So one of the things that Hinduism seems to share with more monotheistic religions is the idea that the most important part of our being is not our physical bodies, but our spiritual selves. While this seems an obvious point, there is something odd about how this idea is brought across. With Hinduism, the idea is that the physical body is simply a clothing-like shell for our Self. However, in Christianity, the physical body is more like a one-shot vehicle to transport the soul from the physical world into either Heaven or Hell (or Purgatory, but I'm not sure how that one works). One of the defining points of religion seems to be the idea that our lives here in this world are only of importance because of what this life means for the spiritual side of existence, not the physical side.
What I am curious to know is, what does this say about the world of the here and now?
The betterment of the spiritual self is all well and good, but what do these religions have to say about making the physical world a better place. It just seems that, since it is viewed as something transient, the physical world is devalued by religions. Isn't the physical world we are in worth taking care of as well? That isn't really brought up much in religion. I wonder why that is.
Sure it's worth taking care of, after all (from a religious point of view) it was created to sustain life by God.
ReplyDeleteBut the reason why physical life is devalued is exactly as you stated: it IS transient. Things do fade away, never to be remembered again. Think of just 5,000 years ago, where we have almost zero historical record of what occurred back then. Everybody who lived during that period, every animal, and etc. is basically a forgotten memory forever. Why bother with the transient world when it is just that, transient? Imagine the best world in environmental terms. Would it still not fade away?
The real difference is that people of religions recognize a stark difference in importance between the transient and eternal. Obviously, it's rational to favor the eternal to the rational.
I think you are right that religions do undervalue taking care of the physical world and making it a better place. Al makes a really great point in saying that this is so because religions such as Hinduism do not view the earth as reality. But I also think that the importance of self improvement is undervalued by society. The ideas of making the world a better place and yourself a better person are parallel. If everyone in the world was a good person, there would be no greed, corruption, lies or deceit. The world would not need improving.
ReplyDeleteI think that the whole concept of Karma is what helps take care of this transient state of being on Earth. In Hinduism, if you do good things you get good Karma and I believe that would include making the Earth better. Maybe not by means of preventing global warming or anything dramatic like that but doing the best that you can to make your individual world better. After all that is the point of the cycle. Whatever you are reincarnated as it is your duty to live your life the best way you can and that includes relating with your reality and making that the best it can be.
ReplyDeleteKelli has a point. Unlike some sects of Christianity (and in tune with Judaism), Hinduism in general is not anti-body, and is very serious about making the world we live in a better place for everyone. Just because the natural world is not ultimately real does not mean it isn't important here and now. One way we make the world better is by ridding it of ourselves -- if we cease participating in the cycle of birth, toil, suffering, death, and reincarnation, we actually help the world out!
ReplyDeletePLEASE TURN OFF WORD VERIFICATION ON YOUR BLOG!!