Text

Bethany House Publishers

Minneapolis, MN 1996

MonotheismCompeting

DualismPolytheism

BalancingDualism

Monism Atheism

Concept of God

One Transcenden

t God

Two opposing

godsMany gods

Two equal & opposing

forces

ImpersonalOneness

No god

Primary Example

s

JudaismChristianity

Islam

Zoroastrianism

Tribal ; Folk

religions Shinto

TaoismYin/Yang concept

Hinduism Buddhism New Age Sikhism

HumanismMarxism

Confucionism

View of Humanit

y

Part creation Different frm

Animals

Made to join battle

against evil

Can be influenced, possessed by spirits

A microcosm

of two interacting

forces

One with essence; illusion of separation

A complex form of matter

Humanity’s

Primary Problem

Breaking law Sin

Not Submit

Choosing to do evil

Angering the gods

Out of alignment

with natural

Ignorance of innate divinity

Superstition;

irrational thinking

SolutionLive law

By faith in JSeek/submit

Choosing to do right

Appeasing the gods

Living in harmony

with nature

Enlightenment

Realization of oneness

Applying rational thinking

for problems

AfterlifeEternal life

in heaven or hell

Eternal life in heaven

or hell

Sometimes advances to spirit world

Usually advances to spirit world

Reincarnated or

merges with

oneness

Person ceases to

exist

A TIME LINE OF THE WORLD RELIGIONS

1500 B.C. HINDUISM

1440 B.C. JUDAISM

660 B.C. SHINTOISM

600 B.C. TAOISM

563 B.C. BUDDHISM

563 B.C. CONFUCIANISM

30 A.D. CHRISTIANITY

622 A.D. ISLAM

1469 A.D. SIKHISMCompact Guide to World Religions, Gen.Editor Dean C. Halverson

DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE RELIGIONS (1)

HINDUISMBUDDHIS

MISLAM

CHRISTI -ANITY

REALITY

Impersonal essence; or many gods

No god or Buddha essence

Unknowable Creator

Personal Creator; Revealed Himself

HUMAN-ITY

Divine in our essence

No personal essence

Created by God ;

nothing like Him

Created by God in His

image

PROBL-EM

Trapped in reincarnation in an illusory world; due to ignorance &

karma

Trapped in reincarnatio

n in a suffering

world; due to desire &

karma

Under judgement

of Allah due to

failure to keep the

Law

Under God’s

judgement for sin of rebellion

DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE RELIGIONS (11)

HINDUISMBUDDHIS

MISLAM

CHRISTI - ANITY

SALVA -TION

Deliverance from world

thro’ knowledge,

works or devotion

Deliverance from

suffering thro’

cessation of desire

(w/self or divine help)

Deliverance from

judgement thro’

obedience to Law

Deliverance from

judgement by faith in

God’s provision

thro’ Christ

AFTER LIFE

Merging with Ultimate Reality or

heavenly bliss in the

presence of the gods

Extinction from

suffering, desire &

individuality (nirvana)

Paradise or hell

Heaven with God or

hell

ANIMISUM

ANIMISM

PERSONAL SPIRIT BEINGS GOD OF THE BIBLE

Limited to one geographic location

God of the Universe

Power over various aspects of nature

Has power over all things

Depends on our sacrificesDoesn’t depend on sacrifice

Provides sacrifice on our behalf

IMPERSONAL SPIRITUAL FORCE

GOD OF THE BIBLE

Spiritual forces can be manipulated

Cannot be manipulated by charms or rituals

Spiritual forces can be used for either evil or good

God is holy & hates evil

ANIMISTIC & BIBLICAL WORLDVIEWS

ANIMISM CHRISTIANITY

GODGod exists but cannot know Him or communicate with Him

God is beyond comprehension but made Himself knowable; can communicate with Him

ULTIMATE/

IMMEDIATE ISSUES

Religions concerned with ultimate: sin & salvation. Animism offers power to cope with immediate

God concerned with both the present & the ultimate. God provides daily needs & eternal needs

