World Religions Ethics & Conscience – Comprehensive Study Notes

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Part I – World Major Religions | Chapter 1 – Buddhism
• Traditional belief: Buddha born prince in Lumbinī (Terai, Nepal).
• Archaeology: possible birth in Kalinga (Orissa, India).
• Clan: Śakya; father King Suddhodana, mother Maya.
• Birth‐date debates: Theravāda $623\text{–}624\,\text{BCE}$; earlier historians $567\text{–}487\,\text{BCE}$; modern $420\text{–}502\,\text{BCE}$.
• Miraculous birth motifs: emerged painlessly, earth shook, showered by water, walked 7 steps, foretold last reincarnation.
• Names: Siddhārtha Gautama ("one who has achieved his aim"); clan name Gautama; Śākyamuni ("sage of the Śakyas").
• Caste: possibly $K\,ṣ\text{atriya}$ (warrior-aristocrat).
• Prophecy: universal monarch or great monk ⇒ parents indulged him to deter ascetic path.
• Married Yaśodhara (age 16); son Rāhula (age 29).
• Four Sights/Trips: 1) old man, 2) diseased man, 3) corpse, 4) serene mendicant ⇒ quest to end suffering.

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• Great Renunciation: left family/wealth to become ascetic.
• Early practices: meditation (two teachers) – valuable but limited; six-year extreme asceticism (forest Brahmanists); near-death fasting (few grains/soup).
• Realization: neither hedonism nor mortification leads to enlightenment ⇒ Middle Way: moderation + meditation.
• Enlightenment experience (Bodh Gaya, $\sim535\,\text{BCE}$, age 35):
– 1st watch: remembers past lives.
– 2nd watch: sees karmic law linking deeds & rebirths.
– 3rd watch: eradicates “spiritual defilements” (craving, hatred, fear, doubt…) ⇒ attains Nirvāṇa.
• Mythic battle with Mara (tempter).
• Takes title Buddha ("Awakened One").

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• Buddha ponders teaching vs seclusion; chooses to preach Dharma.
• First Sermon at Deer Park (Benares) to 5 former ascetics ⇒ they become first monks; after second sermon all 5 reach Arhant state.
• Ministry: $\sim150\times250\;\text{mile}$ circuit NE India; tens of thousands disciples; founded orders of monks & nuns (wife Yaśodhara joins).
• Death at Kuśinagara, age 80 (traditional $544/543\,\text{BCE}$; other $544\text{–}380\,\text{BCE}$). Last words: "Decay is inherent in all things. Strive with clarity of mind."
• No successor; Dharma + Vinaya suffice. 2.5 centuries later ⇒ Tripiṭaka compiled.
• Confusion: Budai / Maitreya "Laughing-Fat Buddha" distinct from Gautama Buddha.

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Important Buddhist Holy Days
• New Year: Theravāda – 3 days mid-April; Mahāyāna – full-moon Jan; Chinese/Vietnamese late Jan–Feb (lunar); Tibetan later.
• Vesak (Buddha Day): birth, enlightenment & death celebrated full-moon May (June leap year).
• Māgha Pūjā (Saṅgha Day): commemorates $1250$ arahants meeting the Buddha; factors constitute "Fourfold Assembly" (saints, personally ordained, spontaneous, full-moon Māgha).
• Āṣāḷhā Pūjā (Dhamma Day): full-moon July; first discourse Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta; Kondañña attains Sotāpanna.
• Uposatha/Poya: new, quarter & full-moon observance days.
• Kathina: robe-offering after rains retreat.
• Anāpānasati Day: Buddha taught mindfulness of breathing (MN 118).
• Abhidhamma Day: Burmese tradition, full-moon Oct; Buddha teaches Abhidhamma to his mother in Tushita.

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Buddhist Morality
• Morality essential precursor to wisdom & enlightenment; criterion: action conducive/not to harm self/others.
• When enlightenment attained one transcends good/evil; morality is means, not end.
Five Precepts

1. No killing ⇒ cultivate loving-kindness; karmic effects: short life, fear, etc.

2. No stealing ⇒ respect property; broadened to generosity.

3. No sexual misconduct ⇒ respect relations; root cause of rebirth cycle.

4. No lying ⇒ respect truth.

5. No intoxicants ⇒ protect mind; cornerstone for meditation.

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Eight Precepts = Five + extra renunciations:

6. No food after midday.

7. No entertainments, ornaments, perfumes.

8. No high/luxurious seats/beds.
   • Observed voluntarily on lunar days to taste monastic discipline.

Branches of Buddhism
• Theravāda (Pāli Canon) – Sri Lanka, SE Asia, Dalit movement India.
• Mahāyāna (Chinese scriptures) – China, Japan, Korea, Vietnam, Singapore.
• Tibetan/Vajrayāna – Tibet, Bhutan, Nepal, Mongolia, parts of India/China/Russia.
• Lay identity: taking refuge in Three Jewels (Buddha, Dharma, Saṅgha).

