Major Religions Overview

1. Major Religions Overview

2. Ayers Rock (Uluru)

4. Overview of World’s Major Religions - Oral Religion Sacred Practices in Oral Religions • Life-Cycle Ceremonies • Taboo and Sacrifice • Shamanism, Trance, and Magic • Artifacts and Artistic Expression in Oral Religions • artists • artistic expression • totems • effigy

5. Overview of World’s Major Religions - Oral Religion • Taboo and Sacrifice • social order – guidelines • sex • birth • social behavior • food • antisocial • restoration • Atonement • Libation • Sacrifice

6. Overview of World’s Major Religions - Oral Religion • Oral Religions Influenced Today by: • western technology • environment • language • proselytizing religions • restored practices • whole lives – holistic traditions

8. HINDUISM

9. Overview of World’s Major Religions - Hinduism • BRAHMAN – spiritual essence of the universe • divine reality in all • god in forms infinite • beyond time & space • ATMAN – individual soul • deepest self • sacred within oneself • MAYA – illusion • matter • mystery • magic • KARMA – to do • moral law of cause and effect • force of nature • directs rebirth • SAMSARA – wheel of life • constant rebirth • circle of life • one life is to short

10. At 29 Pleasant prison Witnessed suffering Depression Escapes Great Going Forth Looks at family Rides to edge Leaves jewels & clothing Cuts hair Seeks teacher Teacher to teacher Unsatisfied Six years Questions Death? Suffering? Age? God? Soul? Afterlife? Overview of World’s Major Religions - BuddhismSiddhartha Gautama

11. Refused to talk about anything else “Noble silence” Concentrate on: Minimizing suffering Inner peace Doctrines not dogma Experienced as truth Three marks of reality Constant chance No permanent identity Existence of suffering Change (anichcha) Impermanence Nothing remains the same Sameness is illusion Expect change Zen (Chan) – meditation Satori - unity with universe Zazen – sitting meditation Koan – public discussion Manual labor Samurai - not in fact a true religion by definition, does not worship any god Overview of World’s Major Religions - BuddhismPractical

12. Right understanding Impermanence of life Right intention Pure motives Right speech Honesty Kindness Right action Do no hurt Right work Job does no harm Right effort Moderation Striving to improve Right meditation Discipline of meditation Right contemplation Inner peace Overview of World’s Major Religions - BuddhismThe way to inner Peace

13. Overview of World’s Major Religions - Jain Ethical Recommendations • AHIMSA (ahiṁsā) – Nonviolence • Gentleness, harmlessness • NONLYING – Absolute Truth • No Falsehood & exaggeration • NONSTEALING – Receive only what is given • Improper desire & causes pain • CHASTITY - Fidelity • Celibacy for the religious & fidelity in marriage • NONATTACHMENT – Spirit of Generosity • Family, possessions, clothing

14. Overview of World’s Major Religions - Sikh Belief and Practice • TRUE NAME of GOD • No god of Hinduism or of Islam • One God of all • KARMA AND REINCARNATION • From Hinduism • Rejected ritual • Rejected polytheism • SOUL AND BODY • God dwells in each person • Social responsibility • ADI GRANTH— [original collection] SCRIPTURE • Japji – (first part) long poem • “There is only one God whose name is true, the Creator, devoid of fear and enmity, immortal, unborn, self-existent.” • Second part - 39 rags (tunes) • Third part - poems and hymns [Hindu, Muslim, Sikh] • LINE OF TEN HUMAN GURUS • Nanak was first of these ten

15. Overview of World’s Major ReligionsCHINESE BELIEF • Veneration of ancestors • become spirits at death • to be placated by family • Patterns in nature • must work with seasons to survive • cycles & waves • represented by Yang & Yin (1000 BCE)

16. Overview of World’s Major ReligionsCHINESE BELIEF • Yang & Yin (1000 BCE) • Not opposite, but complementary principles • light/dark, hot/cold, sky/earth, odd/even • not good & evil – balancing between forces • dynamic & perfect balance in change • dot – presence of the other – becoming it

17. Overview of World’s Major Religions - TAOIST • Laozi (Lao Tzu) – old master or old child, born to virgin as old child • Tao • origin of everything • not personal • does not care for humanity or dislike either • mysterious reality that creates nature • “natural way” “way” “pattern” “process” • Began as a philosophy, became a religion