THE SPIRITS

Spirits either represent God or is our intermediaries

Spirits deceptive & evil. Holy Spirit is God

THE POWER

OF SPIRITS

The spirits & instruments of magic harm others or bring us benefits

Spirits do have limited power but leads to bondage. God is greater & disarms powers. Submission to God is freedom

BUDDHISM

FOUNDING OF BUDDHISM •Founded by Siddhartha Gautama (563 - 482 B.C)

•Life of Buddha 3 periods - enjoyment, enquiry & enlightenment

•563-534 B.C Born in Nepal (previously India) sheltered from suffering. Encountered old age, sickness,death & poverty

•534- 528 Left life of luxury, practiced extreme asceticism; after 6 years weak, nearly died while bathing, clung to overhang branch

•528 - 483 B.C in city of Bodh Gaya, sat under Bo tree, meditated (deep), tempted by Mara (evilone), resisted & attained enlightenment

•Middle Way - avoided both extreme affluence & asceticism

•After 45 years of spreading message he died, probably food poisoning

•Last words “Decay is inherent in all component things. Work out your own salvation with diligence”

•For 200 years did not spread beyond India until King Asoka became a Buddhist & used resources to send missionaries to Syria, Egypt, Sri Lanka, Myanmar & Thailand

BUDDHISM & CHRISTIANITYTHERAVADA MAHAYANA CHRISTIANITY

GODNirvana an abstract void

Abstract void as well as Buddha essence

Personal God; self existent & changeless

HUMA-NITY

An impermanent collection of aggregates

Same. For some personal existence in Pure Land for a while

Made in God’s image. Life after death. Of value

PROB-LEM

Suffering due to desire of temporary; illusion of existence

SameSuffering due to sin. Fulfilled in obedience

SOLU-TION Cease all desire

Become Buddha nature in self

Forgiven by & reconciled to God

THE MEAN

S

Self-reliance. Middle path; accumulate karmic merit

Self- reliance. Eight fold path. Depend on merits of Bodhisattva

Reliance on God. Repent of sin. Trust in Christ

OUT-COME

Enters Nirvana. Ego extinguished

Varies. Become Bodhivastta. Live in Pure Land & Nirvana

Eternal life with God

JESUS & BUDDHA/BODHISATTVAS

THERAVADA CHRISTIANITYGod’s existence unimportant.

Does not pertain to escape from suffering

Jesus has special relationship with God

Buddha points the way to Nirvana

Jesus is the way to salvation

Overcome suffering by eliminating desire

Problem is sin. Repent & be obedient

MAHAYANA CHRISTIANITYMany bodhisattvas One incarnation of God

Bodhisattvas has compassion for the suffering

Jesus is God’s demonstration of love to the world

Bodhisattvas views physical world as an illusion to be

escaped

God created universe thro’ Jesus & said it was good

Bodhisattvas has to overcome own sin thro’

several lifetimes

Jesus was sinless; it did not take a process for Him to be

sinless

HINDUISM

THE DEVELOPMENT OF BRAHMAN in HINDUISM

NIRGUNA BRAHMAN

(“without attributes”)

SAGUNA BRAHMAN

(“with attributes”) Also called ISHVARA

BRAHMANThe Creator

VISHNUThe preserver

SIVAThe Destroyer

AVATARSTen mythical incarnations of Vishnu

DEVELOPMENT OF HINDUISM

•13% of world population - Majority in India 700 mil. (82%). Nepal 89%, Mauritius 50% Fiji 41% Surinam 27%. In bali 200mil. N.America over 1 m.

