CHAPTER ONE Studying the World’s Religions

The Nature of a Religious Tradition Part One

Religious Questions What is the human condition? What is spiritual perfection? What is ethical? How do we transcend the human condition? How do we attain salvation? What is our destiny? What is the nature of the world? What is ultimate reality, and how is it revealed?

What is the human condition? What is our essential nature? Are we merely what we appear to be – physical bodies somehow equipped with the capacity to think and to feel? Or are we endowed with a deeper spiritual essence, some form of soul? Are human beings good, or evil, or somewhere in-between, perhaps originally good but now flawed in some way? Accounts of human origin  Adam and Eve  Jewish and Christian Bibles  Qur’an (or Koran) - Islam Suffering  All religions recognize that we suffer  Why do we suffer?  Is it our fault?  Do we deserve to suffer?  Can we overcome suffering through a state of higher spiritual maturity?

What is spiritual perfection? Is it possible?  In this life  In the afterlife  With divine assistance How?  Various approaches  Considers these three questions:  What is ethical? – How are we to act while living in this world?  How do we transcend the human condition?  How do we attain salvation?

What is ethical? Religions typically prescribe an ethical life as a basic requirement for the journey toward spiritual perfection Teachings regarding right and wrong are a significant part of most religious traditions

How do we transcend the human condition? Some responses to the challenges of being human  Ignoring issues  “Numbing” one’s spirit  Blocking issues out by staying busy – workaholic  Addictions – drugs, alcohol Religion and the challenges of being human  Encourages a response that brings one face-to-face with life’s issues in order to rise above them  Example: Buddhist enlightenment – the one who has attained enlightenment while continuing to inhabit a physical body is said to maintain a state of indescribable spiritual tranquility and bliss

How do we attain salvation? Spiritual maturation  Spiritual maturity or perfection is closely related to some form of salvation  For religions that emphasize forms of transcendence, there is a direct connection between the transcendence attained in this life and final salvation. For example: Buddhism – attaining enlightenment in this life leads to nirvana in the next Christianity and Islam – salvation depends on the divine who leads individuals to spiritual perfection in the afterlife  Note: Salvation is seen as a liberation from what is believed to be the ultimate limitation of the human condition: death.

What is our destiny? Where are we going, ultimately?  Most religions provide answers to that question. In most cases, the destination is reliant upon one’s spiritual maturity. For example:  Human beings face two possible destinies: reward or condemnation  Human beings live more than one life: no ultimate destiny, but instead another step toward the final destiny Hinduism Buddhism Jainism

What is the nature of the world? Where did the world come from? Is it real, or is it just some kind of cosmic illusion? Is it sacred, perhaps even living? Or is it merely matter? Is it a help or a hindrance to the religious quest?  Cosmology – the understanding of the nature of the universe Answers to cosmological questions tend to determine how interested a particular religion may be in the natural world  Some religions support scientific inquiry  Some religions are suspicious of science

What is ultimate reality and how is it revealed? Ultimate reality (known to most Western traditions as God)  Most religions teach that the supreme or ultimate reality is somehow revealed to humans  Sacred stories, myths, religious experiences  Theistic religions – belief in God or multiple gods  Teach a theology or doctrine regarding the divine Monotheism – belief in one God Polytheism – belief in many gods Pantheism – belief that divine exists in everything  Nontheistic religions  Do not believe in a god who is essentially relevant for humanity  Sometimes hold a belief in various divine or semidivine beings  Some of these religions teach that all reality is essentially one thing and that human beings are part of that ultimate reality

The Nature of a Religious Tradition Part Two

Seven Dimensions of Religion Experiential Mythic Doctrinal Ethical Ritual Social Material

Experiential Personal experience  The young prince Gautama  Enlightenment under the bodhi tree Buddhism  Muhammad  Revelations from Allah Islam  Who else? Faith  Personal with doctrinal aspects  Moses and the burning bush  Saul/Paul – What was his personal experience? Contemplation  Mysticism  Hinduism – becoming one with the divine through inward contemplation

Mythic Myth  A term often used to convey falsehood  In the study of world religions myths convey important truths  Nonhistorical, nonrational  Can give meaning to life  Sacred stories passed on through generations  The story of Creation  Informs those in this faith tradition that… The world was created by God Human beings were created in God’s image and by nature are good Humans are meant to care for the earth and its creatures Other examples

Doctrinal Belief  Creeds  Doctrines  Teachings Lived religious experience Myths Recorded in sacred texts

Ethical How are we to live while in this world?  Teachings  The 10 Commandments  Buddhist ideal of compassion

Ritual Worship – formal practice or ritual  Many religions reenact a myth or sacred story  Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca Reenacts the sacred story of Muhammad’s original journey to Mecca

Social Community  Tribe  Parish  Congregation Organization  Hierarchy of leadership  One level for officials and another level for general believers  Ideal examples of spiritual perfection Taoist – the sage Christianity – the saint

Material Architecture  Temples  Cathedrals  Mosques Icons  Statues of the Buddha  Crucifix Nature  Mountains  Major rivers – Hindus Man-made  Cities