World Religions Essay Topics – Flashcards

Only 25% of the population practices an indigenous religion These religions focus on the things that are important to their culture Most do not have a founder, but most have a supreme God/Goddess who began creation and controls rain There are also lesser gods/deities--- more commonly worshiped in daily life, more approachable Mostly oral, many traditions are ritualistic, with rites of passage being very common Evil and suffering is blamed on witchcraft Large focus on an afterlife/reincarnation Similar to other indigenous religions in many ways (ie oral, many deities, rituals)

First voyages by Spanish and Portuguese led to many others following Most Indigenous religions lost their independence ended up under the power of Europeans Often led to increased violence (ie Africa and America), many people died (also from diseases) Introduced christianity In Africa, many converted (for protection, power, or belief) New Zealand, Europeans related their teachings to Maori belief systems Many believed the Europeans received their power from God Often the response of the people depended on what the Europeans hoped to gain from their land, (ie settlement vs goods vs power etc.)

Similarities: Both accept Sakyamuni Buddha as the teacher Both accept The Four Noble Truths Both accept the eightfold path Objective of training: Theravada: Arahant. Nirvana happens at death. Individualistic goal Mahayana: Buddhahood (via bodhisattva path). Nirvana happens after enlightenment, not after death. In Mahāyāna Buddhism life in this world is compared to people living in a house that is on fire. People take this world as reality pursuing worldly projects and pleasures without realizing that the house is on fire and will soon burn down (due to the inevitability of death). A bodhisattva is one who has a determination to free sentient beings from samsara (the house on fire), by using skillful means. Organization of Buddhist Scriptures: Theravada: Tipitaka (Three Baskets) Mahayana: Tipitaka, discourses, and dharma analysis Transmission Route: Theravada: Southern transmission: Sri Lanka, Thailand, Burma, Laos and Cambodia and parts of Southeast Asia. Mahayana: Northern transmission: Tibet, China, Taiwan, Japan, Korea, Mongolia and parts of Southeast Asia.

Roots: Ashoka exemplified the possibility of a coexisting state and religion. Similar principles apply to the present Key Figures: Dalai Lama revitalization of Buddhism as international symbol of peace and equality B.R. Ambedkar Dalit conversion for equality Economic development: Engaged Buddhists advocate a middle path that will not make the rich richer and the poor poorer by supporting low-tech, local level, people-oriented projects that will benefit all A Psychological Approach: Scientific studies into ego, meditation, and self Application of Engaged Buddhism on Modern Issues: Self-immolation: Roman-catholic president of south Vietnam put restrictions on Buddhist majority Self immolation began Began discussion about suicide +Shakmayuni Buddha was explicitly against it +There is also commentary of the Medicine bodhisattva offering his own body to heal human beings +Therefore, suicide is allowed when it is committed for a good cause. Same Sex Marriage: Originally viewed as sexual misconduct However, sexual conduct is not defined Also, disapproval of homosexuals was more cultural than religious Some now believe that homosexuality is okay as long as the relationship is consensual and does no harm Abortion: Abortion is against ahimsa However, ethic of compassion urges people to be compassionate to those who needed to do it

THREE GEMS: Buddha, Dhamma, Sangha; make up the foundations of Buddhism BUDDHA: life journey of historical Buddha 3 types of Buddhahood: +Pratyek Buddha: historical Buddha of each era +Bodhisattva: people who committed themselves to path of enlightenment +Arhats: those worthy of getting liberated (it is you who personally determines this; usually you live in seclusion, etc.) DHAMMA: +Gautam Buddha's teachings +middle path; ground between deprivation/asceticism and indulgence +four noble truths (SOC8: suffering, origin, cessation, 8fold path) -suffering; having to deal with physical/mental attachment and the distortion that reality is impermanent -origin; desire, greed, attachment -cessation; stop desiring! -eight-fold path/cure; right conduct, right effort, right understanding, rightful behavior; this is the distinction between truth and non-truth SANGHA: Community +monastic community of ordained men and women (bhikshus and bhikshunis) +the broader community of all who follow Budhha's path Dana: making a donation or offering giving something without the expectation of anything in return

themes of restraint, self-discipline, and commitment not to harm nonviolence is the highest possible value don't seek to eradicate violence, but rather commit to radical non-interference equate non-violence with renunciation because it is only through total cessation of activity that one can avoid harming others and oneself all things possess "jiva" or soul, even if invisible we can't technically perform an action without causing harm, but lack of intention is a factor. Still, all damage, big or small, causes some degree of karmic bondage example: Her story of the woman peeling the skin off of oranges so that a monk would not accidentally kill an organism in the process

The Bhatki Hindu devotion arose from the shift from the Sanskrit language to the Tamil language. The Tamil language found a deep focus on the arts, including literature, drama, and grammar study. They had a specific interest in poetry, and wrote many poems with themes that revolved around love. When the Bhatki movement took effect, this love and devotion was carried over to a more emotional love for the Gods- Vishnu and Shiva. Many of the Tamil saints traveled to different temples, where some version of one of the dieties was worshipped. The faith also welcomed all castes, from high to low. The bhakti tradition eventually spread to the North, although they similarily welcomed all castes, their diety of focus was usually Rama or Krishna. A synergistic relationship was also developed in the North between the Hindus and the Muslims, which led to great innovations in the arts.

(reference: p 275-277) Harappa: a large town that was excavated near the Indus River archaeologists found similarities (objects, excavated findings) across the entire northwest of the continent +evidence that Harappa more of a culture than just one town findings in city that suggest Hindu origin: +complexes built so carefully that thought to have been designated for religious rituals +fire altars (suggesting domestic fire rituals--puja?) +terra cotta statues of mother goddesses (worship icons) +seals of pipal trees: pipal trees have been part of Hindu tradition for 2500+ years, seen as sacred and symbolic of the difference btwn body and soul. +motifs of seven: notion of seven beings is important in Hinduism