“I have been to many religious services over the years. Each one I go to only reinforces my general impression that religions have much, much more in common than they like to admit. The beliefs are almost always the same; it's just that the histories are different. Everybody wants to believe in a higher power. Everybody wants to belong to something bigger than themselves, and everybody wants company in doing that. They want there to be a force of good on earth, and they want an incentive to be a part of that force. They want to be able to prove their belief and their belonging, through rituals and devotion. They want to touch the enormity.It's only in the finer points that it gets complicated and contentious, the inability to realize that no matter what our religion or gender or race or geographic background, we all have about 98 percent in common with each other. yes, the differences between male and female are biological, but if you look at the biology as a matter of percentage, there aren't a whole lot of things that are different. Race is different purely as a social construction, not as an inherent difference. And religion--whether you believe in God or Yahweh or Allah or something else, odds are that at heart you want the same things. For whatever reason, we like to focus on the 2 percent that's different, and most of the conflict in the world comes from that.”
Quote Analysis:
In this quote by David Levithan, the author reflects on his experiences attending different religious services and highlights the commonalities shared by various faiths. Levithan asserts that despite the differences in history and rituals, most religions fundamentally seek to connect individuals with a higher power and provide a sense of belonging and purpose. He emphasizes that at their core, people share similar desires for goodness, belonging, and proof of their beliefs. Levithan suggests that conflicts arise when we focus on the minor differences between us, rather than recognizing the overwhelming similarities that unite us all.
Modern Relevance
David Levithan's observation about the commonalities among different religions and people's shared desires for belonging and connection resonates strongly in today's diverse and interconnected world. Despite the cultural, social, and political divisions that often dominate headlines, the underlying desire for unity, understanding, and a sense of purpose remains universal. Levithan's message reminds us of the importance of focusing on our shared humanity and values, rather than allowing differences to drive conflict and division.
Commonality in Religious Beliefs
“I have been to many religious services over the years. Each one I go to only reinforces my general impression that religions have much, much more in common than they like to admit. The beliefs are almost always the same; it's just that the histories are different. Everybody wants to believe in a higher power. Everybody wants to belong to something bigger than themselves, and everybody wants company in doing that. They want there to be a force of good on earth, and they want an incentive to be a part of that force. They want to be able to prove their belief and their belonging, through rituals and devotion. They want to touch the enormity.It's only in the finer points that it gets complicated and contentious, the inability to realize that no matter what our religion or gender or race or geographic background, we all have about 98 percent in common with each other. yes, the differences between male and female are biological, but if you look at the biology as a matter of percentage, there aren't a whole lot of things that are different. Race is different purely as a social construction, not as an inherent difference. And religion--whether you believe in God or Yahweh or Allah or something else, odds are that at heart you want the same things. For whatever reason, we like to focus on the 2 percent that's different, and most of the conflict in the world comes from that.” - David Levithan"
Reflection Questions:
As we reflect on David Levithan's observation about the similarities and common desires among different religions and individuals, it is important to delve deeper into our own beliefs and attitudes. Consider the following questions:
- How have your experiences with different religious services shaped your perspective on faith and spirituality?
- In what ways do you see commonalities among various religious beliefs and practices?
- How does the idea of belonging to something bigger than ourselves resonate with you personally?
- Reflect on a time when you felt a sense of unity or connection with others, regardless of differences in belief or background.
- How can recognizing our shared humanity and desires for goodness and belonging help promote understanding and harmony in a diverse society?
Similar quotes
“religions have much, much more in common than they like to admit. The beliefs are almost always the same; it’s just that the histories are different. Everybody wants to believe in a higher power. Everybody wants to belong to something bigger than themselves, and everybody wants company in doing that. They want there to be a force of good on earth, and they want an incentive to be a part of that force. They want to be able to prove their belief and their belonging, through rituals and devotion. They want to touch the enormity.”
“Race is different purely as a social construction, not as inherent difference. And religion - whether you believe in God or Yahweh or Allah or something else, odds are that at heart you want the same things. For whatever reason, we like to focus on the 2 percent that's different, most of the conflict in the world comes from that.”
“It's only in the finer points that it gets complicated and contentious, the inability to realize that no matter what our religion or gender or race or geographic background, we all have about 98 percent in common with each other.... For whatever reason, we like to focus on the 2 percent that's different, and most of the conflict in the world comes from that.”
“The beliefs are almost always the same; it’s just that the histories are different. Everybody wants to believein a higher power. Everybody wants to belong to something bigger than themselves, and everybody wants company in doing that.”
“Everybody wants to be fancy and new. Nobody wants to be themselves. I mean, maybe people want to be themselves, but they want to be different, with different clothes or shorter hair or less fat. It's a fact. If there was a guy who just liked being himself and didn't want to be anybody else, that guy would be the most different guy in the world and everybody would want to be him.”