Religion as a source of communal values

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Religion as a source of communal values

• Section A Topic 4.1

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• The relationship between the concept of God or
  understanding of the transcendent, and the
  concept of the person in religious traditions
  (outline the relationship between the
  understanding of the transcendent / God and the
  concept of the person in 2 religious traditions)
• The implications of these links for behavioural
  norms (give 2 examples of how these connections
  determine behavioural norms in religious
  traditions).

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• Many core beliefs about the person are shared by
  the main world religions e.g.
• the concept of the person is understood in the
  context of a relationship with a divine source of
  meaning
• humans are social beings
• there is an ethical dimension to human nature
• some sort of belief in the existence of a
  spiritual substance or soul that transcends the
  material world
• all generally accept that humans have a
  responsibility to care for the earth and the
  diversity of life in the world

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There is a difference of emphasis around the
characteristics of human nature Buddhists are
not united in accepting the existence of a soul /
principle of identity that survives
death Buddhism / Hinduism place a high premium
on the reverential attitude to the diversity of
life in the world but this has not been greatly
emphasised in the 3 monotheistic
religions Judaeo-Christian tradition
understanding of the person is bound up with the
belief that humans are created in the image and
likeness of God, suggesting a close relationship
between the concept of God and the concept of the
person. This creator God who is just and creates
all equally necessitates the dignity of all human
nature, as we are equal in the sight of God. In
Hinduism the person is defined by his/her
membership of a caste so it is more difficult to
practice the equality of all persons
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Concept of the person and transcendence The 3
monotheistic religions define human nature in
terms of a personal relationship with God. In
Judaism that relationship comes from membership
of a community sustained by a covenant. Judaism
Christianity emphasise the social identity of the
person as a member of a community so there is an
obligation to promote social justice. The nature
of this personal relationship with God differs
among the 3 religions. Islam strongly emphasises
the obedience to Allahs law where submission to
Allah is central. Christianity strongly
emphasises the possibility of a loving
relationship with God, in the 2-fold commandment
of love. The intimacy of the divine-human
relationship has no parallel in Islam. Muslims
attach great importance to the transcendence /
otherness of God and not to Gods self-revelation
in history.
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Grace Gods loving action in the world. This is
central to the Judaeo-Christian tradition since
the OT and NT covenant relationships are founded
on Gods initiative. Islam has no such emphasis.
Hinduism / Buddhism have very few, if any,
parallels. How happiness is to be found Judaism
stresses a life lived in faithfulness to Gods
covenant, expressed in obedience to Gods law in
the Torah and Talmud. In Christianity the new
covenant established by Christ, the graced nature
of the relationship between God and people stands
for the whole salvation freely bestowed by God in
Christ. Christians believe that happiness is
found in the free acceptance of the gift of
love/grace that is reflected in a life of
faithfulness to the 2-fold commandment of love
happiness is received rather than achieved.
Forgiveness Christs emphasis on forgiveness has
no parallel. It speaks both of the frailty of
human nature and also that there are no
boundaries to love. A forgiving love is inclusive
a vision of human nature that is deeply
ennobling.
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Islam Happiness is found in obedience to God
as it is revealed in the Quran. Muslims are free
to obey/disobey God. Peace is attained by those
who submit to Gods teachings those who refuse
to submit will be condemned, While accepting the
merciful concept of Allah there is no belief
equivalent to the Paschal Mystery the forgiving
grace of Christ as manifested through his death
and resurrection. Hinduism Happiness /
salvation moksha / liberation deliverance
from predetermined endless cycles of successive
rebirths, symbolised in the wheel of samsara as
well as deliverance from a world of illusion that
is caused by unbridled desire.
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• Human destiny in popular Hinduism it is
  perceived as a personal union with ones chosen
  God. Classical Hinduism sees it as unity or
  absorption in the impersonal One or Brahman.
  Grace has no significance in this latter
  understanding since the monist / pantheist world
  view does not admit of a personal relationship
  with God.
• Hindus describe 3 paths to happiness /
  enlightenment
• Jnana-Marga the way of knowledge emphasises
  intense study, ascetic discipline, renunciation
  of material possessions, practice of meditation
• Karma-Marga the way of action fulfilling
  the duties associated with ones state of life,
  determined by age marriage
• Bhakti-Marga the way of divine love worship
  and devotion emphasises fulfilment of ones
  duties responsibilities as a caste member.
  Focus is on the devotional practices associated
  with worship of the personal God of the
  particular family / village. These gods are seen
  as personal and gracious will intercede on
  behalf of Hindus. This popular vision is far
  removed from monism / pantheism in classical
  Hinduism.
• Buddhism regards salvation as the overcoming of
  samsara through a life lived according to dharma
  the teachings of the Buddha. Theravada Buddhism
  does not worship personal gods or venerate the
  person, either human or divine, or believe in
  grace.

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Buddhism stresses the inadequacy of the changing
world a vision of the person marked by
suffering caused by human desire. Each person is
responsible for his/her own fate. Concept of the
person is more stark than in Hinduism. Teachings
of dharma the Four Noble Truths express
suffering and self-deliverance through the
suppression of all forms of desire. Nirvana
perfect liberation can be attained through
supreme effort involving meditation, the moral
life and the pursuit of wisdom. Judaeo-Christian
tradition emphasises the equality of all people,
made in the image likeness of God as well as
the value of freedom and personal responsibility.
Shared belief in monotheistic religions in the
transcendence of God which allows belief in
individual freedom. Buddhism / Hinduism do not
share this emphasis on the transcendence of God
or individual human freedom. These 2 religions
stress samsara, the endless cycle of rebirths.
Hindus believe in the importance of karma /
good works, showing that the cycle is not totally
predetermined or outside the control of human
intervention. Buddhists believe that by attending
to the law of dharma one can break the endless
cycle of rebirth. Yet there is a strong sense of
the hand of fate in both Buddhism and Hinduism
which is not evident in the monotheistic
religions. Adapted from The Search for Meaning
and Values, Eoin G. Cassidy, Veritas 2004,
pp230-238
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2 Behavioural norms