Religious studies and theology
“I have meditated on the different religions, endeavoring to understand them, and I have found that they stem from a simple principle with numerous ramifications. Do not, therefore, ask a man to adopt a particular religion (rather than another), for this would separate him from the fundamental principle. It is this principle itself which come to seek him” (Al-Hallaj, A Sufi of Baghdad, 888-922)
Introduction
The essence of the quote brings strongly the aspect of Religious Tolerance. The world is full of different Religions from which people identify and define their spiritual reasons for existence. Various religions have conflicting belief systems. This requires recognition of religious tolerance, which forms an important aspect within society since it plays a major role in peaceful co-existence with people from a different religious background. The concept eliminates the essence of discrimination and misunderstanding of those from diverse religious backgrounds.
Such peaceful co-existence can be achieved through the perspective of bringing religions closer through understanding based on aspects of commonality. However, one common basic rule can be identified in almost all religions across the world; in Christianity, the concept is referred to as the golden rule. Religious beliefs are so much held by individuals hence becomes difficult for them to either negotiate or compromise their belief systems. Therefore, tolerance can be defined as the aspect of respecting people in their different nature and not demanding any same action from their beliefs (Highton 14-152)
Concepts of religious tolerance based on World Religions
From the Jewish perspective, extending their laws to encompass other religions seems easy. Jewish laws are normally regarded as accommodative since they can be easily followed by other religions.
A good example is the basic commandments from the Jewish law practiced in the rest of the world (Greenberg 305-341). This may be contrary to Jewish states which are run by Jewish law through special administrative courts. Individuals from Jewish background easily co-exist with others despite their conservative nature towards their beliefs. This shows why currently, the major secular Jewish defense agencies incorporate personnel capable and devoted to handling inter-faith affairs. They create opportunities where members of other faith religions are allowed to discuss and dialogue (Greenberg 305-341).
The real battle, according to some sources centers on cultural forces of godlessness since the various cultural values at some point leave little room for God and at the same time pay less attention to His word. Religions of the world have different teachings and concepts concerning deity. Most religions believe in some supernatural source of power which in some cases is presented in the form of Gods or Goddesses.
Every belief has equal stronger attachments to their gods, justifying the superiority of their religions based on traditions. Various religions have different deity which they believe in. Buddhism believes in atheism, whereby they reject any possibility of God’s existence. Others included in the Atheist group are Unitarians and Universalists. Hinduism is considered Henotheist, where they believe in many deities, where they consider only one to be a supreme deity (Taylor).
Hinduism believes in many gods presided over by one superior God basing their deity on Brahman. Other gods and goddesses have specified jurisdiction from which they operate but under the overall supreme God. Then there is monotheism, which is a belief in single God; those practicing monotheism include Islam, Judaism, Sikhism as well as denominations within Christianity. Christianity believes in a single deity with three dimensions; Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Christianity views God through different attributes and characteristics such as omniscient, omnipotent, omnipresent, amongst other attributes (Taylor).
History records that Abraham had two sons Ishmael and Isaac. Hence, Islam considers Ishmael as the father of their religion, while Jewish religion believes that Abraham’s second son Isaac is their patriarch. History reveals that Isaac was himself a Jew just like his father Abraham, hence helped in the establishment of Jewish Religion. Such differing belief has caused strife between the two religions, however, the fact remains that Islam and Jewish Religion share a common ancestor and their patriarchs were brothers (Taylor).
Confucianism beliefs revolve around morality and politics. The religion stresses on a number of aspects which include; ‘Li’ focusing on ritual, propriety as well as etiquette, ‘Hsiao’ focusing on love amongst family members, ‘Yi’ meaning righteousness, ‘Xin’ focusing on honesty, ‘Jen’ focusing on concern and benevolence towards others and ‘Chung’ focusing on loyalty towards the state. The religion majorly pays attention to ethics built on rituals at specific important times in an individual’s lifetime. They believe so much in celebrations during specific stages in somebody’s life, which include; birth, reaching maturity, marriage, and finally death (Taylor).
