The Vastness of God
by Nancy Votrain*
The saying “ God is too big to fit inside any religion" reflects a simple yet profound idea. Divine reality exceeds the limits of any single doctrine, tradition or belief. While religion acts as a lens to understand the divine, God of Many Names is infinite and can’t be contained by finite human definitions and boundaries. Recognizing that limit invites humility—both toward our own convictions and toward the truths held by others.
Every religion holds insights that can enrich our understanding of the sacred. Engaging with other religions broadens our perspective, highlights shared values, and deepens our appreciation for the universal principles that run through our various spiritual paths. Interfaith exploration doesn’t weaken our own beliefs—it strengthens them. It sharpens our understanding of what we hold dear and reveals the values we share across traditions. Exposure to the diverse interpretations and experiences of other religions promotes spiritual unity beneath diversity. We do not need to think, feel, believe or worship alike to be spiritually connected to the presence of God. Spiritual unity does not depend on identical beliefs.
We live in a world with an estimated 10,000 religions and nearly 49,000 Christian denominations. Many people who claim no religious affiliation hold deep spiritual longings and beliefs. These realities suggest that religion is a personal, inner relationship between the individual and the divine, shaped by one's spiritual journey and inner realization. Since each person is unique, our interpretation and spiritual expression of the Source of All is also unique. Personal religion is less a fixed identity and more of a lifelong unfolding—a dynamic process of discovery. Mr. Rogers once said that when we look for what’s best in another person, we’re doing what God does all the time. When we look beyond labels and see the presence of God in each person, we learn how others experience Spirit and our own understanding is enhanced. Listening to how others experience God doesn’t dilute our faith—it expands it. It helps us see the sacred more clearly in our own lives and enriches our own spiritual perspectives.
Corvallis Interfaith Network offers a space where people from different spiritual backgrounds can practice meaningful listening—what we call spiritual conversation—a form of listening that emphasizes respect, curiosity, and discovery. Each listening circle is hosted by a different faith community, and each one offers a chance to discover the universal truths that echo across our varied
paths. These conversations aren’t about debating or correcting one another. They are opportunities to learn from one another and to recognize the universal values that run through every faith: compassion, kindness, humility, dignity, hope, and love.
Spiritual conversations help us practice seeing others as God sees us. When we listen with the intention to understand, we begin to see each other as God sees us. Through this practice, common ground becomes easier to find, and the spiritual wisdom of each faith path becomes more visible. And in that space, unity becomes more than an ideal—it becomes a lived experience. We invite you to join us and share your unique spiritual perspective. Your voice, spiritual insights, and your way of experiencing the Spirit enrich our individual and collective journey of faith.
*Nancy Votrain is a member of the Corvallis Interfaith Network and delights in sharing her spiritual perspective from the teachings of The Urantia Book while learning so much from the collective wisdom of all interfaith paths.
