Universal and Particular Understanding in Religion
Religion has two aspects; universal and particular aspects. Universal aspect of religion is close each other, all religion come from one source, perennial wisdom. In philosophical terms that means a knowledge, which hit always be and will always be in universal character both in the sense of existing among peoples of different climes and epochs in dealing with universal principles. Realization and attainment this knowledge only will be found in symbols, rites, and images of massage from heaven or divine given to all traditions. Second, particular aspect of religion is different appearance of perennial wisdom, such as Islam, Christianity, Jew, Hindu, etc.
Different ability of recipient will constitute the One as causes of multiplicity from experience of religious phenomena. This happens because of different modest of experiencing to the divine. Different of philosophical and theological theory concerning reality and the implication of conduct will produce different experience. We can say that all religions have melting point in perennial wisdom, but they are different appearance in manifestation.
Perennial wisdom is pure metaphysics or science as ultimate reality, which not merely constructed by human mind. It also cannot be reduced to particular human mind, such as psychology, anthropology, philosophy and so forth. Perennial wisdom is a knowledge that lies at the heart of religion. To understand religion in the greater portion we should back to traditional aspect of religion, when religion born. To find the sacred thing from all religion we must use comparative religion approach.
However, religion as particular aspect is bias, because it has different truth claim. Religious followers tend to absolutized their truth of belief. In fact, all religions have perennial wisdom that is similar with them. In this way, religious leader should more active in dialog to solve that truth claim.
I think, If all religions have same source from ultimate reality and different religion just different manifestation of truth, all religious follower not must claims their doctrine as better than another, because the different doctrine just different respond for the divine experiences. There are many factor posses to religion, religious follower incumbent to find deepest meaning of religion not from truncated knowledge, but from traditional knowledge, in heart of all religion. Every body must realize that religions is way, not truly purpose, the purpose of religion is to find kindness for another human and near to bliss of God.[]
