SS2 - Revolutions in Thought

8/6/2019 SS2 - Revolutions in Thought

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REVOLUTIONS IN THOUGHTREVOLUTIONS IN THOUGHTHistory of Religion and PhilosophyHistory of Religion and Philosophy

, ,By Martin Benedict Perez Social Sciences Philippine Science High School


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CONTENTS AND READING LISTCONTENTS AND READING LIST

.I he Axial Age

.II .II hilosophy in China.A Chinese origins and cosmology -58 61.B The Hundred Schools of Thought 61 63.C Confucianism and Daoism 90 92

.IV

. eligion in India.A Enter the Vedic Age 50 57.B The Hindu World View 78 79.C Hinduism and Buddhism , 80 82 87 88

.V I

.II onotheism of the Hebrews.A The World of the Hebrews 31 44.B Development of Monotheism 44 45.C , ,Judaism Christianity and Islam

o r ld Hi s t or yo n ne c ti o n s toT o d a yBackground Reading


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. ivilization is social orderromoting .ultural creation WillDurant

.2 . .ivilization developed over time It isthe sum of several interrelated

developments in the methods of food.production and social organization

.4 . ,aken culturally civilization can be.relative term Different people see.other people differently

WHAT WE VE LEARNED SO FAR WHAT WE VE LEARNED SO FAR


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. ow societies adjusted to rising.omplexities How did they deal withchange?

.2 . hat problems they encountered as.ivilization developed More,importantly what were their solutions?

.4 . e will explore the philosophical andeligious movements that wouldventually define the cultures we.now today And is there a reason for why

endure to this day?

WHAT WE RE ABOUT TO LEARN WHAT WE RE ABOUT TO LEARN


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.II CONTEXTONTEXT, , We look at the geography history and ethosof the.regions where these ideas were founded

.II.IIII PHILOSOPHYHILOSOPHY We get a feel of how these ideas work and how they

.relate to the society s ethos.IV ..SYSTEMYSTEM We study how the philosophies and ideas have

.crystallized into the forms we see today

STRUCTURE OF THE PRESENTATIONSTRUCTURE OF THE PRESENTATION


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STRUCTURE AND FLOWSTRUCTURE AND FLOW

.I he Axial Age

.II .II hilosophy in China.A Chinese origins and cosmology CONTEXT.B The Hundred Schools of Thought PHILOSOPHY.C Confucianism and Daoism SYSTEM

.IV

. eligion in India.A Enter the Vedic Age CONTEXT.B The Hindu World View PHILOSOPHY.C Hinduism and Buddhism SYSTEM

.V I

.II onotheism of the Hebrews.A The World of the Hebrews CONTEXT.B Development of Monotheism PHILOSOPHY.C , ,Judaism Christianity and Islam SYSTEM


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PREFACE RELIGION AND THE SOCIAL SCIENCES


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% About 84 of the world s population belongs to some form of organized.religion

. , .That s about 5 7 billion people in 10 000 distinct religions

, .Christianity alone has about 33 000 denominations


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A SOCIAL SCIENCE DEFINITIONA SOCIAL SCIENCE DEFINITION

,In general religion is social arrangement,designed to provide a shared ollective sayof

dealing with the unknown and unknowable aspects of

, ,human life death and existence and the difficult

dilemmas that arise in the process of making moral

. ,decisions As such religion not only provides

responses to enduring human problems and questions but

lso forms a basis for social cohesionnd solidarity . . ,l la n G J o hn s on

l a c k w el l D i c t i o n ar y of S o ci o l o g y


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, ,Religion is a set of beliefs symbols and practices

( ),for example rituals which is based on the idea of,the sacred and which nites believers into a

-ocio religious community . The sacred iscontrasted with the profane because it involves

.feelings of awe Sociologists have defined religion by

reference to the sacred rather than to a belief in a

,god or gods because it makes ocial comparison.possible xf o rd D i ct i ona r y o f S oc i ol o gy

