world view chart writing assignment Eddie Lundy
WORLD VIEW of GOOD and EVIL in VARIOUS RELIGIONS
Eddie Lundy
Paula Hayes
World Religions June 8, 2015
Various religions define good and evil in various ways. However, one thing is certain. Since our society has existed, good and evil have also been in existence and many religions see them as two sides of the same coin. Some religions see them as counterparts, one of which focuses on promotion of happiness and the other on everything evil or all that is contrary to happiness. Every religion and mythology define them in its own way and they find representation in various forms like demons and angels in Christianity and Devas and Danavas in Hinduism. But the concept of good and evil has always been there and in old times people considered everything that made them unhappy evil - even diseases - and everything that made them happy good.
Evil and good are considered to be interdependent in Hinduism. When one exists the other will also exist or evil also exists in the shadows of good or that evil is necessary. The existence of good depends upon evil and evil exists relative to good. They can also not be separated or in other words understood independently. According to the Vedanta philosophers, the difference between good and evil is not of the kind, but of the degree like that between light and dark. (Abhedananda, n.d.)The same thing can be good in one condition and evil in another. While fire can give life by helping us cook food, it can be evil by burning down homes and destroying lives. It depends upon the condition. Related to the concept of good and evil is the concept of karma in Hinduism. Karma is a very important concept and not just one’s life, but his afterlife too depends on his Karma. In general karma means ‘doings’. The law of Karma in Hinduism is that as you sow so you reap. Just as your doings are, so your life is. If you do good, you get good in return in this life and in later lives too. You do evil and it is evil that comes to you.
Eddie Lundy
Paula Hayes
World Religions June 8, 2015
Various religions define good and evil in various ways. However, one thing is certain. Since our society has existed, good and evil have also been in existence and many religions see them as two sides of the same coin. Some religions see them as counterparts, one of which focuses on promotion of happiness and the other on everything evil or all that is contrary to happiness. Every religion and mythology define them in its own way and they find representation in various forms like demons and angels in Christianity and Devas and Danavas in Hinduism. But the concept of good and evil has always been there and in old times people considered everything that made them unhappy evil - even diseases - and everything that made them happy good.
Evil and good are considered to be interdependent in Hinduism. When one exists the other will also exist or evil also exists in the shadows of good or that evil is necessary. The existence of good depends upon evil and evil exists relative to good. They can also not be separated or in other words understood independently. According to the Vedanta philosophers, the difference between good and evil is not of the kind, but of the degree like that between light and dark. (Abhedananda, n.d.)The same thing can be good in one condition and evil in another. While fire can give life by helping us cook food, it can be evil by burning down homes and destroying lives. It depends upon the condition. Related to the concept of good and evil is the concept of karma in Hinduism. Karma is a very important concept and not just one’s life, but his afterlife too depends on his Karma. In general karma means ‘doings’. The law of Karma in Hinduism is that as you sow so you reap. Just as your doings are, so your life is. If you do good, you get good in return in this life and in later lives too. You do evil and it is evil that comes to you.
References: Ethics in Shinto (n.d.).In BBC. Retrieved September 2, 2014, from http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/shinto/shintoethics/ethics.shtml Sivananda, S. (2004).JAINISM.In DLHSQ.Retrieved September 2, 2014, from http://www.dlshq.org/religions/jainism.htm Abhedananda, S. (n.d.). Good and Evil. In Hindusim. Retrieved September 2, 2014, from http://www.hinduism.co.za/goodand1.htm Good and Evil (2002). In SGI. Retrieved September 2, 2014, from http://www.sgi.org/buddhism/buddhist-concepts/good-and-evil.html Hardy, J. (n.d.). Suffering and the Problem of Evil.In Patheos. Retrieved September 2, 2014, from http://www.patheos.com/Library/Taoism/Beliefs/Suffering-and-the-Problem-of-Evil Waxman, R. (n.d.). How-To Practice Confucian Ethics.In Articles on Eastern Religions. Retrieved September 2, 2014, from http://www.robwaxman.com/ Elvie, S. (2014). How Does Islam View the Nature of Good and Bad?.In OnIslam. Retrieved September 2, 2014, from http://www.onislam.net/english/ask-about-islam/faith-and-worship/islamic-creed/168612-how-does-islam-view-the-nature-of-good-and-bad.html What does Christianity teach about good and evil? (n.d.).In BBC. Retrieved September 2, 2014, from http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/rs/god/chgoodandevilrev2.shtml What does Sikhism teach about good and evil? (n.d.).In BBC. Retrieved September 2, 2014, from http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/rs/god/sigoodandevilrev2.shtml