Classical World Religions

Buddhism began in the fourth and fifth centuries before Christ by Siddhartha Gautama. The teachings of Buddha, also known as Siddhartha Gautama, are the major beliefs of Buddhism. Buddhism is a belief and religion based on an assortment of customs, principles, and practices. The name Buddha means the awakened one. Buddha’s teachings were of the termination of suffering, attaining nirvana, and absconding from the cycle of suffering and rebirth. Buddhism has spread all across Asia and throughout the world, now with between two hundred thirty million and five hundred million followers. Buddhism is largely based around the belief of Karma. Karma is the “action, seen as bringing upon oneself inevitable results, good or bad, either in this life or in a reincarnation” (Dictionary.com) or “the cosmic principle according to which each person is rewarded or punished in one incarnation according to that person’s deeds in the previous incarnation.” (Dictionary.com) In simpler words, how you live your life now determines how you will come back when your current soul expires. Buddhists live their lives in hopes of achieving to be placed in the highest state known as Heaven. The after-life stems from Karma and leads into Rebirth. Rebirth is a course of action where humans proceed within multiple lifetimes in one or more of the six states of after-life. Each lifetime begins with birth and ends with death. Buddhists believe that we should not fear death because

List and describe the eight elements that are developed in varying degrees in most religions?

Buddhism is an extremely unique religion that has many different philosophies and practices that you can not find in any other world religions. Buddhism explains the purpose of life. It is also a way to find peace within oneself. It helps find the happiness and contentment that people in our world today desperately seek. These variety of traditions, beliefs, and spiritual practices are largely based on teachings attributed to Gautama Buddha, commonly known as the Buddha, “the enlightened one”. Followers of Buddhism generally tend to stay away from conflict and live peacefully, working towards the ultimate goal of pure and lasting happiness. The religion is growing around the world and most recently in the west. It is a religion that can easily attract people from their fast pace world by giving them solutions and practices to relieve their stress and worries. Buddhism has answers to many of the problems in modern materialistic society. It is an ancient religion that millions of people around the world still follow today. (“A Five Minute Introduction.”)

There is a worldview of Buddhism. According to the Brill dictionary , Buddhism is a missionary salvation religion, first originated by the Buddha (the enlighten one) in north Indian Gangetic plain in the sixth and fifth century BC. Buddhism began as a form of humanistic religion. Buddhism has many similarities with Hinduism, the doctrine of reincarnation. Their ultimate reality is followers attend a meditation Centre where they strongly carry the belief

The Old World opinions of the wilderness were rooted in fear and ignorance of what laid beyond unexplored lands. The irrational and misguided fear of the wilderness were rooted in folklore and mythological stories that labeled the wild as the enemy of survival. The minds of the Europeans were perverted by conceptions of the wild saturated with dangerous and even demonic images. Juxtaposed to these fears were a set of beliefs that designated the wilderness as a source of opportunity and favor from the Lord. Some saw the wilderness as a gift from the Lord and believed that it was their duty to explore and flourish in it. These antithetical set of beliefs both permeated Old World society and dominated how they interacted with their surroundings.

Buddhists do not believe in transcendent or any other type of god or gods, the need for a personal savior, the power of prayer, eternal life in heaven or hell after death as many of the western religions do. They do believe in reincarnation: the concept that one must go through many cycles of birth, living and death. After many of these cycles, if a person releases their attachment to desire and the self they can then attain Nirvana. The teachings of Buddhism effectively deal with the question of human beings very existence and pursue the surest way toward establishing a secure basis for living. It is a practical system, which provides a means to realize a state of self-perfection. (Field)

Buddhism is the most prevailing religion in Asia with about 379 million followers. Buddhism believes in following the “Enlightened” path, which is to live life serenely and without desires. This action was very challenging to accomplish, but it allowed you to associate with yourself internally. Buddhism impacted the world by expressing the belief of the 4 noble truths, offering the idea of reincarnation, and to follow certain traditions in physical appearance. The 4 noble truths were the main components in following the “Enlightened” path by explaining how the suffering is caused by people’s desires and that they need to release those to feel free. Reincarnation led other people to believe that when you die, your soul would be born into a new life, which gave the thought about other “realms” that may exist. Also, the physical appearance of Buddhists/monks was different because they would wear clothes that helped them see their natural beauty.

1.Compare and contrast Hinduism and Buddhism on the question of atman. What does each tradition have to say about whether a human being has an individual soul? What is the significance of this soul (or lack thereof) in each tradition?

The religions of the world, while differing greatly in their specifics, are surprisingly similar. The three most prevalent religions in the world are Christianity, Islam, and Hinduism, in that order. All believe in a higher power that presides over and created man. Islam originated in approximately 609 C.E., or Common Era, and Christianity originated around 33 C.E. which is supposedly when Jesus Christ was crucified. The main prophet of Islam, Muhammad, is supposedly of the lineage of Jesus Christ. Both religions consider Abraham the father of the people of Israel, his son Ishmael being the “Father of the Arabs” and his son Isaac being the “Father of the Hebrews”. Hinduism originated in India in

Buddhism is one of the major religions of the world. It is also very different from the other popular religions. Although it first originated in India, its founder’s unusual teachings have spread to the western world in addition to other Asian countries, including Japan, China, and Thailand. In fact, Buddhism is the “oldest and most widespread of all the world faiths” (Wilkinson 8).

Three of the earliest religions that still exist today are Judaism (Hebrews), Christianity (Christians), and Islam (Muslims). Each group has its own Holy book to read and recite and guide them in their faith. Hebrews have the Old Testament and the book of the prophets are called the Talmud and the Torah, books in which prophets (messengers sent by God) tell his people what to do. The Christians have the Bible, scriptures that consist of the Old and New Testament. The Muslims have the Quran. Every religion has its own list of rules that the followers are expected to obey. To continue their practices, the followers would not only read, but they would also pray.

Buddhist worldview as pertaining to the concept of God, the soul, suffering, and their view of

From the beginning of time, people all over the world have wondered where we come from, what our divine purpose in life is, and what we can expect after death. Questions about right and wrong, society and government, and nature and the cosmos, are some of the few wonders that ultimately created some of the earliest philosophies and religions, helping people find peace and explanation to the vast curiosity that still troubles us in modern times. From a technical standpoint, religion is defined as an everlasting devotion to a recognized higher being or entity, through a personal or formed practice of belief. Philosophy on the other hand, refers to the particular study of common

Buddhism is a religion and philosophy based on the teachings of Siddhartha Gautama. It is the oldest and fourth largest religion in the world with around 500 million followers. Buddhism focuses on teaching people how to come to terms with and end the suffering of themselves and others by cutting out greed, hatred, and ignorance from their lives. Unlike most major world religions, Buddhism does not revolve around worshiping a god or divine creator, instead the focus of Buddhism is living one 's best life and transforming the lives of others. The ultimate goal of Buddhism is to reach Enlightenment and upon death achieve Nirvana, the liberation of pain and suffering. For Buddhists, it is the individual’s responsibility to find his or her own path to enlightenment; the principles of Buddhism are seen more as guidelines than rules.

In the universe there 's a galaxy, and in this galaxy there 's the solar system, and in this solar system there is a planet earth, and in this planet earth lives 7 billion people. We are all the same but divided by key things; oceans and mountains, culture and society, but most important religions and beliefs. Out of the hundreds of practices and beliefs that make part of planet earth one of the most interesting form of religious practice is Buddhism.