religionsummer

Final

2006-06-30T15:31:00.000-07:00

A. Ryan Hernandez

B. User name: toolbus17

C. I completed 12 posts. (Post 1: May, 30) (Post 2: Jun, 5) (Post 3: Jun 5) (Post 5: Jun 6) (Post 7: Jun 10) (Post 8: Jun 10) (Post 9: Jun 16) (Post 10: Jun 18) (Post 11: Jun 26) (Post 12: Jun 23) (Post 13: Jun 26) (Post 14: Jun 26)

D. I visited the HSI Lai temple and the Islamic Education Center in Walnut.

E. I got a C on the midterm. There wasn’t any work that I was supposed to make up.

F. I read the Politics of Mysticism, When Scholars Study the Sacred, When Gods Decay, The Enchanted Land, Why I Don’t Eat Faces, Lions in the Punjab, The Gnostic Mystery, False Testament, and the Triumph of Christianity. I also read every assigned chapter in Huston Smith’s book. I also read Crossan’s book (5 chapters) and the Bhagavadgita, Wisdom of the Buddha, The Koran, and the Tao Te Ching.

G. To be honest I enjoyed every bit of this course. All of the articles and books were very interesting and had some great things to say. I really enjoyed Huston’s book. It is extremely easy to read and is very informative.

H. I did not complete any extra credit.

Essay Questions

1. Gnostics believe that the self is the barrier that keeps us from realizing that we are already a part of the Divine. They believe that attraction the material pleasures will only repel us from the Divine. There are strict guidelines by which one must follow in order to cleanse oneself of material desires. Gnostics will live in celibacy, fast for long periods of time, eat only vegetables, and abstain from intoxicants. Gnostics also believe that there is a Creator-god who is evil, which makes the creation evil as well.
In the Gnostic tradition and in Christianity, both have a concept of a savior that comes to cleanse the souls of the world from sin. There is one distinct difference: Gnostics believe that this redeemer comes again and again to help souls realize the Divine while Christians believe that Jesus was the only savior that came and died once for all of humanity’s sins.
The fact that the Gnostic religion was something of a mystical religion made it esoteric and exclusive. There were complex teachings that the Gnostics claimed to be the true teachings of Jesus. They also employed secret techniques that were said to be “passwords” to bring one closer to the Divine. Christianity on the other hand was a bit more liberal. It included more perspectives and than any other religion at the time. Christianity developed in a time of religious equality; therefore it was inevitably influenced by some of neighboring religions. Many aspects of Christianity stemmed from some of the beliefs of existing religions. This made Christianity more appealing than its mysterious rival.

2. Crossan depicted the historical Jesus based on anthropology that compares his cultures attributes with other cultures of the same status, on the history of the Romans and the Jews outside of religious text, and a purely text based study. Crossan states that Jesus rejected the traditions of his time and did things that were in opposition of the norm. For one thing, performing miracles was not accepted and he did just that. He performed his miracles by showing people the power of faith if the obtain it. In this way, he healed the faith of the people and created a strong sense of faith in God. He was something of a rebel except that he taught love for all people and truly cared. This sort of rebellion against traditional belief is exactly what led to his death. The same goes for John the Baptist, whose life parallels that of Jesus. The fact that Jesus, who was part of the lower class, declared his divinity is what angered the ruling class. He was not a radical revolutionist though because he taught on peaceful terms and did not encourage his people to fight against their oppressors. In fact, he taught just the opposite: love your enemies.
Jesus embraced his life of poverty in the same way as the Cynics. In a way, you could say that Jesus was a Cynic himself. He renounced material possessions and wore simple clothing like the Cynics. This simple way of living brought him closer to his people and made him an accessible prophet to all for his people were of the lower class as well.
I like this depiction of the historical Jesus because in a way, it helps me realize just how human he was. As much as we place Jesus on a high pedestal for being the Son of God, we forget that he was also human and very much so. Reading about him historically reminds us that he lived here on this earth and loved and suffered in the same way that we all do.

3. False Testament is an article that gives evidence to show that the accounts in the Old Testament in Christianity are false. Archeologists found evidence to show that the Jews were just a small community of people that developed around 1200 B.C. The most crucial characters in the Old Testament have been found to be nothing more than a collection of characters from Jewish folklore. Even the empires of David and Solomon have been found to be complete fabrications, for there is no evidence of their lavish lifestyles and riches. Judaism seems to be a concoction of Jewish priests who wished to elevate their political status in their time of oppressive and powerful religions. Their God, Yahweh, was the sovereign God over all other gods who sought to bring salvation to his “chosen people.” Exodus has also been found to be a fabrication. The path that was stated in the Old Testament taken by the Jews after liberation did not match up with the routes that archeologists have discovered. Not even in Egyptian records, or in any other records, are there any indications that a mass escape of Jewish slaves took place or that there were even any Jews that lived under Egyptian rule for five centuries. When closely scrutinized in history, we find that even Moses, the liberator, did not exist any more than Hercules did in Greek mythology. Some of the early archeologists were biased in their search for the truth about Jewish history. They were seeing through the eyes of men who already believed the Bible was fact and were only searching for the means to prove themselves right. Also in Genesis, Abraham uses camels very nonchalantly for use of transport. But analysis of that time period showed that camels were not widely used for transport until well after his time.
With all of these discrepancies in the Bible, it is hard to say what is real. For strict believers, nothing (not even science) will stop them from believing what they believe. The Bible to them is as real as any historical textbook. This is the great leap of faith in religion; to go beyond what we think we “know” and believe what we feel is right. Sometimes there is just no concrete evidence to prove that.

4. The church thrived well on its own for some 300 years before it began to face Roman persecution in 313 A.D. In that same year, the Romans legally recognized Christianity as a religion and it was considered equal in comparison to other religions. Rome, in 380 A.D., announced that Christianity was to be their official religion. From that point until 1054, Christianity was a single organization. At that point, the church divided into the Roman Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church. It remained this way until the sixteenth century when a new division called Protestantism divided from the Catholic Church.
The Church was seen as a “Teaching Authority” that was capable of answering difficult questions that some may have about the religion. This eventually led to “papal infallibility.” The Pope was seen as the highest authority in the Church and was endowed with perfection in his rule because his decisions were seen as directed by none other than God himself.
Eastern Orthodoxy felt that the Catholic Church added in certain aspects of the doctrine that need not be followed. They also don’t have a Pope. They feel that truth comes out of the “conscience of the church” and that there is no need to have just one high authority.
Protestants emerged from Roman Catholicism in the sixteenth century out of a multitude of reasons that are still in debate today. One reason is that the Protestants developed a new perspective on Christianity. One new idea was Justification by Faith. The idea that faith is the tool for changing one’s life for the better is central to Protestants. They feel that if there is no effect in one’s life from the doctrine, then the doctrine is aloof. There is also the Protestant Principle that cautions against idolatry. They feel that no one should give their life to something in the material world. They also don’t agree with “papal infallibility.”
The first difference that I noticed between Christianity and other religions is that it seemed to become a corporation after it was adopted by one of the most prestigious empires of all time. I think the fact that the Romans favored this religion had a lot to do with the way it developed into a business-like organization. For one thing, the Pope is like the CEO of the whole thing. I think the church itself became something of a cloud of hierarchy that overshadowed the religion itself. No other religion seems to have done this as much as Christianity.

5. The Jewish people were a trivial group of people whose achievement can be noted as occurring because of their quest for meaning. There are several themes in their culture where they searched most diligently for meaning. They are God, creation, human existence, history, morality, justice, suffering, and messianism.
The Jews strived to understand God. They felt that we didn’t create ourselves and that our power is limited. So what did have these attributes? The Jewish people thought that only God could be endowed with such abilities. Yahweh would be meaningless to them if he was an evil, immoral, and crazy God. Rather, they depicted him as a monotheistic divinity that did not resemble a human being. The believed that if there is to be meaning in this world, then God must be morally inclined so as to overpower immorality.
When there are problems in the world, it is of Jewish mind to believe that the fault lies within ourselves than in the world surrounding us. This elicits a creative response that allows the Jews to fix whatever problems they are faced with. No matter how bad things got, they still felt that the world is ultimately good. They also held the material world in high regard. Sex was not evil to them and they praised marriage.
The Jews wanted to understand human nature the best way they could. They favored their free will and always spoke positively of human beings. Yahweh was depicted as a caring God who cared deeply about his human creations. One of the most intriguing thoughts about human nature is its dual nature; you can’t have happiness without sadness, pleasure without pain, or love without hate.
The Jews consider history very important in understanding our social society. They understood that the social climate we live in directly affects our daily lives. They also believed that any true change in society occurs with social action. History is also important to Jews because the more they learn about past mistakes and missed opportunities, the more knowledge they will have for the future. They feel that history is a timeline of events where Yahweh directly interfered. History is also a timeline of Yahweh wanting us to do something and humans not doing it.
Jewish people feel that there needs to be rules in society or there will be chaos. The Ten Commandments are the rules by which all people should heed in order to create a just society. Yahweh is also the epitome of justice that all people, even kings, should abide by (i.e. the story of Naboth). The Jews always suffered immensely so they also needed to find meaning in their suffering. In this sense, they could have hope for the future. They created the idea of a Messiah that will come and liberate all good people from evil constraints. This helped to strengthen their hopes for the future.

