Download Many Faiths…… - Knox Inter

 An initiated Sikh has to comply with a strict ethical and moral code
and have at all times five articles of faith. These are: , unshorn hair
- small comb placed in
tied as a knot and crowned with a turban; the hair knot; - a steel bracelet worn on the wrist; prescribed shorts worn as an undergarment; and K
- a small
ceremonial sword.
Sikhs have been committed to religious harmony and inter-faith
cooperation. Guru Nanak the founder of the faith was loved by all
communities. The ninth Nanak sacrificed his life for the right of Hindus
to wear the sacred thread and the saffron mark even though he did not
believe in those rituals himself.
A Sikh place of worship is called a Gurdwara and is always open to
everyone regardless of religion, race, colour, or caste. There are about
27,000 Sikhs in Australia and 25 million in the world.
Sikh prayer always ends with the words: , “May God
Bless the whole of humanity.”
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was set up in 2002 in the aftermath of 9/11 with the
exists to
encouragement of Knox City Council.
encourage proper understanding between religious communities in Knox so
that each religious community and the community generally may be good
neighbours. Membership in no way is to be regarded as compromising the
bona fide beliefs of any member organisation. One way of fulfilling the
Network’s objective is by production and/or distribution of literature on religious
organizations and practices that is informative and fair-minded. This brochure has
that purpose.
Information about the Network, and useful links to sites that can provide further
information on beliefs and practices of faith communities described in this
pamphlet and others may be found at our website.
Published May 2008.
More information is available on our website
www.knoxinterfaith.org.au
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Knox Inter-faith Network
www.knoxinterfaith.org.au
Introduction
There is no one agreed definition of religion. In 1983 the High Court of
Australia gave a judgment using a definition of religion that identifies it as
‘a complex of beliefs and practices which point to a set of values and an
understanding of the meaning of existence’. This definition may blur the
distinction between a political ideology and religion, but rightly recognises
that militant atheism is essentially religious in nature.
exists to encourage proper understanding
between religious communities in Knox so that each religious community
and the community generally may be good neighbours. Membership in no
way is to be regarded as compromising the beliefs of any member
organisation.
It is important to recognise that over the course of history changes have
affected all religions often leading to reform movements, such as Buddhism
out of Hinduism, and Protestant Christianity from the Church in Western
Europe. Additionally, currents in society can impact on religious bodies
without creating a formal split. Thus within all major religions there are
liberals and conservatives, radicals and reactionaries, but most are
somewhere in the middle. Many who claim to belong to a particular religion
do not practise it regularly or at all. This brochure can only provide a
general outline.
All serious adherents of the major religions believe their faith is a way of
life and not just a private belief. All major religions have at various times
found it difficult to define their relationship to the State, while cultural
practices can become mixed with essential beliefs and cause confusion.
Within all religions there are examples of significant failure.
A final introductory point. It has been common for about a century to
regard science and religion as irreconcilably at war with each other. This is
not true to the facts. That some religious people are hostile to science is
true, just as it is true that some scientific people are hostile to religion. But
most are mutually respectful since they recognise that the scientific method
cannot deal with ultimate questions, but only with what can be observed.
Religious believers have been prominent in most of the sciences. While
some beliefs and practices held by religious people can be justly criticised
by science, to say that science should lead us to discard religion in favour of
atheism, is to move beyond the limits of science to the realm of a secular
faith. Such a faith, whether Marxist or Humanist, is likely to show all the
marks of the worst cases of religious excess.
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Buddhism’s oldest stream is Theravada (‘Teaching of the Elders’)
common to Sri Lanka and much of South-East Asia. Mahayana (‘Great
Vehicle’) Buddhism is the form common in China, Korea and Japan.
The Dalai Lama is the spiritual leader of Tibetan
Buddhists and regarded as the reincarnation of the
previous leader. The current (14th) Dalai Lama has
been in exile since 1959 as a result of conflict with
the Chinese authorities.
The basic framework of Buddhism is found in the
Four Noble Truths. These are usually explained
along the following times: (1) the nature of suffering: it is a reality from
birth; (2) the cause of suffering: craving and desire; (3) the cessation of
suffering: freedom from useless desires thus leading to Nirvana; (4) the
way to the cessation of suffering: following the Noble 8-fold Path. The
Noble 8-fold path embraces simultaneous endeavour to have: 1. Right
view; 2. Right intention; 3. Right speech; 4. Right action; 5. Right
livelihood; 6. Right effort; 7. Right mindfulness; 8. Right concentration.
Buddhists do not take the life of living things, therefore have a
vegetarian diet.
There are 425,000 Buddhists in Australia, many from Vietnam,
Cambodia and Thailand, and about 300 million worldwide.
