Chris Davis

Humanities 1100
Reflection Journal
3-9-14

Hinduism

Hinduism is a very interesting religion and The people involved have a very distinct set of
beliefs. Amongst the great number of things that could be discussed about Hinduism, I intend, at this
time, to only cover the question: Why is the Self such an important aspect of Hinduism?

As someone who has studied and lived amongst most religions in the world, and many times
amongst the Hindu people, I very much consider the Self, as something a more western religion might
call the soul. It is what truly makes up an individual. In the Bhagavad Gita chapter six, Krishna says
this when he states I have always existed, you too have always existed...The time shall never come
when we shall all cease to exist. This Self is something that is believed is the center to everything we
will ever, have ever, or will ever do. The statement that we shall always exist, and never die, I believe is
a great reason why Self is such a great focus.
With a belief in reincarnation so prevalent in Hunduism, I think the idea of the cast system
comes into play quite readily. A belief that if you do good in this life you will gain a better life of a
higher class and of more worth in the next life; and a belief that if not, you will be lowered in status and
worth in the next life, drives people to want to improve their Selves so that they may attain such great
an honor. This type of cast system is also the way of life in India and places where Hunduism is
common. The idea that great reward is centered around the development of your Self, would naturally

drive many a man to do his best no matter what. Especially considering that you have many more than
one life to live out before you reach the pinnacle of existence and again return to be in unity with the
Gods. Krishna gives us a description of this in chapter nine: He who at his last hour casts off the body
and goes hence remembering me, assuredly goes into my being.

I believe that like many other religions, Hinduism focuses so much on the Self, or soul, because
it is the only way that men of this earth may attain a greater degree of glory in the life to come. In doing
so it also drives people to their best and to make their community, not just themselves, the best that
they can be. In developing the traits that one must have in order to reach One-ness with Krishna, one
needs to become all that Krishna would have him be.
Fearlessness, purity of heart, holding fast to knowledge of the spirit, charity, restraint of the
senses sacrifice, study of religious texts, austerity, straightforwardness, Harmlessness, truch, freedom
from andger, renunciation, tranquility of spirit, lack of malice, compassion towards all living things,
freedom from covetousness, tenterness, modesty, steadfastness, vigor, patience, constancy, purity,
freedom from hatred, lack of conceit. All these are in him that is destined for goodness, Arjuna.

This is why Hinduism focuses on the Self. It is how they become one with their God.

Chris Davis
Humanities 1100
Reflection Journal
10-9-14

Buddhism

Buddhists make up a very large number of the worlds organized religion, and it is growing at a
very significant rate. The interesting thing about Buddhism is its focus entirely on the individual state
of mind. Unlike most other religions where, a god or deity of some kind is the focus, and center of the
faith; Buddhism focuses only on the aspect of the here and now. My question then is, why focus only
on ones self and not on a deity?

I believe that it all started when Master Gotama found himself face to face with three realities,
first that he would age, and become an old man. Second that he would get sick, and could not stop
himself from getting sick. Third that he would ultimately die. When the realities had finally settled in
he understood three things. First As I noticed this, the young person's intoxication with youth entirely
dropped away. Second As I noticed this, the healthy person's intoxication with health entirely
dropped away. Third As I noticed this, the living person's intoxication with life entirely dropped
away. I believe that when he lost these three ambitions, or delusions of life, he came to understand that
for himself, it only mattered what one attained in this life pertaining to wisdom and knowledge. When
the path to enlightenment showed itself clear, Master Gotama understood that whether this life or
another, it came down to who you became in this life.
In understanding this Master Gotama relinquished his life of luxury and started for a path of

learning and wisdom. The path to enlightenment was not an easy one for him. Being the first to try to
ultimately find nirvana he encountered many trials. First he realized that he must not just change his
appearance and surroundings, as was taught to him in the vision of the three torches, he also needed to
change who he was on the inside. Change what he believed and understood.
After understanding that he must change his spirit as well as body, Master Gotama tried many
things to subdue his body and mind to the will of his spirit, so that he would purify body and mind. He
starved himself of food and water for many days almost until the point of death. Coming to the
understanding that partaking of natural physical needs was not an indulgence of pleasure, but a
necessity of life, he then turned to a control of mind entirely.
When Master Gotama realized that the mind was the center of sensuality and therefore the thing
that inhibited Enlightenment, he put to himself to unlock his mind and rid himself of all sensuality.
When he had done this he became Buddah, the enlightened one. He gained all wisdom and enjoyed the
path to enlightenment.
Then teaching others he made it clear that it was only necessary for one to gain enlightenment
in this life, because if you did in this life, than what would happen next was irrelevant and of no
concern. I believe this is why the people of Buddhism are so very concentrated on self and manstery of
mind rather than a deity of some kind. Even if Buddah himself has more or less become a god in his
own right in the eyes of Buddhists.

