World View Chart Assignment

Religion

Origin of All Things

Nature of God

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 People

They have several questions about the creation and arrangement of the universe. The answers to these questions give the way for explaining everything we know (Shoko, 2007).Understanding the universe allows us to make sense of the world that we live in, but the attempt to understand it and the underlying nature of all things is difficult.

Their existed a god beyond the natural world, who was responsible for the creation of the universe (Radhakrishnan,1947).This perspective is based on the idea that a supreme being exists beyond our visibility. That, this god watches over everybody’s actions and that he is the ultimate solution that people run to while seeking help in times of crisis

Human beings must be in a position of creating a just environment that ensures comprehensive existence of individuals (Shoko, 2007). Human beings should act as rational beings in the process of making decisions pertaining creation of justice, correcting the wrongdoings and education of the upcoming generations on the correct norms and values that should be adhered to.

An individual who doesn’t conform to the societal norms and customs is considered as an outcast, and might even be disowned by the community members. Such a person is seen as an evil doer who should be stigmatized in the entire community. So this means that the good deeds are rewarded while the evil ones are punished (Radhakrishnan, 1947).

Salvation is an ultimate element. They are committed on the strict adherence to the preset norms and beliefs. The belief system is very strict such that they have to adhere to so as to ensure their prosperity in the society.

There is existence of life after death. This is due the perspective that, the children who are born into the society are often renamed after their ancestors so as to extend their lineage. They have got the belief that those ancestors are watching over them and protect them from any evil deeds.

The practices and rituals are unique in that, they are considered as being sacred, and that is why they are handled in a very responsible manner (Radhakrishnan,1947). Such practices and rituals are performed by specific people who are considered as being holy and goodhearted.

Are performed each and every season at specified time frames depending on the type of celebration. The ultimate aim is to bring together the society members.

Week 2

Hinduism and Jainism

Hindus believe that the nature and origin of all thing were from their main god called Brahma

They believe in the existence of one main god other gods with different descriptions that is being polytheistic

They view human beings as creatures of God and that creation take place after a new universe is created. Brahma gave rise to 7 sages which later populates the world.

Good deeds come from their god and by believing in them your thoughts change from evil to good.

They follow the teachings of Vedas which stresses on respect to scriptures to gain salvation.

Reincarnation is their major belief. They belief in rebirth into a higher rank in the society.

These activities are considered sacred and hence respected according to the scriptures. They are usually done in special areas such as shrines and temples.

These are conducted at a specific time upon achievement of something could be rebirth or anything else.

Week 3

Buddhism

It originated from northern India in the fifth century B.C and traces it origin to Gotama

The tradition traces its origin to Siddhartha Gautama (or Gotama), who is typically referred to as the Buddha (literally the "Awakened" or "Enlightened One")

Human existence, in the Buddha's view, is nothing more than a composite of five aggregates (khandas): 1) Physical forms (rupa) 2) Feelings or sensations (vedana) 3) Ideations (sanna) 4)Mental formations or dispositions (sankhara) 5)Consciousness (vinnana)

These khandas come together at birth to form a human person. A person is a "self" in that he or she is a true subject of moral action and karmic accumulation, but not in the sense that he or she has an enduring or unchanging soul.

The Buddhist understanding is that good and evil is innate, inseparable aspects of life. This view makes it impossible to label a particular individual or group as "good" or "evil." Every single human being is capable of acts of the most noble good, or the basest evil.

For a Buddhist salvation is reaching Nirvana. Nirvana is a transcendental, blissful, spiritual state of nothingness--you become a Buddha.

Buddha believes that what keeps us bound to the death/rebirth process is desire, desire in the sense of wanting or craving anything in the world. Hence, the goal of getting off the Ferris wheel of reincarnation necessarily involves freeing oneself from desire

The practice of meditation is central to nearly all forms of Buddhism, and it derives directly from the Buddha’s experiences and teachings. Meditation is is the central focus of Zen Buddhism and the only way to liberation in Theravada Buddhism.

