My mid term and final answers are here. i inserted the postings in this section and in the lower section. .WORLD RELIGION FINAL FALL 2001, MSAC, PROF. DIEM
Wayne Welde (DADSTR4)
My website is: https://members.tripod.com/dadstr4/
DEDADSTER@AOL.COM
ONE IS DONE
2. BABA FAQIR CHAND SINGH BOYS
Charan Singh, his Grandson Huzar Sawan Singh and Baba Faqir Chand were all masters of Surat Shabd Yoga, the way of sound and light.
The book, THE ENCHANTED LAND, describes the philosophies of several different Hindu Guru Masters. The journey into the different levels of the inner region are based on the writings of these Radhasoami Masters.
The question of how Faqir Chand and Sawan Singh differ is not clear in the text of the book. I read the biographies and the chapter on the journey several times and could not come up with any significant differences. In THE JOURNEY, a description of the second region includes a reference to Faqir Chand as being a radical teacher in the Radhasoami movement but makes no comparison of his ideals to the Singhs mentioned above.
There does seem to be a difference in their view or definition of Sat Purush. The best I can figure on these two interpretations is that Chand defines reaching Sat Purush as seeing the highest light and hearing the sound. Charan Singh states that Sat Purush is not some mysterious god which is vastly greater than our limited selves. Rather, it is, in the most profound sense, our very beings.
( I hope this wasnt one of the easier questions)
3. Ramana Maharshi and Yogini Mataji.
Ramana Maharshi and Yogini Mataji have very similar basis for their philosophies in the area of transcendental meditation. They both see the journey within the inner self as a basis for enlightenment. Out of body experiences were a part of their journeys into the inner planes.
Their philosophies of teaching though, take different directions. Mataji is more mechanical in her description of the experience. She explains that different steps that are necessary to follow for the journey within. She explains the process of meditation and gives examples of three steps so that the soul will be able to go back to its original home.
She goes on to say that on the journey the soul must be guided by a true master so as not to be detained in any of the lower illusory regions. She gives the key to the journey, especially for the author, as love of God. To be so devoted to ones Lord that nothing can stand in the way this and nothing else is the truth of Sant Mat.
Mataji seems to have a social outlook on life, living in a temple and enjoying smoking cigarettes. Maharshi lives in seclusion and maintains a very fundamentalist view of his beliefs.
The author sums up Matajis philosophy by stating instead of seeing god in one form, Mataji sees god in every form.
Maharshis transcendentalism is described as a one step journey into his profound conscious trance. Instead of following love as a path to God, proclaims that the world arises in a field of Consciousness. That very Consciousness is our true self. He goes on to explain that this all-pervading being is the creator, sustainer and destroyer of the illusionary ego, the small I which binds man to his true self.
He seems to go further or deeper into philosophical thought than Mataji. His thinking compares a persons waking senses to the consciousness of all. He states the awareness (of yourself) is itself the I. Realize it and that is the truth.
4. HINDUISM VS BUDDHISM
Both Buddhism and Hinduism are what we in the west usually refer to as Indian Mysticism. They are both based on philosophies for improving the inner self and include the doctrines of karma and rebirth. Upon closer inspection it becomes evident that their approaches are quite different.
Buddhism is more of a philosophy than a religion. There is no god to worship, only a philosophy of living. This philosophy is much simpler than those found in most other major religions.
The teachings of Buddha revolve around a central tenant known as the four noble truths. The first three of these truths address human pain and suffering, the source of the unsatisfactoriness in our lives, a way to overcome the thirst and ignorance we experience. The fourth truth is an eight-part package or path of self-cultivation. The eight parts are divided into three groups that address morality, concentration, and insight.
The web site I used for them gave an interesting summation of the four noble truths. The philosophy was to acknowledge that a problem of Dukka exists, find the source, state that a solution is possible, and prescribe the solution.
Hinduism is quite a bit more complex than Buddhism. It does not have a single founder. It is described as both monotheistic and polytheistic and Trinitarian. The best I could figure from the sources I read is that they believe in one supreme god but the diverse interpretations of many of their ancient writings leave room for the worship of other gods and goddesses who are facets or manifestations of the supreme God. Many sects have developed over the centuries, each dedicated to a specific deity. One overview I read described Hinduism as consisting of thousands of different religious groups that have evolved in India since 1500 BCE.
Hinduism has a vast supply or history of scriptures that have developed from a variety of sources over the eons. The discussions I have read indicate most of the interpretations of Hinduism expound on the cosmic attributes of the Divine.
One of the most profound differences I noticed between the two religions was the attitude toward the caste system. Buddhist philosophy is to strive to improve your personal situation in life. Hinduism seems to indicate you are born into a position based on the karma from previous life experiences. If you are born an untouchable then live with it and hope for a better set of parents in the next go around!
A BIT OF BUDDHIST HUMOR:
A short conversation between Dan Bammes and Meng:
Dan: A Buddhist teacher taught that every other living creature is our parent in one of our past lives.
Meng: Similarly, every other living creature owes me money in a past life.
5. COMPARE AND CONTRAST THE LIFE/WORK OF BUDDHA AND MAHAVIRA OF JANISM
The Buddha (nee Prince Sadism) and Mahavira (nee Vardhamana) were, as the stories go, both born into royal families and lived opulent lives in their early years. The hagiography tells us they both performed unusual feats from the time of birth. It seems that they were walking and talking before their umbilical cords were dry!
At about the age of thirty they both experienced what we might call mid life crises that caused them to shift their beliefs and begin a Janistic self-renunciation that was a total opposite from their earlier lifestyles. They took on a totally ascetic existence, denouncing their wealth, fasting and seeking the true God through extreme simplicity and peacefulness.
One difference in their lives came about when Buddha realized he was on the wrong path. He came to believe that pain and suffering were a part of life. He developed a very practical attitude in his quest for nirvana. One site I read described that Buddhist thinking tends in the direction of what we call PRAGMATISM. The value of a thought is to be judged by what you can do with it, by the quality of the life which results form it. Buddhas teachings didnt include the worship of God. He taught to release beings from suffering, and speculations concerning the origin of the universe are to be held immaterial to that task.
Mahavira continued his ascetic life begging for food and at one point reportedly shunning even the wearing of clothes. After wandering and suffering for thirteen years he finally attained nirvana and the highest awareness called kevala, or absolute knowledge. After attaining this omniscience he began to acquire followers and converts from other religions.
Both men developed a wide following and strong leaders spread their teachings after they died. Mahavira had a succession of disciples who attained Kevala and these men were instrumental in spreading his teachings. King Ashoka, several centuries after Buddha first made Buddhism into a world religion and spread it through the length and breadth of India, brought it to Ceylon, Kashmir and Gandhara, and even sent mission to the Greek princes of his time.
6. VIVEKANANDA IN INDIAN RELIGION
Vivekananda was an advocate of a practical or applied Vedanta, A Hindu philosophical system. He regenerated Hindu self-confidence in the context of European political dominance among Indias educated elite. (Encarta online Encyclopedia). This took place around the turn of the last century. A number of popular ideas about the relationship between Eastern Spirituality and Western materialism can be traced back to him. For example, he preached that India must learn science from the west and the west must study Indian spiritualism. (Ditto).
His teachings were a form of the Vedanta philosophy. According to one biographer he exhorted his nation to spiritual greatness, he awakened India to a new national consciousness.
Vivekananda brought a new way to interpret the Vedanta. His teachings offered a hint of Buddhism in that he stressed, Moral social action based on Advaitin religious philosophy which stresses knowledge of ones position in gods eyes rather than bhakti (blind devotion) to God. (Ditto)
In one of his lectures Vivekananda tells us to work, constantly work, enjoy, dont be enjoyed, rule but dont be ruled. He also adds that The man who never loves.escapes also its joys.
He sums up the lecture with:
There is no misery where there is no want. Desire, want, is the father of all misery. Desires are bound by the laws of success and failure. Desires must bring misery.
7. WHAT IS THE SOCIAL FUNCTION OF RELIGION?
Tough question, considering our country is in the early stages of what may be an elongated religious war!
After reviewing chapter five in How Scholars Study the Sacred and reading an article on Islamic radicals in this weeks US news and World Report, I would start off my answer by stating that it depends on the culture involved. Initially it is hard for me to not take an ethnocentric approach but reviewing some of the course material got my mind back on track. Having recently taken a course in cultural anthropology I have had a chance to look at the living practices of many diverse peoples. One thing that most of the established cultures had in common was a cohesive belief or religion. Taking a brief look at different cultures does not show how the different beliefs or religions developed but it does give an indication of the universality of religions.