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Chapter 2 – Christianity | Short Life of Jesus
• Born in Israel $\sim0$; timeline divides $\text{BC}/\text{AD}$.
• Jewish; carpenter $\sim30\text{ yrs}$; Roman occupation.
• Three-year ministry within 200 miles.
• Core messages: God loves; love one another; human dignity; Kingdom present; judgment; forgiveness.
• Claimed divinity → Jewish leaders seek execution. Romans find no crime but concede.
• Crucifixion: 3-hr death by asphyxiation; resurrection witnessed by 500, 40-day appearances; ascension.
• Rapid growth: 3000 converts one day; persecution; martyrs.
• By $100\,\text{AD}$ spread thru empire; $325$ Constantine makes Christianity official; by $\sim500$ pagan temples become churches.

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Christian Holy Days

1. Lent (40 days before Easter): self-examination; fasting rules vary (Catholic vs Orthodox).

2. Palm Sunday: triumphal entry; palms used in liturgy.

3. Maundy Thursday: Last Supper; institution of Eucharist; command of love.

4. Good Friday: crucifixion; day of mourning; services noon–3pm; veneration cross.

5. Easter: resurrection; central feast; hope of eternal life.

6. Advent: 4 Sundays pre-Christmas; wreath symbolism; expectation of Second Coming; nativity scenes.

7. Christmas (Dec 25): birth of Jesus; customs (gifts, tree) mostly extra-biblical.

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Ten Commandments

1. No strange gods.

2. No Lord’s name in vain.

3. Keep Sabbath.

4. Honor parents.

5. Do not kill.

6. No adultery.

7. No stealing.

8. No false witness.

9. Do not covet spouse.

10. Do not covet goods.
    • Each listed with commands & forbids (idolatry, blasphemy, etc.). Immutable moral core.

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Branches of Christianity
• Catholic Church: 23 sui iuris: Latin + 22 Eastern Catholic (list includes Maronite, Chaldean, etc.). Claims pre-denominational Church of Christ.
• Other traditions:
– Eastern Orthodoxy & Oriental Orthodoxy.
– Church of the East.
– Protestantism: Lutheran, Anglican, Calvinist/Reformed, Anabaptist, Brethren, Methodist, Pietist/Holiness, Baptist, Pentecostal, etc.

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Chapter 3 – Confucianism | Life & Thought
• Confucius (Kong Qiu, $551\,\text{BCE}$, Qufu). Background disputed (royal vs poor).
• Era: Zhou decline; moral crisis.
• Philosophy: ren/jen (human-heartedness), Golden Rule; leaders rule by virtue/ritual.
• Education: Six Arts; restore benevolence, propriety, ritual.
• Works: edited Book of Odes, Documents, Spring & Autumn Annals; Lunyu (Analects) compiled by disciples.
• Death $479\,\text{BCE}$; Han dynasty adopts teachings state ideology.

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Confucian Holy Days
• Qing Ming (Tomb Sweeping) April 4/5: honor ancestors; offerings, burn spirit money, fly kites; chrysanthemums funeral flowers.
• Birthday of Confucius (Sept 28 – Oct 10): parades, temple rites, animal sacrifice, "Song of Peace", burning prayers, wisdom cake, kung-fu contests.

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Core Confucian Concepts
• Jen/Yen (仁): humanity, dignity; supreme virtue guiding all action.
• Li (禮): propriety; concrete rules + social order; includes Rectification of Names, Doctrine of Mean, Five Relationships, respect for age.
• Yi (義): righteousness; moral intuition; duty beyond consequence.
• Hsiao (孝): filial piety; root of jen.
• Chih (智): moral wisdom (added by Mencius).
• Chun-tzu (君子): superior person; embodies five virtues.
• Te (德): moral power; governance by example.

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Branches/Sects of Confucianism

1. Mencius – human nature good.

2. Xunzi – human nature evil; need authority.

3. Dong Zhongshu – cosmology (five elements).

4. Song Neo-Confucianism – self-cultivation.

5. Ming Confucianism – unity of mind & action.

6. Korean Confucianism – Yi T’oegye’s Ten Diagrams.

7. Qing Confucianism – scholarly focus amid political control; spread to Japan.

8. Modern Confucianism – blends with democracy/science; education rigor; collective ethos.

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Chapter 4 – Hinduism | Origins & Worldview
• No single founder; Sanātana Dharma (Eternal Teaching); amalgam of sects.
• Core doctrines: Samsāra (rebirth cycle); Karma (cause & effect).
• Cosmos populated by devas.