• Began ca. 1500 BC in India as a simple polytheistic & ritualistic religion performed by head of household. As centuries passed, became complex & priestly class created to perform rituals. They became sole mediators with the gods. The Vedas (knowledge”) written during this period

•Priest gained power over lives & finally ca. 600BC people revolted & Hinduism emphasized internal meditation as opposed to external rituals

•800-300 BC Upanishads (conclusion of Vedas) written - expounded idea that behind the gods stands one impersonal force or Reality. Concept developed to one with attributes, a personified form of Brahman, Ishvara

•Ishvara became known to humanity thro’ three manifestations - each of these had at least one divine spouse or devi

•Ishvara became personified further thro 10 mythical incarnations of Vishnu including animals (eg fish, boar, tortoise) & persons (Rama, Krishna & Buddha)

• Beyond these principle deities there are estimated to be 330 mil. gods

BELIEFS OF HINDUISM

Although Hinduism is tremendously diverse, most Hindus hold to the following beliefs

•THE IMPERSONAL NATURE OF BRAHMANSince ultimate reality is an impersonal force of existence, the universe is continuous & extended from the Being of Brahman•THE BRAHMAN/ATMAN UNITYTrue self (atman) is extended from & one with Brahman. We are ignorant of our divine nature & mistakenly attach to desire•THE LAW OF KARMALaw of cause & effect. Reap what you sow. Effects after life•SAMSARA (REINCARNATION)Wheel of life, death & rebirth. Reaping in this life consequences of previous. Determines whether new life is human, insect etc•MOKSHA (LIBERATION)Realization that individual self is an illusion & detach from desire

HINDU SCRIPTURES• Earliest are the Vedas - meaning knowledge

• There are four Vedas - Rig Veda, Sama Veda, Yajur Veda & Atharva Veda. Each of these is divided into four parts; The Manthras (verses or hymns), Brahmanas (explanation of verses), Aran -yakas (reflections on their meaning) & the Upanishads (mystical interpretation of verses). These are equivalent to revealed scriptures

• Besides these primary scriptures, there are secondary ones including the popular epics Ramayana (Rama’s way); Mahabharata (the great story) within this is the most popular Bhagavad-Gita, the main character is Krishna

• Other secondary scriptures include the Vedangas (codes of laq eg Laws of Manu), the Puranas (genealogies & legends of gods), the Darshanas (philosophical writings), Sutras (rules of rituals & social conduct and the Tantras (writings on attaining occultic power)

KARMA & SIN COMPARED

KARMA SIN

Involve moral issues Involve moral issues

Consequences for actions Consequences for actionsRelationship with Brahman not affected by karma. Whether ones karma is good or bad (makes no difference)one is unconditionally extended from Brahman

Sin affects relationship with God. We become

alienated from God. Sin is rebellion against His

moral authority

Law of karma makes morality like law of

nature. No possibility of forgiveness.

Consequences of actions inevitable

God is personal & therefore has capacity to

forgive. Basis of forgiveness is Christ’

death

CHRISTIANITY & HINDUISM CONTRASTED

HINDUISM CHRISTIANITYGOD Impersonal Personal

HUMANITY

Continuous - being extended from the

Being of God

Discontinuous. Separate from

GodHUMAN

PROBLEMIgnorance Moral Rebellion

THE SOLUTION

Liberation from illusion & ignorance

Forgiveness of sin &

Reconciliation with God

THE MEANS

Self effort in separation from ego & become aware of one’s unity

with divine

Repenting of sin & trusting in work

of Christ at the cross

THE OUTCOME

Merge into oneness. Individual disappears

Eternal, loving relationship with

God

JESUS & VISHNU INCARNATIONS

JESUS VISHNU

One incarnation as a human

At least 10 incarnations in both animal & human forms

Historicity of Jesus’ life & death important. If Christ did not die there is no Gospel

Stories of avatars may have some truth but historicity unimportant

Purpose of incarnation “to save the lost” & reconcile to God

Vishnu’s incarnation is to destroy evil-doers

Jesus pointed to Himself as the way to receive eternal life

Avatars point to a way to attain enlightenment

Jesus’ incarnation unique - “once for all. Same identity maintained before & after incarnation

Vishnu incarnates periodically. Avatar incarnates as needed then dies & re-absorbed into Brahman

ISLAM

THE FOUNDING OF ISLAM• Muhammed born in AD 570 in Mecca; important place for caravans• Ka’bah is located in Mecca. At that time, it was a structure with 360 deities. Each Arabian tribe had a deity & would come for pilgrimage

