Comparison of World Religions

 Baha'i Faith:  Founded by Bahá'u'lláh in 1844 AD in Iran.
              Current Worldwide Adherents: 13.5 million

God and Universe	One God, who has revealed himself progressively through major world religions.
Life's Purpose	The soul is eternal and essentially good. Purpose of life is to develop spiritually and draw closer to God.
Religious Practices	Daily prayer, avoidance of intoxicants, scripture reading, hard work, education, work for social justice and equality.
Afterlife Beliefs	Soul separates from the body and begins a journey towards or away from God. Heaven and hell are states of being.

 Buddhism:   Founded by Siddharta Gautama (Buddha) in c/560 BC in India.

               Current Worldwide Adherents: 376  million                                              

God and Universe	Varies: Theravada atheistic; Mahayana more polytheistic. Buddha taught nothing is permanent.
Life's Purpose	To avoid suffering and gain enlightenment and release from cycle of rebirth, or at least attain a better rebirth by gaining merit.
Religious Practices	Meditation, mantras, devotion to deities (in some sects), mandalas (Tibetan)
Afterlife Beliefs	Reincarnation (understood differently than in Hinduism, with no surviving soul) until gain enlightenment

      Christianity:  Founded by Jesus Christ in c/30 AD during the Roman Empire.

              Current Worldwide Adherents: 2.1 billion

God and Universe	One God who is a Trinity of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit
Life's Purpose	All have sinned and are thereby separated from God. Salvation is through faith in Christ and, for some, sacraments and good works.
Religious Practices	Prayer, Bible study, baptism, Eucharist (Communion), church on Sundays, numerous holidays.
Afterlife Beliefs	Eternal heaven or hell (or temporary purgatory).

 Confucianism:  Founded by Confucius c/520 BC in China.

             Current Worldwide Adherents:  6.3 million

God and Universe	Not addressed
Life's Purpose	To fulfill one's role in society with propriety, honor, and loyalty.
Religious Practices	Honesty, politeness, propriety, humaneness, perform correct role in society, loyalty to family, nation
Afterlife Beliefs	Not addressed

 Hinduism:  No founder: indigenous religion of India developed c/1500 BC 
               Current Worldwide Adherents: 900 million

God and Universe	One Supreme Reality (Brahman) manifested in many gods and goddesses
Life's Purpose	Humans are in bondage to ignorance and illusion, but are able to escape. Purpose is to gain release from rebirth, or at least a better rebirth.
Religious Practices	Yoga, meditation, worship (puja), devotion to a god or goddess, pilgrimage to holy cities, live according to one's dharma (purpose/ role).
Afterlife Beliefs	Reincarnation until gain enlightenment.

  Islam:  Founded by Muhammad in 610 AD in Saudi Arabia 
               Current Worldwide Adherents: 1.5 million

God and Universe	One God (Allah in Arabic)
Life's Purpose	Humans must submit (islam) to the will of God to gain Paradise after death.
Religious Practices	Five Pillars: Faith, Prayer, Alms, Pilgrimage, Fasting. Mosque services on Fridays. Ablutions before prayer. No alcohol or pork. Holidays related to the pilgrimage and fast of Ramadan.
Afterlife Beliefs	Paradise or Hell.

       Jainism:  Founded by Mahavira c/570-550 BC in eastern India

               Current Worldwide Adherents:  4.3 million

God and Universe	The universe is eternal; many gods exist. Gods, humans and all living things are classified in a complex hierarchy.
Life's Purpose	The soul is uncreated and eternal and can attain perfect divinity. Purpose is to gain liberation from cycle of rebirth, by avoiding all bad karma, especially by causing no harm to any sentient being.
Religious Practices	Monasticism under the Five Great Vows (Non-Violence, Truth, Celibacy, Non-Stealing, Non-Possessiveness); worship at temples and at home. Meditation and mantras.
Afterlife Beliefs	Reincarnation until liberation.

    Judaism:  Founded by Abraham c/1300 BC during the Egyptian Empire.

               Current Worldwide Adherents: 14-17 million

God and Universe	One God, Yahweh (YHVH).
Life's Purpose	Obey God's commandments, live ethically. Focus is more on this life than the next.
Religious Practices	Circumcision at birth, bar/bat mitzvah at adulthood. Synagogue services on Saturdays. No pork or other non-kosher foods. Holidays related to historical events.
Afterlife Beliefs	Not historically emphasized. Beliefs vary from no afterlife to shadowy existence to the World to Come (similar to heaven).

