you, do not to your fellow man. This is the law: all the rest is commentary." Talmud, Shabbat 31a.

"Do that to no man which thou hatest: drink not wine to make thee drunken: neither let drunkenness go with thee in thy journey." The Book of Tobit 4:15

Take religion out of the message, and it still contains wisdom. By denying that fact, you are not only furthering the spread of Bigotry, Deception, and Hate in this world, you are denying the the inherent beauty and miracle that G-D has put in all things. Are you going to deny Solomon or Einstein because they were Jewish? Are you going to laugh at Copernicus and Galileo because they are Catholic? What of Algebra, it has a uniquely Arabic lineage?

"Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind let each of you regard one another as more important than himself. Do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others." Philippians 2:3-4

We can see the result of such heresy in humanity's past and present. The Catholic Church, in the name of G-D and Truth, put to death and imprisoned thousands of people who have discovered the scientific truth about our world. Simply because the scientific truth showed a vulnerability on the concept of the infallibility of their Church. In Islam, even in this day, scientists are killed because their "theories" disrupt local belief. In Ethiopia, Jews there claim to have the Ark of the Covenant and other various religious icons important to all three faiths, yet they threaten the life of anyone, including fellow Jews,  who wish to examine these historical artifacts. The only way we can prevent such atrocities from occurring in the future is to stop trying to rely on tradition to explain "Holy Mysteries" and allow science to step in and make objective study.

" Religion explains what man is  to the Universe. Science explains what the universe is to man! "~ Daniel Slack

The truth about religion and YOUR relationship with G-D is that it is a personal matter. Two people, even if they are in the same denomination, church, or even family, have a unique experience that forms the definition of who G-D is in their life. In one life, G-D may have healed a deaf man. In another, he may have healed blindness. Both men will agree that G-D is a healer, but one will say he gives men sight and the other will say he brings music to his ears.

What purpose does it serve, to themselves and the world, if these men battled over whose image of G-D is more accurate, is more politically correct, is more truthful? In reality, by combining both viewpoints, you suddenly have a god who can both heal the deaf and the blind. Any acts of violence would be an admission to the enforcement of ignorance on the nature of G-D.

All holy texts state the wisdom of having love, compassion, mercy and forgiveness for my brothers in humanity. Should I discount the truth in my scripture because it is also found in yours ?

Ultimately, your relationship with G-D is between you, and G-D. The Holy Books offer their wisdom and guidance on what that relationship was, is, and should be, but how you walk is your personal decision.

"Wisdom is not a product of schooling, but of the lifelong attempt to acquire it." Albert Einstein