God Squad: The Dalai Lama on mountain climbing

My column on John 14:6 (“I am the way, the truth and the life and no one comes to the Father except through me.”) continues to generate thoughtful and loving responses from many readers. There were a few comments that let me know in strong language that as a Jew I have no chance to get to Heaven. To each of them I responded, “Maybe so, but it will have nothing to do with my being Jewish.”

Most of the responses were strongly in support of my belief (shared by my faith) that the righteous of all nations have a share in the World To Come (the Jewish term for Heaven). Here is a sampling:

I am touched by those words deeply every time I read them. I guess you could call me a spiritual foodie. Faith, like eating, is a natural and basic and universal human need. I know that there are those who strongly disagree and who believe that faith is not a basic need, and some who even believe that it is a harmful delusion. I do not agree yet I also do not feel the need to convert atheists or agnostics or judge them harshly because I know that in their own ways, they also are trying to find hope and love and community, the fundamental goals of religion. I wish all people well in their quest for true human flourishing.

In my view, what is needed within the religious world in our time is a new openness and a stronger commitment to find the ways our beliefs intersect not the ways they diverge. However we interpret John 14:6, our overarching task must remain clear. In a world deeply divided by ideologies, we must find a way to create a world united by hope.

I surely cannot improve on His Holiness’ eloquence and spiritual generosity. Let me therefore close our mountain climbing discussion with his advice and my amen … eat what grows best where you live.