• In AD 610, Muhammed received first revelation from angel Gabriel. He initially doubted the revelations & thought he was possessed by jinn but wife convinced him that they were divine & encouraged him

• His message was strictly monotheistic & leaders of his own tribe discouraged him viewing it as a threat to their polytheistic religion & to their economy (from pilgrimage to Ka’bah)

• Muhammed refused & continued to preach. Persecution against followers resulted in about 100 families fleeing to Mecca, 200 miles away. In 622 Muhammed also fled there - beginning of Muslim Calendar year. Event known as Hijrah (“series of migrations”)

• Muhammed, after several sieges & making treaties took Mecca without a struggle

• He personally destroyed the Ka’bah & unified all the tribes in the Arabian Peninsula. Muhammed died on 8 June 632 AD

ISLAM AMONG THE NATIONS

• 20% of world population. 2nd largest religion next to Christianity. Began in Saudi Arabia but now non-Arab Muslims outnumber Arab Muslims by almost 3 to 1.

• Indonesia 166 m., 88% of population; Pakistan 111 m., 97%; Bangladesh 97 m., 85%; India 93 m., 11%

• Most Muslim nations have minimal Christian 0-2% of population. These countries have closed the boarders to missionaries & most have outlawed evangelism

•Two major sects, Sunni & Shi’ite. Division over should serve as first caliph as successor to Muhammed who left no will. Shi’ite insisted on Muhammed’s blood line - Ali his Cousin & son-in-law. The did not get their way. They now also differ in other ways

• Sunnis emphasize written tradition - Qur’an & Sunna (“custom”). Sunna includes the Hadith - sayings of Mohammed & friends

• Shi’ites authoritative rather than consensus. Central figure of Imam Religious authority exercise both political & religious power

• Sufism is mystical wing of Islam - renounces worldly attachments & attain assimilation with vast Being of God

MAJOR BELIEFS OF ISLAM• God is one - central doctrine. To associate a partner with God is sin for which there is no forgiveness (Surah 4:48)

• Angels - between God & man exists a hierarchy of angels, Gabriel holding the highest rank. At bottom are the jinn (get word “genie”) who are usually bad & can possess people. Each person has 2 angels assigned to record good & bad

•The Prophets of God - sent to preach message. In tradition 124000 has been sent many unknown; prophets include Biblical characters Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, David, Solomon, Jonah, John the Baptist & also Jesus. Each prophet given for an age but Mohammed (Seal of Prophets) or is for all time

• The Holy Books - 4 of the highest prophets given revelation. Moses - Tawrat (Torah), David- Zabur (Psalms), Jesus - Injil (Gospel), Mohamed (Qur’an) which is the only one preserved uncorrupted

• Day of Judgement - Good deeds & bad deeds will be weighed. Excess good deeds go to paradise & those with bad to hell. Good & bad subjective only known by God. No assurance of acceptance by God

OBLIGATIONS OF ISLAM• To Recite the Shahadah (meaning “to bear witness”) - “I bear witness that there is no God but Allah & Muhammed is his messenger” . This recited with sincerity is all it takes to be a Muslim

• To Pray (Salat) - Required to say 17 cycles of prayer each day, spread over 5 times of prayer (dawn,noon, midafternoon, dusk & 2 hours after sundown). Must wash in prescribed manner before prayer & face towards Mecca. Noon on Friday only time to get together in Mosque

• The Fast (Sawm) - In commemoration of receiving Qur’an during 9th month. Total fast during daylight hours

• To Give Alms (Zakat) - Muslims are commanded to give 2.5% (1/5th) to the poor & needy

• To Make the Pilgrimage (Hajj) - Make trip at least once in lifetime provided that he is able to with respect to health & finances. All must wear white, eliminating all status. Visiting several sacred sites usually takes a week. After pilgrimage, entitled to be called Hajj

CHRISTIANITY & ISLAM (1)