The ancient Roman and Greek civilizations had gods they worshipped. I read some of their histories but I cant remember and references to what Simmel might call inner-worldly attitudes.
From a modern perspective, especially in light of the recent terrorist attacks, I would give credence to Max Webers argument that religious ideology can in itself act as an instrument for social change. The strong actions of the Islamic radicals and the social upheavals in Afghanistan are a good example of this. Watching a film about the harsh treatment of women under the Taliban regime is certainly not a positive look at religion.
On the positive side, I believe religion, whether it be the extremes of fundamental Janis asceticism or the C & E crowd who show up twice yearly at US churches, or all the levels of practice in between is people personally experience inner-world asceticism. I believe the social values that most religions offer a society or culture are essential in what Weber called a powerful soured of social change.
8. MEMETIC THEORY
This is the theory that thoughts, ideas, and stories that have meaningful effects on a group of people or a culture are perpetuated. This is usually a positive influence and has been compared to the development of religions.
Rereading the chapter on memetic theory gave me two ideas on its relationship to two major religions. These two are Christianity and Hinduism.
The memetic theorem that ideas and beliefs are passed on because of the love/fear criteria can be seen in the effects of the development of western culture after the invention of movable type. Christian doctrine has been verbally passed on through a history of ministers and missionaries but the protestant reformation began partly because bibles and other books became increasingly available. Conversely the memes of Christianity became increasingly available during this period.
Another factor is modern mass media. The article mentioned mass media as having a bearing on the spread of religion in America. I can remember my parents watching Orel Roberts doing tent healing and the Billy Graham crusades on TV.
The other idea I garnered from the memetic theory had to do with the development of Hinduism and other eastern religions. Their beginnings are based on old or ancient teachings. The meme effect I saw in the development of Hinduism had to do with the long progression of different Gurus, Swamis, and Sages who, through their individual enlightenments, amended and/or revitalized the teachings into what they are today. This process of the evolution of Hinduism seems consistent with the meme theory.
9. HOW WOULD NIETZSCHE EXPLAIN THE RISE AND FALL OF NEW RELIGIONS
According to Nietzsche, after his announcement of nihilism and the death of God, the demise of one belief would, because of the nature of man, be instead merely the evolution of a new religion built on the history of the old. He was correct that a god of nihilism would emerge but the world also got new forms of Christianity.
I believe Nietzsche had a strong ethnocentric view of religion as western Christianity. He only referenced the God of medieval times. Wasnt the science and Cultural Revolution he talked about relevant to the historic changes in the religions tied in with eastern mysticism?
10. HOW ECKANKAR IS SIMILAR/DISSIMILAR TO RADHASOAMI
ECKANKAR RADHASOAMI
Radhasoami is one of the Indian religions that has developed a strong following in America. Paul Twitchell became a follower of Radhasoami and was initiated into that religion in 1955. Twitchell wrote a book, THE TIGERS FANG, outlining some basic differences or interpretations he had developed concerning the tenets of Radhasoami. He sent a copy of his manuscript to his master, Kirpal Singh, in India. A difference of opinion developed between the two and Twitchell began advertising Eckankar: The Ancient Science of Soul Travel.
One of the tenets of Radhasoami is that the members worship the Guru as a living master of God incarnated on earth. The Eckankars, under Twitchells leadership, hold their leaders in high regard but do not see them as a God. This diversity in doctrine has to do with Twitchells differentiation between an outer and inner master. The inner master is held to be a direct link to the infinite while the outer master is a human vehicle, replete with its limitations.
Another difference between Eckankar and the traditional Radhasoami practiced by Kirpal Singh had to do with how they achieved our of body experiences. In the Radhasoami meditation practice, emphasis is placed on achieving out of body experiences while one is conscious. The chief method that Twitchell soul traveled was by sleeping and having dreams. I wonder where Timothy Leary would fit into this group!
Twitchell was more middle of the road in most of his other interpretations of traditional Radhasoami doctrine. These differences included non-vegetarianism and numerous nuances in meditation procedures. It is possible that this more liberal approach is the catalyst that has made Eckankar the fastest growing eastern religion in America.
11. COMPARE/CONTRAST THE ETHICAL OR MORAL RULES OF BUDDHISM WITH THOSE FOUND IN SIKKISM
One significant moral contrast between Sikhism and Buddhism is the way the two religions address militancy. The Sikhs have a militaristic history, probably due to their frequently being oppressed. As a part of their ceremonial dress they carry a sword (often symbolically) to represent their willingness to defend the Sikh people in light of aggression. A good example of this militancy was the assassination of Indira Ghandi by her Sikh guards in retaliation for her attack on one of their temples.
Buddhism stressed virtues like restraint and compassion toward every creature. The teachings of Buddha were based on his belief that pain and suffering were a part of life. The impression I got in this comparison is that a Buddhist will turn the other cheek and a Sikh will cut your head off.
The Sikhs believe in God as a transcendental reality that they try to get closer to through meditation. Buddhists allow there is a God but their ultimate goal of nirvana that is described as permanent, stable, imperishable, immovable, ageless, deathless, unborn and unbecome.
Similarities between the two religions include the use of transcendental meditation as a source of personal enlightenment. While the social outlooks of their basic beliefs are different, the seeking of inner peace is a common attribute.
12. GARY OLSEN
Gary Olsen was the younger brother of Jimmy Olsen, Supermans friend and a co-worker of Clark Kent at the Daily Planet Newspaper.Oops, wrong memic daydream.
Gary Olsen is the founder of MASTERPATH, a spinoff of the Eckankar branch of Radhasoami. His teachings follow or parallel Eckankars in most main areas. These include dreaming as a road to spiritual progress, using the hu chant, charging money for initiations, and the veiling of their indebtedness to Radhasoami doctrine.
One difference in the teachings is Olsens attempt to present Eckankars version of shabd yoga without the admixture of other non related new age thought.
13. KARMA AND AHIMSA
The connection between karma and reincarnation, from a Hindu perspective, has to do with how you live your life. Hindus believe that strict adherence to their beliefs and orthodox practices will give you good karma. This good karma (action) in conjunction with dharma (dedication to your calling) will affect your life in your next incarnation.
One of the orthodox tenets of Hinduism is abstaining from killing animals. This ties in with their common practice of vegetarianism. Not all Hindus are vegetarians but meat eating and killing are not synonymous. Few of us have killed a chicken or a pig any other animal that we eat.
A good example of the relationship between karma and ahisma (nonviolence) is a situation that took place under Mahatmas Gandhi. Gandhi had encountered both poisonous snakes and rabid dogs. He alienated some of the orthodox Hindus by mandating the killing of some animals for humanitarian purposes. There is always room for debate over the interpretation of strict rules. I have heard of orthodox Jews debating whether switching on a light is considered work on their Sabbath.
This brings up an interesting point. At what point in a Hindus practice of his religion does he qualify himself for good karma? What is the dividing line between being reborn as an untouchable or a noble prince? Use the force Luke!
14. NOTES ON MY FIELD TRIP TO LITTLE INDIA
One of the most interesting experiences of the trip had to do with the cultural differences we noticed in the people we encountered in the restaurant and stores we visited. The food in the restaurant was pleasantly spicy and we sampled many different dishes. The Indian people in the restaurant, both workers and ethnic customers, seemed like one big happy family. They hugged when they were greeting each other in a close manner that is practically unheard of in most American situations outside of immediate family. One man, possibly the proprietor of the restaurant, went from table to table hugging the Indian guests. In our society a table hopper would chat and seldom get more familiar than a warm handshake.
We did some browsing and shopping in a few Indian stores. We were the lone customers in most of these. We did run into a lot of Indian shoppers in a local food mart specializing in eastern foods. The situation here was noticeably similar to what we had encountered in the restaurant. There was a group of people at the checkout area who seemed to be constantly greeting the customers in the same familial way. When we left with our purchases I commented to my wife that I didnt know whether to be relieved or insulted that I wasnt hugged by the checkout girl!
1. Charles W. Welde
2. Dadstr4 and Dadstr04 (web site: https://members.tripod.com/dadstr4/.)
3. Here are my postings in reverse order: 548, 547, 546, 545, 516, 515, 466, 453, 446, 397, 396, 311, 291, 286, 262, 258, 174, 166, 165, 164, 108
My MWR essaays are posted here.
ENCHANTED LAND
Weekone - The Journey
I found the reading very insightful into the realm of transcendentalism. I found myself constantly comparing Christianity to the experiences of the different Gurus. The detailed journeys they took to the different levels of "inner travel" were hard for me to comprehend for someone who believes in a god who is all seeing. I was also wondering where the visions of a seer like Edgar Cayce (who died in 1945) would compare to eastern mysticism.