Sikhism was founded by Guru Nanak (1469-1539). His revelation of
Truth and Love is the foundation of Sikh theology. He was followed by
nine Gurus in succession who spoke in his name
and authority. In 1708 the tenth Nanak proclaimed
Guru Granth Sahib (Sikh Holy Scripture) as the
eternal Guru of the Sikhs. It is the only authority
in Sikhism.
The central theological belief is that there is only
one God. Human life is an opportunity to realize
God. Guru Nanak prescribed truthful living as the key to spiritual
development. It requires one to accept the brotherhood of man and
equality between man and woman. In daily life the need to work and
the requirement of sharing and constant remembrance of God are
religious duties.
Sikhism is life affirming and involves an integral combination of
spiritual and empirical life. Sikhs believe that all shall live in peace and
none shall domineer over another. It is a religious duty and
responsibility to react against injustice and aggression and to safeguard
human rights and values.
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practices. Hinduism is bound together by loyalty to the writings known
as the Veda, which were written in the ancient Sanskrit language during
the period 1200-600 BC. The general viewpoint is as follows.
Countless gods and goddesses are worshipped but they are seen as
aspects of the one Absolute Being called Brahman, who is infinite
consciousness, the source and essence of the material universe. Simply
put, God and the world are not distinct. Life is ruled by cause and effect
and it is believed that there are many lives,
human and other forms, experienced by each person
though the transmigration of souls and a cycle of
rebirths (reincarnation). One’s position is society is
decided by one’s former life, hence the caste system.
from the cycle
The goal of life is liberation of rebirths to be submerged into the infinite consciousness, and the path
to this involves various rituals and practices including yoga.
The Supreme Absolute (Brahman) is not worshipped as such, but
gods and goddesses are seen as aspects of Brahman. Major deities are
Brahma (the Creator), Vishnu (the Preserver), Shiva (the Destroyer)
and Devi (the Divine Mother), but there are countless local deities too.
Hindus also worship spirits, trees, animals and even planets. Some
Hindus hold that the different gods are simply different names of the
one God, and the gods of other religions that are not exclusive in their
claims can easily be fitted in.
The vast majority of Hindus practice devotional Hinduism where faith
is centred on the worship of particular deities. Some, such as the Hare
Krishnas, follow individual gurus or teachers, still others follow
systems of yoga such as Transcendental Meditation.
There are 150,000 Hindus in Australia, and more than 800 million
worldwide.
Buddhism was a reform movement in Hinduism arising from the
search for release from the cycle of rebirth by Siddhartha Gautama, the
son of the ruler of a small kingdom in north India. Recent scholars date
his birth to around 470 BC. He left his life as a prince and engaged in a
spiritual search lasting six years, and believed he had found the answer
at age 35. The word Buddha means ‘Awakened One’.
With few exceptions, Buddhism does not accept belief in a personal
God. It is rather a philosophy which aims to reach , the state of
liberation from desire that it is believed is the origin of suffering.
Buddha shows the way, but it is up to the individual to go that way.
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THE ABRAHAMIC FAITHS
Judaism, Christianity and Islam all look back to Abraham (about 4,000
years ago). Abraham was the father of the Jewish people who trace
their line through Isaac, the child of his old age. Christians regard
themselves as in the line of the faith of Abraham even if not physically
descended from him. Followers of Islam, called Muslims, trace their
descent from Ishmael, Abraham’s older son. All three faiths believe in
one all knowing, all-powerful God who created all things, including
time, gives humans one life only, and will bring everyone to account in
a future Day of Judgment at the resurrection.
In addition, Christianity believes that there are personal distinctions in
God – the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit – so that God is a
fellowship of love (the Holy Trinity), and that Jesus – who is both Son
of God and Son of Man – perfectly reveals what God is like in his holy
and gracious purposes.
MAJOR DIVISIONS
Judaism has a number of divisions, the chief being Orthodox (including
ultra, mainstream and traditional), Reform/Progressive, Liberal and
Conservative. A Jewish religious leader is called a rabbi, and the place
of worship is called a synagogue.
Christian divisions include the separation of the Middle Eastern
churches in the 4th century, the division between East (Greek) and West
(Latin) from the 9th century, and the division which polarised the
Western European church into Roman Catholic and Protestant in the
16th century. In the Eastern, Roman and some Anglican churches the
minister is usually called a priest and addressed as ‘Father’. In other
churches the leader is usually called a pastor or minister.
Catholics are under the ultimate authority of the Pope in Rome.