Hindu Sacred Days
• Holi: spring festival, color, merrymaking.
• Diwali: 5-day festival of lights; N. Indian New Year.
• Mahā Śivarātri: night of Shiva.
• Others: Rāma Navami, Krishna Jayanti, Rakṣā Bandhan, Kumbh Mela (12-year pilgrimage), Gaṇeśa Chaturthi, Dasera, Navarātri.

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Hindu Ethics
• Dharma = righteous conduct; morals from reason & scripture.
• Ten Yamas (restraints): non-injury, truth, non-stealing, sexual purity, patience, steadfastness, compassion, honesty, moderate diet, purity.
• Ten Niyamas (observances): modesty, contentment, charity, faith, worship, scriptural listening, cognition, sacred vows, mantra, austerity.
• Foundations: atman same in all; injury to others = injury to self.
• Indicators: deed in accord with Divine Will, promotes spiritual evolution.

Branches of Hinduism
• Śaiva (Shiva devotees), Vaiṣṇava (Vishnu), Śākta (Goddess), Smārta (Brahman).

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Chapter 5 – Islam | Life of Muhammad
• Born Mecca $570\,\text{AD}$; orphaned; Quraysh tribe; caravan career.
• Married Khadija (wealthy widow) age 25; happy monogamy till her death.
• 610: Gabriel’s first revelation at Hira cave; recite $Q 96:1\text{–}3$. Khadija first convert.
• Early converts: $40$ in 3 years; persecution.
• Hegira $622$: migration to Yathrib (Medina); Islamic calendar start.
• As statesman unites tribes; battles with Mecca (Badr 624 win; Uhud loss; Trench 627 win).
• 630 conquest of Mecca; Kaaba purified.
• Death $632$ after Arabia largely Muslim.

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Islamic Holy Days
• Islamic New Year (1 Muḥarram) – recall Hijra; quiet reflection.
• Mawlid – Prophet’s birthday (some traditions).
• Eid al-Fiṭr – end of Ramadan; charity (zakāt al-fiṭr), feasting.
• Eid al-Aḍḥā – Feast of Sacrifice during Hajj season; commemorates Abraham; animal sacrifice & distribution.

Five Pillars

1. Shahāda – testimony $\text{Lā ilāha illā Llāh, Muḥammad rasūlu Llāh}$.

2. Ṣalāt – 5 daily prayers.

3. Zakāt – almsgiving (≈$2.5\%$ on certain assets).

4. Ṣawm – fasting Ramadan.

5. Hajj – pilgrimage to Mecca once if able.

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Branches of Islam
• Sunni $\approx85\text{–}90\%$ – leadership by community choice (Abu Bakr).
• Shīʿa $\approx10\text{–}15\%$ – leadership through Ali’s lineage (Imams).

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Chapter 6 – Jainism
• Tīrthaṅkaras: 24 per cycle; last two historical.
• Pārśvanātha (23rd) 7th cent BCE; Mahāvīra (24th) $599\text{–}527\,\text{BCE}$ (or 5th cent).
• Mahāvīra renounces at 30; enlightenment after 13-yr asceticism; huge monastic community; fasts to death at Pāvāpuri.

Jain Festivals

1. Mahāvīra Jayanti (Mar/Apr).

2. Paryuṣaṇa (Aug/Sep) – 8-day fast & scripture reading.

3. Dīpāwali (Oct/Nov) – Mahāvīra’s nirvāṇa; New Year.

4. Kartak Pūrṇimā (Nov) – pilgrimages.

5. Mauna Agyāras (Nov/Dec) – silence & meditation.

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Jain Ethical Core – Five Great Vows

1. Ahimsa (non-violence) – supreme; extend to all life (1-5 senses); vegetarianism; intention key.

2. Satya (truth) – avoid lying; silence if truth harms.

3. Achaurya (non-stealing) – honesty; take only given.

4. Brahmacarya (celibacy/chastity) – complete for monks; regulated fidelity for laity.

5. Aparigraha (non-attachment) – renounce possessions, relations, feelings; basis for asceticism.

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Branches of Jainism
• Śvetāmbara – monks/nuns wear white; canonical scriptures compiled $456\,AD$.
• Digambara – monks nude; women cannot attain moksha; reject Śvetāmbara canon.

