Table of ContentsIntroductionEthical Dimensions of World Religions: SimilaritiesEthical Dimensions of World Religions: DifferencesConclusionIntroductionThroughout life, as we hear about the different religions of the world and what they believe or consider to be It is true that it becomes easy to begin to construct presuppositions about these religions. We may also see that some or most of these presuppositions turn out not to be as we had previously considered them. One point where this can be seen is the assumption that "all religions are fundamentally similar" or that they "are just different paths to the same goal." These statements are not very frequently heard by religious people themselves, but rather by those who examine them from an outside perspective. When one begins a religious study by examining different religions, it becomes easy to understand why this statement is not the case. All religions may have commonalities in precepts or ideas regarding their end goals, but they are not all different paths to the same actual goal, nor fundamentally similar. According to Ninian Smart, there are six dimensions of religion, and by examining a few of them, we can see how we can arrive at the conclusion stated above, but also understand why this conclusion is not entirely true. no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why violent video games should not be banned”?Get the original essayEthical Dimensions of World Religions: SimilaritiesThe ethical dimension of religion is where the majority of similarities can be seen between most important religions of the world, which causes the oversimplification as previously stated. As Rabbi Marc Gellman and Bishop Thomas Hartman suggest in their article “Exploring Religious Ethics in Everyday Life,” all religious ethics can be broken down into four main virtues. These virtues include: The Golden Rule, Compassion, Humility, and Hope (Gellman and Hartman). Each virtue has key similarities and differences within the ethical dimension of all religions. These similarities are found in religions around the world, but some of the most important are found in the religions of the Middle East. As religions spread and become more prominent in other regions, the three religions originating in the Middle East are Judaism. , Christianity and Islam. These religions share some very distinctive similarities, including being the three largest monotheistic religions in the world. Especially those between Christianity and Judaism since Christianity knowingly flows directly from the historical foundation of Judaism. Islam, while not directly linked to Judaism in the same way Christianity is, holds conservative and ethical beliefs incredibly similar to other Middle Eastern religions. These three religions have similarities within specific ethical standards, but on a broader basis, it is easy to examine their virtues and how they compare. Beginning with Christianity and Judaism, it is understood that the Christian Church includes the entire Torah and Old Testament. in his Bible, which means that all the same ethical precepts written in these texts are shared. One being the Golden Rule of Judaism, Christianity and Islam. In Judaism, this is stated in the Torah as follows: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself” (King VersionJames, Lev. 19:18). This same principle is also stated in Jesus' Sermon on the Mount in the New Testament of the Christian Bible which states: "Therefore whatever you would have men do for you, do also for them." (King James Version). , Matthew 7:12). Finally, this rule is stated in the Hadith of Islamic tradition which says: “None of you is a believer until he desires for his brother what he desires for himself” (Hadith 40:13, Nawawi). Middle Eastern religions also share the same idea of ​​compassion for others as God shows compassion for his followers. This relates directly to the Golden Rule and how followers learn to treat each other. There is also the virtue of humility which can be seen in any monotheistic religion, but especially in the three Middle Eastern religions. Humility is displayed in monotheistic religions as reverence to an all-knowing, all-seeing god. Finally, these religions share the virtue of hope. Although the virtue of hope is visible in many world religions, it manifests itself in different ways in Middle Eastern religions. The first is that believers must put their faith and hope in God because He knows everything. Second, believers are asked to have hope to eliminate fear of what might happen in the future. The similarities between virtues and ethical standards are not exclusive to Middle Eastern religions; they can also be found in the religions of Asia. In the Asian region, some of the largest religions are Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism and Confucianism. All of these religions share distinct similarities, but this is especially true for Hinduism, Buddhism, and Sikhism. Both Sikhism and Buddhism are historically derived from Hinduism in their own right. These three religions are known to have their doctrinal