EARLY WORLD
RELIGIONS
Hinduism
Buddhism
Confucianism
Legalism
Daoism
Judaism
Christianity
(Islam will be in the next unit)
Religions of South Asia
Religion in the Subcontinent
Hinduism
What is Hinduism?• One of the oldest religions
– About 1500 B.C.E. – Began in India
• Gave birth to Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism• Tolerance and diversity
– "Truth is one, paths are many“– “There is only one God, but endless are his aspects and
endless are his names”– “We are not human beings having spiritual experiences;
We are spiritual beings having a human experience!”
What do Hindus believe?• Hinduism has no formal theology that defines God• It is henotheistic (acknowledging many but
worshiping only one)• Brahman—One impersonal Ultimate Reality
– Manifest as many personal deities
• Atman—The soul, Brahma trapped in matter • Samsara—Reincarnation – atman is continually born
into this world lifetime after lifetime• Karma—Spiritual impurity due to actions keeps us
bound to this world (good and bad)• Moksha—Ultimate goal of life – to release Atman
and reunite with the divine, becoming as one with Brahman
• Vedas—Truth: myths, rituals, chants
Major gods of the Hindu Pantheon
Brahma, the creator god
Vishnu, the preserver god
Shiva, god of constructive destruction(the transformer)
What are the spiritualpractices of Hinduism?
• Yoga—seeking union with the divine:• Guru—a spiritual teacher, especially helpful for
Jnana and Raja yoga• Bhakti Yoga—worship, seeking union with the
divine through loving devotion to manifest deities• In the home (household shrines)• In the temples (priests officiate)
How does Hinduism directlife in this world?
• Respect for all life – vegetarian• Human life as supreme:
– Four “stations” of life (Caste) - priests & teachers, nobles & warriors, merchant class, servant class
– Four stages of life – student, householder, retired, wandering philosopher
– Four duties of life – pleasure, success, social responsibilities, religious responsibilities (moksha)
Buddhism
The essence of Buddhism
The “middle way of wisdom and compassion.”
The 3 jewels of Buddhism:
Buddha, the teacher.
Dharma, the teachings. Sangha, the community.
Siddhartha Gautama (563-483 BCE)
Born as prince in NE India (Nepal)
At 29 rejected luxurious life to seek enlightenmentand source of suffering
Lived a strict, ascetic life for 6 yrs
Rejecting this extreme, sat in meditation and found nirvana
Became “The Enlightened One,” at 35
What is the fundamental cause of all suffering?
Desire!
Therefore, extinguish the self, don’t obsess about oneself.
Four Noble Truths1. There is suffering in the world.
To live is to suffer.
2. The cause of suffering is self-centered desire and attachments.
3. The solution is to eliminate desire and attachments.
4. To reach nirvana, one must follow the Eightfold Path.
Eightfold Path
Nirvana The union with the ultimate
spiritual reality.
Escape from the cycle of rebirth.
Buddha –19c Thailand
Buddha –
2c Pakistan
Mandala: Wheel of Life Motifs
Types of Buddhism Therevada Buddhism
The oldest school of Buddhism.
Found in southern Asia.
Focus on wisdom and meditation.
Goal: is to become a “Buddha,” or
“Enlightened One.”
Mahayana BuddhismFounded in northern Asia (China, Japan).
Buddhism “for the masses.”
Goal: Not just individual escape from the
wheel, but the salvation of all humanity
through self-sacrifice of those enlightened
few.
Types of Buddhism Zen Buddhism
Seeks sudden enlightenment through
meditation, arriving at emptiness
Use of meditation masters
Beauty, art, and aesthetics, such as gardens &
calligraphy
Tibetan BuddhismDeveloped in Tibet in the 7c CE.
A mix of Theravada and MahayanaInclude Lamas, like the Dalai Lama
Growth of Buddhism
Both
Reincarnation
Cyclical view of history
Belief in a state of enlightenment (Hindu
moksha, Buddhist nirvana)
Caste system
Animal sacrifice
The Middle Way
(Eightfold Path)
Four Noble
Truths
Hinduism
onlyBuddhism
only
Confucianism
* 551 – 479 B.C.E.
* Born in the feudal state of Liu
* Became a teacherand editor of books
Li --> Rite, rules, ritual decorum (Binding force of an enduring stable society)
Ren --> humaneness, benevolence, humanity
Shu --> Reciprocity, empathy
Do not do unto others what you would not want others to do unto you.
Yi --> Righteousness
Xiao --> Filial Piety (Respect your elders!)
