A Guide to World Religions

This comes from the perspective that there is an omniscient, omnipresent, omnipotent being that is good, justice, and mercy.  He communicates with his creations, and inspires scriptures according to a person’s cultural understanding.  Certainly, if God is good, we assume that there is some purpose to revelation. This purpose is progression towards the Platonic Forms. The process of identifying and analyzing a religion is broken down into three main parts:

1. Origin (Beginning story and culture)
2. The scriptures
3. Modern interpretation of scripture

This structure can help determine whether a religion was inspired of God. The overall goal of a religion, its practices and absolute truths, are found in its scriptures. Whether they are interpreted correctly is the cause for concern, so some guidelines are needed. Since religious belief changes with each individual, this guide is an attempt to find consistent truth across religions for an increase of understanding, tolerance, and also bettering one’s spiritual practices.

A religion ought to develop the character and attributes of the individual. The Platonic Forms, which were supported by Plato and Socrates as the only things that we as rational beings can know are unchanging and non-material. These include both mathematical truths and the virtues. Geometry and algebra fit into this category, though they aren’t the base of a religious life. So we look at the established virtues which are more clearly defined in Lectures on Faith1, which uses the bible to ascertain attributes that can trust in, particularly, in deity. These virtues will be used in filtering through religions and their individual practices and scripture:

The virtues defined: “That [God] is merciful, and gracious, slow to anger, abundant in goodness, and that he was so from everlasting, and will be to everlasting...that he changes not, neither is there variableness with him; but that he is the same from everlasting to everlasting, being the same yesterday to-day and forever; and that his course is one eternal round, without variation...That he is a God of truth and cannot lie. ...That he is no respecter of persons; but in every nation he that fears God and works righteousness is accepted of him...That he is love.2

“We have, in the revelations which he has given to the human family, the following account of his attributes... Knowledge... Faith, or power...Justice...Judgment...Mercy...Truth.”3

Whether a practical religion, such as Buddhism, or a religion based on absolute truth, such as Islam, one can determine the validity of said religion based on how one living the practice would develop these virtues. Let it also be noted that here that the above two paragraphs differ in that the first describes the character of God, while the second describes his attributes. By little reflection, one can see that in order to exercise faith in any religion, a free and rational being must see these principles in the path, or he will not exercise belief in it.

I will further explain how each of the stated attributes ought to be developed and why they should be our religious goals. (talk about here how we eventually hope to be unchanging, but adapting. This is a sweet truth that comes from asking the right questions. This is the power of attaining understanding and knowledge that comes from world religions.)

Of course, there are other attributes to mention: patience, temperance, kindness, diligence, virtue itself, and others. These virtues are a part of the previously stated attributes. Patience is slow to anger. Temperance changes not. Diligence is abundant in goodness, and so on.

Sources

1) Joseph Smith, “Lectures on Faith”

2) http://lecturesonfaith.com/3/ , verses 14-18

3) http://lecturesonfaith.com/4/ verses 5-10.

Socrates and the Kingdoms of Glory

The following exerpt from a biography of Socrates (*1, see notes at end) can relate to the Mormon Doctrine of 3 kingdoms (Celestial, Terrestial, and Telestial). Since Satan and his minions were cast out in the beginning, literally everyone who came to this Earth wants to do good, though they are only decieved by the cunning one. (2 Nephi 28: 14 and 2 Nephi 33: 12) Very few exceptions, or namely the "sons of perdition", will be cast out for rebelling against God. Rather, the majority of humanity are decieved into living lives that merit a lower glory.

