Beruflich Dokumente
Kultur Dokumente
Tamara Ramos
Spring 2017
Ramos 2
Introduction
Six blind men came together to find out how an elephant truly looked liked by touching
the elephants body. One man touches the leg, saying it is like a pillar. The second man is
touching the tusk, describing the elephant as a hard pipe. The third man says the elephant is like
a wall while touching the side. Another describes the elephant as a rope while grasping its tail.
The fifth man touches the trunk and says it is like a tree branch. And lastly, a man touching the
flaps of the elephants ear says the animal is like a hand fan. Are all these men necessarily
wrong? Thus story in the Jain tradition is describing how religions can interpret spirituality, and
be different on how they describe it. Religion, defined by psychologist William James said, The
very fact that there are so many and so different from one another is enough to prove that the
word 'religion' cannot stand for any single principle or essence, but is rather a collective name.
(Various Definitions of Religion) The word religion does not mean a specific belief or
interpretation, rather it is an umbrella term used to describe many different types of religions.
Religion for me can be different for a Buddhist monk. A man who lives in Egypt will have a
different religion than that of a man who lives in Israel. Religion to a protestant pastor will be
different for a man who has practiced the enlightenment of the Atman. While religion in a sense
is a way to be in tuned with your spirituality, the difference in between them is very significant to
the men who found their religion, their interpretation of god (if they have one or many), to the
reason why humans are here on earth. The culture surrounding these religious are what makes
them different. Different parts of the world have different necessities and interactions with their
environment. Once we start blurring the lines between religion, we lose their culture and makes
them distinct.
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The men who found or rediscovered these major religions have archetypical
characteristics that could be found amongst them. To look at the founders in a generic
perspective takes away their accomplishment and does not make what they have done is truly
remarkable or revolutionary. While looking at the prophets/founders, difference between why the
found their religion or how they rediscovered it will become more paramount.
Starting off with the Eastern religions, both are very unalike in the terms of the founders.
While both are very old, Hinduism has no known founder. There are speculations that the
religion came from the Aryans who migrated to the once inhabited Indus Valley, left religious
text that is now known has the Vedas (Living Religions 72). This Vedas are the authoritative text
among the religion and become distinctive when it come to the rules of the religion.
relinquished all his valuable after he saw an old man, an ill man, and lastly a corpse when he
sneaked out of his palace out of curiosity. After he saw the suffering of man, he encountered a
guru which moved him. After, Siddhartha disowned is possessions and family and went on a six
year fast. He mediated under a tree for about one month until he had his revelation and became
the Buddha (an enlightened being). He set rules for how to reach Nirvana set the Four Noble
Truths of life. Siddhartha wanted to teach his revelations to people who are willing to be his
disciples.
On the Western side of the world, the patriarch Abraham was an important figure in the
three major monotheistic religions. In Judaism, Abrahams grandson, Jacob who later becomes
Israel after fighting an angel, had 12 children. Out of those 12 children, Moses escaped the
familys fate of becoming enslaved and was raised by the pharaohs daughter. This led to Moses
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being spoken by God to free the Israelites under the Egyptian rule (Living Religions 253). These
stories continue throughout the Tanahk of Moses freeing Gods people and later became holidays
Christianity diverts from Judaism when a woman, Mary, was visited by an angel and
became pregnant with Gods child. Jesus birth was at the time when the Roman Empire was
ruled and the fear of the coming of the messiah (Living Religions 305). Lead to tensions within
the Pharisees and Sadducees because of their different perspectives on Judaism and their class.
After Jesus reached the age of 12, he traveled to Jerusalem for Passover. Jesus showed his
knowledge of Gods word when he began teaching in the Temple. Later in his 30s, he was
teaching about the grace of God and how his mission was to save the people who follow God.
Jesus was revolutionary with his teaching because of how different they were compared to those
of Judaism.
