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Religion - A Cursory Glance
An exhaustive review of any one religion would fill a whole shelf in a library so this is not the intent of this present essay.
To really understand what a religion is all about you would need extensive study and hands-on experience on how a particular religion functions in a society.
You can, however, without too much effort find out the essential beliefs and practices of a specific religion through any well equipped library or the Internet.
Also each religion or sect has a chat room on the internet where you can ask questions and interact in serious discussion with practitioners of any faith.
The following brief discussion used three sources for information:
The purpose of this cursory glance is to see if any of these religions line up in fundamental beliefs that will fit in reasonably with the advances in scientific knowledge of the past 150 years.
The most basic question that all institutions and serious individuals must address is the existence and characteristics of God.
Humans and their institutions have been grappling with this question since their mental capacities were capable of entertaining the concept.
Of course there is no proof or disproof of the existence of a God nor the characteristics that God would have.
There are probably five and a half billion people in the world that are convinced that there is a God or gods and that is a pretty formidable statistic.
Different religions have varying concepts of God and the truth of our existence. Christian scriptures boldly assert that God is the creator of heaven and earth.
Christians have varying interpretations of these scriptures which are reviewed elsewhere in this book.
Both Islam and Judaism have the same scriptural background as Christianity and retain the basic beliefs concerning creation.
The following is the first of six articles of faith for Muslims.
This quote is from the Source book of the Worlds Religions:
Islam
“l.
Belief in One Alone God, Allah.
He is Unique, Infinite,
Transcendent, Creator and Sustainer of all that exists, “Nothing is like unto Him”.
He Alone is worthy of worship.
All else is His creature and servant.
He is Unique both in his essence and in His attributes.
“His are the beautiful names (99 beautiful names described in the Qur’an) and all that is in the heavens and the earth glorify Him.”.
The following quotes are from ‘The Essential Koran’ by Thomas Cleary.
In Mr. Cleary’s introduction to his book he emphasizes that an English translation of the Koran can not do justice to the subtleties of these Arabic texts.
It is important to realize that there is much more to learn about the Koran than presented in this short space.
I grew up as a Protestant and have read through the Bible several times.
The translations of the Koran, at times, are very much like the Bible inasmuch as they refer to the important prophets and concepts that Christians have become familiar with over the years.
Lord of all worlds,
The Compassionate, the Merciful,
Ruler of Judgment Day.
It is you that we worship,
And to You we appear for help.
Show us the straight way,
The way of those You have graced,
Not of those on whom is Your wrath,
Nor of those who wander astray.
Page 42 - (171)
People of the Book,
do not go to excess
in your religion,
and do not say of God
anything but truth.
The Messiah,
Jesus son of Mary,
was only an Envoy of God
and a Word of God
bestowed on Mary,
and a Spirit from God.
So believe in God
and the envoys of God,
and do not speak of a trinity,
for it would be better for you to stop.
God alone is the One worthy of worship:
glory to God,
exalted beyond having a son.
To God belongs all
in the heavens and the earth;
and God is sufficient
to manage it all.
Page 14 - (177)
It is not righteous
that you turn your faces
east and west:
but they are righteous
who believe in God
and the last day,
and the angels and the Book,
and the prophets;
And who donate goods and money
for love of God
to relatives and orphans,
and to the poor and the wayfarer,
and to the needy, and for freeing slaves;
and who are constant in prayer
and give alms for welfare,
and those who fulfill their promises
when they make them,
and who are patient
in suffering, adversity, and hard times.
They are the truthful ones,
and they are the conscientious.
Judaism
The following quote is from Soaper’s Religions of Mankind.
“Judaism has believed, and believed with great earnestness, in a few great doctrines.
First and transcending all others is the unalterable belief in one God, high and lifted up, the Creator and sustainer of the universe, who at the same time is a Father brooding over his children with tender love.
He is the God of justice and truth who will brook no lowering of the moral standard, and who will one day judge the world in righteousness.
A list of thirteen articles of faith was constructed by Maimonides (the great Spanish Rabbi 1135-1204), “the one and only set of principles which have ever enjoyed wide authority in Judaism.” These are: (1) Belief in the existence of God, the Creator; (II) belief in the unity of God; (II) belief in the incorporeality of God;
(IV) belief in the priority and eternity of God; (V)
belief that to God, and God alone, worship must be offered; (VI) belief in prophecy; (VII) belief that Moses was the greatest of all prophets; (VIII) belief that the Law was revealed from heaven; (IX) belief that the Law will never be abrogated, and that no other Law will ever come from God; (X) belief that God knows the works of men; (XI) belief in reward and punishment; (XII) belief in the coming of the Messiah; (XIII) belief
in the resurrection of the dead.”
Maimonides was deeply influenced, as were so many thinkers in the Middle Ages, by Aristotle.