18. Overview of World’s Major Religions - TAOISTVirtues • CLOSENESS TO NATURE • live in harmony with nature • accepting transformation • embrace change • SIMPLICITY • eliminate unnecessary & artificial • natural goodness of humanity • formal education unnecessary • inherent complexity “give up learning, put an end to your troubles” • WU-WEI (“NO ACTION”) — SPONTANEITY • effortlessness • no strain, • only what is necessary • plants grow • QUIET • reclusive beginnings • continuing trait • GENTLENESS • loves peace • avoids violence • “weapons tied to the slaughter of mankind” • HUMOR

19. No known founder or group Mysterious origins like people – blend of groups Lived close to nature Believed spirits inhabited nature Power of nature in harmony with it Elements of shamanism & mysterious healings Ethical & Family elements No need for name till Buddhism arrived Shin’-to – “the way of the gods” “kami-no-michi” Blend a large number of gods into a pantheon myth Primeval chaos Sacred spirits – “kami” Izanami (female who invites) - primeval mother Izanagi (male who invites) - primeval father Overview of World’s Major Religions - Shinto

20. Consolidate to make land Floating Bridge of Heaven Stirred ocean with end of spear Island formed from brine Izanami gives birth to fire god, & is burned Izanagi attempts to rescue her in underworld Returns dirty Cleanses in ocean As washes sees: Amaterasu—sun goddess Tsukiyomi—moon god Susanowo—wind god New family relationship with these Purity: Pollution – “tsumi” Ritual washing – “harai” Japan worldly –heaven shared with divine beings Overview of World’s Major Religions - Shinto

21. 6th century – forced to define itself Buddhist monks viewed Shinto as Buddhist deities with Japanese names Shinto – agriculture, fertility, birth Buddhism – philosophy, sickness, funerals, afterlife Accommodation – Buddhist & Shinto places of worship Confucianism ethical system education family government emperor – father ministers – elder brothers At times welcome outsiders & others reject them Overview of World’s Major Religions - Shinto

22. 8 Judaism

23. Overview of World’s Major Religions - Judaism Masada Site of the Zealot holdout in the resistance of Hebrews against the Romans, when the second Temple was destroyed.

24. Overview of World’s Major Religions - Judaism Stories of Origins • Genesis 1-11 • Ordered creation (similar Babylonian Epic – Enuma Elish) • Image of God • Garden of Eden – Paradise Lost • Family rivalries - violence • Great flood - judgement (similar Mesopotamian story – Epic of Gilamesh) • Promised land lost • 587 BCE • 70 CE

25. 10-1 Islam

26. Overview of World’s Major Religions - Islam • Islam literally means surrender or submission. • Sacred book of Islam • Sermons of Muhammad • Qur’an (Koran). • Beginning of the Muslim calendar is the Western year 622 c.e. • Date of Muhammad’s escape from Mecca to Medina • Religions of Arabian Peninsula • Judaism, • Christianity, • Zoroastrianism, • local religion – worshipped spirits of trees & mountains, tribal gods & jinni (capricious spirits of the desert)

27. Overview of World’s Major Religions - Islam • Islam & Judaism • circumcision • Muslims like Christians & Zoroastrianism believe: • in the soul • resurrection of the body • final judgment • heaven and hell • Muslims trace themselves back ultimately to what great patriarch Abraham.

28. Clear-cut legal foundation Formulated by God Not on humanistic philosophies Islamic “Law” Rigid Dry Shariah (source of water) Source of life Rules/Ethical Principles Shariah (5 human actions) Obligatory actions (wajib) Required to perform Devotional/Ethical (mandub) Encouraged to perform No liability Permissible actions (mubah) Freedom of choice Abominable actions (makruh) (makrūh) Morally, but not legally wrong Prohibited actions (haram) Practices prohibited Islam & the EnvironmentIslamic Environmental Ethics, Law, and Society by Mawil Y. Izzi Dean

29. Law & Ethics Not separated Adhered Accepted Shariah Follower of faith Environment All components Created by God All living things different functions Measured/Balanced by Creator Serve humanity a part Not sole reason to exist Other reasons too Islam & the EnvironmentIslamic Environmental Ethics, Law, and Society by Mawil Y. Izzi Dean

30. Legal & ethical reasons to protect environment Preserve its values as a sign of the Creator Components continuous praise of Creator Absolute continuity of Creator (sunnah) Beings worthy of protection & kind treatment (hurmah) Islam & the EnvironmentIslamic Environmental Ethics, Law, and Society by Mawil Y. Izzi Dean

