FIELD TRIPS

Eastern Religion - Buddhist temple of Chino Hills

This morning I took a trip to the Buddhist temple of Chino Hills. I visited the temple last week and spoke to a Monk who was wandering the grounds. He told me of this Sunday service and that they began at 11am, but to arrive early. 10:45am, I pulled into an empty parking lot. I looked around, worried, wondering if I had the date or time wrong. I got out of my car and walked up a small hill to what I thought was the room the service was held in.

I didn’t see anybody. So I continued up the hill, past a tree and rounded the corner.

Making my way around the curve I peered downhill to see a few people sitting at picnic tables and a monk cooking outside. I made my way over to one of the men and asked him if there was a service taking place at 11. He said yes and we chatted a bit. Mostly everyone I came in contact with spoke broken English, but I was still able to get the gist of everything they were saying. He pointed me in the direction of the kitchen and told me to talk to somebody in there about the service. He told me to make myself at home, and that when the service was done, I could “stay, and eat noodle.”

I walked into a small room. It smelled of rice and chicken and there were about 4 women frantically preparing food. One woman saw me eyeballing the table settings and said to me “it’s for the monks.” The food looked and smelled incredible and I found myself at this time wanting to be a monk, for the food, if nothing else. A woman escorted me to the room next door. Noticing that the woman and monk inside were barefoot, I asked her if I should take off my shoes. She told me to leave them by the door and escorted me over to a couch towards the front of the room. “You will sit here, the monk will sit here”, she said, pointing to the couch and then to a chair on my right. I took my seat and the monk took his. He was an older man, maybe in his 80s. He had a friendly face and fuzzy head. His teeth pointed out in all directions when he spoke and his English was hard to understand. I asked him what the service was going to be like today. He said that it would be a short meditation conducted completely in Thai. Then he joked, “Learn Thai, then come back.” He chuckled. I smiled. Without asking anything, the Monk then talked to me about bad and good thoughts. He pointed at me and with a smile said, “Purify your mind.” He asked me where I lived and I told him that I lived right up the street, almost my entire life. “Ahh, hometown,” he said with a grin. I was glad he had a sense of humor, it really put me at ease and my nervousness about being in this foreign place alone, was slowly vanishing.
His face then looked like a lightbulb had gone off in his brain. He told me he had a book for me and jumped up to go get it. He returned, handed it to me and said, “It is a gift. Read it and come back with a vision.”

I thanked him for the book and asked him who the people were in the pictures on the walls. He eagerly jumped up from his seat again and scurried over to the wall. Most of them, he said, were “dead and gone”. He pointed to each one and told me that one was a prince, one was the founder of this temple and one was very ill. He sat with me again. I let him know that I was there for school, so I would be taking notes throughout the service and asked if it would be all right that I take pictures. He said “of course”, got up and walked to the front of the room. He took his place, sitting down, in front of a microphone. Five or six people made their way to the middle of the room and began lighting incense and bowing before several different statues.

They lit candles and burned incense. The monk said something in Thai and interrupted himself in English, with a chuckle and said “first come, first serve.” The people laughed and continued their ritual. They knelt and repeated the monk’s chanting, bowing every so often. More people trickled in as the service went on, until the room had around 15-20 occupants. We were told to get up and make our way to the kitchen for a bowl of rice. When we returned there were two monks with three big, empty bowls placed before them. Everyone got on their knees in a line and made their way to the bowls. The monks chanted while a spoon full of rice was placed into each of the bowls by the congregation.

Some bowed when they were finished. Some touched their empty bowls to their heads. Some place their palms on the ground. Everyone took their seats while the monks continued chanting. The two chanted in complete unison, nonstop for about ten minutes. The congregation began repeating what the monks were saying. This continued for a while. Some people had their eyes closed, some sat with their palms touching, everyone was chanting.

Then a few people brought gifts to the monks and placed them at their feet. They bowed and returned to their seats. The monks covered the bowls of rice and carried them out of the room.
Another monk, whom I had not seen yet, entered the room and placed multi-colored mats on the floor. They were blue, green and pink with different colored lace around the edges. Those who wanted to meditate took their place on the floor with the monk and the chanting and bowing began.

About 10 minutes later I realized, much to my disappointment, that I had to leave to pick up my son from the babysitter. I quietly made my way to the doorway, slipped on my shoes and decided to take a different way to the parking lot than the path I had originally taken. I was glad I did because it gave me a chance to view more of the property.



Overall, this was a great experience. It was very peaceful and everyone was extremely hospitable and kind. I would like to return to one of their services in English, but was not disappointed at all in the Thai service. Although nothing I heard today was in my language, the message of Buddhism was still conveyed through the actions and expressions of the people I came in contact with.

Western Religion - Islamic Center of Claremont (6/24/2005)

“Assalamu alaikum.” I smiled at her because I had no idea what she was saying. She smiled back and asked, “How are you doing?” I felt a little embarrassed. “I’m great, thank you,” I replied. I explained to her that I was visiting their prayer service for class and she looked pleased. She told me it would start in about ten minutes (8:05pm), and led me around the back of the building. I was informed to take off my shoes and place them in a cubby. Then I followed her through a door that read “ladies" into a very small, very humble, white room with green carpet and was directed to an empty spot near the rear. I sat on the floor among 6 or 7 other women. They looked just how I imagined they would; long skirts or dresses with long sleeves, barefeet, and head coverings that covered not only their hair, but their ears and necks as well. A woman with a notebook got up from her seat and approached me. She said “Assalamu alaikum” to me and I inquired about the meaning. She told me that its translation was “Peace be upon you” and that was their way of greeting each other, instead of a “Hi” or “How are you?”
She explained to me that the men and women met in separate rooms, prayed in separate rooms and listened to the lecture in separate rooms. She said that God wanted them divided for the women’s protection. There is a lot of bowing and kneeling during the prayers and the men shouldn’t be behind the women looking at them. She told me that if there ever is a time when they must pray without being divided, that the women must pray behind the men. I was told that shortly the Imam would call us to prayer and they would pray the "Fard" (obligation) prayer. This prayer is prayed 5 times a day and if it is not then, I was told, there will be “punishment in the hereafter.” After the group prayer, individuals may pray an extra prayer called the “Sunnah” or “Nafila”. This prayer is prayed for “extra points”, say if you have sinned and need to erase your mistakes. She told me “Muhammad (peace be upon him), did this” and that they do what he taught. I noticed that, in conversation, whenever the name of Muhammad was spoken, it was directly followed by “peace be upon him.” It also showed up on pamphlets that I was given later by some of the girls in the youth group. She said that some people take notes throughout the lecture and that she would be giving a lecture later, to the youth group upstairs.
Throughout our conversation, more women began showing up. They hugged and laughed and all seemed to be very close. The woman I was talking to explained to me that everyone was very close because they come from different countries and they act as a family.
I also got the chance to speak to a woman, right before we were called to pray, who had recently converted to Islam. She was born in Mexico and raised Catholic. She converted from Catholicism, after 14 years, to Christianity and remained a Christian for another 14 years before converting to Islam three months ago. She briefly explained to me why she rejected the other two religions and that she had settled in Islam because it made her 100 percent happy, while the others always left a bad taste in her mouth (i.e. the fact that the Christian church always pestered her for money). When a man’s voice came over the loudspeaker, we shuffled into the next room. It was a simple white room with red and green carpet and a large red curtain hung in the middle of the room, separating us from the men on the other side. I was given a chair to sit on towards the back of the room. The women stood in front of me and a man prayed (almost sang) loudly in Arabic. Occasionally, the women would get on their knees and place their foreheads on the ground. A woman came and sat next to me. She spoke little English, but explained to me that the women must stand while they pray, unless they are too weak to stand, or pregnant. She also explained to me that she was unable to pray because she was on her period (I inquired about this later. I was told that to pray you must be extremely clean. One must wash their hands, arms and face before praying. If a woman is on her period she is considered "dirty" and is allowed to pray when her cycle is finished). She handed me the Qur’an with the original Arabic and an English translation and told me I could follow along with the prayer. When the Fard was finished, some ladies sat down, while others engaged in their Sunnah prayer.
I was handed a headset and told that the lecture would begin in a few minutes. My headset would provide an English translation done by a man on the other side of the curtain. The recent convert also was handed a headset, and she helped me with mine to make sure it worked correctly. The lecture began and the headset was extremely nice to have. The Imam talked of the prophets and about doing good deeds. When he spoke of Muhammad, all of the women around me nodded their heads to agree.
Overall, this was a fascinating experience and I met some really friendly people. Everyone was so incredibly helpful and I learned things from this service that I didn’t read in Huston Smith’s book. I really had no idea what this service was going to be like, even after reading up on it. It gave me great insight into what Islam and its followers are all about.

