Linda Sorensen

Humanities 320

Submitted to Professor Campbell

February 3, 2001

Concepts of the Divine

 

The role of the individual in various religions as to their idea of how to achieve the divine varies from one religion to the next.  Some roles are based upon fatalistic views, while others are totally based upon free will and choice.  This essay will provide information and opinion that will help bring an understanding in regards to the role of the individual, by observing the various practices of religions in the Eastern, Asian, and Western regions of the world.   The roles of those in Judaism, Christianity, Catholicism, Hinduism, Taoism, and Buddhism, will be examined.  Through this examination, it will be shown that it is really up to the individual to find his or her own “way” toward an understanding of “eternal peace.”

In the role of the individual in Judaism, there are four things that make up “spiritual anatomy.”  They are, “faith, observance, culture, and nation.” (Smith, 312)  These four things “point to the overarching theological triad of creation-revelation-redemption.” (Crim, 385)  Daily life is filled with ritual, such as observance of “the Sabbath, dietary laws, daily prayers,” and studying the Torah, Talmud and midrashim.  (Smith, 312) In Jewish culture, art, philosophy, and literature are three important parts of their way of life that contribute to their “language, lore, and affinity for land.” (Smith, 312)  In Sabbath worship, “it is a time of sanctity, study, and rest from worldliness.” (Crim, 390)  The theological triad are symbolic at each of the three services held.  In the morning recitation, creation is celebrated, with revelation and the study of the Torah covering the central service, and in the evening closing service, redemption is celebrated in recitation.  The idea herein is that a life of study and obedience to God’s commandments will bring on eternal rewards after death.  However, opinions vary as to what the rewards will be.  A life in God’s existence would be reward enough, I would assume.

In Christianity, the individual learns to live by faith alone in Jesus Christ who came to earth and became the savior of the world.  He is accepted by the Christian faith as being their Messiah.  He is the anointed one, and the one who will grant Christians the grace necessary to return back to his presence after death.  In order to return to God’s presence after death, one has to live a life that is clean and pure.  If one has committed sin, he/she has to repent and receive forgiveness from those offended.  One way to draw closer to God and Jesus is to study the Holy Bible.  They believe the Bible to be a witness to Jesus’ existence and teachings.  It offers inspiration, and in some cases revelation, to those who are seeking a closer relationship with God through Christ.  “Gathering for common worship,” partaking of the sacrament, “and practicing private prayer,” are regular practices by Christians as well. (Crim, 174)  They practice baptism in order to enter his kingdom.  Many Christian religions have their own special practices, but these few are the main practices they share in common.

Catholicism follows many teachings of other Christian religions, but their practice has more symbolic traditions and rituals.  They also believe in the Trinity – that God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Ghost are one.  They believe in the original sin of Adam and Eve.  They believe that we are born sinners because of this and that we must be baptized and practice good works throughout our lives in order to negate this sin that was on us.  These rituals include, “the Eucharist, the Mass, Holy Communion, or the Lord’s Supper,” Confirmation of faith, Unction, and Last Rites. (Crim, 174)  If I were Catholic, I would be baptized shortly after birth, I would grow up learning the teachings of the Holy Bible as it is interpreted by the Pope, and I would probably attend a private Catholic school so I could be properly prepared to receive my Confirmation of faith when I am about 12 years old.  I would then continue learning in my Catholic traditions throughout my life, attending Mass, and confession on a regular basis to keep my life clean and pure in the eyes of God.  Then it is only by the Grace of God at the end that we are saved.

In Hinduism, God takes on many different manifestations, so there are many different paths that lead to the divine.  Hinduism shows the individual as almost non-existent. We are born into this world and live a life at a certain caste level.  It is done in accordance with how we merited it from our behavior in the life before this one.  If we are born into a lower caste in this life, it is because we couldn’t master something in the life before.  Once we are born into a specific caste, there is nothing we can do to change our position in this life.  This fatalistic view gives us the desire to prepare in this life for a better “next life.”  Our existence goes on and on in a cyclical path as we are reborn over and over again.  The goal in this process is to practice different level of yoga to arrive at God’s Consciousness.  Our individual role is to learn the proper way to meditate to receive the different levels of consciousness.  Once we attain God’s Consciousness, we are freed from the bonds of having to return to a physical body ever again.  Our spirits are freed to be with God, in all his different manifestations.

The Taoist belief is that we are on earth and must live in harmony with all that is around us.  The goal in Taoism is to achieve personal immortality, through acts  “moral self-restraint, humility and unselfishness.” (Crim, 742)  Immortality is to live forever, “on holy mountains or islands for centuries without growing old, sustained only by dew or marvelous fruits.” (Crim, 743)  To achieve this, a specific path has to be followed.  One has to take only things into one’s body that will increase vital energy, for it is through increasing this vital energy that will bring us closer to immortality.  Breathing techniques called “chi” are practiced daily to pull in all the vital energy possible from the air.  There is a special way of inner breathing, which is connected to chi that maximizes the effects of its practice. “Immortality or longevity can be achieved by purifying and refining the ‘inner breath’ and perfecting its circulation.” (Crim, 744)  Other outward practices showing good morals and attitudes are important in bringing one to immortality, with balance of yin and yang.  Once one has managed to attain the highest level of chi and arrived at total balance in ones life, they arrive at immortality.

Buddhism brings us to the last of the religions I will discuss.  There are different levels of Buddhism, just as there are different levels of Taoism.  The main focus for the individual is to achieve Nirvana or total enlightenment.  “Nirvana is an absolute standard by which the improvement of personal, social, and religious circumstances is measured.” (Crim, 542)  It is through stringent practices of maintaining “moral conduct, mental discipline, and intuitive wisdom” that one arrives at Nirvana. (Crim, 128)  With Nirvana, comes a state of peace, tranquility, purity, bliss, and happiness, as well as a life that is free from cravings, lust, hatred, delusion, and false idea of self. (Crim, 128)  Zen Buddhism practices meditation, with the goal of arriving at total enlightenment, losing oneself and becoming one with the universe.

We have seen the many different views of what an individual’s role is in these particular religions.  The views are different, yet they are views that are real to the individual.  They learn the way, and follow the path they deem best to arrive at the divine in whatever form they believe it to be.  Though many find themselves in a way of life that is not of their choosing, they can choose to make their life better by bringing their spirit closer to the divine while on this earth.  Through prayer, study, meditation, or breathing, one is able to find inner peace.  In some cases, one even finds heaven on earth along the way, at least in their own understanding.

Works Cited

Crim, Keith, The Perennial Dictionary of World Religions, HarperCollins, 1989.

Smith, Huston, The World’s Religions, HarperCollins, 1991.