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Chapter 7 – Sikhism | History & Beliefs
• Founder Guru Nanak (1469 Talwandi, Pakistan). Travels (Udāsis) preach oneness of God vs ritualism.
• Ten human Gurus; last Guru Gobind Singh (d. 1708).
• Instituted Khalsa (1699) – soldier-saints; baptism ceremony.
• Declared eternal Guru: Sri Guru Granth Sahib (scripture); physical successor: Khalsa community.
• No priests; Granthi custodians; Langar free kitchen open to all.
• Golden Temple (Harmandir Sahib) central but not obligatory pilgrimage.

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Sikh Code of Conduct

1. One God; remembrance, honest work, share.

2. Equality: women equal; reject caste.

3. Reject superstitions/idolatry.

4. Simple modest dress; no veil; no dowry.

5. Live family life; no ascetic renunciation.

6. Follow Guru Granth Sahib alone.

7. Control Five Evils (lust, anger, greed, attachment, ego); cultivate Five Virtues (truth, contentment, compassion, humility, love).
   • Lifestyle rules: no intoxicants; honest living; respect all faiths; Sikh naming (Singh/Kaur).

Article of Faith – 5 Ks

1. Kes – uncut hair; turban.

2. Kangha – wooden comb.

3. Kara – steel bracelet.

4. Kirpān – defensive sword.

5. Kachhera – modest shorts.

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Sikh Holy Days (Gurpurbs)
• Guru Nanak’s Birthday (Nov).
• Guru Gobind Singh’s Birthday (Dec/Jan).
• Vaisakhi (April 13) – Birth of Khalsa + harvest.
• Martyrdom days: Guru Arjan (June), Guru Teg Bahadur (Oct).
• Sangraand monthly; Diwali significance (release of 6th Guru).

Sikh Sects (Minor)
• Udasi – ascetic missionaries.
• Sahajdhari – "slow adopters", shaven.
• Keshadhari variants:
– Nihang militant Khalsa (blue robes, armed).
– Nirmala scholarly monastics.

Page 26 – Ethics (Part II begins)

Ethics Definition
• Practical philosophy on moral rectitude of human acts according to natural reason.
• Differs from moral theology (revelation-based).
• Object: the good; directive science.
• Etymology: Greek $\eta\theta\iota\kappaό\varsigma$ → Latin ethica → ethics.

Sources & Methods
• Human experience & truths of logic/metaphysics; supernatural revelation guides but not source.
• Rejected methods: pure rationalism, pure empiricism, positivism without metaphysics, traditionalism/irrationalism.

Catholic Teaching (CCC)
• Freedom: power to act/choose; responsibility; factors diminishing culpability.
• Morality of acts: object, intention, circumstances – all must be good; end doesn’t justify means.
• Passions: morally neutral, become good/evil when engaging reason/will.

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Technology Ethics
• Issues: personal data misuse, misinformation/deepfakes, accountability, AI autonomy, employee/customer respect, moral data use.
• Pros vs Cons of tech; health & psychological effects.
• Nanotechnology: benefits (medicine, energy) & hazards (toxicity, environmental).

Machine Ethics
• Field ensuring moral behavior in AI agents.
• Need regulation, accountability, transparency; ethical design.
• Automation ethical when improves human life; unethical if misused.

Vatican AI Symposium Points

1. AI rapidly outpaces humans. 2. Machines "do", not "be". 3. Designers accountable. 4. IEEE guidelines helpful. 5. Equitable distribution. 6. Need regulation yet human tendency to cross boundaries.

IEEE Code of Ethics (2020) – 10 points covering public safety, honesty, fairness, competence, respect, inclusion, anti-harassment, support enforcement.

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Conscience
• Hebrew: voice of God in heart. Egyptian confessions. Greek saying: good conscience = freedom.
• Various religious notions: Hindu karma, Chinese ren & Tao, Buddhist guardianship, Islamic taqwa.
• Definition: practical reason judging moral goodness/evil; “share knowledge with oneself”; serves moral truth.
• Levels: critical conscience; synderesis intuitive spark.
• Function: do good avoid evil; may err (vincible vs invincible ignorance).
• Rights: must not be forced contra conscience (Vatican II, UDHR Articles 18).
• Conscientious objection examples: St Thomas More, Franz Jägerstätter, Rosa Parks, Mordechai Vanunu, climate activist Greta Thunberg, etc.
• World Conscience: global responsibility for climate, nukes, poverty; IPPNW, Oscar Arias.

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Seven Deadly (Capital) Sins & Contrary Virtues

End of Study Notes