World Religion

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 2

Hinduism and Jainism

The history of Hinduism is unique among the world religions in that it has no founder or date of origin. According to historians, the origin of Hinduism dates back to 5,000 or more years. Jainism dates to the 6th century B.C.E. in India.

The nature of God according to Jainism is state of perfect being. Jainism believes in God not as a creator but as a perfect being. They believe that when the jiva or the soul becomes liberated it lives in a blissful state. God is considered to be Omnipotent and Omnipresent by Hindus.

There are more than 200,000 gods and goddesses in the Hindu religion. Some are major deities with major duties such as Shiva, others are of lesser import and are more directly connected with specific duties such as the house or ancestors

In Hinduism, the soul, or atman, is an eternally existing spiritual substance or being and the abiding self that moves from one body to the next at rebirth. In Jainism, the soul is uncreated, eternal and has infinite power and knowledge. It therefore has the inherent potential of divinity (that is, perfectly omnipotent, omniscient and free; not a god). By ridding oneself of the karma that obstructs the soul, one can achieve this liberation (moksa).

Karma is the basic principle within an overarching psycho-cosmology in Jainism. Human moral actions form the basis of the transmigration of the soul (jīva). The soul is constrained to a cycle of rebirth, trapped within the temporal world (saṃsāra), until it finally achieves liberation (mokṣa). Liberation is achieved by following a path of purification.[1]

The key to understanding the existence of suffering and evil in Hinduism is the central concept of karma. Karma is at once the simplest of concepts and the most complex. The word itself simply means "action," and originally referred to the sacrificial action that was at the center of the Vedic world. Karma gradually took on the meaning of both action and the effect of action.

Hinduism: This release, called moksha, is ultimate salvation. The individual is absorbed in the ultimate, Brahman, in the same manner that a stream or a river (a metaphor for the individual atman) is absorbed into the ocean (Brahman). When one attains this state, rebirth stops. One is released, forever. The individual is one with Brahman.

For the salvation to occur there has to be the presence of atmans (souls) and a cosmos. Let us think of a period when the total cosmos is about to collapse (this stage of disintegration of the cosmos is known as pralaya in Hinduism). At this stage in whatever stage of manifestation every atman soul is all Atmans reach stage of Enlightenment. There is no other alternative for them for all attain salvation (moksha in Hinduism).

Hinduism: Made up of the five elements—Earth, Fire, Air, Water and Void—the human body is believed to be the perishable casket of the Soul. Atman, a person’s spiritual essence, is released from this fleshy coffin to take what place their karma has earned them. If the person is comparably righteous and good during their lifetime they are accorded rebirth in a life befitting the pure deeds they had previously committed. On the other hand, the punishment for bad karma is retribution in one of the narkas, or hells, which are designed to mete out justice to match the grievous nature of the wrongdoing.

Jainism: believes that all people are caught in an endless cycle of birth, death and rebirth. Jainism stresses detachment from the world and austerity.

.

Jainism: Rituals are important to the Jain faith because it is through them that beliefs and values are expressed. While this religion emphasizes non-violence, which could, in part, be understood as inaction, it also stresses asceticism, which is often marked by certain religious behaviors.

Hinduism:

The religious life of many Hindus is focused on devotion to God (perceived as Brahman, Shiva, Vishnu, or Shakti) or several gods. This devotion usually takes the form of rituals and practices associated with sculptures and images of gods in home shrines.

Hinduism:

As in most ancient religions, many of the Hindu holidays are based on the cycle of nature. They mark the change of seasons, celebrate the harvest, and encourage fertility of the land. Others are dedicated to a particular deity, such as Shiva or Ganesh.

Jainism:

Jains rituals can be divided broadly in two parts: Karya (Obligations which are followed) and Kriya (Worships which are performed).

Week 3

Buddhism

Buddhism, founded in the late 6th century B.C.E. by Siddhartha Gautama (the "Buddha"), is an important religion in most of the countries of Asia. Buddhism, a religion that more than 300 million people currently practice, was founded in northeastern India by Prince Siddhartha in the sixth century B.C. Having achieved enlightenment, he became known as Shakyamuni and preached a path of salvation to his followers.

