The origins of Judaism and Hinduism are almost 4,000 years old. Buddhism arose from the teachings of a single Hindu teacher more than two thousand years ago. All three have changed and developed over the centuries. All three are very much alive today.
Concentrating on their current forms, compare the approaches of the 3 religions to the basic religious questions:
• How should I think about ultimate reality (Hinduism)? Is there a Supreme Being (Judaism)? Should I even think of god, letting myself be my supreme authority (Buddhism)?
• What is the relationship of human beings to this reality (God)?
• What exactly is the concept of faith to each of these three religions? Is it the same as belief, or not? Consider all three religions and compare.
• How do these concepts of the Ultimate Reality, Supreme Being or self help address the following questions: What is wrong with the world, and how can I help to fix it? What am I supposed to do with my life?
Consider the three religions, Buddhism, Hinduism, and Judaism. In an essay of approximately 700 to 800 words in length, answer the questions listed above. Be sure to use appropriate APA format for citations and to include at least one reference for each religion.
All human beings encounter pain and suffering in life. This can present some difficult questions to organized religions.
On some level, all religions answer fundamental questions of human existence, including, "why are we here?" Pain and suffering complicate these basic questions of human existence, whether the religion is monotheistic, polytheistic, or atheistic.
Some people endure much more pain and suffering than others. Why is this so? What is the origin of suffering? Is evil external or internal? Does it have any meaning? How should we respond to it?
Even more difficult is the problem of moral evil: some people deliberately cause other people to suffer. Why? If there is meaning in the universe, and especially if the universe is ruled by a beneficent deity, how can this be?
Create an essay of 1,000 words that examines the basic positions of each of the five religious traditions considering these human questions
In your essay, illustrate the following questions:
• How does each religion respond to the problems of evil and suffering?
• How are those responses similar?
• In what ways do the responses differ?
• What factors account for these differences?
• Which way of addressing evil is the most similar to your own? What role does reason play in your personal understanding of evil?
How does that overlap or contradict with the major religions' uses of reason in explaining evil?