The last of the Abrahamic religions is Islam. A religion that was practiced before
Muhammad, The region sank into historical oblivion as it turned away from Abrahams
angel, Gabriel. This lead to his revelations of the Quran, Gods words. Muhammad was not a
Many of these prophets revelations had to do with the teachings of God or reaching
enlightenment, but they all had different interpretations. As well as what are the job of these men.
Hinduism, although lacking a founder, had many of the Rishis share the revelations and
composed the Vedas to which supports their belief of internal life (In Class Notes of Hinduism).
Siddhartha was born into nobility and had only witnessed the joys of life because of his sheltered
childhood. He wanted to know why humans suffer after witnessing three accounts of it. Moses
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was who had a family succumbed to slavery. He became the man to free the enslaved Jewish
people of Egypt when God had an encounter with him (Living Religions 253). Jesus, on the other
hand, was the son of God and his goal was to teach the grace of God and as well to sacrifice
himself for the peoples sins. Muhammad was born in an Arabic tribe (In class notes on Islam)
and was the last messenger of God after Gabriel spoke to him. He was determined to teach
people how to be under submission to Allah through the Five Pillars. As we look into the history
of these major religions, the distinctions become very prominent when we look at the intentions
Comparing religious beliefs and practices would be comparing it to the cultures. Looking
at cultures that are half-way around the world will have large differences. The people of Thailand
will not have the same traditions or particular ethics as those that live in Saudi Arabia. For
example, some cultures do have the same ingredients in their food, but do not have the same type
of preparation or outcome. This could be said for the religions around the world and their
practices. Because of how the religion started and what the goal is, religions will have different
Hinduism is a religion of large diversity within itself and being very diverse from other
religions as it is polytheistic. The Vedas, the Hindus holy texts which describe stories of the of
the gods and as well as belief of multiple gods (Living Religions 76). Another major belief which
differentiates Hinduism is the concept of the caste system. The caste system is implemented
within society to sort people into high class divisions, all the way to upper, middle and lower
class, down to the oppressed or untouchables. (In class notes on Hinuism) This sorting into a
permanent caste leads to the idea that if you do your Dharma (job), then you will develop good
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karma which finally leads to Samsara (reincarnation). To practice good karma to lead into a
better reincarnation the Hindus practice forms of yoga. The types of yogas range from being very
easily practiced by the common people to types that can only be practiced by certain castes
which is not seen in many religions. The practices and beliefs range within the Hindu religion,
but the most common are very apparent to other major religions.
The largest religion to not have a god or someone to worship to is Buddhism. This
religion becomes clearly distinct from the others on their beliefs about life and how to practice
them. Buddhism believes that the end goal destination for humans is to reach Nirvana. When
enlightened to that extent a person becomes a Buddha. To follow the path of Nirvana, one must
follow the Four Noble Truths which is to find suffering, the cause, the guidelines to the cure,
called the Noble Eightfold Path, and the cure (Living Religions 145). Some of the practice to
reach Nirvana is to relinquish all possessions, to not be selfish, and deep meditations. This
religion focuses on oneself and not the religion as a whole unity to worship under one god.
The religions under the Abrahams monotheistic ideals become very different once looking for
what their beliefs are. Judaism believes that they are Gods people that came from the lineage of
Israel and will not be safe from the world until they are all unified in the Holy Land. This is
different from other Western religions because in Judaism, they believe they are that chosen
ones, which in return makes the religion not popular to proselytism. Their practices that are
different across other religions because of their purpose. Their practices to lead to sanity the
world are the celebration of a Bar/Bat Mitzah, that when a child becomes an adult in a religious
sense, and other holidays that commemorate the achievements of Moses, such as the Sabbath(In
class notes on Judaism). These practices are in their 613 commandments they must obey to invite
If religions are the same, then why does Judaism not accept Christianity? Christians
believe that Jesus is the son of God and he was born into the world to free us from sin. Unlike
other religions founders, Jesus is in the same realm as God, so he is worshiped just the same. As
well, they believe in the 10 commandments from Judaism. Although they are practiced in a way
that shows love for God and in return his Grace. There are more motifs of forgiveness, love, and
in the Christians than other Western religions. The Christians practice rituals that commemorate
Jesus, which shows their love to God, such as baptism and the Eucharist. Other Western religions
do recognize their importance of their founders but not as intensely as the Christians.
