Religion and Theology

This paper seeks to explain ultimate sacred reality, specifically its characterization, the reasons for it, as well as how it addresses the problem of evil and the idea of religious diversity. This paper also presents a description of a sacred reality firmly based on logic and opposed to traditional religion.

Sacred reality is traditionally regarded by the majority of people as a reality where God exists and imposes his will on all his creation. Almost everyone in this world has been born and raised in a home and society of traditional theism. Religion and religious tradition have undeniably shaped the lives of generations of people from the oldest religion, namely Hinduism, to among the youngest, such as Islam. Nevertheless, religion has failed to give definite answers to the most basic questions about truth and reality as well as the problem of evil. Sacred reality is definitely not based on any religious doctrine that presupposes the existence of a human-like God nor is it based on the idea of a constant struggle between good and evil. It is rather about the existence of a Being who encompasses everything and everyone without any regard for its goodness or evil.

Being instead of God
Traditional religion almost always believes in a human-like God who, by such description, falls short of so many things. The very fact that God is portrayed as a human being, or even an animal or plant, limits God and his power. Why Because it is simply impossible to believe in an omnipotent, omniscient and omnipresent God who would after all just look like you and me. If God should be all-powerful, then it must logically defy any limiting description and hence God must remain, at least to some degree, mentally inconceivable. Ultimate sacred reality is therefore one where an indescribable Being encompasses all reality.

Neither Good nor Evil
Now, on the subject of good and evil, traditional religion believes that good is rewarded and evil punished. Nevertheless, several religions teach forgiveness even before punishment, and which therefore cancels the punishment. Consequently, the sacred reality imposed by religion on people is that of injustice on earth and where real justice is only possible in a faraway place after death. This notion therefore opposes the idea of an all-powerful God who is supposed to command good and banish evil. True sacred reality is therefore one where the Being who encompasses all of it has no judgment of good and evil. Everything is neither good nor evil but just another aspect of this Being one can roughly call God.

On Religious Diversity
The question then arises on what really is the reason behind religious diversity and how ultimate sacred reality can explain it. The explanation is twofold. First of all, ultimate sacred reality presupposes a Being that encompasses all  both the things one would basically label as good and even those traditionally considered evil. This implies that this being does not take sides and therefore does not impose judgment. This Being therefore is just, kind, generous and forgiving  and at the same time evil and inhuman. This Being is neither only Good nor only Evil but rather One, Whole and Perfect. The second part of the explanation is therefore hinged upon the premise that basically around 84 of all human beings (Major Religions. 2007)  may fail to see this idea of a One, Whole and Perfect Being. Most people see either only the Good or only the Evil aspect of this Being. For those who have seen only the Good, they have built religions of a good God. For those who have seen only the Evil, they have built religions of a just God who delivers endless punishment. And for each learned person who sees another singular aspect of God, his salvation or saving grace for example, another religion is born. Religious diversity therefore is nothing but a result of an incomplete view of the total, complete Being that is God.

Conclusion
Ultimate sacred reality is one where God is a Being which defies any singular characteristic normally attributed to humans and things and anything that can be conceived by the mind. The Being is therefore indescribable and unnamed and the only thing that can be deduced from its supposed existence is the idea that it is the sum total of all things. This Being also disregards Good and Evil. Moreover, it remains One, Whole and Perfect, and where one fails to see this completeness, he clings to a particular aspect of God, which is usually supported by one of the many traditional religions.