I also had a bit of trouble with their concept of KARMA. The author did express that that the concept of Karma was one of the least understood concepts of eastern mysticism. In his conclusion he reiterated (sic) that we cannot know what our Karma is or what may be in store for us. The part I have trouble with is, for example, a three-year-old child with an inoperable brain tumor. Where did this child sin? Was a child born blind suffering the sins ofhis parents?
C. Wayne Welde
The URL for the website I used to read about Hinduism and Karma is:
http://www.karamsad.com/karma.htm
There were several others under the search "HINDUISM KARMA" thatalso offered interesting reading.
FAQUIR SAGE
The autobiography of the Sage FAQUIR is a story about a manwho, as a youth, struggled between secular influences and a seeking of innerpeace through Hindu scripture and transcendental practices. He also had strong ties to his culture andfamily customs.
His plight seems tame by American cultural standards. Wow! He drank rum THREE times in six months! No frat parties for this lad. His culture pressured him to follow family practices i.e. his arrangedmarriage.
His two vivid descriptions of family situations concerninghis eating of meat are hilarious but touching. It seemed like his family customs restricted him from becomingemotionally autonomous.
This part of the story reminded me of a situation that tookplace when I was working in my first summer job after high school. One of my coworkers was a Muslim named Mohammed Afsau. A group of us werehaving lunch at a restaurant famous for its many varieties of hot dogs. During the meal Mohammed got a funny look on his face and cried out oh my god I have eaten pork! He then turned pale, stood and abruptly upchucked all over the table. As in some of Faqirs situations, just the thought of violating your beliefs can induce an immediate and intense reaction.
It appears that his goal in life was to attain the highest possible levels or stages of Sant Mat and follow the teachings of Gurus such as Data Dayal. Even with his strong spiritual bent he encounters a midlife emotional crisis over his human desires. It is like he is trying to be humanly perfect instead of perfectly human.
In his conclusion he explains the results of his life long research. This includes his surrendering to the cycles of transmigration and his apparent victory over his human desires.
C. Wayne Welde >DEDADSTER@AOL.COM
An interesting story about Ramayana can be found at:
http://www.hssworld.org/all/Ramayanainne/Ramayanainne.htm
NIETZSCHE IS DEAD..GOD
Or so the graffiti goes. Or, did God, from a Christian point of view, simply morph into a deity suitable for 21St. century believers? As cultures change, so do the beliefs of its members. Thirty years ago being homosexual was considered a serious sin in nearly all Christian denominations and sects. Thirty years ago I was a redneck bigot but have gradually learned to look someone in the eye and see a person instead of a color or stereotype. Perhaps I have simply matured into a higher state of consciousness.
Oops, I am gong off on a tangent here.
One point that reading our course material brought to my mind came from my earlier studying of Philosophy. This point was being able to discern the difference between blind faith and belief. Belief allows room for doubt.
One doubt, or question, I found myself pondering is Will studying world religion make me an agnostic?
Time will tell
For an interesting look at agnosticism go to:
http://www.infidels.org/library/modern/h_j_blackham/agnostic.html
C. Wayne Welde DEDADSTER@AOL.COM
OUR LOOK AT HINDUISM
The overview of the history of Hinduism (or Santana / Vaidika Dharma) was enlightening. As I read through the material I constantly compared the many historical cultural and theological changes in Hinduism to the transitions Christianity has gone through in the Common Era. I felt that any person in the world with a longing for religion could easily adopt either Hindu ritualism or Christian hagiography. A good example of this was the quotation from Mahatma Ghandi These temples are the visible symbols of Gods power and authority. They are therefore, truly called the houses of God, the houses of prayer. This could easily be a line from a Baptist, Methodist or Presbyterian Sunday Sermon.
The descriptions and definitions of Hinduism in the overview show Eastern Mysticism in a much different light than the comedic Beatle movie HELP.
The long and varied evolution of Hinduism is also consistent with the Wilberian analysis of the development of religions and the memic relationship of the stages of human development. I was also intrigued by the many philosophies practiced by the historical figures mentioned in the overviews. The varied interpretations of the basic Hindu Doctrines were hard for me to comprehend but appeared to be a good example of the infinite number of personal practices the religion offers.
A good website for a summary of the history of Hinduism can be reached at:
http://info.netscape.com/fwd/nrpuswscwsc/http://www.hindutwa.com
This website, according to its own admission, is recommended by the World Book Encyclopedia.
C. Wayne Welde DEDADSTER@AOL.COM
THE BHAGAVAD GITA
Each chapter of the book appeared to reveal a different aspect of Krishnas outlook on life and the world. The most interesting example of this for me was chapter two which has echoes of the (supposed) motives of the World Trade Center suicide teams. Arjuna is faced with a dilemma similar to those terrorists (warriors?) who expect to kill and die.
In this second chapter Arjuna debates the ethics of fighting and killing in an upcoming battle with the Dhritaraashtra. Arjuna ponders the possible grief he might feel over having killed, even in a justified situation. He states that it would be better, indeed, to live on alms in this world than to slay these noble gurus, because, by killing them I would enjoy wealth and pleasures stained with (their) blood.
Krishna answers his prayer by talking at length about the effects of continued existence through reincarnation. He explains that people are not killed, only their bodies. Their souls (Atma) are indestructible. He uses several examples to reinforce this point. One of these examples is Just as a person puts on new garments after discarding the old ones, similarly Atma acquires new bodies after casting away the old bodies
Krishna appears to sum up his advice to Arjuna by saying: You will go to heaven if killed, or you will enjoy the earth if victorious. Therefore, get up with a determination to fight, O Aruna. He also adds: By doing your duty this way you will not incur sin.
One facet of killing someone (or just their body) that is overlooked in the interchange between Arjuna and Krishna is the effects a death have on the family and friends of the recently departed Atma. Perhaps it is not a sin to send someone to a better reward but what about his widow and children who will suffer the loss?
Even as a Christian who hopes to go to heaven when I die, it is difficult to understand this doctrine.
An interesting translation of the Gita is available at:
http://eawc.evansville.edu/anthology/gita.htm
WAYNE WELDE DEDADSTER@AOL.COM
SCHOLARS STUDY
The question of how and why we might study religion is a fascinating topic. It is like a person who has been playing football for many years finally sitting down and reading about the rules and history of the game. This person would learn a lot of new rules plus gain insight into how and why they were developed.
How many dimensions are there to football? Would an athletes study of a sport equate to a theologians look at religion? Would a person studying sports in general view the football rulebook differently?
What about the idea of where sports are heading? Some sports, like soccer, have grown in worldwide popularity over the past few decades. Teams from hundreds of countries vie for a spot in the world cup finals. Other sports like badminton, once an Olympic competition, have faded into obscurity. When is the last time you hit a shuttlecock?
Is the upstart arena football like a sect? Arena Football started out as a breakaway from our fall classics by playing indoors in the spring with amended rules. The number of professional teams in the sport has grown in the past two years. Studies are being made into the feasibility of making it an official NCAA sport for smaller colleges. What cultural influences will be necessary for its survival?
Some people might say about religion Who cares while others, after looking at a new sport, might say to themselves, I couldnt play regular football but this sport is something I could get in to
It is all food for thought!
There is a fairly new religion called Bahai that, by its doctrine, combines all of the worlds major religions. You can get an overview of it at:
http://www.mideastinfo.com/Religion/bahai.htm
C. Wayne Welde DEDADSTER@AOL.COMSCH
MOVIE REVIEW; LITTLE BUDDAH
Little Buddha was a very entertaining movie that had a dual theme. The main theme concerned a group of Tibetan Monks who believed an eight-year-old boy living in Seattle was the reincarnation of one of their leaders who had died exactly one year before the boy was born.
The second theme was a biography of prince Sidata (sic) who became the Buddha, or enlightened one, as an adult.
The monks were drawn to the house of Jesse, the eight year old, by a dream one of them had. The coincidence of his birth date fueled their belief that he was their masters reincarnation. They befriended Jesses parents and eventually invited Jesse and his father to Katmandu for further observation.
This story line is interspersed with biographical inserts about the life of prince Sidata. The apex of the story about the prince appears to occur when discovers pain and suffering. He begins to follow a group of Sages. After a time he comes to believe that the group of mystics he has been following have been living too strict of an existence. He begins to believe the mystical doctrine should be more humanistic. He uses an analogy of a sitar string. If the string is drawn too taught it will break and if left too loose will make no music. The movie ends with the monks accepting Jesse and two other children as co-incarnations of the old master.
