We’re not so different after all

Religion is the bane of all existence. The number of wars, disputes, and atrocities committed in the name of “god” is truly horrific. The inquisition, was a truly brutal time. The Christian church forced the conversion of Jews and Muslims via torture and death for several centuries. Tens of thousands suffered and/or died because they followed another version of the same or different gods. Those who didn’t convert faced expulsion from their homes or worse, if they refused to vacate. We think of this as ancient history. But, it’s really closer than we think. The first inquisition came in the 12th century. But, the Brutal Spanish inquisition lasted from the late 1400’s through 1842. But, all of that is changing now. We have religious freedom in many places. And, today we celebrate World religion day: when we realize We’re not so different after all.

This may be the most important holiday on the calendar, since most focus on one aspect of one religion. If we can learn to accept and understand there are different perspectives, we may just avert untold atrocities. There are thousands of religions in the world. But, over 80% of the Earth’s population subscribe to a dozen major religions:

Baha’i, Buddhism, Christianity, Confucianism, Hinduism, Islam, Jainism, Judaism, Shinto, Sikhism, Taoism, and Zoroastrianism.

And, within each of these headings, there are thousands of variations. Then, there are the other 15 to 20% who either have no religion or follow smaller religions. While we may have a different take on who we are, how we got here, and what we will become, it’s high time we realize, we’re not so different.

Why can’t you see We’re not so different after all?

All living things on Earth have 3 basic needs, Food, water, shelter… and air (our 4, 4 basic needs). All else is psychological. Among those, humans want connection and purpose. This is where religion comes in. It gives structure, purpose, and community. Unfortunately, being a part of any particular community tends to preclude others who aren’t part of your clique. The term “brotherhood of man” is a theme we can all agree with, despite its own shortcomings. And, the term finds its way into popular culture in places like “How to succeed in business” and songs like John Lennon’s “Imagine”. take out the paternalistic undertone, and you’re on to something. If, instead of focusing on our differences, we explored similarities, the world would, indeed, be a better place. “Imagine” that.

The fact that there are thousands of religious sects emphasizes our need to be, at once, part of and separate from the masses. Religion is a highly personal endeavor. While worship, redemption, reverence, and fear are hallmarks of most religions, they are not prerequisites. Religion is, at base, philosophy. It provides a platform for purpose. But, don’t forget, we do have the ability to find purpose for ourselves. And, as for the sense of community, we all breathe the same air, live in the warmth of the same sun, and seek comfort and shelter from the elements. So, we are already part of the world community. That is truly “world religion”. We are all humans, and, we are related to animals, plants, and the very planet we live on, which is all part of an ever expanding universe.

Religion is just a crutch to make us feel important, when we are really just a speck of dust in eternity.

Judge not, lest ye be judged

When one group proclaims their religion is better than another, they miss the point of religion. It’s not common for a religion to call for the destruction of non-believers. In the Judeo Christian bible, there are acts of God where the almighty strikes down non-believers. But, if you believe that, you should not ignore that it’s God doing the smiting, not man. And, any interpretation of a religious text that calls for killing should be taken with a grain of salt. Most of the confusion comes in from people telling us what a religious passage means. The inquisition sprung from a heretical reading of the bible, and used projection to accuse others of heresy. More recently, Islamic Fatwas and calls for Jihad, likewise, stem from heretical interpretations of the Koran.

I refuse to listen to Cat Stevens anymore because he bought the interpretation that heretics should die when a fatwa was issued on Salman Rushdie for releasing the book “Satanic Verses”. Stevens wrote and sang “Well, if you want to sing out, sing out/ And if you want to be free, be free/ ‘Cause there’s a million things to be”. But, he joined a chorus that threatened a man’s life for doing just that. To this day, Rushdie lives in constant fear. The fatwa was issued in the 1980’s. And, he was just stabbed by a religious zealot in 2022. So much for religious tolerance. If you read a passage in a religious text that says an unbeliever should be put to death, it’s time to find a new religion. Guess what: there are thousands to choose from. And, if they don’t suit you, make your own.

But, do everyone a favor, leave the killing out of it.

The elephant in the room

While every religion boasts differences that attract different people. There are common themes across all religions. Things like belief in a higher power and an afterlife abound. They all tackle the same concept, though: the meaning of life. The story of the blind men and the elephant points out the blindness of following one religion over another:

A group of blind men heard that a strange animal, called an elephant, had been brought to the town, but none of them were aware of its shape and form. Out of curiosity, they said: “We must inspect and know it by touch, of which we are capable”. So, they sought it out, and when they found it they groped about it. The first person, whose hand landed on the trunk, said, “This being is like a thick snake”. For another one whose hand reached its ear, it seemed like a kind of fan. As for another person, whose hand was upon its leg, said, the elephant is a pillar like a tree-trunk. The blind man who placed his hand upon its side said the elephant, “is a wall”. Another who felt its tail, described it as a rope. The last felt its tusk, stating the elephant is that which is hard, smooth and like a spear.

