Structures of a Radically Egalitarian Religion
There are many religions practiced throughout the world today. Some of these many religions include Deism, Atheism, Dualism, and much more. However there are five main religions that are practiced by a majority of people which are: Judaism, Hinduism, Christianity, Islam, and Buddhism. Out of these five most practiced religions, Buddhism couldn't be any more different from them. The Buddha's teachings and acceptance to anyone who wants to practice Buddhism has allowed the religion to be called radically egalitarian.
Buddhism was founded by Siddhartha Gautama, also known as the Buddha. The name Buddha translates to the “awakened one” and this awakening happened to Siddhartha after he turned …show more content…
The Buddha’s teachings and the caste wouldn't work well together because many people assumed a good life with peace was attributed to be born in a high caste system by the gods. The caste system was a societal pyramid that separated people based on wealth, skills, knowledge, and other factors. At the top of the caste system would be priests. Being at the top of the caste system it's assumed that they held most of the power and indian society at the time had a heavy focus on their gods and religions. Under them were warriors and rulers. Siddhartha Gautama was on this level before he decided to leave his life of affluence and lead the life as the Buddha. Following warriors and rulers were then skilled trader and merchants, unskilled workers, and lastly outcasts of society. The caste system would have to have many unskilled laborers that would greatly favor Buddhism. Buddhism did not struggle to grow because of this. What would have contributed to its growth and influence would be its openness and equality to all and the Buddha’s denouncement of the caste system. In the Buddha's egalitarian teachings, “Goodness and virtue...determines one’s progress in the Buddha’s Path, not birth or influence, gender, class,...”(Sure 214). The way that one progress is determined allowed for everybody to practice Buddhism and did not exclude the religion to only certain groups or people. The …show more content…
Some of them include one all powerful God or many powerful gods that watch everything you do and determine your ability to reach a good afterlife based on your life. Buddhism in contrast “side steps God and offers a vision of humanity and the spiritual life that is not dependent on a deity. It lays out a path of self-transformation, and people like the idea of being in control and taking responsibility for their lives that can come with this” (bbc.co.uk). The other world religions expect one's life to be controlled by life leading many to believe that there is nothing they can do in life if life isn't going their way. Buddhism excluding higher powers and following a non theistic attitude takes away the pressure put on by most religions that if you don't live life according to the way that their holy books teach you to live life then you will have an unhappy afterlife once you die. In the other religions there are certain things you have to not have an unhappy afterlife. Some things require worship on certain days, fastings during different occasions, or what direction to worship when you are in prayer. Many religions expect things from you but Buddhism, “... offers seemingly practical ways of developing wisdom and compassion, free from guilt and obligation” (bbc.co.uk). Buddhism allows people to grow as a person, both
There are many religions practiced throughout the world today. Some of these many religions include Deism, Atheism, Dualism, and much more. However there are five main religions that are practiced by a majority of people which are: Judaism, Hinduism, Christianity, Islam, and Buddhism. Out of these five most practiced religions, Buddhism couldn't be any more different from them. The Buddha's teachings and acceptance to anyone who wants to practice Buddhism has allowed the religion to be called radically egalitarian.
Buddhism was founded by Siddhartha Gautama, also known as the Buddha. The name Buddha translates to the “awakened one” and this awakening happened to Siddhartha after he turned …show more content…
The Buddha’s teachings and the caste wouldn't work well together because many people assumed a good life with peace was attributed to be born in a high caste system by the gods. The caste system was a societal pyramid that separated people based on wealth, skills, knowledge, and other factors. At the top of the caste system would be priests. Being at the top of the caste system it's assumed that they held most of the power and indian society at the time had a heavy focus on their gods and religions. Under them were warriors and rulers. Siddhartha Gautama was on this level before he decided to leave his life of affluence and lead the life as the Buddha. Following warriors and rulers were then skilled trader and merchants, unskilled workers, and lastly outcasts of society. The caste system would have to have many unskilled laborers that would greatly favor Buddhism. Buddhism did not struggle to grow because of this. What would have contributed to its growth and influence would be its openness and equality to all and the Buddha’s denouncement of the caste system. In the Buddha's egalitarian teachings, “Goodness and virtue...determines one’s progress in the Buddha’s Path, not birth or influence, gender, class,...”(Sure 214). The way that one progress is determined allowed for everybody to practice Buddhism and did not exclude the religion to only certain groups or people. The …show more content…
Some of them include one all powerful God or many powerful gods that watch everything you do and determine your ability to reach a good afterlife based on your life. Buddhism in contrast “side steps God and offers a vision of humanity and the spiritual life that is not dependent on a deity. It lays out a path of self-transformation, and people like the idea of being in control and taking responsibility for their lives that can come with this” (bbc.co.uk). The other world religions expect one's life to be controlled by life leading many to believe that there is nothing they can do in life if life isn't going their way. Buddhism excluding higher powers and following a non theistic attitude takes away the pressure put on by most religions that if you don't live life according to the way that their holy books teach you to live life then you will have an unhappy afterlife once you die. In the other religions there are certain things you have to not have an unhappy afterlife. Some things require worship on certain days, fastings during different occasions, or what direction to worship when you are in prayer. Many religions expect things from you but Buddhism, “... offers seemingly practical ways of developing wisdom and compassion, free from guilt and obligation” (bbc.co.uk). Buddhism allows people to grow as a person, both