Religions of the World - Research Paper Example

?Religions of the World Introduction In a world with over seven billion human inhabitants, it comes as no surprise that there are hundreds of religions that help these many individuals see their world and their life in a special, meaningful, and profound way. These religions also allow people to better understand their world and their place in it. Just as each person is unique, so are the religions that they rely on to define who and what they are. As Stephen Prothero says about religions, “the worlds religious rivals are clearly related, but they are more like second cousins than identical twins. They do not teach the same doctrines. They do not perform the same rituals and they do not share the same goals.” Three of the world’s major religions, Mormonism, Christianity, and Buddhism, reveal the truth of this statement, and how even though religions may differ greatly from one another, they exist to provide insight into the world and the human condition. By investigating the unique goals of each religion, as well as their gods, doctrines and beliefs, and their perceptions of afterlife, the notion that religions are related while still standing out on their own can be brought to light. The Goals of Religion Differences abound in all of the religions of the world, setting them greatly apart from one another. The first and most notable difference that can be picked from each religion is its goal, or the primary purpose that the religion prevails. The goal of Mormonism, for example, is for its followers to enter a state of holiness, which is also known as exaltation. Mormons strive to conduct their lives in ways that reflect the characteristics of God. When they succeed, upon their death they will enter heaven, gaining eternal life and an eternal family. The members of Mormonism who achieve eternal life are likened to lesser gods, a belief formed by the concept that God himself was once a flesh-and-bone human and became holy upon death (Smith, 2009). However, His followers that reach this state of holiness are placed beneath God the Father who presides over Mormonism. The goal of Christianity shares part of Mormonism’s goal, which is for its followers to become more like God by taking on His attributes. The difference between the goals of these two religions, though, is that followers of the Christian faith strive to become Godlike so that they can bridge the wide chasm that separates them from God as a result of the sinful nature of humankind (“The basics of Christian beliefs”). Humans are born naturally apart from God due to their inherent sin. The God of Christianity wants nothing more than to have a relationship with His people, but this relationship cannot be attained as long as humans continue to live in sin. As such, the major goal of Christianity is to have the sins of its followers forgiven so that they may become more Christlike, and thus establish a relationship with their creator. The primary goal of the spiritual path of Buddhism is for its practitioners to reach enlightenment, which is more commonly referred to as nirvana by those who actively practice Buddhism. This is the Buddhist concept of total freedom, to be liberated from the cycle of life and death and to attain an eternal body. To achieve enlightenment, members of the Buddhist faith accept the Four Noble Truths, which outline that suffering is caused by desire, and follow the Noble Eightfold Path, which direct them in how to live a life that can bring an end to suffering. Suffering is brought to a complete end when enlightenment is achieved, and the person can experience the pure freedom, happiness, and clarity of nirvana (Hanh, 1999). Each religion strives to not so much make life easier for its practitioners, but to give their followers what they need to survive the hardships of life while maintaing a peace of mind and giving them something to strive for. In the process, the goals of these religions help their followers become better people. When these individuals are successful in reaching the goal of their respective religion, they are rewarded, whether the reward is to become godlike like God in the sense that they are pure of sin and are thus granted an eternal life, to gain a close and intimate relationship with God, or to bring an end to suffering and gain an eternal body. Gods and Holy Figures All religions differ in the beings that practitioners worship or acknowledge. Even in religions that identify the same deity, each religion might have their own purpose for relying on the deity or unique the methods in which they communicate with them. In Mormonism, there is God the Father, who is a physical being; the concept for the Trinity is rejected in the sense that, in Mormonism, Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit are three separate and distinctive beings (Book of Mormon, Alma 11:44). According to Mormonism’s prophet, Joseph Smith (2009), who translated the scriptural Golden Plates of this religion, followers of Mormonism can become deities themselves by, as previously mentioned, becoming godlike, so that they may transition into gods when they die. Christianity has the same cast of deities: God the Father, Jesus the Son, and the Holy Spirit, but, unlike Mormonism, Christianity views these three beings as one in the same, or three persons in one being. Furthermore, Mormonism also promotes that there are numerous gods in heaven - an uncountable number - which can include the followers of Mormonism upon death, but Christianity does not hold these beliefs. God the Father is the only god who is the true God; all others are rejected, and followers of Christianity cannot become deities themselves. Buddhism takes a completely different stance when it comes to deity. Depending on who is asked and what branch of Buddhism they practice, one person might claim to worship many gods while another might state that there is no god in Buddhism. Both answers would be accurate since Buddhism is one of the few religions that do not require a divine being, but do recognize that there are pantheons associated