6. Muhammad was born in a chaotic time. There was much fighting and arguing going on and left the people with a sense of social disorder. At this critical time, a deliverer needed to be born. Muhammad was born in the sixth century A.D. and was raised by his uncle, for his parents had passed away when he was young. During Muhammad’s search for a solution to the problems of society, he began to look within himself rather than objectively for the answer. He married a widow named Khadija when he reached a mature age. He began to seek solitude so that he may find the truth privately. During this time, he was given a message directly from Allah that drove him to the creation of Islam for the rest of his life. His first proclamation, that there is only one God, caused a social uproar because it directly offended their polytheistic beliefs. They also did not agree with him because his new teachings would be a financial detriment to Mecca and because they called for strict morals that were not practiced at the time. Meccan leaders eventually persecuted Muhammad on grounds of blasphemy. The city of Yathrib heard of his teachings and asked Muhammad to exile himself to their city. For the next ten years that he lived in that city, he brought together the people in that city and attracted more people to hear him. During that time there was constant turmoil between Mecca and Yathrib until finally Mecca realized their loss of Arabia. Muhammad forgave his enemies and accepted the conversion of the entire city. He died two years later.

7. Islam and Judaism have monotheism in common. Both religions created the idea of monotheism out of a time of polytheistic beliefs. Monotheism was new and was a strong factor in both of their achievements. Both also hold creation in high regard. To them, God created this world for ultimately benign reasons. In respect with Judaic belief, there would be no meaning to a world where good does not prevail over evil. Both also believe that the material world is worthy of gratitude. For Muslims, God (who is perfect) created this world. Although the world isn’t perfect in itself, it is immeasurably good because God created it. Therefore, the material world should be respected. The Jews feel the same on this point. Also, both religions respect humankind. They both feel that humans are born with certain rights that even the powerful must respect. But these two religions do differ on many points. For one thing, Muslims believe that Muhammad created the Seal of the Prophets, which doesn’t allow for any prophets to come after him. In Judaism, there are many prophets that reveal the word of God throughout history. Also, Muslims believe that the Koran is the true word of God and the Torah (Judaic doctrine) is filled with discrepancies that do not match up with the Koran. The Koran is said to be the true word of God spoken by God to Muhammad. In Judaism, the Torah is more like a record of events and not so much the direct word of Yahweh.
Islam and Christianity seem to differ on more points than they agree with. One thing that they do agree on is the End of Days. They both believe that there will be a time when judgment will be placed on everyone and consequence or reward will be given as needed. They also agree that God loves his human creations. God is depicted as a loving, compassionate God. The one thing that is strikingly different is that Christian’s prophet is divine and Muslim’s prophet is not. Jesus was considered the incarnate of God. This glorified the presence of Jesus in Christianity. In Islam, Muhammad was considered the messenger of God. Even Muhammad admitted in the revealing of the Koran that he could not have come up with something so profound on his own. He gave all the credit to God. Jesus was also considered a healer and an exorcist. He performed miracles throughout his time. Muhammad’s only “miracle” was the revealing of the Koran. Some also say that he miraculously brought peace to his community, but this is nowhere the same as the daily miracles that Jesus was attributed with performing. Jesus was also reborn after his crucifixion. He came back to his disciples after his death in a new way. Muhammad did not come back to his people after his death. Christians also believe in the taking the Body of Christ to continually infuse themselves with the power of their Savior. Muhammad was not considered divine so there is no need to do this in Islam.

8. I absolutely enjoyed learning about the Islamic religion. The one thing that intrigued me the most is how devoted they appear to be in their practice. When I visited the Islamic Education Center, the man that I spoke with seemed very eager to talk about his religion. They take they practice very seriously and without question. They are also aware of people who question the reasons why they do certain things and respond by saying that they do it out of pure faith; faith that has no doubt. To me that is a very admirable thing to say because there are people everywhere who feel like some religious practices are stupid and useless. To have complete faith without question is true devotion and pure love for one’s own religion. It made me realize that no matter how well thought out your argument is you cannot make everyone believe what you believe. The only thing that we can agree on is that there should be a feeling of tolerance for all religions because they all have something good to teach. Stories in religions are hard to prove and can cause people to argue. But the morals that can be filtered out of the story are what really count. Those morals are universal and should be employed by all.

Field Trip: Islamic Education Center

2006-06-30T15:30:00.000-07:00

I visited the Islamic Education Center in Walnut on Monday afternoon. It was a very cool experience. I spoke with a man (whose name I have forgotten) about some aspects of the Islamic religion. He was a very nice and tranquil person. When I walked in, I started to walk up the stairs, not even knowing that I was supposed to take off my shoes. Before I continued though, he kindly asked me to remove my shoes. My first question to him was about the daily prayers that a Muslims does. He told me that the first prayer happens right before the sun comes out in the morning. He also mentioned the fact that Muslims pray five times a day. He said that when he is asked, “Why do pray five times a day?” he replies, “I don’t know.” When asked, “Why do you travel to Mecca?” he replies again, “I don’t know.” He said that asking these kinds of questions is pointless because their answers can only be found in the faith by which they are practiced. Faith is the ultimate trust beyond our human limitations in understanding. Either you believe or don’t believe. He was very sincere and sure about this. He began to tell me a story about a man who was eaten by a whale because he sinned and while he was in the whale’s stomach, he asked Allah for forgiveness so that he may survive this plight. The man I spoke with began to say that he doesn’t know for sure whether this man was actually swallowed by a whale and survived, but he still takes the story as truth. He said that our minds are very limited; therefore it is hard to accept stories that seem illogical and illusory. But that doesn’t make the story less true according to him.

I also asked him about how he feels that his religion is a part of his daily life. He said, “If your religion doesn’t have an impact on you, it will show in your daily actions.” Every decision one makes is a reflection of one’s beliefs and morals. A religion will give one the guide by which to live one’s life. Also if you make a decision and something good comes out of it, you should accept it wholeheartedly. But if you make a decision and something bad happens, likewise, you should also accept it wholeheartedly. He illustrated this by talking about someone who passes through a red light. If there are no cops around and no one is watching, one may decide to just pass through the light to continue on. In one scenario, one may get away with it and just continue on with one’s life. But in a second scenario, one may be spotted by a cop and asked to pull over. Now the cop has to give you a ticket. In either case, one should accept the consequences of one’s actions wholeheartedly without blaming the cop. A very simple lesson in accountability.

Overall, I learned much from my experience with this gentleman. He was very eager to enlighten me to the simplistic nature of his religion. He seemed very accepting of me and very down-to-earth. He was aware of a lot of the misconceptions of the Islamic religion was eager to dispel them. I felt that his devotion to his religion had a real impact on me. It is very refreshing to speak with someone who is devoted in his or her religion. It seems that that is what is missing from the Catholic church, which I am a part of, these days. Devotion requires respect and time, both of which do not seem evident in a Catholic mass.

Midterm

2006-06-10T21:09:00.000-07:00

1. Name: Ryan Hernandez

2. User name: toolbus17

3. Email: toolbus17@yahoo.com

4. I completed 6 yahoo posts. (Post 1: May, 30) (Post 2: Jun, 5) (Post 3: Jun 5) (Post 5: Jun 6) (Post 7: Jun 10) (Post 8: Jun 10)

5. Of the Religious Literature, I read the Bhagavadgita, The Wisdom of the Buddha, and Tao Te Ching. I did not read the Analects of Confucius.

6. I went to the HSI Lai Temple in Hacienda Heights.

7. I have not completed any of the extra credit.

NINE ESSAY QUESTIONS

1. Ninian Smart contends that there are seven dimensions of the organism that is religion. One dimension is myth. Myth can be defined as the historical myths that are somewhat symbolic and sometimes purely symbolic. The second dimension is Ritual. This is some sort of activity that brings one closer to the infinite, for example, Holy Communion. The third dimension is experiences. This dimension includes those feelings and experiences that are seen as divinely inspired. The fourth dimension is doctrines which is the belief system that is preached in the religion. The fifth dimension is ethics, the moral agreement. The sixth dimension is the social aspect, which helps to create cohesion throughout the group. And the final dimension is the material which includes the material objects that represent idols or ideas.
I believe that Smart’s perspective on religion would very much come in handy when creating a religion. One would need to take into account what some of the most enduring religions have been doing for centuries. It is like a doctor that has to finish med school before he/she can become a doctor. The only thing I would modify would be the first dimension. Myths have been around for centuries. They can help symbolize deep truths about the world. But if I were to create a religion, this first dimension would be based more in reality. I would still use stories to help illustrate my point but they would be stories that people of our time can relate to. I would try to minimize the use of the seventh dimension as well because it might stir up too much ground in the material world.
Meme theory states that there are ideas in abundance in the world and there are not enough people to express those ideas. So there is a social competition over which ideas can last throughout the ages. The ideas that seem to last the longest are the ones that are easy to remember and have the flexibility to conform to social dynamics. A meme is an idea that is easily imitated by other people. It becomes common talk between people and is passed down from one generation to another. Eventually the social climate changes and the meme needs to be reinterpreted. A good meme will conform to the times. I would try to incorporate a collection of sayings similar to Confucius. For example, a timeless meme is the Golden Rule: treat others the way you would want to be treated. It is a saying that has transcended the haze of time and history. A good religion needs to be replete with timeless proverbs. As with any cult, there needs to be some new material that goes beyond what is being taught at the present moment. But not to the point where the religion becomes problematic. The last thing we need is another cult that claims everyone is the antichrist. A religion that follows these guidelines is bound to at least stir up some new ideas for a while.

