Deities edit
The following section provides a short overview of some religions and basic information on their beliefs in a deity (or multiple deities). Note that some religions are monistic or agnostic.
Buddhism edit
Buddhism does not claim a god.[1] While there is a founder of Buddhism, Siddhartha Gautama, it is important to note that he is not considered the Buddhist God or deity of any kind.[2][3] The idea of nirvana may sometimes be considered god-like because of its components of final destination/completion of the cycle of death and rebirth; however,
"One meaning of God is that of a personal being who created the universe by deliberate design. Defined in this sense, nirvana is not God. The Buddha did not consider it personal because personality requires definition, which nirvana excludes. And while he did not expressly deny creation, he clearly exempted from nirvana from responsibility for it. If absence of a personal Creator-God is atheism, Buddhism is atheistic." [4]
Confucianism edit
Confucianism does not claim a god.[5] Confucius himself is the founder of Confucianism but is not regarded as a god or Divine Sage.[6] Instead, Confucius regards himself as a teacher with an "unwearying effort to learn and unflagging patience in teaching others."[7] In some cases, the Tao is regarded as the establishment and/or basis of all life as it was considered "The Way" of human life and the universe, but it is still not considered any type of god or deity.[5]
Hinduism edit
There are three primary gods in Hinduism, the first being Brahma, who is credited with the creation of the universe and all living things. The next two are Vishnu and Shiva. Vishnu is credited with being the god that preserves the universe. Shiva, on the other hand, is responsible for destroying creations made/preserved by Brahma and Vishnu in order to rid the universe of the bad and allow for renewal.[8] For most Hindu practitioners, there are many gods to be worshipped and respected due to the idea of reincarnation. Although Brahma, Shiva, and Vishnu are considered the several key gods, it is believed for them to have reincarnated into other versions of themselves.[9] Regardless of the many reincarnations, there is still the idea that all gods, by some means, are still a consolidation of one true God. This idea is seen in the Bhagavad Gita:
"Can water quaff itself?/ Can trees taste of the fruit they bear?/ He who worships God must stand distinct from Him,/ So only shall he know the joyful love of God;/ For if he say that God and he are one,/ That joy, that love, shall vanish instantly away."[10]
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- ^ "BBC - Religions - Buddhism: Buddhism at a Glance". BBC. Retrieved 2018-10-18.
{{cite web}}:|archive-date=requires|archive-url=(help) - ^ Novak, Philip (1995). The World's Wisdom: Sacred Texts of the World's Religions. New York, New York: Harper Collins. p. 115. ISBN 978-0-06-066342-1.
- ^ Vail, Lise F. "The Origins of Buddhism". Asia Society. Retrieved 17 October 2018.
- ^ Smith, Huston (1991). The World's Religions. New York, New York: Harper Collins. p. 114. ISBN 978-0-06-166018-4.
- ^ a b Hunter, E. Anne (27 June 2018). "Who Is the God of Confucianism? | Synonym". Classroom. Retrieved 2018-10-18.
- ^ Novak, Phillip (1995). The World's Wisdom: Sacred Texts of the World's Religions. New York, NY: Harper Collins. p. 114. ISBN 978-0-06-066342-1.
- ^ Novak, Phillip (1995). The World's Wisdom: Sacred Texts of the World's Religions. New York, NY: Harper Collins. p. 115. ISBN 978-0-06-066342-1.
- ^ "BBC - Religions - Hinduism: Brahma". BBC. 2009-08-24. Retrieved 2018-10-18.
- ^ Hays, Jeffrey. "BRAHMA, VISHNU, SHIVA:THE HINDU TRINITY | Facts and Details". factsanddetails.com. Retrieved 2018-10-18.
- ^ Eliade, Mircea (1957). The Sacred and the Profane. New York: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich. p. 75.