Moralistic vs. Philosophical Moralistic vs. Philosophical ReligionsReligions

• MoralisticMoralistic = = •Good and BadGood and Bad

• PhilosophicalPhilosophical = = •mind, state of beingmind, state of being

SIKHISM…SIKHISM…

Sikhism is NOT a Sikhism is NOT a Polytheistic Religion it Polytheistic Religion it is a Monotheistic is a Monotheistic religion religion

A way of life and A way of life and philosophy well ahead philosophy well ahead of its time when it was of its time when it was founded over 500 years founded over 500 years ago and today has over ago and today has over 20 million followers20 million followers

  Sikhism preaches that Sikhism preaches that people of different people of different races, religions, or sex races, religions, or sex are all equal in the eyes are all equal in the eyes of God. It teaches the of God. It teaches the full equality of men and full equality of men and women. Women can women. Women can participate in any participate in any religious function or religious function or perform any Sikh perform any Sikh ceremony or lead the ceremony or lead the congregation in prayer. congregation in prayer.

•Hinduism

Is said to be the world’s oldest religion

You can be MonotheisticYou can be PolytheisticYou can be AgnosticYou can be AtheistHinduism is a very broad

religion

CHRISTIANITY JUDAISM

GOD YAHWEH

ISLAMHINDUISM

ALLAH BRAHMAN

BRAHMAN

VISNU SHIVA BRAHMA

330 Other Gods

http://www.sanatansociety.org/hindu_gods_and_goddesses.htm

•Teaches that right thinking Teaches that right thinking and self denial will enable the and self denial will enable the soul to reach soul to reach NirvanaNirvana

((a divine state of release from a divine state of release from misdirected desiremisdirected desire))

HELL!!!HELL!!!

►Is designed to justly punish Is designed to justly punish crimecrime

►It can last for a MOMENT or a It can last for a MOMENT or a 1,000 YEARS.1,000 YEARS.

HEAVEN.

There is no Heaven.

Life is a never-ending circle.

Re-birth

Hell

Re-death

Limbo

Reincarnation.

•Transmigration of Souls.•It is continuous where

individuals attempt to achieve that perfect life.

•If achieved, individual can be sent to Nirvana and the circle is broken.

LIMBO.LIMBO.

It is a “Great Garden Party”It is a “Great Garden Party”

Hindu’s believe…

that a person’s KARMA determines how his soul will be reborn in the next life.

KARMA = deeds of action

DHARMA

PROVIDES A CODE OF BEHAVIOR OR SET OF MORAL AND ETHICAL RULES GOVERNING THE CONDUCT OF EACH SOCIAL CLASS.

(AN UPPER CLASS HINDU AND A LOWER CLASS HINDU HAVE DIFFERENT SETS OF RULES (DHARMAS) TO LIVE BY).

Hinduism did not become popular outside its

homeland. It is tied to India• Hinduism percentage by country

When It Did Spread, It Did It Not By Land, But Rather By Sea.

The sacred rivers

• Hoping either to benefit from its restorative properties or to die and be transported to Paradise, the Ganges and other rivers are a key part of worship in the Hindu faith.

? QUESTIONS ?? QUESTIONS ?

Why is the cow sacred?Why is the cow sacred? The Hindu does not worship the cow, The Hindu does not worship the cow,

has never worshipped the cow, and has never worshipped the cow, and is not likely to ever worship the cow. is not likely to ever worship the cow.

The cow represents a link between The cow represents a link between man and the dumb animals of man and the dumb animals of Creation.Creation.

The cow represents ‘Motherhood’, The cow represents ‘Motherhood’, ‘Mother’s milk’, and gentle nature.‘Mother’s milk’, and gentle nature.

What’s with the red dot (bindi)?What’s with the red dot (bindi)?

Men and women wear the red dot, Men and women wear the red dot, which is paste, powder, or a sticker. which is paste, powder, or a sticker. It is a religious symbol. It represents It is a religious symbol. It represents divine sight and is a sign that one is divine sight and is a sign that one is Hindu. The colorful sticker versions Hindu. The colorful sticker versions of the dot are more of a beauty mark of the dot are more of a beauty mark or part of a lady’s make-up.or part of a lady’s make-up.

Hindus believe…Hindus believe…

in one God, one Humanity, and one in one God, one Humanity, and one world.world.