A SOCIAL SCIENCE DEFINITIONA SOCIAL SCIENCE DEFINITION


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(Ekam sad vipra bahudha vadantikam Sat RV. . )1 164 64

, .The truth is one but the sages know it by many names


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PART 1 THE AXIAL AGE


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THE AXIAL AGETHE AXIAL AGE


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ABRAHAMIC

SINIC

DHARMIC



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. ll occurred in or near the original river.alley civilizations This meant that theaterial preconditions were present for the

.development of religion and thought2.. xial Age revolutions can be counted on the.ingers of one hand This does not mean that

,religion and thought stopped evolving but thatmost breakthroughs and advances either ( )ccurred within the original tradition , or( ) is a combination of several othertraditions .

4.. ach revolution in thought was born during a.eriod of crisis or instability Old orderswere breaking down and there was a demand for a new

standard of behaviour ethics .6.




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. he Axial Age also overlapped with the Iron.ge of human history With more durable and more,valuable goods a certain materialism .emergedImproved weapons also made war and conquest

.possible

India China Near East

Paleolithic Before 10,000BCE

Neolithic 10,000BCE c3500BCE

Bronze Age 3000 1200BCE 3000 700BCE 3300 1200BCE

Iron Age 1200 200BCE 600 200BCE 1300 600BCE

Axial Age 800 - 200BCE


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PAN GU

Emperor ofHeaven

Emperor ofMankind

Emperor ofEarth

HE THREE AUGUST ONES

HE FIVE EMPERORSIA DYNASTYSHANGZHOUQINHANSUITANGSONGYUANMINGQING


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Nuwaand Fuxi , the Earthly Sovereign andthe Heavenly Sovereign

Shennong , TheDivine Farmer

HETHREEUGUSTONES


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-A fish decorated

bowl dating to theYangshao culture.at 5000BCE


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-Black egg shell potterydating back to theLongshan culture at.3000BCE


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,Bronze making was a signature of the Xiabut the very existence of the dynasty is

.in question

Chinese historians often claim that it isone and the same as the contemporaneous

.Erlitou culture


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The Shang is the firsthistorically established dynasty

.in Chinese history

he Oracle Bone


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The excavations at AnyangThe excavations at Anyang

Bronze is a metal alloycomposed mainly of copper

.and tin

SHANG RELIGIOUS BELIEFSSHANG RELIGIOUS BELIEFS


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Some things historians learned:from the Oracle Bones

The notion of a supreme(heavenly power referred to as

, " ,"Shangdi or God above and" ," " ").later as Tian or Heaven

The belief in the power of thespirits of ancestors to affect

.events on earth

And the importance attached torituals venerating ancestorsand the role assigned to theking in performing these

.ceremonial rituals

SHANG RELIGIOUS BELIEFSSHANG RELIGIOUS BELIEFS

(THE MANDATE OF HEAVEN (THE MANDATE OF HEAVEN tianmingtianming))


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(THE MANDATE OF HEAVEN (THE MANDATE OF HEAVEN tianmingtianming))

o justify their overthrow of,he corrupt King of Shang theuke of Zhou declared that he .as lost heaven s favorhis has become the performance

tandard throughout Chinese.istory An emperor or a dynasty issaid to have the Mandate when they do,well and lose the Mandate when they .don t

( )ZHOU DYNASTY 1100 256BCE( )ZHOU DYNASTY 1100 256BCE


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The Zhou is divided into the ( - )estern Zhou 1027 771 BCE , capital at Xian ( - )astern Zhou 770 221 BCE , capital atLuoyang

( - )ZHOU DYNASTY 1100 256BCE( - )ZHOU DYNASTY 1100 256BCE

:State administration was feudal local lords help,power over their domains but owed military loyalty.and support to the center

( )ZHOU DYNASTY 1100 256BCE( )ZHOU DYNASTY 1100 256BCE


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The Eastern Zhou is dividedinto

