Key Point b
Religion and Human Suffering
121
Optional Module 1: Religion and Life
Issue 2: How does religion affect our lives?
Key point b: Religion and Human Suffering
Material 24: The meaning of suffering in the eastern world
Aim
1. To learn about suffering in Buddhism and Hinduism
2. To discuss the value of human existence
Source 1: Buddhism
Buddha teaches that cyclic existence, samsara, is suffering in itself. Since the cause of
suffering is desire, Buddhists should refrain from attachment to worldly pleasures. Is
the denial of pleasure a true Buddhist teaching?
Lama Yeshe, Introduction to Tantra:
‘If we wallow in misery, the result can only be that we experience even more misery.
On the other hand, if we know how to experience happiness without the polluting
attitudes of attachment or guilt, we can cultivate deeper levels of this experience and
eventually attain the inconceivable happiness of our full human potential’
Buddhists believe that true happiness lies in release from samsara.
Reference:
Cole, W.O. (ed.) Moral Issues in Six Religions. Oxford: Heinemann Educational Books Ltd. 1991, pp.
5-41.
Smart, N. The Religious Experience. New York: Macmillan Publishing Company, 1991, pp. 98-104.
Discussion
1. State the difference between samsara pleasure and true happiness?
2. In your opinion, what is true happiness?
3. Compare and contrast “true happiness” in Buddhist teaching with other religions,
for example, “the happiness” mentioned in Christianity.
122
Optional Module 1: Religion and Life
Issue 2: How does religion affect our lives?
Key point b: Religion and Human Suffering
Source 2: Hinduism
Moral evil, or the tendency towards evil, is explained by the law of karma. It is
karma – the result of human acts – which causes the tendency towards evil and evil
acts. Hindus blame individual suffering on karma. The needy in society go through
some forms of suffering to pay the price for evil acts done in a previous existence.
The disabled, the mentally handicapped and the mentally ill might have inflicted
cruelty on someone in their previous existences. This is the Hindu defense for their
indifference to the needy.
Reference::
Cole, W. O. (ed.) Moral Issues in Six Religions. Oxford: Heinemann Educational Books Ltd., 1991, pp.
78-113.
Discussion
1. Does Hinduism treat charity as an important form of karma?
2. How should a Hindu live in order to ensure a better life to come?
123
Optional Module 1: Religion and Life
Issue 2: How does religion affect our lives?
Key point b: Religion and Human Suffering
Material 25: Faith, suffering and freewill
Aim
1. To discuss the meaning of suffering
2. To discuss suffering and freewill
3. To seek to understand the meaning of suffering in different religions
Source 1: Christian and human suffering
The problem of suffering and pain poses a serious question to Christians.
1. How can an all-powerful and all-loving god allow his creation to experience
suffering?
2. If God is all powerful he must be able to prevent evil.
3. But if God is both able and willing to prevent evil, then why does evil exist?
Discussion
1. Why is there suffering in this world?
2. Does God create suffering?
3. How should Christians look at their own and others’ sufferings?
124
Optional Module 1: Religion and Life
Issue 2: How does religion affect our lives?
Key point b: Religion and Human Suffering
Source 2: Judaism
The Holocaust
The Nazis built concentration camps in Belsen and Auschwitz during the World War
II. An estimated six millions of Jews were imprisoned and murdered. This is known as
the Holocaust.
Judaism teaches that God is all powerful, all knowing, always present and completely
good. If it is the case, how can we explain the suffering of innocent people?
Why were six million Jews murdered by the Nazis between 1939 and 1945 in the
Holocaust? Why does God let people suffer?
Judaism accepts suffering as part of life; it comes from God and therefore has positive
significance. Suffering is intended for a person’s ultimate benefit. Suffering can be
understood as punishment sent by God (Judges 3: 7-8), test (Genesis 22:1-2), or a way
of steering people to return to God (Leviticus 26:41).
Reference:
Cole, W. O. (ed.). Moral Issues in Six Religions. Oxford: Heinemann Educational Books Ltd., 1991
pp.150-185.
陳麟書。
《世界七大宗教》
。重慶：重慶出版社出版，一九八六年，第二二七至二五七頁。
United States Holocaust Memorial Museum Homepage: www.ushmm.org/ [download date: 15/2/2005]
www.remember.org/ [download date: 15/2/2005]
www.holocaust-history.org/[download date: 15/2/2005]
The Nizkor Project Homepage: www.nizkor.org/ [download date: 15/2/2005]
Holocaust Teacher Resource Center Homepage: www.holocaust-trc.org/home.htm [download date:
15/2/2005]
Discussion
1. Is it easy for you to accept the Jewish teaching on suffering? Why?
2. How would you describe suffering? Do you think suffering has any positive value
towards life?
125
Optional Module 1: Religion and Life
Issue 2: How does religion affect our lives?
Key point b: Religion and Human Suffering
Material 26: Meaning of the Suffering Servant in Christianity
Aim
1. To explore the meaning of sufferings in the Christian context
2. To learn about incarnation, crucifixion and resurrection in the Christian religion
Source 1: Suffering in Christianity
The Apostles’ Creed is a summary of Christian belief and act of worship.
It confesses explicitly the relationship of God and Christ.
“I believe in God, the Father Almighty,
the Creator of heaven and earth,
and in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord:
Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died,
and was buried….”
The ideas of preexistence, incarnation and humiliation is clearly referred to by the
statement “conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of Virgin Mary”. Here, the creed
affirms that the Son of God, the Word, had become human or “flesh” (John 1:14). God
taking human form is a total humiliation of his divinity.
The statement “suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried”
recounts God’s offer of salvation to humanity. It is a message of salvation through
suffering and sacrifice. “Christ offered himself as a sacrifice to God; his life is a
ransom for many; his death made us alive by trampling down the powers of death and
hell; his suffering was an example to us when we must suffer; he was the second
Adam, creating a new humanity; his death shows us how much God loves us; and
others.”
God humiliated Himself by being incarnated into human flesh, died on the cross and
achieved final victory through His resurrection. The weak, the poor and the meek will
be likewise glorified at the end of time.
126
Optional Module 1: Religion and Life
Issue 2: How does religion affect our lives?
Key point b: Religion and Human Suffering
Crucifixion/The Isenheim Altarpiece by Matthias Grunewald (c.1480-1528) Musee d'Unterlinden,
Colmar, France / Bridgeman Art Library
Reference:
Merriam-Webster’s Encyclopedia of World Religions. Springfield, Massachusetts: Merriam-Webster,
Incorporated, 1999, p.211.
Carr-Gomm, S. Hidden Symbols in Art, New York: Duncan Baird Publishers: 2001, p.106.
Discussion
1. What is the meaning of incarnation and crucifixion in the story of the suffering
Lord?
2. Why must God humiliate himself?
3. Is there any meaning in the use of the term “Suffering Servant” in the description
of Jesus Christ?
127
Optional Module 1: Religion and Life
Issue 2: How does religion affect our lives?
Key point b: Religion and Human Suffering
Source 2: Original sin
The most important point about original sin is the hereditary sinful state of the human
person. Human beings are born in a sinful state. This is fundamental to Christian
belief. This is the reason why we need the redemptive act of Christ in order to be able
to return to God, the Father. The concept of pre-destination vividly explains the
consequence of man’s sinful state.
Reference:
Bowker, J. (ed.). The Oxford Dictionary of World Religions. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1997,
pp. 902-903.
Chapmen, G. Catechism of the Catholic Church. Citta del Vaticano: Editrice Vaticana, 1994, pp. 86-95.
Discussion
1. What is the biblical story of original sin?
2. How do you understand original sin in the contemporary world?
3. Are there other religions which also teach the idea of sin?
128
Optional Module 1: Religion and Life
Issue 2: How does religion affect our lives?
Key point b: Religion and Human Suffering
Material 27: Original sin and human suffering
Aim
1. To investigate the relationship between original sin and suffering
Source 1: Islam
Sin is offence against God or fellow human beings. There is no reference to original
sin in the teaching of Islam. Islam teaches that human beings have the inclination to
sin. But it is always possible for a sinner to repent (tawba) and achieve redemption by
a genuine conversion to the truth. Genuine repentance has the effect of removing all
sins and restoring people to the state of sinlessness at the time of their faith.
Reference:
Merriam-Webster’s Encyclopedia of World Religions. Springfield, Massachusetts: Merriam-Webster,
Incorporated, 1999, p. 519.
Discussion
1. What is sin in Islamic belief? How can sin be removed from sinners?
2. What ethical guidelines are available to Muslims?
129
Optional Module 1: Religion and Life
Issue 2: How does religion affect our lives?
Key point b: Religion and Human Suffering
Material 28: The meaning of suffering in different religions
Aim
1. To explore the idea of suffering in different religions
Source 1: Buddhism
The idea of suffering is clearly stated in the Four Noble Truths:
1. All life is permeated by suffering or non-satisfaction (dukkha), which is the result
of karma.
2. The cause of suffering is craving (tanha) and a misplaced sense of values.
3. Craving, and therefore suffering, can be eliminated. Freedom from recurring
delusion, or samsara, leads to Nirvana.
4. The way to enlightenment is by following the Noble Eightfold Path.
The total negation of self and human existence is the only way towards Nirvana.
Reference:
Smart, N. The Religious Experience. New York: Macmillan Publishing Company., 1991, p. 98.
Discussion
1. What is the cause of suffering in Buddhist teaching?
2. Is suffering evil in itself? What is your view on this?
3. How does one live the Buddhist way of life and release from suffering?
130
Optional Module 1: Religion and Life
Issue 2: How does religion affect our lives?
Key point b: Religion and Human Suffering
Source 2: Religion and Suffering
How to cope with Suffering
Suffering is inevitable in life. Believers must learn how to deal with it. They are then
be able to act as a signpost to the rest of the world. Two truths are conveyed through
suffering:
1. We find security in suffering, because God and Heaven are promised to us.
Though we do not know how much suffering there is, and if the situation gets
worse, we must endure. We grieve and complain, but we remember God. He is our
reassurance, whether we see Him or not.