He believed in the revelation to be found in the Old Testament, but sought to show that the truths of revelation were in harmony with reason and could be thoroughly rationalized.”
An important concept in Judaism in the relationship of the Jewish people with their God.
This following quote is from an Internet review of the important aspects of Judaism.
This review may help to explain some of the animosity that has been directed towards Judaism over the past centuries.
“God is understood by the Jews to intervene, to act, in and through history time and again, especially in the history of
God, history and
This quote from
“The foundation on which the whole course of
Due to ethnicity, religion or governmental organization it is not uncommon for a people to consider themselves as the guidepost for the rest of civilization.
The Romans must have felt it, Germany during the second world war unavowedly stated that they were the superior race, the British with their grand empire no doubt felt it, and we North Americans are now having our go at it.
Some of the major religions proclaim their way as the only way.
One of the unfortunate byproducts of Judaism is the presence of those scriptures that “chose
Hinduism
The concept of God in Hinduism is quite different from our western religions.
This ancient religion has undergone so many
transformations and has so many important scriptures that it is difficult to make a comparison with Islam, Christianity and Judaism.
This quote from
“Hinduism is so unlike any other religion that it is difficult to define with any precision.
It has no founder.
Its origins are lost in a very distant past.
It does not have one holy book but several.
There is no single body of doctrine.
Instead there is a great diversity of belief and practice.
Many doctrines would be at odds with each other in any other religion.
Hinduism, however has always tended to be inclusive rather than exclusive.
There are many sects, cults, theologies and schools of philosophy, and all of them find a home within Hinduism without persecuting each other or accusing each other of heresy.
It is a religion that worships many gods.
Yet it also adheres to the view that there is only one God, called Brahman.
All other divinities are aspects of the one absolute and unknowable Brahman.
Another distinctive feature of Hinduism is belief in the transmigration of souls, or reincarnation.
Associated with this belief is the conviction that all living things are part of the same essence.
Individuals pass through cycles of birth and death.
This means that an individual soul may return many times in human, animal, or even vegetable form.
What a person does in the present life will affect the next life.
This is the doctrine of karma, the law of cause and effect.
The goal of the individual is to escape this cycle, or wheel of birth and rebirth, so that the individual soul, Adman, may eventually become part of the absolute soul, or Brahman.”
The Hindu belief that all living things are part of the same essence has an interesting correlation with recent biological research.
In Richard Dawkins book The Selfish Gene he theorizes that genes are the basic unit in life’s processes and that all organisms (plants, animals, insects and etc. including humans) are so constructed as to insure the survival and propagation of the genes.
He terms these constructions as “survival machines”.
Here is a quote from The Selfish Gene, page 21:
“We are survival machines, but “we” does not mean just people.
It embraces all animals, plants, bacteria, and viruses.
The total number of survival machines on earth is very difficult to count and even the total number of species is unknown.
Taking just insects alone, the number of living species has been estimated at around three million, and the number of individual insects may be a million million.
Different sorts of survival machines appear very varied on the outside and in their internal organs.
An octopus is nothing like a mouse, and both are quite different from an oak tree.
Yet in their fundamental chemistry they are rather uniform, and, in particular the replicators that they bear, the genes, are basically the same kind of molecule in all of us--from bacteria to elephants.
We are all survival machines of the same kind of replicator--molecules called DNA--but there are many different ways of making a living in the world, and the replicators have built a vast range of machines to exploit them.
A monkey is a machine that preserves genes up trees, a fish is a machine that preserves genes in the water; there is even a small worm that preserves genes in German beer mats.
DNA works in mysterious ways.”
I suppose a person should not make too much of an issue of this similarity of concept between biology and ancient Hindu philosophy but it is interesting and perhaps important that two entirely different fields of thinking have come up with similar conclusions.
Other religions emphasize this same concept.
That all organisms have the same basic building blocks is a concept that is having far reaching effects on our thinking both religiously and otherwise.
I conjecture that Hindu thinkers are not having any problems accepting this concept whereas our western religions are having to make some serious alterations, at least on the superficial level.
I really like the Hindu emphasis that all things are part of the same essence; the concept more readily fits in with the research of
Reincarnation is a major concept in Hinduism which seems quite unique.
I have tried to fit this theory into the modern concepts of molecular biology but without much success.
I tried interaction with the Hinduism chat room and received serious and varied replies but none that were satisfactory to my western trained mind.
According to modern biological concepts we are more or less programmed at conception to be a unique individual with certain attributes and characteristics that are part and parcel of what we become as an adult.
It seems unreasonable to try to couple these biological findings with the transmigration of the soul.
I suppose, though, if you are dealing with an omniscient and omnipotent God you can accomplish all things.
