Compare 2 World religions

Philosopher of religion Huston Smith asserts that all the major religions of the world can be compared to a group of hikers climbing up different sides of a high mountain. Each hiker (and religion) takes a unique route to the top. While they are climbing the mountain, they cannot necessarily see one another. They may not even be aware that those in the other climbing parties are also ascending the mountain. They think they are alone as they make the ascent. Yet when they reach the peak, the climbers are surprised to find one another. “It is possible to climb life’s mountain from any side, but when the top is reach the trails converge. At base, in the foothills of theology, ritual, and organizational structure, the religions are distinct… But beyond these differences, the same goal beckons.” (Smith, The World’s Religions)

And yet Stephen Prothero, in God is Not One argues: ““This sentiment, however well-intentioned, is neither accurate nor ethically responsible… we know in our bones that the world’s religions are different from one another. … We pretend these differences are trivial because it makes us feel safer, or more moral. But pretending the world’s religions are the same does not make our world safer. Like all forms of ignorance, it makes our world more dangerous. What we need on this furiously religious planet is a realistic view of where religious rivals clash and where they can cooperate.”

Think back over the religions studied this semester. Then answer the following in a well-thought-out essay (submitted in the Turnitin folder attached to this unit):

What do you think of what Huston Smith is saying about the different world religions?

Do you agree with his position or with that of Stephen Prothero?

Are the various world religions each hoping to get to the same mountaintop? Why or why not?

Illustrate your answer with specific examples that compare at least two western religions (Judaism, Christianity, or Islam) and two eastern religions (Hinduism, Jainism, Buddhism, or Chinese religions) with each other. (Make sure you don’t just compare eastern religions to each other and then western religions to each other. Compare eastern and western religions in your examples.)

N.B.: This takes the place of a final exam for the course so this should be the strongest essay you can write. This is NOT to be discussion posting length but is to be detailed, giving illustrations from the various material we’ve covered this semester and citing references. This is your chance to show me what you’ve learned and how you can apply it to a specific comparative religion question.