What did God intend?

These days I am asking myself the question: what did God intend by creating so many religions and pathways to Him? Some say that it was a test of human beings ability to appreciate and value differences.  In fact, it says something like that in the Quran.  And I always wonder how it is that all the prophets came from the Middle East, specifically Palestine and surrounding area? It is quite interesting.  As we create new and complex societies in the 21st century, more and more multicultural, multifaith families will be created.  I wonder how they will deal with the different traditions, belief systems and practices? What could bring them together?  As Rumi said: I searched in temples, churches and mosques, and found that the Divine is in my heart.  Maybe when we realize this all, will we shed the distrust and disdain of each other, and seek to learn from each other and integrate our traditions into a greater whole.

In the meantime, I admire those at the outer edges of this quest carving new pathways and balancing the old and the new, creating new possibilities for all of humankind. I admire people like Imam Feisal Rauf, whose recently released book “Moving the Mountain” speaks about the moderates movement that we need to counter all the extremist movements in the different faith traditions. I admire the WISE women, sponsored by Asma Society under Daisy Khan’s leadership, who are challenging norms and practices that have crept back into society and are masquerading as faith practices when they are ancient dinosaurs of pagan practices.  And most of all, I admire each and every couple taking the plunge into the unknown and swimming upstream against great odds to make it work.  They are the prophets of a future faith, a faith that embraces all and seeks peace and learning.  They connect, rather than divide. They embrace, rather than turn away. They appreciate, rather than criticize.  They build the future that will rescue our humanity and our planet, Inshallah.  They also prove, through action, that it is not faith or religion that is to blame, as some have argued, but our failure to interpret the larger meaning of it all, and to create narrow meanings and deep silos.  I love them dearly for what they are doing- God is great as I always have thought!