Premium Essay

Why Westerners Are Turning to Eastern Religious Traditions

In:

Submitted By blaine
Words 849
Pages 4
Why Westerners are turning to Eastern religious traditions Even though Christianity is still the most largely practiced religion, many Westerners are unhappy with its traditional beliefs, and are instead turning to Eastern religious views such as Hinduism and Buddhism. This is because people are interested in the spiritual practices of Eastern religions, such as yoga and meditation. Also, Westerners are threatened by the belief that their actions in this world will decide whether they spend eternity in heaven or in hell. Finally, Westerners are tired of a theistic God and all the questions that this idea of a God causes. Therefore, Westerners are turning toward Eastern religions because of its spiritual habits, its moral reasons for good behaviour, and its rejection of traditional monotheism. Followers of Western religions are raised to believe that their actions in life will affect where they spend eternity, so they behave morally to avoid damnation in hell. They align themselves with the idea of a Supreme Being responsible for all of creation and the destiny of humans’ lives on earth (Velasquez 4.5). This Supreme Being is said to be omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent, and all-good. Westerners focus less on spiritual components, instead behaving to please their God through prayer and attending mass (Velasquez 4.5). The beliefs of Eastern religions, however, are completely different. Easterners live a life of discipline and moderation to ground themselves and be humble, rather than to find eternal happiness (Velasquez 4.5). Because Eastern religions believe in reincarnation, or samsara (Velasquez 4.5), they do not focus on an end product, but instead believe that their next life will be better if they behave well. This is influenced by karma, which is the notion of “sowing and reaping” (Velasquez 4.5). Also, Eastern religions reject the above

Similar Documents

Premium Essay

The Clash of Civilizations?

...The Clash of Civilizations? by Samuel P. Huntington (SAMUEL P. HUNTINGTON is the Eaton Professor of the Science of Government and Director of the John M. Olin Institute for Strategic Studies at Harvard University. This article is the product of the Olin Institute's project on "The Changing Security Environment and American National Interests”. THE NEXT PATTERN OF CONFLICT WORLD POLITICS IS entering a new phase, and intellectuals have not hesitated to proliferate visions of what it will be -- the end of history, the return of traditional rivalries between nation states, and the decline of the nation state from the conflicting pulls of tribalism and globalism, among others. Each of these visions catches aspects of the emerging reality. Yet they all miss a crucial, indeed a central, aspect of what global politics is likely to be in the coming years. It is my hypothesis that the fundamental source of conflict in this new world will not be primarily ideological or primarily economic. The great divisions among humankind and the dominating source of conflict will be cultural. Nation states will remain the most powerful actors in world affairs, but the principal conflicts of global politics will occur between nations and groups of different civilizations. The clash of civilizations will be the battle lines of the future. Conflict between civilizations will be the latest phase of the evolution of conflict in the modern world. For a century and a half after the emergence of the...

Words: 9742 - Pages: 39

Premium Essay

A Good E-Book on Various Religions Across the World

...messages, and excerpts can be produced to meet your needs. For more information, contact Special Markets Director, Visible Ink Press, at www.visibleink.com or (734) 667-3211. Art Director: Mary Claire Krzewinski Typesetting: Graphix Group Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Renard, John, 1944The handy religion answer book / John Renard. p. cm. ISBN 1-57859-125-2 (pbk.) 1. Religions--Miscellanea. I. Title. BL80.2 .R46 2001 291--dc21 Printed in the United States of America All rights reserved 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 2001004052 CIP Contents I NTRODUCTION ix ACKNOWLEDGMENTS xiii C HRONOLOGY OF MAJOR EVENTS xv GE N E RAL BAC KGROU N D DE FI N ITION S AN D M ETHODS . . . 3 History and Sources . . . Religious Beliefs . . . Signs and Symbols . . . Membership, Community, Diversity . . . Leadership, Authority, Organization . . . Personalities and Powers . . ....

