Chapter 10 * The Human Problem (Human Nature)

Who and what do we think we are? Is the world okay? Am I okay? Are things

basically good or bad? Theodicythe problem and origin of evil(ch 11)

This chapter deals with religion’s answer to the realization that human life is far from perfect. Something is found to be wrong or lacking in our lives and the world, and it is the job of religion to find ways to explain why that is, make things right, and to make life more harmonious satisfying and meaningful.

Evidence that things are not okay in the human condition:

Suicide Addictions Crime War Family breakdown Selfishness

4 religious approaches to the human problem

Stoic

Christian Buddhist

Confucian

The basic religious approach:pursue a key virtue to make things right.

StoicKnowledge is virtue.

Know yourself. Eliminate ignorance.

ChristianAccepting God’s help through Jesus is

the key virtue.

BuddhistRealizing the true nature of

reality (enlightenment) and is the key virtue.

ConfucianGood relationships are the key

virtue.

Knowledge, relationships, divine help, enlightenment: different religions include and combine these in various ways with different degrees of emphasis.

Stoicism’s solution to the human problem

Zeno founds stoicism in Athens, 360 BC.

Situation:Golden age is over. Alexander and

military rule. Rising violence and chaos.

How then should we live a good life? Is everything ruled by chance (Tyche) and fate?

Phusis: (the great divine Nature): the purpose and form which is shaping us all.

Logos (divine knowledge) can liberate you spiritually from the corrupt world. It is a divine spark (pantheistic) which is growing within you (hopefully).

Passions are in conflict with reason, so do not pursue pleasure in life.

Apatheia: detachment from worldly goals (wealth, power, status). No fear of death or desire for wealth. Accept your natural state in life as it is.

Change your viewpoint, not the world; the you will be happy and at peace with yourself and others.Famous stoics: Epictetus,

Marcus Aurelius,

p.214-217

Stoicism influenced early Christianity: Church fathers, monasticism

Phusis

Christianity’s solution the human problem Human life is not divine; it

was created by God in His image (imago Dei) but it depends on God.

Reason and grace are the 2 great virtues given to man at creation.

The fall: man lost some of that grace by choosing to sin. All men still are wounded by this tendency to sin (original sin). Man is in a fallen state and needs to be lifted up by God.

Martin Luther on free will p.219

Reinhold Niebuhr on self-transcendence p. 220

John Calvin on sin p.221 St. Augustine on original sin

p.221

The Kingdomof God

Theravada Buddhism’s solution to the human problem

India & South Asia

Each living being has its own energy and will, its karma, which it exerts for good or bad.

Each being is in control of their own karma; no one is lord over the individual. A good life is all up to you as an individual.

The law of karma: the law of cause and effect: good and bad karma lead to good and bad effects in this life and the next.

Karma Each living being has its own

energy and will, its karma, which it exerts for good or bad.

Each being is in control of their own karma; no one is lord over the individual. A good life is all up to you as an individual.

The law of karma: the law of cause and effect: good and bad karma lead to good and bad effects in this life and the next.

An-atta or an-atman = “no self”

Self, ego and soul are an illusion. We are an aggregate of 5 processes

called dhammas (or aggregates)which are themselves changing andwill ultimately disassemble when wedie.

The false in belief in self is the sourceof all suffering (dukkha). Getting pastthe self-absorption of this illusion isthe solution to the human problem.Enlightenment (nirvana) is what isneeded.

Matter (rupa) Consciousness (vinnana) Feeling (vedana) Perception and memory

(sanna) Mental formations (sankhara)

Nirvana

Solving the Human Problem

The 4 noble truths

The Eightfold Path

Mahayana Buddhism departs from Theravada Buddhism:

You are not on your own to achieve enlightenment and it is not all

internal/psychological. There are saints and saviors who can

take you there:Bodhisattvas

Pure land Buddhism

There are rituals and prayers that can take you there.

Reciting the name of AmitabhaBuddha in order to attain

rebirth in the western pure land of Sukhavati.

Hui-yuan founded Pure Land Buddhismhere on the northwest slope of Mt.Luhsan in 402. Also, the DonglinTemple is located here

Confucianism (550 BC) Humanism: a term from the European

renaissance/reformation that states that man should be the center of our view of the world (not God).

Confucianism is essentially humanistic: human relationships are the key to virtue, happiness, a good life and a good society.

Li = the rules of social order.No li, no peace.

The mandate of heaven = how things are meant to be.

Rulers must win the mandate of heaven.Lose it and they will fail, the kingdom will suffer and fall from power

Confucianism has a positive view of human nature. It just has to be nurtured properly. How?

1. The Rectification of Names 2. The 5 Great Relationships 3. Ritual 4. Education

p.228

p.227

The Grand Harmony

All 4 religions of the religions examined in this chapter see an underlying sacred order beyond the appearances of the material world

The Grand Harmony

NirvanaThe Kingdomof God

Phusis

* Striving for unity with that that order is the personal goal of the believer in each tradition. It is what solves the human problem.* In contrast to secularism and materialism, each religious tradition

says you must understand and personally tap into a supernatural reality to understand the human problem and its solution.

Test essay question: Compare and contrast the view of the human

problem (its origin and solution) between any of the following traditions.

Identify and explain 3 similarities and 3 differences in your essay.

Stoic

Christian Buddhist

Confucian