2 Nephi 28: 14

They wear stiff necks and high heads; yea, and because of pride, and wickedness, and abominations, and whoredoms, they have all gone astray save it be a few, who are the humble followers of Christ; nevertheless, they are led, that in many instances they do err because they are taught by the precepts of men.

ii. No One Errs Knowingly/No One Errs Willingly

Socrates famously declares that no one errs or makes mistakes knowingly (Protagoras 352c, 358b-b).  Here we find an example of Socrates’ intellectualism.  When a person does what is wrong, their failure to do what is right is an intellectual error, or due to their own ignorance about what is right.  If the person knew what was right, he would have done it.  Hence, it is not possible for someone simultaneously know what is right and do what is wrong.  If someone does what is wrong, they do so because they do not know what is right, and if they claim the have known what was right at the time when they committed the wrong, they are mistaken, for had they truly known what was right, they would have done it.

Socrates therefore denies the possibility of akrasia, or weakness of the will.  No one errs willingly (Protagoras 345c4-e6).  While it might seem that Socrates is equivocating between knowingly and willingly, a look at Gorgias 466a-468e helps clarify his thesis.  Tyrants and orators, Socrates tells Polus, have the least power of any member of the city because they do not do what they want.  What they do is not good or beneficial even though human beings only want what is good or beneficial.  The tyrant’s will, corrupted by ignorance, is in such a state that what follows from it will necessarily harm him.  Conversely, the will that is purified by knowledge is in such a state that what follows from it will necessarily be beneficial.

iii. All Desire is for the Good

One of the premises of the argument just mentioned is that human beings only desire the good.  When a person does something for the sake of something else, it is always the thing for the sake of which he is acting that he wants.  All bad things or intermediate things are done not for themselves but for the sake of something else that is good.  When a tyrant puts someone to death, for instance, he does this because he thinks it is beneficial in some way.  Hence his action is directed towards the good because this is what he truly wants (Gorgias 467c-468b).

A similar version of this argument is in the Meno, 77b-78b.  Those that desire bad things do not know that they are truly bad; otherwise, they would not desire them.  They do not naturally desire what is bad but rather desire those things that they believe to be good but that are in fact bad.  They desire good things even though they lack knowledge of what is actually good.


*Notes
1. (http://www.iep.utm.edu/socrates/)

A Quote From an Apostle and a Prophet

     "Opportunities to listen to those of diverse religious or political persuasion can promote tolerance and learning."

-Russell M. Nelson, "Listen to Learn"

"I plead for understanding among our people, for a spirit of tolerance toward one another, and for forgiveness. All of us have far too much to do to waste our time and energies in criticism, faultfinding, or the abuse of others. The Lord has commanded this people, saying: “Strengthen your brethren in all your conversation, in all your prayers, in all your exhortations, and in all your doings.
"Now, if I may be guided by the Spirit, I should like to talk about another matter. There recently spoke in this city a prominent journalist from the East. I did not hear him, but I read the newspaper reports of his remarks. He is quoted as having said, “Certitude is the enemy of religion.” The words attributed to him have stirred within me much reflection. Certitude, which I define as complete and total assurance, is not the enemy of religion. It is of its very essence.
"Certitude is certainty. It is conviction. It is the power of faith that approaches knowledge—yes, that even becomes knowledge. It evokes enthusiasm, and there is no asset comparable to enthusiasm in overcoming opposition, prejudice, and indifference.
"Great buildings were never constructed on uncertain foundations. Great causes were never brought to success by vacillating leaders. The gospel was never expounded to the convincing of others without certainty. Faith, which is of the very essence of personal conviction, has always been, and always must be, at the root of religious practice and endeavor."

-Gordon B. Hinckley, "Faith: The Essence of True Religion"

Service in the Moment.

 Service brings about the greatest happiness. Personal growth brings the greatest happiness.  The two are the same, and develop in every conversation and every place we find ourselves. Here’s how it works:  “The more I try, the harder it gets” is a common complaint, because one feels the frustration burn inside. That burning gives place to empathy -- the power to carry a burden with someone. If you can walk through a trial with someone, you have participated in the greatest sort of service. The Atonement of Jesus Christ is, after all, the Lord taking upon himself all our burdens. Our capacity to serve in this way grows as we learn mindfulness, the Tao, and to try.

