Let’s Get Spiritual!

ASPECT	ZIONIST VALUES	ISLAMIC VALUES	CHRISTIANITY	BUDDHISM
Self-Identity	Emphasizes Jewish identity and connection to the land of Israel.	Focuses on Muslim identity as part of the community and followers of Allah.	Centers on the identity of Christians as followers of Jesus Christ.	Emphasizes individual and collective identity through practice and community.
Homeland	Advocates for a Jewish homeland in Israel, seen as a historical and spiritual center.	Values unity in the Muslim community, with historical ties to various regions and sacred sites.	Promotes the message of Jesus often in the context of personal and communal spirituality.	Values the land as sacred, especially in the context of practice and meditation.
Cultural Revival	Aims to revive Hebrew language, culture, and traditions.	Encourages preservation of Arabic language and Islamic traditions, though interpretations vary.	Seeks to uphold Christian traditions and cultural practices.	Encourages preservation of cultural practices but emphasizes spiritual enlightenment.
Social Justice	Aims for a democratic society; interpretations can vary.	Prioritises social justice, charity and community support, but interpretations can lead to conflict.	Emphasizes charity and care for the marginalized; can vary significantly by denomination.	Promotes compassion and non-harmful actions towards others.
Religious Freedom	Advocates for Jewish practices; criticized for treatment of minorities in Israel.	Encourages coexistence; extremist interpretations have led to violence by certain groups.	Generally promotes religious tolerance and peace, although historical conflicts exist.	Advocates for peace, harmony, and respect for all forms of life; rare instances of intolerance.
Historical Context	Emerged in response to anti-Semitism and the need for a safe haven.	Developed over centuries, with some factions committing violence under religious pretenses.	Has witnessed conflicts stemming from religious persecution and colonialism.	Practiced largely as a peaceful philosophy; violence is contrary to core teachings.
Terrorism Statistics	Instances of violence often tied to geopolitical tensions rather than religious mandate.	Significant number of verified terrorist attacks globally attributed to extremist groups (over 30,000 since 9/11).	Various terrorist acts committed historically and in modern times (e.g., anti-abortion violence); generally low compared to global statistics.	Extremely rare instances of violence; primarily pacifist teachings.

Being an adult and in command of your faculties, which would you choose to base a global religion on? Don’t trust the data? Doing your own research? Making your own observations? How do you know the sun rises in the east?

One of these is very similar to secular values and, curiously, appeared in history about the same time as secularism.

To me, spirituality must be based in reality or it is mere delusion. Below is the ‘Eight-Fold Path’ for those who are curious. In my comparative analysis of religions, I found the practicality and lack of appeal to higher powers of Buddhism helpful.

1. Right Understanding	Understanding the nature of reality (which is suffering) and the Four Noble Truths (which aim to end suffering).
2. Right Intent	Cultivating right intentions, such as compassion and altruism.
3. Right Speech	Engaging in truthful, harmonious, and beneficial communication.
4. Right Action	Acting ethically, avoiding harm to others, and engaging in good deeds.
5. Right Livelihood	Choosing a profession that does not harm living beings and aligns with Buddhist principles.
6. Right Effort	Cultivating positive states of mind and abandoning negative ones.
7. Right Mindfulness	Developing awareness of thoughts, feelings, and bodily sensations.
8. Right Concentration	Practicing meditation to achieve mental focus and clarity.

Spirituality is not something one attains after life and in death, but something we bring to each moment of every day.

P.S. Thanks to Olivia Newton-John for the reference!