Buddhists either don't believe in God or believe that the existence or non-existence of God is irrelevant. The Buddha said: "I do not care to know your various theories about God. What is the use of discussing all the subtle doctrines of the soul? Do good and be good. And this will take you to freedom and whatever truth there is."

In Buddhism, humanity has no inherent nature, and so the question makes no sense. However, Buddhism does teach that humans arise due to certain causes and conditions. The most important among those is the karma (moral actions) of one’s previous lifetime

Depends on the perspective from which the question is asked.  If the question refers to the potential which resides in every human being as a “living” (animal), “rational” (human) and “accountable” (personal) being, then we must regard human nature as originally good, because these characteristics naturally “enjoin the observance of the [moral] law” [RBBR 26-28(21-23)]. 

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

To reach Nirvana you must follow the Noble Eightfold Path.

Buddha accepted the basic Hindu doctrines of reincarnation and karma, as well as the notion that the ultimate goal of the religious life is to escape the cycle of death and rebirth. Buddha asserted that what keeps us bound to the death/rebirth process is desire, desire in the sense of wanting or craving anything in the world.

Buddhism incorporates a variety of rituals and practices, which are intended to aid in the journey to enlightenment and bring blessings on oneself and others. While some activities are unique to certain expressions of Buddhism, there are others that are found in most of the popular forms of the belief system, like Meditation and Zen

Example: Buddhist New Year, Vesak, Magha Puja Day etc.

Week 4

Daoism and

Confucianism

DAOISM: Formed c. 550 B.C.E.

Origin China

Followers 20,000,000

Deity Pantheistic

Sacred Texts Zhuangzi, Daode Jing, Yi Jing

Headquarters White Cloud Temple, Beijing, China

CONFUCIANISM: Confucianism, also known as Ruism, is an ethical and philosophical system, on occasion described as a religion, developed from the teachings of the Chinese philosopher Confucius (551–479 BCE). Confucianism originated as an "ethical-sociopolitical teaching" during the Spring and Autumn Period, but later developed metaphysical and cosmological elements in the Han Dynasty.

Daoist does not strive for anything except to let nature run its course.

Confucianism: There is no God, per se, in Confucianism. Confucius has never been considered a god by his adherents. Confucianism is a socio-philosophical movement aimed at bettering society.

Confucianism: Most agree, however, that the purpose of existence is to reach one's highest potential as a human being. Through a rigorous process of self-cultivation that lasts a lifetime, one may eventually become a "perfected person." 

Daoism: The Daoist view of nature has as a corollary a view of human beings as relatively unimportant, as simply a part of nature. We should therefore aspire to being simple and unadorned, with no illusions about our own significance in the cosmos.

Daoism: The Dao: The ultimate truth is the Dao or The Way. The Dao has several meanings. It is the basis of all living things, it governs nature, and it is a method to live by. Daoists do not believe in extremes, instead focusing on the interdependence of things. There is no total good or evil or negative and positive

Confucianism: According to some interpretations of Confucianism, suffering and evil are inevitable in human life, and can promote learning and growth. A mistake is not a "sin," but an opportunity to learn and do better next time.

Honor your parents, bring good name to your family, do your job in society and when you die all that's left behind is your name and memory. Death is definitive, there's nothing after it. For: Daoism and

Confucianism

Daoism:The process of death itself is described as shijie or "release from the corpse", but what happens after is described variously as transformation, immortality or ascension to heaven.

Confuciansm: Kongzi stated that the afterlife was beyond human comprehension. Humans should live and behave in such a way as to promote ideal social relations, rather than to act based on the expectations of rewards or punishments after death.

Daoism: Rituals of Taoism attempt to bring harmony to the universe, the world, society, and individuals. Worship includes praying to deities, purification, meditation on talismans, and making offerings to deities. Due to their complicated nature, Taoist rituals are performed by priests and their assistants, who chant, dance, and play percussion and wind instruments.