2. Suffering is good for us, and this is something we must never forget. For
believers, suffering is a form of “training”. “You trials: Count it all joy, my
brethren, when you fall into manifold temptations” (James 1:2). Suffering makes
us grieve and our life hard, but the training is necessary. The more we suffer, the
more we mature. As long as we remember this, we can live happily. We get to
know more about Him as we suffer. The good of suffering includes the following:
a.
Learning more about God and relying more on Him.
b.
More confidence after trials and tribulations.
c.
When Jesus reveals himself, we are rewarded and we learn to love him and
be appreciative of his love.
Saint Sabestian by Perugino (c.1448-1523)
Reference:
http://home.ust.hk/%7Eeg%5Fccb/Friend/F26.htm
131
Optional Module 1: Religion and Life
Issue 2: How does religion affect our lives?
Key point b: Religion and Human Suffering
Source 3: Religion and Suffering
Many religions (the three major world religions included) look upon life as painful.
This reflects a general attitude towards life. Suffering is something that has stayed
with the history of mankind, and in fact, it is the permanence of suffering that
constitutes the origin of religion.
There are two reasons why pain has always stayed with humanity.
During the days where things were scarce and life difficult, men had to struggle
against their enemies as well as members of their own community. Life for most was
hard. Most suffered a great deal of pain.
Second, suffering has a deep psychological origin. On the one hand, men must pursue
happiness and their endless pursuit; they crave more when their initial desires have
been satisfied. This imposes on them a lot of suffering. The pursuit of truth, nobility,
beauty and knowledge is endless, men are full of shortcomings and must die at the
end. In other words, the transcendental nature in men makes them crave more, but
their material nature limits what they can actually achieve – and this alone is
sufficient to lead to much suffering.
Reference:
陳榮富著。《比較宗教學》
。北京：世界知識出版社，一九九三年，第一六二至一六三頁。
132
Optional Module 1: Religion and Life
Issue 2: How does religion affect our lives?
Key point b: Religion and Human Suffering
Source 4: The Suffering and salvation as understood by different religions
Buddhist teaching is embodied in the Four Noble Truths. The first is Dukkha, which is
the view of human life as essentially painful, and happiness as only temporary. The
second is Trsna, which is that craving leads to suffering. The third is Nirvana, which
is the highest realm of being. The Fourth is the Noble Eightfold Path, which instructs
the way to Nirvana: stop craving and be content with the state of being, and to
persevere, obey and meditate.
Christians believe that the origin of suffering is not craving, but sin. And not only
individual sin, but “original sin”, committed by our ancestors Adam and Eve who
disobeyed God, ate from the Tree of Knowledge and the tempted by the Snake.
Original Sin has been passed on over the generations, and this is the root of all evil. In
other words, Christians believe that men are born sinful, and can hardly escape from
the web of sin. As we are full of sin, we cannot escape from suffering on our own, but
must rely on God’s power for salvation.
Muslims believe that men are impure and sinful, but due to Allah’s mercy, we are
born sinless. “Human nature”, “human ability”, “human conduct” ... etc are endowed
by Allah, hence “unchangeable”. Men are different, each is predestined by Allah, a
concept known as “Predestination”. Hence rich and poor, life and death, fortune and
misfortune are all part of the grand scheme of the True Lord and cannot be changed at
will. Muslims also believe that life on earth is temporal and illusory, a preparation for
the next life, which is permanent. Therefore we must endure all suffering and be
content with how things are.
Taoists believe that men are simply being practical in their craving for status, wealth
and longevity. Taoism puts the world into two realms, and creates a fairyland which
serves as a mirror and strong contrast to the imperfect world that we are living in.
Reference:
陳榮富。
《比較宗教學》。北京：世界知識出版社，一九九三，第一六三至一七零頁。
Discussion
1. What are the differences and similarities in the understanding of suffering by
different religions? Are there conflicts among them?
2. What has suffering and religion belief have to do with one another?
133
Optional Module 1: Religion and Life
Issue 2: How does religion affect our lives?
Key point b: Religion and Human Suffering
Material 29: How people deal with suffering
Aim
1. To explore ways of dealing with suffering
2. To analyze the effectiveness of various approaches
3. To investigate how people in the secular world deal with suffering
Source 1: “Superman” or “will to power” of Nietzsche
Nietzsche invented the concepts of “superman’ and “will to power” to replace the
traditional concept of God. He asserted that human beings must learn to live without
their gods or any other metaphysical consolation. With an inborn “will to power”,
man must celebrate life on earth and live courageously in creativity and passion. This
inborn “will to power” helps us to encounter difficulties and distresses in our
existence. In the same vein, Karl Marx sought to diminish the importance of religion
or God claiming that man could overcome any difficulties and create a world of their
own.
Reference:
尼采。
《上帝之死》
。台北：智文出版社，一九六八年。
Discussion
1. Do you, in your own ways, understand the concepts of the “superman” or “will to
power”?
2. Do you think our “will to power” can overcome our weaknesses simply by willing
it?
3. Read stories about artists and sportsmen, and also compare the Creation stories in
different religions. See if you can identify their way they express the so-called
“will to power”.
134
Optional Module 1: Religion and Life
Issue 2: How does religion affect our lives?
Key point b: Religion and Human Suffering
Source 2: Humanitarism
Their Days in Afghanistan
In war-plagued Afghanistan, there are two Chinese women who strive to help
the people. They are Lau Wan-ling from Hong Kong, and Wang Ya from Yun’an. Lau
in particularly has chosen this posting in order to have her horizon broadened.
Lau is a Hong Kong nurse at Zero Point Refugees’ Centre, working with a
German physician and two other nurses from France and the Netherlands. It is a
project which offers medical assistance which has benefited 60,000 people. It
provides medicine and food for nutrition deficient children, and train local
Afghanistan people to build up a medical system.
In Afghanistan Lau finds the opportunity to put her dream to reality. She
manages a children nutrition centre in Kushk-e-khona. The children have bulging
tummies and thin limbs. With hardwork, the figure of severe nutrition deficiency has
dropped from some 80 cases in May and June to around 40 in October the same year.
This is a big encouragement to her and the whole team.
The situation in the country remains very bad. On 5th December last year, the
temperature dropped to –17 degrees. Within the refugee camp run by United Nations,
about 28 people died from the cold, among them 10 are children. The situation is
worse in remote areas where heating facilities are absent. The tragedy makes Lau all
the more determined to help the Afghanists to build up their own medical system.
Lau does not expect any reward. She simply engages in her mission as a
teacher and nurse with a high degree of enthusiasm. Some appreciate her effort; others
do not understand her at all. As far as she is concerned, this is her own choice, and a
golden opportunity to broaden her horizon. She has experienced with her own body
and mind the meaning of Islamic fasting, which is to express concern for the poor and
the sick. Something that she can never have experienced in Hong Kong.
Reference:
Yazhou Zhoukan, Feb 10 – Feb 16, 2003, p. 46-49.
135
Optional Module 1: Religion and Life
Issue 2: How does religion affect our lives?
Key point b: Religion and Human Suffering
Source 3: Positive thinking – affirmations
Nobody is born a loser. Whenever we encounter difficulties in life, we ask ourselves
the question, “Why do I have to inherit all the miseries while others have a great
life?” It is not that God or fate has decided to punish you. It might well be that your
subconsciousness is giving you a hard time!
Emile Coue is one of the pioneers in resorting to affirmations to influence the
subconscious. He has popularized the phrase: “Every day in every way I’m getting
better and better and better.”
Self-affirmation is a good strategy to improve daily life.
Reference:
Matthews A. Being a Happy Teenager. Queensland Australia: Seashell Publishers, 2001, p.78-79.
Discussion
1. Do you agree “self-affirmation” is a good strategy to improve daily life?
2. Do you think it is feasible to use positive thinking to control a person’s
sub-consciousness? Share your personal experience with your friends.
136
Optional Module 1: Religion and Life
Issue 2: How does religion affect our lives?
Key point b: Religion and Human Suffering
Source 4: Self-content
Discussion
1. What is happiness? Can you describe it in your own words?
2. What is self-content?
3. Do we need to be rich or have a lot of possessions in order to be happy?
137
Optional Module 1: Religion and Life
Issue 2: How does religion affect our lives?
Key point b: Religion and Human Suffering
Source 5: Parental love
Parental love gives strengths to children when they undergo hardship, illness and
stress.
Discussion
1. When you are in need of help, who would be the first person that you turn to?
2. What do you expect to get from your parents? Comfort, understanding, protection,
guidance and love?
3. Do you think there will be different reactions when facing difficulties, failure and
sufferings between religion believes and non-believers?
138
Optional Module 1: Religion and Life
Issue 2: How does religion affect our lives?
Key point b: Religion and Human Suffering
Source 6: Personal Development
When we face anxieties, stress and suffering, we seek to manage with our will power.
As suggested by Dale Carnegie, there are a number of ways to help people manage
stress and anxieties. Some of the methods are:
1. Concentrate on the present
Do not spend time worrying about the past and the future, as we can no longer change
the things which happened and it is a waste of time sitting worrying about something
not yet happen. We concentrate on the present and take hold of the present.
2. Cooperate with the inevitable
If it is a circumstance which is beyond our power to change or revise, we shall accept
it. Once we accept it, we can spare the time to concentrate on tackling other solvable
matters.
3. Keep busy
When we are worrying, we should keep ourselves busy by taking up some meaningful
tasks or something we love to do. This not only diverts our attention from stress, it
also generates a sense of comfort.
Reference:
Dale Carnegie & Associates, Inc.(ed.)(Chinese Translation). The Leader in You: How to Win Friends,
Influence People and Succeed in a Changing World. 1993, pp. 227-239.
黑幼龍主編。
《新世紀領導人》
。台北：龍齡出版有限公司。一九九四年，第二二七至二三九頁。
丹尼爾．高曼。
《Emotional Intelligence》
。台北：時報文化出版企業股份有限公司，一九九六年。
Dale Carnegie. “How to Stop Worrying and Start Living”.
www.westegg.com/unmaintained/carnegie/stop-worry.html [Download date: 15/2/2005]
Discussion
1. Have you ever worried too much about the future? Can you recollect some of
these experiences? What happened?