Words: 245202 - Pages: 981

Free Essay

Khoabnamap Study About Religion

...IN CONTEMPORARY SOUTHEAST ASIA ISLAMIC STUDIES AND ISLAMIC EDUCATION i ii IN CONTEMPORARY SOUTHEAST ASIA ISLAMIC STUDIES AND ISLAMIC EDUCATION Editors KAMARUZZAMAN BUSTAMAM-AHMAD PATRICK JORY YAYASAN ILMUWAN iii Perpustakaan Negara Malaysia Cataloguing-In-Publication Data Islamic studies and Islamic education in contemporary Southeast Asia / editors: Kamaruzzaman Bustamam-Ahmad, Patrick Jory ISBN 978-983-44372-3-7 (pbk.) 1. Islamic religious education--Southeast Asia. 2. Islam--Education--Southeast Asia. I. Kamaruzzaman Bustamam-Ahmad. II. Jory, Patrick. 297.77 First Printed 2011 © 2011 Kamaruzzaman Bustamam-Ahmad & Patrick Jory Publisher: Yayasan Ilmuwan D-0-3A, Setiawangsa Business Suites, Taman Setiawangsa, 54200 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means – for example, electronic, photocopy, recording – without prior written permission of the publisher. The only exception is brief quotations in printed review. The opinions expressed in this publication is the personal views of the authors, and do not necessary reflect the opinion of the publisher. Layout and cover design: Font: Font size: Printer: Hafizuldin bin Satar Goudy Old Style 11 pt Gemilang Press Sdn Bhd iv ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS T his book grew out of a three-day workshop jointly held by the Regional Studies Program, Walailak University, and the Department...

Words: 104903 - Pages: 420

Premium Essay

Beliefs in Society

...specification: The relationship between religious beliefs and social change and stability * Functionalism: conservative force, inhibition of change, collective conscience, Durkheim and totemism, anomie; civil religions * Marxism: religion as ideology, legitimating social inequality, disguising exploitation etc * Weber: religion as a force for social change: theodicies, the Protestant ethic * Neo-Marxism: religion used by those opposing the ruling class, liberation theology * Feminism: religious beliefs supporting patriarchy * Fundamentalist beliefs: rejecting change by reverting to supposed traditional values and practices. Religious organisations, including cults, sects, denominations, churches and New Age movements, and their relationship to religious and spiritual belief and practice * Typologies of religious organisations: churches, denominations, sects and cults, with examples of each New Religious Movements and typologies of NRMs eg world rejecting/accommodating/affirming; millenarian beliefs, with examples of each * New Age movements and spirituality, with examples * The relationship of these organisations to religious and spiritual belief and practice. The relationship between different social groups and religious/spiritual organisations and movements, beliefs and practices * Reasons why people join NRMs, NAMs and other organisations * Gender and religion: women: women’s greater participation, women in religious organisations including NRMs;...

Words: 23270 - Pages: 94

Premium Essay

Feminism and Ideology

...relationship between religious beliefs and social change and stability * Functionalism: conservative force, inhibition of change, collective conscience, Durkheim and totemism, anomie; civil religions * Marxism: religion as ideology, legitimating social inequality, disguising exploitation etc * Weber: religion as a force for social change: theodicies, the Protestant ethic * Neo-Marxism: religion used by those opposing the ruling class, liberation theology * Feminism: religious beliefs supporting patriarchy * Fundamentalist beliefs: rejecting change by reverting to supposed traditional values and practices. Religious organisations, including cults, sects, denominations, churches and New Age movements, and their relationship to religious and spiritual belief and practice * Typologies of religious organisations: churches, denominations, sects and cults, with examples of each New Religious Movements and typologies of NRMs eg world rejecting/accommodating/affirming; millenarian beliefs, with examples of each * New Age movements and spirituality, with examples * The relationship of these organisations to religious and spiritual belief and practice. The relationship between different social groups and religious/spiritual organisations and movements, beliefs and practices * Reasons why people join NRMs, NAMs and other organisations * Gender and religion: women: women’s greater participation, women in religious organisations including...

Words: 23270 - Pages: 94

Premium Essay

Missionary Roots of Liberal Democracy by Robert D. Woodberry

...heavily influenced the rise and spread of stable democracy around the world. It argues that CPs were a crucial catalyst initiating the development and spread of religious liberty, mass education, mass printing, newspapers, voluntary organizations, and colonial reforms, thereby creating the conditions that made stable democracy more likely. Statistically, the historic prevalence of Protestant missionaries explains about half the variation in democracy in Africa, Asia, Latin America and Oceania and removes the impact of most variables that dominate current statistical research about democracy. The association between Protestant missions and democracy is consistent in different continents and subsamples, and it is robust to more than 50 controls and to instrumental variable analyses. ocial scientists tend to ignore religion in the processes of post-Enlightenment modernization. In individual cases and events, the role of religious actors is clear—especially in the primary documents. Yet in broad histories and comparative analyses, religious groups are pushed to the periphery, only to pop out like a jack-in-the-box from time to time to surprise and scare people and then shrink back into their box to let the important historical changes be directed by “secular” actors and forces (Butler 2004). Yet integrating religious actors and motivations into narratives about the rise and spread of both Western modernity and democracy helps solve perennial problems that plague current...

