Old Religions

People believe in many ways. Some follow God, some follow philosophy, some follow their own conscience. From Catholicism and Mormonism to Buddhism, Sikhism, and Zoroastrianism, each tradition offers paths toward ethical living, inward reflection, and connection with the world. Despite the differences, they all share a simple goal: helping humans live meaningful lives.

La gente cree de muchas maneras. Algunos siguen a Dios, otros siguen la filosofía, y otros siguen su propia conciencia. Desde el catolicismo y el mormonismo hasta el budismo, el sijismo y el zoroastrismo, cada tradición ofrece caminos hacia una vida ética, la reflexión interior y la conexión con el mundo. A pesar de las diferencias, todas comparten un objetivo sencillo: ayudar a los seres humanos a vivir vidas con sentido.

Ludzie wierzą na różne sposoby. Niektórzy podążają za Bogiem, inni za filozofią, a jeszcze inni za własnym sumieniem. Od katolicyzmu i mormonizmu po buddyzm, sikhizm i zaratusztrianizm, każda tradycja oferuje drogi prowadzące do etycznego życia, refleksji nad sobą i nawiązywania kontaktu ze światem. Mimo różnic, wszystkie mają wspólny cel: pomagać ludziom w odnajdywaniu sensu życia.

What

Across cultures and centuries, humans have asked the same deep questions: Why are we here? What gives life meaning? How should we live?

• Agnostic – holds that the existence of God or ultimate reality is unknown or unknowable.
• Atheist – does not believe in the existence of a deity, often grounding meaning in reason, ethics, or human experience.
• Buddhist – focuses on understanding suffering and cultivating wisdom, compassion, and mindfulness.
• Catholic – a Christian tradition centered on the teachings of Jesus, the sacraments, and the authority of the Church.
• Christian – follows the life and teachings of Jesus Christ, emphasizing love, salvation, and faith.
• Hindu – a diverse family of traditions exploring duty, karma, rebirth, and liberation (moksha).
• Jain – emphasizes nonviolence, self-discipline, and spiritual liberation through ethical living.
• Jewish – rooted in covenant, law, tradition, and ethical responsibility to God and community.
• Mormon – a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, centered on Jesus Christ and modern revelation.
• Latter-day Saint – emphasizes faith in Christ, family, moral living, and continuing revelation.
• Muslim – follows Islam, worshiping one God (Allah) and living according to the Qur’an and the Five Pillars.
• Zoroastrian – one of the world’s oldest religions, focused on truth, moral choice, and the struggle between good and evil.
• Sikh – teaches devotion to one God, equality of all people, and service to others.
• Spiritual – seeks meaning, connection, and inner growth outside formal religious structures.
• Other – includes countless personal, cultural, or emerging belief systems not captured by a single label.

How

If we look across holy books, scriptures, and foundational texts of all major religions and spiritual traditions, the most repeated and connecting themes are remarkably similar, even when the details differ. Here is what stands out:

1. Ethical behavior and moral guidance

• Treat others with kindness, fairness, and respect.
• This includes avoiding harm, deceit, greed, and injustice in daily life.
• Examples:
  • Christianity – “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
  • Buddhism – nonviolence (ahimsa) and compassion.
  • Islam – justice, charity, honesty.

2. Compassion, empathy, and care for others

• Helping the poor, the weak, and those in need.
• This involves forgiveness, patience, and acting with mercy toward others.
• Examples:
  • Judaism – tzedakah (charity) and chesed (kindness).
  • Sikhism – seva (selfless service).
  • Zoroastrianism – good thoughts, words, and deeds.

3. Self-discipline and personal improvement

• Controlling impulses, cultivating virtues, and refining character.
• This includes developing focus, ethical habits, and inner strength.
• Examples:
  • Hinduism – dharma (duty) and self-control.
  • Buddhism – mindfulness, meditation, and ethical conduct.
  • Jainism – strict ethical and ascetic practices.

4. Inner reflection via connection with something greater

• Prayer, meditation, devotion, or contemplation.
• This involves seeking truth, enlightenment, or closeness to God.
• Examples:
  • Christian – prayer and communion with God.
  • Spiritual – meditation and awareness.
  • Buddhism – mindfulness to cultivate compassion.

5. The universal single rule

• Most sacred texts repeat some version of:
• “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”
• Examples:
  • Judaism – “What is hateful to you, do not do to your fellow.”
  • Islam – “None of you truly believes until he loves for his brother what he loves for himself.”
  • Buddhism – “Hurt not others in ways that you yourself would find hurtful.”

Why

At their core, all of these beliefs (religious, spiritual, or non-religious) share a few fundamental human elements:

• Search for meaning – each offers a way to understand life, existence, and our place in the world.
• Moral guidance – all provide ideas about right and wrong, responsibility, and how to treat others.
• Response to uncertainty – they help people face suffering, death, fear, and the unknown.
• Identity and belonging – they give people a sense of who they are and where they belong.
• Framework for values – compassion, honesty, self-control, and respect appear across traditions.
• Ways of coping – through reflection, ritual, ethics, community, or reason, they support emotional resilience.
• Human storytelling – each uses narratives, symbols, or philosophies to make sense of reality.