Confucianism: Despite his disinterest in ultimate questions, Confucius was a strong advocate for ritual. He believed that participation in ritual served to unite people and strengthen the human community.

Confucianism: Each year festivals are held throughout China to celebrate Confucius birthday. The most spectacular is in his birthplace, Qufu, Shandong Province, which runs from 26 Sep to 10 Oct.

Daoism:

The Dragon Boat Festival is celebrated on the 5th day of the 5th lunar month which is when the day is longest and people ride dragon boats because dragons symbolize feminine and masculine energy

Week 5

Shinto

Shinto ("the way of the Kami") is the name of the formal state religion of Japan that was first used in the 6th century C.E., although the roots of the religion go back to at least the 6th century B.C.E. Shinto has no founder, no official sacred texts, and no formalized system of doctrine. Shinto has been formative in developing uniquely Japanese attitudes and sensitivities, creating a distinct Japanese consciousness. Belief in kami—sacred or divine beings, although also understood to be spiritual essences—is one of the foundations of Shinto. Shinto understands that the kami not only exist as spiritual beings, but also in nature; they are within mountains, trees, rivers, and even geographical regions. In this sense, the kami are not like the all-powerful divine beings found in Western religion, but the abstract creative forces in nature. Related to the kami is the understanding that the Shinto followers are supposed to live in harmony and peaceful coexistence with both nature and other human beings. This has enabled Shinto to exist in harmony with other religious traditions. As the foundation for Japanese culture, Shinto has also played a significant role in the political realm. For centuries, Shinto religious festivals and ceremonies have become indistinguishable from the affairs of the government.

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

The term kami refers to anything that is above, high, special, unusual or auspicious in any way. It refers to the essence, or internal quality, of many phenomena that Shinto believers consider an aura of divinity. These phenomena include rocks, trees, rivers, animals, places and people. All of these can contain the nature of the kami. Also in the category of kami are things that inspire a sense of wonder or awe in the beholder in a way that testifies to its special nature or the divinity of its origin.

In other words, many things in the world possess an "ultimate" sense about them - as if they are connected to or reflective of "the ultimate" or the divine. This sense is what is called the kami

Humans are part of the natural realm, which is sacred. Pollution does occur through normal acts such as contact with things that threaten life, for example: death, blood, or disease. This is unavoidable and constitutes no "sin." Pollution is washed away regularly through acts of purification. Thus one's purpose is to maintain the pure and natural state of existence

Shinto does not accept that human beings are born bad or impure; in fact Shinto states that humans are born pure, and sharing in the divine soul.

Badness, impurity or sin are things that come later in life, and that can usually be got rid of by simple cleansing or purifying rituals.

The causes of impurity

Pollution - tsumi - can be physical, moral or spiritual. 'Tsumi' means much the same as the English word 'sin', but it differs from sin in that it includes things which are beyond the control of individual human beings and are thought of as being caused by evil spirits. In ancient Shinto, tsumi also included disease, disaster and error. Anything connected with death or the dead is considered particularly polluting

In Shinto, a religion indigenous to Japan, 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.

There is an old saying in Japan: "born Shinto, die Buddhist." Before Buddhism, it was believed that all who died went to a vast hellish underworld from which there is no escape. Buddhism introduced the idea of rewards and punishments in the afterlife, and death and salvation in the afterlife came to be regarded as Buddhist matters.

Ritual is central to the practice of Shinto. Every step of a ritual within a shrine follows a carefully prescribed pattern, with segments including purification, prayer, offering, and entertainment for the kami. Matsuri, or festivals, are yearly celebrations that encompass an entire community and may last for several days.

