Humanity's Relationship to the Divine - Essay Example

Module Module ID: Diversity of Religious Faith By looking into the history of the globe at large, it becomes evident that an overwhelming majority of the humans belonging to the divergent tribes, clans, communities, cultures and civilizations maintain unflinching belief in some Supernatural and Metaphysical power, Who not only provides them with food, shelter, clothing and protection etc, but also saves them from all difficulties, problems, challenges and calamities, which the humans are unable to combat with by themselves. Consequently, the concept of religion and divinity came into existence, which developed spiritual relationship between man and God. Although a large majority of the world nations and cultures have developed faith in the Supreme Being, yet the nature and scope of their belief systems appear to be quite divergent one; which actually varies from one society to the other on the one hand, and within one and the same social establishment and culture on the other. The nature of the relationship between man and God could be viewed as the outcome of the spiritual traditions, moral values, religious faith and the Scripture being followed by the people belonging to some particular region or cultural set up. Hence, traditions, customs and spiritual treatise adopted and followed by the community. For instance, the Jewish community considered Abraham, Isaac and Jacob as its three patriarchs, and claims that the Prophet Moses is the greatest man created by God in order to guide the House and Jacob and to set them free from the shackles of slavery and cruelties inflicted upon them by the Egyptian Pharaoh Remises III upon the Israelites. Consequently, the Jews living in any region of the globe from their homeland Israel to a place situated in any Asian, European or African state, maintain the same belief system, same festivals and same code of conduct in respect of their religious practices. The same is applied to the Christian, Muslim, Hindu and other communities. The Muslims follow the ethical codes manifestly mentioned in their Scripture the Holy Qur’an, as well as in the records of the noble statements and practices attributed to the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), and the same traditions are being followed by unconditional religious fervor all over the world. Somehow, with the passage of time, the adherents of all the great faiths including Judaism, Christianity and Islam, divided into sects, groups and factions, and introduced alterations in the basic teachings of their respective faiths. The New Testament narrates the tales of the conflicts and clashes among the descendants of the twelve tribes of House of Jacob, where they inflicted every type of injustices, criminalities and atrocities upon their brethren in the name of purported justice and religion. Similarly, even the real brothers of the Prophet Joseph threw him into the well out of sheer feelings of jealousy and vindictiveness. The same is the history of Christianity and Islam, where both the Catholics and Protestants demonstrated their abhorrence and displeasure towards one another just to have maxim political powers, social benefits and financial gains. Moreover, the Sunni Muslims also inflicted cruelties on the Shiite Muslims for their personal gains. Hence, every group and community observed differences for pecuniary gains, and named it the true word of God. As a result financial and political motifs pave the way towards developing human relationship with God in almost all societies of the globe at large. Although different cultures and communities observe difference in their religious faiths, yet almost the believers of all faiths have one commonality i.e. they consider the deity as their savior and beneficent, which offers them countless blessings against only following the few commandments. For instance, the followers of Abrahamic faiths are in consensus at the very point that God had bestowed all kinds of blessings on the first parents of humanity i.e. Adam and Eve while their stay in the Garden of Eden, with only one single restriction i.e. not to taste the fruit of the forbidden tree (Genesis, 1). The similar commandments of the Lord in respect of leading a pious life on the earth have also manifestly been mentioned in Old and New Testaments as well as in the Holy Qur’an. Chapters 18 and19 of Leviticus clearly lay stress upon the followers to worship one God, obey the parents, observe chastity, honesty and integrity, avoid wickedness and debauchery and treat the fellow-beings, neighbors and relations in a polite and humane manner (Leviticus, 19: 2019). Before this, the descendants of Jacob also prayed to God for their spiritual and moral uplift on the one hand, and for obtaining His blessings in the worldly pursuits and gains on the other. Moreover, the prophets including Moses, Aaron, King David, Zachariah, John and others prayed to God while undergoing difficulties and at the face of hardships inflicted upon them at the hands of the infidels and non-believers. Consequently, they were well acquainted with the very reality that their Lord would not leave them in the lurch provided they remained as firm as rock in their belief in God, as well as in justice and truthfulness. Hence, they regard the Creator as their benefactor on the one hand, and the supporter of justice and kindness on the other. God has not only bestowed the worldly profits upon the creatures, but also has sent His holy prophets for the moral guidance and spiritual uplift of the humans. The infidels pelted thes sacred personalities with stones and garbage, and tortured them in an adverse manner, yet these holy men stood as firm as rock on the face of difficulties because of their commitment with their Lord regarding guiding the ordinary humans in order to save them from getting astray from the right path of glory and eternal success. Although the Abrahamic faiths are monotheist in nature, and share several similarities and commonalities including the concepts of God, prophets and angels, heaven and hell, reward and punishment and the Day of Resurrection as well, so their relationship with the deity appears to be one and the same. However, the faiths quite opposite to these religions also take the deity as the Omnipotent and all-Powerful, who can bless them with every bounties and mercies. These religions, including Hinduism, Jainism, Buddhism and others maintain the strong belief that God will reward the good people on performing virtuous deeds, and will punish the wicked for their malpractices and misdeeds they commit by hurting and harming the fellow beings in one way or the other. Although, the Hindus strongly advocate the notion about the multiplicity of the gods and goddesses, which could arrive for the rescue of the helpless individuals in the form of humans and even animals, beasts and birds etc, yet it does not mean that their relationship with the deity is not as powerful as the followers of other spiritual groups and communities of the world. It is therefore the Hindus also condemn the nefarious and obnoxious designs committed by the nasty fellows against the hapless individuals. Furthermore, the people belonging to divergent communities are of the view that had there no concept of reward and punishment, the cruel people would have practiced every method to destroy the weak and helpless communities by dint of the power and might they maintain in the form of pelf, possession and power. To conclude, it becomes crystal clear that the relationship between man and deity of the protector and protected on the one hand, and between the benefactor and beneficiary on the other. The creatures are weak and dependent, which seek support of the Lord at the hour of every need. The Lord blesses the humanity with every comfort in the form of providing food, shelter and growth on the one hand, and by removing their woes, worries and agonies on the other. God can also be stated as the reflection of parental love, where the parents apply best of their sources in order to provide all comforts to their children. However, the divine love and affection is far higher than the parental love, though no other example could be cited to describe the nature and intensity of the relationship between the deity and the creatures. Work Cited The Bible Leviticus 19 King james Bible Version web. Read More