Transcript An historical survey    The aim of pre-axial religion is to promote the stability of the tribe in an uncertain natural environment. Pre-axial religion.

An historical survey
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The aim of pre-axial religion is to promote
the stability of the tribe in an uncertain
natural environment.
Pre-axial religion is world-accepting,
concerned with preserving the cosmic and
social order. It provides a mythical
framework for bestowing meaning on the
basic realities of life- survival,
reproduction, social cohesion.
Ritual sacrifice to influence gods and spirits
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Individual moral behavior is necessary to
ensure the stability of the clan. An immoral
individual can bring pollution and divine
retribution to the group.
For example, the sin of Achan in Joshua 7.
Or, the sin of Adam and Eve that affected all
of their descendants.
Good behavior brings prosperity to the
group, 12 “Honor your father and your mother,
so that you may live long in the land the LORD
your God is giving you.” Ex. 20.12
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The Upanishads,
composed from 800
BCE- 600 CE. There are
200, 14 of which are
most important. The
teaching is Monistic (or
pantheistic)- there is one
Reality- Brahman- the
impersonal absoluteeternal, infinite,
unknowable. Everything
else is Maya- illusion. To
attain liberation
meditation (not sacrifice)
is required.
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The real problem is
ignorance, the illusion of
individuality, which
keeps us bound in
Samsara (birth, death,
rebirth). The souls of
living things are like
drops in the great ocean
of Brahman, falsely
proclaiming their
individuality, and
selfishly promoting their
illusory goals.
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You have a right to perform
your prescribed duty, but
you are not entitled to the
fruits of action. Never
consider yourself the cause
of the results of your
activities, and never be
attached to not doing your
duty. Perform work in this
world, Arjuna, as a man
established within himselfwithout selfish attachments,
and alike in success and
defeat. For yoga is perfect
evenness of mind. (2.47f)
Bhagavad Gita
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Non-injury, truth, not
stealing, purity, control
of the senses- Manu
has declared this to
summarize dharma for
the four castes.
(10.63)
Code of Manu
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They live in wisdom
who see themselves
in all, and all in
them, who have
renounced every
selfish desire and
sense craving
tormenting the heart.
Neither agitated by
grief nor hankering
after pleasure, they
live free from lust
and fear and anger.
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Established in
meditation, they are
truly wise. Fettered
no more by selfish
attachments, they are
neither elated by
good fortune nor
depressed by bad.
Such are the seers.
(Bhagavad Gita 2:
54-57.)
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Yoga and meditation techniques are practiced
to gain control over bodily desires and to
realize the unity of the individual soul (atman)
with the Absolute (Brahman).
Indulging in bodily pleasures and immoral
conduct generates bad karma and traps the
soul in samsara.
Ethical conduct is only possible for those who
understand the illusory character of the
physical world.
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He who is free from selfish attachments,
who has mastered himself and his passions,
attains the supreme perfection of freedom
from action. Listen now, Arjuna, and I will
describe how one who has attained
perfection also attains Brahman, the
supreme consummation of
wisdom….(18.49f)
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First noble truth
Dukkha- To live is to suffer
Contact with a pleasant person or thing is
pleasurable. When such contact becomes
impossible, suffering and sadness results.
But if you have no attachment to that
person or thing, that is freedom/liberation.
Whatever is impermanent is dukkha.
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The second noble truth
Noble truth of the arising of sorrow. It is this thirst
(tanha) which produces re-existence and rebecoming, and which is bound up with passionate
greed.... Thirst for sense-pleasures, thirst for
existence and becoming, thirst for nonexistence.
The origin of this “thirst” is the false idea of self.
Selfish craving for and attachment to pleasure,
wealth, power, ideas, opinions, and beliefs,
generates karma and keeps one bound to samsara.
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Third noble truth:
there is
emancipation,
liberation, freedom
from suffering. to
eliminate dukkha,
one must eliminate
the “thirst” that is its
source. Nirvana, the
extinction of thirst.
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Freedom from
conceit, destruction
of thirst, the
uprooting of
attachment, Nibbana.
The extinction of
desire, the extinction
of hatred, the
extinction of illusion.
Annihilation of the
false idea of “self.”
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Fourth noble truth
The way that leads
to the stopping of
suffering: the
eightfold path.
Following the 8fold path leads to
the perfection of
Ethical conduct,
Mental discipline,
and Wisdom
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Right views
(intuitive insight:
seeing things as
they really are,
awareness of the
triple truth- all
existence is
suffering and
impermanent, there
is no permanent
self or soul).
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Right thought. Selfless renunciation or
detachment, thoughts of love and nonviolence directed to all living things.
Ill-will, hatred, violence, result from lack of
wisdom.
Right Speech- Truthfulness, no slander,
profanity, abusive speech, or idle talk.
Right Conduct- avoid killing, lying, stealing,
sexual misconduct, intoxicants.
Right Livelihood- butcher, tanner,
astrologer, psychic (forbidden jobs).
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Right Effort- the
energetic will to
prevent evil thoughts
and to produce good
thoughts.