similarities, but it is even seen that they also have similarities in their ethical standards. Confucianism also has ethical standards and rules similar to those of other Asian religions. The virtues that can be examined are the Golden Rule, compassion and hope. Beginning with the Golden Rule, Hinduism states: "Do not harm others, do not harm anyone by thought or action, do not utter any word that will cause pain to your fellow human beings", which takes a more physical of the Golden Rule compared to the religions of the Middle East (The Law of Manu). Buddhism also states: “Having made an example of oneself, one should neither kill nor cause to be killed.” . . . As I am, other beings are also; therefore let us not smite one another, nor let one smite another. This is the meaning” (Dhammapada, 10:29). This implies almost the same message as that of Hindu beliefs. Both Confucianism and Sikhism have golden rules that more closely resemble those of Middle Eastern religions. In Confucianism, it is said: “If you do not want to be mistreated by others, do not mistreat anyone yourself” (Analects 12:2, Confucius and Waley). The golden rule of Sikhism goes hand in hand with the same premise which says: “We obtain salvation by loving our neighbor and God” (Granth Japji 21, Sahib). These religions also share similarities in the ethical virtues of compassion and hope. In Buddhism, followers use the idea of ​​karuna for guidance. This idea of ​​karuna means, in a general sense, understanding the suffering of other living beings in the universe (Gellman and Hartman). Part of this idea of ​​karuna lies in understanding the suffering of others, when reincarnated followers can return tohelping those in need, which illustrates the virtue of compassion. Compassion is central to the beliefs of Hinduism, as it is one of the three main virtues "along with charity and self-control" (Gellman and Hartman). The virtue of hope is manifested in Sikhism, Hinduism and Buddhism through the idea of ​​enlightenment. Hope is something believers possess to continue striving toward enlightenment. Although the term enlightenment is best known for being part of Buddhism and Sikhism, Hinduism has its own form called Moksha. Ethical Dimensions of World Religions: Differences Although there are many similarities between these religions and their respective virtues, there are also key differences within the world religions. ethical dimension of these religions. We can see by comparing the virtues that some can be very different from others. For example, not all religions require a certain level of humility in respecting a god. Confucianism teaches humility through societal structures, not through respect for a higher being. Additionally, countless specific ethical standards regarding marriage, sexual relations, roles in society, and modesty can create divergences between religions. Middle Eastern religions are perhaps best known for adhering to these standards, but some of them can even be traced to Confucianism and Hinduism. Although the differences can become glaring when looking closely at specific ethical standards, with all the similarities that these virtues bring to the ethical dimension of religion, it is very easy to see how one could assume that religion in general is the same . the majority of their divergences relate to their doctrinal and ritual dimensions. Although they have societal ethical similarities, they are much more different in practice and end goals. To fully define these differences, it is important to look at two areas: deities and the afterlife. In the realm of religious deities, many of the world's most widely practiced religions are monotheistic. These include Judaism, Christianity, Islam and Sikhism. These monotheistic deities are the same in the sense that they are all powerful, all knowing beings who created the entire universe. One of the main differences is how each deity requires their followers to worship. This can be seen through the requirement for different styles of prayer and worship services. Another difference lies in the way followers worship their deities and the doctrinal traditions that surround them. These traditions include the Trinity within the Christian tradition. Some religions like Hinduism and Buddhism have more than one deity. In Hinduism, there is constant confusion about the actual number of deities in the religion, but all have different purposes, interact differently, and are considered gods. In Buddhism it is much the same, however all the deities live in 27 different heavens which are completely separate from the human realm, but do not accept any of them as gods. Finally, in Confucianism, there are no deities. Confucianism instead attributes supernatural powers to the Tao within the universe. Followers believe that this force flows through every living being and helps them improve within society. Viewing the afterlife within the doctrinal and ritual dimensions of religion, Hinduism and Buddhism both accept the idea of ​​karma and how it can affect your spirit in the afterlife. Life after death of a Hindu and a Buddhist can.