Appendix:
Before I visited the mosque, I told some friends and family about my plans. I got the same response from all of them; "Make sure you are very respectful". Of course I was going to be respectful, but I started to get nervous and wonder why everyone was trying to make sure that I didn't upset anyone at the mosque. I entered the mosque terrified of doing something wrong. I had a picture in my mind of what it would be like; very solemn and serious, boring, traditional and the like. BUT I was blown away when the room of women, grown women, that I was seated amongest, were acting like teenagers. They all hugged and laughed, seemed very relaxed and eager to talk to me and eachother. They got our their cell phones and made calls, they giggled and made jokes. . . It was NOTHING like I had expected. So today, while thinking back on my experience I made the assumption that MAYBE they acted that way because the men weren't around. This was a time for them to get together and just be girls. Without worrying about their husbands, or society, thinking ill of them. Lucky for me I work with a Muslim girl and tonight (6/25) I approached her with my querie. I said that although I have nothing to compare it to, it seemed that their behavior was way different than how I pictured Muslim women to act. When I was finished she asked me this question, "Well, were there any men around?" My assumption was correct. I look back now and smile when I think of all those women having a great time and just being themselves for a few hours amongst friends.

MIDTERM

Imagine that you were asked to create your own "new" religion. How would you ensure its overall success?

There are seven dimensions that Ninian Smart talks about, which all religions must include to be deemed as such. My new religion would need to include: myths, rituals, experiences, doctrines, ethics, social aspects and material forms. The myths would need to contain historical backgroud as to not be confused with a completely made up story, but symbols and other imagery may be used. Rituals so that my congregation would feel connected with whatever goal we were trying to achieve. Religious experiences for that spiritual feeling that people crave. Doctrines to lay down the philosophy and belief system of my relgions. Ethics so the group would have a moral code to follow. Social aspects so that my religion stayed organized. And lastly, material forms, or sacred objects that solidified my religion.
Religion is fundamental to a properly functioning society. People want to belong to something. The key is making the religion personal to the people of the era I am looking to create a religion in. Religion must evolve with time, to keep up (if you will) with an ever changing society, in order to survive. I would need to break down the culture at this particular time, study the people and the society. Most successful religions contain both desire and fear (Heaven and Hell), so I would need to include both of those elements.
A meme is an idea; an idea that becomes an imitation or a copy that is passed along, usually taking on a life of its own. It needs to be replicated in order to survive. The survival of any religion is dependent on memetic theory. Religion is ever changing and the survival of religions depends on how well they replicate. Successful religious memes are relatively simple so that they can be easily spread and stand the test of time. The trick would be that I would need to ensure that my beliefs and teachings got my message across but were simple enough to pass on to large groups, without losing their meaning.
Because I would be creating a completely new movement in society, I would be labeled a “cult”. The word cult has an negative overtone and the trick would be overcoming that. Going back to what I said earlier, the hardest part is accomodating the mainstream and look appealing, while staying true to the religion’s values.

Will religion die? If so, why? If not, why?

I don’t believe that religion will die. Religion, on a personal level, seems to fulfill some psycho-social-emotional needs that we all have.Nietzsche argues that without God, without the Ultimate Meaning, we are left without any meaning at all. Without something to believe in, we must believe in ourselves and always come up shortchanged leaving us feeling lost. He believes that God is dead and we have killed him. But in opposition, even if we "kill" a certain religion (or allow it to metaphorically decay) someone or some group will always be around to replace the one we lost. Certain versions of religions and Gods have fizzled out throughout the ages, but they have always been rebuilt or replaced with something new. So, while it is true that Gods will decay, Gods will not die, at least not for an extended period of time. They will be resurrected and recreated because we are spiritual beings in search of meaning and purpose.
In regards to our readings, there is definitely proof of religions decaying. But what branches from those “dying” relgions are new religions that branch off and are created from the ashes of the old religion. In fact, borrowing most of the same ideas, morals, gods and behaviors. The only difference is that they change them to fit the current social issues. One example would be that of Sikhism. Sikhism was created with the adoption of Santism tradition by Guru Nanak. Sikhism is now one of the major world relgions while little is talked about in reguards to Santism. It fizzled out, but Nanak grabbed hold of it and kept it alive, under a new name with some changes. Santism was also a combination. As far back as we can trace, religions have changed and evolved from the dying ones.

How are we as scholars of religion suppose to study religion?

It is important to understand that religion evolves and to take heed when contemplating religion as an "ism". This undermines the complexity of religion.One should not confuse religious studies with theology. You must study religion objectively as a researcher. Ninian Smart proposes that there are three main approaches to studying religion. The first is with antipathy. That is with a basically negative view that religion is distorted and those distortions need to be revealed. The second is with sympathy. Most theologians agree with this approach as it assumes the truth of religion and criticizes other religions. The third is with empathy. This is a neutral approach. The scholarly title is phenomenology – “the objective, descriptive study of religious phenomenon”.Peter Berger also believes there are three approaches, but labels them as reduction, deduction and induction. Reduction attempts to reduce religion down to a social level and its materialism. Deduction is similar to the sympathetic approach as it attempts to deduce religious truths. Inductive is much like the empathetic approach. It is phenomenological with a focus on the experimental side of religion.Likely, the best way to study religion is a combination of all of the approaches out there. The main idea is to be as objective as possible. We should study the religious phenomena, analyze the data by placing it in a social context and understanding the origin, then assess the development of the religion. This creates a seemingly balanced way to study religion.

In this essay I want you to discuss the history and beliefs of Sikhism

Sikhism is connected to the Sant tradition, which dates back to the 13 century. In the 16th century, however, Guru Nanak is described as founding Sikhism. Sant tradition believed that God had no specific form and that meditation and mysticism were the key to ultimate realization. Popular Indian concepts of karma and reincarnation thrive in this religion as well. Santism is a mix of bhakti, Nath and Sufi influence. The question remains, how much of an influence did each of these have on Santism?The Sants were mystics, interested in social reform and rejected the use of idols. One popular Sant, Kabir, was a 15th century guru of Northern India. He wanted to liberate India and free them from popular ideas like the caste system and elaborate rituals. Nanak embraced Sant tradition. His teachings included shabd yoga, how to attain bliss and enlightenment through the five realms of ascent. Nanak said "There is no Muslim and there is no Hindu". This has been interpreted a few different ways. Perhaps suggesting that the aforementioned religions were not sufficient enough to reach spiritual enlightenment. Some scholars argue that Nanak did not found Sikhism, just that his teachings were a combination of traditions and did not add anything new.Sikh history is divided into three major parts. The first being that Nanak melded Hindu and Muslim teachings together to found Sikhism. The second being the out lash of an oppressed sixth guru. And the third being the establishment of Khalsa in 1699; an orthodox Sikh organization founded by the tenth guru.There are ten gurus validated by traditional Sikhs. The first being Nanak, and following in succession: Angad, Amar Das, Ram Das, Arjan, Har Gobind, Har Rai, Har Krishan, Tegh Bahadur, and Gobind Singh. There were a few gurus who rejected the lineage and created their own movements. Nanak's son, for example, did not want to take place as second guru and created a group called the Udasis. Orthodox Sikhs do not acknowledge these break off groups as being authentic.During Nanak's time, it was basically peaceful and there were good relations amongst religions because of Nanak's respect for them. Angad took over for Nanak and it is said that very little change took place during his rule. The third guru, however, tried to implement a sense of community for the Sikhs through rituals, festival days and caste free dining. Ram Das then set up the group's center, the city of Amritsar. Arjan, Ram Das's youngest son, created the sacred book, the Adi Granth, that contains sayings from gurus and other Sant teachers. He also decided the Sikhs should have a religious site and created the Hari Mandir, or Golden Temple. This is the time that the Sikhs experienced their first persecution. Arjan was arrested and died in custody. Har Gobind, the sixth Sikh, established the Sikh army. Their militancy a direct effect of their oppression. Their were forced to the Himalayans after the realization of their military naivety. They remained at peace for several decades.But during the reign of the ninth guru, Tegh Bahadur, the Mughals went after the Sikhs. Gobind Singh's reign was filled with Mughal tyranny and revived the use of martial arts of weapons for defense. He is credited with the created of the Khalsa. A writing that contains clear and proper guidelines for Sikh behavior. Gobind's writings established stability for the Sikhs, ensuring that the proper message was passed on long after he was gone.This goes back to our previous study of memes and how one must create something that is easy to pass on that has little tendency to be skewed over a long period of time. Singh assured the success of this religion with his teaching and writings. All of the gurus changed with the times and what society was like. Its evolution tells us that it did what it had to do to survive without losing its core belief system. Its ability to do so has been the reason that this Sikh religion is alive today and has grown into a major world religion.