God is not far away, living in a remote God is not far away, living in a remote heaven, but is inside each and every heaven, but is inside each and every soul, in the heart and consciousness, soul, in the heart and consciousness, waiting to be discovered.waiting to be discovered.

there is one all-pervasive God who there is one all-pervasive God who energizes the entire universe.energizes the entire universe.

the concept of God which exists in and the concept of God which exists in and gives life to all things (panentheism)gives life to all things (panentheism)

Hinduism shows a great capacity Hinduism shows a great capacity to absorbing ideas and adapting to absorbing ideas and adapting to conditions.to conditions.

When Buddha challenged it, in When Buddha challenged it, in the 6the 6thth century B.C., the Brahmas century B.C., the Brahmas simply added him and accepted simply added him and accepted certain Buddhist concept.certain Buddhist concept.

Thus Buddhism virtually Thus Buddhism virtually vanished from India.vanished from India.

Christianity reached India at Christianity reached India at least 1,600 to 1,900 years least 1,600 to 1,900 years ago.ago.

The Christian message was The Christian message was absorbed.absorbed.

In fact, Jesus is the Tenth In fact, Jesus is the Tenth Incarnation of Vishnu.Incarnation of Vishnu.

A way of life that attempts to identify the causes of human suffering and offer a set of practices that

are claimed to end, or ease suffering.

The Four Noble Truths.

1. Life = SufferingTo live means to suffer, because the human nature is not perfect and neither is the world we live in. During our lifetime, we inevitably have to endure physical suffering such as pain, sickness, injury, tiredness, old age, and eventually death; and we have to endure psychological suffering like sadness, fear, frustration, disappointment, and depression. Although there are different degrees of suffering and there are also positive experiences in life that we perceive as the opposite of suffering, such as ease, comfort and happiness, life in its totality is imperfect and incomplete, because our world is subject to impermanence.

2. The origin of suffering is attachment.

The reasons for suffering are desire, passion, pursuit of wealth and prestige, striving for fame and popularity, or in short: craving and clinging. Because the objects of our attachment are transient (temporary), their loss is inevitable, thus suffering will necessarily follow.

3. The cessation of suffering is attainable.

(it is possible to stop suffering)

- Suffering can be overcome through human activity, simply by removing the cause of suffering. Attaining and perfecting dispassion is a process of many levels that ultimately results in the state of Nirvana. (Nirvana means freedom from all worries, troubles, complexes, fabrications and ideas. Nirvana is not comprehensible for those who have not attained it).

4. The path to the cessation of 4. The path to the cessation of suffering is to follow the Eight suffering is to follow the Eight Fold Path to Nirvana.Fold Path to Nirvana.

•Right FaithRight Faith (do you truly (do you truly understand. It does not deal with understand. It does not deal with ‘reason’.)‘reason’.)

•Right Resolve to Resist EvilRight Resolve to Resist Evil

•Right Speech Right Speech (not just what you (not just what you say, but what you think – you say, but what you think – you should do)should do)

•Right Action Right Action (how do you conduct (how do you conduct yourself)yourself)

•Right LivingRight Living

•Right Effort Right Effort (does you head, heart, (does you head, heart, and body work as one?)and body work as one?)

•Right ThoughtRight Thought (intentions, (intentions, attitudes, aspirations)attitudes, aspirations)

•Right Meditation Right Meditation (concentration. (concentration. Whether it be breathing, or letting Whether it be breathing, or letting go to where there is nothing but go to where there is nothing but silence)silence)

» According to Buddha, man would go through several rebirths before he would be

able to overcome his desires. Those who finally rid themselves of all desires would reach Nirvana.

In Nirvana, man’s soul would stop it cycle of

rebirth and would become one with the universe.

Buddhism is the only religion to begin in India’s Ganges River Valley area, but it is #4 in India behind Hinduism, Islam, and Christianity.

ANIMISM

• Sees god in the animals (spirit) which they hunt.

CONFUCIANISMCONFUCIANISMDeals with the Li and the HsinDeals with the Li and the Hsin

LiLi is the ability to “See” is the ability to “See”HsinHsin = The ”Lane” or = The ”Lane” or

“Pattern”“Pattern”The “Heart” and the “Mind”The “Heart” and the “Mind”

• Confucius addressed both Buddhist and Taoist issues

Taoism / Daoism

• Is the root of Chinese philosophy.

• The unity of heaven and earth is possible only if Tao is allowed to take its natural course.

• To understand Tao is the very secret of life.