Download Comparing World Religions - Townsend Harris High School

Comparing World Religions
And Philosophies
Q: Define the terms religion and philosophy. How are they similar? How are they
Different?
Major beliefs of Hinduism
Ganesha
Hinduism - overview
Origins
Hinduis
m
Indus
Valley c.
1500-500
BCE–
based on
Aryan
invaders
practices
Sacred
Texts
Veda
(including
Upanishads)
and epics
(Bhagavad
Gita,
Mahabharat
a,
Ramayana)
Organization
Beliefs
Practices
Divisions
Individual
temple
rituals
assisted by
members of
Brahmin
class
(priests)
Polytheistic;
commitment
to an ideal
way of life
(dharma) and
notion of
action,
especially
religious or
ritual action
(karma) to
purify human
acts during
rebirths of
the soul so
as to leave
the material
world
(moksha) and
become part
of the eternal
universal
spirit of life
Selfdenial,
fasting to
purify the
soul,
individual
rituals
(initiations
,
marriages,
funerals)
assisted
by
members
of
Brahmin
class
(priests)
Variety of
sects devoted
to Vishnu,
Shiva, Shakti
The Laws of Manu (1500 BC)
• 31. Let (the first part of) a Brahmana's name
(denote something) auspicious, a Kshatriya's be
connected with power, and a Vaisya's with
wealth, but a Sudra's (express something)
contemptible.
• 32. (The second part of) a Brahmana's (name)
shall be (a word) implying happiness, of a
Kshatriya's (a word) implying protection, of a
Vaisya's (a term) expressive of thriving, and of a
Sudra's (an expression) denoting service.
Fordham.edu
The Caste System
Brahmans
Kshatriyas
Vaisyas
Sudras
UNTOUCHABLES
Hinduism continued
• Hinduism is polytheistic religion – despite having “creator
god” – Brahma
• Brought to India by Aryan conquest from Central Asia
from about 1000 BCE – 500 CE
• Hinduism at first is localized in practice, but overtime
becomes more universally followed within India with
some common beliefs
• 3rd largest religion in the world with almost 1 billion
followers, 98% of whom live in South Asia (India)
• Goal: to escape the cycle of rebirth
• Important terms: Dharma (how to live your life) and
Karma (your destiny)
Buddhism
Buddhism - overview
Buddhis
m
India (c.
566-486
BCE),
founded
by noble
Siddarta
Gautama
(“Buddha”
- the
Enlighten
ed One)
Triptakanarratives
scriptural
text
Buddha’s
teaching
(sutras)
Independent
sanghasmonastic
orders
4 Noble
Truths:
(duhkha)
all beings
suffer in a
cycle of
rebirth
(samsara)
in which
their
actions
(karma)
keep them
wandering
; suffering
itself has
a cause
suffering
and
rebirth
can cease
(nirvana)
Eightfold
Pathcombines
ethical
practices
and
discipilanry
training in
meditation to
achieve
enlightened
wisdom
(panna).
Numerous
sects based
on schools of
meditation
such as
Theravada
(South &
S.E.Asia)
and
Mahanyana
(China,
Korea,
Japan)
The Four Noble Truths
1. Life means suffering
2. Suffering is caused by desire
3. One can end suffering by ending
desire
4. Following the Eightfold Path will help
people to overcome desire
The Eightfold Path
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
The right views
The right intentions
The right speech
The right conduct
The right livelihood
The right effort
The right mindfulness
The right meditation
Spread of Buddhism
• Begins with Siddhartha Gautama and his disciples around 450 BCE
• Ashoka converts to Buddhism and temporarily Buddhism dominates
India (around 250 BCE)
• Hinduism adds some Buddhist principles and quickly reemerges as
dominant religion in India after Ashoka’s death
• Buddhism spreads to China over the Silk Roads – and then to Korea
and Japan from 400s CE – 1200s CE
• Buddhism spreads to Southeast Asia over the Bay of Bengal (India
Ocean) Trade – to Thailand and Sri Lanka and other Southeast
Asian countries from 100s CE – 1000s CE
• Today there are about 450 million followers of Buddhism – mostly in
China, Korea, Japan, and Southeast Asia