Discuss both the "THEORY" of Hinduism and the "PRACTICE" of Hinduism as Smith presentsin his text. On a final note, based on the reading, do you think it is fair to say that there is such a thing as "Hinduism?"

THEORY - According to Hinduism, people, foremost, want pleasure. India tells us to seek pleasure and that wanting pleasure is only natural. It is one of the four ends of life. We are encouraged to go after our pleasure but to seek it wisely. Small, immediate goals should be set aside for things we will gain in the long run. As long as a basic set of morals is followed (no lying, cheating, stealing) we are free to enjoy all of the pleasures we want.People also want success. This can be defined by wealth, fame, or power. There are a few problems with success, and one is that it will never fully satisfy us. These first two wants are on, what Hindus call, the Path of Desire. The next two wants are on the Path of Renunciation. On this path is the religion of duty. All of the above mentioned wants produce some sense of reward. But these rewards are insufficient for these are not the things that humans really want.Hinduism claims that what we really want is “to be, to know, and to be happy”. The things we think we want are merely doorways for us to get to where we really want to be. The fourth and final want is liberation. To be free and unburdened by the things that keeps us from all things infinite (i.e. awareness and bliss). Hindus believe that the universe has no beginning and no end. We live in a moral world of Karma, which basically means that we reap what we sow. All of our actions have consequences that could carry on into the next life, solidifying their belief in reincarnation. They believe in God as being the ultimate reality and that the reality is attainable.PRACTICE - There are three imperfections that keep us from what we want. They are 1) psychological disappointments 2) ignorance and 3) a restricted being. The self must be defined and we must realize our full human potential. To do so, there is a practice called Yoga. It is a physical exercise as well as a mental one, with the ultimate goal being to unite with God.Because we are all different, there are four paths to the same goal. They are through knowledge, love, work, or psychophysical exercises. The way to God through Knowledge (jnana yoga) has little to do with factual information. It is more about the mind and using it to hear, think and approach yourself like you are an outsider looking in. This way you can separate your surface self with your actual identification. It is said to be the shortest, but most difficult, path to the ultimate reality. The way to God through love (bhakta yoga) is simply that. To love God fully and selflessly, not even to receive love in return. They do not love God to be like Him, but to adore Him with everything they have. The way to God through work (karma yoga) is to create a disinterest in receiving reward or recognition from their duties. They are still and calm in constant motion. The way to God through psychophysical exercises (raja yoga) is the practice of going through the four layers of the self to create personal experiences that will lead to the ultimate reality. This works with the mind but the body also, as it needs to be kept in good health so to not distract the mind. It is an art of quieting the mind, positioning the body, breathing and tuning out the distractions of the world. Because nobody is strictly ONE of the above, it is recommended to try out all four and even combine some attributes of more than one type to find what works for you.As complex as Hinduism is I don’t think it is fair to define this religion as an “ism”. To quote an earlier entry, “It is important to understand that religion evolves and to take heed when contemplating religion as an "ism". This undermines the complexity of religion.” This applies to all religions, including Hinduism because it is multi-faceted religion and very complicated.

In this essay I want you to explain the "differing schools of Buddhist thought". What are the similarities and what are the main differences of each? Explain in depth. Compare and contrast these schools of thought. Use Smith's description of the different schools.

After the Buddha died, Buddhism split into three main groups (or schools). The first group believed that being Buddhist was a full time job and that those who were serious about the religion must become a monk. The second group not only appealed to the layperson, but to the professional as well. These groups were called “yanas”, meaning “rafts or ferries for carrying people across life’s river”. The second group called what they were doing “Buddhism for the people” and was the larger of the two groups. They changed their name to Mahayana, meaning Big Raft, and by default, the first group was named Hinayana (Little Raft). The Hynayanists were unhappy with their name and opted for their school to be known as Therevada, the way of the Elders. Both argue that they represent the original Buddha. The Theravadins claim they operate strictly on the early recorded teachings of the Buddha in the Pali Canon. While the Mahayanists argue that Buddha taught more by example than by recorded words.
The two difference schools can almost be thought of as liberals and conservatives. With the Theravadins being conservative and the Mahayanas liberal. For Theravadins progress is knowledge in the individual. For Mahayanists it is a phenomenon. Theravadins believe that there is no God and that we are essentially alone in the universe to sort out our own lives. Mahayanists believe that grace is a necessity and that Buddhas are here to work on our side.
Theravada Buddhism believes that the Four Noble Truths come automatically from wisdom, which leads to enlightenment. Mahayana Buddhism believes that compassion and widsom must be sought after and do not automatically flow. Theravada Buddhism centers around monasteries and hold their monks and nuns in the highest regaurd. Mahayana Buddhism is mainly for the laypersons. Its priests are allowed to marry. The Theravadin ideal is that a person must go out on their own in search of nirvana. The Mahayanan ideal is that the person who is on the brink of nirvana, shall reject it and return to the world to convey their experiences and educate others.
Theravadins saw Buddha as a saint, a teacher, whose humaness ceased when he reached nirvana. Mahayanas see him a savior. Theravadins stayed true to their founder by not speculating. While the Mahayanas created elaborate ideas of multi-level heavens and hells. Theravada Buddhism only meditates and prays for deeper faith and lovingkindness. Mahayana Buddhism “added supplication, petition, and calling on the name of the Buddha for spiritual strength.”
The Diamond Way, or Vajrana, derived from the Indian Thunder God – Vajra. This school of thought focuses on the strength to realize the wisdom and compassion of the Buddha. This is essentially Tibetan Buddhism and its essence is Tantra. Tibetans believe in the acceleration of nirvana and believe it can be reached in a single lifetime by utilizing all energies. Different than all other schools of Buddhist though, this one has a main focus on sex. Vajrana Buddhism works with sex as a spiritual ally. They look at sexual love as one of the clearest epiphanies one can experience.
There is a Tao influenced school of Buddhism and it is called “Ch’an” or Zen, in Japanese. This is a mysterious school of thought filled with paradoxes and contradictions. It is almost completely unlike all the other schools of thought and its followers are extremely experimental. This school limits the use of language. Zen training consists of hours upon hours of meditation. They focus of koans (surreal problems) during their meditation. One example of this is the question, “what is the sound of one hand clapping?” They believe that koans are a supplement to reason, for reason alone could never reach truth’s full potential. Their goal is to put reason in its place and provoke the rational mind, this creates a deeper insight. The first breakthrough one might experience in Zen Buddhism is called “satori”. This is the moment a new light is shed on the unconscious mind. This is close to the Mahayana school of Buddhism in that it is a mystical experience, but does not allow the Zen Buddhist to delve into mysticism completely. Also like the Mahayanas, the Zen returns to the world with a new perspective. Unlike the separtism that the Theravadins preach. When Zen realization has been accomplished the student will never know the difference between life and death and experience that he came from an endless past into an endless future.
Smith compares Buddhism as a “voyage across life’s river” which each school being a different raft that you may choose to take you to your final destination. Tying into this imagery are Buddhism’s three vows: “I take refuge in the Buddha. . .I take refuge in the dharma. . .I take refuge in the sangha.” In other words, Buddha did the same and he succeeded, so he is a form of encouragement. Dharma is a seaworthy ship. And the sangha is the crew that is helping us navigate our ship. Reaching the other side of the river is the reward.

Compare and contrast Buddhism to Hinduism.

The main difference between Buddhism and Hinduism is the belief in God. Buddhist believe that God has no form and do not strive to have a relationship with him. While Hindus believe the ultimate goal is a unity with God. Also, some schools of Buddhist thought don't think their nirvana is attainable or do not allow their final reality to be attained. Hindus set forth a path to their attainable reality. Like Buddhism there are more than one or two paths one can take to reach their goal.
Authority, ritual, explanations, tradition, grace and mystery are the main six features of religion. Hinduism contains these and directly influenced Buddhism. Yet, Buddha preached a religion devoid of all of these six contents. Buddhism stays true to the Hindu beliefs of karma and reincarnation.
According to Hinduism, people, foremost, want pleasure. India tells us to seek pleasure and that wanting pleasure is only natural. Buddhists rarely speak of personal pleasures and live solemn lives.
Hindus say that there three imperfections that keep us from what we want. They are 1) psychological disappointments 2) ignorance and 3) a restricted being. The self must be defined and we must realize our full human potential. To do so, there is a practice called Yoga. It is a physical exercise as well as a mental one, with the ultimate goal being to unite with God.Because we are all different, there are four paths to the same goal. They are through knowledge, love, work, or psychophysical exercises. The way to God through Knowledge (jnana yoga) has little to do with factual information. It is more about the mind and using it to hear, think and approach yourself like you are an outsider looking in. This way you can separate your surface self with your actual identification. It is said to be the shortest, but most difficult, path to the ultimate reality. The way to God through love (bhakta yoga) is simply that. To love God fully and selflessly, not even to receive love in return. They do not love God to be like Him, but to adore Him with everything they have. The way to God through work (karma yoga) is to create a disinterest in receiving reward or recognition from their duties. They are still and calm in constant motion. The way to God through psychophysical exercises (raja yoga) is the practice of going through the four layers of the self to create personal experiences that will lead to the ultimate reality. This works with the mind but the body also, as it needs to be kept in good health so to not distract the mind. It is an art of quieting the mind, positioning the body, breathing and tuning out the distractions of the world. Because nobody is strictly ONE of the above, it is recommended to try out all four and even combine some attributes of more than one type to find what works for you.
Buddhists also believe in more than one path to the goal. Theirs in an eightfold path. The steps are as follows: 1) right knowledge 2) right aspiration 3) right speech 4) right behavior 5) right livelihood 6) right effort 7) right mindfulness and 8) right absorption. This is basically obtained in the same way as in Hinduism’s raja yoga. They both adhere to the kindness of all living things, non violence and hard work.