Words: 26573 - Pages: 107

Premium Essay

Managing Cultura Differences

...CULTURAL DIFFERENCES SIXTHEDITION MANAGING CULTURAL DIFFERENCES SERIES Managing Cultural Differences: Global Leadership Strategies for the 21 st Century, Sixth Edition Philip R. Harris, Ph.D., Robert T. Moran, Ph.D., Sarah V. Moran, M.A. Managing Cultural Diversity in Technical Professions Lionel Laroche, Ph.D Uniting North American Business—NAFTA Best Practices Jeffrey D. Abbot and Robert T. Moran, Ph.D. Eurodiversity: A Business Guide to Managing Differences George Simons, D.M. Global Strategic Planning: Cultural Perspectives for Profit and Non-Profit Organizations Marios I. Katsioulodes Ph.D. Competing Globally: Mastering Cross-Cultural Management and Negotiations Farid Elashmawi, Ph.D. Succeeding in Business in Eastern and Central Europe—A Guide to Cultures, Markets, and Practices Woodrow H. Sears, Ed.D. and Audrone Tamulionyte-Lentz, M.S. Intercultural Services: A Worldwide Buyer’s Guide and Sourcebook Gary M. Wederspahn, M.A. SIXTH EDITION MANAGING CULTURAL DIFFERENCES GLOBAL LEADERSHIP STRATEGIES ST FOR THE 21 CENTURY 25TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION PHILIP R. HARRIS, PH.D. ROBERT T. MORAN, PH.D. SARAH V. MORAN, M.A. JUDITH SOCCORSY Editorial Coordinator Elsevier Butterworth–Heinemann 200 Wheeler Road, Burlington, MA 01803, USA Linacre House, Jordan Hill, Oxford OX2 8DP, UK Copyright © 2004, Philip R. Harris, Robert T. Moran, Sarah V. Moran. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval...

Words: 229816 - Pages: 920

Premium Essay

Revision Cold War

...marks) - choice of 2 questions in both sections • Section A – discuss an historical issue • Section B – use source material & knowledge to discuss an historical event Section A – themes to explore in your revision: 1. The post-Stalin thaw and the bid for peaceful coexistence in 1950s: a) USSR: Khrushchev b) USA: the responses of Dulles, Eisenhower and Kennedy. • the continuation of the Cold War in the 1950s following the retirement of Truman & death of Stalin, despite the bid for improved relations on the part of the USSR in the form of unilateral cuts in the size of the Red Army and withdrawal from Austria and Finland. • the concept of peaceful coexistence & what motivated Khrushchev & the Soviet leadership, & why the USA under Eisenhower & his Secretary of State, Dulles, and later Kennedy and his staff, responded in the way they did. • the role of personality, particularly that of Khrushchev, in shaping relations in these years should be addressed & students should be aware of the Paris Summit, the U2...

Words: 13995 - Pages: 56

Free Essay

My Adventures with God

...Adventures with God Real Life Inspirational Stories 37 Allan David Weatherall Contents Introduction:.......................................................................................... i Chapter 1: Random Acts of Kindness....................................................1 Chapter 2: What is Eritrea? . ............................................................... 4 Chapter 3: The Power of Faith & Hope ............................................. 11 Chapter 4: Hey, Chuck Norris! . ........................................................ 14 Chapter 5: We’ve Been Expecting You! ............................................ 18 Chapter 6: On the Road to Jerusalem ................................................ 24 Chapter 7: Jerusalem . ........................................................................ 28 Chapter 8: But, I’m not a Catholic .................................................... 32 Chapter 9: America... here I come ...................................................... 37 Chapter 10: My Friend, John . ............................................................41 Chapter 11: Finding God in the Storm . ............................................ 45 Chapter 12: Trusting God in the War Zone ...................................... 49 Chapter 13: Jahzal . ............................................................................ 52 Chapter 14: The Steadfast Faithfulness of God ................................. 57 Chapter 15: Confrontational Love in the...