Islam is the religion that does recognize the other two Abrahamic religions, but
differentiates itself when it comes to how to submit under God. The Muslims believe that
Abraham is the last messenger of God and had the revelations which turned into the Quran.
Islams holy text is interpreted as the word of God, which is very paramount to other religious
text. In the Quran it describes three categories that Islam places that either commends what is
required, what is permissible, and what is forbidden. (In class notes on Islam)This religion
becomes more involved in ones daily to reach salvation. The Muslims must follow the Five
Pillars in under to be in submission to God and relinquish the worst of sin which is pride.
Comparing and contrasting these religious beliefs and practices, the prominent goal of the
religion becomes apparent. Although most of the major religions do believe in god(s), the way
they show their love, their submission, how they sanctify the world for Him, or trying to free the
The common trope of all religions is the problem of humans. One of religions purposes
is to describe the evil (or lack of goodness), and how to solve it. But with many religions, there
In the Hinduism, there is a lack of a deity that pertains to sole evil. It is more of the
playfulness of the gods/goddess and a result of humans succumbing to their free will (The Big
Religion Chart). Buddhist believes that our materialistic possession makes us suffer and in turn
not let us reach enlightenment. Both of these Eastern religions have a similar goal to reach
enlightenment, but their paths are unalike. In Hinduism, to become truly enlightened, you must
be on a high caste system that allows to practice yoga to the liberation of the Atman. In
Buddhism, the practices of meditating and being unbound to the material world is the solution.
In the Western religions, their perception of what is wrong with humanity are similar in
the sense that is being away from God. But how that happens and the solution becomes more
specific with each religion. In Christianity, the problem with people is that everyone is
susceptible to sin and in order to solve that, christians must live life with little sin and not break
the 10 commandments. As well as to live in Gods Image. Judaism's interoperation of the worlds
problem is that there is a need to sanctify the world because of the ones who break the 10
commandments (synagog site visit). As well the Jews will never be free from exile until they are
unified in the Holy Land. Muslims believe that pride is the largest sin of man and it takes away
being under God. To be under submission to God, one must follow the Quran and practice the
When religions want to explain why there is negativity in the world, it turns into a lack of
goodness in someone. But determining what that specific lack of goodness is, make these
Conclusion
Our similarities can connect us in many ways that we have not realized. In a broad sense,
all religions can be interpreted the same because most do follow practice, order, a higher being or
a goal of enlightenment, and how to deal with negativity that surrounds them. The similarities
between Eastern religions is more prominent than in Western. As religions with the Abrahams
monotheistic God are very similar as well. When we look for one each other, our difference
should not divide us, but we should look at how similar our beliefs can be. The Golden Rule is
do unto others as you would have them do unto you. Although religions have worded it
differently, it has the same implications. To not do something that in return you will not like else
to do to you. The differences of religions should be celebrated, not to make into an umbrella
statement that loses meaning. Many people take their religion out of temples, churches,
synagogues, mosques, and other places of worships in their home. In order for us to maintain
diversity and unification in the world, it is to become well with those who are unalike us and
Work Cited
Fisher, Mary Pat. Living Religions. 9nth ed. Boston: Pearson, 2014. Print.
Bethinking.org. "Dont All Religions Basically Teach the Same Thing?" Bethinking.org. N.p., 13
"The Big Religion Chart." The Big Religion Chart - ReligionFacts. N.p., 21 Nov. 2016. Web. 28
Apr. 2017.