The three religions we learned about thus far all have similarities within them, but bring different views to the table.
Their differences are too numerous to list (you're much better off exploring them for yourselves if you have not done so already) so I will stick to the similarities I have found between the words of Buddha, Jesus, and Sri Krishna.
Buddha and Sri Krishna often spoke about reaching Nirvana, enlightenment, and striving to find a better place for your Self and have a focused mind.
Buddha and Jesus actually believed that a place of peace, or the Kingdom of God was not a place you go when you die, but any place where two or more people meet in "God's name." Buddha encouraged his followers to seek others on a similar path of enlightenment, and to stay away from those who could hold you back.
Both Buddha and Jesus believed the body was a temple. Jesus taught that if they destroyed the temple, he would raise it in three days. Later, his followers decided that he was actually talking about his own body. The Buddha taught that the body is just a home for the mind, and it wasn't really a part of "you." It houses the mind for some time, but all life moves on and changes, and so the mind must find a new home.
Jesus and Sri Krishna both gave encouraging words for warriors, whether on the battle field or doing what they could to not give into the Romans.Sri Krishna taught the Warrior Arjuna to be brave on the field of Dharma and to not be afraid of death.
Jesus taught his followers to be the bigger man, and refuse to fight back to your enemies, thus making them look like bullies.
I guess, in this way, Buddha taught something similar: do not get angry when someone falsely accuses you of something you did not do, but accept it. The truth and justice may or may not prevail in the end, but never cause suffering to others.
The point is, the world is full of many religions. They are different in many aspects, but they have similar intentions. It is interesting to look at them each as a way of thinking, instead of a religion, which, unfortunately, can have negative connotations.
I do not think there should be one universal religion, because there is no one right answer. This course has shown me many different sets of beliefs and ideas, and in each unit, I have found something I believe in. I think the people of the world should be more tolerant of other beliefs. Mainly, those of my friends who say they are atheistic because there is no proof of God's existence. Whether there is or isn't, is somewhat irrelevant to my idea that you can incorporate "religious values" into your life.
I think the world would be better off if we neither repressed or fell victim to our anger or cravings. It would be better if we lived like we weren't afraid of dying, and tried to live good positive, and healthy lives. It would be better if we accepted everyone for who they are, gross skin conditions or not.
Have tolerance for each other. Embrace the religious harmony and see just as a band needs different instruments, they can all be played together and sound beautiful.
Buddha and Sri Krishna often spoke about reaching Nirvana, enlightenment, and striving to find a better place for your Self and have a focused mind.
Buddha and Jesus actually believed that a place of peace, or the Kingdom of God was not a place you go when you die, but any place where two or more people meet in "God's name." Buddha encouraged his followers to seek others on a similar path of enlightenment, and to stay away from those who could hold you back.
Both Buddha and Jesus believed the body was a temple. Jesus taught that if they destroyed the temple, he would raise it in three days. Later, his followers decided that he was actually talking about his own body. The Buddha taught that the body is just a home for the mind, and it wasn't really a part of "you." It houses the mind for some time, but all life moves on and changes, and so the mind must find a new home.
Jesus and Sri Krishna both gave encouraging words for warriors, whether on the battle field or doing what they could to not give into the Romans.Sri Krishna taught the Warrior Arjuna to be brave on the field of Dharma and to not be afraid of death.
Jesus taught his followers to be the bigger man, and refuse to fight back to your enemies, thus making them look like bullies.
I guess, in this way, Buddha taught something similar: do not get angry when someone falsely accuses you of something you did not do, but accept it. The truth and justice may or may not prevail in the end, but never cause suffering to others.
The point is, the world is full of many religions. They are different in many aspects, but they have similar intentions. It is interesting to look at them each as a way of thinking, instead of a religion, which, unfortunately, can have negative connotations.
I do not think there should be one universal religion, because there is no one right answer. This course has shown me many different sets of beliefs and ideas, and in each unit, I have found something I believe in. I think the people of the world should be more tolerant of other beliefs. Mainly, those of my friends who say they are atheistic because there is no proof of God's existence. Whether there is or isn't, is somewhat irrelevant to my idea that you can incorporate "religious values" into your life.
I think the world would be better off if we neither repressed or fell victim to our anger or cravings. It would be better if we lived like we weren't afraid of dying, and tried to live good positive, and healthy lives. It would be better if we accepted everyone for who they are, gross skin conditions or not.
Have tolerance for each other. Embrace the religious harmony and see just as a band needs different instruments, they can all be played together and sound beautiful.
It is very true that there is more to religion than theistic belief, and that religions can function quite well without belief in a deity.
ReplyDeleteAn unusual example of this: I once heard a story about a group of rabbis who put God on trial after the Holocaust. Not to prosecute God, just to make sense of what had happened to them. They concluded that God was guilty of abandoning them. And then they began preparing for the observation of the Sabbath.
There are many possible lessons to take out of this story, but one of them is this: religion intends to bring you out of yourself. It might do this by a focus on God, or on meditation/introspection, or on society.