2. Read the story about Don Quixote de la Mancha, do you find any relevance to
point 2 in Source 6?
3. When you worry about your academic results, friendship, family or love, etc.,
what do you normally do to free your mind from the anxiety? List the activities
you would engage in and share them with your classmates.
4. What have you learnt from the discussion?
139
Optional Module 1: Religion and Life
Issue 2: How does religion affect our lives?
Key point b: Religion and Human Suffering
Material 30: Death and dying in the east
Aim
To explore death and dying in Buddhism and Jainism
Source 1: Buddhism
According to Buddhist teaching, there is nothing permanent in the world. Only
nirvana is permanent. Decay and rebirth are natural phenomena caused by desire
(craving). Buddhism teaches that too much attachment to the mundane world will lead
us into eternal rebirth. The goal of life is nirvana which is achieved by practising the
Noble Eightfold path. Nirvana is the state of enlightenment or Buddha-hood. Rebirth
will cease when we enter the eternal state of nirvana. In this understanding, Buddhism
negates human existence which hinders the road to perfection. Death or decay is not
necessarily evil in itself.
Reference:
Smart, N. The Religious Experience. New York: Macmillan Publishing Company, 1991, pp. 98-108.
Conze, E. A Short History of Buddhism. London: George allen & Unwin (Publisher) Ltd., 1982
Humphreys, C. Buddhism. London: Penguin Books, 1951
Conze, E., Horner, I. B., Snellgrove, D. and Waley, H. (eds.).Buddhist Texts Through the Ages. New
York: Harper Torch Books, harper & Row Publisher, 1964.
Smart, N. The World’s Religions. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press., 1998, pp. 56-68.
Merriam-Webster’s Encyclopedia of World Religions. Merriam-Webster, Incorporated, 1999, pp.
147-167.
于可主編。
《世界三大宗教及其流派》
。湖南：湖南人民出版社。一九八八年，第二六四至三三二
頁。
陳麟書。
《世界七大宗教》
。重慶：重慶出版社出版。一九八六年，第一一二至一六五頁。
Discussion
1. What are the causes for human suffering according to Buddhism?
2. Is suffering evil in itself?
3. If suffering is not evil in itself, why do we have to avoid it?
4. Can we find suffering also in the road to Nirvana? Please explain.
140
Optional Module 1: Religion and Life
Issue 2: How does religion affect our lives?
Key point b: Religion and Human Suffering
Source 2: Respect for life: the extreme case of Jainism
Jains believes that injuring living beings, even unintentionally, has harmful karmic
effects. This is the reason why they insist on the central virtue of ashimsa, or
non-violence. The practice of ashimsa is so absolute that some Jain monks strain the
water before drinking, wear a gauze mask over the mouth to prevent the inhalation of
innocent insects, sweep the floor before walking on it, so living beings are not crushed
by their footsteps.
Reference:
Smart, N. The Religious Experience. New York: Macmillan Publishing Company. 1991, p. 93.
Langley, M. Religions. Elgin, Illinos: David C. Cook Publishing Co. 1981, pp. 32-34.
Discussion
1. How do Jains look at ashimsa or non-violence?
2. Do they accept human suffering in their teaching?
3. What do you think about this ideal?
4. Is there any similarity between Jains and the ascetics in Hinduism?
141
Optional Module 1: Religion and Life
Issue 2: How does religion affect our lives?
Key point b: Religion and Human Suffering
Material 31: Different understanding of death and dying in theWest
Aim
1. To investigate similarities and differences in understanding of death and dying in
Christianity, Judaism and Islam
Source 1: Islam
The omnipotence of Allah is so much emphasized in the Qur’an that not only does
Allah guide the faithful to the truth, but he also leads the wicked astray. It is
ultimately the will of Allah which controls man’s destiny. In serving Allah, the faithful
would not hesitate to sacrifice their lives for the purpose of holy war (jihad).
According to the teaching of Allah, death would be rewarded by something more
splendid than plunder and power. It is both faith and courage that animate the warriors
of Islam. The eschatological understanding of the last judgment in which the good
will be rewarded and the sinners will be punished, reinforces loyal service to Allah.
Disloyalty would be punished by something worse than earthly torture and execution.
Reference:
Smart, N. The Religious Experience. New York: Macmillan Publishing Company. 1991, p. 401.
Discussion
1. If Allah controls man’s destiny, then does Allah know in advance when a man will
suffer?
2. Can we say that death and suffering is pre-planned by Allah? So do human beings
have freedom to make choices?
3. Can we assume that suffering is also good in the eyes of Allah?
142
Optional Module 1: Religion and Life
Issue 2: How does religion affect our lives?
Key point b: Religion and Human Suffering
Source 2: Judaism
Gehenna, the burning pit, is a place of punishment where the unrighteous are
punished and purged of their sins.
Judaism believes that it is life in this world, rather than in the next, that forms the
focus of Hebrew concern. Serving God is an activity enjoyed here and now, in the
ongoing vicissitudes of ordinary life. Salvation therefore has an historical dimension.
They believe that just as the Fall occurred in the earliest period, so redemption would
occur at the end of history. At the end of time, the Messiah would descend to deliver
the righteous from of the dead to a glorified life. He will bring about the Kingdom of
God, but it is a kingdom on earth, not in heaven. A restored Israel, in its earthly
homeland, will lead the nations to an era of peace, righteousness, and prosperity.
Reference:
Smart, N. The Religious Experience. New York: Macmillan Publishing Company. 1991, pp. 307-315.
Cole, W. O. (ed.). Moral Issues in Six Religions. Oxford: Heinemann Educational Books Ltd., 1991, pp.
150-185.
Discussion
1. Does the Jewish religion believe in the heavenly world?
2. What will happen at the end of history?
3. Does human suffering have any meaning in life?
4. How do Jews look at illness and death?
143
Optional Module 1: Religion and Life
Issue 2: How does religion affect our lives?
Key point b: Religion and Human Suffering
Source 3: Christian hope
The Christian hope is survival after death and heavenly reward for the merits
accumulated during one’s lifetime. Christians believe in the return of Jesus Christ on
Judgement Day, when he will rule a new world forever, and that believers will enter
the realm of God forever after death.
Reference:
Chapmen, G. Catechism of the Catholic Church. Citta del Vaticano: Editrice Vaticana., 1994, pp.
233-242.
Discussion
1. Compare with the Jewish religion, is Christianity very different? How?
2. Illness or death is relatively unimportant if our ultimate reward is the Heavenly
Kingdom. Do you agree?
3. Is it true that the world is not important when compared with God’s Kingdom?
4. Is Christianity then a pessimistic religion?
144
Key Point c
Faith in Practice
145
Optional Module 1: Religion and Life
Issue 2: How does religion affect our lives?
Key point c: Faith in practice
Material 32: The five precepts of Buddhism
Aim
1. To seek to the morality of the Buddhism’s five precepts
Source 1: Buddhist ethics
The five-precepts of Buddhism are:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Non-injury
Do not steal
Abstain from sexual misconduct
Abstain from wrongful speech – do not tell lies
Abstain from intoxicants.
The five precepts elaborate on the daily life of Buddhist followers. As respect for life
is the most important value, a Buddhist would avoid job/work connected with:
a.
Weapons – using deadly weapons to hurt others
b.
Animal for slaughter –disrespect for life
c.
Slavery – disrespect for life in the sense of forcing others to do what they do not
want to do
d.
Intoxicants – selling alcohol
e.
Poisons and harmful drugs – which kill
On the other hand, professions such as nursing, social work and teaching are
considered worthy because they provide opportunities to develop compassionate
qualities.
Reference:
Smart, N. The Religious Experience. New York: Macmillan Publishing Company., 1991, p. 101.
Cole, W.O. (ed.). Moral Issues in Six Religions. Oxford: Heinemann Educational Books Ltd., 1991 pp.
5-41.
聖嚴法師。《正信的佛教》
。香港：佛教福慧協進會，一九九八年。
Discussion
1. Can you outline the ethical guidelines of Buddhism?
2. Are such behaviour easily practised?
3. Is this lifestyle generally acceptable by the people of today? Why?
146
Optional Module 1: Religion and Life
Issue 2: How does religion affect our lives?
Key point c: Faith in practice
Material 33: The Ten Commandments of Judaism
Aim
1. To explore the Ten Commandments
Source 1: The Ten Commandments of Judaism
The Ten Commandments:
1. To have no other gods but god.
2. To make no idols.
3. Not to misuse the name of God.
4. To keep the Sabbath holy.
5. To honour one’s parents.
6. Not to commit murder.
7. Not to commit adultery.
8. Not to commit theft.
9. Not to tell lies.
10. Not to be covetous.
Jews on alcohol consumption:
Jews are not forbidden to drink alcohol. They use wine in religious ceremonies.
However, Judaism strongly disapproves of consuming alcohol in large quantities.
‘Do not be among the wine bibbers, or the gluttons who fill themselves with meat.’
(Proverbs 23:20)
The Midrash warns:
‘Wine enters, sense goes out; wine enters, secrets come out.’ In some circumstances,
drinking even a small amount of alcohol is forbidden.
Reference:
Cole, W.O. (ed.). Moral Issues in Six Religions. Oxford: Heinemann Educational Books Ltd., 1991,
pp.150-185.
Gill, D. World Religions. London: HarperCollins Publishers Ltd., 2003, p.142.
陳麟書。
《世界七大宗教》
。重慶：重慶出版社出版。一九八六年，第二二六至二五七頁。
147
Optional Module 1: Religion and Life
Issue 2: How does religion affect our lives?
Key point c: Faith in practice
Discussion
1. Are there similarities between Judaism and Christianity on the Ten
Commandments? Why?
2. Do some research on the religious life of a Jew.
148
Optional Module 1: Religion and Life
Issue 2: How does religion affect our lives?