C. Wayne Welde DEDADSTER@AOL.COM
SIKHISM
Sikhism is the most interesting of the religions I have read about so far in this class. My interest was enhanced by the comparison of the background of the Sikh doctrine to the history of the Punjab region. As I read the different chapters and hymns I was constantly comparing the development of the Sikh religion to the origins of Christianity. The change from oral to written doctrine by Gorbind Singh is similar to the teachings of Jesus being recorded into the four gospels after Christs ascension.
Another analogy goes to the root of both religions. According to the article, the Sikh Doctrine is based on earlier Sant beliefs and practices. Jesus quoted many Hebrew Scriptures, especially from the prophet Elijah, to support his ministry.
I also looked at the themes of the selected hymns in the appendix. I tried to find comparisons between these, the Psalms of David and the kingdom of God parables in the New Testament. I found some consistencies.
The majority of the psalms are cries for Gods comfort or protection from enemies. They are mostly inconsistent with the Sikh Hymns in that they are frequently militaristic and reflect the many hard times in Daviss life and leadership. He frequently asks for the swords and arrows to protect him from his enemies.
One similarity I noticed was between the Sikh Hymns and the Psalms of David were in the Hymn of Namdev in appendix one and Psalm 42. They both compare the authors thirst for water and his thirst for god.
Making comparisons between the Sikh hymns and the New Testament Parables was a bit more complex. Most of the parables describe how a person can become a part of the kingdom of god. The Sikh Hymns appear to be praises of God and descriptions of the feelings of peace drawn from loving god. The contrast here is that a good Christian expects to go to heaven when he dies while the Sikhs believe in reincarnation.
I found several web sites that enhanced the brief history of the Sikh Religion offered in the assigned reading. One of these was a brief biography of Guru Nanak which included a more detailed description of the founding of Sikhism. This site is available at:
http://encarta.msn.com/index/conciseindex/AB/0ABCC000.htm?z=1&pg=2&br=1
Another interesting site that I STRONGLY recommend is titled ALL ABOUT SIKHS. This site has a long list of subjects available concerning the religion and the people. One of these topic areas is a section of biographical notes on approximately thirty prominent Sikh women including Mata Tripta, the mother of Guru Nanak. The URL for this site is:
http://www.allaboutsikhs.com/home.htm
Wayne Welde DEDADSTER@AOL.COM
WHY I DONT EAT FACES
en I read an article with such a strongly stated argument as this one it difficult to have a reaction other than to agree or disagree. To not take a side on the argument would be like saying I was bored and uncaring over the subject material.
I disagree with Lanes arguments. I enjoy a good prime rib and have no concern about the fate of the bull that (not who) died for my dinner. The bull wasnt a he in my perspective, it was an it.
Lanes analogy of comparing humans to other primates is a bit extreme. I dont know anyone who has ever eaten monkey or gorilla meat. I have eaten snapping turtle and rattlesnake and found the meat to be very edible if cooked properly. Lane also gets long winded about the central nervous systems of animals. Crustaceons like lobster and crawfish dont have nerve endings that would allow them to feel pain.
Whether or not to be an omnivorous or a vegetarian is a personal decision. I was raised in the country where animals were considered a part of the herd or flock and not individuals. When I went hunting in the fall I wasnt out to get Bambi. We hunted for sport and to bring home the bacon. Eating meat has a different perspective when you have not only killed the animal but field dressed it, skinned it and cut it up by hand.
I laughed when lane described stabbing a cow and then chasing it to get a cut of meat. Wouldnt it have been easier to kill (or slaughter) the animal first? He also makes a comment about some species that have been hunted to extinction. If everyone in the world stopped eating meat most of the domestic animals, the majority of which do not exist in the wild, would for the most part disappear! People would be taking their children to the zoo to see the lions, elephants, milk cows and chickens.
I have every respect to someone who becomes (or is) a vegetarian because of religious or cultural influences. Lane seemed to have become a vegetarian because he was bulimic and his brother made fun of his picking at the KFC!
I tried to find websites on the internet about people who are omnivorous. Most of the hits I was able to find were those of vegetarians. One site that weighs both sides of the issue is:
http://www.beyondveg.com/billings-t/comp-anat/comp-anat-toc8.shtml
I also found a site that offers an interesting view of meat eating. This is a bit tongue in cheek.
http://www.bio.umass.edu/biology/kunkel/cockroach_faq.html
Thank you, Wayne Welde DEDADSTER@AOL.COM.
Wh
LITTLE INDIA Great restaurant review!
I took my wife for a brief shopping trip and lunch on the Pioneer Blvd. Portion of Little India in Artesia. We enjoyed window-shopping and were fascinated at the jewelry displayed in the numerous small stores.
We went into a small Indian food market and browsed around a bit. My wife, a gourmet cook, pointed out several differences in how their spices were prepared. The dried pepper and corn flour were ground very fine. Most of us are used to rough ground pepper and cornmeal. We bought two bags of balsamic rice that were on sale.
We asked the cashier at the food store about a good restaurant she could recommend. She suggested the ASHOKA on the next block on Pioneer.
We found the atmosphere quiet and the walls were decorated with authentic art and frescoes. We looked at the menu but decided to try the lunch buffet. The selection was very appetizing. We each filled our plates with a variety of meats and fried appetizers.
I ordered hot tea and my wife ordered a mango lassi, mango blended in coconut milk. Very delicious. My tea was served English style in a cup with milk already in it.
The appetizers included vegetable samosa, which is a lightly spiced turnover, stuffed with potatoes and peas. These looked something like a large Chinese stuffed dumpling. We also tried the vegetable pakoras, assorted fried vegetable fritters.
The tandoor chicken was very delicately seasoned and tender. Tandoor chicken is traditionally baked in an earthenware crock that is supposed to keep it from drying out. The samples we tried were done to perfection.
Other dishes we sampled were goat curry in a brown sauce, chicken curry in a curried au-jus type sauce both of we dipped onto our plates over a fluffy basmati rice pilaf.
The meal included naan, a tasty thin bread similar to a leavened flour tortilla.
We tasted a few desserts including a delightfully light kheer, a chilled rice pudding, and gajar halwa, shredded carrots with cheese nuts and raisins.
I strongly recommend the ASHOKA as a stop on your tour of Little India. The lunch buffet with drinks only cost $15.10 with tax.
The Ashoka is located at 18614 S. Pioneer Blvd. Take the I605 south to the I91 east. Take the first Pioneer Blvd exit. Turn right on Pioneer an go about 4-5 blocks. The restaurant is on the left.
Information on vegetarianism and veganism can be found at:
http://www.vrg.org/nutshell/vegan.htm
Bon Appetite!
Wayne Welde DEDADSTER@AOL.COM
WEEK SEVEN - THE BOOK
I started skimming the section on GURU IN AMERICA and then got interested, started over, and read the whole book. And that was before having to review a great portion of it to answer the mid term questions.
The explanation of the splintering of the Radhasoami group in India was intriguing. Like the article indicated, it seemed to defy logic. When we look at the human element though it becomes clear. As in politics, power is the guiding force. There wasnt much detail offered about the background of the Radhasoami groups that developed after the death of Shiv Dayal Singh but the jealousy and political details of the development of Eckankar were better described. Man writes book, mentor disapproves of new ideas, Man starts new religion. Jesus talks a new talk, the status quo of the Sanhedrin is threatened by his words and actions, Mans followers start new religion.
WEEK SEVEN THE TAPE
I enjoyed the analogy of Elvis is still alive and the stubbornness of people to hang on to emotional private experiences. There is rarely any empirical evidence in our religious beliefs but we hang on to what we read or are taught.
I also agree with the idea that culture, persona bias and our social conditions effect what we perceive, either from a trance or other states of mind.
It is also true that we often know the least of what we make absolute statements on. Almost all we know about Christ are what we get from the four gospels of the bible.
Then again, how is it that all of the people who were abducted by space aliens are impoverished residences of the Appalachian Mountains.
MWR FINAL POSTINGS
BUDDHISM
The depths of the teachings of Buddha are mind-boggling! Reading through the summaries from the syllabus for a second time brought on feelings of both clarity and confusion. The summation of the document seemed clear, especially the analogy of the physician treating an illness.
The section on doctrine and meditation starts off with the statement Buddhas doctrine means redemption by insight. Reading the body of that section indicated to me that the opening phrase was either an oversimplification or an incomplete summarization. The content of this section plus the reading on the four truths and eightfold path gave me a new insight to the origins of Buddhism.
I believe that Siddhartha Gautama was a very intelligent person struggling to find meaning to his religious and cultural background. The written doctrine I reviewed reminded me of answers Marilyn Vos Savant gives in her column in Parade Magazine. The Guinness Book of World Records lists her as having the worlds highest IQ. She often presents answers to questions submitted by her readers by first putting the subject of the inquiry into different perspectives and then giving very analytical answers.
