CHAPTER ONE

Studying the World’s Religions

The Nature of a Religious Tradition

Part One

Religious Questions

What is the human condition?What is spiritual perfection?What is ethical?How do we transcend the human condition?How do we attain salvation?What is our destiny?What is the nature of the world?What is ultimate reality, and how is it

revealed?

What is the human condition?

What is our essential nature? Are we merely what we appear to be – physical bodies somehow equipped with the capacity to think and to feel? Or are we endowed with a deeper spiritual essence, some form of soul? Are human beings good, or evil, or somewhere in-between, perhaps originally good but now flawed in some way?

Accounts of human origin Adam and Eve

Jewish and Christian Bibles

Qur’an (or Koran) - IslamSuffering

All religions recognize that we suffer

Why do we suffer? Is it our fault? Do we deserve to suffer? Can we overcome

suffering through a state of higher spiritual maturity?

What is spiritual perfection?

Is it possible? In this life In the afterlife With divine assistance

How? Various approaches Considers these three questions:

What is ethical? – How are we to act while living in this world?

How do we transcend the human condition?

How do we attain salvation?

What is ethical?

Religions typically prescribe an ethical life as a basic requirement for the journey toward spiritual perfection

Teachings regarding right and wrong are a significant part of most religious traditions

How do we transcend the human condition?

Some responses to the challenges of being human Ignoring issues “Numbing” one’s spirit Blocking issues out by

staying busy – workaholic

Addictions – drugs, alcohol

Religion and the challenges of being human Encourages a response

that brings one face-to-face with life’s issues in order to rise above them Example: Buddhist

enlightenment – the one who has attained enlightenment while continuing to inhabit a physical body is said to maintain a state of indescribable spiritual tranquility and bliss

How do we attain salvation?

Spiritual maturation Spiritual maturity or perfection is closely related to

some form of salvation For religions that emphasize forms of transcendence,

there is a direct connection between the transcendence attained in this life and final salvation. For example: Buddhism – attaining enlightenment in this life leads to

nirvana in the next Christianity and Islam – salvation depends on the divine

who leads individuals to spiritual perfection in the afterlife Note: Salvation is seen as a liberation from what is

believed to be the ultimate limitation of the human condition: death.

What is our destiny?

Where are we going, ultimately? Most religions provide answers to that question.

In most cases, the destination is reliant upon one’s spiritual maturity. For example: Human beings face two possible destinies: reward

or condemnation Human beings live more than one life: no ultimate

destiny, but instead another step toward the final destiny Hinduism Buddhism Jainism

What is the nature of the world?

Where did the world come from? Is it real, or is it just some kind of cosmic illusion? Is it sacred, perhaps even living? Or is it merely matter? Is it a help or a hindrance to the religious quest? Cosmology – the

understanding of the nature of the universe

Answers to cosmological questions tend to determine how interested a particular religion may be in the natural world Some religions

support scientific inquiry

Some religions are suspicious of science

What is ultimate reality andhow is it revealed?

Ultimate reality (known to most Western traditions as God) Most religions teach that the supreme or ultimate reality is

somehow revealed to humans Sacred stories, myths, religious experiences

Theistic religions – belief in God or multiple gods Teach a theology or doctrine regarding the divine

Monotheism – belief in one God Polytheism – belief in many gods Pantheism – belief that divine exists in everything

Nontheistic religions Do not believe in a god who is essentially relevant for humanity Sometimes hold a belief in various divine or semidivine beings Some of these religions teach that all reality is essentially one

thing and that human beings are part of that ultimate reality

The Nature of a Religious Tradition

Part Two

Seven Dimensions of Religion

ExperientialMythicDoctrinalEthicalRitualSocialMaterial

Experiential

Personal experience The young prince Gautama

Enlightenment under the bodhi tree Buddhism

Muhammad Revelations from Allah

Islam Who else?

Faith Personal with doctrinal aspects

Moses and the burning bush Saul/Paul – What was his personal experience?

Contemplation Mysticism

Hinduism – becoming one with the divine through inward contemplation

Mythic

Myth A term often used to convey falsehood In the study of world religions myths convey

important truths Nonhistorical, nonrational Can give meaning to life Sacred stories passed on through generations The story of Creation

Informs those in this faith tradition that… The world was created by God Human beings were created in God’s image and by

nature are good Humans are meant to care for the earth and its

creatures

Other examples

Doctrinal

Belief Creeds Doctrines Teachings

Lived religious experienceMythsRecorded in sacred texts

Ethical

How are we to live while in this world? Teachings

The 10 Commandments Buddhist ideal of compassion

Ritual

Worship – formal practice or ritual Many religions reenact a myth or sacred

story Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca

Reenacts the sacred story of Muhammad’s original journey to Mecca

Social

Community Tribe Parish Congregation

Organization Hierarchy of leadership

One level for officials and another level for general believers

Ideal examples of spiritual perfection Taoist – the sage Christianity – the saint

Material

Architecture Temples Cathedrals Mosques

Icons Statues of the Buddha Crucifix

Nature Mountains Major rivers – Hindus

Man-made Cities