Key point c: Faith in practice
Material 34: Ethical Guidelines on alcohol gambling and pornography
Aim
1. To be exposed to selected ethical issues in the teachings of various religions
2. To find the religious values behind ethical judgments
Source 1: Islam on alcohol and gambling
In Islam, there is the prohibition on gambling, wine and pork. Gambling was a serious
social problem in pre-Muslim Arab days. The prophet forbade it entirely. Similarly,
alcohol was also banned. The Qur’an says that in gambling and wine there are both
sin and advantage to men, but that the sin outweighs the advantage. Continuing the
Jewish tradition, pork is regarded as unclean. These taboos on wine and pork
represent external distinctions between pious Muslims and pious Christians. (409)
a. Why are these activities not permitted?
Surah 5:93-94 writes:
‘O believers! Intoxicants, gambling, and trying to foretell the future are the lures of
Shaytan; if you wish to prosper, you must keep away from these things. It is Shaytan’s
plan to stir up enmity and hatred in your midst with them, and lure you away from
remembering Allah, and from prayer.’
Muslims believe that Shaytan, or the Devil, uses all sorts of tricks to combat belief in
Allah, and alcohol is one of Shastan’s great successes. It is a powerfully addictive
drug.
b. The Sin of gambling and alcohol outweighs its advantages.
Surah 2:219:
‘When they ask you concerning wine and gambling, say, “In them is great sin and
some profit; but the sin is greater than the profit.”’
The Qur’an says that in gambling and wine there are both sin and advantage to men,
but the sin outweighs the advantage.
c. Prayers go with a clear mind
When Muslims go to prayer, there is also the request that they should not have their
149
Optional Module 1: Religion and Life
Issue 2: How does religion affect our lives?
Key point c: Faith in practice
minds intoxicated. This is demanding especially when Muslim pray five times a day.
Surah 4:43
‘O you who believe! Do not come to prayer with a befogged mind, but come when
you can fully understand all that you are saying.’
True Muslims will keep away from having contact with alcohol. They regard even
the presence of alcohol as a danger in itself. They are forbidden even to:
a. Trade in alcohol
b. Own or work in a place which sells it
c. Sell grapes to someone who they know will make wine with them
d. Give alcohol as a gift, even to a non-Muslim, on the principle that they should not
give or receive anything that is not pure.
The virtue of chastity is of prime importance in Islam. The Qur’an advances its
universal recommendation of marriage as a means to ensure a state of chastity, which
is held to be induced by a single free wife. The Qur’an states that those guilty of
adultery are to be severely punished with 100 lashes (Q 24:2). Tradition has
intensified this injunction and has prescribed this punishment for unmarried persons,
while married adulterers are to be stoned to death. A false accusation of adultery is
punishable by 80 lashes.
Reference:
Cole, W. O. (ed.) Moral Issues in Six Religions. Oxford: Heinemann Educational Books Ltd., 1991, pp.
142-143
Smart, N. The Religious Experience. New York: Macmillan Publishing Company. 1991, p. 534.
Discussion
1. Compare the ethical behaviour of Buddhism and Muslim.
2. Why are alcoholic drinks forbidden in Islamic countries?
3. What are your comments on this practice?
150
Optional Module 1: Religion and Life
Issue 2: How does religion affect our lives?
Key point c: Faith in practice
Source 2: Pornography and sexuality as viewed by different religions
a. Buddhism:
Buddhists believe that sexual permissiveness usually results in suffering. This is
because it is based mainly on pleasure or desire, rather than on affection or love.
b. Hinduism:
Hindu scriptures and society approve of sex within marriage only.
Bhagavad Gita 7:11
‘I am the strength of the strong, devoid of passion and desire. I am sex life which is
not contrary to religious principles, O Lord of the Bharatas [Arjuna].’
Indian religion sees “Chastity” as the state of being sexually pure, i.e., not indulging
in unlawful sexual intercourse.
c. Islam:
Hadith
‘When a husband and wife share intimacy it is rewarded with the blessing from Allah;
just as they would be punished if they engaged in illicit sex.’
They do not believe that sexual pleasures can be pursued regardless of moral
considerations, since this only leads to preoccupation with sex and the development of
sex as business. Muslims maintain that both of these extremes go against human
nature, and that the individual and the family must be protected from dangerous
consequences.
Muslims believe that permissiveness leads to the breakdown of society, to selfishness,
rape, lying and deception, lacking in responsibility, drug addition, theft, even murder.
If Muslims are listening to Allah they should be able to resist temptation, and
distinguish right from wrong.
d. Judaism:
Judaism teaches sexuality in modesty. They teach that sexuality plays an important
role in human relationship. It also recognizes that the sexual urge generates very
powerful emotions, and that for this reason sexual behaviour must be carefully
regulated.
151
Optional Module 1: Religion and Life
Issue 2: How does religion affect our lives?
Key point c: Faith in practice
Judaism forbids prostitution – either becoming a prostitute or using the services of
one. Prostitutes have always been regarded with disdain. Nonetheless, Jews feel
profound sympathy for a man or woman driven to prostitution through poverty, and
would want to bring them back to what they see as a respectable way of life.
e. Sikhism:
Sikhs argue that pornographic books and films, prostitution and lust leading to
adultery, are all indications of how sexuality can get out of control or be exploited.
Gurus do not underestimate the power of this tendency. They warn husbands: ‘Do not
cast your eyes on the beauty of another’s wife.’ (Guru Nanak AG 274) Wives are told
‘There can be no happiness without virtue.’ (Guru Nanak AG 56)
Reference:
Cole, W.O. (ed.). Moral Issues in Six Religions. Oxford: Heinemann Educational Books Ltd., 1991,
Pp.186-221.
http://www.asitis.com/7/11.html [Download date: 17/2/2005]
http://www.angelfire.com/zine/sychinese/listpage.htm [Download date: 17/2/2005]
Discussion
1. Compare and summarize the sexual ethics of some major religions.
2. Which religion’s sexual ethnics do you agree/reject most? Why?
3. How do different religious’ sexual ethics affect:
a.
a religion’s development
b.
the family structure of believers
c.
the interpersonal relationships of believers
d.
the power distribution between two sexes and two generations.
152
Optional Module 1: Religion and Life
Issue 2: How does religion affect our lives?
Key point c: Faith in practice
Material 35: Catholic teaching on Natural Law and contraception
Aim
1. To discuss the position on contraception of the Catholic Church
2. To introduce the idea of Natural Law
Source 1: The Catholic Church on contraception
In his encyclical, Humanae Vitae, Pope Paul VI reacted strongly against any method
of artificial contraception. He stated that “Every action which, whether in anticipation
of conjugal act, or in its accomplishment, or in the development of its natural
consequences, proposes, whether as an end or as a means, to render procreation
impossible is intrinsically evil.” (Catechism 2370)
Following the teaching of Pope Paul VI, the Roman Catholic Church considers
contraception a sin because it denies both the unitive and procreative aspects of sexual
union.
Reference:
Catechism of the Catholic Church no. 2370 & 2399:
http://www.scborromeo.org/index2.htm
Cole, W.O. (ed.). Moral Issues in Six Religions. Oxford: Heinemann Educational Books Ltd. 1991, pp.
42-77.
Discussion
1. Why is the Catholic Church against artificial means of contraception?
2. What is the view of Protestantism or Judaism on this?
3. Debate with your friends and find a reasonable argument against contraception?
153
Optional Module 1: Religion and Life
Issue 2: How does religion affect our lives?
Key point c: Faith in practice
Source 2: Natural Law
Natural law: The view that there is an intelligible and consistent order which exists
independently of human opinion or construction, and that this order is a source of
moral constraint and command for human beings. In the understanding of Tao,
dharma of Indian religion, and of universal reason of the Stoics, these are regarded as
law of nature.
The most important exploration on the subject has come from the medieval theologian
Thomas Aquinas. He says that: The eternal law of God is conveyed to humans, party
through revelation (the Ten Commandments and the gospel) and partly through what
is open to human discernment in natural law.
According to Catholic moral teaching, natural law is a kind of fundamental guideline
or criterion that comes before all rules or particular formulations of law. In the
biological order for example, preservation and conservation of life is natural. Thus,
man has to preserve life and to avert the opposite; suicide and euthanasia are
considered wrong. Fertilization or reproduction is natural; therefore, artificial
intervention is against the natural law. In this understanding, contraception, abortion,
artificial insemination, cloning, masturbation, homosexuality and bestiality are
considered unnatural.
Reference:
Catechism of the Catholic Church no. 1955-1960, 1979, 2039, 2070, 2242, 2357 and 2384:
http://www.scborromeo.org/index2.htm [Download date: 17/2/2005]
Discussion
1. What is natural law?
2. What kind of human behaviour is against natural law?
3. Why do we have to conserve and preserve life?
154
Optional Module 1: Religion and Life
Issue 2: How does religion affect our lives?
Key point c: Faith in practice
Material 36: Ethics of Cloning
Aim
1. To analyze the morality of cloning
Source 1: The ethics of cloning
Since Dolly the Sheep was cloned by Ian Wilmut of the Roslin Institute in February
1997, many other mammals, such as pigs, cows, goats, mice, rabbits and even a house
cat and an ox-like beast called a gaur have also been cloned. Animal cloning has
become a business. In March 2000, Scottish researchers announced that they had
cloned a pig. The pig could one day serve as a source for human organs. In January
2001, scientists cloned a gaur. The technique may help to breed endangered species.
In November 2001, a biotech company reported the first human-embryo clone, which
grew to a six-cell stage. In December 27, 2002, members of the Raelian sect
announced the birth of “Eve”, an alleged clone of her 31-year-old mother.
Remarks about human cloning:
1. Vatican spokesman called the event “an expression of a brutal mentality, lacking
all ethical and human considerations.”
2. President George W. Bush was deeply troubled.
3. Mark Westhusin of Texas A & M’s College of Veterinary Medicine remarked that
“Even if you have a live birth, you have no idea of the long-term effects…”
4. Lou Hawthorne, CEO of Genetic Savings & Clone said “The difference is, you
can kill an abnormal calf. We slaughter cows all the time.” Safety is the strongest
ethical argument against human cloning.
5. France and Germany petitioned the United Nations to ban human-reproductive
cloning.
The Bush administration and the Vatican opposed experiments in human cloning,
including those for therapeutic purposes.
Reference:
Boss, J. A. (ed.). Analyzing Moral Issues. California: Mayfield Publishing Company. 1999, pp.173-235.