ISLAM CHRISTIANITY

GOD A singular unityComplex unity - one in essence, three in person

HUMANITY Good by nature Sinful by nature

SIN

Sin is thought as rejecting right guidance. Forgiven through repentance. No atonement necessary

Sin is serious & causes spiritual death. Moral rebellion against God. Atonement necessary for reconciliation

SALVATION

Standard for salvation is to have good deeds outweigh bad. Based on human effort

Standard is the absolute holiness of God. Hence it can only be offered as a gift. It cannot be earned

CHRISTIANITY & ISLAM (2)

ISLAM CHRISTIANITY

JESUS

One of major prophets. To associate Him with God is blasphemy. Born of virgin & performed miracles

One & only Son of God. Eternal & co-equal with God

DEATH OF JESUS

Traditionally Jesus did not die on cross; ascended into heaven & Judas crucified in His place. Unthinkable that God would allow His prophet to be crucified

Jesus was crucified, buried & rose on 3rd day. Was seen by witnesses. He came to earth to die. Received highest honor

THE BIBLE

Corrupted. Abrogated by Qur’an

Divinely inspired. Final authority on matters of faith & truth

JUDAISM

THREE BRANCHES OF JUDAISM (1)

ORTHODOX CONSERVATIVE REFORM

HISTORY

Dates back to Talmud. Seeks

to preserve traditional

Arose as a reaction to tendencies to reform

in Germany, yet adept

Sought to modernize to

maintain Jewish identity

GOD Personal Spirit. Compassionate

Impersonal & Ineffable

Wide variety of concepts

HUMANITY

Morally neutral. Perfect by

observing Law

Basically good. Partners w/ God.

Perfection by enlightenment

Basically good. Potential within.

Thro’ education & evolution

SINNo original.

Breaking Command

No original. Sin by moral & social

actions

No original. Sin is ills of society

SOLUTION

God’s mercy, prayer

obedience. Presume a

standing w/ God

Maintaining Jewish identity. Betterment

of self & society

Betterment of self & society

VIEW OF LAW

Basis of Judaism.

Authoritative. Leads to God

Adapts to contemporary

situations. Demands for morality

absolute.Other specific laws relative

Law evolving. Give into just demands of

society

THREE BRANCHES OF JUDAISM (11)

ORTHODOX CONSERVATIVE REFORM

BIBLE/ SCRIPTU

RE

Torah (five books of Moses).

Secondary Hebrew Bible

Both Torah & other inspired books.

Revelation on going

Scripture human document preserving

history & culture

OTHER Traditional Judaism

Historical Judaism Liberal Judaism

LIFE AFTER LIFE

Resurrection. Life with God or

suffering

Tend towards Reform view but less

influenced by Eastern mysticism

No concept of personal life. As in E mysticism,

merge into impersonal

WORSHIP

Synagogue place of worship.

Conducted in Hebrew.

Women sit separate

Synagogue place of worship. Lesser

degree the changes in Reform

Service modernized.

English & Hebrew used. Men & women sit together

VIEW OF

MESSIAH

Not divine. He will restore

Jewish Kingdom. Will

execute judgement

Much the same views as Reform

Not a person. Utopian age

where man is progressing to

JEWISH HOLIDAYS

•Rosh ha-Shanah - September/October. The Jewish New Year. Marks 1st day of a ten day “High Holidays”

•Yom Kippur - 10 days after Rosh ha-Shanah. Day of Atonement. Most solemn day of calendar. Recite prayers, some fast

•Sukkot - Also called Tabernacles/Booth. 5 days after Yom Kippur. Booths in backyard, waving branches

•Hanukkah - November/December. Lasts 8 days. Festival commemorating the victory of the Maccabees ocer Syrian armies (175 BC). Lighting “menorah”, (lampstand); eating special foods

•Purim - February/March. Recalls story of Esther

•Passover - March/April. Lasts a week but ceremonial meal “seder” only on first two nights

•Shavuot - Also called Festival of Weeks. May/June. Law given to Moses

PRACTICES OF JUDAISM•The annual holiday cycle

•Circumcision of sons on eighth day

•Bar mitzvah (for boys) & bat mitzvah (for girls). Coming of age ceremony at thirteen

•Observing the Sabbath. Many who do not observe still prepare a special family meal for the Sabbath on Friday evening

•Wearing phylacteries - small black boxes containing Scriptures that must be wrapped around arm & forehead, according to set time & pattern. Practiced only traditional Jews

•Placing “mezuzah” - small box containing various Scriptures, on door posts of home.