. pring and Autumn( -eriod 770 476)CE.2

. arring StatesPeriod( - )75 221 BCE

After the displacement of

the Western Zhou and the,shift to the east small.states competed for power

Many philosophical schoolsemerged during this period

also called he Hundredchools of Thought

( - )ZHOU DYNASTY 1100 256BCE( - )ZHOU DYNASTY 1100 256BCE


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&CONFUCIUS LAOZI&CONFUCIUS LAOZI

THE THREE CONFUCIAN VALUESTHE THREE CONFUCIAN VALUES


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xia

o ren

li

Filial piety

Humaneness

Ritual propriety



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: Master You said It is a rare thingfor someone who has a sense of filial

(and fraternal responsibility xiaodi)

.to have a taste for defying authorityAnd it is unheard of for those who haveno taste for defying authority to be

.keen on initiating rebellion Exemplarypersons concentrate their efforts on,the root for the root having taken

, .hold the way will grow therefrom Asfor filial and fraternal, , ,responsibility it is I suspect the

(root of humaneness ren). [ . ]1 2


xiaoFilial piety



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, The Master said Wealth and honor are,what people want but if they are the

consequence of deviating from the way(dao), .I would have no part in them

Poverty and disgrace are what people,deplore but if they are consequence of

,staying on the way I would not avoid.them Wherein do the exemplary persons( )junzi who would abandon their

(humanness ren) warrant that name?

Exemplary persons do not take leave oftheir humaneness even for the space of a. ,meal When they are troubled they

,certainly turn to it as they do in. [ . ]facing difficulties 4 5


renHumaneness



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Lin Fang asked about the roots of observing(ritual propriety li). :The Master replied

! What an important question In observing,ritual propriety it is better to be modest; ,than extravagant in mourning it is better

to express real grief than to worry over. [ . ]formal details 3 4

Zilu asked how to serve the spirits and the. , gods The Master replied Not yet being able

,to serve other people how would you be able , to serve the spirits? Zilu said May I ask , about death? The Master replied Not yet

,understanding life how could you understand [ . ]death? 11 2


liRitual propriety

THE CONFUCIAN IDEALTHE CONFUCIAN IDEAL


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THE CONFUCIAN IDEALTHE CONFUCIAN IDEAL

junzi

Noble man or

The Perfect Gentleman

(Zigong asked about the exemplary persons junzi). :The Master replied , .They first accomplish what they are going to do and only then say it

[ . ]2 13: ;The Master said Exemplary persons cherish their excellence petty

. ;persons cherish their land Exemplary persons cherish fairness petty. [ . ]persons cherish the thought of gain 4 11

, ;The Master said Exemplary persons seek harmony not sameness petty

, , . [ . ]persons then are the opposite 13 23

xiaoren Petty or small person

THE CONFUCIAN ETHOSTHE CONFUCIAN ETHOS


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,herefore what was wrong with societyuring the Western Zhou and what had toe done?

THE CONFUCIAN ETHOSTHE CONFUCIAN ETHOS

.1 ,Ritual had become meaningless and concern forwealth and power became the foremost fixation of

.the elites

2..3 .Man has lost his Way There were a lot of xiaoren.

4.

.5 ,THEREFORE men must be mindful of ritual propriety.and filial piety Individuals must always

cultivate knowledge.6.

.7 .Society must be ruled like a family LaterConfucians would teach that the Emperor must be a

,father figure and the various provinces and

states would be loyal and supportive of the.Imperial Center


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: ,The Master said As a younger brother and son be;filial at home and deferential in the community be

cautious in what you say and then make good on your;word love the multitude broadly and be intimate with

.those who are humane If in so behaving you still have, .energy left use it to improve yourself through study

[ . ]1 2

: The Master said Lead the people with administrative,injunctions and keep them orderly with penal law and

they will avoid punishments but will be without a.sense of shame Lead them with excellence and keep

them orderly through observing ritual propriety and, ,they will develop a sense of shame and moreover will. [ . ]order themselves 2 3


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( )ang whiteMasculine

Warm

Tough

Day

Large

Assert

Stone

Confucius

( )in blackFeminine

Cool

Soft

Night

Small

Yield

Water

Lao Zi


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What is the Way?