2. Religion will not die because it is woven into the make up of human beings. The feeling that we get when we try to ponder an infinite being is permanently embedded into the chemistry of our bodies. Without this sense of wonder and mystery about the Infinite, we are left with a material world that is brutal and, in the end, destroys all who inhabit it. We are not meant to live as such, with no meaning to existence and no purpose to strive for. We are made to feel that sense of awe for the Infinite because it gives us purpose to life and gives us hope to continue on. When one says that religion will die, the only truth in the statement would be that some versions or stories that were once held to be true will die out, but new stories will always take its place. We are inherently religious and will continue on that way.

3. Simmel’s main idea was that a society could not function properly without a religion. The religious laws that come from religion are to be followed by all who are a part of that society and ultimately bring order. In a society, religion also brings cohesiveness throughout the community. This closeness helps to strengthen the overall foundation of the society.

Wilson views religion by its function in the society. According to Wilson, religion brings a sense of hope or salvation. Like Simmel, Wilson also believed that religion did a great job of socially connecting the society.

Weber felt that religion is an instrument for social change. The power that religion has in shifting the thoughts of people is a prime ingredient to a successful social reform.

5. DID NOT HAVE ENOUGH TIME TO WRITE

6. In the philosophical aspect of Hinduism, they believe that people want four things: pleasure, worldly success, the need for duty, and to be free from that which keeps us from being infinitely happy. Pleasure does bring some good for a while, but then the need for it soon fades. Hindus do not think it is wrong to seek pleasure in a prudent way. But the need for it will diminish over time. After one finds that pleasure is private, one will seek the next major want of humans and that is worldly success. This brings social standing to the individual. Wealth and fame are great when one is trying to strengthen one’s self-respect. But the drive for success is a bottomless pit. The need for more success is ever growing and does not cease until one realizes that worldly success will not suffice in making one ultimately happy. The next two wants of humans constitutes the Path of Renunciation. The third is the want for duty in the community. The need to server others in one’s own community becomes very important because it brings respect and gratitude from people. Yet, this does not prove to be the most enduring want of humans. The final want is the need to be free from that which keeps us from being infinitely happy. This is the only want that we can fulfill by connecting ourselves to Brahman.
Hinduism holds that one can overcome imperfections. Psychological disappointments come when our egos are selfish and will be overcome when one realizes that the ego must be more selfless. Hinduism contends that the mind is capable of much more than we consciously realize. They believe that we are like great achievers who forgot momentarily about all of our achievements, and wander without a clue as to what we have forgotten.
In the practiced aspect of Hinduism, they believe that there are 4 paths to God. Although the paths are different, they all strive to reach the same goal. This is a sort of democratic stance in Hinduism that shows its willingness to be open to different perspectives. One way to God is through knowledge. Not so much factual knowledge but intuitive knowledge that is obtained through deep reflection. The key is to be able to separate the self that is on the outer surface and the self that is not seen. One may also follow the instructions of a sage in order to discover one’s true self. Another path to God is through love. God, first of all, must be separate from the individual in order for it to be healthy love. One must also love God unconditionally with no hope of receiving anything in return. A third path is through work. Some Hindus find that satisfying work will help to bring them closer to God. Every deed that is done selfishly will only strengthen the ego and separate one from God. But work that is done unselfishly will weaken the ego until God and individual are inseparable. The final way to God is through psychophysical exercises. This is done with raja yoga which is voluntary introversion. To look within one’s own self in order to find the truth. Meditation in conjunction with breathing exercises can help one find the truth.
I definitely think there is enough substantial evidence to say that there is a Hinduism. It really adds up to its religious stand. But on the same token, Hinduism says that there are many paths that lead to God. So in this sense, there is no Hinduism, only a worldly-ism if you will.

7. In Buddhism, there are three major schisms that formed following the death of Buddha. Two of these are related more so than the third. They are called Mahayana and Theravada. Mahayanas believe that Buddha taught his lessons by example of his life. They also point out that fact that Buddha did not stay in Nirvana after he became enlightened. He chose to help other people attain enlightenment for themselves. For Mahayanists, the enlightened ones are the ones who pave the way for the people who are on the path to enlightenment and help them along the way. Compassion is the ultimate attribute of being enlightened for Mahayanas. They seem to have a more liberal accommodation towards their priests. For Mahayanas, Buddha was a savior of the people.

Theravadians have a slightly different perspective. They have a more individual responsibility to attaining enlightenment. Buddha gave us the path but we must endure the bumpy ride. Wisdom is the ultimate attribute of being enlightened. A Theravadian can understand the causes of pain and suffering and is free from a selfish ego. Monasteries are built and remind Theravadians of high truth. They strive to achieve Nirvana on their own. Unlike Mahayanas, the Theravadians felt that Buddha was a supreme teacher who paved a way to enlightenment, but could not walk you through it.

The third school of Buddhism is Tantra Buddhism. Theravadians is the little way (hinayana), Mahayana is the Great Way, and Vajrayana (tantra) is the Diamond Way. The Vajrayana is an excellent of Buddhism and it focuses on the interconnectedness of things. Tantra, in the West especially, is known for its sacramental use of sex. Tantra is a way to intentionally express the sacredness of sexual engagement. But aside from the sexual aspect, Tantrics also focus on speech, vision, and gestures. Mantras are like spoken holy formulas. Mandalas and Mudras do the same in their respective fields.

The Theravadian and Mahayana perspectives somewhat remind me of the conservative and liberal perspectives. Theravadians are more distinctly traditional because they refer to the original teachings of Buddha. Mahayanas are less strict in their teachings and is primarily a perspective of more ordinary people. They are also more open to new ideas. Tantric Buddhism is in a league of its own because of the physical aspect that is wrapped around it.

8. Jainism is a more strict and complex religion. It has many names for the myriad types of karmas one can attract to oneself. The most profound aspect of Jainism is the process by which karmas are attached to the soul. Karmas are the consequence of a wrongdoing. Unless one shows repentance for their action, a karma particle will become attached to one’s soul, and so on until one dies. The reason for reincarnation is that one has not been able to free oneself of these karma particles. The enlightened one is one who has freed one’s self from all karma particles and is not subject to new births. They have reached true enlightenment. When juxtaposed with Hinduism, one can very much see a difference. Although I took Hinduism as somewhat complex when I first read about it, Jainism completely blew my mind. First of all, you could probably dedicate a whole semester on the vocabulary alone. There are seemingly innumerable different words for different karmas and ill actions. Hinduism in this respect is actually more laid back. Karma is also taken as fact in Hinduism, but Jainism took the process of ridding oneself of karma to a whole new level.

9. Creative quietude is a major tenet of Taoism. It combines two extreme opposites: extreme relaxation and extreme activity. In relaxation, one is to be as calm as a ripple less lake. But in extreme activity, one is using incessant energy that comes from the Tao. Taoists also reject self-assertiveness and competition. The two only thicken the ego. Taoists are also naturalistic. They stand in friendship with nature and promote its conservation. I think that the Taoist perspective is very beneficial for the world. It promotes restraint, control, and humbleness. Even if the world only adopted the naturalistic perspective that is embedded in Taoism, this world would already be a better place to live in. I could definitely learn from the metaphor of water. I would like to discipline myself to be really calm and really busy.

Confucius believed that tradition was at the core of civilization. That tradition is the social glue that strengthens cohesion. He also felt that social relationships are what make up the self. Without them, there is no self. We are merely a node in an ever-changing, tangled web of social relationships. Without these relationships, there is no self. This is good for the world in the sense that it could bring more tolerance and acceptance for each other. The more we broaden our social horizons, the more we can accommodate those in need. Personally, I could use help in the social aspect of my personality so Confucianism may just be right up my alley.

Confucianism and Taoism are very different. Taoism focuses on internal and introverted ways of reaching God. It focuses on making oneself a strong foundation from the inside out, starting only with oneself. Confucianism on the other hand brings a very extraverted aspect that signifies the importance of sociability. There is a direct responsibility for the people as a whole to become close and connected by strengthening relationships.