Chris Davis
Humanities 1100
Reflection Journal
17-9-14

Judaism

Judaism is a religion that draws my attention greater than most others. It is a fascinating set of
beliefs and practices that make up one of the longest living, staunchest religions on earth. After having
studied much of Christianity, Islam and Judaism, we come to see that Judaism is the, or was the basis
for all of the other Abrahamic religions. Because of this, the question becomes; why does a Jew believe
that his is right more than a Christian or a Muslim?

I think there are a few reasons, the first being that it was through Abraham that God made his
covenant with the children of man, and then through Isaac was the covenant continued. ..for it is
through Isaac that offspring shall be named for you. God covenanted with Abraham that his seed
would be as numerous as the sands of the sea, or the stars in the heavens, and then promised Abraham
that these things would all come through Isaac. Isaac being the son of Abraham through whom they
draw lineage. Seeing themselves as the beginning heirs of the works of God on earth they believe that it
is through them that God will continue to work and save souls on earth.
The second reason I believe that the Jews believe they are the chosen people of God, is because
of the Messiah. The Messiah was always prophesied to come and save the children of Israel since the
beginning of time; Adam himself speaking of these things. Speaking to Moses, God told him that a
Messiah would he raise up like unto Moses to save the children of Israel. Because of this, and the

works and the miracles performed by Moses, the Jews expected a great and marvelous man to be their
Messiah. A man who would come as a leader and a King, a man who would save them from the
bondage of their enemies. Thus, when Jesus came to them saying, I AM he. They believed him not.
They saw a man who was like unto them. No king as they thought the Messiah should be, no man that
had saved them from the bondage of the Romans who ruled over them. Therefore, see Jesus as not the
man they thought God would send unto them they rejected him as the Messiah; believing that the true
Messiah will still one day come to earth to save them from all things.
I believe that these are two of the greatest, and main reasons that they Jews believe that they are
still the chosen and elect people of God. They were the chosen people form the beginning, and God
made the covenant with them and their father Abraham; and the Messiah that they believe the Lord
promised them has not come yet. Making them the only one of the Abrahamic religions to be accurately
following the teachings of the Lord God.

Chris Davis
Humanities 1100
Reflection Journal
19-9-14

Christianity

With Christianity, as with Judaism, the real question is whether or not Jesus was the Christ. The
Anointed One. The Son of God, the Savior of Mankind. If he was who he claimed to be. If he was the
Messiah the Jews had been waiting for for thousands of years. If he was The Great I AM. This is the
question that I will be considering out of the readings.

There are four things, according to the readings, that the Messiah is supposed to accomplish
while on earth. They are: Build the third temple, gather Israel, end all war and suffering, and spread the
word of God to all people. These are the four things that according to the Jews qualify someone as the
Messiah. Christianity claims that Jesus accomplished all of these or will accomplish all of these
requirements.
The first argument that Jesus is the Christ comes from the very first few verses of the reading in
Luke. There are three distinct instances when people prophesy that Jesus is the Christ. The first is when
Elizabeth sees Mary come to her and the child John leaps on her womb. After this she speaks of her
Lord and the Lord and Savior who Mary bears. The second is when Jesus is taken for circumcision.
The man Simeon holds the child and says that the word of the Lord is fulfilled in that he can now die
because he has seen the Messiah. He also speaks of all the great things that the child will do for Israel.
For mine eyes have seen thy salvation. Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people; A light

to lighten the gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel. The third time, is right after this when the
prophetess Anna hears the words of Simeon and comes to see the babe. And she coming in that instant
gave thanks likewise unto the Lord, and spake of him to all them that looked for redemption in
Jerusalem.
So in the very act of the child being born people prophesy and cay prophesy is fulfilled in the
birth of Jesus. Then throughout the life of Jesus he performs many miracles and show forth the power
of God unto the Jews. He speaks that he is The Great I AM, the God of the Jews, and that he has been
sent to fulfill the prophesies concerning the Messiah. In his final action he suffers for the sins of all the
world, and then dies so that all men might live again in him. Three days later he appears to his apostles
and instructs them in the ways of the gospel and instructs them to go into the world teaching these
things and baptizing people in his name. These things all point toward Jesus as the Christ, the Messiah
and the Anointed one. He was from the line of David, therefore making him rightful heir to the throne
of David. He saved all man from the bondage of sin, fulfilling the word that he would save all of Israel.
And in his resurrection told that he would again return to accomplish peace on earth, and gather Israel.
If all of these things were to be true, than Jesus would be the Christ. The Messiah of the Jews.
I believe this is why Christians think that they are the correct of the Abrahamic faiths, and that
they are following God in the ways that God would have them do. This is why they believe that Jesus
Christ is the Messiah, the Savior of the World, and the Great I AM.