Taoism, on the other hand, developed as a result of the combination of psychology and philosophy focuses on a force flowing through all life. The religion teaches that individuals should be more concerned about the development of virtues based on compassion, moderation as well as humility. The religion encourages planning, for the purposes of attaining the goal within the shortest time possible. They categorize events in terms of either falling on the dark side or the light side, male or female and good or evil. The faithful to this religion believe that man by nature is a good creature, and kindness should be shown to all irrespective of their background beliefs (Moberly 1-135).
According to Buddhism, human being undergoes a certain life cycle which begins with birth and ends in death. However, people can attain some level known as Nirvana after undergoing many cycles and at the same time withdraws from strange desires and self. They do not believe in the existence of God, their need for any savior, eternity, and activities that accompany these beliefs such as prayer. However, with time, the religion experienced some form of integration, making the generalizations unacceptable to some constituent parties within the religion. This has brought some slight conflict because Buddhism is based on too much philosophy (Taylor).
World major religions have common origin based on a resultant covenant between God of the ancient Israelites and Patriarch Abraham. The beliefs describe specific leaders who led Israelites from Egyptian captivity to the Promised Land. They describe leaders such as Moses leading the people out of captivity and giving them the law from God. Then Joshua leading them into Promised Land where they were later ruled by kings, the first king being Saul succeeded by David then Solomon who built the first temple in Jerusalem.
Jewish religion believes in one God who possesses absolute power and wisdom and deserves to be worshipped (Taylor). This same God marvels at good deeds but punishes evil. They believe in absolute goodness in God’s creation hence no need for a savior. At the same time, they believe that they are the only God’s chosen people waiting for the coming of Messiah who will ultimately gather them into Israel and rebuild the destroyed temple in Jerusalem (Taylor).
Judaism believes in the omnipresence of God. Their existence in the modern world is majorly characterized by universalism, which permits them to consider themselves complete within the society (Emil 291).
However, Jewish people indulge in issues of secularism, which they consider to be as a result of their freedom contradicting their past traditional belief, which was purely founded on religious beliefs. Such an idea has granted them the freedom to participate in political and social processes an absolute contradiction to the laid down moral traditions. In the current society, most of the Jews consider themselves un-bound by God’s moral standards (Emil 292).
Conclusion
Religious tolerance led to ignorance on contemptuous issues amongst Christians and Jews. A good example can be drawn from the Holocaust issue, where religious leaders reacted in different ways. During this period Christians believed that Jews contributed so much in confusion experienced in their society through the destruction of biblical truth like the rock of Peter and were viewed as the generators of the evils of capitalism as well as communism.
Christianity as a religion lay claims on the fact that their religion provides ways to forgiveness of sins and attainment of salvation. However, such claims are not acceptable by all Christians hence leading to divergent beliefs causing a denial of some crucial life principles. This has since led to vices such as racism and anti-Semitism, which is believed to be eminent in Abraham-led religions hence denial of human equality (Eckardt 32).
Contrary to other religions, Christianity believes so much in the Bible, making them ignore contemporary lifestyles and focus more on eternity. However, ignorance of human morality within any society set-up is detrimental. The Holocaust event was one of the good examples where six million Jews were exterminated. The occurrence was followed by many questions on the true existence of God who hates evil and rewards good according to the Jewish belief system.
Works Cited
Eckardt, Alice. The Holocaust, Church struggle and some Christian Reflections, Great Britain: Pergamon press, 1987
Emil, Fackenheim. The commanding Voice of Auschwitz, New York: New York University Press, 1970. Print.
Greenberg, Irving. Cloud of smoke, Pillar of Fire, New York: City College Publishers, 1975. Print.
Highton, Mike. Difficult Gospel: The Theology of Rowan Williams, New York: Church Publishing Incorporated, 2004. Print.
Moberly, Elizabeth. Suffering, Innocent and Guilty, United Kingdom, London: SPCK Publishers, 1978.
Taylor, Daniel. Deconstructing the gospel of tolerance, Minnesota, Alabama: Bethel College, 1999.