I am thankful for omnism. My partner introduced me to this belief, and it became quickly apparent how strongly it resonated with me. I have struggled with the concept of any one mainstream religion being the one and only infallible truth for far too long. Why is only one group right? That idea does not feel pure at all, and it does not kindle any joy or love.
Christ never founded any church, never created any state, never passed any law, never established any government or other authority. He wanted to put the law of God into the hearts of people, to make them self-governed.
-Herbert Newton
What if all religions are right, at least in part? In what ways can you identify and weave together common threads between them? This is why I thankfully identify as an omnist. I love studying any and all religions that I come across, even if it means recently learning from a friend about Pastafarianism (or the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster). I was researching Rastafarianism at the time, so the additional knowledge was well-timed.
One [person] who has purified [themself] thoroughly accomplishes more than a regiment of preachers. Out of purity and silence comes the word of power.
-Swami Vivekananda
By maintaining my curiosity as I explore the cultural wealths of the world, I can tune in and listen to my intuition to see and feel which common denominators I can and should adopt as universal truths across various religions. How many include some kind of water-based ritual for ablutions? Why are periods of fasting so prominent? Have you considered why certain religions push for pilgrimages to expand your horizons and experiences? I do not think any one religion is pure in and of itself. They have all been filtered slowly over time through human hands, thus introducing varying degrees of defilement and impurity.
Some people say, ‘[people are] selfish, greedy, and dissipated, and cannot be kind to other people.’
-Leo Tolstoy
This is not true.
We can be good.
Feel in your heart the kind of person you should be; this feeling will give you power.
It is up to each of us to purify our own beliefs and character. That is what I love about omnism. I carefully curate my beliefs to make me the best person I can be. Over time, I am slowly learning to be less preachy about it, too. I am happy to discuss the topic, but I think each person’s progress should be purely their own. I am overjoyed if they ask me questions. However, in the meantime, I will continue to prioritize my personal purification.
Moksha (ultimate liberation) means to purify one’s drashti (belief), and bondage denotes an impurity in one’s belief. It is verily because of the flawed belief that conflicts and divisiveness due to difference of opinion persists.
-Dada Bhagwan
Purity and impurity depend on oneself; no one can purify another.
-Buddha
Purity should not be overly serious nor is it childish, but it is childlike. To possess beliefs and curiosity simultaneously; to know you do not have all the answers yet still be at peace with that fact; to courageously explore for even more knowledge; to welcome guidance and assistance from other explorers. Pure openness and acceptance with love. Do not be foolish; do not be stubborn and closed off; find the ideal middle way for you.
Maybe it is wise. Maybe it is dumb. Time will tell.