World View Chart Writing Assignment

Religion

Cosmogony - Origin of the Universe

Nature of God/Creator

View of Human Nature

View of Good and Evil

View of “Salvation”

View of After Life

Practices and Rituals

Celebrations and Festivals

Week 1

Indigenous Peoples

Most indigenous peoples have creation stories where they believe the Creator or Great Father in the Sky made the earth, the animals and all humans, e.g., the union of Sky Father and Earth Mother. Fisher, 2014, p. 36

Indigenous religions are typically polytheistic and pantheistic, involving a belief that the divine is manifested throughout the physical realm, often involving a supreme god, e.g., Great Spirit. They believe the dark gods of the spirit world are the ones to be afraid of or to placate. Indigenous peoples believe in the importance of maintaining a right relationship with the creator god and the numerous gods governing natural phenomena and forces. Fisher, 2014, p. 40

Indigenous peoples consider themselves connected to all forms of life due to their pantheistic world view. They acknowledge a Circle of Right Relationships, requiring them to respectively cultivate and maintain order among all forms of life and the natural order. Humans are seen as capable of good or bad and under the influence of curses, vows, incantations, or evil spirits. In this sense, they may be animistic. Many have a special shaman or witch doctor who is supposed to help them connect to the spirit world. Fisher, 2014, pp. 34-36, 39 – 52.

Indigenous peoples recognize that both benevolent and malevolent forces exist in the spiritual realm. These forces can have an impact upon individuals, circumstance and events in the physical world.

Good and evil are seen as forces that compete for dominance in a person and in the world. Sometimes there is an ethnocentric idea that ‘our’ group is the good one and all outsiders are ‘bad’. This idea can lead to wars and conflicts. Fisher, 2014, pp. 41, 44 – 46, 51 - 52

The idea of the path or the way or a lifeway is their main idea of salvation. It is the path to the good. This idea is closely aligned with a responsibility for nature and this world, connected with the idea of the Circle of Right Relationships and the holistic connection among all things in the natural world. Oneness with nature is for some seen as a goal of life. Others see ‘salvation’ as surviving and not being defeated by the dark spirits, thus having a long life. Fisher, 2014, pp. 39 - 48

Many indigenous peoples acknowledge a spiritual existence in the afterlife, evidenced by rituals and practices surrounding ancestor veneration. Some groups have a notion of an afterlife, but others do not. For example, some Native American groups believe in a “Happy Hunting Ground’ or that one goes to be with the ancestors and/or the Great Spirit. Many indigenous peoples are terrified of death and use their rituals to ward it off. Fisher, 2014, pp.40 – 41, 53 - 55

Varies by country or group. Some have animal sacrifices or smoke various substances in a ritualistic manner. Practices and rituals may include a Sweat Lodge ceremony or a Vision Quest among some Native Americans. Dance is often used to express stories and tales of the tribe or group or the gods. Body decoration, paint, garments and drums are often used in the ritual dances. To placate the spirits, they may also cut themselves or in some cases engage in cannibalism or headhunting. An example: the Sawi people of New Guinea make peace with an enemy by swapping infants between the tribes. As long as the children live there will be peace between the two tribes. One family per tribe agrees to take in the other child and give up their own. Fisher, 2014, pp. 55 - 60

Varies by country or group. Some have celebrations tied to the seasons of the year. Others have celebrations of victory in war or at weddings. The birth of children is often a time of great celebration. Death is universally observed in various ways depending on the culture and local beliefs. The finding of good prey when hunting would be a cause for celebration as well. Some Indigenous peoples celebrate a first fruits or harvest festival. Fisher, 2014, pp. 55 – 59.

Week 1

Sources

Fisher, M.P. (2014) Living Religions Pearson: Upper Saddle River, NJ

text -www.godonthe.net/evidence/atribute.htm

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text - www.britannica.com/.../indigenous-religion

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Week 2

Hinduism and Jainism

The Hindu term “Brahma” is used to mean “vast.” This refers to vastness that is perceived by sages as infinite dimensions of a Supreme Consciousness that started without any material and then subsequently it became creation.

In Hinduism, each individual deity is understood as an embodiment of all aspects of the divine. In the paradoxes that occur when we try to apply human logic and language to that which transcends rational though, a person might believe that God is both a highly personal being and also present in all things. In that context, in the realization of Guru Nanak, the Sikh Gurus, God is the “Akal Murat” or the reality that transcends time.

In Hinduism, the purpose of life is very straightforward. Humans ought to perform the right sacrifices to the gods. Hindu philosophy holds on to the belief that human beings are just microscopic creatures. Ideally, how they came into being is not as important as what they are and even where they are going. As a result, Hinduism understanding of human nature and destiny is largely conditioned by the fundamental law referred to as karma.