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What is the Way?

The way that can be spokenof;Is not the constant way

The name that can be named.Is not the constant name [ ]1

The way conceals itself in.being nameless It is the

way alone that excels inbestowing and in

. [ ]accomplishing 41

The whole world recognizes the,beautiful as the beautiful yet this

;is only the uglythe whole world recognizes the good

, .as the good yet this is only the bad[ ]2

THE DAODEJINGTHE DAODEJING


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The whole world recognizes the beautiful,as the beautiful yet this is only the

;ugly the whole world recognizes the,good as the good yet this is only the.bad

Thus Something and Nothing produce each

;other The difficult and the easy

;complement each other The long and the- ;short off set each other The high and

;the low incline towards each other Note;and sound harmonize with each other.Before and after follow each other

Therefore the sage keeps to the deed

that consists in taking no action andpractises the teaching that uses no

. [ ]words 2




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, /Exterminate the sage discard the wiseAnd the people will benefit a

/ ,hundredfold Exterminate benevolence/discard rectitude And the people will/ ,again be filial Exterminate ingenuity/discard profit And there will be no

.more thieves and bandits

, ,These three being false adornments are/not enough And the people must have

something to which they can attach/themselves Exhibit the unadorned and

/embrace the uncarved block Have littlethought of self and as few desires as. [ ]possible 19




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The best of all rulers is but a shadowy/presence to his subjects Next comes

/the ruler they love and praise Next/comes one they fear Next comes one.with whom they take liberties

, When there is not enough faith there is

.lack of good faith

,Hesitant he does not utter words/lightly When his task is accomplished

/ ,and his work done The people all say. [ ]'It happened to us naturally 17




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/Govern the state by being straightforward/ Wage war by being crafty But win the

. /empire by not being meddlesome How do I

/know that it is like that? By means of.this

/The more taboos there are in the empire/The poorer the people The more sharpened/tools the people have The more benighted

/the state The more skills the people/ /have The further novelties multiply The/better known the laws and edicts The more

.thieves and robbers there are

/Hence the sage says I take no action and/the people are transformed of themselves I

prefer stillness and the people are/rectified of themselves I am not

meddlesome and the people prosper of/themselves I am free from desire and the

people of themselves become simple like the. [ ]uncarved block 57


THE DAOIST ETHOSTHE DAOIST ETHOS


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,herefore what was wrong with societyuring the Western Zhou and what had toe done?

.1 .Man has lost his balance The desire forunnatural things such as wealth and power create

.conflict among man

2..3 Man should be like the uncarved block and take.unattached action We are most powerful in our

.simplicity4.

.5 ,THEREFORE leaders must not interfere and be but a .shadowy presence to their subjects He must onlycreate an environment for them to be their true. .selves He leads by example


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THE CHINESE AXIAL AGETHE CHINESE AXIAL AGE


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( )XIAL AGE 800 200BCE( )Eastern Zhou 770 221BCE( Western Zhou 1027

)771BCE

Confucius( )551 479BCE

Lao Zi

Mencius( )370 290BCE

Xun Zi( )300 237BCE

Zuang Zi

( )370 301BCE SunTzu

Born during thechaotic Eastern

,Zhou periodChinese philosophywas primarily

preoccupied withrestoring social

.order and harmony

Qin

Han

Qin Shi Huang Diand the Legalists

Shang

Buddhism enters


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,Confucianism is like a solid land while

.Daoism is the free sky Only when we live in

.between can we get the endless mind When

Confucianism teaches us how to shoulder heavy

,responsibilities Daoism teaches us how to turn

.the heavy weight into total lightness

Yu Dan


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PART 3 HINDU RELIGION


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Asato Ma Sad GamayaTamaso Ma Jyotir Gamaya