10. I really enjoyed reading about Zen Buddhism. It is interesting to know that there are people who try to challenge the rational mind. Rationality is really the new religion of modern days, which is creating sort of an imbalance between rationality and understanding. Zen Buddhism, with its teachings that boggle the rational mind, help to tip the scale in favor of understanding so that the scale may become balanced.

Field Trip: Buddhist Temple

2006-06-06T10:28:00.000-07:00

The HSI LAI temple in Hacienda Heights.

I visited the HSI LAI temple early on Sunday morning. It was actually a perfect Sunday morning. The sun was barely up and it was still cool from the previous night. Unfortunately, I had to work a graveyard shift on that Saturday night so I was feeling a little groggy at first. But as I approached the temple I began to feel the anticipation of visiting a Buddhist temple, for I have never done so and have only been to Catholic churches.
So I pulled into the parking lot of the temple at about eight o’ clock in the morning. At first, I was in awe of the beautiful architecture of the temple. The long steps alone that precede the entrance were very intriguing. Somehow, they seemed less like the means to get to a higher part of the temple than they did the means to achieving a heightened state of being. There was also the large statue of the head of Buddha right next to the first flight of stairs. At first, the statue struck me as quite a dramatic piece of artwork. It is basically a large head that looks very happy and peaceful. I am more accustomed to full body sculptures in the Catholic Church, which may help you to understand my initial shock. But needless to say, I took a picture of it and it is now on the main screen of my cell phone.
As I parked, I realized I still had an hour to spare before the nine o’ clock lecture. I decided to catch up on my reading of the Bhagavadgita. Before I go on I must say that I thought it was a little funny that I was reading the Bhagavadgita in the parking lot of a Buddhist temple while drinking a Monster energy drink trying to stay awake from working the night before. Anyhow, as I was reading I couldn’t help but feel a sense of tranquility sitting in my car. It was such a peaceful time of the morning and felt completely in tune with it. The temple is high enough to alleviate one from the dissonance of traffic on the streets. I really felt the sense of being somewhere totally different, like in a different world.
At about eight-forty I decided to head into the temple and find out where the lecture was going to be held. As I walked up the steps, I felt like I was entering a place where much wisdom has endured for centuries. I also felt privileged to be entering the home of such profound knowledge. The wall upon entering was flooded with text that I could not understand, but seemingly was worth the worship of everyone who walked into the temple for there were knee rests that were placed right before it.
As I continued up into the temple, I came across a small section of the temple that was filled with small statues. Now I don’t know if all the statues were of Buddha or if they were of different people. But I did see some people throwing coins and trying to hit the statues so that they would make distinctive pinging sounds. I was a little surprised to see a set of vending machines as well next to the restrooms. But I smiled when I realized how well those vending machines were on parallel to the simplistic nature of the Buddha himself. Essentially the vending machine provides something that we need to survive: food. Why not have one close by?
At nine o’ clock I was finally sitting in the lecture room waiting for it to begin. Apparently there was going to be a guest speaker that was going to speak about the idea of the personal self and the teachings of Buddha. He is a professor at the University of the West. He lectured on the fact that Buddha claimed that there is no self. This, however, is hard to understand because that is the only way we perceive the world, through ourselves. But what we deem as the “Self” is actually an entity made up five aggregates: Consciousness, body, feelings, perceptions, and mental formations.
That we are like onions, we have layers and layers but no core thing that endures. To speak of the self is to speak of something that does not exist. The professor used his water bottle as an example of this: while holding it up and looking at it, it is hard to doubt that the water bottle is not there because we can see it and touch it. But at the subatomic lever, the water bottle itself is just a collection of ever-changing atoms that have been categorized as “water bottle.” So as with humans, it is hard to realize that the self does not exist but when viewed at subatomic level, we too are just a collection of atoms that have been categorized as human. So what is left but an ocean of ever-changing energy that engulfs everything that is.
Overall, I found my experience at the Buddhist temple to be very different than my usual experiences at my church. There seems to be a very open atmosphere in the temple as opposed to the very solemn feeling you get in a Catholic church. I walked out of the temple feeling refreshed and rejuvenated. I feel that this will not be my last visit to this temple.

Religious Literature

2006-06-06T10:25:00.000-07:00

Bhagavadgita
Chap.1: This chapter was a little confusing and I’m not sure that what I got out of it is what was implied. I got that Arjuna, soul’s quest for enlightenment, became distressed from the world as it was and began to feel the need for something to change. The feeling of frustration was apparent to me in the dialog of Arjuna. He (or she) feels overwhelmed by the evils that have saturated the world and feels that something must change. Arjuna wants to cease fighting and stop fighting fire with fire.

Chap. 2: Krishna speaks to Arjuna, telling Arjuna that life cannot die, therefore cannot be slain. Krishna says how life is infinite, with no end or beginning. There should be no grief for those who die because there is no death. Krishna also speaks of the importance of duty. Let the work be the reward, do not work in the hopes of receiving a reward. Cast oneself aside and work in piety. Devotion to this is to find true bliss. One must also cease searching for happiness in worldly senses. That doing this will ultimately bring recklessness to oneself until one is undone. But one who can control his/her worldly desires will gain tranquility and wisdom.

Chap. 3: Two schools of wisdom include work and meditation. An honorable person is one who gives up worldly powers to work, not seeking personal gain. The body does not progress when it does not work. One who is self-concentrated and works for oneself alone achieves nothing. To die in duty is good. But to those who seek other things in life will continue to no avail.

Chap. 8: The one who meditates in the Supreme God will find just that in the hour of death. But to the one who meditates on other things in life will receive just that as well. Meditate always on the Supreme God and keep God in one’s heart always. The person who has lived a life in devotion to God will pass from this world in peace.

Chap. 11: Krishna has countless forms and hues. But human eyes cannot perceive them. Only with a divine sense can humans “see” God. There are countless eyes and mouths that come together into one form. Arjuna becomes dazzled by the boundless radiance of God and realizes that everything is wound into the infinity that is God. There is no beginning to Krishna as there is no end.

This is a very interesting account of dialog between the human spirit and the infinite. It was most enjoyable to read chapter 11 when Krishna reveals itself to Arjuna. It is parallel to our own selves in that we are also awe-stricken by the infinite as Arjuna was.

Wisdom of the Buddha

Chap. 1: In The Twin Verses, there are two different people that are depicted throughout the chapter. One is a virtuous man with the ability to control his need for pleasure. Who eats moderately and stays faithful. The second is an evil man with evil intentions. Who is ready to indulge in worldly pleasures with absolutely no restraint. This person sees truth in lying and may even try to justify these acts. This chapter was interesting in the way it described the paths of to opposite people. These bi-polar descriptions of two possible people are perfect examples of what it means to be virtuous and evil. Virtuosity could not exist if we lived in an already virtuous world. The fact that we have a choice between good and evil is what helps create virtuosity. One could say that Buddha was a builder of virtuosity.

Chap. 7: In the Venerable, Buddha describes the type of person who suffers no more after death from this world. One who is freed from new births. This person has a controlled appetite and sense of pride. Wherever these people are, who are highly respected for their dignity, there is great happiness. It is interesting to picture what Buddha is describing here. Places where these people, who are trying to find true enlightenment, can dwell. I picture sort of a simple place where people have devoted themselves to the same goal.

Chap. 11: In Old Age, Buddha illustrates his teaching through the perspective of an old man. This man is trying to reach out to the people who are living a life in darkness and asking why they do not wish to seek light. The man is decaying physically and describes his body as frail and full of sickness. He says that the body will surely die but virtue will endure. Virtue is comprised of immortal thoughts about what is good compared to what is bad. I also believe that virtue is the ever-enduring antidote for our suffering.

Chap. 14: In The Buddha-The Awakened, Buddha states the difficulty of the mortal life. But the ones who commit no sin but purify their mind are the ones who attain true awakening. The ones who are happy recognize that lustful thoughts bring small pleasure but ultimately pain. Also, men who are fearful live a life of trying to find some geographical utopia where their suffering will cease. But the only utopia that exists is the one that this reached by the Four Holy Truths. In this teaching, Buddha describes all the people who have lived a life in accordance with The Law. It is almost as if he is describing a future of humankind where all will enlightened.

Chap. 15: In Happiness, Buddha takes the position of an enlightened man who is describing his internal happiness. These people live free from greed and hatred. Although they live in poverty, their wealth comes from eternal happiness and contentment. Those who follow fools will suffer for as long as they follow them. But those who follow the wise and intelligent follow a virtuous path.

These teachings are very intriguing and easy to follow. They teach such wisdom and are almost as easy for reading a recipe book. The recipe is for good and evil. The teachings individually are also interesting because they seem to take place in different people or perceptions. As if Buddha is the third person telling the story through someone else’s eyes.