1. Ruler Subject
2. Father Son
3. Husband Wife
4. Older
Brother
YoungerBrother
5. Older
Friend
YoungerFriend
* Status
* Age
* Gender
* The single most important Confucian work.
*Knowing what he knows and knowing what
he
doesn’t know, is characteristics of the person
who knows.
*Making a mistake and not correcting it, is
making another mistake.
*The superior man blames himself; the
inferior man blames others.
*To go too far is as wrong as to fall short.
* The emperor is the example of proper behavior --> “big daddy”
* Social relationships are based on “rites” or “rituals”
* Even religious rituals areimportant for SOCIAL, notreligious reasons
INDIA1. Brahmin
CHINA1. Scholar-Gentry
2. Kshatriyas 2. Peasants
3. Vaishyas
4. Shudras
3. Artisans
4. Merchants
Untouchables Domestic Slaves
Legalism
* 280? - 233 B.C.E.
* Late Warring States period
* Legalism became political philosophy of Qin [Ch’in] Dynasty
1. Human nature is naturally selfish.
2. Intellectualism and literacy isdiscouraged.
3. Law is the supreme authority andreplaces morality.
4. The ruler must rule with a strong,punishing hand.
5. War is the means of strengtheninga ruler’s power.
One who favors the principle that individuals should obey a powerful authority rather than exercise individual freedom.
Daoism
*604 B.C.E. - ?
* His name means“Old Master”
* Was he Confucius’ teacher?
1. Dao [Tao] is the first-cause of the universe. It is a force that flows through all life.
2. A believer’s goal is to become one with Dao; one with nature.
3. Wu wei --> “Let nature take its course.”--> “The art of doing nothing.”--> “Go with the flow!”
4. Man is unhappy because he lives according to man-made laws, customs & traditions that are contrary to the ways of nature.
1. Rejecting formal knowledge andlearning.
2. Relying on the senses and instincts.
3. Discovering the nature and“rhythm” of the universe.
4. Ignoring political and social laws.
To escape the “social, political, & cultural traps” of life, one must escape by:
* Masculine
* Active
* Light
* Warmth
* Strong
* Heaven; Sun
* Feminine
* Passive
* Darkness
* Cold
* Weak
* Earth;Moon
How is a man to live in a world dominated by chaos, suffering, and absurdity??
Confucianism --> Moral order in society
Legalism --> Rule by harsh law & order
Daoism --> Freedom for individuals andless government to avoid uniformity and conformity
Judaism
JudaismMonotheistic, believing in one true God
Omniscient, omnipotent, and omnipresent
Unity and singularity of God as He is revealed though Torah
Sh’ma–cornerstone of all Jewish belief.
Deuteronomy 6:4 – “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.”
Israelites believed they were God’s “chosen people.”
They believed that God would lead them to “promised land.”
5
JudaismBorn in grace, live in grace, and die in grace
Sin is not a fact of birth, it is a matter of choice
Olam Ha-Ba: “The World to Come”
Messiah will reign
Jewish temple will be rebuilt
Nation of Israel will be fully restored
World order of justice and compassion.
Teachings on Law and Morality
Jewish prophets, or spiritual leaders, preached code of ethics, or moral standards of behavior
Torah—laws that addressed all aspects of life, from cleanliness and food preparation to criminal matters
Ten Commandments
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Significant Jewish “Holy” Days
Shabbat – Sabbath–day of rest
Friday sundown through Saturday sundown
Prohibited: work, travel, commerce
Yom Kippur –"Day of Atonement" Atone for sins of past year – sins between man and God
On Yom Kippur, judgments of God are entered into “the
books” and then sealed
Rosh Hashanah –New Year, plan better life and
begin introspection
Passover –commemorate Israelites’ escape from
Egypt
Personal journey from slavery to freedom
Christianity
EARLY CHRISTIANITY
• Roots
– Judaism
– Teachings of John the Baptist, Jesus, and apostles
• Earliest converts were Jews who did not think they were breaking away from Hebrew Law
– Early Christians wished to be considered Jews
• Jewish religion officially recognized by Roman government and its adherents had certain privileges
BELIEFS
• Based on belief that Jesus is the Christ/Messiah, the son of God– One of Trinity
• God the Father, Son, Holy Spirit
– Teachings• In Gospels
• 12 disciples
– Death at 33
• By believing in Jesus, his followers will go to Heaven at their death
• Bible is Word of God
• Holy days—Christmas & Easter
EARLY WORLD
RELIGIONS
Hinduism
Buddhism
Confucianism
Legalism
Daoism
Judaism
Christianity
(Islam will be in the next unit)