The God Squad: Are we all on the same mountain?

Rabbi Marc Gellman, Tribune Content Agency on Feb 9, 2023

The belief in John as you state it requires us to believe that clearly righteous people like Gandhi and the Dali Lama and the Buddha and Native American sages are not going to be allowed entry into Heaven. This corollary belief seems to me both wrong and cruel. Spiritual giants should be treated as giants not just on earth but also in Heaven.

And finally, a pragmatic concern. We live in a world and a culture that is increasingly secular and often hostile to organized religion. Since our message to the world is basically identical, what good does it do to spend our time in interdenominational bickering? Let us band together to bring hope and love and unity to the world and leave the final resolution of thorny theological issues to the end of days. Anyway, that is the belief of the God Squad and I pray that in the time to come that will also be proven to be the belief of God.

R's was not the only email I received. Many readers wrote in with touching stories of interfaith affirmation.

J, from Amityville, Long Island, wrote:

I would simply say, every single living being on Earth is walking up the mountain during their time on this planet, hopefully humbled by a faith in something larger than themselves. If we all realized life is precious, maybe we would act differently. I wholeheartedly agree and find comfort in your final words, "The mountain is only true for those who believe that God did not give all the truth to one faith."

B, from Little Neck, NY, wrote:

As a child I moved to a house on a cul-de-sac. My family was the only Christian family on the block; all the other families were Jewish. Ten years after we moved in, my mother died unexpectedly in her sleep. Most of the neighbors had never attended a Christian wake before and many were somewhat uneasy, but they came to show their respect and to express their condolences. The following evening, a few of the neighborhood men came to the house with some food and sat in the living room talking with my father. The same thing happened the next evening, only this time the Rabbi came with them. This went on with the neighbors for several days. We were probably the only Greek Orthodox family that ever “sat shivah”. It is now a little more than 54 years later. I will never forget the generosity, love, and comfort of my neighbors. It mattered not at all that we came from different backgrounds and practiced different religions. Grief and friendship know no bounds.

Happy climbing!

(Send ALL QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS to The God Squad via email at godsquadquestion@aol.com. Rabbi Gellman is the author of several books, including “Religion for Dummies,” co-written with Fr. Tom Hartman. Also, the new God Squad podcast is now available.)