Discuss in full Jainism and then compare/contrast it to one of the Indian religions we have investigated this term.

Jainism is looked upon as a scientific religion of ethical practice. The goal is to free yourself from all bondage and attain total freedom from the death and birth cycle. It is based on the laws of nature and two types of energy; the energy of mechanism and the energy of intelligence. They believe in a supreme state of bliss and liberation. Their moral principles are: religious tolerance, ethical purity, harmony between self and one's environment, and spiritual contentment. They must keep themselves clean and free of germs.Karma is a huge part of the Jain religion. Karma has been touched on by Hinduism and Buddhism, but nothing like I have seen in Jainism. It seems as if the whole religion revolves around Karma. On the path to liberation there are eight Karmas that must be destroyed. The first four "obscure the natural qualities of the soul" the last four dealing with the body of the soul. If only the first four are destroyed, one may become "Arihanta". If all eight are destroyed, one may become "Siddha". Both are classified as Gods. Jainism believes that the universe and everything it entails is eternal, and that nobody needs to manage it, for it is run by cosmic law. They do not believe that God is the creator. They believe that as you attain perfect knowledge and liberation, you become a God of the Jain religion. Therefor the number of Gods is always increasing and innumerable.Jainism teaches three essentials for attaining liberation. They are "right knowledge, right faith, and right conduct". To arrive at those goals they must adhere to the five great vows. Those are non-violence (Ahimsa), truth (Satya), non-stealing (Achaurya or Asteya), celibacy/chastity (Brahmacharya) and Non-attachment/possession of material things (Aparigraha). These seem to fall along the same lines as the moral codes set by the Hindus and Buddhists as well.Jains are strict vegetarians. Adhering to their stance of non-violence and compassion. They practice their non-violence in action, speech and thought. They eat food for survival, not for taste. Believing that everything in this universe is interconnected, Jains believe that all beings and creatures be treated with equal respect.
Most of the Eastern religions we have studied have been very similar. It seems that they all have more similarities than differences. I chose to compare and contrast Jainism to Sikhism. Both feel that the ultimate goal is that of ultimate bliss. In Sikhism there are five realms of ascent to reach the goal. While in Jainism there are three essentials for attaining liberation and can be achieved by five great vows. Their moral code is not only similar to that of the Sikhs, but to all the Eastern Religions. The Sikhs main activities are meditation and other mystical practices. This is similar to Jainism in that they are run by cosmic law. Sikhs believe that God has no specific form and Jains believe that you can become your own God.

Discuss the main tenets of Taoism as presented in your text. Explain how these teachings can apply to the modern world AND to your own personal life. Next discuss the main tenets of Confucianism as presented in your text. Apply these to the modern world and to your own personal life. Finally, and most importantly, compare and contrast these two traditions.

There are three species of Taoism; Philosophical, Religious and Vitalizing Taoisms.Philosophical Taoism is essentially unorganized. It acts as a self help program. Philosophical Taoists try to expend their "te" efficiently, as to conserve it. Their basic practice has to do with their basic attitude towards life. This school of Taoism revolves mainly around "wu wei", or pure effectiveness/creative quietude.Vitalizing Taoists, or Taoist Adepts, also participate is an unorganized group. They, too, display themselves as somewhat of a self help program. Unlike the Philosophical Taoists, they try to increase the availability of their "te". This group is more interested in "ch'i", breath or vital energy. Their goal is to maximize their "ch'i" and many different experiments with food and sex have taken place to see what methods of living produced the most. There are three ways to maximize your "ch'i". They are through matter (food, etc.), movement (exercises, etc.) and the mind (meditation, etc.).Religious, or Popular, Taoism became a church. They talk mainly of the cosmos and harnessing powers. This school of Taoism evolved from a need to dispel ghosts and stop rains. They used shamans, faith healers, people who say they came by their powers naturally. Religious Taoism is focused on energy.Taoists are naturalists with a great respect for the earth. Water, their favorite element, embodies the Tao teachings. They shun dichotomies, believing that everything works together in constant flow.
In applying the Tao teachings to modern day and to my own personal life, I think the most important message is that of “wu wei”. We live in a fast paced world where we are so busy going and going that we rarely have time to stop and actually enjoy life. We work so hard to get things we want and then are so tired at the end of the day we hardly have time to enjoy them. I think that Taoism has it right when they preach “pure effectiveness”. I get the notion that this means, get things done diligently but remain relaxed with a calm mind. Which is something that in America, is rarely ever taught. There are five ideals that make of Confucian thought. The first is "jen". This is the perfect relationship between human beings. It has many translations, with the closest being human-heartedness. Confucius held this virtue above all the others. He admitted that he had never witnessed a completely perfect human relationship but that this was a goal to strive for. The second is "chun tzu". This is virtue of selflessness of those in the "perfect relationship". It revolves around the idea that you should not approach relationships with an "what can I get from you"? attitude, and rather a "what can I do for you?" attitude. The third is "li". It has two meanings, with the first being propriety. Confucius felt that people get flustered and confused when trying to map out their entire lives, so he created an entire way of life on how to behave so that people would just simply need to follow it. He believed that we should live up to the role we are given by giving it a name and obeying its strict definition. He encouraged compromise to ensure harmony and balance. He believed that there are Five Constant Relationships; between parent and child, husband and wife, older siblings and younger siblings, older friends to younger friends, and ruler and subject. The five relationships tie into how Confucius believes a family should be run and this also goes together with the Respect for Age. The other meaning is ritual, or rite. This way the life becomes almost choreographed. The fourth is "te". This word means the power by which men are ruled. He argued that nobody can rule over a group of people unless the people allow themselves to be ruled. In this, he argued that the ruler must be a person of good merit and become respected and admired. This changes the meaning to the power of moral example. The last is "wen". This refers to the arts (music, painting, poetry). Confucius was a big fan of the arts but not for art's sake. He believed that art had the power to elevate the spirit.The Self revolves around human relationships. Interaction with others and maintaining social roles are a big part of constructing the Self. It is these relationships and oneness with the Self that make us more complete as humans. The Five Relationships play a integral part in the Confucian project. Younger friends and siblings should look up to their elders. Children must obey and respect their parents on all levels, same with wives to their husbands and subjects to their rulers. To become fully human involves surpassing and rejecting "egoism, nepotism, parochialism, ethnocentrism, chauvinistic nationalism. . .[and the isolation of] self-sufficient humanism".
I found this to be easier to apply to the world we live in today and to my own life. Confucianism preaches a contrast strive toward better ness, which isn't a lot to ask of someone and can only help the individual and society. Respect in relationships, I think, is a dying virtue in the world and should be stressed. The connection between Confucianism and the arts I also found to be interesting. An artist myself, I know how powerful music or poetry can be.Confucianism and Taoism are different in a few ways. Taoism seems to focus on the mystical side of energy while Confucianism focuses on the social, practical side of energy. Both believe in a strict moral code but Confucianism is definitely more organized that most schools of Taoism. They both are ethical religions and believe in attaining peace and unity with ones self as well as in society. Confucianism focuses more on finding out who you are IN a social role, while Taoism encourages you to find the Self first before taking a social role.

FINAL

Explain in depth what Gnosticism is. Why do you think that it failed and that Christianity succeeded?

