Rivalry in religion is indeed a natural phenomenon, deeply woven into the fabric of human belief systems since ancient times. It stems from our tribal instincts—protecting sacred truths against perceived threats. The Bible explicitly cautions against interfaith ties. Deuteronomy 7:3-4 warns: "Do not intermarry with them... for they will turn your children away from following Me," portraying other gods as idolatrous forces that erode devotion. The New Testament reinforces this in 2 Corinthians 6:14: "Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers," equating non-believers with darkness and compelling believers to draw sharp lines. These scriptural stances mirror patterns across religions: the Quran's emphasis on distinguishing believers from polytheists (Surah Al-Kafirun), Hinduism's historical caste and sectarian divides, and even Buddhism's early schisms between Theravada and Mahayana schools.
Yet, I contend this rivalry need not define us today. In our interconnected world, it fuels endless conflicts—from the Crusades that claimed over a million lives to modern jihads and sectarian violence in the Middle East, costing millions more. History shows how doctrinal purity often justifies division: the Thirty Years' War ravaged Europe over Catholic-Protestant rivalries, while India's Partition scarred generations along religious lines. Such enmity ignores our shared humanity, perpetuating cycles of hate that no faith truly endorses at its core.
Veganism offers a powerful bridge across these divides, much like it rejects animal exploitation for ethical unity. By choosing plant-based living, we transcend speciesism; similarly, interfaith harmony rejects human division based on belief. Remarkably, the Bible itself evolves toward love and inclusion. Galatians 3:28 declares: "There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus." Jesus embodied this by dining with sinners and tax collectors, challenging Deuteronomy's walls and modeling radical compassion.
True rivalry dissolves when faiths converge on universals: compassion (karuna in Buddhism, daya in Sikhism, metta in Theravada), justice (tzedek in Judaism, adl in Islam, dharma in Hinduism), and non-violence (ahimsa across Indian traditions). These principles unite us more than they divide. I promote this through our Vegan Mumbai Potlucks and beyond—events where Hindus, Muslims, Christians, and atheists gather around shared plant-based meals. No sermons, just true life stories and home cooked food sharing, proving that natural interaction can fix doctrinal divides far better than debates.
