EARLY WORLD RELIGIONS

HinduismBuddhismConfucianismLegalismDaoismJudaismChristianity

Essential Understanding

• How did the development of religious traditions provide a bond among the people and an ethical code to live by?

• How and why did belief systems and cultural traditions spread to new areas?

• How did the development of religious traditions affect social classes, gender roles, and artistic expression?

Religions of

South Asia

Religion in the Subcontinent

Hinduism

What is Hinduism? • One of the oldest religions

– About 1500 B.C.E. – Began in India

• Gave birth to Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism

• Tolerance and diversity– "Truth is one, paths are many“– “There is only one God, but endless are

his aspects and endless are his names”– “We are not human beings having

spiritual experiences;We are spiritual beings having a human experience!”

What do Hindus believe?• Hinduism has no formal theology that

defines God• It is henotheistic (acknowledging many

but worshiping only one)• Brahman—One impersonal Ultimate

Reality– Manifest as many personal deities

• Atman—The soul, Brahma trapped in matter

• Samsara—Reincarnation – atman is continually born into this world lifetime after lifetime

• Karma—Spiritual impurity due to actions keeps us bound to this world (good and bad)

• Moksha—Ultimate goal of life – to release Atman and reunite with the divine, becoming as one with Brahman

• Vedas—Truth: myths, rituals, chants

Major gods of the Hindu Pantheon

Brahma, the creator god

Vishnu, the preserver god

Shiva, god of constructive destruction(the transformer)

What are the spiritualpractices of Hinduism?• Yoga—seeking union with the divine:• Guru—a spiritual teacher, especially

helpful for Jnana and Raja yoga• Bhakti Yoga—worship, seeking union

with the divine through loving devotion to manifest deities

• In the home (household shrines)• In the temples (priests officiate)

How does Hinduism direct

life in this world?• Respect for all life – vegetarian• Human life as supreme:

– Four “stations” of life (Caste) - priests & teachers, nobles & warriors, merchant class, servant class

– Four stages of life – student, householder, retired, wandering philosopher

– Four duties of life – pleasure, success, social responsibilities, religious responsibilities (moksha)

Buddhism

The essence of Buddhism

The “middle way of wisdom and compassion.”

The 3 jewels of Buddhism:

Buddha, the teacher. Dharma, the

teachings. Sangha, the

community.

Siddhartha Gautama (563-483 BCE) Born as prince in NE India

(Nepal) At 29 rejected luxurious

life to seek enlightenmentand source of suffering

Lived a strict, ascetic life for 6 yrs

Rejecting this extreme, sat in meditation and found nirvana

Became “The Enlightened One,” at 35

What is the fundamental cause

of all suffering?

Desire! Therefore, extinguish the

self, don’t obsess about oneself.

Four Noble Truths1. There is suffering in the world.

To live is to suffer.2. The cause of suffering is self-

centered desire and attachments.

3. The solution is to eliminate desire and attachments.

4. To reach nirvana, one must follow the Eightfold Path.

Eightfold Path

Nirvana The union with the ultimate spiritual reality.

Escape from the cycle of

rebirth.

Buddha – 19c

Thailand

Buddha –

2c Pakistan

Mandala: Wheel of Life Motifs

Types of Buddhism Therevada

BuddhismThe oldest school of Buddhism.Found in southern Asia.Focus on wisdom and meditation.Goal: is to become a “Buddha,” or

“Enlightened One.”

Mahayana Buddhism

Founded in northern Asia (China, Japan).Buddhism “for the masses.”Goal: Not just individual escape from the

wheel, but the salvation of all humanity through self-sacrifice of those enlightened few.

Types of Buddhism Zen Buddhism

Seeks sudden enlightenment through meditation, arriving at emptiness

Use of meditation mastersBeauty, art, and aesthetics, such as gardens &

calligraphy

Tibetan BuddhismDeveloped in Tibet in the 7c CE.A mix of Theravada and MahayanaInclude Lamas, like the Dalai Lama

Growth of Buddhism

Both

ReincarnationCyclical view of history

Belief in a state of enlightenment (Hindu

moksha, Buddhist nirvana)

Caste systemAnimal sacrifice

The Middle Way (Eightfold Path)Four Noble Truths

Hinduismonly

Buddhismonly

Confucianism

* 551 – 479 B.C.E.* Born in the

feudal state of Liu

* Became a teacher and editor of books

Li --> Rite, rules, ritual decorum (Binding force of an enduring stable society)

Ren --> humaneness, benevolence, humanity

Shu --> Reciprocity, empathy Do not do unto others what you

would not want others to do unto you.