I can visualize Buddha doing the same thing. He may have been inspired by visions from his transcendental trances but I believe he simply (or not so simply) thought the matter of his religion through over a period of time and thus we have his teachings.
A more detailed look at the four noble truths can be found at:
http://vanbc.wimsey.com/~glenz/4truths.html
I also found an assortment of articles on Buddhism at the web site of the NEWSLETTER OF THE HIMALAYIAN BUDDHIST EDUCATION FOUNDATION which can be found at:
http://www.nepalonline.net/hbef/new/newsletter.htm
HSI LAI TEMPLE
Wayne Welde
My wife and I visited the His Lai temple in Hacienda Heights this week. We had an enlightening and informative experience. The majesty of the architecture set the tone of the visit before we even got through the welcoming gates. The temple complex sits on fourteen hillside acres. The majestic setting of the temple complex offers a panoramic view of the San Gabriel Valley.
When we approached the entrance a white robed man with a shaved head met us with a smile. He identified himself as Richard and asked if we were first time visitors. Our standing in the portal with our mouths open in awe may have been a clue! Richard gave us a brief history of the building and grounds. Hsi Lai is Chinese for moving to the west.
After his brief talk Richard gave us a tour of the main building called Bodhisattva Hall and the main shrine in the rear of the grounds. He also guided us around some of the other buildings, statues and gardens.
Inside the main shrine he explained the significance of the different statues and ceremonial items. He also gave us a summary of how the chants are performed. Most of the chants are sung in Chinese but there are weekly services in English. There are also weekly beginner and intermediate Dharma classes in English for anyone who wishes to learn about the religion.
After our tour we visited the museum and gift shop. More information on the temple, workshops and musical events is available on the temple web site.
http://www.hsilai.org/
CONFUCIUS
Confucianism is the least practiced of the three more popular religions in China. The other two are Buddhism and Taoism. Confucianism didnt begin to be widely practiced until after the death of Confucius in 479BC. After the death of its founder, Confucianism became an important influence on the Chinese culture. The development of Chinese culture today is greatly influenced by the long practice of these three philosophical religions.
Taoism and Buddhism, while being different in many ways, had no conflicts. Confucianism, on the other hand, is the philosophy guiding the Chinese in governing and behaviors. It emphasizes the importance of family and social order, encouraging children to respect and obligate to their parents.
While reading through the different sites on the religion I noticed a few analogies. One of these was the notation that Confucianism is based on the golden rule found in the bible and other notable readings. Another similarity had to do with a quotation of Confucius at fifty I understand the mandate of heaven (The difference between right an wrong.) This quote reminded me of an old Pennsylvania Dutch saying Too soon ve grow oldt und too late smart!
Many of he analects or writings of Confucius can be found at:
http://classics.mit.edu/Confucius/analects.2.2.html
Gnostic VS Sant
I have always thought of the differences between eastern religions and what we call western religions as being the sources of enlightenment they are based on. The eastern theologies seem to draw their spirituality from teachings of sages or prophets and personal transcendental meditation. Christians, to my way of thinking, are enlightened by relating biblical theology to their personal lives. These differences also seem to show up in the Sant and Gnostic Religions.
As the discussions in the history of religion in general that we read at the beginning of the semester on the innate need for religion by man, there is either an inborn need to have something to believe in, or there is a god. After reading the comparisons of the two religions, I would say that any similarities that Gnosticism and Sant have are based on the presence of God in the universe. This may be an instinctive bias on my part. Any differences, and possibly some of the consistencies between the two religions are probably based on cultural influences.
I found a website that gave a really interesting synopsis of the history of the Gnostic movement:
http://occultism.hypermart.net/History/Gnosticism/gnosticism.pdf
Holocaust - Museum of Tolerance
Visiting the Museum of Tolerance was a stern reminder of mans inhumanity to man. I had visited the National Holocaust Museum in Washington a few years ago and was left with the same feeling of sadness and humility. Exhibits like the window of shoes that commemorated the articles of clothing left behind as the people were sent to the gas chambers is hard to erase from my memory. Both visits were very humbling experiences, especially when passing through the oven entrance. Reading about the short life of the 18 year old girl whose biography I was given at the museum was also sad. She was the only member of her family to survive and died of illness a short time after being freed.
When I was in high school in the early 1960s in Virginia there was a small country store near my home that was run by an elderly Jewish couple. I remember the numbers tattooed on their forearms. It was a six or seven digit number crudely tattooed in about inch numbers. This was a grim reminder of their wartime experiences.
When we look at the events taking place in Afghanistan and Lebanon, mostly in the name of religion, we must ask ourselves Will the legacy of mans inhumanity to man ever end?
For a closer look at the history and timeline of the holocaust go to this web site:
http://www.ess.uwe.ac.uk/genocide/Holocaust.htm
For a look at the substantial number of non-Jewish peoples who were targeted by the holocaust go to: http://www.holocaustforgotten.com/
Judaism
Reading about the history of Judaism as one of the Abramic Religions was quite enlightening. As a Christian I have read or heard many of the bible stories but have never looked at the specific chronology of events in the bible. I was familiar with the Babylonian exile but I didnt realize the Greeks had dominated the Palestine area for such a long time. The Greek influence did come to light when I was reading the New Living Translation of the Bible. The introduction to the New Living Translation gave reference to different Greek manuscripts as a part of the books final text. There were numerous footnotes describing differences in the Greek translations.
Reading Genesis was an eye opener also. I didnt realize there were so many often-repeated stories in the book. I expected the creation, Garden on Eden, and Noah but was surprised to also find the story of Abraham and Sarah (Some siblings!). My last surprise in the book was finding the basis for one of my favorite Andrew Lloyd Weber plays, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. The ending of this story answered a question I had often pondered about how the Jews had gotten themselves taken into captivity in Egypt. Go down Moses, Tell ol Pharaoh, Let my people go!
For a more detailed time line on the history of Judaism go to:
http://philo.ucdavis.edu/zope/home/bruce//RST23/chart.html
Christianity
It is mind boggling to discover and read all of the versions of the life history of Christ. From a historical point of view, the only thing the varied historians seem to agree on is the fact that Jesus existed as a man. The theories about how long he preached vary from three months to three years. We are not even sure when he was born. I remember reading that Herod the Great, mentioned in the Christmas story in the book of Luke, died in the year 5 BC. From the timeline of Jesus family listed in the Syllabus site we seem to know more about his brothers life. Nearly all that we know about him is based on what the apostles and other biblical figures said about him. The one item I noticed that most of the historians agreed on about him was that he wasnt preaching himself. He didnt make himself out to be God, but only a messenger of Gods salvation.
When Jesus said his disciples would abandon him at the time of his crucifixion it appears he was right. In all four gospels the only people coming to the tomb on Sunday morning to check on his body were women. All four mention Mary Magdalene and Mary, mother of James (or the other Mary). Also mentioned are Salome in the Gospel of Mark and Joanna in Luke. Luke also mentions several others after he mentions the three he named. According to the stories, the apostles either came to the tomb after the women called them or were visited by the resurrected Jesus at another place and time.
For further information on Jesus and the New Testament go to:
http://www.biblestudytools.net/
Christianity progressed, Dark Ages
Christianity and civilization progressed very little from the fall of Rome until the Renaissance. The Catholic Church was the governing body of nearly all of Christendom until the protestant reformation started by Martin Luther in the 16Th century. There were few non-religious books available during this period and those were hand written. The invention of movable type by Gutenberg in the mid fifteenth century ushered in a new literacy that would change civilization and religion.
One of the mainstays of Christianity was the closeness of church and state. This often involved persecution of non-Christians and Jews.
A good example of this was the Spanish Inquisition that took place from 1480 to 1524. This pogrom began after the expulsion of the Moors and the general unification of Spain brought on by the marriage of Isabella and Ferdinand. This event was primarily a form of what we today call ethnic cleansing. Almost all non-white people were persecuted, including the Jews.
One interesting facet of this era was that most of the ancient Roman and Greek books like those of Aristotle were preserved by the Islamic nations. The Catholics considered such secular material as heretical.
For information on Gutenberg and the 15th century renaissance go to:
http://www.gutenberg.de/english/
For information on the Spanish inquisition go to:
http://internettrash.com/users/torquemada/history.html
For information on the middle, or dark, ages go to:
http://www.education-world.com/a_sites/sites001.shtml
Christian History Recent Demoninations
Christian Science
Mary Baker Eddys interpretations of some scriptures seem to draw and either/or reaction in people. She has a few devout followers and a few strong critics. I think most Christians put their personal, egocentric, feelings and cultural expectations into may of the biblical scriptures. Eddys thinking and insights in the area of biblical truths seem a lot deeper than most people are able to follow. I know I had trouble understanding some of her tenets put forth in the information I read. I didnt feel threatened by the concepts I understood but I dont agree with her concept of physical healing. I feel my soul has been cleansed by my faith but if I get cancer I believe I will opt for the chemotherapy along with my prayer.
