Asian Belief Systems - Core Four PDF

INTRO TO ASIAN BELIEF SYSTEMS THE “CORE FOUR” CHARACTERISTICS GUIDE WHAT IS RELIGION? WHY DO SOCIETIES ADOPT RELIGION?  What are the “core four?” The “core four” are a set of characteristics common to most all belief systems. Together they constitute the basic information that you should know...

INTRO TO ASIAN BELIEF SYSTEMS THE “CORE FOUR” CHARACTERISTICS GUIDE WHAT IS RELIGION? WHY DO SOCIETIES ADOPT RELIGION?  What are the “core four?” The “core four” are a set of characteristics common to most all belief systems. Together they constitute the basic information that you should know about each set of beliefs we study. central founders, gods, divine beings basic beliefs; guidelines for thought and behavior sacred texts and important symbols important dates, events, or places in history  And the five themes? Remember also as we study each individual belief system to keep in mind our five questions or themes: prayer and worship: how do we practice our faith? morality - what is good & evil, right & wrong? compassion & tolerance - how should we treat others? creation - where did we come from? life after death - what happens to us when we die? All right. Let’s begin. HINDUISM COMBINING MANY BELIEFS TO FORM THE EARLIEST UNIFIED INDIAN TRADITION  Hinduism: Gods & Founders no single founder or set of ideas; traditions pluralistic, developing over centuries many gods & many changes, but important are Brahma (the creator), Vishnu (the protector), Shiva (the destroyer) gods can take on multiple forms (Krishna, Rama); many forms of mother goddess Devi also important individuals choose to worship some or none at all  Hinduism: Basic Beliefs atman = individual soul; brahman = world soul samsara = cycle of suffering, reincarnation moksha = release from worldly suffering, cycle of reincarnation & karma (good & bad deeds) dharma = ritual acts, duties, moral behavior hierarchical society or “caste system” in history priests (brahman), warriors/nobility (ksatriyas), commoners/merchants (vaisya), serfs (sudra)  Hinduism: Texts & Symbols Vedas: main origin religious texts; c1200 BCE Upanishads: commentaries interpreting meaning of various Vedic hymns; c750-550 BCE written as dialogues b/w student & teacher Puranas: eulogizing various gods, providing history or genealogy of kings, describing cosmology, philosophy, geography; c250-550 CE Mahabharata: greatest epic, of kings & wars  Hinduism: Events & Places c2500-1500 BCE: Indus River civilization develops & w/ it early religious traditions that feed Hinduism c1200 BCE: Vedas compiled, joining Aryan & Indus cultures in important text c600-500 BCE: Jainism & Buddhism emerge, breaking away from main flow of Hinduism c400 CE: Mahabharata epic emerges BUDDHISM ENDING THE CYCLE OF SUFFERING, FROM INDIA TO ALL OF EAST ASIA  Buddhism: Gods & Founders no one omniscient/omnipresent deity Siddhartha Gautama: born a prince (c563 BCE), but after viewing signs of old age, sickness, mortality, took on “ascetic” life - rejecting society to seek religious enlightenment; after meditating under Bodhi tree frees self from desire (nirvana) & becomes spiritual teacher w/ many followers Guanyin: important “goddess” of compassion Sariputra: first disciple of the Buddha  Buddhism: Basic Beliefs Four Noble Truths life = suffering suffering comes from desire ending desire = an end to suffering following “Eightfold Path” will lead to nirvana - release from worldly pain & selfishness Buddha, sangha (religious community), & dharma (teachings) = “three jewels” of Buddhism Buddhism: Basic Beliefs  Buddhism: Texts & Symbols many sacred texts include commentaries, rules for monastic life, meditation manuals, etc - no main text tripitaka = earliest teachings of Buddha; jatakas = legends about previous reincarnations of Buddha; sutras = discourses of Buddha or his close disciples symbols include lotus flower (purity & enlightenment), endless knot (eternal harmony), wheel w/ 8 spokes (dharma & eightfold path)  Buddhism: Events & Places c563-483 BCE: life of Siddhartha Gautama 3rd century BCE: reign of Ashoka who adopts & spreads Buddhism throughout Mauryan Kingdom Bihar (or Bodh Gaya): place where Siddharta attained enlightenment, considered holiest of sites Angkor Wat: massive temple complex in Cambodia CONFUCIANISM BRINGING ORDER TO CHINA THROUGH HUMAN RELATIONSHIPS Confucianism: Gods & Founders Kongzi (Confucius = westernized version): born 551BCE during time of decline & warfare, served as teacher/scholar in NE China believed that order could be restored by looking to past for guidance, emphasizing education & relationships w/ others Mencius: important early interpreter of Confucius  Confucianism: Basic Beliefs five important relationships: parent-child; ruler-ruled; husband-wife; elder-younger sibling; friend-friend young must respect old, old must care for young; hierarchy based on age/position “filial piety” = respect for parents/ancestors education important to cultivate innate goodness, also for political advancement based on ability five basic virtues: benevolence, righteousness, propriety, wisdom, trustworthiness Confucianism: Texts & Symbols the “Five Classics” from which Confucius taught: Book of Poetry, Book of History, Book of Rites, Book of Changes (Yijing), Spring and Autumn Annals the “Four Books” created by Confucian followers: Analects (compilation of Confucius' teachings), Mencius, Great Learning, and Doctrine of the Mean Confucianism: Events & Places 551-479 BCE: Confucius’ lifetime 202 BCE - 220 CE: Han Dynasty - Confucian teachings become basis for government exams passing Confucian civil service exams remains most important way to achieve political status until end of Qing Dynasty 1905 