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. Death, funerals, and graveyards involve Buddhist rituals, not Shintō. Shintō shrines hold regular festivals (matsuri 祭り) to commemorate important dates related to the shrine and its deity(s) and to pray for a wide range of blessings such as abundant rice harvests, fertility, health, and business success. The essential meaning of the term matsuri is “welcoming the descending gods” or “inviting down the gods,” for it is believed that Shintō’s heavenly deities periodically descend to earth to visit shrines, villages, and families, and to make their wills known among the people

Week 6

Judaism

The ancient origins of Judaism lie in the Bronze Age polytheistic Ancient Semitic religions, specifically Canaanite religion, a concretization with elements of Babylonian religion and of the worship of Yahweh reflected in the early prophetic books of the Hebrew Bible.

These are some of the attributes of the God of Christianity and Judaism.

God is eternal, meaning He had no beginning and that His existence will never end. He is immortal, infinite

Clearly, we are not created in the physical image of God, because Judaism steadfastly maintains that God is incorporeal and has no physical appearance. Rambam points out that the Hebrew words translated as "image" and "likeness" in Gen. 1:27 do not refer to the physical form of a thing.

In Judaism we do not see it as there being a conflict between good and evil. Some ancient religions believed that there are two forces in the universe, one good and one evil, and that they are constantly warring with each other.

Christianity maintains that all men are doomed to sin, and everyone will go to everlasting hell unless they accept Jesus as their savior.

Judaism has always held that we do not need that sort of salvation, for we are not doomed or damned at birth. We are not doomed or fated to sin. Quite the contrary. The Torah says: "If you do good, won't there be special privilege? And if you do not do good, sin waits at the door.

Traditional Judaism firmly believes that death is not the end of human existence. However, because Judaism is primarily focused on life here and now rather than on the afterlife, Judaism does not have much dogma about the afterlife, and leaves a great deal of room for personal opinion. It is possible for an Orthodox Jew to believe that the souls of the righteous dead go to a place similar to the Christian heaven, or that they are reincarnated through many lifetimes, or that they simply wait until the coming of the messiah, when they will be resurrected.

In Judaism, rituals and religious observances are grounded in Jewish law (halakhah, lit. "The path one walks." An elaborate framework of divine mitzvot, or commandments, combined with rabbinic laws and traditions, this law is central to Judaism.

March

14 Purim (The Festival of Lots)

This celebrates the time when the Jewish people living in Persia were saved from death by the courage of Queen Esther

April

13-20 Pesach (Passover)

This marks the freedom of the Children of Israel from Egypt. These people were slaves who were set free by Moses.

Because they left so quickly their bread did not have time to rise, so it is traditional to eat matzah (unleavened bread).

Etc.

Week 7

Christianity

Christians believe God is the creator and sustainer of the universe (e.g. John 1:1-3, Col. 1:16-17, cf. Gen. 1:1). God is also all-powerful or "omnipotent, all-knowing or omniscient, all-present or omnipresent, and all-good or omnibenevolent, according to the Bible. God's other attributes include, holiness, righteousness, unchanging, merciful, graceful, and eternal.

Both the New and Old Testament declare there is only one God. Not just one God for this universe or many gods united in one purpose, but one God. But there is something else we see in the Scripture. The Bible teaches God the Father, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit are all God. In fact, the Bible teaches all three of these divine persons are equally Divine.

Christianity teaches that the universe was created through love by an intelligent power, namely the God of the Bible. Creation was purposeful, not arbitrary, and therefore the universe is not morally neutral, but fundamentally good. In this purposeful creation, everything and everyone is intrinsically valuable. God's design or purpose for creation reflects God's intention that all creatures enjoy perfect love and justice. God works in human history to fulfill that purpose. God created human beings in the divine image, enabling humans to have some understanding of God and of God's vast and complex design. The purpose of life is to love and serve God in order to help bring about God's glorious plan for creation.

There are a few Christian responses to evil that do not claim that evil is part of God's divine plan. Some Christians believe that God disciplines us just as a human father might discipline his children. Our suffering, therefore, is God's punishment, and is a sign to us that we should repent. Others believe that God uses suffering to test our faith in divine providence and that suffering is an opportunity to make faith stronger and more constant. Another belief is that our suffering in our earthly life is only temporary and will add radiance and joy to our eternal life.