Tao Te Ching

Chap. 22: In the first line, Lao Tze mentions that the “partial becomes complete.” This is a metaphor for the fact that things will become right. They will become right for the ones to give up their desires. But for those who desire many things, they will not ever become right. Humility is a quality that the sage displays to the world. Free from a selfish and conceited way of living. One will become dignified in not having a large ego.

Chap. 24: “He who stands on his tiptoes does not stand firm.” A great quote to describe the fact that those who live in a position of mocking superiority to others follow a path that the Taoists do not.

Chap. 25: In this paragraph, Lao Tze shares on how Tao is the foundation of Heaven. Tao is the constant flow of things. It can be called The Way or The Great. And humans receive the Law of the Tao in a line of flow that goes Tao-Heaven-Earth-humans.

Chap. 32: The Tao in its unchanging form is nameless and helps guide the uniting of Heaven and Earth. The dew that comes from this union is directed toward all things. When it becomes an action, it has a name that humans can know.

Chap. 37: The Tao underlines everything, so therefore it does everything. If a king wanted to sustain it in the world, it would change everything. And if this change became a desire, then one would express their desire by the nameless simplicity.

Chap. 49: In this section, Lao Tze describes the sage as one who is indecisive in the world. One who is nice to those who are nice to him and to those who are evil towards him. So that in this way, there is kindness for all people.

Chap. 53: Lao Tze describes the life of a person who is in high power and lives extravagantly. This person has a large house with a big yard but where the plants will not grow. To live in such gross wealth and overabundance is akin to being a thief.

Chap. 56: In the Tao Way, there is the Mysterious Agreement. It is an agreement of those who know the Way and do not speak of it. A Taoist will even go so far as to live in the shadows of the social world.

Chap. 77: The Way is a way to break down overabundance in worldly desires. It is also a spiritual supplement when one is in need. The sage is the one who lets other people take credit for his/her own work. The reason for this is that the sage has no desire to enlarge his/her own ego.

Chap. 79: When two people have agreed upon something, after a heated argument, there is a grudge that is held by the person who ultimately lost the argument. But a way to avoid this is to have both people agree only to the agreement that was made. Therefore, only the one who is self-seeking will relish the part that turned out favorable for him.

The Koran

Sura 87: In the beginning, Muhammad is being instructed to glorify the name of Allah, the Creator. He is also being told that those who say the name of Allah and lived a pure life shall prosper in the Hereafter. Those who lead an impure life shall burn in the fires of Hell. It also mentions in a way not to attach oneself to the world because the Hereafter will endure beyond this world.

Sura 75: The first paragraph reveals the Day of Resurrection, when every man will be judged by what he has done and not done. This day will occur when darkness and light are combined. There will be nowhere to escape on this day. The actions of everyone will be revealed. Those people who lived purely will smile in the presence of their Lord while others who lived impurely will look solemn and distraught in the presence of their Lord. It also makes evident the power of Allah to bring the dead to life, for he is the one who created life.

Sura 16: Allah states that there is no other God other than He so show piety towards him. It is also stated in the first paragraph about the various things that Allah has created. He made the rain the helps the land to grow. He created the seas so that fresh seafood can be eaten. If one were to try to count the number of favors Allah has granted for us, we could never count them all. Allah knows all secrets, even the ones that no one knows. Allah does not love those who are arrogant and believe that His teachings are nothing but “tales from the ancients.” Allah, on the Day of Resurrection, will bring shame and evil to those who didn’t believe throughout their lives. He will also bring happiness to those who did believe, in their lives and in the Hereafter. Those who stand up for Allah in the face of injustice will also be granted a peaceful Hereafter. And those who lived impure lives will not even get a chance to speak and redeem themselves.

Sura 2: Non-believers will not believe whether they are warned or not about the evils of Hell. Those people who believe they are setting the world right when in reality they are corrupting it will be punished for misleading. Those that claim to others that they believe but in their own privacy renounce their beliefs, those people shall suffer in the Hereafter. Those who allow Allah to guide them will be brought to peace, and those who count the Signs as false shall be condemned. Allah also reiterates the fact that there is no other God save him and that he has power over everything. There are many prophets who deliver the word of Allah, but there is no distinction between them. It also warns against following in the misguided paths of some of our elders because we all have the choice to follow a new path towards Allah. Living in the guided path means to listen to the Prophets and follow the teachings of the Book. Those who have different opinions about the Book are too caught up in the misleading information.

Fasting should be employed by a believer; only for those who are healthy and not in travel. This is part of the observance of Ramadan. If one is not able to fast, then one can find redemption in feeding a person who is unfortunate. It is also pleasing to the deity for one to extend charities to those who are financial need. Speaking politely and forgiving someone is far better than someone who gives charity and regrets it afterward. Someone who gives charity in his or her private lives without anyone knowing will see more reward in the Hereafter.

Sura 4: The first thing that surprised me about this Sura was the way it depicted women. Now I’m not sure I what I got from it is actually what it means. But the part where it talks about a woman is one half of a man. So two women equal one man. And if the only heir in a family is a woman, she is only to receive half of the estate. Allah does not relent in punishment when a person commits evil deeds until they are in their deathbed, and then repent. Allah is merciful only to those who commit evil deeds in ignorance and then repent quickly. It does say that a man may not take a woman without her consent. It lists many different people, all of whom are close members of family, who are forbidden to any relation other than family to a man. Save what is past.

Yahoo Posts

2006-06-05T19:15:00.000-07:00

Yahoo Post 1
1. Contrary to most belief, religion does not necessarily mean tohave a relationship with God. Some religions are atheistic andbelieve in only a higher state of conciousness for example. The rootof religion means to bind, but bind to what? The best way tounderstand it would be to bind with the sense of the sacred. ForChristians, the sacred is God. Paul Tillich defined religion asone's ultimate concern. Not to be misinterpreted as concern withhobbies or special interests, but as a sense of ultimate meaning orpersonal transformation.One of the most popular definitions of religion comes from NinianSmart who said that religion is an "organism with seven dimensions."These seven characteristics are what make up a religion: Myth,Rituals, Experiences, Doctrine, Ethics, Social Aspect, and MaterialForms.
2. The study of religions includes the following: Theology,religious studies, phenomenology, sociology of religion, psychologyof religion, history of religion, and anthropology of religion.Smart's 3 approaches to study religion: Antipathy(negative view ofreligion), Sympathy(positive yet biased view of religion, Empathy(neutral view of religion).Berger's 3 approaches to study religion: Reduction(reduce religionto its social origins), Deduction(similar to Smart's sympathyapproach), Induction(takes the religious experience of the believerseriously).
3. Studying religion can create more tolerant individuals andsocieties. It can also tear down social barriers. Understanding thereason why someone performs his/her religious ritual can help to bemore accepting and tolerant or the religion and the culture. Ithelps to know the customs of different religions in order not tooffend. By studying religion, one can become more informed about thedifferences that we have with each other.
4. There are several explanations as to why religion exists:Biological(religion is a survival mechanism), Theological(religioncomes from God), Anthropological(comes from thought process ofprimal humans), Psychological(comes from unconcious mind),Sociological(social origins), Egotistical(concious formation togarner praise or income for creator). Some conclude that religionis a way to achieve fame and fortune.
5. Nietzsche said "God is dead" in the 19th century. He believedthat without a god, humans would stare reality in the face and haveto accept that there is no ultimate meaning to human existence. Butthe idea of God has proved its resilience over time. The idea ofGod seems to be eternal embedded into mankind. The idea of God seemsto evolve over time, so as people become aware of more religiousideas, their idea of God eventually conforms to their new beliefs.With this, there is a constant change in the idea of God, butnevertheless God is still in the picture.
6. Memes play a significant role in the survival of religions.If a religious idea, a meme, is simple and easy to comprehend, it ismost likely going to be adopted by people. The more complicated thememes of a particular religion, the less the population of thatreligion is and the more likelihood that it will eventually dieout.
7. I believe it is true that when a mystic reveals that he hasdiscovered the truth, there is no way to really know that what theyare claiming is ultimately true. We are only getting a second-handaccount of what someone else experienced. How can we dedicate awhole religion on the account of one person who is merely describingan experience that he personally had? Socrates probably did it bestin claiming that ignorance is the only truth.