CE (!) Taishan (Mt. Tai) & Qufu: pilgrimage sites in NE China DAOISM FINDING HARMONY WITH NATURE IS “THE WAY”  Daoism: Gods & Founders Laozi: born 604 BCE, little known of life but similar to Confucius (a contemporary philosopher) lived during period of political instability/decline believed in natural order & a universal force (Dao) guiding all things - communion w/ nature Zhuangzi: later Daoist scholar in 4th century BCE; interpreted Laozi’s ideas through concrete examples  Daoism: Basic Beliefs dao = origin of all creation, “way” guiding all functions & changes in natural world qi = energy (or “breath”) transforming all things divided into yin (moon, passive, feminine, water, dark, soft, limit) & yang (sun, active, masculine, fire, bright, hard, expansion) goal of Daoism: inner peace & understanding of dao; achieved by wu-wei or “nonaction” (go w/ the flow) death = natural & not to be feared  Daoism: Texts & Symbols Dao de Jing: “book of the way & its power” - most important Daoist text, supposedly written by Laozi Zhuangzi: further interpretation & commentary, written by Zhuangzi yin-yang symbol representing natural balance Daoism: Basic Beliefs  Daoism: Events & Places 6th-2nd centuries BCE: “classical period” - original manuscripts composed 202 BCE - 220 CE: Han Dynasty - Daoism becomes recognized more formally as an organized religion w/ Laozi as a semi-divine figure holy sites associated w/ nature, ie Taishan (Mt. Tai) or Longtan waterfall in central China JUDAISM THE FIRST OF THE THREE MAJOR MONOTHEISTIC “ABRAHAMIC” TRADITIONS  Judaism: Gods & Founders singular god, Yahweh; not a physical being - no images exist God chose Abraham, a shepherd from city of Ur (Mesopotamia) as “father” of Hebrew people ~1800 BCE Abraham moves to Canaan (holy land); later migration to Egypt and eventual slavery Moses: leader of “Exodus” from Egypt; receives Ten Commandments & new covenant prophets = teachers & interpreters of faith  Judaism: Basic Beliefs “covenant” = mutual promise b/w God and Abraham; protection of God in return for belief from Abraham Ten Commandments: handed down from God to Moses on Mt. Sinai; ensuring monotheism, forbidding bad behaviors (murder, theft, lying, etc) rewards for following, punishment for breaking attendance at synagogue, relationship w/ rabbi; reverence for Jewish community coming of age ceremony: bar/bat mitzvah  Judaism: Texts & Symbols Tanakh = all Jewish scriptures, composed of three books: Torah, Nevi’im, Ketuvim Torah: describes origin, call from God, trials & tribulations, covenant w/ God & way of life mezuzah = holder for important scripture passage Talmud: stories, laws, medical knowledge, & debates about morality Star of David: modern symbol of Jewish identity  Judaism: Events & Places c1800 BCE - Abraham & family move to Canaan c1200 BCE - Moses leads Hebrews from Egypt c1000 BCE - Kingdom of Israel founded 132 BCE - “diaspora” from homeland 1948 - nation state of Israel created by UN mandate city of Jerusalem Temple Mount and Western (Wailing) Wall CHRISTIANITY FROM JUDAISM TO THE TEACHINGS OF JESUS CHRIST  Christianity: Gods & Founders Jesus: born a Jew in Roman Bethlehem - believed to be the promised messiah or savior traveled, preached, taught, performed good works including many thought to be miracles crucified by Roman government; believed resurrection & reappearance increases followers 12 disciples / apostles: students of Jesus Paul: important disciple spreading beliefs Peter: 4th century bishop, “rock” of  Christianity: Basic Beliefs single God who created universe, wields power; holy trinity: God the father, son (Jesus), holy spirit messiah: Jesus as prophet chosen by God salvation: being saved from sin & death through belief in Jesus Christ afterlife: heaven or hell based on faith & deeds wide variety of Christian sects, interpretations; Roman Catholic, Protestant, Eastern Orthodox prayer, singing, sermon, baptism, communion  Christianity: Texts & Symbols Christian Bible, includes Old and New Testament Gospels = recording of life and teachings of Jesus holy cross = symbol of Jesus’ crucifixion & death for sins of all mankind  Christianity: Events & Places c4 BCE: birth of Jesus in Bethlehem 29 CE: crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus 312 CE: Roman emperor Constantine accepts Christianity after success in battle 11th-13th centuries: Crusades 16th century: Protestant reformation, Martin Luther ISLAM FIVE PILLARS AND SUBMISSION TO ALLAH  Islam: Gods & Founders singular god, Allah - same for Jews & Christians Muhammad: born 570 CE in Mecca, becomes trader later hears voice of angel Gabriel, who selects him as prophet of Allah travels to Medina, gains followers, later returning to Mecca & forming umma (community of followers)  Islam: Basic Beliefs five “pillars” or basic tenets of Muslim faith Shahadah - Allah is God, Muhammad prophet Salat - five daily prayers facing Mecca Zakat - giving percentage of income to charity Sawm - fasting during month of Ramadan Hajj - pilgrimage to Mecca if able God = omnipotent, & will judge all for heaven/hell based on actions in life main three sects: Sunni, Shia, Sufi  Islam: Texts & Symbols Quran: book of Muhammad’s revelations; believed to be actual words of God arranged into chapters called suras, chanted daily Hadith: sayings associated w/ Muhammad star & crescent a modern association w/ Ottomans  Islam: Events & Places 570: Muhammad born in Mecca 622: Hijra - Muhammad & followers flee to Medina 632: death of Muhammad; Abu Bakr chosen as caliph leading to major split b/w Sunni & Shia 14th-20th centuries: rule of Ottoman Empire Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem Kaaba in Mecca (site of pilgrimage) prophet’s mosque in Medina