Term
| Baha'i- What is the human condition? |
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Definition
each child is born pure and holy
God created humans with immortal soul and a dual nature: an animalistic and selfish (evil) side and a spiritual side (soul) with reason to develop their divine attributes and pursue God's plan for humanity |
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Term
| Baha'i- Where are we going? |
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Definition
| to Paradise (not a place but a state of perfection and in harmony with God's will) to Hell (a state of imperfection, far removed from God and in conflict with His will) by denying God and His plan and performing evil acts |
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Term
| Baha'i- How do we get there? |
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Definition
salvation through:
acknowledging Oneness of God and unity of Manifestations of God (Prophets)
developing our divine attributes (reason) and being involved in God's plan for whole of humanity
aligning our lives with teachings, laws and obligations as revealed by Baha'ullah |
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Term
| Buddhism- What is the human condition? |
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Definition
| caught in samsara- endless cycle of existence, characterized by maya (delusion), tanha (craving) and hatred/aversion, leading to dukkha (suffering or unsatisfactoriness) |
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Term
| Buddhism- Where are we going? |
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Definition
to a favorable or unfavorable rebirth after death
to Enlightenment through entering nirvana/nibbana
to Buddhahood
to Boddhisattvahood (Mahayana Buddhism) |
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Term
| Buddhism- How do we get there? |
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Definition
Enlightenment through:
acknowledging Three Jewels, by joining Sangha
accepting Four Noble Truths
following Middle Way/Eightfold Path
following precepts consistent with a lay or monastic way of life
following path of bodhisattva
developing wisdom and compassion |
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Term
| Christianity- What is the human condition? |
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Definition
God created humankind in His own image
God gave humans free will but, through disobedience, humans are separated from God by original sin
God provided a means of salvation through Jesus Christ |
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Term
| Christianity- Where are we going? |
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Definition
to Heaven: eternal union with God
to Purgatory: a staging post between this world and Heaven
to Hell: separation from God |
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Term
| Christianity- How do we get there? |
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Definition
salvation through:
believing in presence of God as Father, Son and Holy Spirit
believing in Jesus Christ as Savior
living by teachings of Jesus
participating in sacraments (differ by denomination) |
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Term
| Hinduism- What is the human condition? |
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Definition
caught in samsara: atman (soul) is condemned to an endless cycle of reincarnation, as a result of karma
bad karma has a corrupting effect on universe |
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Term
| Hinduism- Where are we going? |
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Definition
to a favorable or unfavorable reincarnation after death
to moksha (liberation) from samsara and consequences of karma |
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Term
| Hinduism- How do we get there? |
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Definition
liberation through:
either performing actions pertinent to dharma (law/teachings) or law/teachings of jati (one's caste): that is, varnashramadharma (pertinent to higher castes)
or following one of yogic paths |
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Term
| Islam- What is the human condition? |
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Definition
| humans must strive to submit themselves to will of God for, without divine guidance, they are likely to stray from path of prescribed and prohibited actions, which God has set out in order to prevent moral error |
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Term
| Islam- Where are we going? |
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Definition
for faithful, to eternal janna (Paradise), by obedience to God's will
by disobedience to God's will, to jahannam (Hell), which is reserved for those whom God has decided to punish for a time for committing grave sins and not repenting |
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Term
| Islam- How do we get there? |
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Definition
| salvation through submission to God's will: acknowledging tawhid (Oneness of God) and submitting to His will, as revealed to Muhammad and His prophets believing in God, Scriptures, angels, jinns, and akhira (life after death) living according to Qur'an and divinely inspired sayings of Muhammad practicing five Pillars of Islam or obligations prescribed in Qur'an for individual Muslims |
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Term
| Jainism- What is the human condition? |
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Definition
caught in samsara: endless cycle of existence, characterized by ignorance and suffering
jiva (soul) is condemned to samsara and, as a result of collecting of karma, is weighed down within ajiva (world of matter) |
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Term
| Jainism- Where are we going? |
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Definition
to a favorable or unfavorable rebirth after death
to moksha (liberation) of jiva from ajiva |
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Term
| Jainism- How do we get there? |
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Definition
liberation through:
following teachings of Mahavira, and Five Great Vows (including ahimsa)
practicing asceticism
attaining kevala (a pure, omniscient consciousness)
practicing Twelve Great Vows (for monks and nuns) |
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Term
| Judaism- What is the human condition |
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Definition
| God created humans in His image and endowed them with free will, which leads to a constant choice between yetzer ha-ra (bad inclinations) and yetzer ha-tov (good inclinations) |
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Term
| Judaism- Where are we going? |
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Definition
Judaism emphasizes observance in this life rather than elaborating on hereafter
there is however expectation of a Messianic age of peace and justice for humankind in this world and a belief in Olam Ha-Ba (world to come) |
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Term
| Judaism- How do we get there? |
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Definition
living a life in accordance with God's will and in readiness for coming of Messianic Age, as achieved by:
being House of Israel or Chosen People
obeying all mitzvot (commandments) of Covenant that God has revealed in Torah
living according to Shema |
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Term
| Sikhism- What is the human condition? |
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Definition
all living beings were created by God
through maya (illusion) and ego-centeredness, jot (divine spark) is not realized and therefore human beings remain focused on their "man" or baser emotions summarized in five vices of lust, covetousness, attachment, anger and pride
manmukh (follower of ego) as opposed to gurmukh (one who is focused on God and lives by teachings of Gurus) |
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Term
| Sikhism- Where are we going? |
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Definition
to a favorable or unfavorable rebirth after death based upon karma of previous life
to be taken into sach khand (real of truth) where God is |
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Term
| Sikhism- How do we get there? |
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Definition
liberation and union with God through:
living beings becoming gurmukh (God centered) through God's grace and living by teachings of Gurus
practicing nam japna (continual meditation on God's name)
following teachings of Guru Granth Sahib
earning a living honestly and giving a portion of what we earn to those in need
sewa (altruistic service) to God and humanity regardless of birth or gender |
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Term
| Taoism- What is the human condition? |
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Definition
Tao, Way, is our original nature
nothing is evil but things are out of balance because humans departed from Way
civilization has tried to improve on nature; as a result we have created conflict and chaos |
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Term
| Taoism- Where are we going? |
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Definition
we are already there, but we have to realize it by becoming fully in accord with Tao
everything flows out of Tao, and will return to Tao: this is fu (invariable law of nature that ensures that everything returns to a balanced state) |
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Term
| Taoism- How do we get there? |
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Definition
achieve living Way by:
living a contemplative life in nature
taking no action, that is, not interfering with wu-wei (nature)
balancing yin with yang
reconciling opposites on a higher level of consciousness or intuitive level
releasing Ch'i, life force |
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