Right MindfulnessTo be attentive to
bodily activities,
mental states,
feelings. Awareness
of their nature,
arising, and
disappearing.
Right concentration
Discard passionate
desires and
unwholesome
thoughts; suppress
intellectual activity,
develop tranquility
and ‘onepointedness’ of mind
all sensations
disappear, pure
equanimity and
mindfulness remain.
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To abstain from
To abstain from
To abstain from
To abstain from
To abstain from
cloud the mind.
taking life
taking what is not given
sensuous misconduct
false speech
intoxicants as tending to
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Fundamental virtue: Jen- “humanity,”
“goodness,” “benevolence.”
My teaching contains one thread that runs
through it all.... What did he mean? Our
Master’s teaching is simply this: loyalty and
reciprocity. (Analects, II.15.)
Is there any one word that can serve as a
principle for the conduct of life? Confucius
said: Perhaps the word ‘reciprocity’: Do not
do to others what you would not want
others to do to you. (Analects, XV.23.)
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[The Master] has
broadened me with
culture, restrained me
with ritual (IX.10).
The Master said,
Courtesy not bounded by
the prescriptions of ritual
becomes tiresome.
Caution not bounded by
the prescriptions of ritual
becomes timidity, daring
becomes turbulence,
inflexibility becomes
harshness. (VIII.2)
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He who does not tread in
the tracks [of the
ancients] cannot expect
to find his way into the
inner-room (XI.19).
He who can himself
submit to ritual is good.
XII.1
The Master never talked
of prodigies, feats of
strength, disorders, or
spirits. (VII.20.)
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If you let people follow their feelings they will
be able to do good.... Humanity,
righteousness, propriety, and wisdom are not
drilled into us from outside. We originally have
them with us.... Therefore it is said seek and
you will find it....(6A.6)
Man’s nature is naturally good just as water
naturally flows downward....Now you can strike
water and cause it to splash upward.... It is the
forced circumstance that makes it do so. Man
can be made to do evil, for his nature can be
treated in the same way. (6A.2)
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Human nature is essentially evil- ritual,
teaching, and training are required to harness
natural passions.
Desire for gain------strife.
Envy and hate-------injury/cruelty.
Passions--------------Excesses, disorder.
To give reign to man’s original nature and to yield
to emotions will assuredly lead to strife and
disorderliness, and he will revert to a state of
barbarism. Therefore, it is only under the influence
of teachers and laws and the guidance of the rules
of decorum that courtesy will be observed. From
all this it is evident that the nature of man is evil
and that his goodness is acquired. (Ch. 23).
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Tao- way, path, road: natural, eternal,
spontaneous, nameless, indescribable,
impersonal, and unkind.
Taoist virtues: quietism, pacifity, simplicity,
spontaneity, non-action (wu wei)
The highest good is like water, Water
benefits all things generously and without
strife. (8)
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It was when the great
Tao declined that there
appeared humanity
and righteousness. It
was when knowledge
and intelligence arose,
that there appeared
much hypocrisy. (18)
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Banish sageliness,
discard wisdom, and
the people will be
benefited a
hundredfold. Banish
humanity, discard
righteousness, and the
people will return to
filial piety and paternal
affection.... Embrace
simplicity, reduce
selfishness, have few
desires. (19)
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Wu-wei- non-purposive action, action
without intention. The sage manages
affairs without action, carries out teaching
without speech.
Act by no-action, then nothing is not in
order.
With the nameless uncarved wood there
shall be no desire. Without desire there is
quietude. The world shall be self ordered.
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Judaism: Divine command ethics
1. You shall have no other gods but me. (Ex.
20.3; Deut. 5.7)
2. You shall not make a sculpture or any
image. (Ex. 20.4; Deut. 5.8)
3. You shall not take the name of Yahweh in
vain. (Ex. 20.7; Deut. 5.11)
4. Remember and keep holy the day of rest.
(Ex. 20.8; Deut. 5.12)
5. Honor your father and mother. (Ex. 20.12;
Deut. 5.16)
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6. Do not kill. (Ex. 20.13; Deut 5.17)
7. Do not commit adultery. (Ex. 20.14;
Deut. 5.18)
8. Do not steal. (Ex. 20.15; Deut. 5.19)
9. Do not bear false witness. (Ex. 20.16;
Deut. 5.20)
10. Do not covet. (Ex. 20.17;Deut. 5.21)
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Archeological evidence indicates that early
Israelites worshipped Baal, the goddess Asherah,
and another goddess known as Anat-Yahu, in
addition to Yahweh. Statues of cherubim were part
of the Jerusalem cult in the kingdom periods. The
prophets who demanded worship of Yahweh alone
in the 8th and 9th centuries may have inspired the
first commandment.
The commandments reflect the concerns of a
settled community, not a tribe of wandering
nomads.
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Ex. 21.7 If a man
sells his daughter
as a female slave,
she is not to go free
as the male slaves
do.
Ex. 21.17 He who
curses his father or
his mother shall
surely be put to
death.
Ex. 21.20; 22:29
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Lev. 19.19 You
shall not breed
together two kinds
of your cattle, you
shall not sow your
field with two kinds
of seed nor wear a
garment upon you
with two kinds of
material mixed
together.
