Effects of Classical and Post-Classical Religions - Research Paper Example

 Effects ical and Post ical Religions of salvation on societies Religions of salvation came into existence and with them great changes to the way people coexisted and operated. During the classical and post classical era, there were regional clustering among people; thus, they operated within their specific empires and economies under powerful leaders. Empires then were ruled and formed through forcefully making people submit to the desires and wishes of a leader. This was done through coercion and aggressive leadership where people felt obligated to the leadership and most operations were to the benefit of the administration. People were obligated to their respective empires and any attempt to disobey the standing orders was punishable and very severely. A strong empire would conquer by engaging weaker ones in fierce battles that would in the end see their expansion; territoriality and sovereignty in particular are the characteristics that distinguish the modern state from the pre-modern empires of the classical era1. Therefore, this paper will evaluate and compare the changes that came with the emergence of Christianity and Buddhism in the classical and post classical eras. Effects of Christianity as a religion of salvation on the society With the fall of the empires and their economies, the people had to find means to live and believe in order to proceed with their normal lives. People then got the chance to migrate to different areas and meet new people, develop new ideas and learn new and diverse ways of life. Religion would not have come at a better time for them since it enabled them have a venue to express their beliefs and needs. Christianity being one of the religions was embraced by people and they henceforth developed allegiances in accordance with the different religions that they embraced. Eastern mediteranian, for example, enjoyed the aftermath of the Roman empire’s collapse as it opened trade and opportunities for them 2. Politically, the rise of Christianity saw changes in leadership styles and allegiances. The previous empires like the Roman empire always dictated and demanded that people worked with allegiances sworn to the leardership. This changed with the belief that were embraced by the christian teachings. The teachings enabled and required people to work together with others to collectively help improve their lives and in unity to build a strong kingdom of God 3. The supreme being was nolonger the emperor, but God. These religious people happened to be in regions that identified with the religion that was more dominant. Christianity did institute within its gorvenance structure and formation tactics borrowed from the Roman empire. Cultural and artistic ways and lives of people also changed with the transition of the society into the religions of salvation. The Roman empire, for instance, had their gods that they would offer sacrifices to in times of their needs. They belived that the gods were many and that every god had a purpose, authority and power to reward and punish those who did not heed to or obey them. Christianity, on the other hand, came up with the teaching that the last sacrifice was that of the death of Jesus Christ and that there was only one GOD 4. This brought about conflict of interest and cultural discomforts, as well as disagreements between the emperors and the christians resulting in christians being prosecuted. Christianity introduced a way of life in which people lived together in harmony and peace. It brought forward a community that preached against violence and discrimination. On the other hand, the previous empires used coercion, divide and rule kind of leadership that only benefited those in power. Social lives of the people received a great change and boost, one that the people found easy to embrace as it cared for the well being. However, the leadership was immensely affected since their ways of gaining more power and strength was being overshadowed by the strong beliefs that the people developed. Slavery also being a means through which the emperors acquired cheap labor was a vice that the christians preached against in their quest to regain equality for all human kind. This directly hit those in power who felt they needed to impose their powers on the people and so started prosecuting the christians 5. Effects of Buddhism as a religion of salvation on the society On the other hand, Buddhism grew to become a dominant religion in that it came to eventually command many believers and followers just like christianity. It originated in India where the occupants at fast previously practiced Hinduism that exhaulted the roles of priests. The priests were powerful and influencial among the Indians in their ways of life, and they implememented the caste system 6. The caste system involved use of societal classes to identify people. Those more powerful were clustered in the highest ranks of the classes while those less powerful below the rankings. Buddhism, just like christianity was formed as a rebelion against this type of discrimination. Rituals that were also associated with Hinduism did also not go down well with those who had embraced Buddhism as a way of life. Cultural and artistic ways of the Indians who adopted Buddhism changed, but not much. This is because even after adopting Buddhism, it greatly borrowed its modes of operation from Hinduism. Theie main concern to oppose Hinduism was the powers that it vested on its priests and the way the caste sytem operated. The caste system divided the community into classes by default; thus, ensuring that the rich and powerful remain so; and the poor and desperate remain so too. Therefore, status quo was sure to be maintained from generation to generation. Buddhists were of the opinion that equality was a virtue long overdue to their community and their people. Technological advancenment through learning and science also increased among the Indians. By interacting with the Chinese, whose technological advancement was superior and doing so freely, the Indian Buddhists became more advanced in their trading modes. Their merchants who had embraced the use of Mathematics in doing their businees found implementing Mathematics principles practically through their association with the Chinese beneficial 7. Their trading then became more extensive and more advanced, and since they also advocated for equality and fairness found trding more benefitial in a conducive and more advanced environments. In conclusion, changes that rose with the emergence of religions of salvation during the classical and post classical era were positive. Both christianity and Buddhism preached equality for everyone and advocated for peace. They both were a fallback to people that felt so much underprivilaged and mistreated by their respective leaders. Therfefore, by embracing the religions, the people came to believe in some supreme power and its ability to provide and protect them. They also both believed in afterlife so long as one had faith and served the most supreme satisfactorily. References Read More