Transcript Religions of Southern and Eastern Asia

Religions of Southern
and Eastern Asia
Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam,
Shintoism and the Philosophy
of Confucianism.
Confucianism
Origins &
History
 Founded by
Confucius
(551–479 BC),
China
Confucianism
Adherents Worldwide (approx.)
 5-6 million
Confucianism
God(s) and Universe
 God is not addressed. Centers on
human behavior.
 Confucius regarded Heaven (T'ien) as
a positive and personal force in the
universe; he was not, as some have
supposed, an agnostic or a skeptic.
Confucianism
Human Situation
and Life's
Purpose
 Purpose of life
is to fulfill one's
role in society
with propriety,
honor, and
loyalty.
Student learning confucianism.
Confucianism
Afterlife
 Not addressed.
Confucianism
Practices
 Honesty, politeness, propriety,
humaneness, perform correct role
in society, loyalty to family,
nation
Confucianism
Texts

Analects - The sacred
text is simply a book
that is written by
Confucius himself, and
includes the words that
he spoke throughout
his teachings and his
aims to spread the
word to his disciples.
Many of his teachings
and beliefs are listed
and explained through
this sacred text.
Confucianism
Other Information
 Confucianism has been followed by the
Chinese for more than two millennia. It has
deeply influenced spiritual and political life
in China; its influence has also extended to
Korea, Japan, and Vietnam. East Asians may
profess themselves to be Shintoists, Taoists,
Buddhists, Muslims, or Christians - but
seldom do they cease to be Confucians.
Hinduism
Origins & History
 Indigenous religion of India as
developed to present day.
Hinduism
Adherents Worldwide (approx.)
 900 million
Hinduism
God(s) and Universe
 One Supreme Reality (Brahman)
manifested in many gods and
goddesses
Hinduism
Human Situation and Life's Purpose
 Humans are in bondage to
ignorance and illusion, but are
able to escape. Purpose is to gain
release from rebirth, or at least a
better rebirth.
Hinduism
Afterlife
 Reincarnation until
gain enlightenment.
Hinduism
Practices
 Yoga, meditation,
worship (puja),
devotion to a god or
goddess, pilgrimage
to holy cities, live
according to one's
dharma (purpose/
role).
Hinduism
Texts

The Vedas, Upanishads, Bhagavad
Gita, Ramayana, etc.
Hinduism
Other information
 Hinduism is an ancient religion with no
founder or known date of origin. The term
"Hinduism" simply derives from the word
"India" and refers to a wide variety of
religious traditions and philosophies that
have developed in India over thousands of
years. Most Hindus worship one or more
deities, believe in reincarnation, value the
practice of meditation, and observe festive
holidays like Diwali and Holi.
Islam
Origins & History
 Muhammad, 622
AD, Saudi Arabia
Islam
Adherents Worldwide (approx.)
 1.3 billion (Sunni: 940 million)
Islam
God(s) and Universe
 One God (Allah in Arabic)
Islam
Human Situation and Life's Purpose
 Humans must submit (islam) to
the will of God to gain Paradise
after death.
Islam
Afterlife
 Paradise
or Hell.
Islam
Practices
 Five Pillars: Faith, Prayer, Alms,
Pilgrimage, Fasting. Mosque
services on Fridays. Ablutions
(washing, purification) before
prayer. No alcohol or pork.
Holidays related to the pilgrimage
and fast of Ramadan.
Islam
Texts

Qur'an (Scripture); Hadith
(tradition)
Islam
Other Information
 Islam is a monotheistic religion based on
revelations received by the Prophet
Muhammad in the 7th century, which were
later recorded in the Qur'an (Koran), Islam's
sacred text. The faith spread rapidly and
today Islam is the second largest religion in
the world. The Arabic word islam means
"submission," reflecting the religion's central
tenet of submitting to the will of God. Islamic
practices are defined by the Five Pillars of
Islam: faith, prayer, fasting, pilgrimage and
alms.
Shintoism
Origins & History
 Indigenous religion of Japan.
Shintoism
Adherents Worldwide (approx.)
 3-4 million
Shintoism
God(s) and Universe
 Polytheism based on the kami,
ancient gods or spirits.
Shintoism
Human Situation and Life's Purpose
 Humans are pure by nature and
can keep away evil through
purification rituals and attain
good things by calling on the
kami.
Shintoism
Afterlife
 Death is bad and impure. Some
humans become kami after death.
Shintoism
Practices
 Worship and offerings to kami at
shrines and at home. Purification
rituals.
Shintoism
Texts
 Important texts are Kojiki or
'Records of Ancient Matters' and
Nihon-gi or 'Chronicles of Japan'
Shintoism
Other Information
 Shinto (also Shintoism) is the term for
the indigenous religious beliefs and
practices of Japan. Shinto has no
founder, no official sacred scriptures,
and no fixed creeds, but it has
preserved its main beliefs and rituals
throughout the ages.
Buddhism
Origins & History
 Founded by Siddharta Gautama
(the Buddha) in c. 520 BC, NE
India.
Buddhism
Adherents
Worldwide
(approx.)
 360 million
Buddhism
God(s) and Universe
 Varies: Theravada atheistic;
Mahayana more polytheistic.
Buddha taught nothing is
permanent.
Buddhism
Human Situation and Life's Purpose
 Purpose is to avoid suffering and
gain enlightenment and release
from cycle of rebirth, or at least
attain a better rebirth by gaining
merit.
Buddhism
Afterlife
 Reincarnation (understood
differently than in Hinduism, with
no surviving soul) until gain
enlightenment
Buddhism
Practices
 Meditation, mantras, devotion to
deities (in some sects), mandalas
(Tibetan)
Buddhism
Texts
 Tripitaka (Pali Canon); Mahayana
sutras like the Lotus Sutra;
others.
Buddhism
Other Information
 Founded in India 2,500 years ago, Buddhism
remains the dominant religion of the Far East
and is increasingly popular in the West. Over
its long history Buddhist has developed into a
wide variety of forms, ranging from an
emphasis on religious rituals and worship of
deities to a complete rejection of both rituals
and deities in favor of pure meditation. But
all share in common a great respect for the
teachings of the Buddha, "The Enlightened
One."
Difference between
Hinduism and Buddhism


Buddhists- do not believe that the soul is unchanging.
Seeking one’s individual self is counterproductive. It is
not necessary to believe in a god, or that God created
man. They believe that the purpose of reincarnation is to
gain enlightenment and live in Nirvana. They do NOT
believe in a caste system. [Goal - getting rid of one’s self]
Hindus – believe you are born into a caste level and your
goal is to perfect the soul at this level and move to a
better life. They believe that when you have perfected
your soul, you live in harmony with Brahman, the
creator. [Goal - perfecting one’s self]