As for good, the bible has 67 bible verses about doing good. Here are a few I liked,

1 Timothy 4:4 For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with gratitude

2 Thessalonians 3:13 As for you, brothers, do not grow weary in doing good.

Psalms 73:1 Surely God is good to Israel, To those who are pure in heart!

Psalms 143:10 Teach me to do Your will, For You are my God; Let Your good Spirit lead me on level ground.

In Christianity, salvation is made possible by the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ by crucifixion. In his letter to the Romans, Paul wrote, "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 6:23). This single sentence neatly summarizes the Christian doctrine of atonement.

In Christianity, beliefs about the afterlife vary slightly between Christian denominations and individual believers, but the vast majority of Christians believe heaven is a place where believers go upon dying in order to enjoy the presence of God as well as other believers. In heaven, people are also freed from sin and all its various manifestation, like suffering and pain. The Bible teaches that heaven is an actual place (e.g. John 14:1-6). Life there will have some continuity with life in the present world (e.g. people will have bodies like they do now); yet in other ways, heaven will be different than this present life (e.g. people will have "new" bodies, cf. 1 Cor. 15:35-49). Many Christians also believe that the Bible teaches the existence of hell as a place of judgment and punishment (e.g. 2 Pet. 2:4). In several New Testament passages, the description of hell includes fire (e.g. Mark 9:43, James 3:6). Some Christians interpret the imagery of fire literally and believe people will experience the sensation of burning forever. Other Christians believe the fire imagery is a symbolic way of communicating severe punishment. And although a minority view, still other Christians believe the description of fire is literal, but that the punishment people experience is temporary, like an object that is eventually destroyed by flames.

Christian churches are known to have many rituals, ceremonies, and practices in the conduct of Christianity. This Bible list of Christian practices and rituals include baptism, communion, worship services, prayer, Bible study, evangelism, ordination, marriage, and healing.

Different forms of Christianity celebrate different festivals and observe different holy days, but all forms observe (though might not celebrate it in the same way) the following 6 holy days: Christmas: 25th December. Marks the birth of Jesus Christ.

•Epiphany: 6 January. Marks the Journey of Three Kings to worship Jesus in Bethlehem

•Good Friday: The Friday before Easter (March/April), it commemorates Jesus’ passion (suffering) on the cross.

•Easter: (March/April) Marks the resurrection of Jesus from the tomb.

•Ascension: Forty days after Easter, the ascension of Christ to heaven is commemorated.

•Pentecost: The seventh Sunday after Easter. Marks the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the apostles, which began the work of the Church.

Week 8

Islam

Islam is a monotheistic religious tradition that developed in the Middle East in the 7th century C.E. Islam, which literally means "surrender" or "submission," was founded on the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad as an expression of surrender to the will of Allah, the creator and sustainer of the world

In the religion of Islam , belief in Allah is the single most important tenet. The Muslim name for God is "Allah," which is simply Arabic for "the (al) God (Ilah)." Muslims believe that Muhammad was Allah's chief servant and messenger.

Muslims believe that Allah is the all-powerful Creator of a perfect, ordered universe. He is transcendent and not a part of his creation, and is most often referred to in terms and with names that emphasize his majesty and superiority.

Week 9

Sikhism

Monotheistic religion founded during the 15th century in the Punjab region of the Indian subcontinent, by Guru Nanak and continued to progress through the ten successive Sikh gurus (the eleventh and last guru being the holy scripture Guru Granth Sahib.

In Sikhism God is conceived in two forms i.e. in Nirguna form and in sarguna form..‘Ik’ (meaning one) in Ikoankar defines Nirguna state of God. It is that state of God when He had not created the universe as yet. He was one and the only one at that time. He was in himself.

Sikhs perceive human life as an opportunity to merge with the divine will. However, the core problem is that human judgment is occluded by a false sense of self.

