On religious pluralism

I refer to the Egyptian Ambassador's letter On religious pluralism in The Jakarta Post on Dec. 19 in just a general unspecific manner; a light comment, so to say.

All religions on this planet strive for enlightenment in their own specific way. All roads meet in Lhasa, Mecca or Rome, or Jerusalem or Tanah Lot, etc. Some of these roads are wide, straight and smooth; some others are long and winding and full of rocks and dangers.

Would it be wrong to say it takes intelligent, loving, honest, open and tolerant people to choose the wide and straight? Would it be wrong to say that after people/seekers of truth have reached their enlightenment, the vehicle, their specific religion, is of no further use as it has fused with all other faiths?

When you have reached the top of the mountain, you don't need the camel, the car, the climbing gear anymore. So why fight about something that has become useless or will become useless anyway?

The Universe, humanity, the All, from the tiniest atomic particle to the biggest galaxy, is all One thing. It is what you may call Allah, God, Jehovah, Jesus, Buddha, Shiva-Brahma-Vishnu, etc. After realizing this very simple but powerful thought, who would be dumb enough to hurt anybody or anything in the name of Allah, God, Jehovah, Jesus, Buddha, or Shiva-Brahma-Vishnu?

Logically followed through, we may all realize that ignorance (good old fashioned politically incorrect stupidity) is humanity's biggest enemy; ergo, we all should never stop learning.

HANS-DIETER OTTO, Jakarta