Reading about St. John of the cross, St. Theresa of Avila reminded me of the Buddha. They all had revisionist ideas about doctrines that were current for their time. As with Jesus in the temple, their ideas were strongly rejected by the established religious leaders (except for Buddha). It is only looking back on their personal bravery and innovative thinking that the qualities of their thinking and teachings have been recognized.
The prophet Joseph Smith founded the Church of the Latter Day Saints, or Mormonism, in the early 19th century. The Mormon Church is one of the fastest growing religions today. Many of the Mormons are having doubts about the truth of the religions founding and are leaving the order. An article in the Dec. 1 LA Times discussed the plight of a few people who were shunned by their friends and neighbors for becoming ex Mormons. One woman complained that having her husband wear sacred Mormon underwear was bringing the church to their bed.
Lutheranism was founded by Martin Luther in the 16Th century. Luther was not a prophet but he was dissenting against some of the practices of the established Catholic Church. His public dissention started the protestant reformation in which many sects were formed by worshipers who developed their own interpretations of the bible and its teachings. Lutheranism, like Catholicism, can also be a strict religion. Rev. David Benke, a Lutheran Pastor, is being charged with heresy and faces expulsion from the church for participating in idolatry by praying in an inter-faith ceremony at Yankee Stadium honoring the victims of the 9/11 attacks. He is also accused of syncretism, an egregious offense against the love of Christ that gives the impression that the Christian faith is just one among many by which people may pray to God. Apparently the Muslims, Jews, Hindus and Christians of other denominations are just heretics.
For information on the Mormon Faith go to:
http://www.exmormon.org/
For information on the Lutheran Church go to:
http://www.valpo.edu/lutheran/LutheranChurchBodies.html
ISLAM
Islam was a lot different than my ethnocentric expectations had perceived it. Islam grew from its sixth century beginnings under the leadership of Mohammed. It was interesting to note that Mohammed, like many other prophets or pioneers in a religion, was initially persecuted for his beliefs but eventually developed a strong following.
Mohammed is considered a prophet of God who became enlightened at the age of forty and dictated the Qur aan as the new word of God or Allah. While reading the material I noticed a few interesting aspects of Islam. One is that the teachings are based on Christianity and Jesus is considered just another prophet. The Qur aan gives a lot of credence to Jesus and his teachings. It even has a book about Mary, Jesus mother. Islam is also one of the first major religions to give social status to women. Mohammeds wife was one of his first converts or followers. Islam is also universal in that it holds no racial or ethnic prejudices.
One of Mohammeds claims as a prophet is that his coming was foretold in the New Testament as the prophet who would precede the second coming of Christ. History has it that he wrote (or quoted) the Qur aan over a 23 year period. The Qur aan details many beliefs and laws which the followers should live by.
Islam is based on five pillars that include a basis for the faith, regular prayer, tithing or paying a zakaah, a pilgrimage, and procedures for fasting.
Peace be upon him, if Allah wills.
Time Magazine has some recent articles on Islam available at:
http://www.time.com/time/searchresults?summaries=yes&search_type=simple&query=islam&venue=timemags%7Cmagazine
More information on Islam can be found at:
http://www.geocities.com/muslim_helper/
4. I visited the His Lai Temple, Little India, and the Museum of Tolerance.
5. I cant remember the exact wording of my grade. It worked out to a c+ on your scale.
6. This is a toughie! I dont think in terms of grades when I study material. I am usually interested in learning, especially on a subject as interesting as this one. I have thoroughly read the course material plus additional web site information. The only difficult time I had was compressing the information into a single essay. I have a habit of over summarizing when I write and might not reflect the amount of reading completed on each religion. The essay on Islam (547) is a good example. The essay lightly summarizes my reflection of a vast religion with a 1400-year history. I compressed my summation of the five pillars into a single sentence but I had to read the definition of each pillar several times to get an appropriate short term for it. Because of the briefness of the essays, I believe a B would be an adequate grade.
7. How is Islam different than Judaism?
The largest area of difference between these two Abramic religions is based on their historical practices. Islam appears to base its practices on the Koran and Sunnah (Traditions of Mohammeds sayings and actions). Judaist traditions correspond to the Tanakh that Christians refer to as the Old Testament. Jews also use the Talmud that contains stories, laws, medical knowledge, debates about moral choices, Etc.
Differences between the two religions include:
A. The Jews give little credence to the teachings of Jesus. The early writers that mention him seem to go out of their way to discredit his heredity and the method of his death. The Koran describes Jesus as a significant prophet. The Islamic faith sees Mohamed as the prophet Jesus predicted would precede his return to earth.
B. I could not find any Jewish customs that require any significant amount of fasting. The Islamic Religion has at least one extended period of fasting during the lunar month of Ramadan.
C. The Old Testament or Tanakh was written before the Common Era by a line of Prophets. The Koran was (historically) dictated by Mohammed in the sixth century CE. No original copies of either documents are known to exist.
D. The Jewish holy days are based on Jewish traditional celebrations of events like Passover and other significant tribal events. The Islamic holy days are based on seasonal celebrations set using the lunar calendar.
E. The Jews are generally a closed group and dont encourage new converts or marriage outside the religion. Islamic customs also prohibit marriage outside the religion but converts are welcome.
F. Jews dont specify particular times for daily formal prayer. Islamic traditions, based on the five pillars, have five periods for daily prayers.
G. The Jewish faith is historically centered in Jerusalem but there is no requirement for Jews to visit there. Islamic traditions, based on the fifth pillar, require each member of the faith who is able to make one pilgrimage to Makkah during his life.
H. Jewish law forbids men from having sex or even sleeping in the same bed with menstruating women, or Niddah. I could find no other rules for the behavior of Niddah. The Koran lists additional specific rules that menstruating women must follow. These include not touching the Koran while they are unclean. One note on the status of the Niddah or menstruating woman can be found at: http://www.jewfaq.org/women.htm. This is also spelled out in Leviticus 15:19-30.
Other (non Jewish) Islamic customs that are mostly cultural and are only practiced in specific cultures and geographic areas are female genital mutilation (circumcision?)
8. How does Judaism differ from Christianity?
Christianity began as a sect of Judaism started by Jesus and his disciples. Jesus taught that most of the Old Testament practices were no longer necessary and that he was the prophesied messiah. Some Jews accepted his teaching and some didnt He also spread his word to the gentiles, or non-Jewish people. Judaism is strictly monotheistic, believing in one God. Christianity is based on a Godhead or trinity, the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
I used the religious tolerance website for most of the following information.
Judaism is mostly closed. Jews rarely solicit converts. A basic tenet of Christianity is spreading the word of Christ to all the world. This evangelistic duty is spelled out in
Jews believe heaven is reached by good work and following the scriptures. The roadway to heaven for Christians varies depending on denominational interpretation. Being saved varies in interpretation from a simple affirmation of faith to being baptized by submersion.
Jews do not believe in Jesus resurrection. Christianity is based on Jesus returning from the dead. It is belief in this miraculous event that gives full meaning to his teachings. Jews celebrate holy days based on past event from Jewish history. Christians holy days are based on events in Jesus life.
The Jews have long been broken up as a nation. They have mingled into most western cultures, mostly keeping to themselves and rarely have a significant political influence. Christians have been historically anti-Semitic. This anti-semiticism diminished after World War II and the partition of Israel from Palestine.
Jews, at least the orthodox believers, still follow the laws from the Old Testament. They still follow the rules of kosher eating. Christians throw caution to the wind and enjoy smoked ham for Easter diner.
Jews use their own calendar based on the time of the creation. Christians use the Gregorian calendar based on the date of Christs birth.
9. Differences between the Gospels of Mark and John.
Stephen King might be a reincarnation of John by his lively and elongated descriptions of events and people in his stories. A good example of this writing style can be seen in the story of the blind man who was made to see. Mark barley mentions wetting the mans eyes while performing the miracle. John tells the story in detail including making mud from the spittle and the interaction between the priests and the mans parents.
After speaking to groups of people in remote areas Jesus performed miracles by feeding thousands of people with a few loaves of bread and pieces of fish. In Mark he does this twice. He only performs this miracle once in John. Mark also mentions having twelve baskets of bread and fish left over during one of these episodes. John mentions twelve baskets of barley loaves.