Arras, J. D. & Steinbock, B. Ethical Issues in Modern Medicine. California: Mayfield Publishing
Company. 1999, pp.481-509.
Newsweek. January 13, 2003.p.38-45.
155
Optional Module 1: Religion and Life
Issue 2: How does religion affect our lives?
Key point c: Faith in practice
Discussion
1. What are the positive and negative effects of cloning to the world?
2. Do we lose our uniqueness or identity if we are cloned?
3. What are the disadvantages of cloning vs. natural birth?
4. Who has the right to decide who or what to clone?
5. Cloning implies the selection of certain traits for a new life. Is this ethical?
6. Are human beings playing the role of God?
156
157
Issue 3
How are religious sentiments
demonstrated through the arts?
158
Key Point a
The Impact of Religion on the Arts
159
Optional Module: Religion and Life
Issue 3: How does religious sentiment demonstrated through the arts?
Key point a: The impact of religion through the arts
Material 37: The impact of religion on the arts
Aim
1. To understand the influence of religion on the creation of art
Source 1: Angkor Wat
Angkor Wat was built under Suryararman II between 1113-1150, in the early 12th
Century. The area is 1,500m by 1,300 m and surrounded by a vast moat 180 m wide.
The temple is covered with elaborate carved reliefs of Hindu mythology, particularly
scenes of God Vishnu, to whom the temple was dedicated. The temple symbolizes the
royal function of metaphysical mediation between the divine source of life-giving
water and the human population.
The moat in front of the Angkor Wat/
The main entrance of Angkor Wat/
Asian Historical Architecture/Courtesy of Professor Huang Yunsheng
Two-tiered Pyramid
Bas reliefs of “Asparas”
Asian Historical Architecture/Courtesy of Professor Huang Yunsheng
160
Optional Module: Religion and Life
Issue 3: How does religious sentiment demonstrated through the arts?
Key point a: The impact of religion through the arts
Reference:
Lexicon Universal Encyclopedia. Vol. 1. New York: Lexicon Publications, Inc. 1988, p.415.
http://www.leidenuniv.nl/pun/ubhtm/mjk/angkorwa.htm [Download date: 17/2/2005]
http://www.sacredsites.com/1st30/angkorwa.html [Download date: 17/2/2005]
http://www.orientalarchitecture.com [Download date: 17/2/2005]
Discussion
1. Who is Vishnu?
2. Why was the Angkor Wat is dedicated to Vishnu?
3. What stories do the carved relief of Vishnu tell?
4. What is the religious significance of this temple?
161
Optional Module: Religion and Life
Issue 3: How does religious sentiment demonstrated through the arts?
Key point a: The impact of religion through the arts
Source 2: Borobudur
Around the 5th century AD, Hinduism and Buddhism spread from the mainland of
Southeast Asia and reached the islands of Sumatra, Java, Bali and other areas of
Indonesia. The Borobudur Stupa was planned by Hindu builders sometime around AD
775. The monument was finally completed after AD 832 by the Hindu dynasty of
Sanjaya. Although the Sanjava were themselves Hindus, they ruled over a Buddhist
majority and thus, while some Hindu modifications and ornamentations were done on
the Borobudur, the stupa has remained a place of Buddhist worship.
The Borobudur is a massive, symmetrical monument, 200 square meters in size. The
monument is a Buddhist cosmological model of the universe organized around the
axis of mythical Mt. Meru. The first six terraces are filled with richly decorated relief
panels on which sculptors carved a textbook of Buddhist doctrines and a fascinating
panorama of 9th century Javanese life. Pilgrims walk up the stupa in a clockwise
direction through 5 kilometers of open air corridors. It symbolizes an upward spiral
from the everyday world to the nirvanic state of absolute nothingness.
The Buddha Statue of Borobudur/Asian Historical Architecture/ Courtesy of Ms Marie Schroeder
The Borobudur Stupa
162
Optional Module: Religion and Life
Issue 3: How does religious sentiment demonstrated through the arts?
Key point a: The impact of religion through the arts
Bas Reliefs of Borobudur Stupa, Java, Indonesia
Reference:
http://www.orientalarchitecture.com [Download date: 17/2/2005]
http://sacredsites.com/asia/indonesia/borobudur_stupa.html [Download date: 17/2/2005]
McArthur, M. Reading Buddhist Art. London: Thames & Hudson Ltd. 2002, p .191.
Discussion
1. Why was the Borobudur Stupa built?
2. Identify the carved images and discuss their meaning in the Borobudur Stupa.
3. How is Buddhism’s ideal of ultimate bliss as nothingness or Nirvana expressed by
the structure?
163
Optional Module: Religion and Life
Issue 3: How does religious sentiment demonstrated through the arts?
Key point a: The impact of religion through the arts
Source 3: Gothic Architecture: Human aspirations towards the Divine.
There are many definitions of Gothic architecture.
They range from structural and
spatial analyses to abstract invocations of an ancient and inaccessible spiritual power.
Clearly the Gothic style of architecture is ecclesiastical in purpose. The great heights
and giant windows of Gothic churches and cathedrals opening are designed to
transmit divine information.
The tall, thin acoustic space of the Gothic nave produces long reverberation chimes
which respond to the sound of polyphonic chanting and choral music and produces an
overwhelming aural effect. In the same way, the windows cease to be simple
penetration designed to admit light, but have become instead complex translucent
coloured-image screens built of mosaics of stained glasses with biblical stories. In
this way, Gothic churches and cathedrals were information buildings in the feudal
society of Europe and conveyed to the public the information content of religious
sounds and images.
Chartres Cathedral in France (1145-1220)
164
Optional Module: Religion and Life
Issue 3: How does religious sentiment demonstrated through the arts?
Key point a: The impact of religion through the arts
Decoration inside the Notre Dame,
Stained glass windows of Chartres Cathedral in
Chartres, France Church
France
Gothic style Milan Duomo
165
Optional Module: Religion and Life
Issue 3: How does religious sentiment demonstrated through the arts?
Key point a: The impact of religion through the arts
Milan Duomo
Köln Cathedral
166
Optional Module: Religion and Life
Issue 3: How does religious sentiment demonstrated through the arts?
Key point a: The impact of religion through the arts
Köln Cathedral
Reference:
Pawley, M. Theory and design in the second machine age. Oxford: UK Basil Blackwell Ltd., 1990
pp.114-116.
劉育東。
《建築的涵義：認識建築、體驗建築、並瞭解建築設計》
。台北：胡氏圖書，一九九六年。
Discussion
1. What is the special feature of the Gothic style?
2. How does Gothic architecture reflect the spirit of Christianity?
3. What are the purposes of building the pointed arches, the buttress, the stained
glass, and the column spacings?
4. Can you assess the influence religion had on society at that time?
167
Optional Module: Religion and Life
Issue 3: How does religious sentiment demonstrated through the arts?
Key point a: The impact of religion through the arts
Material 38: Expression of The Divine through arts
Aim
1. To explore the religious meaning of art
Source 1: “Creation of the World” by Michelangelo
Michelangelo, a profoundly religious and humanistic artist of the Renaissance, was a
sculptor, painter, architect and poet. From 1508 to 1512, he undertook to paint on the
ceiling of the Sistine Chapel a pictorial cycle devoted to the biblical history of
humanity. The narrative scenes depict the creation of the universe as told in Genesis.
The most sublime scene is the creation of Adam, and the nobility of human beings are
given pictorial form. The world is told that God is its Creator of the world. At the
same time, the spirit of humanism is also expressed through his depiction of the Holy
Family (1530), the sculptures of David (1501-04), of Moses (1515) and the Pieta
(1498-1500).
The Creation of Adam, 1511-12 by Michelangelo Buonarroti (1475-1564)/ Vatican Museums and
Galleries, Vatican City, Italy / Courtesy of Bridgeman Art Library
Reference:
Carr-Gomm, S. Hidden Symbols in Art. London: Duncan Baird Publishers, 2001, p.119,
www.christusrex.org/www1/sistine/0-Tour.html [Download date: 17/2/2005]
Discussion
1. What is Michelangelo’s intention in painting the Creation of the World?
2. What other characteristics are expressed in this painting?
168
Optional Module: Religion and Life
Issue 3: How does religious sentiment demonstrated through the arts?
Key point a: The impact of religion through the arts
Source 2: Orthodox Icon – Giving form to of the Holy (modified excerpts):
Religious icons play an important part in the rituals of the Eastern Church. An icon is
a sacred image for veneration. Icon painting has its roots in the Byzantine artistic
tradition. It became popular with the Orthodox Church after the 5th century. The
sacred representations emphasize the mystical and symbolic elements of the subject.
In the 6th century, it was commonly believed that icons were not made by human
hands but were produced by or descended from heaven. In 843, Byzantine theologians
argued that the divine partook of the making of the holy icon and the sacred object
giving form to the holiness. An icon acts as a medium transmitting the divine realm to
the human world.
Orthodox Icon
Reference:
Bowker, J. ed. World Religions. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1997, pp.461-463.
Discussion
1. Briefly explain the role of Orthodox Icon in believers’ daily lives.
2. Compare an Orthodox icon with a religious painting. What differences can you
find?
169
Optional Module: Religion and Life
Issue 3: How does religious sentiment demonstrated through the arts?
Key point a: The impact of religion through the arts
Source 3: Pietà: the suffering Christ
The suffering Christ, also known as the Pietà, was sculpted by Michelangelo in
1498-99 for St. Peter’s Cathedral, where it has remained today. This piece of sculpture
tells the Biblical story of the sorrow suffered by Holy Mary as she holds Jesus in her
arms after he has been taken down from the cross. Unlike his other works, it does not
feature a great deal of suffering; it concentrates on the two characters of Mary and the
body of Jesus. Mary is not portrayed as an old woman, but an extremely young and
beautiful lady - even younger than her son. According to the Bible, Jesus died at the
age of 33, and since Mary was 18 years older than her son, she should be 51 when he
died. Nonetheless, for Michelangelo and others, Mary is the embodiment of purity
and nobility, able to overcome ageing and the scourges of time. The eternal youth and
permanence of her beauty express exactly the absolute ideal that all human beings
long for.