Mrityor Ma Amritam Gamaya.Om Shanti Shanti Shanti

,Lead Us From the Unreal To Real,Lead Us From Darkness To Light

,Lead Us From Death To Immortality( )Aum the universal sound of God

.Let There Be Peace Peace Peace

:CLICK.LISTEN TO SOME RENDITIONS OF THIS CHANT
http://sirmartin.wordpress.com/2010/07/16/from-the-unreal-to-the-real/http://sirmartin.wordpress.com/2010/07/16/from-the-unreal-to-the-real/http://sirmartin.wordpress.com/2010/07/16/from-the-unreal-to-the-real/


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INDUS RIVER VALLEY CIVILIZATIONINDUS RIVER VALLEY CIVILIZATION


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.1 Indus River Valley Civilization spanned the.years 3300 to 1300BCE

.2

.3 ,In the absence of a translatable scriptdiscovery and study of Harappan cities

.pushed archaeology to its limits It was a.great success for the field.4.5 .The cities were complex for its time They

,manufactured bronze were ruled over by a, -priestly class and had a well developed

(drainage and sewage system the first for).its time


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NTER THE VEDIC AGENTER THE VEDIC AGE( )500 500BCE )500 500BCE

:THE VEDIC AGE The Aryan People:THE VEDIC AGE The Aryan People


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This period began with the entrance of the-semi nomadic and pastoral Aryansinto the

.Indus River Valley



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,n 1780 William Jones noticed a deep.imilarity between Sanskrit and LatinMeaning Sanskrit Latin

three trayas tres

seven sapta septem

father pitar pater mother matar mater

snake sarpa serpens

king raja regem

god devas divus

,The Aryans are credited with the spread and most, - .likely origin of the Indo European languages



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ryan social structure.

1

The Aryans had two basic: .divisions noble and common

.2

.3 - :The non Aryans comprised a third( ).the Dasas or Dravidian

.4

.5 A r a j aruled over a society withthe assistance of a Chief Priest

.and a circle of other ritualists.6.7 By the ( rahmanic Era 1000

)00BCE , the priests gained .enormous power and influence

:THE VEDIC AGE The Caste System:THE VEDIC AGE The Caste System


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The caste system is a ritualor piritualhierarchy(and may not represent economic or). physical or reality

Only the upper three castes can participate in, , .social political and religious life

The Brahmin were often at an advantage withtheir claim to exclusive knowledge of sacred

.texts

SAMPLES OF VEDIC TEXTSSAMPLES OF VEDIC TEXTS


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( ) shruti [ ]4 Vedas [ ]4 Sections heard Rig Veda Samhitas

Yajur Veda Brahmanas

Atharva Veda Aranyakas

Sama Veda Upanishads

( ) smriti [ ]2 types [ ]2 puranasremembered

puranas *Mahabharata

Dharmashastras Ramayana * contains Bhagavad

Gita



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,Thus a large segment ofsociety was far removed

from political and.religious life

Brahmin performed rituals

,and spoke about the godsbut these meant nothing to.the ordinary person

here was a need for ocialustice nd a path for therdinary person to achievee t h o s

THE HINDU AXIAL AGETHE HINDU AXIAL AGE


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( )XIAL AGE 800 200BCE

/BRAHMANIC AGE LATE VEDIC

( )VEDIC AGE began 1500BCE

Harappan Culture3300 to 1300BCE

Aryans enter1500BCE

UPANISHADS

Mahavira( )540 468BCE

Siddhartha Gautama( )566 486BCE

Indian religionemerged during the

Brahmanic age as a

reaction to the, ,exclusive abusive

and alienating waysof the Brahmin

.class

Caste system emerged

ACROSS AXIAL AGESACROSS AXIAL AGES


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he goal ofhinesephilosophy

To solve theproblems of ocialhaos as theyobserved during the

.Eastern Zhou

he goal ofndian religion

To argue for a moreccessible pirituality thatthey lacked during

.the Brahmanic age

&INDUISM BUDDHISM&INDUISM BUDDHISM


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ast facts about Hinduism (Third largest religion in the world about