Yi --> Righteousness Xiao --> Filial Piety (Respect your

elders!)

1. Ruler

Subject

2. Father

Son

3. Husband

Wife

4. Older Brother

YoungerBrother

5. Older Friend

YoungerFriend

* Status* Age*

Gender

* The single most important Confucian work.* Knowing what he knows and knowing what he

doesn’t know, is characteristics of the person who knows.

* Making a mistake and not correcting it, is making another mistake.

* The superior man blames himself; the inferior man blames others.

* To go too far is as wrong as to fall short.

* The emperor is the example of proper behavior --> “big daddy”

* Social relationships are based on “rites” or “rituals”

* Even religious rituals are important for SOCIAL, not religious reasons

INDIA 1. Brahmin

CHINA 1. Scholar-

Gentry 2. Kshatriyas

2. Peasants 3. Vaishyas

4. Shudras 3. Artisans 4.

Merchants Untouchab

les Domestic

Slaves

Legalism

* 280? - 233 B.C.E.* Late Warring

States period* Legalism became

political philosophy of Qin [Ch’in] Dynasty

1. Human nature is naturally selfish.

2. Intellectualism and literacy is discouraged.

3. Law is the supreme authority and replaces morality.

4. The ruler must rule with a strong, punishing hand.

5. War is the means of strengthening a ruler’s power.

One who favors the principle that individuals should obey a powerful authority rather than exercise individual freedom.

Daoism

*604 B.C.E. - ?* His name means “Old Master”

* Was he Confucius’ teacher?

1. Dao [Tao] is the first-cause of the universe. It is a force that flows through all life.

2. A believer’s goal is to become one with Dao; one with nature.

3. Wu wei --> “Let nature take its course.” --> “The art of doing nothing.” --> “Go with the flow!”

4. Man is unhappy because he lives according to man-made laws, customs & traditions that are contrary to the ways of nature.

1. Rejecting formal knowledge and learning.

2. Relying on the senses and instincts.

3. Discovering the nature and “rhythm” of the universe.

4. Ignoring political and social laws.

To escape the “social, political, & cultural traps” of life, one must escape by:

* Masculine

* Active* Light* Warmth* Strong* Heaven;

Sun

* Feminine

* Passive*

Darkness

* Cold* Weak* Earth;

Moon

How is a man to live in a world dominated by chaos, suffering, and absurdity??

Confucianism --> Moral order in society

Legalism --> Rule by harsh law & order

Daoism --> Freedom for individuals and less government to avoid uniformity and conformity

Judaism

JudaismMonotheistic, believing in one true God

Omniscient, omnipotent, and omnipresent Unity and singularity of God as He is revealed though Torah

Sh’ma–cornerstone of all Jewish belief.Deuteronomy 6:4 – “Hear, O Israel: The Lord

our God, the Lord is one.”Israelites believed they were God’s “chosen people.” They believed that God would lead them to “promised land.”

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JudaismBorn in grace, live in grace, and die in grace

Sin is not a fact of birth, it is a matter of choiceOlam Ha-Ba: “The World to Come”

Messiah will reign Jewish temple will be rebuilt Nation of Israel will be fully restored World order of justice and compassion.

Teachings on Law and Morality

Jewish prophets, or spiritual leaders, preached code of ethics, or moral standards of behaviorTorah—laws that addressed all aspects of life, from cleanliness and food preparation to criminal mattersTen Commandments

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Significant Jewish “Holy” Days

Shabbat – Sabbath–day of rest Friday sundown through Saturday sundownProhibited: work, travel, commerce

Yom Kippur –"Day of Atonement" Atone for sins of past year – sins between man and

GodOn Yom Kippur, judgments of God are entered into

“the books” and then sealed Rosh Hashanah –New Year, plan better life and begin introspection

Passover –commemorate Israelites’ escape from EgyptPersonal journey from slavery to freedom

Christianity

EARLY CHRISTIANITY• Roots

– Judaism– Teachings of John the Baptist, Jesus, and

apostles• Earliest converts were Jews who did not

think they were breaking away from Hebrew Law– Early Christians wished to be considered

Jews • Jewish religion officially recognized by Roman

government and its adherents had certain privileges

BELIEFS• Based on belief that Jesus is the

Christ/Messiah, the son of God– One of Trinity

• God the Father, Son, Holy Spirit– Teachings

• In Gospels • 12 disciples

– Death at 33• By believing in Jesus, his followers will

go to Heaven at their death• Bible is Word of God• Holy days—Christmas & Easter

EARLY WORLD RELIGIONS

HinduismBuddhismConfucianismLegalismDaoismJudaismChristianity(Islam will be in the next unit)