KC and World Religions

1. KC and World Religions An Exploration in Universality and Confidentiality

2. Gospels—Matthew, Mark, Luke, John • Acts of the Apostles • Letters: • Romans • 1 Corinthians • 2 Corinthians • Galatians • Ephesians • Philippians • Colossians • 1 Thessalonians • 2 Thessalonians • 1 Timothy • 2 Timothy • Titus • Philemon • Hebrews • James • 1 Peter • 2 Peter • 1 John • 2 John • 3 John • Jude • Revelation

3. Four books are enough 1. I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery; you shall have no other gods before me. 2. You shall not make for yourself an idol, whether in the form of anything that is in heaven above, or that is on the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, punishing children for iniquity of parents, to the third and fourth generation of those who reject me, but showing steadfast love to the thousandth generation of those who love me and keep my commandments. 3. You shall not make wrongful use of the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not acquit anyone who misuses his name. 4. Remember the Sabbath day, and keep it holy . . .

4. The Ten Commandments 5. Honor your father and your mother, so that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you. 6. You shall not murder (kill). 7. You shall not commit adultery. 8. You shall not steal. 9. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. 10. You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or male or female slave, or ox, or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor. —Exodus 20:2–17

5. Problems with Biblical scriptures As the soldiers and the mob taunted the dying Jesus, he prayed: “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” (Luke 23:34) Finally, after hours of unbearable pain, he cried out, “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46) Then he died.

6. Eucharist “While they were eating, Jesus took a loaf of bread, and after blessing it he broke it, gave it to the disciples, and said, ‘Take, eat; this is my body.’ Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks he gave it to them, saying, ‘Drink from it, all of you, for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.” (Matthew 26:26–28)

7. A Call for Humility Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of God. —Matthew 5:3–10

8. St Augustine “Thou has made us for thyself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless until they rest in Thee.” He said that God must be our highest interest, and when that is the case then the next in line is our soul, then our body, then external things. We attain peace, then, only when all things are in their proper place.

9. Popularity of Protestantism Stressed direct relationship with God Used vernacular languages Focussed on direct reading of the Bible with no intermediaries Endless interpretations – 50,000 sects and more

10. Christianity – Social Contributioins Catholicism: Jesuit Schools – Modern Universities Protestantism: The Work Ethic of America The Downplaying or Denial of Celibacy

11. The Spiritual Fall Spiritual Hierarchy: God <- God’s words <- God’s priests Reformation: Reject Representatives of God (Scientific)Enlightenment: Reject the Word of God Evolutionary Naturalism: Reject God himself

12. The Spiritual Fall Francis Xavier (1506–1552), proudly described his mission method in one of his letters that he sent to his superior Ignatius: “I would gather all the boys of the village and go to the place where they had made and worshipped the idols; and then the dishonour heaped on the devil was greater than the honour paid to him by the parents and relations of the boys at the time when they made and venerated the idols. For the boys would take the idols and break them to tiny pieces, and then they would spit on them and trample them under foot and do other things which perhaps it is better not to record in detail, thus showing their contempt for the one who had the impertinence to demand the veneration of their fathers.”

13. Three Approaches Condemnation: Eg Xavier Irrelevance: Fulfillment: eg J. N. Farquhar (1861–1929) Outline of the Religious Literature of India is a comprehensive, sympathetic, and widely acknowledged survey of Hindu texts. In The Crown of Hinduism, he explains the relationship between Christianity and Hinduism in terms of fulfillment, a view that was widely adopted by other Christian writers

14. The Spiritual Fall Spiritual Hierarchy: God <- God’s words <- God’s priests Reformation: Reject Representatives of God (Scientific)Enlightenment: Reject the Word of God Evolutionary Naturalism: Reject God himself

15. Chronology 988: 1054: Catholic and Orthodox churches excommunicated each other & Sadhana (bhakti) established through BG & Isho Sadhya & Sadhana explained through NoD & NoI

16. Chronology The four countries with the largest Muslim communities are Indonesia, Pakistan, India, and Bangladesh—all in Asia.

17. Chronology Sunnis are majority Muslims Shias form a majority in Iran and are represented by large communities in Iraq, Kuwait, Lebanon, and India

18. The Western expansion of Islam: The invasion of Spain in 711 and the spread of the Moors into southern France, where they were repelled by Frankish ruler Charles Martel in 732. Spain itself was finally recaptured only in 1492, when the army of King Ferdinand of Aragon and Queen Isabel of Castile retook Granada. The Crusades, beginning in 1095 and lasting until 1291, pitted Muslims and Christians in battles The invasions of Austria and Croatia by the Ottoman Turks in the late 17th century also portrayed Turkish Muslims as barbaric and uncivilized.