•Keeping “kosher” (dietary laws). eg prohibition of milk & meat at one meal. Strictly observed by Orthodox Jews, loosely by others

•Scripture - Old Testament. Other books include Talmud containing “Mishnah & Gemara”

SELECTED PROPHECIES FULFILLED IN JESUS (1)

PROPHECY FULFILLMENTMessiah will be seed of Abraham Gen 18:18; Isaac 21:12; Jacob Num 24:17,19; Judah Gen 49:10; Jesse Isa 11:1-2, 10: David Jer 23:5-6

“Jesus .. the son of David...son of Judah..son of Jacob...son of Isaac, the son of Abraham Luke 3:31-33

Born in Bethlehem Micah 5:2 also John 7:42

So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth ... to Bethlehem the town of David Luke 2:4

He was despised and rejected by men Isa 53:3

Those who passed by [the cross] hurled insults at him .. Matt 27:39-44

A man of sorrows Isaiah 53;3

The [Jesus] said to them,’My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death” Matt 26:38

Familiar with suffering Isa 53:3...... the Son of man must suffer many things Mk 8:31; Luke 24:26

Then will the eyes of the blind be opened & the ears of the deaf unstopped...the lame leap Isa 35:4-6.

Go back & report to John..The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured,the deaf hear, the dead are raised Mat 11;4-5, Luke 4:18

SELECTED PROPHECIES FULFILLED IN JESUS (11)

PROPHECY FULFILLMENTthe lord has anointed me to preach good news to the poor Isa 61:1

the good news is preached to the poor Mat 11:4-5; Luke 4:18

Surely he took up our infirmities & carried our sorrows Isa 53:4

[Jesus] drove out the spirit with a word & healed all the sick mat 8: 16-17

They must not ...break any of [the Passover lamb’s] bones Num 9:12; He was pierced Isa 53:5. They have pierced my hands & feet Psa 22:16; Zech 12:10

..when they came to Jesus & found that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. Instead, one of the soldiers pierced Jesus’ side with a spear John 19:33-37

He was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities ... the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all Isa 53:5-6

The Son of Man [came] to give his life as a ransom for many mat 20:28 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us 2 Cor 5:21 John 11:49-51 1 Cor 15:3

He was oppressed & afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth ... as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth Isa 53:7

Bot Jesus remained silent mat 26: 63 When he was accused by the chief priest & elders, he gave no answer mat 27:12

SELECTED PROPHECIES FULFILLED IN JESUS (111)

PROPHECY FULFILLMENT

They divided my garments among them & cast lots for my clothing Psa 22:18

[Jesus] garment was seamless woven in one piece.. Let’s decide by lot who will get it Joh 19:23-24

He had done no violence, nor was any deceit in his mouth Isa 53:9

Judas: I have sinned for I have betrayed innocent blood Mat 27:4; Luke 23:41; 2 Cor 5:21

He was numbered with the transgressors Isa 53:12

Two robbers were crucified with him mat 27:38; Luke 22:37

He was assigned a grave .. with the rich in his death Isa 53:9

There came a rich man ... took the body & placed it in his own new tomb Mat 27: 57-60

He made intercession for the transgressors Isa 53:12

Father forgive them for they do not know what they are doing Luke 23:34

You will not abandoned me to the grave nor let your Holy One see decay Psa 16:10

Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen Luke 24:5-6; Acts 2:31-32