Protestants do not have this kind of centralised leadership, and diversity
among themselves is more obvious. Major groups include the
Lutherans, Anglicans, Presbyterians, Baptists and Pentecostals. In 1977
Australian Methodists and a majority of Presbyterians and
Congregationalists formed the Uniting Church in Australia as a
theologically and socially progressive union.
Islam originated in Arabia but only 15% of Muslims are Arabs.
Indonesia has the largest Islamic population. A Muslim place of
worship is called a mosque. Within the basic framework of Islam there
are two main divisions. The Sunni (‘well trodden path’) are the large
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majority. They have no central leadership, and many of the differences
among them are really cultural in origin. A Sunni teacher is called an
imam (‘leader’).
The Shia (‘party of Ali’) are those who believe leadership should be
central and that after Muhammad’s death it should have gone to his
cousin and son-in-law, Ali. They are the majority in Iran (89%) and
Iraq (60%). They have their own divisions, particularly over which of
the early leaders are to be recognised. Their chief leaders have the title
Ayatollah (‘Sign of God’), and are believed to be inerrant interpreters
of law and tradition. Sufism is a mystical movement in Islam.
BASIC TEACHINGS
Orthodox Jews hold the Torah (the first five books of the Hebrew
Bible) to be the word of God given through Moses and
unchanged since, although the less Orthodox think of it,
and the rest of the writings forming the Hebrew Bible,
as more a human book. The last prophet was Malachi
(about 2,400 years ago). The Orthodox believe a
personal Messiah is promised for the future and will be a descendant of
King David, but this may not be accepted by the less Orthodox.
Salvation is through living according to God’s laws.
Christians hold that the Bible is God’s unfolding revelation of himself
and his purposes climaxing 2000 years ago in the coming of Jesus, a
descendant of King David and held to be the promised Messiah. By his
death and bodily resurrection he achieved salvation for all who trust in
him, for he covered their sins by his righteous life, and suffered death in
their place. Good works are a fruit of the new relationship
established by God’s grace, not a means of gaining it. The
Bible (Hebrew Bible plus the New Testament) is given
through people of God’s choice, so is a human book, yet,
as also the word of God, it is without error in all it intends
to teach. Jesus will return at the end of history. Roman Catholics also
give a place to tradition as a source of doctrine and accept the supreme
authority of the Pope. Christians of a liberal persuasion do not accept
all these beliefs, but emphasise Jesus as our example.
Muslims revere Jesus as a special prophet. They believe he was born of
the Virgin Mary, but generally hold that Jesus was not crucified but was
taken up to heaven and will return to overthrow the false Messiah, and
reveal to all the truth of Islam, and at his death be buried in the mosque
at Medina. Muslims regard Muhammad (AD 570-632) as the last and
greatest prophet.
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Muslims accept the Hebrew Bible and the Gospels but particularly the Qu’ran, a collection of writings
revealed to Muhammad. The Qu’ran is regarded as the word
of God without any human element, completely divine in
the Arabic original, and unable to convey its message fully adequately
in translation, hence the importance of learning Arabic. As well, the
Hadith (‘sayings’) - traditions of the words and deeds of Muhammad have authority, although there are several different collections (four
schools among the Sunni). Salvation is in the hands of God and is based
on his assessment of a person’s life. The minority Shi’ite tradition,
teaches that their 12th imam, who disappeared in 874 AD, will arise at
some point before the day of judgement, institute a kingdom of justice,
and in the last days fight the false Messiah alongside the returned Jesus.
The basic framework of Muslim belief is found in the Five Pillars of
Islam: These are: declaration of faith in Allah and
saying prayers five times a day.
Muhammad as his Prophet. abstaining during daylight hours in the holy month of Ramadan.
giving money to the poor – at least 2.5% of annual savings.
pilgrimage to Makkah – a duty at least once in one’s lifetime if
possible.
The weekly holy day for Jews is Saturday (sunset-sunset), for most
Christians it is Sunday and for Muslims it is Friday. While most do not
publicly practice the faith they claim, there are about 90,000 Jews in
Australia and 15 million worldwide, with the corresponding figures for
Christians - 13 million and 2 billion, and for Muslims - 350,000 and 1.2
billion. Most Arabic speakers in Australia are not Muslims. Muslims in
Australia come from over 60 ethnic origins.
RELIGIONS ORIGINATING IN INDIA
Hinduism, Buddhism and Sikhism differ from the Abrahamic faiths in
rejecting the idea that humans have one life only. While differing
among themselves they do share belief in a cycle of death and rebirth
(reincarnation) with the possibility of liberation from this cycle under
certain conditions.
Hinduism describes the religion of the majority (75%) of the people of
India. In reality it is a blanket term for a wide range of beliefs and
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