Resemblance characteristic: Judaism Concept of ‘ultimate reality’
Judaism is regarded as the earliest form of monotheistic religion. Through Judaism, the revelation of God has been realized courtesy of the Jews. The various religions of the world offer diverging meanings of Ultimate Reality, in line with the Judaism version (Johnson, 1988).
The concept of Ultimate Reality revolves around the personal God. This image of a central God occupies a central position in such major religions as Islam, Christianity, Judaism, as well as Hinduism with its theistic traditions. Moreover, the concept of Ultimate Reality is often viewed at as an ‘impersonal transcendent being’. In this regard, the Ultimate Reality becomes the ‘ultimate source’ of all forms of existence (Corrigan, 2006).
In the Hindu traditions, this concept is well exhibited in Brahman. On the other hand, the Chinese practices Tao, or what is known as Primal Unity. On their part, the Christians believe in God’s philosophical image; that of a Being who is unmoved (Nigosian, 2007).
There is also the Suchness concept that is normally practiced by the Buddhists, and which bears a lot of resemblance to the ‘Ultimate Reality’ concept of Judaism. According to the Atman concept of the Hindu religion, the Ultimate Reality image is depicted as being immanent for each individual.
Why Ultimate Reality across the eight religions?
In Judaism, just like in both Christianity and Islam, the ultimate reality concept holds that there exists one God. All the eight religions of the world; Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, Confucianism and Taoism talks of a ‘supreme being’, albeit in a different description. Nevertheless, the description tends to bear a lot of resemblance across the eight religions (Nigosian, 2007).
To the Hindus, Brahman is the ultimate reality. Brahman is thus seen as an indivisible, infinite, incorporeal, of pure consciousness as well as all-pervading. Not only is Brahmin the source of all awareness, he is as the source of bliss and awareness. The Taoism religion talks of an Ultimate Reality that is impersonal.
Additionally, the Ultimate Reality is often viewed at as the chief creator, as well as the universe’s eternal truth. Tao, the indisputable and rigid principles of Taoism is taken as the foundation of multiplicity, as well as the desire of all life forms. Conversely, moral law is taken as the universe’s supreme principle with regard to the Confucianism religion. This universal principle tends to be eternal, omnipresent and hidden.
Although Judaism is regarded as the world’s oldest monotheistic religion, its traditions however are even today widely practiced (Corrigan, 1998). In line with this, the Ultimate Reality concept of Judaism has widely been borrowed by other religions. In effect, this has had an impact on the ethics and principles of such other major religions as Islam and Christianity.
Historical backgrounds
From a historical perspective, the Judaism religion has hinged upon a belief in ‘divine revelation’, as well as the acceptance of both the oral and written Torah. This is largely taken as the basic foundation belief of Judaism. Christianity, just like Islam and Judaism is usually categorized as an ‘Abrahamic religion’.
Seeing that Christianity was initially a sect of the Jews, it is not a wonder then, that the resemblance characteristics of the two religions should be interrelated. The same case applies to Islam. Historically, Hinduism is recognized as the most ancient organized religion in the world.
As a majority of the types of Hinduism tend to be henotheistic religions, only one deity has been recognized as a supreme being. All the other Gods and Goddesses are then viewed at as an expression of this one deity. As a syncretistic religion, Jainism bears similar elements with both Buddhism and Hinduism (Nigosian, 2007).
On the other hand, the founder of Taoism, Lao-Tse came to be revered as a deity following his pursuance of ways to avoid conflicts. A similar historical perspective to that of Taoism is that of Confucianism, whose founder K’ung Fu Tzu, dwell extensively on the ecumenical religion, moral teachings and social ethics (Khon, 2002).
Similarities and differences in resemblance characteristics across the eight religions
The sacred text of Islam is the Koran, while both Christianity and Judaism share the Bible. While Islam and Judaism practices strict monotheism, Christianity on the other hand believes in Trinitarian monotheism. The Ultimate Reality in all three religions is the belief in one God.
According to the Islamic faith, the nature of the self is such that it has equal capability to commit both good and bad deeds. Judaism on the other hand views the self as two equal impulses. Oneself is seen as bad, and another good. Christianity on the other hand views self as having a tendency to sinning, having inherited the ‘original sin’ from Adam.
Both Islam and Christianity believe in the afterlife, while Judaism believes, in the existence of either heaven, or no afterlife at all. In Taoism, the concept of Tao is taken to means the ‘mother of the universe’. As such, Tao becomes the originating source of the world’s manifestation, as well as the returning point of the same. Such too, is the case in Buddhist Dharmakaya, and even the Hindu Brahman.
Confucianism also believes in the existence of heaven and the afterlife as well. Based on the teachings of Jainism, the universe is perceived as consisting of layers of both hell and heaven, and these layers have neither a beginning, nor an end. On the other hand, Buddhism believes that the sufferings in life come as a result of the self having a craving for worldly pleasures.
When this suffering ends, then the cravings shall also come to an end, thereby freeing self from desire. As can be seen, a there are similarities between the resemblance characteristics across the eight religions of the world. Nevertheless, slight differences do occur, and these are what distinguish these religions, thereby giving them identity.
These differences then dictate the behaviors of the various faithful of the different religions, such as in the mode of dressing, the rituals to observe, the symbols to adore, and the texts to read. As such, the influences or these resemblance characteristics do not impact in a similar manner in all the eight religions.
It is these characteristics that give meaning and hope to the lives of the individual followers of the various religions. In addition, the followers of the various religions seek to emulate their spiritual leaders. For example, Mohammed, Jesus, Gautama, Lao-Tse and K’ung Fu Tzu are religious leaders and founders in their own right (Khon, 2002).
The challenge is for the followers to walks in the footsteps of their spirituals leaders and founders, while at the same time not appearing to be blasphemous to the beliefs of other religious followers’ practices. As a Christian, I am a strong believer in the holy trinity, so that the concept of the Ultimate Reality is one of a supreme God who is omnipresent, all knowing and who is divine.
Conclusion
The Ultimate Reality characteristic could be seen as a concept that helps bring sanity and a sense of normalcy in an otherwise chaotic society. When the people believe in the existence of a sovereign power, then their deeds and secret shall not be selfish, lest they face the wrath of the omnipotent being. They thus seek to be guided by divine law in order to seek the ‘ultimate source of existence’.
References
- Corrigan, J (1998). Jews, Christians, Muslims: A comparative introduction to monotheistic religions. New York: Prentice Hall.
- Johnson, P (1988). A History of the Jews. London: HarperCollins.
- Kohn, L (2002). Daoist Identity: History, Lineage and Ritual. Hawaii: University of Hawaii Press.
- Nigosian, S. A. (2007). World religions a historical approach (4th edition). Hampshire: Macmillan publishers.