Composition about Religion

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2008-02-08 Inteaz Cheema
Communications
Categorical/Classification Essay
Religions
Prof. Kenneth Sherman
As we continue our way through this new century, there have been some surprising new trends in
our thoughts about spirituality and our perception of ourselves in the universe and the destiny or fate of the
endeavours of humanity. Today there is concern about the possibility of wars, overpopulation,
environmental disasters, and other challenges and problems that seem to be leading us to apocalyptic
scenarios. Religion, theology, and philosophy have re-emerged to help guide us from these possibilities
and have hence increased interest in these fields. Religion has existed in the human world since the
beginning of human intelligence. It has formed the basis of society and civilization and given rise to many
cultures and cross-cultures. It has also given us perception into ourselves with our relations with others and
insight into life’s greatest questions and mysteries. It provided the means and explanations required for our
place in the universe and our existence in the human condition. This essay will discuss the Abrahamic
faiths, the Vedic and Indian faiths, and the Far Eastern faiths and philosophies.
The Abrahamic faiths are made up of most of the world’s population and consist of three major
religions: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. There are many commonalities between the three: Firstly they
are all monotheistic (belief in one God); they all believe in the prophet Abraham and all those prophets
mentioned previously in the Torah and the Old Testiment in the Bible. They also believe in the Angels and
the Devil, his demons and the various denominations of Creation good and bad, the Hereafter – which
denote to Heaven and Hell, and therefore ethical orientation from good and evil – and lastly they all
follow Scripture that correspond either directly or indirectly with each other. The Christians claim to
follow the same God as the Jews and the Muslims claim to follow the same God as the Christians and the
Jews. Christianity is thought by some to be a form of Judaism. The differences in belief are in that the
Jews do not believe in Jesus as a prophet (as Muslims do) or as God (as Christians do) and the Christians
and the Jews do not believe in the prophet Muhammad, whom the Muslims follow devoutly as the Last
Messenger. There are also differences in practice, ritual, and prayer. It has been noticed that during certain
times in a ritualistic prayer the Pope of the Catholic Christians bow down in prostration before God in
much the same way as or similar way as one of the Muslim positions in prayer referred to by Muslims as
Sajdah. Usually however there are many differences in body position and in other parts of prayer but
similarities in meaning and description, of course, do exist. By the Jewish calendar, – which is lunar or by
the moon – the current year is 5768 for February 2008 meaning that their calendar begins 3760 BCE. The
Christian calendar follows the sun and begins at 0 with the birth of Jesus, while the Muslim calendar
follows the moon with the birth of Muhammad. Muhammad’s life began around the 6th
century CE.
Islamic spirituality and mysticism has been commonly grouped under the term Sufism, but there are other

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schools of thought. All of Islam and every school of thought follow only one version of Scripture, referred
to as the Quran and differ only by interpretation and the following of various Muslim scholars and leaders.
The difference between Sunni and Shia sects lie in who they chose to lead the people after prophet
Muhammad died (peace be upon him and all other prophets of God). The dispute was on whether
Muhammad’s descendents or companions should lead the people. There are also other smaller religions
that associate the prophet Abraham in their sacred history. These include the Bahai religion and the Druze
faith.
The Vedic Faiths or religions of Indian origin consists of three major world religions and by
secular thought said to be the oldest of the established religions. These are Hinduism, Buddhism, and
Jainism. Hinduism is polytheistic or has more than one God, although it has been thought by some Hindus
that it is one God in many forms. Buddhism and Jainism seem to have roots in Hinduism. In Indian
Buddhism there is no Supreme Deity or Supreme Power, while in Chinese or Japanese Buddhism there are
many Buddhas from whom salvation and release from the cycle of rebirth or reincarnation is gained when
they are prayed to, or devoutly followed. Enlightenment is the endless quest in Buddhism. In Jainism there
is no Supreme Being as well and the universe is thought to be without beginning or end. The term Karma
is important to all three religions. The law of Karma is for every action there is an equal and opposite
reaction. There is good karma and bad karma depending on the deed that is performed good or evil. The
effect of Karma is felt and carried by the soul as he/she reincarnates or migrates from life to life. The state
of being released from the cycles of birth and death is called Nirvana in Buddhism and Moksha in
Hinduism and Jainism. Sikhism is also considered to be of Indian origin but it is monotheistic. It is said to
be similar to the Hindu Spirit World in terms of reincarnation but it also seemingly incorporates Islamic
and Sufi-like (Islamic mysticism) beliefs. The Sikhs have ten Gurus that were prophet-like and one book
represented to have all of the teachings as being the final eleventh Guru.
The Far Eastern Faiths and Eastern Philosophies are called so because of their indigenous and
geographical origins of Japan and China. They are also tied with legends and myths of their own lands.
These religions are Shinto and Taoism and the philosophy of Confucianism. Followers of Shinto believe in
the worship of the kami – the spirits or deities whose presences reside everywhere. Depending on their
type they are said to live in trees, rocks, or even whole mountains. Also the type of work or trade that one
does (eg. fishermen, carvers, etc.) their families, their villages, or even their entire nations, determine which
deity supports or patrons whom. At certain times it has been said that Shinto and Buddhism are
complementary while at other times the two have competed with each other. As with other Far Eastern
religions and philosophies Shinto has many political overtones dealing with the governing and the social
state of the country. Worship is done in a purified state both internal and external and is usually done at a
shrine. Shinto shrines also designate gateways or torii that separate and delineate the secular from the
sacred. Taoism gained popularity in the first century AD/CE. The masculine and feminine forces of Yin

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and Yang work interchangeably with each other and also become each other. They represent all the forces
in nature and the cosmos. Life is reliant on the chi, which is the life breath and energy of the universe. It is
for this reason that meditation and various exercises were developed to preserve their chi and allow the
quest for immortality. Although true Taoist teachings incorporate many deities and are polytheistic in that
determination, many philosophical aspects of Taoism can be applied cross culturally and cross religiously.
This is true for most teachings that are Far Eastern. Divination can also be sought to determine
perspectives of the spiritual word and one’s future through such ancient sacred books as the I Ching.
Various Taoist sages such as Lao Tzu and Chuang Tzu are popularly read in many books on religion,
politics, and philosophy. Confucius was the founder of Confucianism and taught that the Tao or “way” was
reflected in order and hierarchy with each rank following the ones above and that this would result in
harmony. He gave rise to many political and philosophical ideas that would help rule imperial China. He
was also known for the saying “What you do not want done to you, do not do others.” He also taught rulers
that they should be more like fathers to the people rather than gods.
It is hoped that the reader has a better understanding concerning religion throughout humankind’s
history, and that agnosticism and atheism is not always equalizing, neutral, and/or justifiable. Times may
change but established religion sometimes anticipates change and is thus applicable to all times.
Secularism may still be necessary though to ensure the peace. Mysticism and the spirituality of the New
Age was not discussed here in much detail either. It is yet hoped that the reader gained a deeper
understanding of theology, God, and their categorization.
Bibliography
Breuilly Elizabeth, O’Brien Joanne, Palmer Martin, Marty Martin E., “Religions of the
World”, The Illustrated Guide to Origins, Beliefs, Traditions & Festivals,
Revised Edition, Transedition Fernleigh Books, Ltd., 2005
Bowker, John, “World Religions”, The great faiths explored & explained, Dorling
Kindersley (DK) Ltd., New York, 1997, 2003
Websites:
wikipedia, the free encyclopedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abrahamic_religions
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religion