This is why we fight over religion, all religions follow different paths to “god”. One sees God as a kindly old man, others as an elephant or a cloud. While all are right in a certain perspective, to truly understand the concept of “god”, divinity, and the meaning of life, looking at all religions and philosophies from a distance puts them into perspective and reveals the bigger picture. This is why world religion day is more important than the others. By changing perspectives, we realize the same goals, and come to the conclusion: we aren’t so different after all. Instead of getting one piece of the puzzle, we can see it all. The 3 wise men of the Bible got this. They were Zoroastrian, but they payed homage to a Jewish child, because the divine transcends any particular religion.

Go outside your cocoon

Most people spend the majority of their life inside the cocoon of their own religion. Christians warn their children to stay away from Jews and Muslims. And, the same holds true in reverse. The whole religion would collapse if exposed to external views (or so the mindset goes). So, chances are, if you were raised in one religion, you identify with and associate, primarily, with people of that same faith. You see the cognitive dissonance in parents of differing backgrounds. People ask “are you going to send Junior to church or Temple?”. Well, children exposed to multiple religions tend to be better consumers of religion. Where born and bred Christian only knows Christian values, the one exposed to multiple religions can see good and bad in all.

Even if you were raised in one religion, don’t be afraid to broaden your horizons. You may be surprised by what you find. If you ask a priest about a different religion, say Buddhism, you’ll probably get a response like “they’re all misguided God’s children”. So, asking someone in your own religious ecosystem won’t be productive. And, if you’re an outsider, people in another religion aren’t too quick to allow access to their world either. You get a lot of you can’t or wouldn’t understand. This is a problem in the world. Everyone acts like they have the secret to eternity. In fact, they are protecting their fragile belief system. Or, they try to force their religion on people. We need to break this isolationist way of thinking. There is no one right answer.

The fact that there are so many different religions proves that there are different paths to enlightenment. And, most people don’t reach that goal, but use religion as a comfort, scapegoat, or social tool, especially politicians.

Breaking bread will prove we’re not so different after all

Instead of fearing other religions, we should be open and accepting of differing beliefs. And, remember, any mass religion is not going to have the exact answers to everything for everybody. That’s why there are so many. Think of it like getting dental work done. If you get a crown, the replacement for the tooth is custom designed to fit your mouth exactly the way the old tooth did. If you use a generic block tooth, it won’t fit right or perform the way you need it to. The same is true of religion. Each person has his/her own path. How you get there is never the same as someone else. While religion can give the approximate shape, they can’t exactly match yours.

So, let’s put aside the isolationism and reach out to others. Going back to our basic needs, we all need to eat. So, sharing a meal or breaking bread with people from different religious backgrounds can only be helpful. Maybe you have been touching an elephant’s trunk, while they are touching it’s tail. Compare notes, and find out what you’re really dealing with here. To help on your spiritual journey, we have some recipes to share, that just may help bridge the gap between the safety of your own singular version of the eternal and that of the dreaded “others”. So, let’s celebrate world religion day by doing what children learn in the sandbox: Share your ideas and experience. You may find, we’re not so different after all.

Vegan Saffron Risotto

cheffd

Print Recipe

Prep Time 20 minutes mins

Cook Time 30 minutes mins

soaking beans 8 hours hrs

Course Main Course

Cuisine American, Indian, Mediterranean

Servings 4 People

Ingredients

  

• Olive oil for cooking
• Salt and Pepper to taste
• 1 Cup Chopped Fresh Shallots
• 2 Tbsp Chopped Fresh Garlic
• 1/2 Cup Dry Chic Peas
• 1 tsp Ground Cumin
• 1/4 Cup Chopped Sweet Onion
• 1 each Bay Leaf
• 1/2 tsp Saffron
• 1 Cup Zucchini cut into 1/2 inch cubes
• 1/2 Cup Diced Fresh tomato
• 1 Cup White Wine
• 2 Cups Arborio or carnaroli rice
• 4 to 5 Cup Vegetable Broth
• 2 Tbsp Coconut Oil
• 1/4 Cup vegan Parmesan cheese
• 1/4 Cup Chopped Fresh herbs: Thyme, parsley, cilantro,scallion mixed
• 1 Bunch Fresh Asparagus, cut in 1/2 inch lengths

