Major Religions of the World
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Major Religions of the World This article describes several of the major world Other important sacred books are called Smriti, religions: Hinduism, Jainism, Buddhism, Shinto, “tradition”. These include the Laws of Manu (250 Islam, Taoism, Confucianism, and Zoroastrianism. BC), the great epic poems Ramayana (story of the American Christians, especially those living in god Ram) and Mahabharat (Great Indian War), larger cities, are experiencing considerable contact both written before 250 AD, and the Puranas (an- with people from many countries and cultures. A cient tales), from the same period. Within the Ma- knowledge of the basics of world religions can be habharat is the Bhagavad-Gita, currently the fa- valuable when building acquaintances with non- vorite textbook of Indian thought. Christians. The Main Beliefs of Modern Hinduism These notes are compiled from a number of sources, During the later Vedic period (after 1000 BC), the including Encyclopedia Brittanica, as well making doctrines of karma and transmigration became per- use of a study of World Religions by the Moody manent in Hindu thought. These teachings assert Bible Institute, that after death the soul of man will be reborn into HINDUISM another existence predetermined by the thoughts and actions of the present life. Karma is the law Hinduism is the oldest living religion. Hinduism of sowing and reaping. Transmigration is the be- has no founder, no central authority, and no fixed lief that all life is essentially the same, whether creed. There are about 350 million followers, al- vegetable, animal, or human. The concept is that most all living in India. The beginning of Hinduism somehow the soul appears as an individual entity, was associated with the Indo-Aryan invasion of In- caught in a process that will lead it through many dia approximately 2,000 years before Christ. These lives. When the final effect of the last action is com- early immigrants to India worshipped the powers pleted, the soul will be reabsorbed into the Infinite. of nature and assigned personalities to them. Idol- There is no continuance of individuality. atrous features of existing local religions were also Caste appeared at about the same time, probably absorbed by this religion and survive on popular as a result of segregation because of skin color or Hinduism today. because of occupation. There are four main caste The Hindu Scriptures divisions: Brahmans, or priests; Kshatriyas, or war- riors; Vaisyas, or artisans; and Sudras, or servants. Nature worship of the early Aryan period (from Outside of these castes are the untouchable out- about 1500 BC) was codified and gradually com- castes. bined with the Brahmanas (up to 600 BC) and the Upanishads (up to 300 BC) to form the Sruti liter- The four main castes are divided into some 300 sub- ature, the “revealed wisdom”. The most important castes which are in turn broken down into thou- document is the Rig-Veda, said to be the oldest reli- sands of subdivisions. Even the outcastes have a gious book, put into writing during the 8th Century multitude of divisions among them. BC. It is composed mostly of prayers addressed to Caste rules originally exercised rigid control over the personified powers of nature. occupation and social contacts. Today in India change of occupation is more common and many The Brahamanas came with the development of caste restrictions have been lessened. The Indian priesthood and contain instructions for priests. constitution forbids, on paper at least, any discrim- The Upanishads are philosophical and abstruse. ination on a caste basis. But the major points of They present Brahma, the sole Reality, the immor- caste distinction are still intact. tal, infinite, eternal, inscrutable, impersonal Abso- lute. In Hinduism, polytheism and idolatry are extreme. Grace Notes, a ministry of Austin Bible Church http://gracenotes.info/ Major Religions of the World 2 The number of gods worshipped is said to be more the same. Any concept of ego or individuality is than 300,000,000. Vedic Hinduism of the early simply a phase of maya, or “illusion.” Aryans personified the powers of nature by had Devotional Hinduism no idols not permanent temples. From the con- quered peoples came animism and totemism. Re- Three Ways of gaining moksha, or deliverance are form movements, Jainism and Buddhism, for ex- recognized: ample, arose during the 6th Century BC. These religions added “personal saviors”. 1. The Way of Works (karma-marga) - consis- tent obedience in carrying out ceremonies, Brahamanism responded to these new religions by sacrifices, pilgrimages, etc., to accumulate personalizing the impersonal, and Brahma the Cre- merit. ator, Vishnu the Preserver, and Shiva the Destroyer appeared. 