In the following, I would like to talk about the possible spiritual gain through Jesus and the True Parents.
At first glance, it might seem as if I were leaving the interreligious perspective behind and retreating once again behind the walls of individual religions. For this reason, I treat this topic in a separate chapter.
From my point of view, however, I remain within an interreligious perspective.
Why shouldn’t we talk together about our faith in certain individuals and the unique theological achievements of different religions?
Do Buddhists truly have no Jesus, Christians no Buddha, and Muslims no True Parents?
In a quote I mentioned earlier, Sun Myung Moon says that he realized in the spiritual world that the founders of religions and many saints throughout history are friends – all belong to the tribe of God.
If all religions were initiated by God - as I am convinced - then it is we humans who build the walls between religions, not God.
Yet walls are not infinitely high.
At a certain height, they can be overcome.
Overcoming religious boundaries
Did Jesus come only for Christians, or for all humanity?
Did Buddha ever say that his teaching was intended solely for Indians and must remain closed to others?
Of course, spiritual achievements are given for all of humanity.
At different times, something new was spiritually opened through extraordinary individuals - something that had not existed before and was inaccessible to earlier generations.
These were victories for both God and humankind.
But then people came and divided between those who believed in one path and those who believed in another.
These divisions are human-made.
When we dissolve the walls in our minds, we realize that we are all brothers and sisters - united on the way to God.
Since Jesus, something has been opened in heaven that was won for all people.
Yet it is often said that only those who believe can benefit from it - a separation once again created by human beings.
But is this separation really absolute before God?
In many places, it still seems a taboo to engage with the spiritual achievements of other religions or to accept something that originates from a supposedly "foreign" or even "hostile" tradition.
What happens when we ignore the walls?
What if we simply cross the boundaries between religions?
Some might say, "It must stop at the sacraments."
Is it really a mortal sin before God to partake in a sacrament of another religion?
Yet there are Christian clergy who are also Zen masters. I know a Catholic who was blessed by the True Parents, and a member of the Unification Movement who was baptized by the Baptists.
Divine unity or human chaos?
"What a mess! Where would it lead us?" – some might think.
But what would God say about this "mess"?
Would he really reject us, Christians with Muslims, Hindus with Jews, standing hand in hand at his door?
I understand that not everyone shares these reflections.
There are certainly legitimate concerns - for example, that inexperienced people might be led astray.
Yet in a modern, globalized world, boundaries can no longer be maintained permanently - not even between religions.
Rather than fighting against this development, we can consciously help to shape it.
We only reach the goal together
This does not mean that everyone has to be able to do everything.
A team thrives on different strengths. It is not necessary for everyone to have the same abilities – rather, we should complement each other's strengths to achieve a greater goal.
God’s goal is not to lead one religion to success, but to create a peaceful world where people are united with Him in love.
On the following pages, I will share my personal understanding of faith and the experiences I have had in connection with the name "True Parents."