Introduction to World Religions

HRT3M

Something’s not quite right

Popularity of “The Matrix”  Asked the right question: what is really real?

 Connected because something about this world doesn’t feel real

Something’s not quite right

Many believe thatScience and technology fail to provide answers to life. It can only answer “how?”, but not “why?” Some look at the fact that there has been examples of Family and community breakdowns occurring and this hascreate sense of loneliness. They feel religion provides answers Tragedies have exposed our superficialities & insecurities

Something in us desires “more…”

Do all roads lead to Rome?

Our search for spirituality is often frustrated Politically-correct culture makes it difficult to find absolute truth Relative truth is often unsatisfying

An attempt to compare

What do the religions say about themselves?

How do they compare?

Evaluating the world religions

Narrowing a giant topic

Many religions and worldviews exist Excludes different worldviews (Naturalism, Existentialism, etc.) apart from world religions Excludes many other “minor” religions, including cults and splinter groups Excludes factions and denominational differences within religions Excludes history of world religions

Five major world religions

Comparing religions only their most classic form -- according to their scriptures and founding teachers   Hinduism, c. 1,500 BC (Upanishad, Vedanta) Buddhism, 522 BC (Theravada)    Judaism, c. 2,000 BC (Torah; Old Testament; 2 main branches) Christianity, 30 AD (Old and New Testament; many branches) Islam, 622 AD (Sunni; Shiite, Sufi, Baha)

Some commonalities exist

Some overlap exists between religions     Every religion has something good to say; few religions are devoid of anything of positive value Religious experiences Obedience to a higher authority Code of moral behavior, often advocating care for fellow human beings

In comparing religions

Looking through six lenses:       Ultimate reality The world around us The human condition Salvation and eternal destiny The meaning of human history The personhood of Jesus

Hinduism

Pluralism: it’s all good Brahman : the supreme essence of the universe. Many divine beings exist, leads to a form of polytheism too.

Maya , illusion: reality is not always what it appears to be. God is in everything.

Hinduism

Atman, But the soul, is trapped in Atman samsara, an endless cycle of rebirth. is Brahman.

Karma: the actions of one’s current life will determine the consequences of his future life. Moksha: liberation from the cycle and union with God through knowledge and devotion

Buddhism

No divine beings. And, anatta Reality is a construct of our senses, an illusion , no soul Four noble truths   Dukkha, All life is suffering Tanha, suffering is caused by desire

Buddhism

Four noble truths   Sunyata, eliminate desire to eliminate suffering Follow eight-fold path emptying one’s self to the goal of extinction.

Nirvana, , Cycles of death, birth and rebirth until Enlightenment

Buddhism

Eight-fold path  Right understanding        Right thought Right speech Right action Right livelihood Right effort Right awareness Right concentration

Judaism

A personal God People were made in the image of God Sin leads to spiritual death Torah: the Book of the Law is the remedy, keeps you connected to God and clear from sin Waiting for the Messiah , the Anointed One

Christianity

Triune, personal God: God, Jesus, Holy Spirit God created the universe, and people in his image People sin against God, leading to spiritual death

Christianity

Atonement made by God in Jesus. People respond by accepting through for sin is grace faith. Linear history: began with and will end with ultimate creation redemption

Islam

Six basic beliefs  God: one, personal      Angels Books: Quran Messengers: Mohammed Al-Qadar: Predestination, fate Day of judgment

Islam

Five pillars of faith   Shahadah : Declaration of faith Salat : Prayers five times a day    Zakat : Welfare contribution Sawm : Fasting during Ramadan Hajj : Pilgrimage to Mecca

Christianity and world religions

Reality Hinduism

Pantheism

Buddhism

Atheism

Judaism

Unitarian theism

Christianity

Triune theism

Islam

Unitarian theism

Universe

Illusion

Human Condition

Essentially divine, but trapped in samsara due to ignorance and karma Transient reality Impermanent phenomenon, & trapped in samsara , life of suffering due to desire and karma Good creation of God Created in God’s image, but subject to judgment in failing to obey Torah Good creation of God Created in God’s image, but alienated from God due to sin, subject to judgment Good creation of God Created to be God’s servant, but subject to judgment for failure to submit to will of Allah

Christianity and world religions

Salvation & Destiny Hinduism

Deliverance from samsara by knowledge, works or devotion

History

Cyclical, meaningless

Person of Jesus We are all part of God Buddhism

Deliverance from samsara desire by eliminating through following 8 fold path Cyclical, meaningless

There is no God Judaism

Deliverance from judgment by observing the Torah Linear, leading to coming of the Messiah

Jesus is not God & Messiah Christianity Islam

Deliverance from judgment through faith in God’s provision and atonement Linear, leading to redemption of creation

Jesus is God and Messiah

Deliverance from judgment by submitting to the will of Allah through following 5 pillars of faith Linear, leading to day of judgment

Jesus is not God

“Full of grace and truth”

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

(John 1:14)

“Full of… truth”

Five major world religions differ greatly in their understanding of reality, particularly about who Jesus is.

Differences in truth lead to differences in ways to address reality Different roads lead to different conclusions If any, then only one can be right

Choosing the right one

Yet, a problem still exists Saying they’re mutually exclusive doesn’t help us point to which one is right Some possible arguments…

“Full of… truth”

Evaluative questions of religions     Worldview should be logically consistent Worldview should comprehend reality Worldview should explain what it claims to explain Worldview should be subjectively satisfactory

“Full of… truth”

For Christians the Eastern faiths have some inner-inconsistencies (simplistic starters)   Hinduism: “oneness” doesn’t match reality, and no one lives with an “illusory” reality. No morality.

Buddhism: need desire for Enlightenment to empty desire

“Full of grace”

Major Christian distinctives from other world religions (simplistic starters)     Mutual exclusivity: Jesus is God, but clearly not for Judaism or Islam. Process of salvation: not “do,” but “done.” Beginnings of an actual relationship Grace & Forgiveness: a corrective of suffering and evil in this world The resurrection: a historical matter

Circles of Belonging

At first, all of creation was in the circle of belonging

Circles of Belonging

Christians loved other things more than God…

Circles of Belonging

… resulting in spiritual death

Circles of Belonging

He showed people how to live with all those other things connected to the right center

Circles of Belonging

Jesus died for them, taking on the death that they deserve

Circles of Belonging

Jesus offers a way back into the circle of belonging Through Jesus, God can be back at the center of our lives

Circles of Belonging

Christians admit other centers and turn from them toward God Christians accept Jesus’ death for the death they deserve and the hurt they caused They ask Jesus to come into the center of their lives, and commit to Jesus as their forgiver, healer and leader

Grace, not hate

A reminder of truth and grace In truth, what world religions teach about themselves are mutually exclusive In grace, as Christians, we cannot use our differences as excuses for ignorance, anger, hate or violence