John Ferrara Comparative Religion Professor Ryan Scacci 1 May 2012 Shinto and Buddhist Japan In Japan, there are two religions that dominate the life of an average citizen. These religions are Shintoism and Buddhism. Shinto, or “the way of the gods”, is the indigenous faith of Japanese people, with an ultimate goal to reach cosmic harmony, with all elements in balance. Ninety million people in Japan also follow the religion of Buddhism, which comes from the word “Butsu” or “Buddha”, which means “teaching”. These two religions are far from exclusive, and overlap each other in many ways.
I would say that the cultural and social influences Hinduism have made vital on the region is too originated just like any other religion that is a part of the world. It shows the people the purpose and the meaning of their tradition. It also show them how to be more aware of others needs and how to care and how to be considerate towards others. Working on their society for the need for charity and to just love. I think Hinduism is a very unique religion that is among the world.
(Schmidt,2007) • Hinduism believes in Gods and Buddhism does not believe in Gods. Conclusions concerning points of agreement and disagreement between Buddhism and Abrahamic Religions • Abrahamic Religions are Monotheistic, believing in only one God. Buddhism does not believe in any
In this perspective, Dao is not a religion as the concept of gods and afterlife is vague and almost nonexistent. Daoism’s main concern is here and now, how to live a pleasant life without causing unnecessary commotion or distress to yourself or what’s around you. It is the natural law behind all creation and those who can harmonise with it will find bliss (taoistic:N.d. Para :1). A person can be Daoist without embracing any of its religious aspects. Dao is an expression of the unity of the universe and of the path human beings must take to join that peaceful unity (religion: n.d: para:3).
In a Buddhist society there is no a caste system. Although both religions believe in karma but, their individual views of karma are different. In Hinduism, Dharma is the law that rules over karma; it requires all people to do their duties based on their caste. If you obey your Dharma you will have good karma and will be able move up into a higher caste in your next life. Buddhism believes in karma but not in Dharma, since they rejected the Hindu caste system.
Lotus of the Good Law is also very significant to followers of Buddhism as it expresses salvation to Buddhism being universally attainable and lastly, the Tibetan Book of the Dead is also very substantial to adherents of Buddhism as it as it is means by which a Buddhist can determine their rebirth or Nirvana. The Tripitaka is a very significant text for adherents of Buddhism as it can as a guide to the teachings of the Buddha. Firstly, the Tripitaka is a sacred text split into three “baskets”; the Sutra Pitaka, Vinaya Pitaka and the Abhidharma Pitaka. The first basket, the Sutra Pitaka sets the rules and expectations of the Sangha. In this way, the Tripitaka is very significant to adherents of Buddhism as it provides a clear set of expectations of the adherent of the religion as well as providing a guide to the teachings of Buddha.
Shinto is the indigenous religion of Japan. [i] Shinto means “Way of the Kami” or “Way of the Gods”. Shinto has no known founder; its roots lie deep in Japanese prehistory and extend to the land itself. [ii] Shinto is synonymous with Japanese character and has shaped and been shaped by Japanese culture. [iii] Shinto is loosely organized, and little was known about it before the eighth century C.E.
Functionalist say that society is like a living organism and all the social institutions perform specific functions in order to help society function effectively. The sociologist Durkheim says that a key feature of religion is not a belief in Gods, spirits or the supernatural, but a fundamental distinction between the scared and the profane. The sacred are things set apart and forbidden which inspire feelings of awe and wonder. By contrast, the profane are things that have no special significance, things that are ordinary and mundane. Durkheim believed that the essence of all religion could be found by studying it’s simplest form, in the simplest type of society.
Hirohito also praised the victims in Singapore, the Philippines and the Pacific. He used the powers invested in emperor to participate "directly and decisively" in policy making. Hirohito was not blamed for his actions because of the Japanese Constitution. It stated that “the Emperor is sacred and inviolable”. In order words, he was allowed to make political or military decision because he is God.
Ishmael was a very disagreeable book with very few points to agree to. This essay will contain three major points in which there is nothing to agree about. The generalzation of people and cultures goes too far as to say that a group of people are all the same without a difference of where one or another is from. Who is to say that people are all the same whether or not you are from the Taker or Leaver time and culture. The story of the gods goes too far into being an opinion for one to be able to side with it.