).900 mil

.No distinct founder

.No single authoritative text .The cow is holy

!It has 330 million gods

:But all those gods just represent one.Brahman

: Lastly There is no such thing as Hinduism

AN INACCESSIBLE SPIRITUALITYAN INACCESSIBLE SPIRITUALITY


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THE UPANISHADSTHE UPANISHADS


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Literally means sittingdown near

A collection of, ,teachings speculations

,parables and poems

about the ature ofrealityandimmortality .One such story is that

of ddalaka and.vetaketu

THE UPANISHADIC IDEALTHE UPANISHADIC IDEAL


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Asato Ma Sad GamayaTamaso Ma Jyotir GamayaMrityor Ma Amritam Gamaya

.Om Shanti Shanti Shanti

Lead Us From the Unreal To,RealLead Us From Darkness To,Light

Lead Us From Death To,Immortality(Aum the universal sound of

)GodLet There Be Peace Peace

.Peace

he pursuit ofruth is most.mportant Don tsimply rely on what

.is told to you Find

.out on your own

.eek immortalityLive not so you can

,simply die but so

you can live.forever

TEACHINGS OF THE UPANISHADSTEACHINGS OF THE UPANISHADS


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.1 The supreme reality is B r a h m a n .

.2 ,The essence of all things a t m a n , .comes from Brahman

.3

(The world is impermanent and illusory m a y a

)..4 The soul is trapped in a cycle of birth and rebirth(s a m s a r a ).

.5 (The key to our release is in our actions k a r m a ).:olution 1ocial Responsibility

The performance ofd h a r m a ( )duty leads topositive karmaand a

person achieves merit forthe next life and couldbe reborn to a higher

.caste

:olution 2scetic Discipline,Since all action good or

,bad only leads to,further rebirth one can

choose to renounce allexistence to achievem o k s h a , the liberation

from samsara.


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So to escape the cycle of,birth and rebirth one must.choose between two paths

That of dharmaand moksha.

Is there a third path?

CALVIN ON EXPECTATIONSCALVIN ON EXPECTATIONS


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BUDDHISMBUDDHISM


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Dharma Seals.1 Dukkha (we can never be

)satisfied.2 Annica ( )the world is in flux.3 Annata (there is no soul or

)selfNoble Truths.1 .All life is suffering.2 Expectation from desire is

.the root of suffering.3 .Desire must be renounced.4 Renunciation can be

achieved by following the

- .noble eight fold path

BUDDHISMBUDDHISM


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he Noble Eight FoldPath

he Middle Way- .Buddhists practice moderation and non extremism They

.walk a path between austerity and indulgence

right viewsright resolvesright speechright conduct

right livelihoodright effortright recollectionright meditation r a c t i c e . i n d f u l n e s s

A DISCIPLINE OF THE MINDA DISCIPLINE OF THE MIND


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Buddhism was never.meant to be a religion

Teaching in the9th ,century Buddhist monk

,Linji wrote

hen you see the,uddha .ill the Buddha

THE SPREAD OF BUDDHISMTHE SPREAD OF BUDDHISM


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MAHAYANA BUDDHISMMAHAYANA BUDDHISM


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Emphasizes faith and beliefin the Buddha and the

virtues of the bodhisattva( ):future Buddha compassionand wisdom

Believes in bodhisattva

(exemplary humans who take)on divine qualities asobjects of worship to guide

people on their path

Believes in rebirth to aPure Land where one canattain Nirvana

-

THERAVADA AND VAJRAYANATHERAVADA AND VAJRAYANA


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(inayana lesser) /ehicle(heravada doctrine of)he elders

Focus is on individualsalvation and the importance

/of monastic ascetic life

(ajrayana diamondvehicle)r True Word SectStresses the importance of

a close relationship betweena guru and disciples(symbolized by the Dalai

)Lama


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PART 4 MONOTHEISM OF THE HEBREWS