There are many special or holy days held throughout the year by the Buddhist community. Many of these days celebrate the birthdays of Bodhisattvas in the Mahayana tradition or other significant dates in the Buddhist calendar. The most significant celebration happens every May on the night of the full moon, when Buddhist all over the world celebrates the birth, enlightenment and death of the Buddha over 2,500 years ago. It has become to be known as Buddha Day.

Week 4

Daoism and

Confucianism

Daoism stands alongside Confucianism as one of the two great religious/philosophical systems of China. Traditionally traced to the mythical Laozi “Old Philosopher,” Philosophical Daoism owes more to “philosopher Zhuang” (Zhuangzi) (4th Century BCE). Daoism is an umbrella that covers a range of similarly motivated doctrines. The term “Daoism” is also associated with assorted naturalistic or mystical religions.

Daoism or Taoism is primarily a Philosophy thus they do not have a personal god. Their god maybe classified under Pantheism ("it literally means, "God is all" and "All is God".)

According to the earliest Taoist texts, when human nature is aligned with the rest of nature, order and harmony are the result.  From this perspective, the purpose of self-cultivation is to return to a mode of existence that is natural, but has been obscured by social conditioning

Taoists do not recognize the theme of good against evil; rather they see the interdependence of all dualities, thus the yin and yang concept of opposites.  Any action has some negative (yin) and some positive (yang) aspect to it

The realist, down- to-earth nature of Confucianism is highlighted in a discourse on the shortcomings of Buddhism by the Confucian scholar Hu Yin (1098-1156): “Man is a living thing; the Buddhists speak not of life but of death. Human affairs are all visible; the Buddhists speak not of the manifest but of the hidden. After a man dies he is called a ghost; the Buddhists speak not of men but of ghosts. What man cannot avoid is the conduct or ordinary life; the Buddhists speak not of the ordinary but of the marvelous.

In no area is the lack of a single unified Taoist belief system more evident than in the case of concepts about the afterlife and salvation.  Several factors have contributed to this: 1) Taoism was at no point the only religion of China, but, rather, coexisted with Confucianism and Buddhism, as well as with Chinese folk religion; 2) each Taoist sect had its own beliefs and textual traditions, and these underwent changes over time; and 3) death and the afterlife became the province of Buddhism early in Chinese history, so that most ideas about the afterlife are Buddhist, or were developed in reaction to Buddhism.

There are two main types of ritual: 1) funeral rites or periodic rites on behalf of ancestors, which are performed only by some sects, sometimes in tandem with Buddhist priests; and 2) rites on behalf of local communities.  Both types include rites to install the ritual space, rites of fasting, rites of communion or offering, and rites to disperse the ritual space.

The Taoist festival calendar represents an amalgamation of various sources, and varies according to sect, region, and temple.

Major festivals last for days, from two or three up to seven or more.  A two-day service may involve fifteen different rites corresponding to distinct texts, each rite lasting from one to several hours.  Typically each of these rites consists of these stages: purification, invocation of the deities, prayers, consecration and offerings, hymns, dances, and perambulations.

Week 5

Shinto

Shinto practices were first recorded and codified in the written historical records of the Kojiki and Nihon Shoki in the 8th century. Still, these earliest Japanese writings do not refer to a unified "Shinto religion", but rather to a collection of native beliefs and mythology

Shinto is the "way of the gods" - and Shinto gods and goddesses are called kami.

In Shintō, it is commonly said that “man is kami’s child.” First, this means that a person was given his life by kami and that his nature is therefore sacred. Second, it means that daily life is made possible by kami, and, accordingly, the personality and life of people are worthy of respect.

They don’t believe in absolute right or wrong and they acknowledge that nobody is perfect. They view humans as fundamentally good, with the evils in the world being caused by troublesome and devilish kami

the concept of salvation is based on the belief that all living things have an essence, soul or spirit known as "kami." Rather than living in a glorified Heaven, kami live among us. Some kami are more powerful than others. Some are even deified. But all kami must be honored. People who die violently, lead unhappy lives, or have no family to care for their kami become hungry ghosts, causing trouble for the living.

