The values of religion and belief
Chapter 3 part one
Islam
• One of the youngest major religion(1400 years ago)
• Islamic view – the life of an individual is a process which
has a continuity , this process begins 9 months before
the baby is born
• The influence and determine 4 aspects of that baby’s
fate in the future
a. Livelihood
b. Deeds in life
c. Death
d. Suffering and hapiness
• Formation of a person’s life is based on the
koran and the Hadis of Rasulullah
• Koran explain that human beings originated
from Adam
• Death does not mean the destruction of roh.
• The ROH of a person will exist, in a non-
material form until punishment is passed on
judgement day.
• Emphasis of Islam physical, intellectual,
social and moral development
• Final objective: to go to heaven
• Roh (spirit) is abstract, directs human
direction, requires human achievement as
ultimate objectives
• 3 factors influence human development
character, the environment and human ability
a) Human Beings from an Islamic Perpective
• Islam view man does not emerge from a
material process but is made by the essence
that controls the world, God (Allah) and
possess two elements, Spirit and Body
• Man is created to serve Allah and be faithful
• Man thus has a great responsibility towards
God, since he possessess free will.
b) Man as a Caliph
(a spiritual leader)
• Attributes of a caliph are in existence in man
when he makes agreement with Allah in and
roh
• Man are representatives of God who
possesses qualities in upholding truth and
peace and eliminating disobedience and
distraction so as to achieve al-falah in this
world and in the next.
c) Islamic Holy Books
• Koran- original teaching of Allah, revealed by him to Prophet
Muhammad s.a.w , second knowledge is Hadith (Hadis) is
record about the saying and action of Prophet Muhammad
i) The Koran
– words of God passed down to Prophet Mohammad by
Angel Gabriel, 1504 verses about morality
- The revelation takes 23 years, and the words of Allah was
memorized by Prophet Mohammad and was written down
by his followers
ii) Hadis
- A record of words, actions, behaviour,
character and admissions of Prophet
Mohammad
- Refer to page 55
d) Aspects of Islamic Teaching
• Islamic teaching encompases aqidah (faith), ibadah
(devotion) and akhlak (morals)
Faith
- Belief in Allah
- There is no God except Allah
Morals
- God-Fearing, Faithful and charitable
Devotion(religious service)
- General Service and special service
Devotion(religious service)
• First group – limited to the performance of the
5 pillars of Islam(worshiping, praying 5 times,
fasting in the month of Ramandan, Paying and
performing Haj and praying
• Second Group- practise the 5 pillars of Islam
and other aspect of life, example in politics,
economics, culture, education in accordance of
Islamic practice.
e) Concept of Ibadah(Devotion)
• Ibadah originated from faithof Muslim.
• Be faith to : Holy books, The Prophets, The
Hereafter and Angels, Allah,
• The doctrine of Tauhid – Tauhid
Uluhiah(related to mankind characteristics)
and Tauhid Rububiyah(understand of Allah’s
characteristics and Qadak and Qadar
f) Islamic Moral Values
• Koran must be the yardstick to gauge islamic
moral values
• Islamic morality is founded on Aqidah(faith)
• Character and behaviour had great influence
on a Muslim
• Example of the Islamic Morals: look at 60.
Christianity
• There is only one God
• The founder: Jesus Christ (the deliverer)
• Christians took 3 to 4 centuries to understand
the book(bible)- 66 volume, Genesis- first
volume, Revelation of Jesus- the last Volume
The Ten Commandments (Page66)
• Old testament- great attention on the moral in
terms of saying and proverbs. – example –
obey your parents – on page 66
The New Testament
• First book in the new Testament – presents
the good news of God fulfilling his promise –
very well organised, relates to the birth of
Jesus christ
Deals extensively with ethical concepts which have
to be understood by all christians.(example is on
page 69)
Terms in the Bible
• Bible
• God
• Men
• Heaven
• Sin
• Hell
• Jesus Christ
Christian Festivals
• Important day – Easter and Christmas
Buddhism
• Padmasiri de Silva – founder
• It was given by a prince when he attained
“enlightenment” – obtained inspiration and deep
consciousness.
• Buddha real name – Siddharta , family name-
Gautama
• Siddharta’s father was a king in North India,He left the
palace at the age of 29 to become ascetic(someone
who leads a single and strict ways of life)
• He tried to adopt various ways of life and
techniques of reflection and meditation from
various teachers.
• Development of inside focus on:
impermanence (enduring), suffering and
Egolessness
• Buddha propagated his teaching for 45 years until
his death.
• His teaching was brought down by his followers
written in “ola” leaves in the Pali Langauge.
His teaching
1. Vinaya Pitaka – the disciplinary regulations for
Buddhist priests
2. Sutta Pitaka – foundation of Buddha’s teaching
3. Adhidhamma Pitaka – guide to the ethical conduct
Buddhist Ethics
• Ethics as a requirement of the individual in
bringing about a way of life that is valuable
and virtuous and that practises meditation.
• Four noble truth- basic message from Buddha
• Human suffering – dukkha- was said to be
pessimistic view; ultimate hapiness nirvana
• The noble EightfoldPath – page 74