In comparing the concept of God as developed in the western religions with Hinduism and other eastern religions, there is quite a difference in how God is viewed. The western concept views God as a separate entity from his creation whereas the Hindu
“Oh Brahman Supreme!
Formless and colorless are you.
But in mystery, through your power you transform your light and radiance into many forms and colors in creation.
You bring forth the creation and then withdraw them to yourself.
Fill us with the grace of your auspicious thoughts and vision. . . . You are in the woman, in the man.
You are in the young boy, in the youthful maiden.
You are in the old man who walks with his staff.....You are in the dark butterfly, in the green parrot with red eyes.....You are without beginning, infinite, beyond time and space.
All the worlds had their origins in you.”
Sikhism
Sikhism is another religion of
“God is All-Pervading and is the Source of all life.
Sikhism believes that human life is the opportunity for spiritual union with the Supreme Being--to merge with the Ultimate Reality as a drop of water merges with the ocean and becomes one with it.
Thus is one released from the cycle of death and rebirth.
By God’s Grace, not by one’s own merits, is achieved the level of spiritual self-knowledge necessary to reach this stage of enlightenment.
Any person, of whatever intellectual or economic level, may become enlightened through a life of single-minded devotion to God.
Enlightenment, not redemption, is the Sikh concept of salvation.”
Jainism
Along with Hinduism and Buddhism, Jainism is one of the major religions that developed within the ancient civilization of
“Followers of Jainism believe that the world, space, and time are eternal and uncreated.
There is a center containing a region of souls in which all living things--people, animals, gods, and devils--exist.
Below this region is a series of hells--places of punishment and torture, and above the region are levels of heavens and celestial areas in which souls live once they are liberated from bodies.
All reality in the universe is divided into two parts: living substances called souls and nonliving substances, or non souls.
The soul, in its pure state, possesses unlimited perception, knowledge, happiness and power.
But once a soul is entrapped in matter--such as the human body--these faculties are limited by location in space, contaminated by the senses, and subject to the chain of cause and effect, birth and death.
Believers are of two types, monks and lay followers. The monks lead a far more austere life than do lay members because they devote their whole lives to the stages of spiritual perfection. Monks must adhere scrupulously to the principle of ahimsa and avoid such sins of Jainism as lying, stealing, sexual intercourse, and eating meals at night (for fear of inadvertently killing an insect or other small creature). Some monks have no possessions at all, not even clothing;
Lay members are expected to refrain from eating certain foods, limit their possessions, be content with their spouses, and avoid violence, lying and stealing.
They are also expected to avoid unnecessary travel and pleasure, to fast and control their diets, and to serve their fellow believers, especially the monks and the poor.
Above all, they are expected to devote themselves to the stages of spiritual progress by means of various religious rituals and exercises.”
Buddhism
The eastern religions having their origins in ancient
The following sources may help to outline these concepts.
This first quote is from Soper’s The Religions of Mankind.
The quotes within the article are from ancient Pali Pitakas manuscripts.
“Of the various approaches which might be made to the study of the teachings of early Buddhism there is in the mind of the present writer none more fruitful than that through the Three Signs, or Fundamental Truths.
The method of approach is of real importance, for the teaching of the Buddha is somewhat baffling and caution must be exercised at a number of important turning points.
The first of the Fundamental Doctrines is the impermanence of all things.
To put it in the ancient phrase, “All the constituents of life are impermanent.”
The statement is also made, “There is no being--there is only a becoming.”
This is to be accepted as literally true of all things; gods as well as the tiniest atom are equally included.
The passing away may be delayed for a long period, but the principle of change is the principle of all existence, and sooner or later the process will be evident.
Just as soon as there is a beginning decay also begins; the beginning of the end is at hand.
Here in
The early Buddhists excluded nothing from the sweep of this theory.
It is the explanation of the atheism with which the Buddha has been charged.
He was not an atheist; he took the gods of
These early Buddhists concepts could hardly be farther removed from our western concepts of God.
The permanence of God is the mainstay of Christianity, Islam and Judaism.
Buddhism, like other religions, has undergone major changes and splits which have made the religion more acceptable to the populace.
All Buddhists sects, however, have some common basic concepts and procedures that have made the religion so valuable to its millions of adherents.
This following quote is from
“Buddha wanted to make his inspiration about the nature of life available to others for their betterment.
He worked his experience into a doctrine known as the Four Noble Truths, and these truths are the basis of all schools of Buddhism.
The first truth is that all life is suffering, pain, and misery, or dukkha.
The second truth is that his suffering has a cause--tanha, or selfish craving and personal desire.
The third is that this selfish craving can be overcome.
The fourth truth is that the way to overcome this misery is through the Eightfold Path.
Buddhists all believe in the idea of “no-self,” that people make a mistake when they identify too strongly with their own personal existence in any one life.
