Is Religion all about perspective?

John Godfrey Saxe's ( 1816-1887) version of the famous Indian legend,



It was six men of Indostan,

To learning much inclined,

Who went to see the Elephant

(Though all of them were blind),

That each by observation

Might satisfy his mind.



The First approach'd the Elephant,

And happening to fall

Against his broad and sturdy side,

At once began to bawl:

"God bless me! but the Elephant

Is very like a wall!"



The Second, feeling of the tusk,

Cried, -"Ho! what have we here

So very round and smooth and sharp?

To me 'tis mighty clear,

This wonder of an Elephant

Is very like a spear!"



The Third approach'd the animal,

And happening to take

The squirming trunk within his hands,

Thus boldly up and spake:

"I see," -quoth he- "the Elephant

Is very like a snake!"



The Fourth reached out an eager hand,

And felt about the knee:

"What most this wondrous beast is like

Is mighty plain," -quoth he,-

"'Tis clear enough the Elephant

Is very like a tree!"



The Fifth, who chanced to touch the ear,

Said- "E'en the blindest man

Can tell what this resembles most;

Deny the fact who can,

This marvel of an Elephant

Is very like a fan!"



The Sixth no sooner had begun

About the beast to grope,

Then, seizing on the swinging tail

That fell within his scope,

"I see," -quoth he,- "the Elephant

Is very like a rope!"



And so these men of Indostan

Disputed loud and long,

Each in his own opinion

Exceeding stiff and strong,

Though each was partly in the right,

And all were in the wrong!



MORAL,



So, oft in theologic wars

The disputants, I ween,

Rail on in utter ignorance

Of what each other mean;

And prate about an Elephant

Not one of them has seen!
Is Religion all about perspective?
"Though each was partly right, and all were in the wrong!"

How are each of the religions partly right?

I'm curious, because I agree with your conclusions, but I can't help noticing that one small line. What is that something 'right' that all religions share?





-----I agree, and when we put all the puzzle pieces together...
Reply:yup.



http://blog.360.yahoo.com/blog-Tz8tGkw6e...



And thanks for the reminder. I'm going to do my best to revive my inner Pangel.
Reply:My perspective is based on my knowledge, experiences, opinions and bla bla bla.



I've never touched an elephant and I would not assume that I know everything about it.



As for religion....perspective is absolutely part of the conception or mis-conception.



Some religions attempt to define what our consciousness will become after it leaves this body.



Many of us do believe that our individual understanding is the correct understanding. Obviously, our perspective is limited??