World Religion
Since prehistoric times, human beings have believed in the existence of a reality greater than themselves that serves as a definer and creator of cultures, and as an antidote to the fragility and apparent finality of human existence (Coogan 1998). Each major religion generally recognizes an individual founder responsible for essential aspects of the tradition. Moreover, sacred texts, such as the Ten Commandments of Judaism and Christianity, and the Noble Eightfold Path of Buddhism, are typically the essential principles upon which doctrine is based (Coogan 1998). Four major world religions are Buddhism, Hinduism, Judaism and Christianity. Encounters with the infinite that forbid worshiping anything finite is central to religions, as is showing compassion toward others and acting justly. For example, in Hinduism, Brahmin and Atman are not finite objects and are essentially indescribable. An individual attains the final goal, moksa, by recognizing that concern for one's own identity involves identifying with the identities of others. In other words, their responsibilities becomes one's own (Ruf 2005). In Buddhism, all finite objects and events are viewed as resting on "no-thingness," or Sunyata, and the acceptance of thi
However, bad deeds can cause rebirth into a lower level, such as an animal, or into a lifetime of suffering. s allows an individual to end cravings for power and comparative self-worth, which are believed to cause all suffering (Ruf 2005). Hindus organize their lives around particular activities (purusharthas), called the four aims of Hinduism, which include the pravritti, artha, kama, and nivritti (Robinson 2006). The Upanishads, Hindu sacred texts compsed around 600B. Hindus believe that human beings are caught up in a continuous cycle of life and death, with several possible routes to liberation. Buddhism takes its name from Siddhartha Gautama (556-486B. They echo the key Christian virtues of "humility, simplicity, an active desire for righteousness, purity of the heart, mercy, peacemaking, and a readiness to suffer persecution for the Christian faith" (Coogan 1998). At the heart of Christianity lies the belief in an eternal life after death. Hinduism has no single founder, creed, teacher, or prophet as central to the religion, and no single holy book is universally acclaimed as being of primary importance (Coogan 1998). Each of the four Vedic collections, Rig Veda, Sama Veda, Yajur Veda, and Atharva Veda, comprises hymns and ritual treatises, together with Aranyakas and Upanishads, philosophical works composed in 600B. Hinduism consists of "thousands of different religious groups that have evolved in India since 1500B.
Common topics in this essay:
Eightfold Path,
Supper Eucharist,
Transmigration Soul,
Brahmin Atman,
Writings Ketuvim,
Bhagavad Gita,
North America,
Upanishads Hindu,
East Coogan,
Blessed Coogan,
coogan 1998,
robinson 2006,
ruf 2005,
life death,
coogan 1998 christians,
jesus christ,
eightfold path,
noble eightfold,
1998 christians,
noble truths,
sacred texts,
noble eightfold path,
robinson 2006 hindus,
humankind coogan 1998,
coogan 1998 hinduism,
|
Acceptance Essays