     Shinto:  Founded by Kojiki & Nohon Shoki in 500 AD.

                 Current Worldwide Adherents: 2.7 million

God and Universe	Polytheism based on the kami, ancient gods or spirits.
Life's Purpose	Humans are pure by nature and can keep away evil through purification rituals and attain good things by calling on the kami.
Religious Practices	Worship and offerings to kami at shrines and at home. Purification rituals.
Afterlife Beliefs	Death is bad and impure. Some humans become kami after death

   Sikhism:  Founded by Guru Nanak c/1500 AD in Punjab, India

                Current Worldwide Adherents:  23.8 million

God and Universe	One God (Ik Onkar, Nam)
Life's Purpose	Overcome the self, align life with will of God, and become a "saint soldier," fighting for good.
Religious Practices	Prayer and meditation on God's name, services at temple (gurdwara), turban and five Ks. Balance work, worship, and charity. No monasticism or asceticism.
Afterlife Beliefs	Reincarnation until resolve karma and merge with God.

  Taoism:  Founded by Lao-Tzu c/550 BC in China

               Current Worldwide Adherents: 2.7 million (almost 400,000 in China)

God and Universe	Pantheism - the Tao pervades all. Yin-yang - opposites make up a unity.
Life's Purpose	Inner harmony, peace, and longevity. Acheived by living in accordance with the Tao.
Religious Practices	General attitude of detachment and non-struggle, "go with the flow" of the Tao. Tai-chi, acupuncture, and alchemy to help longevity.
Afterlife Beliefs	Revert back to state of non-being, which is simply the other side of being.

    Wicca:  Based on ancient pagan beliefs dating to 800 BC; modern religion 

                  founded by Gerald Gardner in early 1900's in the Untied States.   

                  Worldwide Adherents:  1-3 million

God and Universe	Polytheism, centered on the Goddess and God, each in various forms; also a belief in a Supreme Being over all
Life's Purpose	"If it harms none, do what you will."
Religious Practices	Prayer, casting a circle, Drawing Down the Moon, reciting spells, dancing, singing, sharing cakes and wine or beer
Afterlife Beliefs	Reincarnation until reach the Summerland

  Zoroastrianism: Founded by Zoroaster 600 BC during the Persian Empire.      

               Worldwide Adherents: 2.7 million

God and Universe	One God, Ahura Mazda, but a dualistic worldview in which an evil spirit, Angra Mainyu, is almost as powerful.
Life's Purpose	Humans are free to do good or evil, must choose the side of good.
Religious Practices	Good deeds, charity, equality, hard work.
Afterlife Beliefs	Judgment followed by heaven or hell. Hell is temporary until final purgation and return to Ahura Mazda.

For more information, please visit the following link:  The Big Religion Comparison

Happy Mother's Day from Who's ? Right

All Abrahamic religions acknowledge the commandments given by the Creator to Moses on Mt. Sinai c/1466 B.C, toward the end of the Bronze Age. Moses was, according to the Hebrew Bible and Qur'an, a religious leader, lawgiver and prophet, to whom the authorship of the Torah/Old Testament is traditionally attributed. He is the most important prophet in Judaism, and is also considered an important prophet in Christianity and Islam, as well as a number of other faiths. One of the most important commandments, was:

The 5th Commandment:

And he [Moses] wrote on the tablets, according to the first writing [of God], the ten commandments, which the Lord spake unto you in the mount out of the midst of the fire in the day of the assembly: and the Lord gave them unto me. "Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee." - Exodus 20:12

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Proverbs 31:28-31 says about the godly woman:

28 Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.

29 Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all.

30 Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised.

31 Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.

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In Christianity, Jesus said unto his disciples:

"For God commanded, saying, Honour thy father and mother: and, He that curseth father or mother, let him die the death.:" - Matthew 15:4

"For Moses said, Honour thy father and thy mother; and, Whoso curseth father or mother, let him die the death:" - Mark 7:10

"Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honour thy father and thy mother." - Luke 18:20 

"When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son! 27 Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home.28 After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst." - John 19:26-28

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The Islamic Quran states the following about Mothers:  

"And revere the wombs that bore you, for God is ever watchful over you." (4:1)

The Prophet Mohammed once stated:

"Stay with her [mother], for Paradise is at her feet." 