2. The Way of Knowledge (gyan-marga) - in- volves profound philosophical thinking. Sal- From Vishnu came avatars, or incarnations, depict- vation comes with the flash of realization of ing various aspects of being or power. Of nine in- the oneness of all things. carnations, the chief are Rama and Krishna. In 3. The Way of Devotion (bhakti-marga) - de- some parts of India, Shiva is predominant. With mands ardent personal devotion to a par- his consorts he represents life energy in all aspects. ticular deity above all others. This is the In other sections, Vishnu and his incarnations are most common Way and is emphasized in the prominent. Bhagavad-Gita. The average Hindu is unlimited in his polytheism and not exclusive in his worship. Each god has JAINISM helpers, offspring, sacred animals or birds, symbols, Jainism is considered to be an aspect of Hinduism etc. On a lower level are the nature gods - Usha and is the oldest religion which originated in India the dawn, Surya the sun, Agni the fire, etc., with and was founded by a person. Jainism has about various deities under them! Lower still are hordes 1.5 million followers. of local gods and demons. These unite to make Hinduism the most idolatrous religion known. The founder of Jainism was Vardhamana (599 to 527 BC), who became Mahavia (great hero) of Jain Philosophical Hinduism (“the victor”) following his enlightenment. He was a prince of the Kahatriya caste. He renounced the The Six Darshanas, or philosophies, were formu- world at age 30 and undertook a life of extreme as- lated after 600 BC and are based largely on the Up- ceticism in search moksha, “freedom from rebirth.” anishads. The Bhagavad-Gita, written much later, Reaching the desired state in 12 years, he spent the amplifies and continues the teachings of the Upan- remainder of his life in winning converts. ishads. The most influential systems are: Some distinctives of Jainism: • The Vedanta, which stresses absolute monism (that there is only one Reality) • Pluralism - matter and spirit are eternal. The individual is uncreated and indestructible. • Sankhya, which is dualistic (spirit and matter are • Atheism - denial of any creator or supreme being. eternal • Autosoterism - salvation purely by personal ef- • Yoga emphasizes physical techniques for union fort. Prayers and worship do not help. with the Infinite. • Ahimsa - non-injury, or extreme reverence for all Through the 19th Century “incarnation” of Ra- living things. This is considered the highest of all makrishna, the teaching of the ancient wise man good, and has become the outstanding characteris- Shankara is being disseminated in the West. This tic of Jainism. teaching is described as a monistic philosophy, ac- • Isatpragbhara - the highest heaven, is the place cording to which Brahma (or Brahman) is the ulti- where the soul dwells in eternal and conscious indi- mate and only Reality. He is consciousness, he is viduality. existence, he is the soul of every human being, crea- ture, and object. Salvation comes through philo- • Jainism retained the basic doctrines of karma sophical speculation and meditation leading to the and transmigration, but sought to eliminate caste, realization that Brahma and one’s self are one and with only partial success. Grace Notes, a ministry of Austin Bible Church http://gracenotes.info/ Major Religions of the World 3 BUDDHISM Buddhist Scriptures Buddhism is the first religion to become interna- The Tripitaka, or “Three Baskets,” were transmit- tional. There are between 250 and 500 million fol- ted orally from Buddha’s time and written in the lowers today. Pali language probably during the 2nd Century BC. The Three Baskets are the Vinaya, containing The founder of Buddhism was Siddhartha Gau- monastic rules; The Sutra, teachings of the Bud- tama (560 to 480 BC), a prince of the Kshatriya dha; and Adhidharma, metaphysical commentaries caste of Hinduism. At age 29 he decided to seek the on the teachings. Added to these is a large body of answer to the problem of sin and suffering. The way literature, some in Sanskrit, containing many leg- of philosophical speculation being unsuccessful, he ends and much philosophizing. took the path of extreme bodily asceticism. After five futile years he resorted to less rigorous prac- Two Main Schools of Buddhism tice. At 35, while seated under the bodhi tree in Hinayana, the Lesser Vehicle (Southern Bud- meditation, he experienced enlightenment and be- dhism), is generally closer to the original teach- came the Buddha, the “enlightened one.” During ings. Salvation of the individual is emphasized, the remained of his life, he preached the Middle and only the original Pali scriptures are accepted. Path to Enlightenment, or nirvana, the place of This school is found in Sri Lanka, Burma, Thai- freedom from rebirth. He died at 80, with about land, Cambodia, Laos, and Viet Nam. Distinctive 500 disciples. features are: The Buddhist Middle Path to salvation from re- • The saffron-robed monk is conspicuous. He fol- birth demands true knowledge of the Four Noble lows the Path as set in the early scriptures. Truths. These are: • A reverent attitude toward relics and images of the Buddha is maintained.