with the various practices. The primary figure in Buddhism is the Buddha, though, contrary to popular belief, he is neither a god nor any other divine figure. He refused to be regarded as such but declared himself as merely a teacher (Das, 1998), a guide for those on the path of enlightenment. Some sects of Buddhism, such as Mahayana, acknowledge the Hindu pantheon of gods, goddesses, and other spiritual beings, but worshipping them is not a necessity for achieving enlightenment or for participating in any rituals, practices, or days of observance. Major Doctrines and Beliefs The more that someone delves into the various religions of the world, the more they come upon just how different each religion is from another. The doctrines and beliefs of all religions, regardless of the characteristics that they may have in common, are where the uniqueness of each religion truly comes to light. There are so many religions in the world primarily due to the fact that each one has a differing set of beliefs, and therefore each religion tends to contrast sharply with the beliefs of other religions. This is also, unfortunately, the main cause of religious violence and wars that occur in the world, during which two or more religions clash when they are unable to reconcile their unique attributes. In Mormonism, the utmost belief is in God, the Eternal Father, Jesus Christ His Son, and the Holy Ghost. Unlike many religions, including Christianity, who believe that God is a bodiless being, Mormonism teaches that God is a flesh-and-bone person who originated on another planet and was sent to the humans of Earth upon his own death into godhood (Smith & Young, 2012). Mormons believe that they are punished for their own sins as opposed to the inherent sin of Adam, and that all humans are capable of being saved by abiding by the laws and scriptures of Mormonism. Followers of Mormonism also believe that worshipping God is a privilege and, as such, that all human beings can worship whom they wish and how; though Mormonism does hold the belief that they are the only ‘right’ religion, they allow others to exercise their own discernment when it comes to picking a religion. In Christianity, God is the one true divine being who guides His followers but allows them to make their own decisions. Jesus, the Son of God, or God in the flesh, was born to mankind to reveal to them the pure goodness of God. Jesus was a perfect being, and the only human who was not born into sin. Jesus died as a sacrifice to the collective sins of humanity, taking on their punishment so that they may become pure and unite with God in death. Like Mormonism, Christianity is among the religions that pride themselves in being the one true religion, and those that do not believe in and accept God in their hearts will find themselves in Hell upon their death. The major beliefs of Buddhism can be found in the Four Noble Truths, the Five Precepts, and the Noble Eightfold Path. In Buddhism, it is taught that suffering is caused by desire, and to end suffering, one must live a life free of material longing (Das, 1998). To achieve nirvana, followers of Buddhism must adhere to the doctrine of the Five Precepts, which outlines important ways of living, including not killing, stealing, lying, misusing sex, or consuming alcohol or other drugs. The Eightfold Path delves more into the mental and emotional aspects of Buddhists, instructing practitioners to speak and act without harming others, to be mindful of one’s actions, thoughts, and feelings, to make an effort in bettering themselves, and to learn to see the world as it really is and not how they wish it to be. The Afterlife Most religions strive to help people become better human beings, to have compassion for those around them, and to develop relationships with deities as each religion demands, and the reward for doing so is often in the form of a promise of afterlife - where the person will spend eternity upon death. In Mormonism, all humans return to the spirit world after death, where they await instruction. Those who were saved during their lifetime will be sent to heaven to be with God and their families; individuals who accept God after death are rewarded but are not with God; and people who reject God after death are sent to hell. In Christianity, individuals who have accepted God into their hearts will spend eternity in heaven, while those who have rejected God will be met with eternal hell. Some sects of Christianity, such as Catholicism, believe that children and good nonbelievers will be sent to purgatory, where they are judged to determine their final eternal destination. Buddhism does not have concepts of heaven or hell, but teaches that every person goes through reincarnation, and when they have reached full enlightenment, they will be released from this cycle of death and rebirth. Conclusion By observing the similarities and differences in the religions of the world, such as those found among Mormonism, Christianity, and Buddhism, Stephen Prothero’s claim that religions are more like second cousins than identical twins becomes clear. Each religion has its own goal to achieve in its followers. These goals are thus achieved through the gods and deities and the major doctrines and beliefs of each religion, as well as in the reward or punishment that followers receive. Religions may have some similarities, and more differences than can probably be counted, but each one exists to help human beings understand the structure, function, and purpose of the world around them, as well as the purposes of themselves. References Das, S. (1998). Awakening the Buddha within. New York: Broadway Books. Hahn, T.N. (1999). The heart of the Buddha’s teaching. New York: Broadway Books. Smith, J.F. (2009). Teachings of the prophet Joseph Smith. Los Angeles: CreateSpace Publishing. Smith, J.F. & Young, B. (2012). The complete journal of discourses: LDS reference. Hoboken, NJ: Currant Bush Press. The basics of Christian beliefs. (2009, August 14). Retrieved from http://www.bbc.co.uk/ religion/religions/christianity/beliefs/basics_1.shtml Read More