According to Hinduism, selfish actions are considered to be evil whereas selfless and sacrificial actions are seen as being good.

In Hinduism, salvation refers to merging of soul with the universal soul. It ideally occurs when an enlightened human being is freed from the cycles of life and death.

Both Hinduism and Jainism pay little attention to the idea of life after death. However, according to one’s belief, the soul may life forever in a place of eternity.

The spiritual expressions of Hinduism range from extreme asceticism to extreme sensuality, from the heights of personal devotion to a deity to the height of abstract philosophy from metaphysical proclamations of the oneness behind the material world to worship of images representing a multiplicity of deities. From a traditional perspective, there are well over 330 million deities in India. The feeling is that the divine has got countless faces.

Some of the notable celebrations and festivals in Jainism and Hinduism are Akshya, Pratyushan Parva, Kartik Purnima, Mahavir Jayanti, Diwali and Paush Dashami.

Wk 2 sources

https://catalogue.pearsoned.co.uk/assets/hip/gb/hip_gb_pearsonhighered/samplechapter/0205956599.pdfEncyclopaedia of the World's Faiths. IB Tauris.

https://opentextbc.ca/introductiontosociology2ndedition/chapter/chapter-15-religion/Religions. Prentice-Hall.

http://www.hinduwebsite.com/yagna.aspRoutledge.

http://www.hinduwebsite.com/hinduism/h_goodandevil.asp

https://berkleycenter.georgetown.edu/essays/samsara-hinduism

http://www.hinduwebsite.com/reincarnation.asp

http://www.encyclopedia.com/philosophy-and-religion/eastern-religions/hinduism/hinduism

https://www.jainworld.com/jainbooks/guideline/46.htm

Week 3

Buddhism

There is no beginning of the world and neither does it have the ending but the present shape of the universe is created by itself and it will be destroyed by its own.

In Buddhism, there is no existing God, it is rather an Enlightened being which is somehow a way of rebellion from the materialism but there are no clear instruction that there is any entity like God.

In Buddhism, the purpose of life is based upon the principle of “do good and have good” but there is no one specific purpose mentioned, there are different views about the purpose of life: to do good to have good rebirths, to escape from materialism, to become enlightened being.

In Buddhism, the good is the act of connection for our inner soul and with other people by helping and healing others while evil is a limitless desire for anything by any means.

Early salvation in Buddhism was Nirvana but now salvation is working for humans through the eightfold principle of understanding, resolving, speaking, acting, working, making effort, planning according to deeds and meditating.

There is clear view of afterlife that Yama, the death will punish for the misdeeds and there will be an enlightened and pleasant place where there will be no worries of death or rebirth.

The Buddhists practice the religion in almost the same manner as the Hindus use to do except considering that God has many faces in the form of idols, Buddhists first priority is to take care the temple itself and performing the daily religious practices inside the temple and at someone’s home if they invite the monks to perform religious services for example predicting the wedding time and dates, blessing services ofr children and for any upcoming exams etc.

Famous festivals and celebrations in Buddhism are Buddhist New Year, Vesak, Magha Puja Day, Kathina Ceremony, The ploughing Festival, the Elephant Festival etc.

Wk 3 sources

https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/religion-morality/

https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/buddhism-chan/

https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/buddhism-chan/

https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/buddhism-chan/

https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/buddhism-chan/

https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/buddhism-chan/

https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/buddhism-chan/

https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/buddhism-chan/

Week 4

Daoism and

Confucianism

Daoism & Confucianism claims that there was something as Tao which existed even before the creation of earth and heaven.

There is no concept of believing in God in this religion, but Tao is hinted as something very old which existed anciently.

Purpose of the humans is to attain the best possible position in this life in such a way that he is called as perfected.

The concept of good and evil is not related to virtue or sin but a mistake which can be corrected next time or in other words, the mistakes are considered to be opportunities to correct one self.

There are no any defined guidelines for the salvation in these two religions but worshiping the ancestors is equal to that.

The death is only for the human body but the spirit of the human lives on this same earth living with their family.

There is no proper set of rituals in Daoism and Confucianism but the Taoist are the members of religion who have offices to perform religious practices for the ills and for the people who have personal problems. This religion has combined rituals wherever its followers live with the integration of other religions for the sake of community which is their essence of religious life.

The Lantern Festival, Dragon Boat Festival, Tomb Sweeping Day, Chinese New Year and Hungry Ghost Festivals are the famous festivals and celebrations of these religions.

