Is there anything on which all religions can agree? Or is "the golden rule" the only one? Can all religions even agree on the golden rule?

I haven't studied all religions, obviously... or really even more than one... but I do believe that most religions share the common ground that man is imperfect and must try to better himself. Whether by believing in God and accepting Jesus as one's savior, or just living by a code of honour, most religions do believe that man is imperfect and offer a way for man to better himself.
Also, religions believe that God is greater than man. That's a given, especially seeing as that God created man. Of course, some religions don't have a God involved, or believe that man can become God (but if man becomes God by bettering himself, then that still means God > man), but all religions that have a God believe that God is higher than humans.

Most I would say belive in a higher level that either one can aspire to reach, or that is there in an "Overlord" type sense. If its God(s) or entities, or if its you reaching a state of Perfection, most have somthing that we aspire to be or reach or serve.

I've studied mostly the monothesitic religions, Hinduism and Buddhism.

I would say that all of them have in common a struggle with man's nature, and a striving towards the divine, they just differ on where you find it.

Hinduism and Buddhism feel that the divine is within and needs to be awakened, the monothesitic religions (Christianity, Islam, Judaism and Zorastrianism) believe it's an external God figure.

I'd agree that this is the fundamental commonality.

Ego=worthless.

I'd agree with that.
Christian religions speak often of humbling oneself before God, and to be great in the eyes of the lord requires submission... essentially conquering the ego.

Eastern religions seek to let go of the ego self... I'm not sure though that you should say worthless though , rather... impediment.

haha yeah i was being facetious

But yea, it has merit to it. Strong egos, to the extent of being arrogant is oft frowned upon.

Delta,
Could we get a sarcastic smiley? that would make being facecoius so much easier. :)

:rolleyes:

Its called roll eyes, though I'll try to look for somthing better.

So the basic commonality is an emphasis on looking away from the ego (either transcending it or appealing to the divine).

What do you think of this idea in general? Why did this come about? Is this something worth striving for? What problems does it cause?

It keeps us as humans more open to aiding others. A primitive soceity would have to see that we are, as beings, selfish. By instituting ideas and beliefs that say we should help one another, put aside personal interest for the betterment of soceity, and in the future the betterment of ourselves, we can progress.

Aiding others for no real expectation of immedaiate personal gain, yea, I like the idea, bettering onself for the good of "one" and for the good of others, I can see that a a huge plus for soceities.

Do you think the people of primitive societies saw this and thus consciously CREATED religion to control selfishness?

In other words, do you think the intelligentia of primitive societies and/or the founders of the world's major religions knew that they in fact were not "in touch with God," but rather knew that they had to come up with something that would get people to care for each other?

Or do you think that they truly believed?

I think the majority of religions are based upon compassion for your fellow human being, unfortunately people tend to miss this message.

Well, yes, this is my personal belief.

Okay that's fair. Just wondering.