Why are there so many religions in the world, and why do they continuously quarrel with each other?

Why are there so many religions in the world?

-- because there are so many types of people, because there are so many different kinds of people. Religion is one, but the languages of religion are different. The Jew understands one language, the Christian understands another language. The difference is of language. The Hindu speaks still another language -- but all differences are linguistic. Just as English can be translated into French and French can be translated into Italian and there is no conflict, so Christianity can be translated into Hinduism, Hinduism can be translated into Judaism -- there is no problem. One just needs clarity to see. A religious person will see that there is only one religion in the world -- although many are the manifestations. And there is nothing wrong. It is good. If these religions don't fight with each other and don't nag each other, it is perfectly good, it is enriching. It makes the…

Beloved master, why are there so many religions in the world, and why do these religions continuously quarrel with each other?

Hence, in the East a totally different kind of reading has existed which is nonexistent in the West. You would not like to read the same Bernard Shaw book again and again and again, or would you? Unless you are insane you would not like to read it again and again and again. What is the point? Once you have read it, it is finished! That's why the paperback has come into existence: read it and throw it. But in the East a different kind of reading exists: the same book is read again and again the whole life long. The TAO TEH CHING is not a book which can be published in paperback -- they are doing that now. It should not be published in paperback -- it cannot be, because it is a totally different kind of book. It has layers and layers of meaning. When for the…

Osho, wouldn’t it be good if there were only one religion on the earth? Wouldn’t that increase brotherhood and bring an end to violence, hostility and disputes?

Everyone their own paths, and from all paths together is formed that highway on which the feet of the age are advancing! Do not stop the advancing steps— life’s ocean is boundless. Life’s truth is not confined to one person. Do not stop the advancing steps— life’s ocean is unfathomable, life’s truth is not confined to one vision! Let multicolored flowers bloom here, with multicolored flowers is adorned that platter which worships life, which is great! Life’s truth is not confined to one color! Let everyone sing their own song of creation, freely! From all songs together is formed that great raga which bows to life, which is vast! Life’s truth is not confined to one song! Never confine life’s truth—to one song or to one Gita! Not to one color, one way, one style. It is the violent tendency in man that wants others to walk exactly as he…

Osho, what is religion, and why are there so many religions in the world? Is it not possible to have just one religion for the whole humanity?

No, even to support that idea is dangerous because that simply means, destroy others. But who are we? If somebody wants to remain a Hindu or a Mohammedan or a Christian, then it is his choice. It is nobody else's business. Religion is a private concern, a personal concern. You like a certain flower, and I don't like it, but that does not men that we are enemies. No, there is no need of one religion. But there can be one religiousness. People can belong to different kinds of religions but still they can carry the same quality of religiousness. Then there is no problem about whether they go to the church or to the synagogue or to the temple, or nowhere. They may not go anywhere their own house is a temple. It is possible -- not only possible, it should be made actual -- that there could be…

Beloved Osho, there are so many religions in the world which cause so many divisions amongst people, although all religions have good things in them. Why can't there be a religion which has the good things of all religions, which is accepted universally and which breaks down all divisions, thus causing a world fraternity? Kindly show the way.

Yes, Ashoka Agrawal, the religions have good things in them, that is true, but those good things also have bad sides. And a truly religious person will not bother about choosing; he will start living according to his consciousness. He will not follow Jesus, Buddha or Mahavira or Mohammed. To follow is to be political. Only the blind follow, the superstitious people follow, gullible people follow. The people who are intelligent try to understand Buddha, Mahavira, Krishna, but it is just an effort to understand the message, what these people were doing, what they were living. Finally, you have to discover your own inner light. That's what I call meditation: the moment you have discovered your own inner insight, you follow it. Then you are religious -- neither Hindu nor Mohammedan nor Christian. A religious quality, a fragrance will surround you. You will be more loving, more compassionate. And these…