Yahoo Post 2
My three favorite gurus from The Enchanted Land would have to beRamana Maharshi, Sawan Singh, and Paramhansa Yogananda.
Ramana Maharshi speaks about there being only one conciousness and we perceive this world because we are aware of it. The materialworld is an aspect of conciousness. He also stated that the placewhere the world and the ego appear to be real is True Awareness, theTrue Self of Man. There is only one conciousness that we use to seethe world with, and because it is projected through a body, wemistakenly believe that we are separate from Conciousness. Myfavorite quote from him is "Sometimes your teeth sudddenly bite yourown tongue. Do you knock them out in consequence?" I like this quotebecause it shows how much understanding he had of the world. Even atthe time of his death he was telling people that he could not die,he would always be there. He was very genuine in his concern withpeople as well as animals.
Sawan Singh uses an insightful metaphor about conciousness and our place in it. We are the ripple in the infinite ocean ofconciousness that has become aware of itself. This ripple then feelsseparate, isolated, and set apart from infinity. To be a truemaster, according to Singh, one must identify with its prior onenessto the infinite ocean and manifests this realization in one'severyday life. Singh achieved Sach Khand by doing three things:coming into contact with an authentic master, following theteachings of the teacher, and realizing experientially that his realSelf is not body nor mind but a wave of conciousness. I believe thatthe metaphor with the ocean is a great way to visualize what I alsobelieve to be true about our world. We all seem to be littleconciousness machines that are aware of a world, but have some howforgotten that they are part of a bigger machine that operatesthroughout eternity.
Parasham Yogananda was "God-mad" in his teens. His spirtiual guru was Sri Yukteswar. With his new guru, Yogananda became a master ofKriya Yoga. In learning Kriya Yoga, Yogananda was able to master the breath and open the ajna chakra which is the "third eye". In his meeting with the ambiguous Avatar Babaji, who has supposedly retained his physical form for centuries, he was told to go to America. Hedid so and in 1920 began teaching Kriya Yoga in America. For 30years after Yogananda spread the teachings of Kriya Yoga inAmerica. I think that a man who is willing to drop everything and make a drastic move, such as a move across the world, because adivine messagae has revealed the need for it is a man who is very intune with his own beliefs. Some people who shun a divine message asa figment of their imagination don't know what is like to totallytrust their own instincts. Yogananda had much trust in his divine inspiration which is inspiring to people like me.When practicing surat shabd yoga, one must not let thoughts intrudeand disrupt concentration. Repeating some sort of mantra helps tokeep the mind focused. When one has to become unaware of theiroutside body in order to hear the Sound Current. First, one has to listen for only the sound of a church bell and fix one's attentionon the biggest star. As the journey continues, one encounters theForm of the Master. The Form helps guide one through higherstages. Finally, the highest point in the journey would bereuniting with The Supreme. A drop of water returning to the ocean.I believe that prolonged meditation will take you on a journey, butit may be different for different people. But I have no doubt insaying that I believe some people do experience meditation in thisway. It may simply be a different road to get to the same place.

Yahoo Post 3
According to Smith, Hindus say that people want four things out oflife: pleasure, worldly success, duty, to be free from everythingthat keeps us from being infinitely happy and aware.First, Hindus believe that pleasure helps us to function in theworld when paired with pain. It helps us to stay away from thingsthat are painful and cling to those things that bring pleasure.Hindus do not make pleasure a top priority, but they also do notlook down upon it. There is nothing wrong with it because it iswhat everyone wants. As long as one seeks pleasure in a morallyconscious way, it is completely acceptable. But as time goes on,one begins to realize that pleasure will never completely satisfyone's desires and that there must be something beyond pleasure thatis worth wanting.The second thing is worldly success. This becomes the new goalbecause it helps to build our social status in the world. Hindusbelieve that this is a legitimate goal because it does help tostrengthen self-respect and dignity, but in the end it does notcompletely satisfy us either for a few reasons. Wealth, fame, andpower in this world are what everyone wants, which means that therewill be endless competition to get to the top. Also, worldlysuccess can never be satisfied for the person who places it at theheight of his/her list. It may be what we want for a while, but itis not our ultimate goal. Therefore, you can never get enough itand it will be an endless cycle if one allows it.The third thing humans want is duty. This is the will to giveand to serve. Being a person of service to one's community bringsrespect and gratitude from others and self-respect for doing one'sshare. But like pleasure and success, it is also not a lastingreward.The final and most substantial want of humans is to be free fromeverything that keeps us from being infinitely happy and aware.Hindus believe that this crucial want of humans is already imbeddedwithin us. We are connected to this infinite source of bliss at alltimes but it is not apparent to us because we are drowned bydistractions from the world.There are many paths to God according to Hindus. Knowledge, notfactual information but intuitive knowledge, is one way to God.Another way is through love, which is the strongest emotion. Lovefor God means to love a separate entity rather than the God withinus. To love God is to love without a hope for a return of thislove. It is pure and authentic love. Work is another way to God.Performing service, not for oneself but for God, is a way to connectwith God. Psychophysical exercises, such as raja yoga, can help oneconnect with the divine. Raja yoga uses introversion to help onerealize one's true infinite self. Deep meditation is the path torealizing this.Hindus hold the belief that there are many paths to God and theyare not exclusive of other paths. One can reach God by puredevotion to the path they have chosen, as long as it is genuine.

Yahoo Post 5
Jainism seems to be quite a complex religion to follow. For one thing, Jains believe in a strict karma system. There are nine steps total that explain the process of karmas for any human being. Basically as one starts to commit evil deeds, one accumulates negative karma particles to one’s soul. These karmas can be eradicated in numerous ways but the ultimate goal is to be liberated from all karmatic particles and be an enlightened soul.

When one is reincarnated, there are four levels that one may come back to. The last being a suffering soul that has innumerable karma particles attached to his/her soul. As you go up from that you get to the animal level. Then you get to heavenly beings and finally human beings. Humans are the highest level before reaching enlightenment.

People making Maha Vrat vows have very strict conduct rules. Non-violence, non-stealing, celibacy, and non-possessiveness are observed. Those who wish to commit to these vows usually become monks or nuns. But there are also less strict vows that may be taken for people who are considered house-holders.

Jains renounce that there was a God who created the entire universe. But they do believe in a God. To be more specific, Jains believe in multiple Gods who are the people who have liberated themselves from all karma. Thus, the number of Jain Gods will continue to grow until all have reached the enlightened state.
The article on vegetarianism may very well coincide with the teachings of Jainism. The article seemed somewhat radical in its delivery. It may be the fact that is was an emotional essay, but it did seem a little more strict than usual. Jainism seems to be the right fit with this point of view in the sense that there are very deep beliefs in the topic as to create a complex path to acting on that belief.

Yahoo Post 7
Buddhism began with one man named Siddhartha. He was born into the Gautama family and enjoyed a luxurious life for almost thirty years. His father ruled a kingdom in India at the time. Siddhartha was married at sixteen and had a child with his wife, Yasohara. But one day, Siddhartha witnessed for the first time in his life four things: an old man, a diseased man, a corpse, and a monk. Siddhartha learned from the monk the path that renounces the world. With this new discovery he left his wife and child, gave up his royalty, shaved his head, and went on a search for enlightenment.

Siddhartha, while on his path to enlightenment, discovered the Middle Way between indulgence and simplicity. In the final stage before his enlightenment, he devoted his time to thoughtful concentration and finally chose to sit under a tree until he had reached enlightenment. Mara, the Evil One, tried incessantly to tempt Siddhartha and lead him astray. But Siddhartha persevered and reached enlightenment. Mara tried one last time to tempt Buddha (who was Siddhartha but now enlightened) into staying in nirvana. But Buddha chose to show the people that there is more beyond the world they lived in.

Buddha revealed the Four Truths: Life normally lived is not the ultimate goal, desire for self pursuits is what causes suffering, that suffering can be overcome if desire is restrained, and the way to achieve this is through the Eightfold Path. The Eightfold Path is Buddha’s prescription for self healing. It includes the following: Right knowledge, right aspiration, right speech, right behavior, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, and right absorption. Following this path will lead to enlightenment.

Nirvana is said to be life’s goal by Buddha. When we break the boundaries of our material selves, we have reached Nirvana. Nirvana is a blissful state of being and is not to be mistaken for God. Buddha believed that reincarnation was real but that our spirit is more like a wave than a spiritual ball. Like the very religion that Buddha rebelled against, Hinduism also believes in reincarnation. They only had differing views on the process of reincarnation.

Hinduism did not necessarily defeat Buddhism so much as it just merged with it. Hinduism came to a point where it agreed with many of the Buddhist teachings and even changed their views on certain things because of it. In the end, the two became so similar that it was unnecessary to distinguish them as separate.

Yahoo Post 8
Confucius pondered on what could bring peace to the people of his day and then became obsessed with tradition. He believed that tradition’s power to civilize people was the key to take people back to their previous happier state when the Chou Dynasty began. What he found was that tradition at that earlier time was handed down to each new generation through family. But it was very natural to do this and most people were unaware that they did it. So his cure for the social disharmony of his time was conscious tradition. He believed that this would give his fellow people a chance to determine the morals that constitute their tradition. By religiously memorizing moral values on a day-to-day basis, there could be a tremendous social shift towards virtuosity.