Humans become kami after they die and are honored as ancestral kami with some families actually having little shrines in their homes.

There are many Shinto practices that are rituals that happen year round. Purification rituals are an essential part of Shinto, the purpose of most Shinto rituals is to keep away evil spirits, purification, prayers, and offerings achieve this.

The main Shintō rites and festivals are for celebrating the New Year, child birth, coming of age, planting and havest, weddings, and groundbreaking ceremonies for new buildings

Week 6

Judaism

Judaism is a religious tradition with origins dating back nearly four thousand years, rooted in the ancient near eastern region of Canaan (which is now Israel and Palestinian territories).

The conception of God in Judaism is strictly monotheistic. God is an absolute one, indivisible and incomparable being who is the ultimate cause of all existence.

A fundamental Jewish belief about human beings is that they are created in the image of God

In Judaism, all the evil in the world is either: 1) Made by man and permitted by God because the evil is not worse than reducing all of humankind to mindless automata. 2) An effect of nature that God allowed because the alternative would be to prove His existence by intervention, thereby eliminating free will 3) Something that only seems to be evil from our limited perspective, but would not be judged evil if we have all the facts, these often become clear with sufficient hindsight, although they often do not, as well

Judaism holds that they do not need personal salvation, as Christians believe. They do not subscribe to the doctrine of Original sin Instead, they place a high value on individual morality as defined in the law of God—embodied in what Jews know as the Torah or The Law, given to Moses by God on Mount Sinai, the summary of which is comprised in the Ten Commandments

Judaism includes belief in both heaven and hell, In Judaism; the eternal destination for the righteous is Gan Eden (the Garden of Eden). It is described as a place of great joy and peace while eternal damnation for the unrighteous and evil ones is Gehinnom (Gehenna in Yiddish) or Sheo'l.

The rituals in Judaism are: 1) Brit Millah: This is the covenant of circumcision 2) Brit Hayyim/Brit Bat: This is a naming ceremony for baby girls; it also takes place on the 8th day of life 3) Bar Mitzvah: A ceremony for boys at the age of 13 4) Bat Mitzvah: A ceremony for girls 5) Kiddushin: The Jewish marriage ceremony 6) Funeral: Funeral practices vary within the tradition

They have a lot of festivals and celebrations, which includes: 1) March14 Purim (The Festival of Lots) 2) April 13-20 Pesach (Passover) 3) April 25 Yom Ha Shoah (Holocaust Remembrance Day) 4) June 2-3 Shavuot (The Feast of Weeks) 5) September 23 Rosh Hashanah (Jewish New Year) 6) October 2 Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement) 7)October 6 Sukkot (The Feast of Tabernacles) 8) October 15 Simchat Torah (Rejoicing in the Law) 9) December 16 Chanukah (Festival of Lights)

Week 7

Christianity

They believe the World was Created by God through soil (dust and earth surfaces)

They believe in a Supreme, immortal, Almighty being called God or Jehovah

They believe in the existence of God as their Supreme being who alone exist on earth (the earth was shapeless), he created and transform the Universe which Christians view from the first day of creation to the seventh day of creation (Sabbath day)

They believe the reward for Evil is death, while the reward for good deeds is eternal life, they believe that no sin goes unpunished either you reap your evil immediately or later in future or probably your evil deeds will affect your generations. They also believe as a Christian you must avoid evil and do good deeds at all times.

that once you are truly sorry for your sins and you confess it before the Almighty God or going for Confession, you have gained your salvation and that defines the Born Again of the Christendom, They believe in repentance to gain salvation and a total commitment of your soul and heart to God

They believe that there is life after this world, we are all mortals and we all die one and give account of our life to the Almighty God and if your name is not found in the book of life you are condemned forever or till eternity while if your name is found in the book of life, you will live till eternity to enjoy the kingdom of the father

All Praises and Worship is considered as sacrifice to God and it carried out in the Church mostly on Sundays.

