Transcript Buddhism, Hinduism, Judaism, et.al. - Mr. Sorrell

Buddhism, Hinduism, Judaism,
et.al.
Religious Hearths***
• South Asia
– Hinduism
– Buddhism
– Shintoism
• Huang He River Valley (China)
– Taoism
– Confucianism
• Eastern Mediterranean!!!
– Christianity
– Judaism
– Islam
Buddhism
• Predominantly in China and SE Asia
• Splintered from Hinduism
– Buddha questioned the caste system, but still
believes in following dharma (laws) to have good
karma for reincarnation
– Reaching enlightenment will release you from this
cycle of rebirth
• Four Noble Truths (know)/8 fold path to
Enlightenment
– Goal of religion is to attain enlightenment by
getting rid of desires, attachments, and ignorance
Buddhism
• Nirvana- ultimate state of peace
– Buddhism is a way of living that achieves
release from reincarnation and suffering
• Monks perform religious functions
• Does not require exclusive adherence
• God is not knowable- therefore is not a
major concern in Buddhism
• Tripitaka is holy text
The Way (the 8Fold Path)
The threefold scheme of
morality
1. Right understanding
2. Right thought
Faith
(initially)
3. Right speech
Morality: I
4. Right bodily action
5. Right livelihood
Wisdom: III
(ultimately)
THE EIGHT-FOLD PATH
6. Right moral effort
7. Right mindfulness
8. Right concentration
Meditation: II
6
Origin of Buddhism
• Founded by Siddhartha Guatama
– Buddha’s story
• He transformed into the Buddha (“awakened
enlightened one”) after 6 year meditation on why
there is suffering and how to escape it
• Split in interpretations of teachings
– Theravada- withdrawal from world; monks; follow
example of Buddha's life, individual responsibility
– Mahayana- Elightenment can be attained with help
from a bodhisattva- a “saint” who is so full of
compassion that he will not enter into a state of
nirvana until others can enter with him.
Diff of Buddhism
• Slower diffusion from
hearth through
missionaries.
• Emperor Asoka helped
diffuse
• Lost base in India after
diffusing to China, Korea
and Japan
Other Univ. Religions
• Sikhism- continual improvement; founded on
the wisdom of 10 Gurus- 1st was Nanak.
– Don’t shave beard; wear turbans = sense of unity
• Baha’i- abolish racial, class, and religious
preferences
Darbar Sahib, IndiaHome of the Guru
Granth Sahib (Holy
Book): Sihkism
Ethnic Religions
• Hinduism: 3rd largest religion
– Concentrated in India and Nepal
– Vedas are sacred texts
– Karma is main doctrine- reincarnation
(transferability of the soul)
• Religious caste system
– Deities (holy beings/objects) are chosen by
individual = Many paths to spirituality
– Ritual bathing in Ganges River (make pilgrimage
there)
– All gods come form Atman
Origin and Diffusion of Hinduism
• One of oldest religions (4000+ years ago)
– Unclear origin- before recorded history
• Possibly originated in Indus River Valley in
present day Pakistan
– No longer associated with Pakistan hearth
(concentrated in Nepal and India)
• When Christianity and Islam diffused to
Hindu areas, Hindu teachers integrated new
teachings
– Islam stimulated rise of Sikhism
Landscapes of Hinduism and Buddhism
• Hindus erect shrines/temples to please Gods and to
be rewarded- countless shrines all over India
– Cultural landscape of Hinduism is the cultural landscape
of India
– Located near water for ritual bathing
• Buddhism
– Sacred site- Bodhi (Enlightenment) Tree where the
Buddha attained enlightenment. The Bodhi tree diffused
as far as China and Japan
– Architecture- Pagoda (place of worship)
• Both usually cremate their dead
Became the
“Laughing
Buddha” as
Buddhism spreads
into China. = China
adding their own
twist to Buddhism
Taj Mahal- It’s a mausoleum with Islamic Architecture.
(Not in Mumbai)
Judaism: an ethnic religion
• Found in US and Israel
– First monotheistic religion?
– Teachings of Abraham
• Jews agree to worship only one God and that
God will protect his chosen people- the Jews
• Migrated from Iraq to Canaan
(Palestine/Israel)
– Christianity and Islam have roots in Judaism
• Jesus was a Jew, 10 commandments;
Muhammad traces ancestry to Abraham
– NOT universalizing religion- adherents are spread
out due to forced migration, not seeking of converts
According to all the prophets of Israel, when the Third Temple is
rebuilt on this same spot, this will usher in an era of peace and
universal harmony unparalleled in the history of mankind. It is a
fundamental principle of Jewish faith that the Temple will be
rebuilt.
Dome of the Rock
“
Wailing Wall
Diffusion of Judaism
• Jewish Diaspora- dispersion of Jews, forced
migration from home in present day Israel
• Zionism- want a homeland for the Jewish people
– Jews should not be absorbed into other societiesHolocaust encouraged many to adopt this idea
– Goal became a reality in 1948 when UN created
state of Israel and Palestine- mass migration back
to shores of eastern Mediterranean
– Law of Return- right of every Jew to migrate back
to Israel
• However, US is home to most Jews
Sacred Sites of Jerusalem
• Judaism
– The Western Wall (Wailing Wall) of the Temple Mount- all
that remains of an old temple after it was destroyed
– Jerusalem was sacred before birth of Jesus
– Encouraged Zionists movements- wanted to control again
• Christianity
• Church of the Holy Sepulcher- built on top of Jesus’ tomb
• Islam
– Fought the Crusades with Christians for control of
Jerusalem
– Dome of the Rock- built next to the Western wall- marks
where Muhammad ascended into heaven
(Video)
Ethnic Religions
• Confucianism: “correct behavior”
– Ethical principles/norms for daily life in China
– Service to fellow humans more important than service
to spirits
– Denied divine right to rule (abilities over ancestry)
• T(D)aoism: China
– mystical aspects of life
– Live in harmony- feng shui; geomancers (consulters)
– Competition, possession, war, ostentation, taxation,
pursuit of knowledge seen as evils
Ethnic Religions
• Shintoism: Japan
– Mix of Buddhism with local religion of Japan
– Nature is divine (godly), ancestor worship
– Majority of Japanese observe both
• Animism: Africa
– Natural objects/occurrences are “animated” by
spirits
• Ingenious/Shamanist
– Local in scope, worship nature, and are passed down
through families/tribes
Buddhist
Pagodas
diffuse to
Japan, used
with
Shintoism
What is secularism?
• The indifference (don’t care) to or rejection of
formal religion
• US has highest rate among wealthiest countries57%
• Even if your society is secular and regardless of your
beliefs, what you eat, where you work/shop and
what you are aloud to do is influenced by religion
– Chic-Fil-A closed on Sundays!!!!
Rise of Secularism
• The map does not show the rise on secularism
across the globe
• French Gov’t
– Hijab’s (head scarves), yarmulke (Jewish skullcap), large
Christian crosses seen as “disruptive” in schools
• Contributing to the decline of organized religion
• Places are open on Sunday’s now
• People who still follow religion do so more
passionately
– Immigrants hold on to religion more fervently- helps
them ease into a new place
Universalizing
• Have specific
hearths/founders
• All are from ASIA!
• Widespread diffusion:
proselytizing, trying to
convert people
• Holy places/sites are based
on important events in
founders life
Ethnic
• Unclear origins, before
recorded history
• Lack of diffusion—no
missionaries
• Judaism is an exception
(forced migration to
other places)
• Have to compete with
the spread of
universalizing religions
• Holy places are attached to
physical environment
(Ganges River for Hindus)