This study will provide a survey of the world religions, including consideration of the basic beliefs of the major religions of East and West, the contributions made by those religions, important terms, and the ways those religions deal with the relationships between the divine and the human, men and women, and classes within a given society. The study will conclude with a discussion of the values of Seventh Day Adventism in the context of other religions. The religions to be discussed, aside from Seventh Day Adventism, will be Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, Taoism, Islam, Judaism, and Christianity.
Hinduism is the major religion of India. It is not the exclusively ascetic religion many believe it to be, but instead offers to the believer the opportunity to enjoy life's pleasures. On the other hand, there are warnings about the spiritual dangers which come from such pleasures: "If pleasure is what you want, do not suppress the desire." However, Hinduism adds, "Seek it intelligently." And: "The time . . . will come to everyone . . . when one realizes that one wants more than pleasure" (Smith, Illustrated, 18). Success in the world is also not rejected, but, again, with it comes dangers. Wealth, fame and power are rooted in competitiveness: "From the competitiveness of these goods to their precariousness is a short step, for as other people want them too, who knows when fortune will change hands?" (Smith, Illustrated, 19). In other words, the things upon which human life is based on the mundane level cannot be counted on to sustain the individual in the way that divine or spiritual things sustain. These lessons are learned on the "Path of Desire." Against the Path of Desire stands the "Path of Renunciation." The Path of Desire leads the individual to gather pleasures from this life, while the Path of Renunciation leads the believer to turn his back on this life's passing pleasures and seek the divine. Because Hindus believe in rei...