    Bear with me as I briefly explain Mindfulness and the Tao. Then I will show how they all relate to God’s example of service. All of this is aimed toward personal growth, and how it can be used to serve those around us.

     Firstly, Mindfulness is the essence of Buddha's teaching (3*). Constantly our minds wander to a place other than where we are. There is always something better to do -- Facebook, Twitter, and other forms of social media are easy ways to forget where we are and to distract ourselves from the important things. Or when on a date, we can find ourselves thinking about work rather than our sweetheart. Master Oogway put it best to a stressed out Panda when he said, “You are too concerned about what was and what will be. There is a saying: yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, but today is a gift. That is why it is called the present.” Mindfulness looks for the best thing to do in each moment. That skill comes with prayer, meditation, and fasting.
 By studying when we should study, working when we should be working, playing when we should play, and all the while being mindful of people around us, we will begin to squeeze the juice out of every moment. The way we live is a service, because we’ll learn the best way to live and increase our capacity to help others do the same.

      Secondly, the Tao is a way of saying "how things work", or the natural order of things. Going against it is like swimming upstream and is very tiring and unproductive. Philosophical Taoism strives for Wu Wei--how one lives with the Tao. Roger R. Keller, a graduate from Yale in World Religions and retired professor of BYU wrote in is his book Light and Truth: A Latter Day Saint Guide to World Religions “Wu Wei is to follow the spirit.” It teaches when to try hard or when to let things take their natural course. Let's say you want to become a better basketball player. When you are with your coach and team, you practice hard; when you are with your friends its okay to relax and enjoy a game of pick-up. If you're intense all the time, you'll probably scare your friends off. If you relax at practice, you get a ticked off coach, annoyed friends, and your skills probably won’t improve. Things need to be done at the right time.  That is Wu-Wei.  (2*)

    Mindfulness teaches us how to be present. Wu Wei teaches us when to do what. By asking the question, “What is the best thing for me to be doing right now?” Brings the realization that among all of today's errands, the priority is the person I can influence. After all, the base of God’s happiness is first His capacity to bless us; then it’s glorified as we choose to follow him.  (1*) We pattern this by building our own character, so that we too can positively influence others.    

    Thirdly, to serve others at all times, we simply try. Here’s a personal example:church can be boring. Some speakers are monotone, many say routine jokes; it is flipping hard to listen sometimes! This is when ADD starts to kick in. Even so, I try to pay attention. By trying to consistently listen I begin to see the person saying the words, and I relate to them. This practice over a long period of time has been frustrating and rewarding. I’ve become more disciplined, a better listener, and I actually enjoy sacrament meeting. Now when people struggle with things they don’t like to do, and talk to me, they see that I understand. I can bear that feeling with them.

    Inasmuch as I constantly try to do the right thing, I realize how weak I am. Sometimes I accidentally insult someone; sometimes I find myself not using a moment to connect with someone when perhaps I could have inspired them in some way. Sometimes I find that all day I've been doing "important things", and missed an opportunity to wash the dishes with my mom; and connect with her and share her load. Seeing others struggle and wanting to help them forces me to see where I can help, and how I can improve; Surely I am moving forward.
    The first step to change is recognizing things to improve on. (For Christians the first step of repentance is recognition. Then we open ourselves up to the ennobling grace of God.) Progression in the power to serve, or Happiness, is built upon the smallest instances of everyday life. We can win every situation if we try to follow the Tao by being mindful.

    

    Heaven is Eternal, earth everlasting.

    They endure this way because they

         do not live for themselves.

    In the same way, the wise person

         puts himself last,

         and thereby finds himself first;

         Holds himself outside,

         and thereby remains at the center;

         Abandons himself,

         and is thereby fulfilled.

