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Movie: Home AloneElfThe Santa ClauseA Muppet Christmas Carol

ChristianityCults &

Religions

Yoga Poses

Yoga Poses

Eastern SpiritualityHinduism, Buddhism, and the New Age

Eastern Spirituality in America In 1893 Swain Vivekananda established a beachhead for

Hinduism in North America. Swain Vivekananda is credited with popularizing the Hindu philosophies

of Vedanta and Yoga in the “Western World.” In 1920, Paramahansa Yogananda founded The Self-Realization

Fellowship. Famous for his book Autobiography of a Yogi.

In 1965 the oriental exclusion act was done away with which lead to a larger numbers of Asian immigrants now entering the US.

In 1900 an estimated 1% of Americans believed in reincarnation. Today, roughly 25%.

In 2009, one-quarter of US adults expressed belief in one or more Eastern or New Age religious ideas, including yoga as “a spiritual practice” and “spiritual energy located in physical things” such as crystals.

As of 2007, Buddhism was the fourth-largest belief group in the United States.

Common Elements Pantheism – All is God

Everything in nature is godThe divine is everything and everything is

divine Reincarnation – Future lives Karma – Cause and effect Yoga and Meditation The idea of detachment

Hinduism Developed in India around 1,500 BC

The oldest of Eastern Religions and Originator of many common eastern ideologies.

No single founder or set of beliefs and tradition Hundreds of sacred scriptures, spanning from 1,500 BC to

AD 1,100 Four Vedas Upanishads Bhagavad Gita

A belief that god is in all and there are gods Pantheism and Polytheism Brahman – Atman

○ Brahman being the sum of everything.○ Atman being the individual.

33 Million gods

Hinduism (Continued) Salvation

Each soul is to eventually merge with Brahkma-Aman through thousands of reincarnations ○ This process is known as Samsara

This world (Maya) is an illusion 80% of all Hindus still reside in India Three major expressions:

Vaishnavism ○ Emphasizes the worship of Vaishna ○ Transcendental Meditation - His Holiness (H.H.) Maharism Manish

Yogi Friend of the Beatles

Shaivism○ Emphasizes the worship of Shaiva

Shakism○ Ephasizes the worship of Shaki, divine mother.

Buddhism Origins in the 4th Cen. BC by Shidehara Gautama No God is needed Hold to the Four Noble Truths 350 Million Buddhists today Sacred literature is “the three baskets” Three major sects of Buddhism:

Teravada○ “Path of the Elders”○ Munks

Mahayana ○ “Greater Vehicle”○ Found mostly in China, Korea, Japan, and Vietnam.

Vajrayana○ “Diamond Vehicle”○ A mystic form of Buddhism characterized by sexual exploits and folk magic.○ Found mostly in Tibet and Mongolia ○ Its figure head is the Dalai Lama

Shidehara Gautama Born to a royal family in 485 BC Lived a good life unlike most of the people who surrounded the

palace He made his way off palace grounds and saw “the Four Signs”

An old man A sick man A corpse An ascetic

It was after seeing these signs that he left his wife and new born child to go understand the world (this took 6 years)

It was during this time that he saw that neither extreme (poverty or wealth) as satisfying

At 35 he realized there was a middle way. For the rest of his life he that “the middle way”

Four Noble Truths The reality of suffering Ignorance is the cause of suffering Nirvana – Liberation 8 – fold path:

UnderstandingThoughtsSpeechActions LivelihoodEndeavor MindfulnessConcentration

New Age Movement Influenced by Hinduism and Buddhism, as well as

other Eastern Religions Influenced by transcendentalists

Transcendentalism – beyond experience but not knowledge.

Calculated renouncing of Orthodox Christian beliefs Emphasis on Pantheism

Relative truthIndividual autonomy – All paths lead to GodRejection of sin

No central leader or organization

New Age Movement (Continued) What’s the attraction?

Personal godhoodFreedom to exploreRejecting traditional religious approachesTechniques for enlightenment Physical healing

○ Alternative medicines ○ Holistic health

What does the Bible say? The one true God is

personal and distinct from his creationGen. 1; Rom. 1

Jesus is the unique redeemer I Tim. 2:5; Matt 7:13;

John 14:6 Reincarnation

undermines justiceHeb. 9:27

Resurrection not reincarnationJohn 5:28John 6:40Philippians 3:10

Christian meditation is about attachment to GodPsalm 48:9

Does and Don’ts Does

Do familiarize yourself with the basic teachings

Do ask questions Do be prepared to give

an answer Do share your personal

testimony Do encourage others to

read what the Bible says about Jesus

Don’ts Don’t be quick to

criticize your friend's religion

Don’t overlook potentially sensitive cultural factors

Don’t forget to pray faithfully

Tessa – Shana Grades – Logan

Carlita Harten (Surgery) - David

Prayer Requests

Quick Review

At the root of much of today’s “spirituality” is … an ancient religion.

a. Buddhism b. Hinduismc. Theravadad. Astrology

At the root of much of today’s “spirituality” is … an ancient religion.

a. Buddhism

b. Hinduismc. Theravadad. Astrology

True or False? In Buddhism, there is a creator behind the reality of the cosmos that explains it.

True or False? In Buddhism, there is a creator behind the reality of the cosmos that explains it. FALSE (In Buddhism, God is no needed. The Buddha taught that the pursuit of God is irrelevant and can hinder one’s quest for enlightenment.)

The New Age movement: Rejects sin as the ultimate cause of evil. Emphasizes personal autonomy. Accepts pantheism. (a) and (b) All of the above

The New Age movement:a. Rejects sin as the ultimate cause of

evil.b. Emphasizes personal autonomy.c. Accepts pantheism.d. (a) and (b)

e. All of the above

In eastern spiritual meditation, a person is seeking to …a. Pay for their sinsb. Vanishc. Be resurrectedd. Hear God

In eastern spiritual meditation, a person is seeking to …a. Pay for their sins

b. Vanishc. Be resurrectedd. Hear God

The Bible teaches that Jesus Christ alone is the … mediator between the one, holy God and sinful human beings.

The Bible teaches that Jesus Christ alone is the MEDIATOR mediator between the one, holy God and sinful human beings.

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