The Pietà by Michelangelo Buonarroti (1475-1564)/ St. Peter's, Vatican, Rome, Italy/ Courtesy of
Bridgeman Art Library
Reference:
吳澤義。
《米開朗基羅》。台北：藝術圖書公司。一九九七年，第十九頁
Murray, L. Michelangelo. London: Thames and Hudson.1980, pp. 33-34.
http://www.christusrex.org/www1/vaticano/0-Musei.html [Download date: 17/4/2005]
170
Optional Module: Religion and Life
Issue 3: How does religious sentiment demonstrated through the arts?
Key point a: The impact of religion through the arts
Discussion
1. Why did the sculptor make use of a Biblical story for his art?
2. What did he intend to express?
3. How did his devotion to Holy Mary influence the creation of this artistic piece?
171
Optional Module: Religion and Life
Issue 3: How does religious sentiment demonstrated through the arts?
Key point a: The impact of religion through the arts
Material 39: Religious sentiments in some paintings
Aim
1. To learn the Christian teaching on “The Fall” and the “Nativity”
Source 1: The Fall
The Creation, the Temptation, and the Fall of Adam and Eve were popular themes for
many painters. These themes remind us of the need for redemption through Christ.
The Fall. By Hugo van der Goes (c.1440-82)/
Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna, Austria / Courtesy of Bridgeman Art Library
In the Old Testament, God created Adam from the Dust of the Earth in his own
likeness and breathed life into him. God then placed Adam in the Garden of Eden, and
forbade him to eat the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge. Then God created Eve from
Adam’s rib, to be his companion. The serpent tempted Eve to eat the forbidden fruit.
She also persuaded Adam to taste it. At once, their eyes were opened and, ashamed.
They took fig leaves to cover their bodies. In punishment for their Sin, God expelled
Adam and Eve from the Garden of Eden.
Reference:
Carr-Gomm, S. Hidden Symbols in Art. New York: Duncan Baird Publishers, 2001 p. 88.
172
Optional Module: Religion and Life
Issue 3: How does religious sentiment demonstrated through the arts?
Key point a: The impact of religion through the arts
Discussion
1. What do you know about the Creation story according to the Bible?
2. What is the significance of the Biblical story – “The Fall”?
173
Optional Module: Religion and Life
Issue 3: How does religious sentiment demonstrated through the arts?
Key point a: The impact of religion through the arts
Source 2: Nativity
The birth of Christ took place in Bethlehem in Judea. The Virgin Mary wrapped him
in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger; because there were no room for them
in the inn. An angel appeared to the shepherds that night and told them of the Savior’s
birth.
Hugo van der Goes (c.1440-1482)/ Galleria degli Uffizi, Florence, Italy / Alinari /
Courtesy of Bridgeman Art Library
Reference:
Carr-Gomm, S. Hidden Symbols in Art. New York: Duncan Baird Publishers, 2001 p. 105.
Discussion
1. Who is Christ?
2. What do you know about Jesus’ incarnation?
3. What is the implication of why Jesus was born in a manger?
4. How do Jews and Muslims understand Christ? What is the difference between
mm..the “Son of God” and “prophet”?
174
Optional Module: Religion and Life
Issue 3: How does religious sentiment demonstrated through the arts?
Key point a: The impact of religion through the arts
Material 40: Creation and Vishnu
Aim
To learn the creation myth of Vishnu
Source 1: The Creation of the World by Vishnu in Hinduism
In Hinduism, Vishnu is seen as the creator of the world with help from Brahma. In
Hindu temple relief, we find Vishnu floating on the cosmic ocean, dreaming the
creation of the universe. A lotus stalk emerges from Vishnu’s navel, blossoming into
a flower to reveal the four-headed Brahma.
Vishnu Reclining on the Serpent of Eternity Between Two Cosmic Eras/ Early 6th century.
Temple of Deogarh, Uttar Pradesh, India
Reference:
Michell, G. Hindu Art and Architecture. Thames & Hudson Inc.: New York., 2000, p.15.
Discussion
1. Compare the biblical creation story with the Hindu story?
2. What other creation myths have you come across in other cultures?
175
Optional Module: Religion and Life
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Key point a: The impact of religion through the arts
Material 41: Veneration of the Bodhisattva in Hong Kong
Aim
1. To investigate the use of the Bodhisattva in the Chinese context
Source 1: The Bodhisattva (Guanyin) sculpture (modified excerpts):
Bodhisattva literally means to “hear the voices of those who suffering and offer help
to them”, and to “possess the double virtues of wisdom and sympathy”. The
Bodhisattva not only provides spiritual comfort to ordinary people, it also inspires
them to follow good morals and participate in charity work. History records disputes
on the gender of the Bodhisattva who is portrayed almost always in the image of a
woman. But in Dunhuang the paintings and sculptures there mostly show a male
figure.
There are many folktales about the Bodhisattva, shown in a variety of images. For
instance, the thousand-hand Bodhisattva sculpture (see Picture One) and
Rewarding-a-Son sculpture (see Picture Two) come from different folk stories. One
tells of the Bodhisattva being able to carry out 36 metamorphoses, which include
forms in both genders, and forms with a thousand hands and eyes. The latter is an
indigenous folk invention, from which very interesting practices were generated. For
instance, many women believe that worshipping rewarding-a-son Bodhisattva will
bring them sons, and this has long become highly popular in the traditional Chinese
culture that favours male over female. Families who are afraid that their frail son
might not live to adulthood would send him to a Bodhisattva temple, leave him to the
care of Guayin, and in so doing, attain a state of pychological well-being.
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Picture 1
Picture 2
The Thousand Hands Buddhisattva
The Rewarding-a-son Buddhisattva
Reference:
李英豪。
《觀音珍藏》
。香港：博益出版集團有限公司。一九九三年，第十、十二、十四及三十四
頁。
Discussion
1. How is the Bodhisattva illustrated in the art forms in Source 1?
2. What impact do these sculptures make?
3. Why were these sculptures created?
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Key point a: The impact of religion through the arts
Source 2: The Bodhisattva in popular context
The birthday of the Bodhisattva is 19th of the second month on the Chinese Calendar.
On that day, before the temple door opens, a long queue of worshippers are already
gathering outside. Hong Kong boasts of a number of Bodhisattva temples, and the one
in Hung Hom is among the most popular. It remained undestroyed in an air raid in
1944, despite the fact that all the buildings around it were devastated. These days,
many believers visit this temple on the Bodhissattra birthday to “borrow money”, and
they believe that the earlier they arrive, the more “money” they can borrow.
Reference:
陳瑞璋。
《認識中國傳統節日和風俗》。香港：萬里機構萬里書店，二零零一年。
Activities:
Use video clips 4-5 as reference. They were taped on Bodhisattva’s birthday in 2003
and features believers borrowing money at the temple in Hung Hom.
Then divide into small groups and visit the temples and videotape your interviews
with worshippers.
Interview questions:
1. Who visit Bodhisattva temples? Do all of these people go there to “borrow
money”?
2. What are the procedures?
3. Do they really believe that the Bodhisattva will lend them money? What does the
action of “borrowing money” mean to the believers?
178
Key Point b
The arts as manifestation of
religious sentiments
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Key point b: The arts as manifestation of religious sentiment
Material 42: Impact of religious music on individuals
Aim
1. To appreciate the use of religious chants in liturgy
Source 1: Handel’s Messiah
The Handel Statue
The Messiah
The Messiah has always been by far the most popular oratorio of Handel. This
oratorio is about the coming of Christ, His death and resurrection. The first part
begins with from prophecies on the coming of the Messiah and on his birth. The
second part is about Christ’s suffering and death and the glory of the resurrection. The
third part of the oratorio celebrates Christ victorious over death. The Messiah is often
played during the Easter season when Christian churches celebrate the death and
resurrection of Christ.
Discussion
1. Why did Handel write this oratorio?
2. Listen to this piece of music and then describe how you feel?
3. Compare this piece with another one, do you think there is anything distinctive in
religious music, like it can stimulate the mind or stir up an emotion?
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Source 2: Plainsong or Gregorian chant
Plainsong is a monodic (single melodic line) vocal liturgical music of the Christian
Catholic Church. It is unaccompanied and usually takes a rhythm that is free, not
divided into regular measures.
Liturgical chants developed in the 4th and 5th centuries. As the church developed, other
traditions of chants came into being, the most important of which are the Byzantine,
the Old Roman, the Gallican, and the Mozarabic. Chants play an integral role in the
mass and in the divine office.
Reference:
Lexicon Universal Encyclopedia. Volume 15, Lexicon Publications, Inc: New York, 1989 p.325.
www.solesmes.com/anglais/gregorian/greg_home.html [Download date: 23/2/2005]
Discussion
1. What is the background for the creation of chants?
2. How does the chant sound? Is it different from other music in general?
3. What is the difference between plainsong and polyphony?
4. Go to the web-site <www.solesmes.com/anglais/gregorian/greg_home.html> and
listen to one of the Gregorian chants. Compare it with modern music, and explain
their differences.
181
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Key point b: The arts as manifestation of religious sentiment
Source 3: Buddhist Music (Modified excerpts):
Buddhist music is generally of two kinds: (1) Buddhist ritual music, and (2) ritual
music and music carrying Buddhist themes which have been turned into popular
music. Buddhist ritual music is further divided into several functional categories:
(1) Morning and Evening recitation: Twice daily, morning and evening. Similar in
style and format, though contents differ. Morning recitations include: The Surangama
Mantra, The Great Compassion Mantra, Ten Small Mantra, The Prajna Paramita
Heart Sutra（also《寶鼎贊》 1st and 15th every month）: songs include Conversion
Song and Praise the Buddha Song.
(2) Ceremonies: For instance, 8th day on the Fourth Month of each year is what is
known as “Buddha’s Birthday”. The ceremony is divided into eight parts:
(1) assembly of all Buddhas; (2) welcoming the Buddha sculpture ((1) and (2) contain
no song or recitation, just pure worship); (3) singing《稽首皈依大覺尊》; (4) placing
the Buddha on the stand, and showering it with incensed water, and singing 《沐浴真
言》
、
《釋迦大贊》; (5) the master of ceremony giving praises; (6) singing《佛寶贊》、
《贊佛偈》； (7) singing《回向偈》、《三皈依》; (8) singing《浴佛功德殊勝行》
to signal the end of the ceremony.
