AN EXPLORATION OF SELECT BELIEF SYSTEMS
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INTRODUCTION It seems to be a great thought of humanity; a theme carried through the ages, shifting and changing, reinterpreting and defining, yet never ceasing. Great buildings have been constructed in the quest to worship it. Wars have been fought in the quest to conquer it. It fundamentally influences who we are, how we behave, and what we do. The simplicity and incredible complexity of it coexist in both union, steadfastly believing in the assurances of faith, and turmoil, endlessly considering the possibility of things unknown. Socially constructed, it is religion. Individually observed, it is belief. This text and it associated diagrams take it in brevity, dissecting it at a level of basic understanding across a breath of well-followed religions: Islam, Protestantism, Judaism, Church of Latter Day Saints of Jesus Christ, and Buddhism. The nuances of each might be hinted at, however, further research will be required to understand them in depth. Here, their basic influence on understandings of birth, life, death, and afterlife are explored.
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This book was composed in response to coursework taken while studying at the University of Cincinnati under Dr. Dana Griffith. Thank you Dr. G. Copyright Š 2014, 2016 by Ellen M. Crawford. All rights reserved
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ISLAM
5
PROTESTANTISM [BAPTIST FOCUS]
21
JUDAISM
33
CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER DAY SAINTS
45
MAHAYANA BUDDHISM
57
THERAVADA BUDDHISM
67
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ISLAM
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God exists.
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Birth into the Islamic faith is merited by the will of God.
God creates man and purposes man into existence to live man’s one life by free choice, best guided by His will.
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Man lives his life from a position inherently filled with goodness. Evil exists second to this nature.
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God allows suffering to occur when the laws of the universe are broken. Man is tested by how he reacts to self-imposed, involuntary, and surrounding suffering. These tests determine if man will reach the perfect and permanent everlasting world. 9
Expressed remorse or repentance
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for sin is accepted by God.
Dependence on God is essential.
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Death comes.
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The body dies.
The soul lives on in a period of waiting.
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Earthly order is disrupted, universal structure is shaken, the heavens rend apart.
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God remains.
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God commences the resurrection of bodies, calling human beings to an accounting of their earthly deeds.1
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The faithful enjoy the delight of God for eternity.
Those whose evil deeds outweigh their good deeds are destined to the flame.
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ISLAM
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PROTESTANTISM [BAPTIST FOCUS]
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God exists.
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God gives man life.
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Man actively rebels and sins against God.
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Emergence from spiritual death is made possible by the acceptance of Christ’s conquering death and resurrection. Death’s curse is broken. Death is overcome.
Man’s sins are forgiven.
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Man follows the path of Christ and repents when he sins.
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Man’s body dies, but his soul remains.
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Christ ushers in a new age, resurrects the bodies, and confirms by final judgment what is already de facto.2
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The righteous are rewarded in heaven and spend eternity with God. The wicked are punished.
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PROTESTANTISM [BAPTIST FOCUS]
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JUDAISM
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God exists.
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God gives man life.
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Life can bring deep joy and fulfillment by following God’s suggested ways of individual is tasked with making God’s world a better place and doing good and ethical deeds.
living.3 In life, the
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Salvation is tied to adhering to these deeds and to the Ten Commandments.
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What is of first and primary responsibility is this life and not the world to come.
Death does not bring about an end.
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Complete resurrection is fulfilled with the coming of the Messiah.
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God judges man.
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Each soul is held accountable for how they used their precious life. Sincere repentance also permits entry into the next world. Some are doomed for the worse.
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JUDAISM
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CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER DAY SAINTS
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All men and women live as spirit children in relationship with God. God’s desire was for them to become full gods within themselves, but this could not happen until His spirit children learned to choose good over evil.
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The spirit children choose to leave their pre-mortal existences to live as humans on earth and obtain this ultimate salvation.
God presents the spirit children His plan for their salvation.
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With the guidance of Christ, man’s
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life on earth helps him become more like God.
Man’s body dies, but his spirit continues to live in the spirit world, where it grows, progresses, and has another opportunity to learn about Christ.
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All men are resurrected in the Lord’s second coming.
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During self-judgment, all choose one of three heavens in which they would like to dwell. Each heaven has varying celestial characteristics.
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Those who have received a sure knowledge and have willfully sinned against the Holy Ghost are cast into outer darkness.5
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CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER DAY SAINTS
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MAHAYANA BUDDHISM
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Birth is rebirth of consciousness. Rebirth is guaranteed.
Consciousness exists inherently. Self, as in ‘you’ and ‘me,’ does not exist inherently, but it does exist.
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Samsara continues.
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Life is characterized by suffering. Craving causes suffering. Suffering can be brought to an end by following the eight fold path.
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The Bodhisattva remains in samsara to help all other sentient beings attain nirvana.
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Enlightenment recognizes the interconnected reality and unity composing consciousness. Complete Knowledge is gained. All concepts and sufferings are superseded. Buddhahood is achieved.
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MAHAYANA BUDDHISM
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THERAVADA BUDDHISM
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Birth is rebirth of consciousness. Rebirth is guaranteed.
Consciousness exists inherently. Self, as in ‘you’ and ‘me,’ does not exist inherently, but it does exist.
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Samsara continues.
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Life is characterized by suffering. Craving causes suffering. Suffering can be brought to an end by following the eight fold path.
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Nirvana is achieved when worldly passions cease. It breaks the wheel of samsara and ends suffering. Man becomes an Arahant.
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THERAVADA BUDDHISM
73
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REFERENCES 1 Johnson, Christopher Jay, and McGee, Marsha G, eds.
How Different Religions View Death and Afterlife. 2nd Ed. Philadelphia: The Charles Press, Publishers, 1998. Print. 140. 2 Ibid, 38. 3 Ibid, 146. 4 Ibid, 147. 5 Ibid, 99.
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AN EXPLORATION OF SELECT BELIEF SYSTEMS