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HINDUISM |
We don't know who we are. We
don't really recognize that we (and all living things) are Brahman. (But
this isn't very "wrong": it is all an episode in a great
game of "hide and seek" which Brahman is playing with Brahman)
We'll all eventually see through the "Maya", the illusion, the
disguise and be re-absorbed into reality. Nothing is really wrong. |
|
BUDDHISM: HINAYANA |
We are filled with desires of
one kind or another: we "care" about various things, and
desire and care inevitably bring suffering. But the despite and care are
caused by the illusion that our "selves" are "real". |
|
BUDDHISM: MAHAYANA |
The same as Hinayana Buddhism
-- except that Mahayana would say that, in our illusion that our
"selves" are all-important. We disrupt society and cause grief
not only to ourselves, but to others.. |
|
TAOISM |
We are moving against the Tao
of the universe: we are trying to "push the river", forcing
ourselves and nature into unnatural patterns. |
|
CONFUCIANISM |
We are destroying ourselves
and society because we have forgotten the ancient wisdom and ancient
traditions that make happiness possible and that make human
relationships work satisfactorily. |
|
JUDAISM |
We have eaten the
"forbidden fruit", refused to obey God, rejected His
commandments and tried to turn ourselves into "gods". |
|
ISLAM |
The same as Judaism. |
|
CHRISTIANITY: ORTHODOX |
The same as Judaism and Islam
-- with the important addition that, in our rebellion against God, we
have started a process that we cannot, of ourselves, stop. Having taken
over the train, so to speak, and switched onto another track, we find
that we cannot get back to where we want to be: some force within us
compels us or compels us to follow the track to destruction: many
Christians identify that force as "Satan" although a belief in
Satan has never been a requirement of Christianity. Many other modern
Christians explain the predicament of mankind in simple terms that, once
we as individuals or as a race, yield to our "lower nature",
we discover that we have unleashed forces beyond our control: the genie
will not go back into the bottle. |
|
CHRISTIANITY: ROMAN CATHOLIC |
Same |
|
CHRISTIANITY: PROTESTANTISM |
Same |