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The Buddhist's Perspective of Motherhood:

Motherhood is viewed in Buddhism as a position of high responsibility as well as of respectability. If a woman goes through her household life honouring the responsibilities cast on her as a mother, she can lay claim to honour and respectability in commensurate with the degree of sincerity she has displayed in discharging those responsibilities. It was by highlighting this responsible and respectable position as the mother of man that the Buddha raised the status of women in society.

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Hindu Woman's role as a Mother:  

The Hindu mother is an object of reverence. The saying 'Matri devo bhava' ('mother is divine') is apt. According to Hinduism, God creates, maintains and destroys the universe but the power with which he performs these functions is called Shakti (universal energy) and this takes a female form. This Shakti or power is worshipped alongside God as the Divine Mother. This is the origin of mother worship and thus the idea that the human mother is worthy of reverence and worship just as the Divine Mother or Shakti.

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"A mother is the truest friend we have, when trials heavy and sudden, fall upon us; when adversity takes the place of prosperity; when friends who rejoice with us in our sunshine desert us; when trouble thickens around us, still will she cling to us, and endeavor by her kind precepts and counsels to dissipate the clouds of darkness, and cause peace to return to our hearts." ~ Washington Irving

Parliament of the World's Religions

There have been several meetings referred to as a Parliament of the World’s Religions, most notably the World's Parliament of Religions of 1893, the first attempt to create a global dialogue of faiths. The event was celebrated by another conference on its centenary in 1993. This led to a new series of conferences under the official title "Parliament of the World's Religions".

1893 Parliament

In 1893, the city of Chicago hosted the World Columbian Exposition, an early world’s fair. So many people were coming to Chicago from all over the world that many smaller conferences, called Congresses and Parliaments, were scheduled to take advantage of this unprecedented gathering. One of these was the World’s Parliament of Religions. The 1893 Parliament, which ran from September 11 to September 27, had marked the first formal gathering of representatives of Eastern and Western spiritual traditions.

1893 Parliament

Today it is recognized as the occasion of the birth of formal interreligious dialogue worldwide. Absent from this event were Native American religious figures, Sikhs and other Indigenous and Earth centered religionists. (It would not be until the 1993 Parliament that these religions and spiritual traditions would be represented.) The conference did include new religious movements of the time, such as Spiritualism and Christian Science. The latter was represented by its founder Mary Baker Eddy.

Rev. Henry Jessup addressing the World Parliament of Religions was the first to mention the Bahá'í Faith in the United States (it had previously been known in Europe.) Since then the Bahá'ís have become active participants. The Buddhist preacher Anagarika Dharmapala was invited there as a representative of "Southern Buddhism" - which was the term applied at that time to the Theravada. He was a great success and by his early thirties he was already a global figure, continuing to travel and give lectures and establish viharas around the world during the next forty years.

1993 Parliament

The Council for a Parliament of the World's Religions (CPWR), host organization for the Parliaments of the last two decades, officially dates from 1988 when two monks from the Vivekananda Vedanta Society of Chicago suggested organizing a centennial celebration of the 1893 World's Parliament of Religions.

In 1993, the Parliament convened at the Palmer House Hotel in Chicago. Over 8,000 people from all over the world, from many diverse religions, gathered to celebrate and dialog and explore how religious traditions can work together on the critical issues which confront us all. Dr. Gerald Barney of the Millennium Institute gave the keynote address on the state of the environment. This keynote and the introduction of the document, Towards a Global Ethic: An Initial Declaration, mainly drafted by Hans Küng, set the tone for the subsequent ten days of discussion. This global ethic was endorsed by many of the attending religious and spiritual leaders who were part of the Parliament Assembly.

Also created for the 1993 Parliament was a book, A Sourcebook for the Community of Religions by the late Joel Beversluis which has become a standard textbook in religion classes. Unlike most textbooks of religion each entry was written by members of the religion in question. The text of the revised Sourcebook is available online at Sourcebook Common.

The keynote address was given by the Dalai Lama on the closing day of the assembly. Cardinal Joseph Bernardin also participated.

The Parliament Purpose

The Council for a Parliament of the World's Religions, suggests that the Parliament will "educate participants for global peace and justice" through exploring religious conflict and globalization, creating community and cross-cultural networks and addressing issues of religious violence.

It suggests it will support "strengthening religious and spiritual communities" by providing a special focus on indigenous and Aboriginal spiritualities; facilitating cooperation between Pagan, Jewish, Christian, Bahai, Jain, Muslim, Buddhist, Sikh and Hindu communities; crafting new responses to religious extremism; and confronting homegrown terrorism and violence.