Wk 4 sources

http://www.iep.utm.edu/daoism/

https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/daoism-religion/

http://www.iep.utm.edu/daoism/

http://www.iep.utm.edu/daoism/

https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/daoism-religion

https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/daoism-religion

http://www.iep.utm.edu/daoism/

Week 5

Shinto

In Shintoism, the universe and all it contains emerged from kami and kami has the tendency to occupy the whole universe.

Kami is the god and it can be anything present in the form of a wonder or amazement which can be found in a number of objects like trees, rivers, rocks etc.

The purpose of human life is to sustain with the purity of one’s insight and conscious.

The belief of good and evil is not being virtuous and sinful but to purify the inner soul from the impurities of the outer pollution of the word and nature is the good and everything which goes against nature is evil

Buddhism has connections with Shintoism in the concept of salvation as the followers in Japan say that everyone is born as Shinto and die as Buddhists. So no proper idea of salvation prevails

In this religion, the afterlife is an enormous place and it is the underworld where hell is present.

Initially, there was a Kamidana which was specified for the religious offerings and prayers and it was found in every home but there is no daily schedule for the prayers nowadays and anyone who is need and desire of anything, visits the shrine to pray.

Matsuri and Mikoshi are the famous festivals of the religion. On some festivals, the vulgar and drunken behavior is shown as the part of religious practice.

Wk 5 sources

http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/shinto/beliefs/kami_1.shtml

https://www.gamefaqs.com/ps2/920500-okami/faqs/50772

http://sourcesofinsight.com/gandhi-quotes/

http://www.thedivinemercy.org/news/Saint-Augustine-of-Hippo-5982

https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2007/09/04/reference/japans-shinto-buddhist-religious-medley/

https://global.oup.com/us/companion.websites/9780199997329/student/materials/chapter15/

http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/shinto/ritesrituals/worship_1.shtml

http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/shinto/holydays/matsuri.shtml

Week 6

Judaism

The origin of universe in the religion of Judaism explains that the whole universe was created by God in six days and He rested on the seventh day. Judaism gives the name of YHWH or Tetragrammaton and there is no permission of calling the God by His name as it is sinful.

Judaism clearly declares that God has no body as the human’s perception and presentation of God in a physical form and shape, He is omnipresent and omnipotent and omniscient. He is the only one who is eligible to be worshiped.

The view of Judaism for humans is that they are created to worship the eternal God but the Jews are the chosen humans who has to lead the whole humanity and they are crowned as the leaders of all the groups and tribes living on the earth. There is a view of the purpose of the human creation that humans are created in the mirror image of God with love and for love.

The view of good and evil is derived from ‘Torah’ the holy book and it tells that human being is good in its nature but the beginning of the good and evil started from the incident of Adam and Eve in the garden so extracting from there, the evil is one’s own moral choice and he pays for that choice, if t is good will pay good and if bad, the outcome will be bad as well.

Salvation in Judaism is the submission and surrendering to the God and od’s percepts. The salvation is not something which is done with the help of any external entity but it is the inner appeal of a human.

Judaism guides that the life after death is a life in connection with the God and once the Messiah has emerged and the peace has been sustained in the world then all the humanity will be called in the land of Israel and resurrection will be done.

The first and most basic practice of the Jewish people is the circumcision of the baby boys when they are eight years old. Daily practices are three times, morning, afternoon and evening. Synagogue is arranged for the public message on Mondays and Thursdays but the main Sabbath is observed from Friday evening through Saturday morning.

Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur are the most celebrated festivals of the Judaism.

Wk 6 sources

http://www.aish.com/ci/sam/48951136.html

http://www.jewfaq.org/g-d.htm

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jews_as_the_chosen_people

http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/rs/god/jugoodandevil2.shtml

http://inthesaltshaker.com/pdf/Salvation-GSS-Img.pdf

http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/cfaith/pcb_documents/rc_con_cfaith_doc_20020212_popolo-ebraico_en.html

http://jpsi.org/resources/jewishpractices/

http://www.chabad.org/holidays/default_cdo/jewish/holidays.htm

Week 7

Christianity

The age of universe is nearly 6,000 years and the whole creation is made by the word of God. According to Bible, the word of God in Christianity, the earth was all water and God used to stay above this water, later He planned to make the earth and heaven.

Christianity believes in the oneness of God but under the belief of trinity as the God has three characters or deities being one, the father, the son and the holy spirit.

In Christianity, the humans are created on the basis of good as the fundamentals of the universe are based upon the goodness and everything and everyone who has been created is not useless and everything has a purpose of its creation.