Words: 28698 - Pages: 115

Premium Essay

Buddhism

...Chapter 1 INTRODUCTION Thich Nhat Hanh: “Buddhism is already engaged. If it is not, it is not Buddhism.” Walpola Rahula: “Buddhism is based on service to others”…political and social engagement is the “heritage of the bhikkhu” and the essence of Buddhism. Robert Thurman: “The primary Buddhist position on social action is one of total activism, an unswerving commitment to complete self-transformation and complete world-transformation.” Stated in simplest terms, engaged Buddhism means the application of Buddhist teachings to contemporary social problems. Engaged Buddhism is a modern reformist movement. A practitioner is socially engaged “in a nonviolent way, motivated by concern for the welfare of others, and as an expression of one’s own practice of the Buddhist Way” (King Being 5). In this description Sallie B. King invokes the spirit of the Bodhisattva vow: May I attain Buddhahood for the benefit of all sentient beings. According to Ken Jones engaged Buddhism is “an explication of social, economic, and political processes and their ecological implications, derived from a Buddhist diagnosis of the existential human condition” (Kraft New). Jones emphasizes the social theory underlying engaged Buddhism. According to engaged Buddhists the “three poisons” of greed, anger and ignorance apply both to the individual and to “large-scale social and economic forces” (Kraft New); their remediation is therefore the collective concern of society. As the subject...

Words: 23858 - Pages: 96

Premium Essay

Chinese History

...www.GetPedia.com History of China: Table of Contents q q Historical Setting The Ancient Dynasties r r r Dawn of History Zhou Period Hundred Schools of Thought q The Imperial Era r r r r r r First Imperial Period Era of Disunity Restoration of Empire Mongolian Interlude Chinese Regain Power Rise of the Manchus q Emergence Of Modern China r r r r r r Western Powers Arrive First Modern Period Opium War, 1839-42 Era of Disunity Taiping Rebellion, 1851-64 Self-Strengthening Movement Hundred Days' Reform and Aftermath Republican Revolution of 1911 q Republican China r r r Nationalism and Communism s Opposing the Warlords s Consolidation under the Guomindang s Rise of the Communists Anti-Japanese War Return to Civil War q People's Republic Of China r r Transition to Socialism, 1953-57 Great Leap Forward, 1958-60 r r r r r Readjustment and Recovery, 1961-65 Cultural Revolution Decade, 1966-76 s Militant Phase, 1966-68 s Ninth National Party Congress to the Demise of Lin Biao, 1969-71 s End of the Era of Mao Zedong, 1972-76 Post-Mao Period, 1976-78 China and the Four Modernizations, 1979-82 Reforms, 1980-88 q References for History of China [ History of China ] [ Timeline ] Historical Setting The History Of China, as documented in ancient writings, dates back some 3,300 years. Modern archaeological studies provide evidence of still more ancient origins in a culture that flourished between 2500 and 2000 B.C....

Words: 41805 - Pages: 168

Premium Essay

Deresky Experiential Exercise Chapter 8

...a di v i si on of gospel for www.gfa.org a si a Re a de rs Re spo nd t o Revolution in World Missions “I have just read Revolution in World Missions. This book greatly ministered to me and stirred me in a way no book has ever done. How can we order more copies?” —Pastor J.P., Lakeside, Oregon “Your book stirred me to tears and drove me to prayer!” —Miss J.S., Towson, Maryland “I have read Revolution in World Missions twice, and now I am more convinced than ever that investing in national missionaries and Bridge of Hope children will yield better returns than silver or gold. Thank you for waking me up, Brother K.P.” —Mr. K.G., Calgary, Alberta “I read your book and think it is one of the most dynamic, down-to-earth books that I have ever read. I want to give a copy to our pastor, each board member and selected other people at our church.” —Mr. P.W., Santa Margarita, California “K.P. Yohannan’s book draws the Church back to the very heart of what Christ has called us to do. I would urge every Christian, and especially every pastor, to read this book with a humble heart before the Lord. I’m reading it through again, and it’s still a heart-stirring blessing.” —Pastor M.W., Worthing, England “We have been challenged and convicted by Revolution in World Missions. We believe that our Lord Jesus is offering us the chance to share in His work in Asia—a chance we don’t want to miss!” —Mr. and Mrs. M.D., Pacifica, California “We...

