I think about Religion, a lot. As Imam of a masjid, I guess that shouldn't come as a surprise.  However, my thoughts aren't centered around dogma or the mechanics of religion. I spend most of my time thinking about the end result of Religion, it’s product. The G-d conscious human being.  Based on our individual faith traditions, we call ourselves by different names, but I will use believer here as an umbrella term. At the center of each belief system is a character archetype (role model), for believers, exemplifying the G-d conscious human being, in action.

These character archetypes (Christ, Muhammad, Buddha,--On them be peace), serve as guideposts for our own behavior and character aspirations. They illumine the road to self mastery. If there is any role we play in our success or failure, it begins and ends with mastery of self. Mastery comes through conscious repetition of those exercises (e.g. prayer, fasting) which place us in the footsteps of those venerated scriptural models. When put into practice, we bear witness to the power of their implementation, reaping the benefits of what G-d has made incumbent upon us.

As believers, we recognize that no matter what we call ourselves, we will never be able to call ourselves done, or finished. We should see our faiths and their models of character as ways to  chart-- as well as correct-- our courses through life. The ongoing result of the Believers application of faith is an elevated consciousness. This consciousness manifests itself not only in moments of solitary reflection, or repentance, but through our displayed sensitivities--words-- and deeds in the public space.

Perhaps, by seeing one another as brothers and sisters in faith, struggling toward the same goal, we might better the world by bettering ourselves.