Sikhism teaches that the sense of "self" is the primary cause of suffering. When the individual puts the self at the center of everything, he or she loses reality; the Sikh truth is that each person is part of a much larger whole, a universe in which Kartar is the Master. However, Guru Angad (1504-1552) (the second Guru) taught that self-agency is also where the cure to suffering lies, by directing the self to selfless acts

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. Sikhism instructs that you do not have to fast, abstain, go on renunciation or enter a monastery in order to meet God. All you have to do is have faith, recite the Name of God and remember Him for each possible moment.

Sikhs do not believe in an afterlife in either Heaven or Hell. Sikhism teaches that the soul reincarnates when the body dies. Sikhs believe that good, or bad actions, in this life, determine the life form into which a soul takes rebirth.

In addition to worship, there are other important rites and rituals within Sikhism. The Sikh Rehat Maryada is the Sikh Code of Conduct, giving instructions for all ceremonies. Baptism – Amrit is when •Sikhs undertake the Amrit ceremony when they are ready to do so and understand the commitment that they are making to the religion. Marriage - Anand Karaj is •The Sikh marriage is called Anand Karaj meaning 'blissful union'.

•Sikh weddings take place in the presence of the Guru Granth Sahib. Naming of Children •After a child is born, the baby is often taken to a Gurdwara for a naming ceremony.

•Prayers (ardas) are recited for the newborn child.

•After reciting ardas, the Guru Granth Sahib is opened at random. The hymn on the opened page is recited.

•The first letter of the first word of the hymn is selected as the first letter of the child's name

Sikh holidays are commemorative occasions celebrated with worship and festivities such as parades. The Guru Granth Sahib, Sikhism’s scripture, is carried through the streets on a palanquin or float in a musical procession known as nagar kirtan , which involves devotional singing. The panj pyara , or five beloved ones, march ahead of the worshipers. There may be floats representing scenes from history or carrying devotees. Many times there will be martial arts demonstrations known as gatka . Traditionally, langar , free food and drink, langar , is available along the parade, route or served at its conclusion.

Week 10

Modern

Religions

The history of religion refers to the written record of human religious experiences and ideas. This period of religious history begins with the invention of writing about 5,200 years ago (3200 BCE).

Natural religion most frequently means the "religion of nature," in which God, the soul, spirits, and all objects of the supernatural are considered as part of nature and not separate from it. Conversely, it is also used in philosophy, specifically Roman Catholic philosophy, to describe some aspects of religion that are knowable apart from divine revelation .

The Eastern world has not been greatly affected by modern religions. Perhaps that is because the Eastern religions have never depended upon the idea of a world directed by God or a moral world purpose. It is because Eastern religions try to satisfy the needs of people who believe that the world is not directed by God that they have attracted so many Western young people to the Hare Krishna movement, meditation, yoga, and astrology.

Therefore man is split within himself. As a result, all of human life, whether individual or collective, shows itself to be a dramatic struggle between good and evil, between light and darkness. Indeed, man finds that by himself he is incapable of battling the assaults of evil successfully, so that everyone feels as though he is bound by chains.

Salvation is a religious concept, and every religion includes a doctrine of salvation, a soteriology Religious salvation is not a mere physical salvation. A big difference between Christianity and all other religions is that in Christianity salvation is a free gift of God. Jesus is the gate which is open to all who believe.

In all other religions salvation is through the works of man

Heaven and hell are ancient afterlife concepts still held tightly as sticks and carrots by most modern religions. In addition to what our faith systems may teach about the specifics, we like to think if we do a good job here on earth that there will be some reward. We like to think that if people are truly mean and twisted that they meet some befitting punishment beyond what can be meted out in the earthly court and prison systems.

We like to think we’ll find answers for those big questions we tend to walk around with: What is the meaning of life? Why is there suffering? How much power and control does God have? Was it the chicken or the egg? Is Hitler being adequately punished? How did the dinosaurs fit into the picture exactly?

Symbolic religious ritual is itself mediation between two separately-conceived realms, the human and the divine. In the original religion, animism, there was no such distinction. Often misunderstood as the belief that everything has spirit, animism actually holds that everything is spirit, that everything is sentient, sacred, special

Festivals took place throughout Europe in the 16th and 17th centuries. This was a period when national identities were being established and redefined.