Words: 62016 - Pages: 249

Premium Essay

Feminism

...Feminism in Multicultural Societies An analysis of Dutch Multicultural and Postsecular Developments and their Implications for Feminist Debates Eva Midden A thesis submitted in partial fulfilment for the requirements of the degree of PhD at the University of Central Lancashire May 2010       Student Declaration Concurrent registration for two or more academic awards I declare that while registered as a candidate for the research degree, I have not been registered candidate or enrolled student for another award of the University or other academic or professional institution Material submitted for another award I declare that no material contained in the thesis has been used in any other submission for an academic award and is solely my own work Signature of Candidate Type of Award School ___PhD_________________________________ ___Centre for Professional Ethics___________ 1   Abstract It was long assumed that both multiculturalism and feminism are connected to progressive movements and hence have comparable and compatible goals. However, both in academia and in popular media the critique on multiculturalism has grown and is often accompanied with arguments related to gender equality and/or feminism. According to political scientist Susan Moller Okin for example there are fundamental conflicts between our commitment to gender equality and the desire to respect the customs of minority cultures or religions. If we agree that women...

Words: 97145 - Pages: 389

Free Essay

Global Financial Crisis and Protectionism

...Table of Contents Title Page Copyright Page Dedication PREFACE TO THE 10TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION Introduction Part I - THE PURPOSE OF LIFE Chapter 1 - THE RIGHT TO HAPPINESS Chapter 2 - THE SOURCES OF HAPPINESS Chapter 3 - TRAINING THE MIND FOR HAPPINESS Chapter 4 - RECLAIMING OUR INNATE STATE OF HAPPINESS Part II - HUMAN WARMTH AND COMPASSION Chapter 5 - A NEW MODEL FOR INTIMACY Chapter 6 - DEEPENING OUR CONNECTION TO OTHERS Chapter 7 - THE VALUE AND BENEFITS OF COMPASSION Part III - TRANSFORMING SUFFERING Chapter 8 - FACING SUFFERING Chapter 9 - SELF-CREATED SUFFERING Chapter 10 - SHIFTING PERSPECTIVE Chapter 11 - FINDING MEANING IN PAIN AND SUFFERING Part IV - OVERCOMING OBSTACLES Chapter 12 - BRINGING ABOUT CHANGE Chapter 13 - DEALING WITH ANGER AND HATRED Chapter 14 - DEALING WITH ANXIETY AND BUILDING SELF-ESTEEM Part V - CLOSING REFLECTIONS ON LIVING A SPIRITUAL LIFE Chapter 15 - BASIC SPIRITUAL VALUES Acknowledgements THE ART OF HAPPINESS BOOK SERIES ABOUT THE AUTHORS RIVERHEAD BOOKS Published by the Penguin Group Penguin Group (USA) Inc., 375 Hudson Street, New York, New York 10014, USA Penguin Group (Canada), 90 Eglinton Avenue East, Suite 700, Toronto, Ontario M4P 2Y3, Canada (a division of Pearson Canada Inc.) Penguin Books Ltd, 80 Strand, London WC2R 0RL, England Penguin Ireland, 25 St Stephen’s Green, Dublin 2, Ireland (a division of Penguin Books Ltd) Penguin Group (Australia), 250 Camberwell...

Words: 89236 - Pages: 357

Premium Essay

Cross Cultural Management

...Cross-Cultural Communication Theory and Practice Barry Tomalin; Brian J. Hurn ISBN: 9780230391147 DOI: 10.1057/9780230391147 Palgrave Macmillan Please respect intellectual property rights This material is copyright and its use is restricted by our standard site license terms and conditions (see palgraveconnect.com/pc/connect/info/terms_conditions.html). If you plan to copy, distribute or share in any format, including, for the avoidance of doubt, posting on websites, you need the express prior permission of Palgrave Macmillan. To request permission please contact rights@palgrave.com. Cross-Cultural Communication 10.1057/9780230391147 - Cross-Cultural Communication, Brian J. Hurn and Barry Tomalin Copyright material from www.palgraveconnect.com - licensed to Griffith University - PalgraveConnect - 2014-04-12 This page intentionally left blank 10.1057/9780230391147 - Cross-Cultural Communication, Brian J. Hurn and Barry Tomalin Copyright material from www.palgraveconnect.com - licensed to Griffith University - PalgraveConnect - 2014-04-12 Cross-Cultural Communication Theory and Practice Brian J. Hurn and Barry Tomalin Copyright material from www.palgraveconnect.com - licensed to Griffith University - PalgraveConnect - 2014-04-12 10.1057/9780230391147 - Cross-Cultural Communication, Brian J. Hurn and Barry Tomalin © Brian J. Hurn and Barry Tomalin 2013 Foreword © Jack Spence 2013 All rights reserved. No reproduction, copy or transmission of this...

Words: 129836 - Pages: 520