19. Muhammad IbdAbd Allah • 570 - Born, • 595 - Married to Khadija, • 610 - Quran revelation begins, • 619 - Hijra to Taaif, death of uncle Abu Talib & Khadija, • 622 - On to Medina with Abu Bakr, 624 - won at Badr, • 625 - lost at Uhud, • 630 - regained Mecca, • 632 - Died

20. Terms ulama - learned ones, umma - community, shirk - associating anything with God, tafsir - Quranic explanation, Sharia - The collection of religious laws and duties known.

21. Quran 114 chapters (suras) comprised of verses (ayas) Surat al-Fattiha: first sura of the Quran Ya-sin: 36th sura recited at death The longest chapter contains 286 verses, the shortest only three.

22. Terms ulama - learned ones, umma - community, shirk - associating anything with God, tafsir - Quranic explanation,

23. Caliphs Death of the prophet Muhammad: 632 First caliph: Abu Bakr: 632–634 Second caliph: Umaribn al-Khattab: 634–644 Third caliph: UthmanibnAff an: 644–656 Fourth caliph: Ali ibn Abi Talib: 656–661 Fifth Caliph:Muawiyah -Umayyad dynasty Followers of Ali – Shias All others - Sunnis

24. Buddha Today Buddhism is the majority religion in Thailand, Mongolia, Cambodia, Myanmar (formerly Burma), Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Tibet, Laos, Vietnam, Japan, Taiwan, and Singapore. The majority of the people in one U.S. state—Hawaii—is Buddhist.

25. Buddhism Buddha: c 563-483 BC Life recorded 500 years after death. 20 – Married Yashodara, son Rahula 29 – Charioteer Channa took for a ride 35 – Severe austerity

26. The Eightfold Path 1. Right opinion 2. Right intentions 3. Right speech 4. Right conduct 5. Right livelihood 6. Right eff ort 7. Right mindfulness 8. Right concentration

27. Buddhism The Buddha prescribed Five Precepts, : 1. To refrain from taking life. 2. To refrain from taking what is not given. 3. To refrain from sexual misconduct. 4. To refrain from false speech. 5. To refrain from intoxicating things that cloud the mind.

28. Tri-Ratna of Buddhism A Tibetan proverb sums up the Three Jewels: “The Buddha is the great physician; the dharma is the remedy; thesangha is the nurse who administers the remedy.”

29. Total world rejection It would be better . . . if your penis had entered the mouth of a terrifying and poisonous snake than a woman’s vagina. . . . It would be better . . . if your penis had entered a charcoal pit, burning, blazing, aflame, than a woman’s vagina. Vinaya III.20–23, attributed to the Buddha

30. Spread of Buddhism Ashoka 270 BCE. Banned animal sacrifice, became vegetarian Asoka’s missionaries went as far west as Syria, Egypt, and the Greek world Milinda in 155 BCE – Nagarsena conversation

31. Buddhism – Vaishnava perspective "Lord Buddha incarnates at a time when the peo­ple are most materialistic, and he preaches commonsense religious princi­ples."

32. Buddha Predicted? Then, in the beginning of Kali-yuga, the Lord will appear as Lord Buddha, the son of Aïjanä, in the province of Gayä, just for the purpose of deluding those who are envious of the faithful theist.

33. Buddhism divisions Theravada (Hinayana): Older, Arhat is the ideal (3 lives) Mahayana: Later “revelations” after several centuries, Boddhisattva is the ideal Vajrayana: 7th century AD – HevarajaTantra Zen: No philosophical baggage, just experience

34. Sikhism history 1469: Birth of Guru Nanak 1500: Enlightenment during a three day disappearance 1539: Death after travelling throughout India and also to Iraq and Saudi Arabia.

35. Sikhism history The 10 Gurus of Sikhism (1469–1539) Guru Nanak (1504–52 became guru 1539) Guru Angad (1479–74 became guru 1552) Guru Amar Das (1534–81 became guru 1574) Guru Ram Das (1563–1606 became guru 1581) Guru Arjan (1595–1644 became guru 1606) Guru Hargobind (1630–61 became guru 1644) Guru HarRai (1656–64 became guru 1661) Guru HarKrishan (1621–75 became guru 1664) Guru TeghBahadur (1666–1708 became guru 1675) Guru Gobind Singh

36. Guru Granth Sahib • 1,430 pages long and is written entirely in verse. It is the longest book of rhymed poetry in the world. • Gurmukhi script, a script devised specifically for the purpose of recording the gurus’ words.

