Time for some rants and personal insight! So I couldn't help but dwell on a comment that was made in class by one of my classmates. The remark was that everyone's following their own religion; hence there are "6 billion or so religions". If I remember correctly, Prof. Goodman felt there was no foundation in this argument.
I actually agree with the student. I do believe that there is a base to what people are following, such as general beliefs. Yet there are always going to be tweaks made to fit someone's lifestyle, likings, ideas, etc. At the end of the day, people will make exceptions to beliefs, practices and whatnot.
For example, my uncle likes to believe that he is the greatest example in this universe of what a Sikh should be like. He believes he is a "pure" Sikh...never mind the fact that he already is a Khalsa disciple, which is considered to be a "pure" devotee. No, he takes it to another level and sincerely believes he is a true example of a Sikh. For instance, he provides evidence in his dietary rules. He doesn't eat any food from restaurants and the like because it's touched by non-Sikhs. I didn't realize the box of crackers he buys from the grocery store were made and packaged by Sikhs! Even more importantly, he failed to report that he had a cow in his backyard that he milked everyday himself. Cue the sarcasm.
My point is that people either make exceptions to existing religious guidelines, add in new rules or take out certain ones to fit their needs and desires. Hell, even I'll admit that I make exceptions. When I should be waking up early -before sunrise- to do my prayers, I'm actually in bed, sleeping. My reason? Because between the hectic school schedule and my personal schedule, I need the rest to be able to carry out a day's work, so I do my prayers after I return from classes. Getting up early to do prayers is supposed to be an "ambrosial period" where one can connect with themselves and God through prayers and meditation. Now it's not exactly an entirely big no-no that entails punishment but, nonetheless, I'm still making changes to fit my life. Hence, I'm not actually following what is religiously required.
An even better example is a view held by, if I may, a majority of people. Ever heard of others saying things like, "It's God's will when someone dies" or "It was so and so's time to leave this planet because God chooses our time"? Many religions state the divine will of God. If this is the case, then why are we still taking all these healthcare procedures and whatnot to either extend our lives or get rid of illnesses? If God controls when someone dies, then why tamper with this by taking medication and undergoing surgery to eradicate a fatal disease? I don't mean to sound harsh here or to offend anyone but when a loved one gets cancer, shouldn't we (for those who are religious) allow God to just take course and control the outcome since it's God's will to choose the time of death?
Yes, I do think there is a foundation to what adherents of a certain religion are following. But we're still transforming things here and there to fit our personal taste. Can there really be a "pure" disciple that follows the religion word by word, as stated in their respective holy text? I think it's impossible.
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