WHAT WE VE DISCUSSED SO FAR WHAT WE VE DISCUSSED SO FAR


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( )Eastern Zhou 770 221BCE( Western Zhou 1027)771BCE


Confucius Lao Zi

The BuddhaUpanishads

HINESEPHILOSOPHYResponded to social

.chaos

INDU RELIGIONMade spirituality.accessible

THE HEBREW AXIAL AGETHE HEBREW AXIAL AGE


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Exile in Babylon


Saul

David

Solomon

( )JUDAH south

ISRAEL

( )north

:722BCE Assyriansinvade Israel

:586BCE Babyloniansinvade Judah

:539BCE Persians invade Babylo

Moses

MONOLATRY ROPHETIC REVOLUTION -OST EXILIC

MESOPOTAMIAMESOPOTAMIA


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MONOTHEISMMONOTHEISM


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Monotheism is the belief

.in one God

It is an idea that is,older than the Hebrews

but it is in them we see

the earliest and.clearest expression

,Moreover the Hebrew

traditions would pave,the way for Judaism.Christianity and Islam

THE HEBREW STORYTHE HEBREW STORY


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The Hebrews belong to the Semitic language group of. : ,people Other semitic people include Akkadians

, , , .Aramaeans Amorites Phoenicians and the early Arabs( = , )Semites son of Shem one of Noah s sons , ,Terah took his son Abram his grandson Lot

, - - ,son of Haran and his daughter in law Sarai,the wife of his son Abram and brought them,out of Ur of the Chaldeans to go to the land

. ( . : )of Canaan Gen 11 31

This suggests a migration of the Hebrew people from.Mesopotamia to Syria around 1900 to 1500BCE



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, .Around 1250BCE the Hebrews found a leader in MosesHis story would end in the forging of the Hebrew s

.covenant with Yahweh

hou shalt not have other gods before.eIn terms of ebrew religious development , this is

:the first major shift from polytheismtomonolatry .:Characteristics of monolatry

.1 transcendent theology

. , ,2 moral precepts rituals and tabus



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1050Invasion of the

Philistines

1025aul unites the tribesof Israel into one

kingdom

000 to 961Reign of David

.61 to 922 Reign of Solomon


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S l d i



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Solomon s demisefractured the kingdom

:into two ingdom of( )srael north andingdom of Judah( )outh .Relatively weak as a

,whole the kingdoms were.weaker apart

,In 722 Israel fell to. ,the Assyrians In 586Judah fell to the

.Babylonians



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HOMEWORKLook up one passage from any of the prophets during

:the Hebrew Axial Age which does any of the following

.1 Talks about the ethosof their society

.2 States a prophecy about the fate of Israel

.3 Comments on people s behavior

.4 , ,Sounds like something Confucius Lao Zi the, .Upanishads or the Buddha would say5.

. .Just bring one Write it down Prepare for graded.recitation

( ), , ,lijah Book of Kings Amos Hosea, ,saiah Jeremiah Ezekiel



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, ,I hate I despise your feasts and take no.delight in your solemn assembliesEven though you offer me your burnt offerings

, ,and cereal offerings I will not accept themand the peace offerings of your fatted beasts

.I will not look upon ;Take away from me the noise of your songs to.the melody of your harps I will not listen

,But let justice roll down like waters and

- .righteousness like an ever flowing stream

:Amos 5 21 24



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rophets in the Kingdomf Israel.lijah Challenged other cults

and announced the oneness and.indescribable nature of God

.mos God is righteous and will.judge all nations equally Amos

also preached about social.justice

.osea Prophesied that due to (Israel s infidelity idolatry and

), .sin Yahweh will send them away



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rophets in the Kingdomf Judah.saiah He was concerned with

the relationship between worship.and ethical behaviour Also spoke

against the nations that.threatened Judah

.eremiah Announced the comingjudgment of God the end of

everything He has done sincebringing them out of Egypt and

.the creation of a New Covenant

.zekiel Spoke of thedestruction and renewal of the

.Temple



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rophetic Revolution,As the kingdom of Israel was under threat a

new generation of preachers began to speak of.a new message

.1 -Thorough going monotheism

.2 God is righteous and just.3 He demands ethical behaviour1.THEREFORE : Teachings of justice and

compassion promoted social unity and cohesion.in a time of turmoil



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PSALM1371By the rivers of Babylon we sat and wept

