• Connecting human hearts: Benefiting from our shared religious traditions
• Linear/deterministic vs. Non-linear/dependent origination Religious theory 
• Truth-based vs. Virtue-based religious thought

“Religion is arguably the most powerful and pervasive force on earth. Throughout history religious ideas and commitments have inspired individuals and communities of faith to transcend narrow self-interest in pursuit of higher values and truths. The record of history shows that noble acts of love, self-sacrifice, and service to others are frequently rooted in deeply held religious worldviews. At the same time, history clearly shows that religion has often been linked directly to the worst examples of human behavior.”

“The progression of people’s ability to talk about other religions has progressed from ‘us’ an ‘it,’ to ‘we’ and ‘they,’ and now we’re starting to get to ‘we’ and ‘you,’ but we must finally get to ‘we’ and ‘us.’”

“Understanding religion requires reflecting on how adherents of the religion understand and interpret its elements, for religion does not exist in a vacuum; it exists in the hearts, minds, and behaviors of human beings.”

“Religions can have a life affirming influence or a corrupting influence. The benefit of comparing beliefs is to see the shared structures, patterns and tendencies. It is important to challenge ‘sup-positions,’ to think in new ways, and have dialogues.”

We have no need of any sect
Valorously transcending the obstacles
of narrow partisanship, of cliques,
as human beings
as stark-naked human beings,
live, move, and for the sake of the joyous new society
fight young people!
And I too will fight!
The sect of non-sectarianism
the sect called human being, which is no sect at all —
let us call this the Human Party

Connecting Human Hearts: 

“The inherent role of religion can be defined as taking human hearts that are divided and connecting them through a universal human spirit. Arnold Toynbee addressed that goal when he wrote, ‘At a time when peoples with very different traditions, faiths and ideals have come into sudden and close con-tact with one another, the survival of humankind requires that people be willing to live with one another and to accept that there is more than one path to truth and salvation.’

“This willingness to live and let live is reinforced if we adopt Makiguchi’s more proactive stance, that ‘by benefiting others, we benefit ourselves.’ This point is the touchstone for formation of twenty-first century globalism. It is also the tough challenge that no world religion can avoid if it is to be worthy of the name and if it is to fulfill what I see as the true role of faith: providing the profound spiritual energy that will support a mutually beneficial globalism.”—Daisaku Ikeda, For the Sake of Peace

“Religious strife must be avoided at all cost; under no circumstance should it be allowed. People may hold different religious beliefs, but the bottom line is that we are all human beings. We all seek hap-piness and desire peace. Religion should bring people together. It should unite the potential for good in people’s hearts toward benefiting society and humanity and creating a better future.” —Daisaku Ikeda, For Today and Tomorrow

Syncretism – 1. The reconciliation or union of conflicting beliefs, especially religious beliefs, or a movement or effort intending such. 2. In the development of a religion, the process of growth through coalescence of different forms of faith and worship or through accretions of tenets, rites, etc., from those religions which are being superseded. 

Syncretize – To fuse or harmonize, as conflicting principles.

“We simply must find better ways to share the planet with people whose worldviews and ultimate commitments differ from ours. The challenge pertains across the lines of the religious traditions, but it relates also to the great diversity within the traditions themselves.” “We need to become people of “faith with integrity . . . and at the same time recognize that one’s own experience . . . does not exhaust all the possibilities.” “Instead of divisiveness, religions should provide models for tolerance. Simple tolerance is not enough, we need to celebrate and embrace diversity.” 

“At the beginning of this new millennium, the United States is the most religiously diverse nation in the world . . . . Main Street has changed.”