To the follower of the Buddha, life goes on and on in many reincarnations or rebirths.
This wheel of rebirth, known as samsara, condemns the individual to the suffering of being alive and striving.
Life’s goal according to the Buddha, is to escape from this cycle of rebirth, to stop being born as a suffering individual with selfish cravings and passions.
This release is called Nirvana, the highest bliss, the end of the self.
It was this bliss that the Buddha felt under the Bo tree.
The way to achieve Nirvana is to follow the steps of the Eightfold Path.
The Buddha called his path the
The Eightfold Path.
1.
Right Knowledge is knowledge of what life is all about; knowledge of the Four Noble Truths is basic to any further growth as a Buddhist.
2.
Right Aspiration means a clear devotion to being on the Path toward Enlightenment.
3.
Right Speech involves both clarity of what is said (taking care to say just what is meant) and speaking kindly and without malice.
4.
Right Behavior involves reflecting on one’s behavior and the reasons for it.
It also involves five basic laws of behavior for Buddhists: not to kill, steal, lie, drink intoxicants, or commit sexual offenses.
5.
Right Livelihood involves choosing an occupation that keeps an individual on the Path; that is, a path that promotes life and well-being, rather than the accumulation of a lot of money.
6.
Right Effort means training the will and curbing selfish passions and wants.
It also means placing oneself along the Path toward Enlightenment.
7.
Right Mindfulness implies continuing self-examination and awareness.
The ‘Dhammapada’ a basic Buddhist text, begins, “All we are is the result of what we have thought.”
8.
Right Concentration is the final goal--to be absorbed into a state of Nirvana.
Buddhists believe that the first two steps on the Path can be taken by anyone.
The third, fourth, and fifth are for novice monks, and the last three steps show real progress toward the goal.
As in so many Eastern traditions, the religion is not based on attaining the goal so much as being on the road.”
The concepts of Nirvana in early Buddhism are complex and seemingly inconsistent within the total scope of the belief.
Delving into this subject is not reasonable for my present purposes in this writing.
Buddhism has undergone significant changes as it became an important part of peoples lives in many eastern countries and recently in western countries as well.
Some of the original teachings of Buddha were not easily accessible or attractive to common people.
I personally find the concepts of God in the eastern religions, particularly Hinduism, to be more acceptable and defensible than our western religions.
In Christianity the concept of an omnipotent, omniscient and omnipresent
God creating the heavens, the earth and all the creatures therein and then having to turn around and send his only begotten son to earth to redeem mankind in their wayward ways is too much of a stretch for me.
However, in the hyper religious world of the mid-east two thousand years ago, the actual position of Jesus in the scheme of things may have gotten twisted and confused.
His social program is certainly not a matter of question; it is the philosophical base that is the problem.
Native American Spiritualism
In
our sophisticated, complex, materialistic world of today we have had a tendency to dismiss or ignore some of the concepts of our native American Indians.
And yet, some of their concepts seem suddenly modern.
Inasmuch as there has not been an ancient native North American Indian written language, we must depend on recent interpretations of their oral traditions for information about their beliefs.
The following quotes are from The Sourcebook of the Worlds Religions
Peter Matthiessen, Indian Country
Ojibway Magazine
These American Indian concepts deserve our interest and respect.
Some of their beliefs sound like they were written by 21st century environmentalists.
I particularly like the concept of man being part of nature along with the other animals.
This concept lines up well with our evolutionary concepts and molecular biology.
This past half century has experienced a gradual shift towards more concern and respect for animals.
Out and out cruelty or negligence towards animals can now result in jail time
Summary
In the building of my belief system “Nature’s Way”, with its three categories of beliefs, I have not found any of the basic religious concepts of God that I am willing, at least at this moment in time, to put in the category of verifiable belief.
Somewhere, sometime in the future I may change my views on this important issue as additional information is forthcoming or as my concepts become more advanced and mature.
It may be that some of these concepts of God are the basic truth of our existence but until there is more evidence or consistent, reasoned thinking that shows the relationship of the concept of God to our modern sciences, I shall reserve my commitment.
I prefer to put all of the religious concepts into the unverifiable category where it will be possible to consider the value of each concept without rejecting all of the others.
The differing concepts of these religions are attractive and helpful to their adherents.
For the Christians, Muslims and Jews it is comforting to think that the God up there has a special interest and future for you.
It is comforting for the Hindu, and some of the other eastern religions to believe that if a person hangs in there and tries to do right that eventually he will achieve the desired goal.
The Buddhist program of meditation and concentration gives its adherents a path towards nirvana.
These are the reasons that these religions have expanded over the centuries.
Can the present day agnostic or alternate believer develop a program that has any possibility of supplying its believers with the kind of support and hope that the mainstay religions offer?
I think that it is entirely possible and I will deal with this issue in another essay.