Mark gives the time of the crucifixion as nine AM. John gives no specific time of day. On the Sunday morning after the Resurrection Mark has Mary Magdalene being met at the tomb by an angel. John has her being met there by two angels.
Another difference in their writing styles is evident in how they depict Jesus being baptized by john the Baptist. John 1:32 then John said I saw the holy spirit descending like a dove from heaven and resting upon him. Mark 1:11 adds to this event by And a voice came from heaven saying you are my beloved Son, and I am fully pleased with you.
According to a note in the New Living Translation, Mark has various endings to his Gospel. Three of the more noteworthy were listed. The shorter two make a brief mention of the resurrected Jesus meeting with his disciples and does not talk about Jesus ascension. There are a plethora of other differences between the two endings of the Gospels. John details several post resurrection (and pre ascension) visits by Jesus including a description of the condition of his body and the story of Doubting Thomas.
10. Differences between the Gospels of Luke and Matthew.
Matthew is the shortest of the three Gospels. He seems to be more of a technical writer in that he uses more specific details and numbers to describe the events of Jesus life. He starts off with a list of genealogy from David to Jesus. Mark is more the storyteller and starts off as if he was writing to a person named Theophilius. He was not so much of a stickler for specific references to dates and prophecies of the events that occurred. The different writing styles probably explain the number of discrepancies and contradictions between these two Gospels. The most significant difference, at least to my point of view, was the differences in their descriptions of events after Jesus resurrection. Matthew ends with Jesus having a brief visit with his disciples. Luke goes into a lot more detail about Jesus interaction with his followers and ends with his ascension in Bethany. The NLV mentioned that some versions of the Gospel omit the ascension.
There are a number of differences in the story of Jesus birth. Matthew mentions the three wise men visiting Herod before coming to Bethlehem. It also mentions the reason the birth took place in Bethlehem was to fulfill the prophecy in Micah 5:2. Luke doesnt mention the wise guys and has Joseph and Mary going to Bethlehem for the census. Luke tells that they went from the town of Nazareth to Bethlehem and doesnt mention the flight into Egypt after Jesus birth. Matthew has them going to Egypt to escape Herod and then settling in Nazareth after their return after Herods death. Luke also mentions Jesus birth taking place when Quirinius was Governor of Syria, a point omitted by Matthew.
Another discrepancy is in how Jesus lineage is noted. Matthew 1;16 and Jacob begat Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus Luke 3;23 And Jesus himself began to be about thirty years of age, being the son of Joseph, which was the son of Heli.
There are only two times in the New Testament where God speaks. One of these was in Luke when God spoke from a cloud to Jesus and his disciples. Luke also tells the story of Jesus being in the temple at Jerusalem at the age of twelve. This episode is omitted in Matthew.
11. How would you explain the differences in the various gospel accounts?
There are many reasons for the differences and discrepancies found in the different accounts of Jesus life and teachings. When I was reading the New Living Translation I noticed that there were a list of notes at the bottom of every page indicating references to differences between different sources and interpretations of the word meanings in them. The books of the New Testament that we use today are compiled from earlier copies. None of the original writings put down by Jesus disciples or their contemporaries are known to exist. The web site: http://www.ccci.org/whoisjesus/interactive-journey/studyd.htm explains that archeologists have found thousands manuscripts of bits of the New Testament and even some complete copies. By comparing these, we can get very close to what the New Testament writers originally wrote. The article mentions that some of these copies are dated less than 100 years after the original letter or Gospel was written. If an original copy of our Declaration of Independence is worth a million dollars, what would an original hand written copy of Pauls letter to the Corinthians be worth!
Many inerrant accounts are accepted because there appear to be different authors to many of the books of the Bible. This information can be found in the web site: http://www.religioustolerance.org/inerran2.htm. This site gives many details and examples of discrepancies in both the Old and New Testaments. A good example of multiple copies and probably multiple writers is the ending of the Gospel of Mark. This Gospel originally ended abruptly at verse 16:8 but some other writer later added verses 9 to 20 to make a longer ending. The site suggests this ending was based on Luke, John and some other sources.
Trying to decide which of the earlier versions is true is almost as mind boggling as trying to decide which of the modern translations is correct. Most translations begin with a disclaimer that an effort was made to eliminate personal bias but I dont believe that is possible. When I hear a funny joke I rarely retell it using the exact same words. I fit the wording to my own tastes, or sometimes clean it up depending on who I am telling it to. When we are using a book that is based several generations of hand written copies of stories originally passed on by word of mouth, the content will change. Even though each copier is trying to convey the same meaning, that portion of the story will change also. If the story is truly God breathed the meaning
12. How is Confucianism different than Taoism?
Taoism seems to be a lot like Hinduism and other eastern religions based on transcendental meditation. I picked up on this while reading the website, http://www.human.toyogakuen-u.ac.jp/~acmuller/contao/laotzu.htm, in the syllabus. The Tao is like nirvana, the ultimate state of peace, tranquility and knowledge. This website gives a translation of some numbered verses of the Tao Te Ching writings. The twelfth verse in this document refers to the center (or inner eye) of the sage. The fourteenth verse cites a quest tat is existing continuously, it cannot be named and it returns to nothingness. I believe this return to nothingness is waking from the trance. Verse sixteen with the statement though you lose the body, you do not die, refers to belief in reincarnation or going to heaven after physical death. I interpreted verse nineteen as a reflection on reaching nirvana summing the line with therefore there must be something to include them all. These ideas seem to also be entailed in verse twenty-five Greatness entails transcendence. Transcendence entails going far.
The teachings of Confucius appear to be more philosophical than religious to me. They appear to me as a set of rules to live and govern by from without. In the website http://www.friesian.com/confuci.htm, His codes of ethics seem to favor the means rather than the end in terms of moral and political issues. If the being maintains a sense of benevolence, charity, humanity, love, and kindness then the right doing or means will result in right conduct, morality, duty to ones neighbor, and righteousness. If these principles were morally applied, the ends of the efforts would not end in profit, gain, (or) advantage. I can see Americans of today applying these in social settings or family situations but not in the business atmosphere of our capitalist business structure.
The differences, when looked at through these interpretations, are quite different. If a person were looking at both for a source of religious fulfillment, I believe this person would choose Tao. If a person were looking for a personal code of ethics, I believe he would choose the teachings of Confucious.
13. How is the Christian Bible different than the Muslims Koran?
The main difference between the Bible and the Koran is in their sources. People who either knew Jesus or were close to the followers who knew him wrote the New Testament of the bible. Muhammad, who historically received the message straight from God, dictated (or revealed) the Koran.
I found an in depth look at the Koran at: http://www.submission.org/home.html
Arranged by Charles Temleton. The submission web site offers several comparisons of the Bible to the Koran. One of these is a line by line comparison of the Book of James to selected verses from the Koran. James writes about numerous interpretations and explanations of his view of the tenets of Christianity. The verses selected from his book are matched with selected verses from the Koran that were very close to the same meaning.
Another comparison was made between Sura 16 verse 125 and First Peter chapter 3 verse 15. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect. 1 Peter 3:15 compared to: you shall invite to the path of your Lord with wisdom and kind enlightenment, and debate with them in the best possible manner. Your Lord knows best who has strayed from his path, and he knows best who are the guided ones. Quran 16:125.
There are also a lot of mechanics in the Koran that arent evident in the Bible. The mathematical structure was apparently discovered in 1970. The number 19 seems to be a base number. Sura 74:30; Over it is nineteen. The site lists over thirty combinations of the number 19 in the Koran. A few examples are:
A. There are 6346 suras or verses. 6346 = 19 x 334, 6+3+4+6 = 19
B. Each of the four Arabic words of Basmalah are repeated in the Koran in multiples of 19 in numbered verses. The first word ism (name) occurs 19 times. The second word Allah occurs 2698 times (19x142). The third word Al-Rahman (most gracious) 57 times (19x3). The fourth word Raheem (most merciful) 114 times (19x6).
C. There are 114 Suras in the Koran. (19x6)
D. Another numerical symmetry is that the words Jesus and Adam both appear 25 times each.
Supporters of the tenet that the Koran is god breathed use this as proof that no man (without a computer) could have originated the writings. It is also seen as proof that the original writings were not altered. I was impressed! Even changing one word or combination of words in one verse could throw the numbers off!
The modern Bible has been made up from so many diverse early versions that there is no way to know how accurate it is. I guess the only way to tell which is the true word of God will be when the second coming of Christ occurs
14. Historical outline of Jesus life.
I dont know what Jesus looked like. I could find no references on his facial appearance. The Gospels of Matthew and Luke, Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea. The Gospels of Mark and John begin with Jesus meeting John the Baptist and beginning his ministry. When Jesus came back to his hometown of Nazareth to preach he was rejected by the townspeople who knew him. In Mark 6:3 they refer to him as a carpenter suffering the fate of Thomas Wolfe, You cant go home again.
