Tuesday, May 6, 2025

ACOM - World Religions


Video Recording is available - https://youtu.be/16B_tIAEeY8

🌍 Exploring Major World Religions: Beliefs, Practices, and Challenges

In an increasingly globalized world, understanding different religions is not only a matter of academic interest—it's a vital part of fostering peace, tolerance, and meaningful dialogue. This blog dives into the foundational beliefs, practices, and critiques of the world’s major religions, offering a comparative lens to help you appreciate both the shared values and striking differences among them.

🧭 I. Why Study Religion?

Religion shapes cultures, politics, art, and personal identities. Whether you follow a faith tradition or not, learning about religions can:

  • Increase awareness of global beliefs and values

  • Highlight both shared moral foundations and important differences

  • Equip us to engage with others respectfully and intelligently

🔍 II. How to Study Religion

Religions are complex systems that can be analyzed through key components:

  • Theology: What is the divine or ultimate reality?

  • Anthropology: What is the nature and purpose of humanity?

  • Cosmology: How did the world begin? What is its purpose?

  • Soteriology: What is the path to salvation or liberation?

  • Practice: What do followers do—ritually, ethically, socially?

📚 III. The Big Five: Major World Religions

Let’s explore the five most influential global religions, their core teachings, and common criticisms or opposing views.

🕉️ 1. Hinduism

Main Beliefs:

  • Brahman: The ultimate, formless reality

  • Atman: The soul, identical to Brahman

  • Karma: Moral cause and effect

  • Samsara: Cycle of reincarnation

  • Moksha: Liberation from rebirth

Sacred Texts: Vedas, Upanishads, Bhagavad Gita
Practices: Yoga, meditation, puja (ritual worship), Diwali, Holi

Critiques & Challenges:

  • Caste system: Perceived as justifying social inequality

  • Idol worship: Viewed critically by monotheistic religions

  • Philosophical pluralism: Criticized for being relativistic

☸️ 2. Buddhism

Main Beliefs:

  • Four Noble Truths: Suffering, its cause, its end, and the path

  • Eightfold Path: Right living for liberation

  • Anatman: No permanent self

  • Nirvana: End of suffering and rebirth

Texts: Tripitaka (Pali Canon), Mahayana Sutras
Practices: Meditation, mindfulness, monastic life, chanting

Critiques & Challenges:

  • No creator God: A non-theistic system, which contrasts with most faiths

  • Anatman: Challenges the idea of a soul or eternal self

  • Rejection of caste: Radically inclusive but controversial in Hindu contexts

✡️ 3. Judaism

Main Beliefs:

  • Monotheism: One covenantal God (Yahweh)

  • Covenant: Special relationship between God and Israel

  • Torah: Divine law as life’s foundation

  • Messiah: Future leader to restore peace and justice

Sacred Texts: Tanakh (Hebrew Bible), Talmud
Practices: Sabbath, kosher diet, circumcision, Passover, Yom Kippur

Critiques & Challenges:

  • Messianic unfulfillment: Disputed by Christians

  • Legalism: Seen by some as overly focused on rules

  • "Chosen people": Misunderstood as ethnic or moral superiority

✝️ 4. Christianity

Main Beliefs:

  • Trinity: One God in three persons—Father, Son, Holy Spirit

  • Incarnation: Jesus is God made flesh

  • Salvation: By grace through faith in Jesus

  • Scripture: Bible as the authoritative word of God

Texts: Old and New Testaments
Practices: Baptism, Eucharist, prayer, sacraments

Critiques & Challenges:

  • Trinity: Rejected by strict monotheists

  • Exclusivity: Claim that Jesus is the only way to God

  • Church divisions: Seen as contrary to Christian unity

☪️ 5. Islam

Main Beliefs:

  • Tawhid: Absolute oneness of God (Allah)

  • Prophethood: Muhammad is the final prophet

  • Quran: Perfect revelation

  • Five Pillars: Faith, prayer, almsgiving, fasting, pilgrimage

Texts: Quran, Hadith (sayings of Muhammad)
Practices: Daily prayers, Ramadan, dietary laws, modesty

Critiques & Challenges:

  • View of Jesus: Accepted as a prophet, not divine

  • Sharia law: Seen by critics as rigid or harsh

  • Jihad: Often misunderstood or misused by extremists

🧩 IV. Comparing the Faiths

Theme Hinduism Buddhism Judaism Christianity Islam
God Polytheism/Monism Non-theistic Monotheistic Trinitarian Monotheism Strict Monotheism
Salvation Moksha Nirvana Messiah/obedience Grace/Faith Obedience/Faith
Human Nature Divine self No permanent self Good but flawed Fallen, redeemable Born pure, accountable
Sacred Texts Vedas, Gita Tripitaka Torah Bible Quran
Afterlife Rebirth Rebirth/Nirvana Resurrection Heaven/Hell Heaven/Hell

🏛️ V. Religion in Society

Religion goes beyond private belief—it shapes how people live together:

  • Law & Ethics: Many legal systems are rooted in religious values

  • Culture: Music, literature, and festivals are infused with religious meaning

  • Peace or Conflict: Religion can unite or divide

Case Studies:

  • Interfaith dialogue in peacebuilding (e.g., South Africa, India)

  • Religious nationalism and its modern impact (e.g., Israel/Palestine, India, USA)


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