There are many different types of Gnosticism. They can be categorized in sects that are named for their founder, a place, a symbol or a group of people. The four main schools named for a particular founder are Marcion, Basilides, Valentinus, and Mani.
The main philosophical idea of Gnosticism is the pursuit of gnosis. This word literally means knowledge. But in the religious world it is specific to spiritual knowledge. Knowledge of the Divine that cannot be found in scripture is the highest form of gnosis and falls under two forms: knowledge of God and knowledge of spiritual techniques.
Gnostics believed in two Gods. The Infinite God that is unchanging and immeasurable, and the God that Jesus believed in. This second God, the creator God, called Demiurge, was seen as a demonic being. An evil being that wanted humans to remain in the created world with their material things, instead of transcend into the spiritual world.
Therefore, Gnostics completely separate the physical world with their internal, spiritual world. To forget your inner self is the “original sin”. Gnosticism has been compared to Christianity, Judaism, and Zoroastrianism, to name a few. It seems to me that anything that can take focus off of your inner self, even marriage and procreation, can be looked upon as evil things.
Marcionites believe that nature is evil and abstain from marriage. Some are strict vegetarians. Libertines might partake in sexual cultic rituals then enjoy a feast of meat and wine and end the evening with an orgy. They also refuse to give birth to children. The Valentinians are allowed to marry and procreate using worldly items in moderation. There are many different opposing Gnostic views but all share the same belief in a God that transcends the creator God.
Gnostic tradition seems to borrow a lot from Sant tradition. It focuses on turning yourself inward and reaching the Divine through quieting your mind and enlightening your soul. A true Sant loses their identity. This person embodies the Divine. To be enlightened is to awake from ignorance and that is the way to salvation. Gnostic tradition finds the creator god to be evil and responsible for the reason that humans are so wrapped up in material things. Hence taking focus off of the self and steering us away from enlightenment. According the Gnostics there are two ways to salvation. They are 1) “the ‘elect’ alone will be saved” 2) “all souls eventually will return to the ‘Realm of Light.’” Me Gnostic Valentinus states that there are three types of people; material, animal and spiritual. The “saved by nature” idea reinstates that eventually we will all return to God and that there are not a select few who are doomed from the start.
Basilides supports reincarnation and this is a direct similarity to Eastern religions. He thinks that the suffering we experience in this life is punishment for bad behavior in a previous life. This is shared with Buddhism, Hinduism and the Sant tradition; that the soul is on a journey to the ultimate goal and if that goal is not obtained in a single lifetime, the person will return back to earth until they essentially get it right.
Gnostics seems to share some of the same traditions with Eastern religions but with different motives. While Eastern religions abstain from eating meat due to a vow of non-violence, Gnostics abstain from worldly things, such as meat, because they see it is a distraction from the self. Gnostics added their own interpretations to the Old Testament as a way of fitting in to the Christian community. So while Gnosticism is considered a Western religion it still shares many traditions and values that could classify it as an Eastern religion.
While the Gnostics tried to become mainstream and accepted in the Roman world, they failed. At a time in the Roman Empire when people felt that there was something lacking from their current spiritual belief system, Christianity triumphed over Gnosticism and other mystery religions. The Roman world was corrupt and these new spiritual movements offered up to three appealing aspects; a strict ethical code, the myth of life after death, and the belief in a God who transcended this material world. While the other religions contained one or two of these aspects, Christianity offered up all three. Another reason Christianity was so appealing was its inclusiveness. Other mystery religions seemed elitist and their numbers began to dwindle, while Christianity seemed to hold no barriers to membership. The Christian community also found it useless to revolt against the system, because they believed that God would replace it with his Kingdom soon anyhow. This won the favor of the Roman leaders. Overall it seems that Christianity aimed at being a “people pleasing” religion, while Gnostics seemed to exclude people. This played an integral role in Christianity winning over the population and staying strong while Gnosticism was left with a small following to carry on its beliefs.

Crossan and the Historical Jesus

Crossan’s “research methodology” finds the historical Jesus in a place where three points meet. It is the intersection of cross-cultural anthropology, Greco-Roman and Jewish history in the first quarter of Jesus’ century, and literature. Cross-cultural anthropology poses questions about politics, family, class systems, the supernatural and the like. Jesus was described as a middle class man who could read and write, but if we cross-examine these statements, we find that ancient societies had no middle class and that peasants were mostly illiterate. It is also important to point out that the four New Testament gospels were not the only gospels recorded at this time. They were deliberately chosen, which means others were rejected. Crossan also argues that “Good News”, what gospel literally means, is misleading. The word “good” is a matter of opinion and news is already plural and need not be made plural a second time. This gives the false idea that the gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John) are indeed THE good news; portraying them as authentically one hundred percent truth. He concludes that the gospels are merely different interpretations of what happened and cannot be relied on solely for a historical or biographical view of the life of Jesus. Crossan follows two strategies in his attempt to reconstruct the historical Jesus. He focuses on materials dated between 30 and 60 C.E. and builds on only multiple attestations. He concludes that no matter how many different historical Jesuses that there are, they all must be able to stand up to the contemporary means of historical methods. Crossan depicts the historical Jesus as the leader of a social, not political, revolution. Jesus presented the Kingdom of God as a social program designed to rebuild society. Its core was compassion and healing. He was depicted as a man who was adored and respected by many, during his lifetime and even after his death. Crossan describes the historical Jesus as a “peasant Jewish Cynic.” He and his followers were basically “hippies” amidst the Greco-Roman empire. He preached free healing and common eating; egalitarianism that was both religious and economical. This went against norms of the Jewish religion and Roman power, creating tension. Whether or not the resurrection is a historical fact, Crossan proves that the historical Jesus touched lives and his message/teachings were able to transcend his death. I do like the philosophy of the historical Jesus as Crossan presents it. I like how he points out the difference between fact and interpretation. He states that some stories, although they may not be 100 percent accurate, could be metaphors, making their message real and true.

Explain Nietzsche's understanding of Jesus as presented in your post-midterm reading packet. What does he admire about Jesus (see quotes 106-108)? Why is he so cross (no pun intended again) with the theology of Christianity itself (see quotes 110-115)? Explain in depth drawing from the appendix of the reading packet.

Nietzsche argues that Jesus didn’t create a new belief system, but a new way of living. He argues that Jesus was a symbolist who taught in helpful metaphors. He set an example on how one should live by adhering to his own teachings throughout his life. He comments that there has only ever been one true Christian, and that was Jesus. He says the Christians teachings tell us that we are here to reveal His glory and that we only exist because of Him, to serve Him. Nietzsche sees the man who thought this up, Paul, as being extremely vain. He believes that today’s Christians have nullified Christianity by merely labeling themselves and saying they follow a belief system. He says the problem is that they don’t DO, they just are, and are ok with just the name, not the action. He argues that the disciples may have misinterpreted Jesus’ death. He points out that maybe Jesus was only trying to test society and prove his teachings and that the disciples didn’t understand that. He sees the Christian answer to why God let Jesus die, as an absurd one. If Jesus had done away with guilt, then why would God have offered him up as a “guilt sacrifice”? He said killing an innocent man to wipe away the sins of guilty men is “atrocious paganism”. Nietzsche really seems to hate Paul. He states that Paul needed Jesus to die so that he could make up the story of the resurrection. He said without that story, then Jesus’ life, teachings and death, would all be meaningless, and Paul wanted to create a belief system out of it. I also got the gist that Nietzsche finds Christians to be extremely weak. All of the major Christian virtues (Submission to God, Forgiveness, etc.) he sees as the exact opposite of strength. I think he believes they are all mindless, brainwashed, idiots who believe anything they are told and fall into line with the masses. Simply put, Nietzsche hates Christians, because he doesn’t find anything respectable about them.

Outline the main argument in FALSE TESTAMENT and then offer "five or more" specific examples of why they call it "false testament."

In the essay, “False Testament” by Daniel Lazare, archaeological findings are used to challenge the historical accuracy of the Bible. Lazare states that at one time, in the recent past, archaeologists agreed that there was some truth to the Old Testament. But now, archaeological findings from the last quarter century are being used to prove the falsities and contradictions that were once said to be fact.
Where there once was a bond between religion and science, a gap is taking its place, thanks to a new generation of archaeologist who are examining and picking apart two “myths”: the origins of ancient Israel and the connection between the Bible and science.
Lazare states the early archaeologists were guilty of piecing together what they wanted to see and discover, because of preconceived ideas. In the 1950’s, science, religion and politics had a tight relationship and the term “Jewish archaeology” was born.
He also points out that these early recordings of history were of course going to fall short of our modern archaeological ways. This proving that dates and locations may have been jumbled throughout the years and even the people back then, recording the facts, may not have known exactly what was going on at exactly what time. But he also backtracks to say that even though numbers and dates may have been exaggerated certain facts still don’t match up. Lazare wraps up his argument by stating that as will all religions, their origins and beliefs are so complicated, that they are almost impossible to completely untangle.The Israelites are now thought to have been an indigenous culture that formed around 1200 B.C. west of the Jordan River, instead of a group of invaders who fought their way to the Holy Land. And now, the Davidic Empire is seen as a story made up by some priests who were just interested in creating a national history for their people. Also, take the 603, 550 Hebrew slaves that slipped past Egypt’s eastern borders, for example. Lazare comments that the number was most likely exaggerated, but a security breach of that caliber just doesn’t seem to make sense, seeing as how tight the borders were patrolled. Lazare goes on to dissect the Book of Numbers and the rulers David and Solomon, pointing out records lacking in the mention of any such names during the day of their rule. He also discusses a British archaeologist named Kathleen Kenyon who discovered that Joshua’s army could not have been the reason the walls of Jericho came tumbling down. She found Mycenaean pottery shards among the ruins that proved the event took place no later than 1300 B.C. That’s 70+ years before the conquest could have ever happened.