For more information, please visit Parliament of the World’s Religions

The Essenes and the Dead Sea Scrolls

Who Were They?                                                                                                                                                                                  (from Wikipedia.com)

The Essenes  were a sect of Second Temple Judaism that flourished from the 2nd century BC to the 1st century AD, which some scholars proclaim seceded from the Zadokite priests (a priestly order descended from the first High Priest, Zadok, of the First Temple of Solomon). 

Being much fewer in number than the Pharisees and the Sadducees (the other two major sects at the time), the Essenes lived in various cities but congregated in communal life dedicated to asceticism, voluntary poverty, daily immersion, and abstinence from worldly pleasures, including (for some groups) celibacy. 

Many separate but related religious groups of that era shared similar mystic, eschatological, messianic, and ascetic beliefs. These groups are collectively referred to by various scholars as the "Essenes." Josephus the Historian records that Essenes existed in large numbers, and thousands lived throughout Roman Judæa.

The Essenes have gained fame in modern times as a result of the discovery of an extensive group of religious documents known as the Dead Sea Scrolls, which are commonly believed to be Essenes' library—although there is no proof that the Essenes wrote them. These documents include preserved multiple copies of the Hebrew Bible untouched from as early as 300 BC until their discovery in 1946 AD. Some scholars, however, dispute the notion that the Essenes wrote the Dead Sea Scrolls. Rachel Elior questions even the existence of the Essenes.   

Where Did They Come From?

According to Josephus, the Essenes had settled "not in one city" but "in large numbers in every town". Philo Judaeus of Alexandria speaks of "more than four thousand" Essaioi living in "Palestine and Syria", more precisely, "in many cities of Judaea and in many villages and grouped in great societies of many members".

Pliny the Elder locates them "on the west side of the Dead Sea, away from the coast… [above] the town of Engeda". Unlike Pliny, Philo did not mention any particular geographical location of the Essenes other than the whole land of Israel.

Ancient locations of Engeda, Qumran
& Jerusalem

Some modern scholars and archaeologists have argued that Essenes inhabited the settlement at Qumran, a plateau in the Judean Desert along the Dead Sea, citing Pliny the Elder in support, and giving credence that the Dead Sea Scrolls are the product of the Essenes. This view, though not yet conclusively proven, has come to dominate the scholarly discussion and public perception of the Essenes.

Josephus' reference to a "gate of the Essenes" in his description of the course of "the most ancient" of the three walls of Jerusalem, in the Mount Zion area, perhaps suggests an Essene community living in this quarter of the city or regularly gathering at this part of the Temple precincts.

What Was Their Purpose?

The accounts by Josephus and Philo show that the Essenes led a strictly communal life – often compared by scholars to later Christian monastic living. According to Josephus, they had customs and observances such as collective ownership, electing a leader to attend to the interests of the group, obedience to the orders from their leader. Also, they were forbidden from swearing oaths and from sacrificing animals. 

They controlled their tempers and served as channels of peace, carrying weapons only for protection against robbers. The Essenes chose not to possess slaves but served each other and, as a result of communal ownership, did not engage in trading. Josephus and Philo provide lengthy accounts of their communal meetings, meals and religious celebrations.

After a total of three years' probation, newly joining members would take an oath that included the commitment to practice piety towards "the Deity" (το θειον) and righteousness towards humanity, to maintain a pure lifestyle, to abstain from criminal and immoral activities, to transmit their rules and to preserve the books of the Essenes and the names of the Angels. Their theology included belief in the immortality of the soul and that they would receive their souls back after death. Part of their activities included purification by water rituals, which was supported by rainwater catchment and storage. Some scholars believe John the Baptist was associated with the Essenes.   

What Happened to the Essenes?

The mystical sect of the Essenes originated about 100 BC and disappeared from history after the destruction of the Second Temple of the Jews in 70 AD. Some theologians believed the entire sect was murdered during the Seige of Jerusalem, which was led by the future Roman emperor, Titus. While the Essenes are not directly mentioned in the holy scripture, some believe they are referred to in Matthew 19:11-12 and Colossians 2:8,18, 23. While some Christian sects believe that Jesus actually studied with the Essenes during his "missing years", there is only speculation as to what really happened to this group of ancient Jews.  

