Comparative Religion

Let us look at what we have learned; comparative religion is a field of religious study that analyzes the interpretive differences of common themes, myths, rituals and concepts among the world's religions. The origin beliefs are Mythos-Religious stories which typically explain the beginnings of the multi-cosmos as a deliberate act of creation by a supreme being (the Lord our God).

The term creation myth is sometimes used in a derogatory way to describe stories which are still believed today, as the term myth may suggest something which is absurd or fictional. While these beliefs and stories need not be a literal account of actual events, they may yet express ideas that are perceived by some people and cultures to be truths at a deeper or more symbolic level. Many accounts of creation (which the class pointed out in functional details) share broadly similar themes. Common motifs include the fractionation of the things of the world from a primordial chaos (demiurge); the separation of the mother and father gods; land emerging from an infinite and timeless ocean.

Several religions have creation stories, some of which account for the existence and present form of the universe by the act of creation by a supreme being or the Creator God. Most of these accounts depict one or several gods fashioning things out of themselves, or from pre-existing material (for example chaos or prakriti).

The scholastic traditions of Judaism, Christianity and Islam for the most part speak of creation ex nihilo. This is typified, for example, by the view that the first verse of the Christian and Jewish Scriptures ("In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth") indicates the only self-existent entity is God with all other things deriving from God. The 2nd Maccabees 7:28 indicates that this philosophy may have been a common Jewish understanding of creation: "I beseech thee, my son, look upon the heaven and the earth, and all that is therein, and consider that God made them of things that were not ...". Similar to this is the language found in the Book of Hebrews,

which states, "Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear". Some (notably Augustine of Hippo) also hold that God is altogether outside of time and that time exists only within the created universe.

However, in these traditions, the belief that God gave shape to pre-existing things was not unheard of, and that idea became more fully articulated especially under the influence of Greek philosophy. In both Judaism and Christianity, belief in creation "from nothing" clearly dominated the traditions sometime in the second century AD, in part as a reaction against classical philosophy. The following story from the Talmud illustrates this: A philosopher said to R. Gamiliel: Your God was a great craftsman, but he found himself good materials which assisted him: Tohu wa-Bohu, and darkness, and wind, and water, and the primeval deep. Said R. Gamiliel to him: May the wind be blown out of that man! Each material is referred to as created. Tohu wa-Bohu: "I make peace and create evil"; darkness: "I form the light and create darkness"; water: "Praise him, ye heaven of heavens, and ye waters" -- why? -- "For he commanded, and they were created"; wind: "For, lo, He that formeth the mountains, and created the wind"; the primeval deep: "When there were no depths, I was brought forth". BR 1.9, Th-Alb:8

Departing from this tradition, some modern scholars have argued that these statements and all others are still susceptible to ambiguous interpretation, so that creation ex nihilo may not be clearly supported by ancient texts, including the Bible. They point out the similarities of the biblical account, to other ancient religious beliefs that the universe was created by God or the gods out of pre-existing matter (demiurge), as opposed to "out of nothing". Some scholars see evidence that the biblical account, like other ancient religious views, presumes pre-existence of some kind of raw material, albeit without form: "Now the earth was formless and void, darkness was over the face of the deep, and the spirit of God hovered over the waters." God then fashions the disordered material, to create the world.

Creation stories at their outset being with either of two possibilities: demiurge or creation ex nihilo (Latin: out of nothing). In the first case, the Multi-Cosmos is assumed infinite in existence, though the present order of the universe is derived from some organizational initiative, often precipitated by a deity, as is found in the Abraham Religions. In an example of demiurge creation, ancient Greeks believed that the present order was borne out of an initial state of chaos in a process known as the demiurge.

Humanism is a broad category of ethical philosophies that affirm the dignity and worth of all people, based on the ability to determine right and wrong by appeal to universal human qualities—particularly rationalism. Humanism is a component of a variety of more specific philosophical systems, and is incorporated into several religious schools of thought. Humanism entails a commitment to the search for truth and morality through human means in support of human interests. In focusing on the capacity for self-determination, humanism rejects the validity of transcendental justifications, such as a dependence on faith, the supernatural, or divinely revealed texts.

The American Heritage Dictionary defines fundamentalism as a usually religious movement or point of view characterized by a return to fundamental principles, by rigid adherence to those principles, and often by intolerance of other views and opposition to secularism.

Religious pluralism is a loosely defined term concerning peaceful relations between different religions, and is also used in a number of related ways: Religious Pluralism may describe the worldview that one's religion is not the sole and exclusive source of truth, and thus recognizes that some level of truth and value exists in at least some other religions.

Religious pluralism often is used as a synonym for ecumenism. At a minimum, ecumenism is the promotion of unity, co-operation, or improved understanding between different religions, or denominations within the same religion

As a synonym for religious tolerance, which is a condition of harmonious co-existence between adherents of different religions or religious denominations.

Adherents of religious pluralism reject religious relativism.

They do not believe that religious truth is relative. Adherents of religious pluralism recognize that different religions make different truth claims. Those religions may apparently contradict each other but on closer examination may be widely different claims. Therefore all religions can be true as far as their own truth-claims are concerned.

For example, most Christians believe that Jesus was God incarnate and that he died for the salvation of humanity. While Buddhists believe that meditation is the path to enlightenment which liberates the soul from the cycle of rebirth so that it may enter into Nirvana. Christians do not claim that Christ leads to Nirvana nor are Buddhists claiming that Buddha is the son of God. Therefore neither Christianity nor Buddhism can claim absolute truth but both can be true.

Most religions have religious texts they view as sacred. Many religions and spiritual movements believe that their sacred texts are wholly divine or spiritually inspired in origin. Monotheistic religions often view their sacred texts as the "Word of God", often contending that the texts are inspired by God. Even non-believers often capitalize the names of sacred scriptures as a mark of respect or tradition. Another interpretation of the "Word of God" is that it was with the power of the Word that God brought into existence Heaven and Earth, and that this power continues to maintain a balance (i.e. the movement of the planets and stars, cycles of nature). This is akin to the concept of the Greek Logos or the Chinese Tao.

In English language, the term scriptures can be used to describe any religion's sacred text as in Hindu scriptures, Jewish scriptures, but when capitalized, in English literature, the word Scriptures generally refers to the sacred texts of the Holy Scriptures. These are the various things I got out of the course and the discourse which the class brought to me and I enjoyed the details of the Professor and how she presented the concepts to her students.

What you gained from this course.

Based on what I have said above the class opened my mind and heart to the facts and hope of truth in all forms of faith.

What you liked best in this course.

The details which I have spoke about above.

What you liked least about this course.

Believe it or not most of the pictures were very nice and had a lot to offer but I felt it took away from the text.

How you think these discourses could be improved.

Prayer and acceptance of the gifts of the Lord (your high power)

Any other comments?

None at this time

Would you be interested in taking other courses from Rev. Kythera Ann?

Yes, and I will be considering these classes after a short break

Dr. Hook, Louis Charles

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