Utilizing Smith's material on Christianity, outline the history of Christianity, paying special attention to the differing schools of thought/branches within it. Compare and contrast the different schools of thought.

The Christian religion is said to be the most widespread and followed of the major world religions. Christianity studies the life of Jesus of Nazareth and is filled with spirituality. It is centered around God but includes angels and other spiritual beings. Jews conceived that spiritual order was not just an image of God residing over the earth but that the Spirit was actually something that you could find and come to know. Jesus claimed that the Spirit of the Lord was upon him and began his ministry. Yahweh speaks through prophets to send His message but humans can also speak to Yahweh. Seekers of this sort would often fast and embrace solitude as means to connect with the Spirit. In the Bible there are many different people who had the power of the Spirit. These people could heal the sick and cast out demons. The Jews concluded that the Spirit had supremacy over nature. The main purpose of Jesus on Earth was to not merely heal people but to heal humanity for eternity.
Jesus stressed God’s compassion with the Pharisees stressed His holiness. While Jesus agreed with the Pharisees, he did not like the division it created among the people. The holiness code structured a divided community and Jesus challenged its compassion. This caught the attention of the Roman authorities and he was arrested and executed on the charges of treason.
Jesus’ disciples give us accounts, throughout the Bible, of His activity. Peter tells us that basically Jesus went around doing good, as simple as that. Jesus taught through story telling. He taught simple life lessons, about love and good and evil. Jesus told of a God who loved people. His teachings were opposite of the expectancies of the world. The world values riches, while Jesus said that it is very difficult for the rich to enter the kingdom of Heaven. The extraordinary thing about Jesus was that he practiced what he preached. His life was told to be one of great humility and love. He wanted people to see God in him. The early church suggested that looking at Jesus was like looking at God in human form.
After the crucifixion, some of Jesus’ close friends claimed that he was resurrected. He now appeared to them in a different form. A group of twelve or so had the tongues of fire placed upon them. They traveled throughout the Greco-Roman world, preaching the “Good News”. Christians chose a fish as their logo because the first letters in the Greek words for “Jesus Christ, Son of God, Savior”, spell out fish, in Greek. It was scratched on walls with its head pointing in the direction of secret underground meetings.
These early spreaders of the Word displayed two of Jesus’ teachings; love and joy. They claimed that everybody was equal in the eyes of God and their lives portrayed that. The first Christians experienced God’s love through Jesus, directly. This was a different kind of love; a love that embraced sinners, the poor, the weak, the sick, and the enemy.
There are three major branches of Christianity. They are Roman Catholicism, Eastern Orthodoxy and Protestantism. In 1054 this single institution divided into the Roman Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church. In the 16th century, Protestantism branched off. Christianity was the major religion of the Roman Empire.
The Roman Catholic Church is a teaching authority. They believed that God came to earth through Jesus Christ to teach people how to live as to inherit the Kingdom of God. The head of the Catholic Church is the Pope. The pope is not viewed as infallible. The only areas he may not falter in are faith and morals. The Catholic Church is also seen as a Sacramental Agent. There are seven sacraments; Baptism, Confirmation, Holy Matrimony, Holy Orders, Sacrament of the Sick, Reconciliation and Mass.
The Eastern Orthodox Church shares a lot with the Roman Catholic Church. They honor the same sacraments as are looked upon as a teaching authority. Eastern Orthodoxy sees fewer issues that call for unanimity than the Roman Catholics. Purgatory, the Immaculate Conception, etc. are looked upon as “developments” by the Roman Catholics, while Eastern Orthodox view them as “additions”. Unlike the Catholic Church, the Eastern Church does not have a Pope. They believe that councils serve the purpose of delivering God’s truth. The Eastern Church is said to be the Church that takes the notion of all the Christian churches being members of each other, most seriously. Priests of Eastern Orthodox churches do not need to remain celibate, unlike the leaders of the Roman Catholic churches. Roman Catholics believe that every human holds the Trinity in their soul and may receive supernatural graces, but have no right to mystical states here on earth. The Eastern Church encourages its members to explore the mystical life.
A new concept in Christianity, Justification by Faith and the Protestant Principle, caused Protestantism to break from Roman Catholicism in the 16th century. They believe in a movement of the mind, heart and will. They believe that no number of good deeds can help you enter the Kingdom of Heaven and warns highly against idolatry. They feel that all of these things (rituals, confession, traditions, etc.) that the Roman Catholic Church and Eastern Church make mandatory, are merely “mouthings” and don’t mean anything unless they really reach your heart and change the way you feel. Protestants have freed themselves from the doctrines and institutions, things of which Roman Catholics and the Eastern Church have based their belief systems on.

Utilizing Smith's material in chapter seven discuss the Jewish quest for "meaning." What does Smith means by this and give numerous examples/"details"/specifics from the text to illustrate it.

The Jewish quest was one of understanding. They wanted to find meaning in the Supreme Being by understanding the concept of the Other. Two reasons for this are that no human is self-created and everyone has limited power. The Hebrew search for meaning refuses to give in to any idea that the Other is prosaic, chaotic, amoral or hostile. The Other is looked as like more of a person than an idea or thing. The Jews believe in one God, Yahweh.
First and foremost, Jews admit that the human self is limited and that self-image is crucial to the search for meaning. The key ingredients that make us human, according to Jewish thought, are human frailty, grandeur, sin, freedom and divine love. Jews also find that history is important to understanding human meaning. They feel this way for three significant reasons. One, that the way you live your life affects life in every possible way for that person and for people in the future. Two, if what takes place is important enough, it creates social action and forcing the community, and even the world, to work together. Third, nothing that happens is an accident and history is looked upon as a field of opportunity. There are Hebrew beliefs and accounts of God’s interventions during crucial historical points in time and that he has ordained a chosen people.
Another key in the search for meaning is that of morality. There are 613 commandments contained in Rabbinic law. There are four danger zones in human behavior derived from the Ten Commandments. They are force, wealth, sex and speech. Jews also search for meaning through justice. This is where Prophets come into play. The prophets wrote down the disapproval of Yahweh towards injustices and the Jews adhere to these writings. Exploitation, corruption and mediocrity are among the injustices that will not be put up with. The Jews also believe that there is meaning in suffering. In sixth century Babylonia a prophet sought to gain meaning from the defeat of Israel. He found that suffering and exile only showed his people how lightly they had taken their freedom when they had it. It was at this point they realized Yahweh was instilling in them a passion for freedom and justice. Their search for meaning came to a climax during the time of Messianism. This was the hope for a returning Messiah that would instill universal harmony. Other religions have borrowed from this idea, all forming the idea that a great day was in store for that certain religion’s followers.
The Jewish faith has many ceremonies and rituals. The role the rituals play in Judaism is to create a hallow life. Eating, marriage, children and nature are all things that should be made hallow before the Lord. If this is not done, it is compared to robbing God of what is rightfully his. Jews maintain a sense of the sacred by adhering to tradition. Holiness and history go hand in hand.
What Smith means by the Jewish search for meaning is ultimately a search for how to live their lives. Their “meaning” is a loyalty to God. They have laid a strict path out for themselves to follow that includes traditions, history, and submission .What they believe are the key essentials in their quest.

Detail the life and teachings of Muhammad according to Smith. Basically, give an outline of Islam as "he presents it."