This information has been expanded and can be found at the following links: 

The Essenes and Dead Sea Scrolls - Part 2

The Essenes and Dead Sea Scrolls - Part 3

For more information about the Essenes and the Dead Sea Scrolls, please visit: 

• http://unmyst3.blogspot.com/2008/08/dead-sea-scrolls.html
• http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/History/sadducees_pharisees_essenes.html
• http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/religion/portrait/essenes.html

Israel's Energy Independence

ISRAEL'S TAMAR FUELS DREAMS OF ENERGY INDEPENDENCE
by Bible Prophecy-Signposts of the Times

Prophecy Sign: Israel, and the riches beneath her sands and waters.

Prophecies in the bible written thousands of years ago, told us that in the last days, Israel would be reborn as a nation, and would then become wealthy from the riches they would find in abundance from the seas and under the sands. Israel is now becoming self sufficient in natural gas from reserves off her coast, and Israel has vast reserves of shale oil under her sands. Pretty hard to deny the authenticity of bible prophecy when its fulfilled right before your eyes.   

 "I will give you hidden treasures, riches stored in secret places, so that you may know that I am the LORD, the God of Israel, who summons you by name." Isaiah 45:3 (NIV)

"They will summon peoples to the mountain and there offer the sacrifices of the righteous; they will feast on the abundance of the seas, on the treasures hidden in the sand." Deuteronomy 33:19 NIV

Israel’s Tamar Fuels Dreams of Energy Independence.

Israel hopes it can one day reach energy independence now that natural gas is flowing from a large offshore reserve. Four years after its discovery, the Tamar reservoir began supplying Israel with natural gas from the Mediterranean Sea that will fuel its electric power plants. The Tamar field is located about 60 miles off the coast of Haifa, Israel's northernmost seaport. Energy and Water Minister Silvan Shalom declared it a day of energy independence. "From now on Israel can provide its needs for the next decades," Shalom said. "It's much cheaper and, of course, it's much cleaner and from now on the whole energy market will save at least 1 billion shekels every month. It means about $300 million every month."

http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/insideisrael/2013/April/Israel-Reservoir-Fuels-Dreams-of-Energy-Independence/

History of Easter

Easter is celebrated the world over to mark the resurrection of Jesus Christ – believed by Christians to be  the Son of God. Easter is celebrated by many races of people worldwide. However, Easter has been extremely commercialized to a large extent by companies manufacturing Easter related goods and items, which includes the greeting card industry. It is important that in all the commercialization of this very important festival, one does not forget the history of Easter.

The History of Easter

by Geno Jezek

 

Easter is one of the most celebrated festivals of the modern Christian church. According to St.Bede, an English historian of the eighteenth century, Easter owes its origin to the old Teutonic mythology. The name Easter was originally derived from the word Eostre. Eostre was the ancient Greek goddess of spring. It was believed that every year, Eostre returned to Earth after a long, cold winter and brought along with her the light and warmth of Spring. Thus, ancient Greeks held pagan festivals to welcome Eostre and herald the onset of spring.

 

The Pagan festivals always coincided with the vernal Equinox on the 21st of March every year. Though the Greek were not fully cognizant of why and when spring comes, they believed Eostre must be pleased to ensure that she returns year after year. The festivals were lavish feasts that celebrated the booming of new flowers, the chirping of birds, butterflies, and sunshine and in general the feeling of rejuvenation that is inherent of spring.

 

The Christian church however, changed the Pagan festival from a celebration of spring to a celebration of the resurrection of Jesus. In 325 A.D. the church also changed the date of the festival. The festival was no longer held on the spring equinox. Instead, as per the Church Council of Nicaea henceforth it was to be held on the very first Sunday following the full moon on or after the vernal equinox. Thus, today Easter is celebrated on different dates every year and can occur as early as March 22nd or as late as April 25th.

 

Some people even believe that Easter is related to the Hebrew celebration, the Jewish Passover. Passover is celebrated to mark the freedom of the Israelis from bondage and slavery after 300 years. It was during Passover in 30 A.D. that Christ was crucified for being blasphemous. The resurrection happened three days later on what is today known as Easter Sunday. The early Christians, many of whom were raised as Jews considered the resurrection and Easter as a new part of pascha. Thus the early celebration of Passover came to be celebrated as Good Friday and Easter.

 

Today grand scale events mark the celebration of Easter in the United States and across the globe. Many traditional symbols of Easter continue to dominate the scene while new traditions are being part of the festival too. Thus, Easter is a festival that denotes life, rejuvenation, renewal, rebirth and restoration of all beings on Earth.

 

For more information, please visit the following websites:   The Holy Week leading up to Easter  / Orthodox Easter in the United States  /  Would Jesus Keep Easter? / Easter: USA and around the world / Traditions & Symbols of Easter