37. Guru Granth Sahib The Sikh Gurus (1469–1539) Guru Nanak: 974 hymns (1439–1552) Guru Angad: 62 couplets (1552–74) Guru Amar Das: 907 hymns (1574–81) Guru Ram Das: 638 hymns (1581–1606) Guru Arjan: 2,218 hymns (1664–75) Guru TeghBahadur: 59 hymns and 56 couplets (added by Guru Gobind Singh (1675–1708) Hindu Bhaktas Kabir: 292 hymns and 243 couplets Farid: 4 hymns and 130 couplets Namdev: 60 hymns Ravidas: 41 hymns Jaidev: 2 hymns Beni: 3 hymns Trilochan: 4 hymns Parmananda: 1 hymn Sadhana: 1 hymn Ramananda: 1 hymn Islamic Sufis Dhanna: 4 hymns Pipa: 1 hymn Sain: 1 hymn Bhikhan: 2 hymns Sur Das: 2 hymns Sundar: 1 hymn Mardana: 3 couplets Satta and Balvand: 1 hymn Bhatts: 123 swaiyyas (quatrains)

38. Sikhism The fundamental principle of Sikhism is, “There is only One Being and Truth is its Name”—in Punjabi, Ikkoankar sat nam. Three Principles: Seva, Langar, Sangat

39. Foundation of Khalsa Guru Gobind Singh inherited at age 9 Two Swords: Piri & Miri

40. Sikhism history Amogha: Çréla Prabhupäda, in Sikhism there was Guru Nanak and Guru Granth Sahib. Is that actually a real scripture, and was Guru Nanak actually a devotee? Or is that not correct? Prabhupäda: They created a system of religion which can include Hindus and Muslim. That was at the time needed. But that is not a good system of religion.

41. Blend of Hinduism & Islam Accept Karma & Reincarnation, chanting of holy names, goal of liberation, Reject Caste System, Idol Worship, Authority of Vedas, Renunciation

42. Blend of Hinduism & Islam Polemic: “you are wrong” Irenic: “both of us have so many similarities” Apologetic: “I am right”

43. Lent (period beginning 40 weekdays before Easter): an annual season of fasting and penitence in preparation for Easter. Good Friday (Friday before Easter): the commemoration of the crucification of Christ. Easter Sunday (Sunday after Good Friday): celebrates Jesus Christ’s resurrection from the dead. Ascension Day (40th day after Easter): celebrates the ascension, or rising of Christ to heaven. Pentecost (seventh Sunday after Easter): commemorates the descent of the Holy Spirit on the disciples.

44. SPoG is the Complete Absolute Truth (p1) Mat world is complete (p2) Human form offers complete facility (p3) Sense gratification – illusory completeness (p4) Dev service – real completeness (p5)

45. Glory of Vedic knowledge (p1-2) How the Lord is the proprietor of everything (p3-4) Eg of one’s quota in nature (p5) Eg of quota in human possession of the earth (p6-8) Eg of quota in human diet (9-10) Live according to ishavasya (11)`

47. How karma-bandhana causes death (p1) Human life offers liberation through akarma (p2) Vedas lead ultimately to akarma (p3) Begin by bringing God into sense-gratificatory life (p4) Wo God, everything is in vain (p5) Make all atruisms into karma-yoga (p6)`

48. Who is a demon? (p1) Who is a soul-killer? (p2) Liberate the soul, don’t kill it (p3-6) If don’t use higher facilities of human form, then have to live worse than animals in this life and go to hell in the next (p3) Even failure in liberating the soul brings glorious result, what then to speak of success (p4) Modern “politicians” as demons (p5) Solve all problems forever (p6)

49. Gita 4.18 • Karma: 4 meanings: = Any activity in general = Specific type of activity: fruitive activity = Reaction to action = System of action-reaction Akarma: 2 meanings: = Inactivity = Activity that brings no reaction

50. Gita 4.18 1. Karmanyakarma yah pashyed (akarma: no karmic reaction) See in external activity, no karmic reaction Eg. Arjuna’s fighting leads to no karmic reaction 2. Akarmani ca karma yah (akarma: no external activity) See in external inactivity, karmic reaction Eg. Arjuna’s silent meditating leads to karmic reaction (3.6)