An Immanent religious view and a Transcendent Religious view

Immanent:
 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 Western ("Abrahamic") Religions: Judaism,

Vedanta) and Buddhism Christianity, Islam

On What There Is

Eastern Religions Western Religions

Monism (one kind of reality)
All sentient beings have value (since they
might be reincarnated souls); but their
"otherness" is nevertheless illusory.
Dualism (two kinds of reality, material and non-
material)
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 The Divine is transcendent, essentially
separate). There are no words for the Divine. different from creation. "Father" imagery
common.

On Creation and Change

Eastern Religions Western Religions

"Beginning" and "end" of the universe pose Eschatological outlook (God created the
"questions that do not edify."
Change is considered an integral part of
creation, and does not indicate inferior or
degraded being.
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.
On Human Nature
Eastern Religions
The individual is not really real; the
separateness of humans from creation and
from one another is an illusion to be
overcome.
Human nature is essentially ignorant. We
become better by becoming more
enlightened.
The human body is an illusion and is morally
a distraction, but is not inherently bad.
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.
The good life consists of following dharma
(personal duty which is believed to be one
with universal order and harmony).
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.
On Enlightenment
Eastern Religions
The source of enlightenment and liberation
is within the individual.
universe and will end it someday).
As in Plato, change is associated with
degradation and disintegration, especially of
the body. Perfect things (e.g., God) are
changeless ("immutable").
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.
Western Religions
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 sinful. We become
better by willing control of our sinful impulses.
The human body is seen as a major source of
temptation, sin, change, decay. There is
intense ambivalence toward the body.
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 obeying the laws of
God and reason (the "natural law").
The Western tradition is moderately egalitarian
for men. Women and children generally have
lower status.
Western Religions
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 often aimed at developing
spiritual practice is aimed at quieting the and maintaining personal relationship with
mind to allow enlightenment to happen. God.

On Life and Death

Eastern Religions Western Religions

Reincarnation (transmigration of souls
through many lifetimes) is a central belief.
Because you know you'll be coming back,
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).
The goal of the afterlife is release from
ignorance, and ultimately, loss of self and
merger with the Divine.
Afterlife traditions vary: moksa (liberation
from the cycle of reincarnation); nirvana
(blowing out the flame of desire), or the
compassionate bodhisattva ideal.
"You only go around once." The problem of evil
is thus HUGE in Western philosophy of
religion. Also, sin is a much more serious
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 the
body; the self remains the same self through
eternity.
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) The creation of the universe

2) Life and death

3) Punishment

4) 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?