Aaron Poelker's Journal: Section 2
1.One paragraph summary of the key idea summarizing the topic of the week. There was really no one main idea of the week but rather three. This week we learned about the deeper meanings of three ancient moral systems: Buddhism, Islam, and Confucianism. Even though those were the three highlighted moral systems we also had a chance to learn more about one of the oldest religions in the world, Judaism and also anarchism, nihilism, and moral relativism. After hearing presentations on all these moral systems I learned how much they all have in common with each other and also with my personal moral system, Christianity. Whether it was from learning about the eightfold path of Buddhism or the five pillars of faith in Islam I began to understand that they all share the same common goal of searching to find the deeper meaning in life. All these moral systems employ the idea of “jihad” or trying to purify one’s soul.
2. List and explain three of the most important ideas you want to remember from this week. Jihad. there are two meanings behind this very misunderstood term. One meaning, the most typical way jihad is practiced, is the inner struggle to purify yourself. The second meaning, which America is probably most familiar with due to the recent activities in the Middle Easy, is the armed resistance in the name of Allah to defend Him and his people against non-Muslim people. The armed resistance is actually taken as a last precaution because the Koran, the holy book for Muslims, strongly urges the Muslim people as a whole to live peacefully. The Golden Rule. this Confucianism term literally means, “do not do unto others what you would have done unto you.” The goal of practicing this idea is that one will learn to always treat others with the same respect, compassion, and understanding that you would like to be treated with. This idea is almost in every other major moral system we have learned, it is a good rule to take to heart to always remember that we need to treat others kindly if we would wish to be treated kindly. The First Noble Truth (Dukkha). Buddha states that the first noble truth for the entire world is that all humanly life will have suffering. It personally amazes me that a man thousands of years ago could come up with this idea and that it is still true today. The Buddha is trying to convey to us that no matter what social, economic, racial, or gender position you are in you’re life will have suffering. Suffering is apart of our world and it is caused by our carnal desires, the second noble truth.
3. One image of that reminds you of the topic. Attribute, link, your source.
Source:Major world religion wheel
4. One good question you should keep with you to ponder.
Is it possible to take the major moral elements of Buddhism, Islam, and Confucianism and apply them in my life today?
5. What should you try to do to make you a better person, a more faithful person, from this study.
From studying these moral systems I have really come away with entirely new ways of thinking about my life and the situation I am in. Personally I think one of the best ways to make myself a more moral person would be to take some time out and maybe try to follow Buddha’s eightfold path. The eightfold path is a great way to take everything you do in your life and try to make it better for the greater good. The most practical thing I have learned from these moral systems is that we are all in the same situation and they all offer ways for us to improve our lives. I think the idea of improving our lives by either following the Koran, eightfold path, or even reading from the Torah is the most practical idea I have learned.
