JUDAISM — evolved from the Old Testament religion established
for the Hebrew people. Its main difference: non-recognition of Jesus Christ as
the Messiah. Judaism is filled with all kinds of rites and customs, has a
multitude of small rules, some are written and some are oral, that find one’s
everyday life such as: what one can and cannot eat or drink, whom to marry,
when to work, whom to have as a friend and whom to hate. By fulfilling all this
multitude of meaningless rules, they consider themselves "holy" and a
"chosen people." They do not have missionaries and are unwilling to
accept converts who do not have a mother of Jewish origin. The concept of
vengeance, that is, an "eye for an eye" is very acceptable by Jews,
with respect to their enemies. Some of the Jews are still waiting for their "Messiah,"
who will bring the glory to Jewish people. The Christians identify the coming
of a false-messiah with the "Antichrist," who according to the Holy
Bible, will come before the end of the world and lead a multitude of people
away from Christianity.
MUSLIMISM. The originator of Muslims is Muhammad, who lived in the
first part of the 7th century in present Arabia. The most important aspect of
this religion is belief in one God (Allah) and the prophet Muhammad — the
originator of this religion. Some portions appear to be taken from the Bible.
Christ is considered as one of the prophets, but lower then Muhammad. According
to Muslim teaching, each man is pre-destined from his birth. Self-control
commandments are not needed, since everyone can do whatever he wants, there is
no repentance, since everyone is predestined. Everyone, who is predestined to
go to heaven — goes there. To kill the "unfaithful" (people of
different religions) is encouraged and is rewarded by paradise after death.
Muslims have many fixed rules with respect to wine, alcohol, clothing,
pork-meat and prayers five times a day. Vengeance is encouraged and is a part
of tradition.
BUDDHISM. The originator of this religion is Siddhartha-Gautama, who
lived in India
(Nepal) in the
7th Century B.C., and was called Buddha, which means, "The Enlightened
One." After its beginning, Buddhism spread into many countries in the
East: India, Burma, Siam, Tibet, China and Japan. Buddhists do not recognize
the God Creator, but believe in eternity of matters and circular motion and in
a change of appearance. It teaches, that the universe, suffering and pleasure —
are only "illusions" in a make believe existence. By rejection of
will — from selfishness and all its consequences — man submerges into a state
of "nirvana," that is, a state of complete spiritual peace, absence
of desires, thoughts, words — psychological non-existence. According to a
Buddha teaching, life is evil. A man should strive into nirvana
(non-existence). Happiness is accomplished by self-rejection of one’s will,
asceticism, suspension of evil and bad desires, love for all and readiness to
sacrifice himself for others. The high moral principal and consequence that
came out of it into social life, helped to spread Buddhism. In addition,
Buddhism teaches, that there is no real death, but after death the souls of
people transfer from one person into another and even into animals. The
Buddhist concept regarding transference of souls is in total contrast with
Christian teaching. (Christianity teaches, that a soul and body is one being.
After death, a soul and body are temporally separated, so that at the moment of
Resurrection they are united again forever). Some rules of Buddhism are as
follows: do not destroy life, do not lie, do not steal, do not exploit, do not
rape, do not use alcohol. Sacrifice everything for the welfare of people. One
has to be: quiet, good, modest, be not carried away with wealth, not be angry,
offensive, be a peace maker, prevent wars and everything that destroys life.
Buddhist teaching is not the same in all countries: each country has its own
specific singularity. It is important to note, that the teaching about nirvana
does not further the development of man’s progress. Buddhism is a religion of
pessimism in that it strives to abolish any identity. By rejection of the real
God — Buddhism, in reality, is distinctly atheistic.
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