Why the East is superior to the West ...
By andygogo
@andygogo (1579)
China
January 4, 2007 12:06am CST
Within the religious fanaticism you will find a basic lack of understanding
of other religions. A comprehensive study of various religions would support the broader view that one supreme and caring Intelligence has expressed itself to different people at different time and in different ways.
Fanaticism comes to people who feel insecure. This broader view gives a sense of belongingness while still allowing people to be well-founded in their own tradition.
There are ten major religions in the world, six from the far east and four from the Middle East. In the Far East, Hinduism is the oldest. Then came Buddhism, Jainism, Taoism, Shintoism and Sikhism. From the Middle East, Zoroastrianism is the oldest, and then came Judaism, Christianity and Islam.
Three of the Middle Eastern religions are rooted in the Old Testament :
Islam, Christianity and Judaism. In the Far East Shintoism and Taoism
have completely separate sources. Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism have roots in Hinduism.
The six religions of the Far East have peacefully coexisted and intermingled over the centuries. Buddhism and Taoism have so completely accepted each other that you can find statues of Buddha in Taoist temples. Hinduism accepts Jainist and Buddhist thought.
Contrarily, the religions of the Middle East with a common root have warred with each other. The brothers of the same house fight while friends live with each other in a coherent manner.
When I was in Japan I met several Shinto priests and Buddhist monks. They told me a story of travelling with President Bush of America. He asked a Shinto priest what the population of Shintoists in Japan was. The priest said, "Eighty percent." And he asked a Buddhist monk what the percentage of Buddhists was and the monk said, "Eighty percent." President Bush said, "How could that be possible?" And they said, "It is possible! Buddhists go to Buddhist temples and Shinto temples and Shintoists go to Buddhist temples and Shinto temples." In this story, we have a healthy model of cultures maintaining their identity and at the same time interacting with each other.
And we can find a model in India also. Within one family you will find
Jains and Hindus and Sikhs. Individuals are free to choose whatever
representation of Divinity they wish. They are not expected to adhere
to the choice of the father or mother. This coexistence can happen when
we put values first and symbols and practices second.
1 person likes this
28 responses
@jumpinjack00 (3054)
• United States
4 Jan 07
With a broad stroke statement like that,
it proves the East is no more superior
to the than the West is to the East. It
is no one religion or people that decides
the scope of one's understanding of their
world. Which is what religion truly is. It
is indeed the individual who understands the
true nature of religion. To better oneself
by bettering the lives of those you come in
contact with. There is no religion higher than
Truth. Therein lies the problem who is telling
the truth. Who believes they're telling the truth
and who truly knows the truth. That can be said
is not a religion but an enlightened person.
No religion is superior than another. It is
evident people don't practice what they preach
no matter their global position, India, America,
Iraq, China, etc. The same problems exist everywhere
because untruths are what the world wants to believe.
As I said earlier, bettering yourself by bettering
others lives doesn't mean go to Temples, Churches,
Synagogue, Mosques or anywhere else. It means doing
not saying. It's that simple.
‹(°¿°)›
@not4me (1711)
• United States
4 Jan 07
I loved in Japan for 4 years and what you say is very true as Shintoists will have their new houses blessed by Buddhist Monks, etc. To me the two religions were very compatible with each other.
With that said, why did you have to use the word "superior"? I'm assuming it was to gain attention to your post, but seriously, why does one side of anything have to be superior to the other, especially where religion is concerned? All religion and superiority complexes do is create animosity and start wars and in my atheistic opinion, those who allow religious opinions to cloud rationality like that are so not superior in any way.
I'm not anti-theism, just atheist in my own right. In countries where peace prevails I don't think it has to do with compatible religions, it has to do with upbringing, common sense and people born and bred to be rational, non-extremist and kind to all, irregardless of religious preference or a lack thereof
@anne_143god (5387)
• Philippines
5 Jan 07
Maybe because most east country has different culture with regards to religion and beliefs. The ancestor of east country has more conscious on religion thats why we inherit that.
@DoctorRaym (29)
• United States
5 Jan 07
Excellent post.
I too respect the East for the same reasons.
However...
As an American currently living in the West, I would be less insulted if you also described positive views of the West's various religions.
Mahalo.
@rakeshdas (427)
• India
5 Jan 07
I dont belive in this.
East and west both have different cultures. so wats the comparison between two different cultures? both are the best with their own culture. Thats ok?
@sigma77 (5383)
• United States
5 Jan 07
Interesting synopsis. It would seem that some of the Eastern religions have intersected each other. Whereas in the West, that has rarely happened. That is the problem with all religions...they create division.
You say the East is superior to the West (religious wise) and by doing so, you create division. Here in the West, new religions pop up like weeds. Anyone can start their own religion. Many break off from the main branch and form their own sects. With so many different beliefs and customs, it is no wonder the world is divided.
Is this the world God (any God) intended? Thousands of religions and millions of people going to war to defend their religions? I always thought the purpose of religion was to create a love for fellow man. The opposite has occured over the last 2000 years. Religion is not the answer for me.
I do not want to hate anyone in the world. I don't want a religion telling me how to relate to my God. I don't want a religion telling me that I owe my life to its exsistence. The man/woman who has a free mind automatically knows right from wrong. He/she needs no commandment to guide them, they know from within because they are connected to their pure spirit.
@Persia (151)
• United States
4 Jan 07
I am studying religion now and I think that everyone should have a knowledge of all religions just like they would have knowledge about their own country or background. I love the study. it opens your mind. i don't know which side is more superior but both sides could have strong points and weaknesses.
@helloitsmera (48)
• India
5 Jan 07
hi what you told is right but you know people like to have what they don't have. that is why now people in the east are getting attracted to the western culture.
if all the cultures and religions are preaching the same i would like to know what is the reason in changing the religions. This is becoming a game of politics where in monks are trying to get many people change their religions and thus raging the hatred between people of different religions......
@practical4wheels (50)
• United States
5 Jan 07
and thus there is more proof of why our country has more happy people in it.....
@MrNiceGuy (4141)
• United States
4 Jan 07
That's a fairly good point you have there Andy.
The only reason I can think of for why would be that the three Abrahamic religions of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam are religions that have conflicting interests and stories, so they are factions of certain thinking where people simply disagree. With other religions, the ideology may be much more general and less to do with past characters.
@kathy77 (7486)
• Australia
4 Jan 07
Well where my husband comes from the East is not more superior than the West, as it was the west in his island where they won the war against the East and the east was told that they are the dancing people as they cannot fight in the war against the West, and the West also where he comes from is the most intelligent of the whole island.
@4ftfingers (1310)
•
4 Jan 07
no the east is not at all more superior.
i don't claim that the west is more superior.
but i know that it is more tollerant. take for example britian - the most multicultural country in the world, accepting people of all faiths.
white britons tend to be christian or not prticularly religious. just because people of the east have retined their religious values, that does not make them supperior.
do not use bush as an example - he is supported by fundamentalist christian americans, who donot represent western values at all.
you should look to europe for our real values. at our schools we learn about all religions but we see past religion and don't use it to wage war with anyone.
@Festciv01 (9)
• United States
4 Jan 07
Stop copying and pasting you jealous idiot bot. GO USA GO ! ! ! ! !