TAOISM

TAOISM & CHRISTIANITYTAOISM CHRISTIANITY

ULTIMATE

The Tao -an impersonal force; unknowable in a

personal way

Personal God. Knowable in a personal way

GOOD-NESS

Ying/Yang duality flows from Tao Good & evil co-

equal mutually dependent

Goodness comes from character of God. Unlike

Taoism evil not necessary for existence

NATURE

Has always existed, not created; Moral laws like

laws of nature. Cause/effect

consequences

Creation of God. Morally neutral; persons are moral

PROBLEM

Life is in disorder as we do not align with flow of

nature

Life is in chaos because we have rebelled against God

SOLUTION

Use own ability to align self with Tao & ‘go with

the flow’

Repent of sin & trust in Jesus. Let Holy Sprit transform our lives

OUTCOME

Aligning with Tao we have order, harmony &

peace within

As we repent & trust Christ, we have peace with

God & others

AFTERLIFE

Consciousness ceases to exist. Family

remembrance = keeps them “immortal

Consciousness continues to exist in fellowship with God or separated for ever

CONFUCIANISM

ASPECTS OF “JEN” - CONFUCIANISM

THE GOAL“Jen” is goal for ideal humanity. Actualizes full

potential in manifesting moral perfection

PROCESSProcess in achieving ideal includes self -

reflection, self -cultivation & moral responsibility

FOUNDAT-ION

“Jen” is the true nature that resides within each person. This true nature is good

EARLY WORLDVIEW OF CONFUCIANISTSTRUE

HUMANITYJen is basic humanity & is good. Provides source

for all virtues & ritesMANDATE

FROM HEAVEN

Jen is a moral heavenly mandate. Heaven refers to natural law & moral order of things

BASIS FOR HARMONY

Harmonious living based on person’s realization & actualization of Jen

CONFUCIANISTS WORLDVIEW

GODBefore Confucius God spoken as personal. Confucius spoke of Ultimate Reality with

less personal meaning

MANDATE FROM HEAVEN

The moral order of things within nature. Harmony results when humanity strives to

abide by this orderCENTRAL CONCERN

Affirm humanity’s inherent goodness & look for a way to actualize it

HUMAN NATURE

Basically good & potentially perfect. Evil comes when we are forced to act in that

way or let our minds fall into evil inclination

WAY TO ACTUALIZE

Includes education, self-reflection, self-cultivation & behaving within accepted

norms in our culture

THE WORLD World is a place where one practices

goodness, love one another & work hard to nourish the earth

HEAVENA creative mortal power & an impersonal

principle. Exists as a foundation for creativity manifested in whole world

THE NEW AGE

NEW AGE & CHRISTIANITY (1)

NEW AGE CHRISTIANITY

GOD

Impersonal. Without moral distinction. Life force that underlies nature; existential substance beneath all things

PersonalMorally holy

Creator. TranscendentDistinct from creation

HUMA-NITY

Divine. Unconditionally extended from the oneness, but we are ignorant of our true divine nature

Made in God’s image

SALVA-TION

Gaining new perspective by self effort of inter -connectedness of all things with the divine oneness

Reconciled to God thro’ the atoning work of Jesus Christ & given new life by the power of the Holy Spirit

LIFE AFTER

Spiritual progression for attaining enlightenment. Expanding consciousness into Universal mind

Spent in either heaven or hell, in fellowship or separation from the personal God

NEW AGE & CHRISTIANITY (11)

NEW AGE CHRISTIANITYBasis

Salvation

Based on human effortBased on God’s grace. cannot merit salvation

Meaning

Salvation

Individual to merge with impersonal oneness

Individual to be reconciled with the

Person of God

“Jesus” Our example Not only our example but our substitute for death

penaltyProgre

ss salvati

on

Salvation is gradual process as we strive for

perfection

Salvation immediate & received by faith in Christ

Path to God

Many paths to God Only one way

Healing

Health matter of mind. Positive thinking

manifest as health

Healing provided in the atonement received by

faith in God’s time

Forgive- ness

Not possible as moral laws become like laws of

nature

Possible because source of moral law is the Person of God