There are lot of celebration like Christmas Period (The birth of our lord Jesus Christ), Easter (Resurrection of our lord Jesus Christ in heaven) and few other celebrations

Week 8

Islam

The Holy Qur’an is the book given to us by the Creator of the Universe. Allah, (literally: THE God) which is His personal Name, knows us best and is aware that humans can be very skeptical creatures

Islam is based on monotheism. Tawhid, the oneness of Allah, is an essential belief for all Muslims. Islam teaches that Allah, the one god, has 99 attributes

According to the Qur'an, Allah "created man from a clot of blood" at the same time he created the jinn from fire. Humans are the greatest of all creatures, created with free will for the purpose of obeying and serving God.

The Islamic definitions of good and evil are based on the purposes of creation and the meaning of human life. Accordingly, whatever brings a person closer to God and will benefit him in the Next World is good, and whatever takes a person away from God, and thus incurs His anger is evil.

The Muslim doctrine of salvation is that unbelievers (kuffar, literally "those who are ungrateful") and sinners will be condemned, but genuine repentance results in Allah's forgiveness and entrance into Paradise upon death. The Qur'an teaches the necessity of both faith and good works for salvation

Islam teaches the continued existence of the soul and a transformed physical existence after death. Muslims believe there will be a day of judgment when all humans will be divided between the eternal destinations of Paradise and Hell

The religious rituals of Islam are relatively few in number, but great in importance. The Five Pillars of Islam are five practices regarded by all sects as essential to the Muslim faith. Other notable Islamic practices include the mystical rituals of Sufism and various distinctive Shi'ite practices.

There are two Islamic Festivals: Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha

Important days and nights in Islam are Islamic New Year, The Day of Ashura, Day of Arafa, Laylat al-Qadr, Laylat al Raghaib, Laylat al Bara’at, Laylat al Mi’raj, Alvida Jumma, Mawlid Al Nabi, Kheer Puri Niyaaz

Week 9

Sikhism

A Sikh is a follower of Sikhism, a monotheistic religion that originated in the 15th century in the Punjab region.

Sikhism is a Monotheistic Religion, it preaches a God who is nameless and formless and the entire human existence is explained as the creation of that one God

Sikhs perceive human life as an opportunity to merge with the divine will, Sikhism teaches that Kartar created the universe in one command and cares for it; The Sikh ideal for human life is to live within the divine will

Everything that happens is Hukam, the will of God (Waheguru). People should live their lives in obedience to God’s will, God created everything and gave people free will, and Suffering is not inflicted directly by God but is permitted by God as a test of courage and faith, There is a divine spark or soul, which is part of God, in everyone, The soul lives through many different forms of existence before being born into a human body, Only humans know the difference between right and wrong, Good actions do lead to good karma

In order to attain salvation one must live a honest life and meditate on God. Sikhism shows the way to attain salvation and become One with God.

Sikhs do not believe in an afterlife in either Heaven or Hell. Sikhism teaches that the soul reincarnates when the body dies

The Sikh believes: in deity, reincarnation, goal, caste system and code of conducts

The Sikh practices include worship, prayers, and temple

There festivals include: Parkash Utsav Dasveh Patshah (January 31), Holla Mohalla (march 17), Vaisakhi (April 13), Martyrdom of Guru Arjan (June 16), Phalia Prakash Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji (September 1), Bandi Chhor Divas(Diwali) (November 9), Guru Nanak Gurpurab (November 22), Martyrdom of Guru Tegh Bahadur (November 22)

Week 10

Modern

Religions

There are lots of religion in the whole and all have its origin e.g, Christian, Buddhists, etc

There are supreme being that exists in all religion and must be respected

Human beings must be in a position of creating a just environment that ensures comprehensive existence of individuals (Shoko, 2007). Human

In all religion, there are repercussion for all good and evil

Salvation is an ultimate element while there are those that salvation is on eath

There are mostly belief of life after death but not in all religion

All modern religion has its own practices and rituals at different time and period and in different countries

All Modern religion has its own celebration and festivals in different time and period in different countries.