Instructions

 

• Soak the chic peas in water for at least 4 hours, preferably all day or overnight. They should at least double in volume. Drain well before cooking.
• Heat a little olive oil in a heavy pot over medium high heat. Add in the onion and 1/2 the garlic. Stir and cook until translucent. Add the bay leaf and cumin. Then stir in the chic peas. Cover with double the amount of water to beans. Bring to a boil, then taper back to a simmer. Cook until they are soft (about 20 minutes). Season with salt and pepper. You can do this ahead of time or while you are preparing the risotto.
• Simmer the vegetable stock in another pot
• Heat a large wide pan or pot with high sides with a generous coating of olive oil over medium high heat. Stir in the shallot and garlic. Cook until translucent. Add in the saffron, turn the heat down to medium and stir until the color blooms. Then add in the rice. Stir to coat evenly with olive oil. The better it is coated with oil, the better the integrity of the rice when it is cooked.
• Add the wine to the pot, stir well, and bring to a simmer. Stir as needed to keep from sticking. When the wine is mostly absorbed begin to ladle in the hot vegetable broth, one ladle at a time. You want to cover the rice with liquid and continue cooking. As it begins to evaporate, add more, monitoring the done-ness of the rice. When the rice is soft enough to chew, but maintains its shape, cook down until dry. Stir in the tomatoes, zucchini, Asparagus, chic peas, coconut oil, and "cheese". Season with salt and pepper. Fold in the herbs. Serve immediately

Notes

If you have any leftovers, you can make them into arancini or rissotto cakes. For arancini, put a ball of cheese in the middle of some of the rissotto, roll int a ball, bread, then fry. Or skip putting the cheese in the middle, and just make balls or patties, bread, and fry or pan sear.

Keyword Healthy, plant based, Rissotto, Saffron, vegan, vegetables

Grasshopper Pale Ale

cheffd

Print Recipe

Prep Time 1 hour hr

Cook Time 1 hour hr 30 minutes mins

fermentation period 30 days d

Course beer

Cuisine Ale, American, beer, British, Indian

Servings 5 Gallons

Equipment

• Car boys, bottling equipment, air locks, and basic brewing equipment

Ingredients

  

• 6 Gallons Water
• 1 Lb Pale ale Malt
• 1/4 Lb Marris otter Malt
• 1/2 Lb Dingemans Malt
• 9 Lb Golden Malt extract
• 1 oz Crystal Hops
• 2 oz Cascades Hops
• 2 oz Centennial Hops
• 2 oz Helga Hops
• 2 Oz Columbus Hops
• 1 each whirlflock tablet for clarification
• 11.5 Grams Safe ale s-04 Dry ale yeast
• 3 oz Cascades hops for Dry hopping
• 1 Cup Priming sugar

Instructions

 

• Clean and sterilize all your brewing equipment.
• Bring 3 gallons of water to a boil. Place the whole grains into a brewing bag. Simmer for 30 minutes. Then remove them from the water.
• Whisk in the malt extract and return to a boil. Stir as needed to prevent sticking and scorching.
• Add in the first 3 hops and continue boiling. Stir as needed to keep from bubbling over. Boil for 30 minutes.
• Add the helga and columbus hops, plus the floculation tablet or Irish moss to help with clarification. Boil for another 15 minutes.
• Strain the liquid well to remove all sediment. Use sparging bags and cheesecloth if available. Transfer the liquid to a carboy and add cold water until you get about 5 1/2 to 6 gallons in the carboy. You will lose 1/2 to 1 gallon when particles settle out during fermentation.
• Place a rubber stopper with a bolowout tube on the carboy and put the end of the tube in a container with a little water so the extra krausen can blow off. Leave this on for about 3 days. At this time, the activity level will be quite high. Check it daily to empty the receptacle if it overflows and check the activity level.
• After about 3 days, the activity should be under control. At this point, add in the dry hop pellets. Place an airlock on the carboy and allow to ferment for another 11 days.
• After 2 weeks in the carboy, it is ready to bottle. Sterilize your bottling equipment. Carefully siphon the liquid to a racking tub. Dissolve priming sugar in hot or boiling water and whisk it into the beer. Bottle and cap the beer and place in a dry dark place for another 2 weeks.
• After 2 weeks in the bottle, it is ready to drink. You can age it longer if you want.

Keyword Dry Hopped, Grasshopper, Medium bodied, Pale ale