Flexibility in Religiosity

Religious systems are flexible. Membership isn’t restricted to one faith.

It’s only in the West that singular devotion to one religious pathway is the norm, so much so that westerners struggle with the concept of people belonging to multiple religions. This view is, ultimately, unhelpful and unrepresentative of the wider truth.

Many people who follow Paganism, Shintoism, Dharmic faiths (Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism) or Chinese faiths (Confucianism and Daoism) equally follow another religion without issue.

Most people who follow one Chinese faith also follow the other as well as Buddhism. All the Dharmic faiths blur into each other. Indeed, Hinduism sees the Buddha as an avatar of Vishnu, the most popular god in India.

Further, in areas where indigenous, native religions still hold fast (from Africa to Asia and the Americas), additional identification with a global religion is very common. They blend the faiths together and take what feels right from each.

In the West, people find this confusing. What if there are contradictions in the different religions’ teachings?

Here it’s important to remember that what religious leaders teach isn’t unanimously accepted by all believers. Compare this to a political party: members identify with the one that fits most with their own views.

People make up their own minds on what to believe. Official opinions between different religions often contradict but this doesn’t mean believers think either opinion is true, let alone both. And if they do, the believer will find a compromise that suits their needs.

The point of every religion is to live a good life so pick the best one(s) for you. Taking bits and pieces from one religion doesn’t mean you aren’t staying true to another. It’s like nutrients: you get them from eating your main meals but you can supplement that with vitamins to make you healthier and feel good.