Muslims believe that Muhammad is a prophet who gave life to Islam. Muhammad was born in 570 A.D. into the Koreish. He was described as sweet, gentle, and sensitive to human suffering. Muhammad sought solitude by frequently visiting a cave a top a mountain and reached out for God. He was convinced that Allah, worshipped by Meccans, wasn’t just a God or the greatest of Gods, but the he was the One and Only God. Around 610A.D. an angel came to Muhammad in his cave and declared him the proclaimer. It was at this point that Muhammad gave his life over to God. He said he was not commanded to perform miracles, but merely to open eyes to the wonders of God. His message was met with violent hostility. The Meccan leaders disapproved of Muhammad and wanted nothing to do with him. But Muhammad’s teachings managed to surpass Mecca and spread up north where they took hold, in the city of Yathrib. Muhammad migrated there to lead the people (the city’s name was later changed to Medina). The last ten years of his life he spent as a Medinese commoner. Muhammad wanted a whole Arabia and died with most of it under his control.
Muhammad claimed that the only miracle God ever worked through him was the writing of the Koran. He called it God’s “standing miracle”. The Koran’s teachings came to Muhammad over the course of twenty-three years from the voice of Gabriel. The Koran is said to be a culmination of God’s revelations to the Jews and Christians, forgive two “defects” that have been removed. The purpose of the Koran, or the Muslim Bible, is to “proclaim the unity, omnipotence, omniscience and mercy of God.” It also contains collections of maxims for private meditation.
The basic theology of Islam is the same as Judaism and Christianity, save a few major exceptions. There are four main subjects of focus that they share. They are: God, Creation, the Human Self and the Day of Judgment. The center of the Islamic religion is God. It accepts Jesus as a prophet and agree with his virgin birth but deny the doctrine of the Trinity. They argue that their fear of the Lord, when dealt with correctly, causes lesser fears to vanish. Note that Allah’s compassion is noted 192 times in the Koran, deliberately to show that his compassion outweighs his wrath. The Koran also presents us with the idea of Creation. Allah purposely created the Universe and the human self. There are two obligations we have to the Creator in return for our gift of life. They are gratitude and surrender. To be a “slave to Allah is to be freed from other, degrading forms of slavery - to greed, say, or anxiety, or ambition.” The Day of Judgment is the day that all souls will return to Heaven or Hell. Muslims believe that you will be held accountable for your actions on Earth and how well you obeyed God’s commands. The Koran favors deeds more so than ideas. Islam teaches people “to walk the straight path.” It proposed a simple, straightforward, direct way to live your life. When life gets complicated the Koran provides the guidelines in how to manage your life.
The Five Pillars of Islam are instructions on how Muslims should deal with God. The first pillar is, “There is no God but Allah, and Muhammad is His Prophet.” When a Muslim faces a crisis, or is feeling overwhelmed, this creed will be recited. A Muslim must say this at least one time in his life, slow, out loud and heart felt.
Canonical prayer is the second pillar. Muslims pray to express gratitude for life and for perspective. The Koran notes Allah as saying that a Muslim should pray fifty times a day, while Muhammad reduced that number to five. Those times where fixed at waking up, at noon, mid afternoon, sunset, and before going to sleep. Muslims are encouraged to pray in the mosques and on Friday afternoons. The Koran instructs them to pray in the direction of Mecca.
Charity is the third Islamic pillar. The basic idea that those who have more than they need should share with those who are in need. The Observance of Ramadan is the fourth pillar. On the Islamic calendar, Ramadan is the Holy Month. This is the month that Muhammad migrated from Mecca. Muslims fast from food, drink and sex during this time. The fifth pillar is pilgrimage. Every Muslim who is able, must make a journey to Mecca. The purpose of this pilgrimage is to express his commitment to God. Upon their arrival, they exchange their clothes for rags and begin educating themselves about the world so they can return home with new knowledge. They are also told to no gamble, steal, lie, eat pork, drink alcohol or be sexually promiscuous.
There are four areas of Islamic life that deserve a bit more attention than others. Islam’s economic system is a free flowing system. Profit is not one of their main goals. Islam permits maintaining multiple wives, creating upheaval that Islam degrades women. Racial equality is stressed in the Islamic religion. Intermarriages are not looked down upon. Present day Muslims argue that they are not a militant religion, despite their history.After Muhammads death their was a quarrel between two groups of who would carry on the true teachings of Muhammad. From this religious split, came about the Sunnis, Shi’ites and the Sufis. The Sufis protested worldliness by wearing coarse woolen garments and held tight to the spiritual teachings of the Koran. Muslims believed there were three ways to learn of God’s fire. They are to hear of it, to see it, or to be burned by it. The Sufis chose the last option. They have three paths that we will call the “mysticisms of love, of ecstasy, and of intuitive discernment.” Sufis use a lot of symbols and repeat the name of God (which we saw a lot of when studying Eastern Religions). The Sufis are a derivative of a Western religion but seem to have a lot of Eastern values, especially that of mysticism. Islam is pretty much a textbook Western religion save the Sufis.

Compare and contrast Islam with Judaism and with Christianity. How is it similar to Judaism and how is it different? How is it similar to Christianity and how is it different?

Above all, the most important characteristic that these religions share, is that they are monotheistic. While they all share the belief in one God, the true God and the same God, they all call him a different name. The Christians calls him God. While the Jews call him Yahweh and the Muslims, Allah. According to the readings, Islam and Christianity both broke off into three major branches. In Islam, we have Sunni, Shi’ite and Sufi. In Christianity we have Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox and Protestant. Christianity and Islam are derived from Judaism. Islam and Judaism both look at their religion as a sort of quest, or search. While Christianity seems to have already discovered the ultimate knowledge and how to attain it, and their purpose is to live according to their teachings. When it comes to the Messiah, or messenger of God, all three believe different things. Judaism, while they accept Jesus as being as a historical figure, does not claim him to be the Son of God. Christians on the other hand believe that the prophecy of God sending a messenger was fulfilled when Jesus came to earth and are now waiting for his second coming. Islam believes that Jesus was a prophet, but that Muhammad was the last prophet and follows his teachings. They reject the idea of the Trinity, while Christianity holds tightly to it. All three have their own holy book. Islam has the Koran, which is a recording of teachings that Gabriel spoke to Muhammad over 23 years. Judaism has the Torah. Which is a recording of Yahweh’s disclosure to the Jews. And the Christians have the Bible. Which is basically the extended version of the Torah, that includes gospel accounts and prophecies. It seems to me that Islam and Christianity suggest reading their Book more than Jews stress reading the Torah. None of these religions worship idols. They all stress prayer and complete submission to God.

RELIGIOUS LITERATURE

The Bhagavad Gita

Chapter one of the Bhagavadgita introduces us to Sri Krishna and Prince Arjuna. Krishna is speaking to Arjuna as he is about to go to war to defend his brother’s throne of the Kurus. Krishna serves as Arjuna's advisor. To ensure the claim to the throne they must fight a war against their own family members. This including their uncle, King Dhritarashtra. Yudhishthira, Bhima, Arjuna, Sahadeva and Kanula are known as the “sons of Pandu”. The opposing side is known as “the sons of Kuru.” This chapter isn’t really about war, but about important life questions that Arjuna asks of Krishna. Krishna’s answers to his questions are the remainder of the Bhagavadgita.
In chapter two, a desperate and weak Arjuna hands himself over to Krishna in search of a greater answer to life. He says he does not know what he would gain by killing these people and that it would taint every pleasure he’s ever known. Krishna tells him that his experiences, those of pain and pleasure, are fleeting, and that once he realizes that he can separate himself from these, then he is fit for a life of immortality. He conveys to Arjuna that he must be aware of the Self, something we all possess that cannot die or be changed. Krishna tells Arjuna that he should not grieve because we are all manifested. We are born, then we die, and the cycle repeats itself. But the Self, he says, cannot die. Therefore Arjuna should have no reason to be grieving. He tells him that there is good in life and death and that should be the reason he fights in this battle. If he makes himself alike in gain and loss, pleasure and pain, he will be free. Those wrapped up in pleasure and pain will never reach the ultimate goal. Krishna mentions yoga and karma and tells Arjuna of the basic principles of these practices. He tells him that he do things not for the sake of reward, but for duty. Detachment, he says, is the key to spiritual awareness. Arjuna then asks Krishna how those who have reached this consciousness, act and talk. He responds that they have no selfish attachments, no fear or lust or anger. They keep their minds engaged in meditation. To be truly united with the Lord, one must omit the words “I”, “me” and “mine” and renounce selfish desires.
In chapter three, Arjuna asks Krishna of the one true road to a better end. Krishna says that he has declared two paths, the path of wisdom and the path of duty. Selfless service without any hope of personal profit is the key to the path of duty. He promises that there will be reward when working for no reward. Brahman, he says, is the eternal Godhead and is present with every act of service. If you do the opposite of selfless action then you will be perpetually dissatisfied. Those who realize the true Self will always have satisfaction. The goal of selfless service is to maintain the welfare of the world and always keep others in mind. Work must be continuous to keep the mind focused. All work must be guided by compassion. He tells Arjuna that he must separate himself from his ego and understand that gunas are responsible for the deeds, not the “I”. This way you can full detach yourself from the ego.
In chapter eight, Arjuna asks Krishna what Brahman is, what is the adhyatma, adhibhuta, adhidaiva, and the adhiyajna (supreme sacrifice), and how can it be offered up. Krishna tells him that Brahman gives every living thing its existence and lives in every creature as the adhyatma. The adhibhuta is the human body. The adhidaiva is the eternal spirit. The supreme sacrifice, adhiyajna, is made to Sri Krishna as our inner Lord. He tells him that whatever occupies his mind at the time of death will affect his destination and encourages Arjuna to remember him at all times. That is the purpose of meditation. He tells him that there is the supreme Lord, who came first. And that he may be attained through meditation and living a life dedicated to Brahman. He tells Arjuna that he should repeat the divine Name, or Om, which represents the changeless Brahman, to attain this goal. There are two paths after death; one is of rebirth and the other of liberation. Knowledge of yoga and karma will guide you on which path you choose to take. In chapter eleven, Arjuna is starting to understand the purpose of life. He asks Krishna to reveal himself as the supreme ruler of creation, as his immortal Self. So Krishna appears to Arjuna in his most exalted form, as the infinite Lord. Arjuna bows to the Lord and sees all the gods, the cosmos, the ultimate Reality. He admits that it is difficult to gaze upon him because of his blinding radiance. He then goes on to describe in great detail, how the Lord is the Universe, how the sun and moon are a part of his body. The more he looks upon the Lord, the more overwhelmed he becomes. He is taken over by the want to know more, to experience the truth. He apologizes for any previous disrespect and asks to see him again in a more human form. Krishna then resumes a more friendly form and professes that now that Arjuna has witnessed this terrible and difficult vision, he has attainted union with him. Krishna then reiterates that whoever makes these selfless sacrifices and devotes himself to fully to Krishna will be united with him forever and attain the ultimate goal.