(3) Salvation: these Buddhist rituals are used to save repentent sinners and to prolong
their life. Or to rescue the spirit of the deceased so that they will reach the realm of
blissful eternity.
(4) “Water Land”, the full name being “The Buddhist Water and Land Salvation
Feast”. The purpose is to rescue the wandering ghosts and to carry them to the other
shore. The Buddhist ritual on the grandest scale and one that lasts the longest, it
encompasses activities such as recitations of mantras, ritualistic confessions, offerings
of food and wine to dead spirits, and typically features a hundred mantras and songs.
Reference:
http://fjyy.myrice.com/yinyue/ [Download date: 23/2/2005]
http://www.buddhenet.comtw/siddham/sd001.htm [Download date: 23/2/2005]
182
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Key point b: The arts as manifestation of religious sentiment
Discussion
1. What are the functions of Buddhist music?
2. What impact does it make on believers?
3. Comparing Buddhist music with those of other religions (such as Christian carols),
does it have distinctive meaning and stylistic features?
183
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Issue 3: How does religious sentiment demonstrated through the arts?
Key point b: The arts as manifestation of religious sentiment
Material 43: Reflection on life through artwork
Aim
1. To indicate the influence of art on believers’life
2. To explore the use of religious artwork for personal reflection
Source 1: Dunhuang Cave Art: The Sacrifice of Sivi (Modified Excerpts)
The Dunhuang murals are the great remnants of Chinese art. Based on Buddhist sutras
and myths, stories they tell are familiar to most people. For instance, the famous story
of Sivi (薩婆達 Sabbadatta) who offers his own flesh for the salvation of pigeons is
recorded in many Buddhist texts, too many to be listed here.
The Mogao Caves contains the earliest image on the Sivi story, produced in the 5th
Century, and much earlier than the one in cave no. 275 (See Picture 1). The one on the
North wall of 275 is simple and heavily influenced by the Kizil art culture. The story
of Sivi is portrayed at the centre of the wall. On the right is Suvu, clothed in heavenly
attire. On the left is a man cutting off the flesh from his butt, and another man
weighing his flesh and pigeons.
The image of Sivi is also found in cave 254 (See Picture 2), in another story about
sacrifice (thrown off a cliff to feed tigers). The characters in the picture are more
complicated than those in 275, and so are the ones in the “Jataka Story of Prince
Mahasattva” and the “Subjugation of the Demons” – all found in the same cave.
These are very mature works produced in the Northern Sung Dynasty, and they rely
heavily on the vicissitudies of facial expressions for story-telling, including the
sorrow of Sivi’s family who try to stop his action, and his strong sense of mission
despite their interference.
184
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Key point b: The arts as manifestation of religious sentiment
Picture 1: Sivi who sacrifices his own flesh for the salvation of the pigeons
Picture 2: Sivi who sacrifices his own flesh for the salvation of the pigeons
Reference:
金維諾。
《中國美術史論集》。台北：南天書局。一九九五年，第三五四、三五八頁。
李永寧編。
《敦煌石窟全集──本生因緣故事畫卷》
。香港：商務印書館。二零零零年，第十四至
十八頁。
Discussion
1. What Buddhist teaching is communicated through this picture?
2. What techniques does the author make use of to communicate the teaching?
3. In your opinion, will the audience be inspired by the picture?
185
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Key point b: The arts as manifestation of religious sentiment
Source 2: Hinduism - The Vedas (Edited Text)
There are four Vedas, the Rig Veda, the Sama Veda, the Yajur Veda and the Atharva
Veda. The Vedas are the primary texts of Hinduism. They exert a vast influence on
Buddhism, Jainism, and Sikhism. The Rig Veda, the oldest of the four, was known by
1500 B.C., and written down in about 600 B.C.
The Vedas contain hymns, incantations, and rituals from ancient India. Along with the
Book of the Dead, the Enuma Elish, the I Ching, and the Avesta, they are among the
most ancient religious texts still in existence. Besides their spiritual value, they also
give a unique view of everyday life in India four thousand years ago. The Vedas are
also the most ancient extensive texts in an Indo-European language, and as such are
invaluable in the study of comparative linguistics.
Reference:
www.sacred-texts.com/hin/[Download date: 23/2/2005]
Discussion
1. What are the religious values and cultural values of Vedas?
2. In what ways do the Vedas influence Hindus life?
186
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Key point b: The arts as manifestation of religious sentiment
Material 44: Efficacious effects of Buddhist art
Aim
1. To explore the significance of Jain art
2. To analyze the effects of Buddhist art
Source 1: The efficacious effects of Jain arts
Pilgrimage in Jainism is a rite of commemoration. The places of pilgrimage are
associated with events in the lives of the Jinas who attained perfect knowledge, taught
the Jain doctrine, and achieved liberation from the cycle of rebirths. Many of the most
important medieval Jain pilgrimage sites are associated with the death of a Jina or of
some great disciple. Ashtapada, Abu, Sammeda, Satrunjaya, and Girnar are five of the
most important sites.
A Jain pilgrimage is a ritual shared by the laity and the monastic community.
Pilgrimages for monks and nuns are important because they are forbidden to stay too
long in one place. They have to spend their days travelling from one place to the next
along the pilgrimage routes. Jains feel deep emotion before a particular Jina image.
Here is a verse from the monk Somasundara as he stood before the image of
Parsvanatha at Stambhana:
Today my eyes are blessed, for I have had the good fortune to
behold your body, which is a vessel filled with every marvellous
virtue; which is like a scythe to cut down the grasses of all my
grave sins.
Monk Vijayachandra wrote on his pilgrimage to Mount Girnar:
May that glorious Mt Girnar endure forever in all its splendour!
For on that mountain, when I see the best of Jinas, Lord Nemi,
purest in all the three worlds and the sight people long to see,
my mind becomes calm and all my sorrows vanish.
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Some monks sang of miraculous cures from terrible diseases, brought about through
seeing and worshiping a Jina image. Monks and laypeople travel together on
pilgrimages. They pray fervently, contemplating the Jina and offering flowers and
incense before the images. Temples at a pilgrimage site often display representations
of other pilgrimages sites on their walls. These bring to one site the benefits of all the
other holy sites.
Tamilnadu Kazhindjananai
Tamilnadu Thiruparathikundram
Mahavirji
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Tamilnadu Thella Tamilnadu Thiruparathikundram/
Courtesy of Clip Arts from Jain Temples/Pilgrimage Place
Mahavirji Procession
Reference:
Pal, P. The Peaceful Liberators, Jain Art from India. London: Thames and Hudson Ltd., 1994 pp.63-75 &
39-54.
Discussion
1. How is a site designated as a pilgrim site?
2. Who can become a Jina?
3. What do monks and laypeople obtain when they visit the holy sites and worship
the Jina images? Give some examples?
4. What other Holy figures or sites that you know of which exert similar religious
effect?
189
Optional Module 1: Religion and Life
Issue 3: How does religious sentiment demonstrated through the arts?
Key point b: The arts as manifestation of religious sentiment
Source 2: Veneration of the “Buddhas of the confession of guilt”
Buddhas in the transcendent state of enlightened bliss do not usually interfere in
human life. However, the “Buddhas of Confession” are exceptions. The faithful can
appeal for help. Nageshvararaja, “Lord of Serpent Kings” and Ratnacandra, the
“Buddha of the Precious Moon” represent popular versions of the two Buddhas from
the group of “Thirty-five Buddhas of the Confession of Guilt.” The invocation of all
35 names of the Buddhas of Confession of Guilt by Tibetan monks in their early
morning recitations, is believed to relieve the faithful of guilt. Guilt, which is different
from sin, refers to the inward barriers and torments in man. The Buddha
Bhaishajyaguru, “Master of Medicine”, can be invoked in the hope that he would
help the sick or inspire their doctors to find efficacious treatment.
Reference:
Tibet: Buddhas-Gods-Saints. Munich: Museum der Kulturen Basel, Prestel Verlag, 2001. pp.54-56.
Discussion
1. What role do the “Buddhas of Guilt” play in the lives of the monks and the
believers?
2. Why and when the Tibetan monks invoke the “Buddha of Guilt”?
3. Are the “Buddhas of Guilt” the only exception in which their transcendent states
could be depicted?
4. Why is it that Buddhists normally do not give detailed qualities of Buddha in
general?
190
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Key point b: The arts as manifestation of religious sentiment
Source 3: Peaceful and tranquil Buddha Amitabha
Those who attain Buddhahood live in the blissful land of Sukhavati, or “Western
Paradise”. Buddha Amitabha shows an intermediate paradise where the faithful,
undisturbed by worldly cares and emotions, can attain the wisdom needed for full
enlightenment. Buddha Amitabha is not a saviour or redeemer. He offers to the
faithful only a habour of tranquility. Only through continual effort and self-discipline
can redemption be achieved. A state of peace and tranquility is the main promise in
the pursuit for enlightenment.
Buddha Bhaishajyaguru
Tibet 1800 – 1899
Maitreya, Bodhisattva: preparing to descend from the
Tushita heaven and take rebirth as the future Buddha/
Courtesy of Himalayan Art Project/ The Shelley &
Donald Rubin Foundation
191
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Key point b: The arts as manifestation of religious sentiment
Amitabha (buddha), Tibet 1800 - 1899
Avalokiteshvara - Padmapani (Lotus Holder)
900 – 999, Tibet (Attendant of Amitabha)
Mandala of Vajrabhairava - with consort
Tibet 1300 - 1399
Courtesy of Himalayan Art Project/ The Shelley & Donald Rubin Foundation
Reference:
Tibet: Buddhas-Gods-Saints. Museum der Kulturen Basel, Prestel Verlag: Munich., 2001, pp.64.
192
Optional Module 1: Religion and Life
Issue 3: How does religious sentiment demonstrated through the arts?