The word Jen is the word for the ideal relationship between people. The ideal relationship would be one in which both can understand that all people are like family. The next ideal is the chun tzu which is the what is needed in a relationship. This can be referred to as a mature person. This person has already reached an eased perspective on things and is now ready to help other people with their own issues. Such a caring person is what is needed to create a strong foundation for a civilization. The third ideal is li, which means two things: the way things should be done and respect for age. In this he stressed the importance of social relationships and family. Respect for elders gives elders the sense to duty to share wisdom they have obtained. The next ideal is te which is the power by which people are controlled. It also stated the importance of moral example. The final ideal is wen is the art of peace.

The Confucian Project took place in the social world. He stated that the self is a center surrounded by vast connection of relationships. He felt that peace in solitude would not suffice to social peace. People are in a constant flow of social relationships. A good relationship is one where both parties create the perfect complement to create harmony. As one succeeds in creating positive relationships, the person becomes less selfish and is more concerned with all of humanity.

The word Tao has three meanings: way of ultimate reality, way of the universe, and way of human life. Philosophical Taoism is one school of Tao out of three. It focuses on conserving their te and to find the knowledge that will give them strength. Vitalizing Taoists try to harness this vital energy through matter, movement, and their minds. Religious Taoism became a church in the second century A.D. They incorporated teachings Lao Tzu and other healers and psychics.

In Philosophical Taoism, there is the idea of creative quietude. It combines extreme states of relaxation and work. Work is the skill of one’s trade to be performed with ease and relaxed efficiency. Water was very impressive to Taoists and it became a metaphor for the Taoist way of life. As water is strong enough to shape the earth, yet calm enough to lay without a ripple, so is the way of life for the Taoist.

Taoists rejected self-assertiveness and competition. They felt that people who seek to be self-boasting are not of the Taoist Way. Only people with large egos become hurt by petty occurrences. Taoism is also naturalistic. With its deep-seated views on the preservation of the land, its infatuation with nature is somewhat romantic. Much art was to come from the influence of Taoism because of this naturalistic perspective. Taoists are also aware of the identity of opposites. For example there are bad/good, large/minute, loud/quiet. Although they are opposite, they each contain a little bit of their opposite deep within both of them.

The first thing that comes to mind when I contrast these two Chinese religions is the Taoist perspective of opposites. Confucius teaches the importance of social responsibility and Taoism teaches the importance of humility and a rejection of self-assertiveness. One could argue that ultimately, both religions will remain intact because they both complement each other. In Confucianism, relationships are stressed as very important and rightly so. We do live a social world. We are replete with relationships and should strive to strengthen them as much as possible. It could be our only hope for world peace. But there is also the internal world that we live in as well. If one wins the internal battle, one is ready to accommodate oneself to the social melting pot that we are all a part of. These two ways of living are a great guideline if used jointly.

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We are so inclined to thinking that Western religions are the complete opposite of Eastern religions. In many ways, they are different and do seem like the ying and yang of Taoism. But there are also many aspects of both sides that seem to flow parallel with each other. For one thing, both strive to achieve a heightened state of awareness that sheds the any idea of a self. The self, in Buddhism and Gnosticism, is the barrier that keeps us from realizing our true connection to the highest realm of consciousness. By transcending the ego, one attains the awareness that we are not separate from the all encompassing infinite God or life force. Also, as in Hinduism, Gnosticism contends that attraction to worldly pleasures only hinders our awareness of this true reality. These worldly pleasures are like magnets that attract one to the physical world and are ultimately not the reality of the way things truly are. In order to keep one from indulging in the pleasures of the material world, stringent morals are practiced. This is true of Gnosticism and Hinduism as well as many others. There are different guidelines for each but the use of morals is evident in both.

Gnosticism is probably most like Hinduism in their description of the journey of the human soul. Both posit a journey where one must transcend the entrapment that is the material world so that one may realize the true relationship between the human soul and the Divine. The human soul is something of a creature in comparison to the Divine that is exact in every way to the Divine except in its infinite size. The goal is to realize that we are indistinguishable from the Divine and connect ourselves back with it. There is also the idea of the saint and the Sant. Both mean the same thing but one is from Western religion and the other from Eastern religion, respectively. Both are the ones who come into the world to purify humans and deliver them once again to the path that leads to the Divine. They are known for their relinquishment of selfish desires and their devotion to helping others attain their own enlightenment. In Gnosticism and Hinduism, these enlightened souls reincarnate time and time again to help guide humans down the Divine path. It is a continuous process towards ultimate salvation for all. Devotion is also a parallel between these two religions. Devotion to the Divine is important not just for the high castes but also for all who choose to devote themselves entirely to the pursuit of God-realization. Every devotee must follow moral guidelines, not just the high castes. This includes living a non-violent, non-indulgent, and meat-free life. Again, there are some differences in the exact process by which the morals are practiced, but these guidelines are still evident. Reincarnation is also evident in both Gnosticism and Hinduism. Both believe that one will be reborn into this world until one has cleansed oneself of sin or karma and has become an enlightened soul.

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Muhammad was born in a time of great turmoil. The political climate was harsh because the people of Mecca had such opposing beliefs as to lead to continuous arguments and feuds. The law enforcement had also lost its hold on the people and contributed to the deterioration of Mecca. It was time for someone to help lift the people from their destruction. Muhammad was born in the sixth century A.D. and was raised by his uncle for his parents had passed when he was young. As Muhammad grew, he became more and more distressed over the shadow that was casting itself over Mecca. So he began to look within himself for a solution.

He married an older widow named Khadija when reaching a mature age. She ultimately became his first convert. For the next fifteen years after, he sought solitude to reach for God. One night he became enlightened to the truth of Allah and chose to dedicate his life to proclaiming this message. Allah told Muhammad “there is no God but God.” This was responded to with violence in his community and was considered blasphemous. There were three many reasons why this occurred: it opposed their belief in polytheism, it was a financial detriment to Mecca, and it imposed strict morals that were not practiced by the people at the time. Meccan leaders first started its opposition by scoffing at it and lead to the eventual persecution of Muhammad. At the same time, the city of Yathrib had become well acquainted with Muhammad’s teachings. They asked him to exile himself from Mecca and continue his teachings in their city. For ten years while living in the city of Yathrib, Muhammad created a strong cohesion between the different tribes and attracted people from all over to witness this miracle. Mecca continued to attack Muhammad and his city until finally realizing their loss of control over Arabia.

As in Christianity, Islam also believes in God, creation, the human self, and the Day of Judgment. In Islam, there is only one God who is all-powerful and fear inspiring. The fear that is caused by Allah is more out of love for his people than anything else. This fear helps to keep people away from evil. As far as creation, Allah intently created the universe. There is a great respect for the material world since Allah created it. Humans are considered inherently good with the original sin being the forgetfulness of their divinity. As humans, we have the obligation to show gratitude for the life that has been given to us and surrender ourselves to Allah. If one does not do this, on the Day of Judgment, one will be begging for another chance to surrender oneself to Allah to no avail. Negative consequences come only to those who have done something to warrant them.

The Five Pillars of Islam can describe the personal life of a Muslim. The first is the creed, known as the shahadah. It is a single sentence: “There is no god but Allah, and Muhammad is his prophet.” This is a proclamation of the Muslim view of monotheism and the validity of Muhammad’s revelation. The second pillar is prayer. Muslims pray five times a day to keep themselves aware of the fact that they are only portions of the infinite Creator. The third pillar is charity. Two and a half percent of one’s earnings (if one is financially comfortable) should be given to people who are in need of money. The fourth pillar is the observance of Ramadan. Ramadan is a holy month for Islam that celebrates the revealing of the Koran and Muhammad’s migration from Mecca. The fifth pillar is pilgrimage. At least once in a Muslim’s life, one must travel to Mecca to show one’s commitment to God and to remind one of human equality.

I personally was not aware of the fact that the Koran follows the Bible up to a certain point. It was very interesting to learn about the life of a Muslim. They seem to be so devoted to their beliefs. Their trust in Muhammad’s revealing of the Koran is so strong and without doubt. It is the glue that holds everything together. Also, their use of traditional rituals and practices is very admirable because it shows how much trust they have in the rituals that have been passed down through the generations and their unwillingness to let those rituals fade from their lifestyle.

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The Jews were a very small group of people with a simple history. Yet they are now one of the greatest cultures on earth for delivering Judaism to the world. Smith claims that the reason for their achievement was their “passion for meaning.” The Jews felt that meaning could be found if they understood the Supreme Being. They felt that the Supreme Being could be depicted more as a human than some sort of thing. Instead of glorifying certain powers of nature, as some of the people at the time were doing, the Jews were claiming that an all-powerful God was the creator of those powers. They believed that they were only capable of devoting themselves to one Supreme God and were not able to divide their devotion among many gods. Other gods of the times were immoral and did not care about humans. But the Jews were the ones to reverse this and reveal a god with a deep concern about humans.

The Jews felt that the world was inherently good and that we humans were the ones who created evil. In this way, evil is not part of the world but a part of ourselves, which we are capable of reversing. The Jews also embraced the material world and felt that it was important, contrary to Indian philosophy. They also felt that there was great meaning in human existence and Yahweh was the caretaker of humans. The Jews felt that Yahweh was involved in everything that happened to them.