31. Legal & ethical reasons to protect environment Preserve its values as a sign of the Creator Components continuous praise of Creator Absolute continuity of Creator (sunnah) Beings worthy of protection & kind treatment (hurmah) Human relationships are established on justice & kindness Universe created by God must be preserved Not for this generation alone; all ages Duty of humans to protect environment, no other creature can Islam & the EnvironmentIslamic Environmental Ethics, Law, and Society by Mawil Y. Izzi Dean

32. Comprehensive Nature of Ethics Two principles Natural instinct Imprinted by God Between good & evil Neutral – neither good or bad Messengers from God Complexities Cannot define correct Not in vacuum Inspired by God Conscience approves Accepts Valued guidance Desire what God loves & wants Islam & the EnvironmentIslamic Environmental Ethics, Law, and Society by Mawil Y. Izzi Dean

33. Comprehensive Nature of Ethics Two principles Natural instinct Imprinted by God Between good & evil Neutral – neither good or bad Messengers from God Complexities Cannot define correct Not in vacuum Inspired by God Conscience approves Accepts Valued guidance Desire what God loves & wants Virtue part of the whole Way of life Serves to guide & control Truthfulness Protecting Conserving Sustaining Political, Social, & Economic Not on human reason Not on society’s mandate Not on economic groups These are based on circumstances Ethics unalterable as time and space Islam & the EnvironmentIslamic Environmental Ethics, Law, and Society by Mawil Y. Izzi Dean

34. Human-Environment Enjoy, use, benefit Preserve, protect, promote All creatures are God’s dependents Responsible for: Trees Animals All natural elements Muhammad prayer for rain For trees in drought For animals dying for lack of water Humans not punished Because of elderly, babies, animals Islam & the EnvironmentIslamic Environmental Ethics, Law, and Society by Mawil Y. Izzi Dean

35. Human-Environment Enjoy, use, benefit Preserve, protect, promote All creatures are God’s dependents Responsible for: Trees Animals All natural elements Muhammad prayer for rain For trees in drought For animals dying for lack of water Humans not punished Because of elderly, babies, animals Earth place of peace & rest Humans made of earth (dust) & water Brought forth from earth Earth often named, so important Subservient to humans Receptacle of living & dead Source of purity Place of worship Source of blessing To be cared for by humanity Islam & the EnvironmentIslamic Environmental Ethics, Law, and Society by Mawil Y. Izzi Dean

36. Sustainable Care of Nature Utilization Not unnecessary destruction Not to squander Continued use in a sustainable way Muhammad “Act in your life as though you are living forever and act for the Hereafter as if you are dying tomorrow.” “When doomsday comes if someone has a palm shoot in his hand he should plant it.” Islam & the EnvironmentIslamic Environmental Ethics, Law, and Society by Mawil Y. Izzi Dean

37. Sustainable Care of Nature Utilization Not unnecessary destruction Not to squander Continued use in a sustainable way Muhammad “Act in your life as though you are living forever and act for the Hereafter as if you are dying tomorrow.” “When doomsday comes if someone has a palm shoot in his hand he should plant it.” Life is maintained with due balance in everything. Every part of God’s creation was carefully made to fit into the general system. Not only for the current generation Umar ibn al-Khattab & Khuzaymah ibn Thubit Neglected land Old man close to death Planted land together 5 times a day, prayer starts “Praise be to Allah, Lord of the Worlds.” Submit to Creator of all World sign of the Creator Islam & the EnvironmentIslamic Environmental Ethics, Law, and Society by Mawil Y. Izzi Dean

38. Practice of Environmental Ethics Muslim Communities Protection of certain zones/special use areas (hima) Maintain some land in unused state Limited to avoid inconvenience Not built on or cultivated For the welfare of the people Islam & the EnvironmentIslamic Environmental Ethics, Law, and Society by Mawil Y. Izzi Dean

39. Practice of Environmental Ethics Muslim Communities Protection of certain zones/special use areas (hima) Maintain some land in unused state Limited to avoid inconvenience Not built on or cultivated For the welfare of the people Hima Grazing area for the livestock of the poor To protect wildlife Harim Inviolable zones Wells Natural springs Underground water channels Rivers Trees planted on barren land Islam & the EnvironmentIslamic Environmental Ethics, Law, and Society by Mawil Y. Izzi Dean

40. Environmental Aspects of Development First Arab Ministerial Conference Justice, mercy, cooperation Islamic faith and its values Amir of Kuwait To UN 1988 Conserve natural & human resources Combat pollution Support sustainable development Islam & the EnvironmentIslamic Environmental Ethics, Law, and Society by Mawil Y. Izzi Dean

41. 10-1 Islam