Neil Salsich's Morality Journal: Section 2
1.One paragraph summary of the key idea summarizing the topic of the week.
The section was spent studying some prevelant and established moral systems including Buddhism, Confucianism, Judiasm, and Islam. The major idea that was realized as a result of this study is that these seemingly different moral systems are in fact very much both similar to eachother and similar to Christianity. Their ethical stances on issues such as alcohol and drug use, war, and sexuality, though some differ, are mainly the same. For example, Islam, Buddhism, and Confucianism all teach strict use of alcohol; Islam allows it but only in moderation. The Buddhist concept of Nirvana and the Christian concept of the Kingdom of Heaven are very similar. Buddhists believe that Nirvana is the end result of lifetimes of pursuing moral and ethical perfection. It not a physical palce but a spiritual state in which the soul acheives union with Buddha and the other souls that have reached Nirvana; it can be achieved during a lifetime, not necessarily after death. The Christian concept of Kingdom of Heaven is similar to this: it is not a physical palce (contrary to many people's traditional view of Heaven) but a state of union with all other souls on Earth; it is reached only after dedicating yourself to living by Jesus' teachings.
2. List and explain three of the most important ideas you want to remember from this week. In this section the ideas have to come from three different moral systems, or be an overriding idea you get from your study of these. Just take all your ideas from one religion or moral system.
Jihad - Contrary to my original understanding, there are two different definitions of this word. The first is the most common but least known by most non-Muslims: A personal jihad, an inner struggle to purify oneself. The second is the better known definition, due mostly to the media and U.S. involvement in Afghanistan and Iraq: armed fighting dedicated to Allah against non-Muslims. I was suprised to learn that the first definition is the "real" definition of jihad, not the latter. I had always understood Jihad to be a negative thing, but now I know that to most Mulims it is not.
Egolessness - This concept is the Third Mark of Existence in Buddhism and is one of the hardest ideas in Buddhism to understand. The term does not use "ego" in the usual sense. In fact, it is literally translated as "no self" or "no permanent soul." This parallels the Buddhist belief of the impermanence and imperfection that are characteristic of all things in life. Buddhists believe that the soul, along with all material and worldly good are impermanent and subject to change, and the only unchanging state that exists is Nirvana. At first this idea was shocking and hard to grasp. Though I am still not sure I agree with it, it challenges to my traditional beliefs and sheds new light on my understanding of Buddhism.
The Golden Rule - The Golden Rule is: Do not do unto other what you would have dont unto you. I have heard this rule and variations of it as a child, but I never knew that it originated in Confucianism. The wisdom it possesses is amazing. In some ways it is an inverse of the tradional eye-for-an-eye rule. Instead of repeating what was done to you, rather refrain from harming so that you will not receive any.
3. One image of that reminds you of the topic. Attribute, link, your source.
Source:World Relgions Webpage
4. One good question you should keep with you to ponder.
Will I take what I have learned from these different moral systems and use them to strenghten my own Christian beliefs? Yes, I hope that I can. Beliefs such as the Eithfold Path can help guide me to a stronger set of moral values and new outlook on life.
5. 5) What should you try to do to make you a better person, a more moral person, from this study of other moral systems? Anything real and practical you can learn from other religions?
All these moral systems have generally the same ethical and moral values as Christianity, but they approach them in a vastly different way. I can take these new outlooks on living life and searching for spiritual union with God and others and enrich my own faith with them.
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