There are four precepts in the Ten Commandments that help to eliminate four dangerous aspects of a relationship: force, wealth, sex, and speech. In the Commandment Thou shalt not murder, it shows the importance of not killing within the in-group because it will tear a community apart. Also, adultery within a community threatens its cohesiveness. Taking something that doesn’t belong to you to better your own wealth is sinful and not fair. If you lie about what happened to a judge when you are under oath, there will be great consequence.

The Jews also find great meaning in justice. They came from a stage called the Prophetic Guilds where ethics were no concern and they would lose themselves in intoxication. The story of Naboth is a great example as to how important justice was to the Jews. Naboth was stoned by King Ahab because he did not want to give up his family vineyard to the King. Elijah heard from Yahweh that he must go to the king and tell him of his wrong doing. Elijah had no authority to deliver such a message to the king and he could easily be charged with blasphemy. But the king accepted Elijah’s message because he felt that it was obvious that the message was divinely delivered. It was the first time that somebody challenged the authority of the king based on divine grounds. The Writing Prophets emerge amidst a world filled with inequality and a moral deterioration. They formed a new way of thinking that included the fact that Yahweh would not put up with evil in the world forever. They discovered divine rules for society that even the kings had to follow.

The Jews found meaning in suffering. By having meaning in the suffering, that they endured daily, there would be reason to continue on to the next day. This ultimately led to the development of Messianism. Messianism created a sense of hope in a seemingly hopeless environment. Some people expected an actual Messiah whereas others saw it as a time where Yahweh intervenes and saves. The Jews felt that they were the “chosen people” and that Yahweh would ultimately deliver them to salvation.

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False Testament is an article about the apparent fabrication of one of the most believed stories in human history. Believers in Judaism, Islam, and Christianity have much in common because they all have a common starting point. As you progress to Christianity, Judaism and Islam begin to stay in certain time periods and not develop any new beliefs. But archeologists are finding evidence that leads one to believe that the very cores of these three religions are founded on fabrication. For example, the Bible claims the Jews were a small group of “invaders who fought their way into the Holy Land,” but archeologists have found more evidence that proves that they were just a small group of people who naturally lived on the west side of the Jordan River. Even the Davidic Empire is now only seen as a story created by priests in Jerusalem. Judaism seems to be a religion that came out of a time where every nation wanted to be as prestigious as Egypt or some other powerful nation. Judah’s priests felt that their chief God, Yahweh, would make them into a great power.

The problem is that some of the founding figures of Judaism seem to be mythical characters when explained through science. Abraham, a man who sought a life outside of the society, seems to have left no evidence of his existence. Neither has the great prophet, Moses. In fact, there are many other characters of the Old Testament that have been found to be fictional according to the Higher Criticism. Even Genesis is starting to look like fiction novel that links “together a series of unconnected folktales like pearls on a string.” Some of the first archeologists looked for answers but were really trying to find the means to fit their ends.

The book of Exodus has also become hard to prove. Egyptian records don’t mention an escape of some six hundred thousand Jews. One has to think that somewhere in their records, such a major event would have been recorded. There has been little evidence to prove their leave from Mesopotamia, their capture in Egypt, and their escape. Some scholars posit that the reason for this fabrication may have been to enrich their simple past. For reasons of keeping themselves protected from the big empires.

There is also the idea of monotheism. Monotheism may have been a way to separate the Jews from their surrounding cultures. But some believe that it was a concoction that priests, who were given the right to enforce a religious dictatorship, created to fool a naïve nation. In saying this, though, one has to assume that these priests understood the chronological order of events the way we do today. Since it is not possible that they could have, we are left in something of a historical cloud.

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There is actually little to be known about the full life of Jesus. There are facts that include a birth around 4 B.C. and that he grew up in Nazareth. He was baptized by the prophet John and lived in life amongst spiritually rich individuals. As the story goes, Jesus was taken by the Holy Spirit to the wilderness and endured forty nights of fasting and prayer. Jesus was also a healer and healed many sick and possessed individuals in his community. Jesus stressed one key characteristic about Yahweh that differed from many people in his time: his compassion. Jesus felt that there were social barriers that were creating a sense of inequality amongst the community. He openly stated his belief that a compassionate Divinity as Yahweh would not allow for people to be treated differently. He preached ideals that included the adherence of all people because they were Divine laws.

The people that Jesus taught eventually came to see him as God in human form. They came to this conclusion because he lived the way he taught others to live. Peter described Jesus’ life by saying, “He went about doing good.” People felt that if he was in fact God in human form, that Jesus’ life was a perfect example of how God would behave on earth. They also credit him for saying things that were unprecedented in his time. He was teaching people to behave differently than they were naturally inclined to. They wanted to live gracefully, they way Jesus lived. He lived with perfection that seemed to be evident only in the Divine.

There is not much detail given about what happened after Jesus’ crucifixion. One thing that is inherent in the accounts that we have is that people were soon after experiencing him in a whole new way. Experiencing Divine love was what Jesus’ life brought to others. Following in the footsteps of Jesus was the road to salvation. There was also the introduction of the mystical Body of Christ. In a mass, the priest will bless wine and bread and proclaim that they have transformed in the body and blood of Christ. This helps to seal the religious experience of God into the individual. It is the infusion of Jesus’ Divinity in the physical body of the believer. More liberal believers don’t believe that this ritual is needed to reach salvation.

The people of Jesus’ time were startled to hear news of a man that was a sort of “God-man.” Jesus was not half man and half God; he was considered man and God at the same time. Many of the leaders of the day were already seen as Divinely delivered. The difference with Jesus was that it showed God’s willingness to endure the suffering of humankind. The Apostles developed a creed that established their belief in the life of Jesus as a human being and that he did suffer for all of us. Some felt that Jesus had saved us from eternal suffering because of the original sin. This suffering, some will say, is the love for ourselves that keeps us from loving others. Christians also believe that there is a third form of God that encapsulates the trinity. The disciples were with each other when a loud sound came into their house. They were suddenly being showered with tongues of fire and each person was endowed with one. The all began to experience the third form of God: the Holy Spirit.

The Church was recognized by Rome and was equal to other religions. After some time, Rome adopted Christianity as its official religion. After that, the Church had what is known as “Teaching Authority” over the people and was able to correctly interpret the bible’s accounts. It was such a strong power that the Pope was endowed with “papal infallibility.” This meant that the Pope was considered free from error because every decision that was made by him was Divinely guided. Sacraments helped Christians to practice their beliefs. The Sacraments were rituals that mark special times in a Christian’s life. There are seven Sacraments: Baptism, Confirmation, Holy Matrimony, Holy Orders, Sacrament of the Sick, Reconciliation, and Mass. Eastern Orthodoxy and Protestantism are two other branches that formed from the original Christianity. Eastern Orthodoxy doesn’t believe in having a pope. The head of Eastern Orthodoxy is considered a “first among equals.” Protestants give warnings to others about worshiping a worldly idol or false idol.

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Crossan looks at the similarities between the story of Octavius and Jesus. One was capable of having his life scribed while the other’s life is a collection of Gospels written some time after his death. Octavius was the heir to Caesar and was to become Augustus. Jesus was to be the Son of God. They are both attributed to unifying the people of their community. John and Jesus have also many similarities when closely compared with each other. There are times throughout the Gospel of Luke where themes can be extracted from the accounts of John and Jesus that are parallel. John’s birth was announced to his parents by an angel. So was Jesus’ birth. Both of their births were public. The people of the town came to witness God’s mercy in the birth of John and Mary conceived in a manger. Moses and Jesus also have much in common. They were both born into hostile environments where the King had ordered for them specifically to be killed. They also both had fathers who refused to divorce their wives and not conceive because of the conditions. But ultimately, Jesus is always seen as more Divine than the former.

Jesus was a carpenter, which was not unusual because most young men followed the profession of their fathers and Jesus’ father was a carpenter. Carpenters in Jesus’ day were considered low-class people and most likely illiterate. There were many people who disregarded the virgin birth of Jesus, one of which is the pagan philosopher Celsus. Celsus was in absolute disagreement with the virgin birth and believed that the myths of Greece were equally as mythological. There was also a touch of conceit in the way he spoke of the laypeople that were commonly illiterate.

In the story of the beheading of John, there is a notable similarity between this story and the crucifixion of Jesus. In both accounts, the Roman Empire seems to be shed in a rather blameless light. They seem to have sanctified the executions without really wanting to but due to certain inevitable conditions.

The Cynic’s main path to happiness was freedom. They freed themselves from worldly possessions and desires. The cynics were seen as a growing liberal culture emerging from a materialistic world. They wore ragged clothes and sandals and only carried with them a knapsack in which they carried all of their belongings. It symbolized their simple living and ability to take care of themselves with little possession. The cynics also believed that poverty leads to freedom that ultimately leads to royalty.