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You may multiply your prayers, I shall not
listen…. Take your wrong-doing out of my
sight. Cease to do evil. Learn to do good,
search for justice, help the oppressed, be just
to the orphan, plead for the widow. Isaiah
1.15-17.
Take away from Me the noise of your songs,
For I will not hear the melody of your stringed
instruments.
24 But let justice run down like water,
And good conduct like a mighty stream. (Amos 5)
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A sovereign God (who is wise, just, and kind)
issues commands. If we follow them, all goes
well. If we don’t, judgment and retribution
may follow.
Psalm 61:11–12: “Once God has spoken;
twice I have heard this: that power belongs to
God; and loving kindness is Thine, O Lord, for
Thou dost recompense a man according to
his work.”
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Wisdom literature is not based on revelation,
it consists, rather, of observations about
human behavior that the reader may verify
from her own experience.
11.8; 13.24; 15.5 cf.13.1; 23.2935;11.22;25.14; 26.11;27.15
Comparisons help one order their experience
and find order in the confusion of daily life.
26.27;23.29;24. 30-34;16.25; Act and
consequence. Virtue profits 10.2
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Little can be known
with certainty about
the life and teachings
of Jesus. The accounts
found in the gospels
were written 40- 70
years after his death by
unknown members of
the early Christian
community.
The historical Jesus
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Contemporary New
Testament scholars
study both canonical
and non-canonical
gospels to find the
voice print of the
historical Jesus, as
distinguished from the
Christ of faith created
by his followers.
The Christ of faith
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You won’t be able to observe the coming of
God’s imperial rule. People are not going to
be able to say, “Look, here it is !”or “Over
there!” On the contrary, God’s imperial rule
is right there in in your presence. (Luke
17:20-21)
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[T]he Father’s imperial rule is spread out
upon the earth, and people don’t see it.
(Thomas 113.2-4)
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Just remember, John the
Baptist appeared on the
scene, eating no bread
and drinking no wine,
and you say, “he is
demented.” The son of
Adam appeared on the
scene both eating and
drinking, and you say,
“There’s a glutton and a
drunk….:Lk.11.20.
Celebrate
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Love your enemies,
and do good, and lend,
expecting nothing in
return. Your reward
will be great, and you’ll
be children of the most
high. (Q; Luke 6:35)
Forgive, and you will
be forgiven. (Q; Luke
6.37)
Love, and forgive
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When someone slaps you
on the right cheek, turn
the other as well (Q:
Matt. 5.39)
If someone sues you for
your coat, give him the
shirt off your back too.
(Q: Matt. 5.40)
When anyone conscripts
you for one mile, go
along two. (Q: Matt. 5.41)
Civil disobedience
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If you have money,
don’t lend it at
interest. Rather, give it
someone from whom
you won’t get it back.
(Q: Thomas 95.1-2)
Give to everyone who
begs from you (Q;
Matt. 5.42)
Generosity
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If someone sues you for your coat, give him the
shirt off your back to go with it. (Matt 5.40)
Don’t let your left hand in on what your right
hand is up to. (Matt. 6.3)
It’s not what goes into a person that can defile;
it’s what comes out that defiles. (Mark 7:15)
You see the sliver in your friend’s eye, but you
don’t see the timber in your own eye. When
you take the timber out of your own eye, then
you will see well enough to remove the sliver
from your friend’s eye. (Thomas 26.1-2)
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I will tell you what your Lord has made
binding on you: that you shall serve no
other gods besides Him; that you shall
show kindness to your parents; that you
shall not kill your children because you
can’t support them...; that you shall not
commit foul sins, whether openly or in
secret; and that you shalt not kill-for that is
forbidden by God-except for a just cause.
(Sura 6:150)
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Do not argue with the
followers of earlier
revelation otherwise than in
the most kindly mannerunless it be such of them as
are bent on evildoing- and
say: “We believe in that
which has been revealed to
us from on high, as well as
that which has been
bestowed upon you: for our
God and your God is one
and the same, and it is unto
him that we all surrender
ourselves. 29.46
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5.49 Vie with each other in
good works, for to God you
shall all return and he will
resolve for you your
differences.
2.256 There shall be no
compulsion in religion.
The ink of scholars is
weighed on the Day of
Judgment with the blood of
martyrs and the ink of
scholars outweighs the
blood of martyrs.
Hadith
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(1) Confession: There is no god but God and
Muhammad is his messenger.
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(2) Prayer- ritual prayer five times a day.
(3) Almsgiving: charity for the needy.
(4) Fasting during Ramadan, no food or water,
sunrise to sunset.
(5) Pilgrimage to Mecca (once, if possible).
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Submission to the will of Allah
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The ethical teachings of the world’s great
religious traditions are based on assumptions
about the nature of God or Ultimate Reality.
What evidence can be provided for the truth
of these assumptions?
How is it possible for humans to acquire
knowledge of the will of God or the nature of
Ultimate Reality?
How do we respond to the phenomena of
religious diversity?