An Immanent religious view and a Transcendent Religious view
Immanent:
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
existing within or inherent in something
describes God as existing in and extending into all parts of the created universe
Transcendent


existing outside the material universe and so not limited by it
exceeding the limits of experience and therefore unknowable except hypothetically
Western faiths generally perceive divinity as transcendent, separate and beyond the reach of
ordinary reality. This ultimate is God, who is often presented as a person, or personage. It is
the duty of the faithful to know, love and obey God. Eastern traditions see the absolute as
transpersonal and immanent, being within and ultimately identical to the seeker. These faiths
are generally non theistic. Even most Eastern religions with polytheistic pantheons regard
ultimate reality as both beyond the gods and within every sentient being.
Comparing Eastern and Western Religions
Eastern Religions: Hinduism (Advaita
Vedanta) and Buddhism
Western ("Abrahamic") Religions:
Judaism, Christianity, Islam
On What There Is
Eastern Religions
Western Religions
Monism (one kind of reality)
Dualism (two kinds of reality, material and
non-material)
All sentient beings have value (since they
might be reincarnated souls); but their
"otherness" is nevertheless illusory.
Sharp distinctions are made between humans
and the rest of the natural world (things,
animals); between humans and other spirits
(angels).
On Divine Nature (the nature of God)
Eastern Religions
Western Religions
The Divine is immanent in creation (not
separate). There are no words for the
Divine.
The Divine is transcendent, essentially
different from creation. "Father" imagery
common.
On Creation and Change
Eastern Religions
Western Religions
"Beginning" and "end" of the universe pose
"questions that do not edify."
Eschatological outlook (God created the
universe and will end it someday).
Change is considered an integral part of
creation, and does not indicate inferior or
degraded being.
As in Plato, change is associated with
degradation and disintegration, especially of
the body. Perfect things (e.g., God) are
changeless ("immutable").
Karma — the universal law of cause and
effect — imposes forensic continuity: i.e.,
people get what they deserve as part of the
very nature of reality. Every birth is the
result of previous karma.
The human world is emphatically not the
arena in which we play out our moral destiny:
we get rewarded or punished for our earthly
misdeeds only after we are dead, in another
realm of being.
On Human Nature
Eastern Religions
Western Religions
The individual is not really real; the
separateness of humans from creation and
from one another is an illusion to be
overcome.
The individual remains the same individual
through eternity. The ontological
separateness of the individual from others
and from creation is real and permanent.
Human nature is essentially ignorant. We
become better by becoming more
enlightened.
Human nature is essentially sinful. We
become better by willing control of our sinful
impulses.
The human body is an illusion and is
morally a distraction, but is not inherently
bad.
The human body is seen as a major source of
temptation, sin, change, decay. There is
intense ambivalence toward the body.
Eastern religions feature well-developed
traditions of bodily practices to attain
enlightenment (e.g., yoga, breathing
techniques, tai ch'i, tantra). Asceticism
(punishment and bodily deprivation) is
unusual in Eastern religions.
Because of the dualist separation of soul from
body and systematic suspicion of body, few
spiritual practices involve the body, aside
from e.g., fasting and dietary rules. Instead,
the believer is often urged to chastise and
discipline the body through ascetic practice.
The good life consists of following dharma
(personal duty which is believed to be one
with universal order and harmony).
The good life consists of obeying the laws of
God and reason (the "natural law").
Hinduism is radically non-egalitarian: you
are born into a certain caste and must
adhere to the rules of your sex and caste.
Buddhism is egalitarian for men, but
women are considered inferior.
The Western tradition is moderately
egalitarian for men. Women and children
generally have lower status.
On Enlightenment
Eastern Religions
Western Religions
The source of enlightenment and liberation
is within the individual.
In Western religions, prophets, Popes,
mullahs, etc. convey God's word to ordinary
people. Some forms of Protestantism,
however, (e.g., Quakerism) emphasize
looking within.
Many paths to enlightenment exist. Much
spiritual practice is aimed at quieting the
mind to allow enlightenment to happen.
Spiritual practice is often aimed at developing
and maintaining personal relationship with
God.
On Life and Death
Eastern Religions
Reincarnation (transmigration of souls
through many lifetimes) is a central belief.
Because you know you'll be coming back,
Western Religions
"You only go around once." The problem of
evil is thus HUGE in Western philosophy of
religion. Also, sin is a much more serious
and the law of karma will automatically
reward the good and punish the evil in the
next incarnation, there is not a lot of
philosophical worry about injustice and
victimization (it's always temporary and
never fatal).
matter, since you get only one chance at life.
Heaven is for humans only, so the Western
view is "speciesist". Animals don't get saved,
nor do their interests matter much, whereas
for non-Western religions, every sentient
being eventually gets released.
The goal of the afterlife is release from
ignorance, and ultimately, loss of self and
merger with the Divine.
The goal of the afterlife is release from the
body; the self remains the same self through
eternity.
Afterlife traditions vary: moksa (liberation
from the cycle of reincarnation); nirvana
(blowing out the flame of desire), or the
compassionate bodhisattva ideal.
Virtuous Mohammed, Jesus, and saints as
role models.
Author: Sandy LaFave
http://instruct.westvalley.edu/lafave/east_west.html
Look at the above table. How do the different religious groups view the
following?
1)
2)
3)
4)
The creation of the universe
Life and death
Punishment
What it means to be human
Discussion questions from topic
1) What role and significance does religious belief in the supernatural
have for people?
2) Do you think people should have to be religious or should this be a
choice? Why/Why not?