Download Other Religion Part I - Monmouth Church of Christ Family

Alternative Religion
Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam
Do we care?
"It is easy to say we believe a
rope to be strong and
sound as long as we are
using it merely to wrap a
box with it. But suppose
you have to hang by that
rope over a precipice. You
would really want to first
discover just how
trustworthy that rope is”
- CS Lewis
Hinduism
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Hindu Religion
rooted in Indus
Valley
Civilization.
~3300 BC(claim
8500 BC)
Hindu Dharma
Hindu dharma has no founder, the
word Sanatana implies that it always
existed.
 Acceptance of different modes of
worship.
 Hindu dharma is also called
Sanatana Dharma or Eternal Dharma.
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Essential Elements
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Harmony of religions
Hindus do not seek to convert.
Doctrine of Karma
Non Violence
Unity of Existence
Dharma
Humanism
Atman
Reality
Moksha
Authority
Concept of God
The truth (Ultimate Reality) is one,
Sages call it by different names
 Supreme Reality - Brahman has two
aspects, transcendent (impersonal)
and immanent (personal).
 Hindu Deities represent various
perceptions of a one God.
 Hindus believe in monotheistic
polytheism, rather than polytheism.
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Hindu Trinity
Brahma

Vishnu
Shiva
Represents three manifestations of the
supreme reality.
 Creation + Preservation+ Dissolution
Four Ends of Hindu Life
Based on the principle of progressive
evolution of soul.
Basis of individual and social life of a
Hindu.
Dharma
 Artha (Wealth)
 Kama
 Moksha
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Buddhism
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Founded about 566 BC in India by
Gautama Sidhartha, the Buddha or
"Enlightened One", it is one of the
Heterodox schools of Hindu philosophy.
 Major Scriptures : The Tripitaka, AnguttraNikaya, Dhammapada, Sutta-Nipata,
Samyutta-Nikaya, etc.
 Life’s goal is Nirvana - the end of change,
neither existence nor non-existence. No
creator or God, thus no union with Him.
Buddhism: Four Noble Truths
The Truth of Suffering
 The Truth of Origin (Samudaya) of
Suffering
 The Truth of Cessation (Nirodha) of
Suffering
 The Truth of the Path (Marga) To
Ending Suffering
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Buddhism : Philosophy
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Rejects ritualistic aspects of the Vedas,
but does not deny the higher teachings of
the Upanishads. Rejects caste system.
 Believes in theory of karma and rebirth,
but holds that atman (individual spirit)
does not transmigrate from one birth to
another.
 Holds that Self and World are both unreal
Islam - History
Centers around one Person
Muhammed.
 Born around 570 AD
 At the age of 40, he began to have
religious visions.
 Died around 632 AD
 These are now recorded in the Quran
as divine scripture.
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Islam – Basic Tenants
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Pillar 1: Faith - There is no god worthy of worship
except God and Muhammad is His messenger.
 Pillar 2: Prayer - Salat is the name for the obligatory
prayers which are performed five times a day, and
are a direct link between the worshipper and God.
 Pillar 3: Zakat - One of the most important principles
of Islam is that all things belong to God, and that
wealth is therefore held by human beings in trust.
 Pillar 4: Fast - Every year in the month of Ramadan,
all Muslims fast from first light until sundown,
abstaining from food, drink, and sexual relations.
 Pillar 5: Haj - The pilgrimage to Mecca.
Islam- Articles of Faith
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God.
Angels - Angels exist and interact
with human lives.
Scripture - There are four inspired
books. All but the Qur'an have been
corrupted by Jews and Christians.
Prophets - God has spoken through
numerous prophets throughout time.
Last Days - On the last day there will
be a time of resurrection and
judgment.
Summary
Philosophically, you can believe anything,
so long as you do not claim it to be
true. Morally, you can practice anything,
so long as you do not claim it to be a
'better' way. Religiously, you can hold to
anything, so long as you do not bring
Jesus Christ into it. How does one, to a
mood such as this, communicate the
message of Jesus Christ, in which Truth
and absoluteness are not only assumed,
but sustained?“ - Ravi Zacharias