In Christianity, God created the humans in its own image and as the God is all good so the creation is also good in the result of love of God for the humans, evil is something which is committed as of their nature by the humans themselves when they deviate from the good path of God

In Christianity, the salvation is all about submission and surrendering to Jesus Christ as the son of God and the father, God will forgive for the misdeeds of humans through the submission to His son who is actually the God himself, came to earth in human form and when went back to heavens, left the holy spirit for the guidance of the humans.

The Christianity views the hereafter as the classification of good results: in blessing and love of God, the evil: the painful punishment for the wrong doings of the humans in the worldly life.

In Christianity, the Church has a special significance symbolically and spiritually. A weekly service is arranged in the Church on Sunday as the Christians believe that god made the earth and heavens in six days and rested on the seventh day so humans should also follow that practice and should rest for work on Sunday to present themselves in front of God for their submission.

Easter and Christmas are the most important festivals of the Christianity. The last supper of Jesus Christ and in some sects the gifts exchange celebrations are also practiced with the famous character of the Santa Claus.

Wk 7 sources

https://creation.com/6000-years

https://www.gospelway.com/god/persons_godhead.php

http://www.iep.utm.edu/religion/

http://w2.vatican.va/content/benedict-xvi/en/encyclicals/documents/hf_ben-xvi_enc_20090629_caritas-in-veritate.html

http://www.vatican.va/archive/ccc_css/archive/catechism/p1s2c2a2.htm

https://graceuniversity.edu/iip/2011/11/11-11-05-2/

http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/cfaith/pcb_documents/rc_con_cfaith_doc_20080511_bibbia-e-morale_en.html

http://academic.brooklyn.cuny.edu/history/dfg/jesu/festxtn.htm

Week 8

Islam

In Islam, the creation of universe and everything associated with it is a planned event and Islam rules out any incident related to Big Bang Theory. Islam guides that there is a Supreme Most and Almighty Power called as Allah who created the earth and heavens in six days and nothing is beyond His knowledge and power.

In Islam, God (Allah) is the Supreme, the Greatest of all powers known. Allah is One, Allah does not need anyone for His help. Neither is He the father nor a son. Allah is the only Creator for which He does not need any support.

In Islam, the humans are created for nothing but worship to their (God) Allah.

In Islam, there is a very clear view about good and bad like the white and black. Islam guides that for a smallest act of goodness and an evil is being recorded and humans will be accountable on the Dooms Day and this life is temporary where humans are put into a trial between the good and evil to be tested by Allah that how many of the humans act good and how many do the evil. For the evil, there is another creature known as Shaitan who derails the human life from good track to the bad and Islam guides to avoid the path of evil, the Shaitan.

Salvation in Islam is the complete submission to the Almighty Allah by the way and practices told by His final Prophet Muhammad, Islam emphasizes on the oneness of God and that the Prophets are not worship able but they only show the right path of good which is chosen by Allah

Islam guides in such a way that everything in the Islamic religion is pointing towards the hereafter. It guides that live in this world just like a person who is travelling in a train and comes to the platform for just a little while and has to go back to the train and then to his journey.

After entering into the Islamic beliefs spiritually by declaring the oneness of God and accepting the finality the Prophet Muhammad as the prophet, there are mandatory five times prayers, one month fasting per year, 2.5 % of the total wealth for the poor, once for life the pilgrimage of Hajj to the city of Makkah in Kabatullah. These are known as the five pillars of Islam.

There are two mega events in the Lunar year known as Eid ul Fitar at the end of the month of Ramadhan on 1st of the next month of Shawwal while the other is on the completion of the pilgrimage on the 10th/11th of the last month of Islamic calendar, Zil Hijja.

Wk 8 sources

https://islamqa.info/en/219688

https://www.al-islam.org/allah-the-concept-of-god-in-islam-a-selection-yasin-al-jibouri/unity-allah-tawhid

https://www.al-islam.org/allah-the-concept-of-god-in-islam-a-selection-yasin-al-jibouri/unity-allah-tawhid

https://archive.org/stream/HadithSunanAbuDawudInEnglish/RiyadUsSaliheen-english_djvu.txt

http://www.qcc.cuny.edu/SocialSciences/ppecorino/PHIL_of_RELIGION_TEXT/CHAPTER_2_RELIGIONS/Islam.htm

https://sufism.org/lineage/practice-and-adab/love-in-islam-2

http://global.oup.com/us/companion.websites/9780199381456/five_pillars/

http://www.muslim-library.com/books/Rituals_Cele_rations_Eid_Al_Fitr.pdf

Week 9

Sikhism

Wk 9 sources

Week 10

New Religious Movements

Wk 10 sources