.when we remembered Zion2 There on the poplars,we hung our harps

3 ,for there our captors asked us for songs;our tormentors demanded songs of joy

, " !"they said Sing us one of the songs of Zion

4

How can we sing the songs of the LORDwhile in a foreign land?5 , ,If I forget you O Jerusalem

.may my right hand forget its skill6 May my tongue cling to the roof of my mouth

,if I do not remember youif I do not consider Jerusalem

.my highest joy7 , ,Remember O LORD what the Edomites did

.on the day Jerusalem fell" ," ,Tear it down they cried" !"tear it down to its foundations

8 , ,O Daughter of Babylon doomed to destructionhappy is he who repays you



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-ost Exilic Age,Upon being liberated by the Persians in 539BCE the

.Israelites rebuilt the Temple of Jerusalem

- :Message of the Post Exilic Age.1 ,Eschatological doctrines or thoughts on the end of

.timeo The coming of a Messiaho econd Temple Judaism

,From the period of 515BCE to 70CE certaindevelopments emerged in Judaism that would affect the

:other Abrahamic faiths the authority of a sacred, ,text centrality of law and morality in religion the,synagogue and apocalyptic views of the future.

H O I l Th LORD G d th LORD i

SHEMA YISRAELSHEMA YISRAEL


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, : , .Hear O Israel The LORD our God the LORD is one

5 Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with.all your soul and with all your strength

6 These commandments that I give you today are to be.upon your hearts

7 .Impress them on your children Talk about them when,you sit at home and when you walk along the road when.you lie down and when you get up

8 Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on.your foreheads

9 Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on.your gates

: -Deuteronomy 6 4 9


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END INSIGHTS FROM THE AXIAL AGE

IN CONCLUSIONIN CONCLUSION


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EASTERN ZHOU WESTERN ZHOU


Confucius Lao Zi

The BuddhaUpanishads

HINESEPHILOSOPHYResponded to social

.chaos

INDU RELIGIONMade spirituality

.accessible

EBREW MONOTHEISM.United a people

PROPHETIC REVOLUTION -POST EXILIC AGE

CLOSING THOUGHTSCLOSING THOUGHTS


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The Axial Age was that period in humanhistory when the major religious traditions.emerged

Happened at around the same timeHappened around the same kind of place

Happened because of a crisis at thattime

,In solving the problems of their times theAxial Age sages dug deep. hey looked.nward They pushed us to the limits of our

,consciousness hence pushing the boundaries of.what was possible in society

=ethos ethics


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END OF PRESENTATION

Martin Benedict Perez 2010

SOME OF MY OWN INSIGHTSSOME OF MY OWN INSIGHTS


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.eligion is about ethics, . When you see the Buddha kill the Buddha

Buddhist Master Linji

,Once having been asked by the Pharisees,when the kingdom of God would come Jesus, "replied The kingdom of God does not come

,with your careful observation nor will, , ,people say 'Here it is ' or 'There it is '

.because the kingdom of God is within you( : - )Luke 17 20 21

SOME OF MY OWN INSIGHTSSOME OF MY OWN INSIGHTS


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.eligion is about ethics.thics shape society

nd society will alwayseave us with something.o think about

OVERTYOVERTY


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NDNDINEQUALITYNEQUALITY

NVIRONMENTALNVIRONMENTALDEGRADATIONEGRADATION

AR ANDAR ANDVIOLENCEIOLENCE

ELIGIOUSELIGIOUSINTOLERANCENTOLERANCEEAKEAK

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SS2 - Revolutions in Thought