The Gospels give the place called Golgotha or Skull Hill outside of Jerusalem as the site of Jesus crucifixion. Jesus appeared to have chosen the city of Jerusalem for his suffering to fulfill the Old Testament prophecies.
Mark 6:3 also gives the names of Jesus four brothers, James, Joseph, Judas and Simon. The passage also mentions him having sisters but does not name them. A Bible concordance website, http://www.biblestudytools.net/#, had a reference to Mark 6:3 indicating that the way the people had greeted Jesus, he must have been away for a period of time. There is no reference to how long he had been a carpenter or what he had done during the ages of fifteen to twenty five.
Looking into the month and year he was born became an interesting search. The concordance site noted above only gave information on bible verses and interpretations. I then researched the history of Christmas on the net. I found an interesting article titled No Holy Night by Richard Gates. http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Olympus/6944/. This article gave a cynical but apparently factual look at the history of Jesus birth. Gates pointed out several inconsistencies between the biblical account of Jesus birth and known history. These included the fact that Herod the Great died in either 4 or 5 BCE and Quirinius did not become Governor of Syria or gain authority over Judea until around 6CE.
Another point Gates made about the prophesied birth had to do with Jesus lineage from the house of David. If his conception was divine, Joseph wasnt his actual father. I had always believed that Mary was descended from David but that bit of news wasnt brought up here. The article also pointed out that Luke lists 43 generations from Joseph back to David while Matthew only gave 28. I am curious but I didnt look this up and count for myself.
I also found another article titled Is Christmas Christian? By Michael Schneider. It can be found at: http://www.swrb.com/newslett/actualnls/Xmas_ch1.htm. This article gave a history of the practice of using December 25 as Christmas or Christ mass. (I am playing Christmas Carols while writing this!) The story goes that yule was the Babylonian name for child or infant and yule day was celebrated on December 25 long before Christs birth. This was tied in with the birth of the sun god and the winter solstice. This appears to be another inconsistency. Schneider didnt say what calendar the Babylonians were using at the time.
The last question in this section is did Jesus die a Jew? After some thought, I will say yes. He was born Jewish and is described as having lived a Jewish life. This could make a better debate than trying to decide the fate of the aborigines. Questions keep popping into my mind. What else could he be? A Christian? There are many definitions of Christianity but mine is a belief in the resurrection. Does salvation through the belief of Jesus and his teachings apply to him? What about a contemporary Jew who converts to Christianity? What has changed except his acceptance of Jesus as his savior? Many protestant sects, including the Wide World Church of God, (My sister is a member of this group) practice most of the Old Testament
15. How do Muslims view Jesus? How do Jews view Jesus?
The Muslims view Jesus as a prophet. Jesus name comes up 25 times in the Koran. The web site; http://www.submission.org/Jesusx.html gave several looks at Jesus from the Koran plus some contemporary view points.
One of these recent writings about Jesus was in the book Jesus, Myth or Legend by Linda Spray. In her book Spray details many discrepancies in the development of the modern Bible. She then goes on to explain how the Koran supports the Torah and Jesus teachings. She points out several passages from the Bible that have Jesus talking about the Paraclete (prophet) to come. An example is John 16;12-13 I have much to tell you but you cannot bear it now. When he comes, however, being the spirit of the truth he will guide you to all truth. He will not speak on his own, but will speak only what he hears, and will announce to you the things to come. She uses these passages to prove that Mohammed is the Paraclete prophesied by Jesus. Koran 5:48 Then we sent down to you this scripture, containing the truth, and confirming the previous scriptures and consummating them
The Koran also supports the idea of Marys immaculate conception but states (or implies) that Jesus didnt die on the cross. The interpretation of the style of Jesus death in the Submission web site has Jesus soul being taken up to heaven before the crucifixion, thereby it was only his breathing but empty body that was nailed to the cross.
Interestingly, the web site: religioustolerance.org gave the Islamic version of Jesus death as Was neither killed nor crucified. Probably dies a natural death.
How do Jews view Jesus? I started researching this question by looking at Messianic Judaism. The web site: http://www.etz-chayim.org/petah1.htm was set up by a group of Messianic Jews. These people believe we find a most wonderful fulfillment of scripture, in that all-Jew and gentile, male and female, bond and free-are seen worshipping the Holy one of Israel in spirit and in truth. They see no division between gentile and Jewish believers. They point out that in Acts 22;3 Paul preferred to say I am a Jew.
My sister is a member of the World Wide Church of God. One of their tenets is keeping the laws of the Old Testament. They are a Christian group but worship on Saturday and keep a form of kosher in their eating styles.
The Web site:
http://shamash.org/tanach/tanach/commentary/oxford-judaism/961202 contains an article by Rabbi Shmuel of Oxford University about Jewish discomfort with Christmas. In the article the Rabbi refers to the age-old Jewish counter-arguments, such as the simple fact that the messianic prophecies relating to an age of global peace and the end of war and disease has yet to dawn. He goes on to point out that Jews are deeply suspicious of any human claiming too much authority at the best of times, let alone someone claiming the ultimate authority of the deity himself.
When I look back at the Jewish plight during World War II I can see where the Rabbi is coming from with this statement. The allies in the war knew about the extermination camps but did nothing about them. It was only in an act of conscience that the United Nations partitioned the state of Israel from Palestine. Too soon we grow old and too late smart!
16. List three different schools of thought within Judaism and explain their particular beliefs.
Three major schools of thought in modern Judaism are Conservative, Orthodox, and Reform. Brief descriptions of these were given in the religious tolerance web site.
Orthodox Judaism is listed as the oldest, most conservative, and most diverse form of Judaism. I found information on the Orthodox Jewism at: http://www.beingjewish.com/. An article in this site titled Tracing the Tree of Life is about the origins of Reform, Conservative and Orthodox. The author, Lawrence Keleman, took an Orthodox view of the other two movements. In the lengthy article he strongly defended the basic tenets of the ancient mesorah or oral tradition. He viewed the reformers as being Jewish in name only. He wasnt much kinder to the Conservatives either indicating they were giving a form of lip service to the basic Jewish Laws.
Reform Judaism is described as a liberal group, followed by many North American Jews. The movement started in the 1790s in Germany. They follow the ethical laws of Judaism but are liberal on dietary and other laws. In his article, Lawrence Keleman who is Orthodox by admission, gave a somewhat negative description of the reform movement. He said that Reform became the first known group in 3,100 years of Jewish history to deny the Torahs divine origin. He had them also rejecting the Mesorah. He went on to say that Reform was encouraging intermarriage and was encouraging the tenet that circumcision is a barbarous cruelty which disfigures and disgraces our ancestral heirloom and our holy mission as priests among mankind. The rite is a remnant of African life. He summed up his tirade by stating that within Reform circles, the mesorah was then not only lost; it was an anathema If Keleman is half right I can see how the Conservative movement was inspired.
According to the religious tolerance web site, Conservative Judaism began in the mid-nineteenth century as a reaction against the reform movement. It is a main line movement between Reform and Orthodox. A web site for the United Synagogue of Conservative Jewism can be found at: http://www.uscj.org/. The site has an assortment of categories of information available most of which is for members. It did have a question and answer section that reinforced the description in the Religious tolerance site. The Synagogues stated objective is for the advancement of the cause of Judaism in America and the maintenance of Jewish tradition in its historic continuity; to assert and establish loyalty to the Torah in its historic exposition; to further the observance of Sabbath and the Dietary Laws; to preserve in the Service the reference to Israels past and the hopes for her restoration; to maintain the traditional. The site gives the reason for the founding of Conservative Jewism Movement as a protest against the excesses of the Reform Movement of the eighteenth century. The founding fathers knew that change, leading to growth or decay, is inevitable. They sought to channel that change in a positive direction.
Note: Times and cultures are changing and the religions of the world will continue to change also. The Presbyterian Church recently voted to allow homosexuals as members. I am a reformed redneck and early in my life I did and said a lot of things that I a sorry for. One of the differences between ignorance and stupidity is that an ignorant person can get an education. Science has shown that homosexuality is a genetic trait. If a person professes faith in God, why should a trait no different than one causing premature balding prevent him from being able to worship in a church?
Andrea, There are no mistakes on this test, If Allah wills, and the creek dont rise. I dont know if Gnostics celebrate Christmas but the winter equinox will be here soon and the days will start to grow longer.
Heres hoping you have a cool yule!
Wayne Welde
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