- The Tao te Ching of Lao Tzu, #7

*Sources

1. Moses 1:39, the Pearl of Great Price
2. #8 and #10 of The Tao Te Ching of Lao Tzu, Translated by Brian Browne Walker

3. Chapter 11: Right Mindfulness.  The Heart of the Buddha’s Teaching by Thich Nhat Hanh

The Discipline to Discover Yourself

       "The ex army commander walked into our high school assembly," My companion said, "and we all expected him to relate to us some great hero's story, or some great motivational speech. We only recieved a lecture on the importance of making your bed in the morning.
     "'How can we be successful,' the commander said, "If we've lost the first battle of the day? Make your bed, and the first victory over self is won."

"At first discipline is trying to discipline the body of your physical needs. The second is to discipline your mind. Because if you can control and stand aside from your body and your mind, you discover your essential nature which is the spirit. If you've lost track of that... that is why your are struggling. That is the human condition, to discover our essential nature of the spirit.
     "What is the heart of Hinduism? The Heart of Hinduism is to experience religion. Don't just sit on the sidelines, experience what you are talking about.... You are a spirit my boy. You are that. And through all these various approaches: through rituals through narratives through worshipping, you are trying to regain that essential dignity. You are a spirit. Such lovely stuff doesn't doesn't come out. It lifts all of humanity up to the level of God."  

-London Based Physicist Jay Lakhani     

     1 Corinthians 2: 13-14, 16
     Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
     But the natural man receiveth not the things of the spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
     For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.

     See post on Meditation under Buddhism. Meditation in Buddhism is about conquering the Monkey Mind.


*Sources
     1.    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hRZzvbhc7ww

Yin and Yang

     Taoism is a logical way for approaching God's will. Once my seminary teacher said, "though we may have the faith to move a mountain, I'm pretty sure God likes his mountains where they are." So how do we know the time for a miracle? When should our prayers not be to move a mountain, but rather to accept nature's course? That is where Yin and Yang comes in.

    "Like the Force in Star Wars, the Tao has two sides. Unlike other religions where the higher power is all good and perhaps has an all-evil rival, Taoism teaches that we need to learn from both yin and yang. And unlike religions with Gods that are personal, the higher power in Taoism is not. Taoists believe that being in Harmony with the way, the person will not have to fight against the universe's natural flow." (*1)

     The Tao is the natural order of things. Its like the energy that runs the universe. Living against it is like swimming upstream: frustrating, and moving backwards. In the mission I observed families struggling to have a picture perfect Mormon family. The pressure from the parents could often eat away at relationships. Instead of forcing upon ourselves an ideal, rather we learn to be "longsuffering" (*2) as the "ideal" naturally comes by righteous living. The Tao teaches that tugging on a plant does not cause it to grow faster.

     "The highest good is like water.
          which benefits all things
          and contends with none.

     "This is the way of heaven,
          do your work, then quietly step back."

-The Tao Te Ching of Lao Tzu #'s 8 and 9.

    Consider the way God works in your life, and if he wants that mountain to move. Your family or life may not be an ideal. Yet as we do our part, surely, "all things work together for good to them that love God." Romans 8: 28. Romans chapter 8 applies this principle of suffering long while seeking the will of God.

End note:
     By better understanding the devil, recognize how to react. 2 Nephi 28: 21-22 workings of the devil and 1 Nephi 11: 2 is a great way of understanding how to live by the spirit.



*Sources:

1.      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ezmR9Attpyc
2.      Charity is longsuffering... the first attribute of Christ's love. Moroni 7: 45 of the Book of Mormon.

Fasting and Discipline

     Why do you fast? Perhaps you are seeking a blessing? Maybe you are fasting for Discipline? Hopefully its not just to lose weight.
     *London based physicist Jay Lakhania says the reason why he and many Hindu culture fast. "How do you I show that I am much more than just an animal? [An] animal will see grass and it will start grazing. A human being says, 'today there's food in front of me. I'm not going to eat it.' I'm showing my true dignity by being more than an animal... Discipline; a necessary discipline. That is what we do. That is how we stand apart of the animal kingdom."

*Sources:
     https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hRZzvbhc7ww See this video for further references on the myth of "cow worship" in India.