1. The Key Idea of this section was to look at different moral systems in the world besides Christianity. Most of our life so far all we have seen is the Christian view. But this gave us a chance to see other moral systems and how their views compare and contrast with Christianity in issues such as their beliefs and today’s moral issues such as abortion and killing. Many of the Moral Systems that we studied had different systems but their key teachings all had the same ideas behind that murder is wrong and that you should treat others kindly. This reaffirms what Huston Smith said that even though these cultures were disconnected with each other they all had the same beliefs. Which suggests that what each of these moral system beliefs are the key truths in all humans, and that it is not bound to different nations and cultures.

2. A. One of the things that I would like to remember is jihad, before I studied Islam I always thought it was just a reason that the Islamic people could have a holy war. But when I looked into it I found out that it did mean that but that was only the lesser meaning. The greater meaning said that it was a struggle between good and evil inside oneself. It has to do with the temptations that people see everyday and their choices. I would like to remember this because I think this is a main part of everyone’s lives in any moral system, what their greater sense of jihad means is what our idea of conscience is.

B. I would also like to remember the Five Key Relationships from Confucianism. These five relationships are a good method for how I treat others. For example the father son relationship applies directly to me and I can use this teaching to become more obedient and respectful to my father. Also the friend relationship can be used to help me better the way I act towards my friends. To be trusting and honest with them.

C. The Five Precepts of Buddhism I found very interesting because they have many of the same meanings of the Ten Commandments of Christianity. For example the First Precept I will be mindful and reverential with all life, has the same meaning as our commandment thou shall not kill. And their

Fourth I will honor honesty and truth, which has the same meaning as our commandment thou shall not bare false witness. These two different moral systems have the same key beliefs which leads us to believe that they are the fundamental morals in humanity.

3.

Pic from http://www.jcu.edu/philosophy/gensler/goldrule.htm

4. Why is it that all these different moral systems have the same core beliefs yet they were very far apart from each other and never made contact?

I think it is because they all discovered that these are the fundamental truths and morals of humanity, that these morals and beliefs allow humans to exist in societies that are safe.

5. Since all of these major moral systems believed in the same beliefs, they seem to be the moral truth for humans. And since they are very important parts of each moral system, they are what I should strive to follow.