Buddhism, Hinduism, Judaism, et.al.

Religious Hearths***• South Asia– Hinduism– Buddhism– Shintoism

• Huang He River Valley (China)– Taoism– Confucianism

• Eastern Mediterranean!!!– Christianity– Judaism– Islam

Buddhism

• Predominantly in China and SE Asia• Splintered from Hinduism – Buddha questioned the caste system, but still

believes in following dharma (laws) to have good karma for reincarnation

– Reaching enlightenment will release you from this cycle of rebirth

• Four Noble Truths (know)/8 fold path to Enlightenment– Goal of religion is to attain enlightenment by getting

rid of desires, attachments, and ignorance

Buddhism

• Nirvana- ultimate state of peace–Buddhism is a way of living that achieves

release from reincarnation and suffering• Monks perform religious functions• Does not require exclusive adherence • God is not knowable- therefore is not a

major concern in Buddhism• Tripitaka is holy text

THE EIGHT-FOLD PATH

6

The Way (the 8-Fold Path)

The threefold scheme of morality

1. Right understanding2. Right thought Faith

(initially)Wisdom: III(ultimately)

3. Right speech4. Right bodily action5. Right livelihood

Morality: I

6. Right moral effort7. Right mindfulness8. Right concentration

Meditation: II

Origin of Buddhism• Founded by Siddhartha Guatama– Buddha’s story

• He transformed into the Buddha (“awakened enlightened one”) after 6 year meditation on why there is suffering and how to escape it

• Split in interpretations of teachings– Theravada- withdrawal from world; monks; follow

example of Buddha's life, individual responsibility– Mahayana- Elightenment can be attained with help

from a bodhisattva- a “saint” who is so full of compassion that he will not enter into a state of nirvana until others can enter with him.

Diff of Buddhism

• Slower diffusion from hearth through missionaries.

• Emperor Asoka helped diffuse

• Lost base in India after diffusing to China, Korea and Japan

Other Univ. Religions

• Sikhism- continual improvement; founded on the wisdom of 10 Gurus- 1st was Nanak.– Don’t shave beard; wear turbans = sense of unity

• Baha’i- abolish racial, class, and religious preferences

Darbar Sahib, India-Home of the Guru Granth Sahib (Holy Book): Sihkism

Ethnic Religions• Hinduism: 3rd largest religion– Concentrated in India and Nepal– Vedas are sacred texts– Karma is main doctrine- reincarnation

(transferability of the soul)• Religious caste system

– Deities (holy beings/objects) are chosen by individual = Many paths to spirituality

– Ritual bathing in Ganges River (make pilgrimage there)

– All gods come form Atman

Origin and Diffusion of Hinduism

• One of oldest religions (4000+ years ago)– Unclear origin- before recorded history

• Possibly originated in Indus River Valley in present day Pakistan– No longer associated with Pakistan hearth

(concentrated in Nepal and India)• When Christianity and Islam diffused to

Hindu areas, Hindu teachers integrated new teachings– Islam stimulated rise of Sikhism

Landscapes of Hinduism and Buddhism • Hindus erect shrines/temples to please Gods and to

be rewarded- countless shrines all over India– Cultural landscape of Hinduism is the cultural landscape

of India– Located near water for ritual bathing

• Buddhism– Sacred site- Bodhi (Enlightenment) Tree where the

Buddha attained enlightenment. The Bodhi tree diffused as far as China and Japan

– Architecture- Pagoda (place of worship)

• Both usually cremate their dead

Became the “Laughing Buddha” as Buddhism spreads into China. = China adding their own twist to Buddhism

Taj Mahal- It’s a mausoleum with Islamic Architecture. (Not in Mumbai)

Judaism: an ethnic religion • Found in US and Israel– First monotheistic religion?– Teachings of Abraham• Jews agree to worship only one God and that

God will protect his chosen people- the Jews • Migrated from Iraq to Canaan

(Palestine/Israel)– Christianity and Islam have roots in Judaism• Jesus was a Jew, 10 commandments;

Muhammad traces ancestry to Abraham– NOT universalizing religion- adherents are spread

out due to forced migration, not seeking of converts

According to all the prophets of Israel, when the Third Temple is rebuilt on this same spot, this will usher in an era of peace and universal harmony unparalleled in the history of mankind. It is a fundamental principle of Jewish faith that the Temple will be rebuilt.

“Wailing Wall

Dome of the Rock

Diffusion of Judaism• Jewish Diaspora- dispersion of Jews, forced

migration from home in present day Israel • Zionism- want a homeland for the Jewish people– Jews should not be absorbed into other societies-

Holocaust encouraged many to adopt this idea– Goal became a reality in 1948 when UN created

state of Israel and Palestine- mass migration back to shores of eastern Mediterranean

– Law of Return- right of every Jew to migrate back to Israel

• However, US is home to most Jews

Sacred Sites of Jerusalem

• Judaism– The Western Wall (Wailing Wall) of the Temple Mount- all

that remains of an old temple after it was destroyed – Jerusalem was sacred before birth of Jesus– Encouraged Zionists movements- wanted to control again

• Christianity • Church of the Holy Sepulcher- built on top of Jesus’ tomb

• Islam– Fought the Crusades with Christians for control of

Jerusalem– Dome of the Rock- built next to the Western wall- marks

where Muhammad ascended into heaven

(Video)

Ethnic Religions

• Confucianism: “correct behavior”– Ethical principles/norms for daily life in China– Service to fellow humans more important than

service to spirits– Denied divine right to rule (abilities over ancestry)

• T(D)aoism: China– mystical aspects of life– Live in harmony- feng shui; geomancers (consulters)– Competition, possession, war, ostentation, taxation,

pursuit of knowledge seen as evils

Ethnic Religions• Shintoism: Japan– Mix of Buddhism with local religion of Japan– Nature is divine (godly), ancestor worship – Majority of Japanese observe both

• Animism: Africa– Natural objects/occurrences are “animated” by

spirits• Ingenious/Shamanist – Local in scope, worship nature, and are passed down

through families/tribes

Buddhist Pagodas diffuse to Japan, used with Shintoism

What is secularism?• The indifference (don’t care) to or rejection of

formal religion• US has highest rate among wealthiest countries-

57%• Even if your society is secular and regardless of your

beliefs, what you eat, where you work/shop and what you are aloud to do is influenced by religion– Chic-Fil-A closed on Sundays!!!!

Rise of Secularism• The map does not show the rise on secularism

across the globe• French Gov’t– Hijab’s (head scarves), yarmulke (Jewish skullcap), large

Christian crosses seen as “disruptive” in schools

• Contributing to the decline of organized religion• Places are open on Sunday’s now

• People who still follow religion do so more passionately– Immigrants hold on to religion more fervently- helps

them ease into a new place

Universalizing Ethnic

• Have specific hearths/founders• All are from ASIA!

• Widespread diffusion: proselytizing, trying to convert people

• Holy places/sites are based on important events in founders life

• Unclear origins, before recorded history

• Lack of diffusion—no missionaries• Judaism is an exception

(forced migration to other places)

• Have to compete with the spread of universalizing religions

• Holy places are attached to physical environment (Ganges River for Hindus)