Wisdom of the Buddha

Chapter one explains that, essentially, we are what we think. If we have impure/bad thoughts, our actions will follow the same path. Leading to evil and unhappiness. If we have pure thoughts we will be happy. A man who lives his life in search of pleasure is a weak individual and will never be completely fulfilled. A man who does not live his life in search of pleasures is strong and faithful. The virtuous man will always triumph or the evil man.
Chapter seven is about completing the journey of attaining enlightenment. It tells us that he who is completely free will not suffer. If you are free from pride and free from appetite, even the gods will envy you. The man who steers clear of temptation, quiets his mind and has squelched his wants is "the greatest of men".
Chapter eleven is about happiness and old age. It is pointed out that the body will get sick, get old and eventually die. But if you are disciplined in your youth and are a virtuous man, then that will not die with your aging body.
Chapter fourteen tells us that the safest place to take refuge is with the Buddha. To become Awakened is a difficult task and requires intense patience. He must not commit sins of any kind, not give into lust of any kind, purify his mind and do good. The merit of the man who follows all of these ways and becomes enlightened cannot be measured.
Chapter fifteen is about happiness. When we are free from hate, greed and the lust for material things, we are happy. Solitude and tranquility lead to happiness. We should surround ourselves with wise people, not fools, for that will give us pleasure. The highest happiness is Nirvana.

Tao Te Ching

22 The man who wants little feels more complete. He must keep himself free from vanity and pride to help attain this. The sage is humble and free from argument.
24 This basically repeats chapter 22 with an emphasis on not boasting. It says that your pride will be displayed like a tumor on your body.
25 The Mother of all Things existed before Heaven and Earth. It has been designated the Tao, or "Way". Existence is constantly flowing. There are four greats: Tao, Heaven, Earth and the Sage. Man is under the influence of Earth, Earth under Heaven, Heaven under the Tao and the Tao being the Great.
32 The Tao is unchanging. It allows Heaven and Earth to unite and allows actions to be given names. Once they have been given names, mankind is safe to accept them and be free from error.
37 The Tao has its "hand" in everything.
49 We must treat everyone good and with respect, even those who don't treat us good and with respect.
53 The Tao is modest.
56 Those who understand the Tao, rarely speak of it. Those who do not understand the Tao, always speak of it.
77 This chapter compares the Tao to the way of man. The Tao is anti-abundance and gives where it is needed. Man takes away from those who are needy to add to his own abundance. The Tao does not say that it is superior.
79 After an argument a reconciliation will be made. We are reminded to not hold a grudge but remember the argument and what was learned from it.

Analects of Confucius

Volume 1 Book 1
A well educated person is one who works hard, is not lustful, watches what he says, is trustworthy, has a respect and love for all men, associates with respectable people, and is humble. Once you have devoted yourself to these fundamentals, you may become a philosopher.
Volume 1 Book 2
One must abide by moral law not the law of men. To become a teacher, you must not only learn new things but review the old things you have learned. If you don't think about what you learn, then what you have learned is pointless and will never be put into practice. If you think about things without fully knowing about what you are thinking, this can get you into trouble. Knowledge is when you are able to acknowledge what you know and what you don't know.
Volume 2 Book 4
If you really, truly want to be virtuous then you won't do bad things. If you are wise you will not make prejudgments, you will side with the right. An honorable man wants justice and fixates on his character. A dishonorable man does things for his own favor. A wise man thinks about things before he says them, but takes action when it is necessary.
Volume 4 Book 7
Always have your mind set on what is right and be kind to others. Even if you don't have many material possession or gourmet food to eat, you should be happy with it as long as it was obtained honestly. Hard, honest work is the way to reach the goal.
Volume 7 Book 14
Noble, modest men will achieve more. We should study for self improvement, not so that we can say we are smarter than others.

The Qur'an

Sura 87 – The hereafter is the life we must strive for. Constantly remind yourself of the Lord and of Muhammad. Mention their names in prayer as to not forget. Make yourself pure. This is what was told to us by Abraham and Moses.
Sura 75 – There will be a Day of Resurrection. The Lord will give life to the dying. You must read the Qur’an and recite it through Gabriel. You must also live what you read and recite.
Sura 16 – Allah created everything; heavens, earth, truth, men, livestock. The Lord is kind and merciful. He created horses and mules for riding, paths to guide you, rain to drink and to nourish the plants, the sun, moon, night and day. He created the sea, mountains, stars to guide you. All of these are reminders to us, of Allah. He knows the things you say out loud and the things you keep to yourself. There is one God. He disapproves of arrogance. The Day of Resurrection will separate the believers from the disbelievers. The evil and arrogant will go to Hell. The angels will take up with them the believers who do well on earth. Those who go to Heaven will have whatever they wish and the angels will say “peace be upon you”. There is someone in every nation who spreads the word so all will have a chance to hear it. Those who submit to Allah will enjoy the Hereafter and all it has to offer. Those who choose evil, will be punished. Allah is all knowing and we are not. Do not question those he seems to favor. He will provide you with a mate and with children and grandchildren. He will give you good things. He gave us hearing, vision and hearts. He has given us homes as a place of rest. On the Day of Resurrection a witness of every nation (their prophet) will be resurrected. Allah knows what is best for you. You must only eat what Allah has provided which is lawful and good. You may not eat pork, blood, or animals that were killed not solely for food. If you have done wrong you may repent and correct yourself, for God is forgiving. Allah wants you to fear Him and do good.
Sura 2 – There is great punishment for those who disbelieve in Allah. You must worship your Lord to become righteous. Give good tidings to other believers and do good deeds. Allah gave you life and created the Heavens and the Earth. He informed Adam of all the names of his creations. He gave Adam a wife and Satan removed them from the paradise the Lord made for them. He orders us to pray and recite the scripture. He reminds the children of Israel of Moses and his teachings. Worship only Allah, do good, honor your parents and do not kill. Do not follow in Satan’s footsteps. Follow the instructions of Allah on how to live and worship. If you are a believer you will go to Heaven. Ramadhan is the month for fasting. It is laid down in the Qur’an as guidance for the Muslims. Do not transgress in your fights. You may only fight in the sacred month, unless it is an aggression committed against you in the sacred month. Fear Allah. Divorced women must remain in waiting for three menstrual cycles. During this time if their husbands want to reconcile, they may. Mothers may breastfeed for two years. If a woman is widowed she must wait four months and ten days before they may remarry. Be wise with your money and give to charities.
Sura 4 – If children are made orphans the male should have the same amount (money, etc.) as two females. If they are all women and there are more than two, they will split two-thirds of what he has left. If there is an only daughter, she will get half. If your wife leaves you will have half if there are no children. If there are children, you will get a fourth after debts have been paid off. When it comes to splitting up money among children, husbands and wives, we are reminded that we must be honest in our dealings because Allah is wise and all knowing. If a woman is accused of unlawful sexual conduct, then four people must come and testify against here. If she is guilty she must remain a prisoner is her home until death takes her. You do not marry your father’s wife and you do not marry your family members. Do not act harshly with women or inherit anything from them against their will.