Key point b: The arts as manifestation of religious sentiment
Discussion
1. What effect does this painting produce?
2. What is the role of Buddha Amitabha?
3. Can you describe the differences between “Western Paradise” and the
“Intermediate paradise”?
193
Optional Module 1: Religion and Life
Issue 3: How does religious sentiment demonstrated through the arts?
Key point b: The arts as manifestation of religious sentiment
Material 45: The anti-idol principle in Islamic art
Aim
1. To appreciate the iconoclastic spirit in Islamic art
Source 1: The Anti-idolatry spirit of Islamic arts.
Islam is monotheistic. The Prophet Muhammad established the new faith which
opposed the prevailing animism and the idol-worship of the Arabs. The prophet
distrusted the icons veneration in the Orthodox Church, and approved the ancient
Judaic tradition which banned graven images. The entire message is abstention from
idolatry. The Qur’an condemns the worship of persons or gods other than Allah, the
Creator. In the spirit of anti-idolatry, Islamic societies emphasize calligraphic art
which has become the major Islamic decorative element, even in the mosque.
Reference:
Piotrovsky, M. B. & Vrieze, J. (eds.). The Art of Islam, Heavenly Art, Earthly Beauty. Amsterdam: De
Nieuwe Kerk Amsterdam, Lund Humphries Publishers, 2000, pp. 23-36.
Discussion
1. What are the similarities and differences of “anti-idolatry” in different religion?
Give some examples from Orthodoxy, Islam and Christianity.
2. Do you support art and icon veneration? Why?
194
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Key point b: The arts as manifestation of religious sentiment
(Islamic Calligraphic art)
16th Century Turkish Wall Tile
Prayer Niche, Persian, (1266)
195
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Issue 3: How does religious sentiment demonstrated through the arts?
Key point b: The arts as manifestation of religious sentiment
Fountain Basin from Hama in Syria, (1279)
Mosque Lamp
Mosque Lamp
196
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Issue 3: How does religious sentiment demonstrated through the arts?
Key point b: The arts as manifestation of religious sentiment
Candle stick
Egyptian, late 13th or early 14th Century
The Mosque of Mohammed Ali Pasha, Cairo
Interior of the Mosque of Mohammed Ali Pasha
Cairo
197
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Key point b: The arts as manifestation of religious sentiment
Interior of the Mosque
Ablutions fountain
The Hagia Sophia, Istanbul
Inside Mosque Sophia, Istanbul
198
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Key point b: The arts as manifestation of religious sentiment
Sophia Mosque
Interior of Sophia Mosque
Inside Sophia Mosque in Istanbul
199
Optional Module 1: Religion and Life
Issue 3: How does religious sentiment demonstrated through the arts?
Key point b: The arts as manifestation of religious sentiment
Material 46: The biblical contents in Christian paintings
Aim
1. To describe the biblical messages in Christian paintings
Source 1: The promise of Paradise in Christianity
The promise of future life in paradise is a central theme in Christian teaching. In much
of Christian literature, especially apocalyptic literature, images of a “new heaven and
new earth” are vividly described. This is also a popular subject for artists. Other
than scenes about paradise, themes on the judgement day, reward for the good and
punishment for the evil ones are also common.
The Calling of the Elect to Heaven (Luca Signorelli 1450-1523) / Bridgeman Art Library
Reference:
Grubb, N. Revelations, Art of the Apocalypse. New York: Abbeville Press. Publishers, 1997
www.christusrex.org/www 1/vaticano/0-Musei.html [Download date: 23/2/2005]
Discussion
1. What is the Judgment?
2. What will happen at the last judgment in Christianity?
3. What is the significance of the Judgment for Christians?
200
Optional Module 1: Religion and Life
Issue 3: How does religious sentiment demonstrated through the arts?
Key point b: The arts as manifestation of religious sentiment
Material 47: The creative art form in the East
Aim
1. To analyze the multi-purpose Hindu gods
2. To study specific religious artwork in Tibet and other parts of China.
3. To explore the pluralistic styles in Eastern religious art
Source 1: The Multiple-quality Gods
Image worship is popular in India religions. The image of the gods and the rituals for
their worship are described in great details in religious literatures. In the process of
describing the gods, two or more deities are merged and the gods are shown to
possess several qualities. These various qualities are shown with the god having
several arms. Each hand holds an object, which symbolizes one of the qualities of that
particular deity. Some of the hands are empty but the position of the fingers and the
palms would signify the character of that god.
The same artistic style can be found in Buddhism such as the one thousand-armed
bodhisattva (Avalokiteshvara or Guanyin). These arms symbolize the many powers,
which the bodhisattva uses to save and enlighten.
The Goddess of Durgà as
or female energy of Siva
MAAISASURAMAKDINI
The Goddess of Durgà – The Saki
201
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Key point b: The arts as manifestation of religious sentiment
Multi-qualities God
Siva Nataraja (12th Century)
Ganesha
Reference:
http://www.webonautics.com/mythology/omthesymbol.html[Download date: 23/2/2005]
McArthur, M. Reading Buddhist Art. London: Thames & Hudson Ltd., 2002, p.45.
Discussion
1. Are the multiple-quality gods in Hinduism and Buddhism the same?
2. What is the significance and function of these deities?
3. Do we find this art form only in Eastern religions?
202
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Key point b: The arts as manifestation of religious sentiment
Source 2: Flying deities
All ancient civilizations have flying deities. The Greeks have cherubims, angels with
wings. The Chinese “yuren”, with feathers growing out of their arms, are popularity
known as flying fairies. Indians have winged angels as well as flying figures with
halos, surrounded by floating clouds. The Dunhuang flying figures originated in India.
After arriving in Kuca, they assumed a round face, handsome eyes and a short and
stout body. They continue to be represented in the nude in the original Indian style but
are shown with a big Persian scarf around them and not riding on the clouds. In
Dunhuang, they merged with the symbolism of Chinese flying faires, the yuren. By
the end of the 5th century, they were given plump faces, long eyebrows and slit eyes,
the hair tied in a top knot and the semi-naked upper torso covered by a big scarf over
the shoulders. There were no halos. These became the flying figures, Chinese style, of
Dunhuang.
Flying figure
Reference:
http://www.ignca.nic.in/ks_19026.htm [Download date: 23/2/2005]
段文杰。
《段文杰敦煌藝術論文集》
。蘭州：甘肅人民出版社。一九九四年，第四一五至四三八頁。
Duan, W. Dunhuang art : through the eyes of Duan Wenjie. New Delhi : Indira Gandhi National Centre
for Arts : Abhinav. 1994, p.222.
段文杰主編。
《敦煌石窟全集 15 飛天畫卷》。香港：商務印書館。一九九九年，第二零三頁。
203
Optional Module 1: Religion and Life
Issue 3: How does religious sentiment demonstrated through the arts?
Key point b: The arts as manifestation of religious sentiment
Source 3: Tibetan icons
Buddhist cosmology myths teach the begininglessness of life. The universes evolves
and devolves in a cycle of eons (kalpas). Tibetans believe that we are now in the
Excellent Eon of the Thousand Buddhas, during which one thousand Buddhas will
appear in our world. Shakyamuni, historical Buddha, is the fourth of these, and
Maitreya Buddha, the Buddha of the future, will be the fifth. Tibetans feel that their
special role in history is to preserve the Buddha Dharma until the advent of the
kingdom of Shambhala who will restore the liberating power of the Buddhist practice
to the whole world. This powerful Tibetan faith is reinforced daily by the pervasive
presence of icons depicting historic and mythic ancestors in homes, monasteries, and
temples. Icons not only represent an individual Buddha, deity, angel, saint, scholar, or
king, but often tell their story, their accomplishments, and the message of liberation.
These icons taken as a whole contains the secular and sacred history of Tibet.
Buddhism uses art to communicate the vision of enlightenment to the faithful,
inspiring them to find relief and happiness. Communication is done through the third
Buddha body – the Emanation Body. (When one becomes a Buddha, it will transform
into three bodies, the Truth Body (Dharmakaya), the Beatific Body (Sambhogakaya),
and the Emanation Body (Nirmanakaya).) The Emanation Body is understood into
three categories, the Supreme, the Incarnational, and the Artistic. The artistic
Emanation body is defined as all icons: the Buddha, the Bodhisatvva, incarnations,
environments or anything that represents enlightenment. This specific feature is found
in Tibetan icons. The Tibetan icon is an intermediary between man and divinity. The
icon is designed to evoke a deity for the purposes of worship and communication.
Every work of art functions and has meaning on many levels.
Reference:
K R Van Kooij & H Van der Veere (eds.). Function and Meaning in Buddhist Art. Egbert Foreten:
Groningen, The Netherlands, 1995
Rhie, M. M. and Thurman, R. A. F. The Sacred Art of Tibet. London: Thames and Hudson Ltd., 1991,
pp.35-37 & 71.
http://www.himalayanart.org/index.cfm[Download date: 7/4/2005]
204
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Key point b: The arts as manifestation of religious sentiment
Discussion
1. What are the special features of Tibetan icon?
2. Is there any special religious meaning in Tibetan icons?
3. Is there any iconoclastic activity in the Tibetan religion?
4. Discuss similarities and differences between Tibetan icons and Orthodox icons
(please refer to Material 38 Source 2).
Arhat - 16 Elders: Rahula1800 – 1899
Arhat - 16 Elders: Rahula,
Tibet 1500 – 1599
205
Optional Module 1: Religion and Life
Issue 3: How does religious sentiment demonstrated through the arts?
Key point b: The arts as manifestation of religious sentiment
Buddha Shakyamuni – Avadana
Arhat - (multiple figures),
(teaching stories) 1800-1899
Tibet 1700 – 1799
Buddha Shakyamuni - with 16 Arhats
Shakyamuni Buddha (the Enlightened One, Sage of the Shakya Clan) together with the two foremost
students Shariputra and Maudgalyayana, the 16 Arhats and the attendant Dharmata
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Optional Module 1: Religion and Life
Issue 3: How does religious sentiment demonstrated through the arts?
Key point b: The arts as manifestation of religious sentiment
Padmasambhava, Tibet 1800 – 1899
Courtesy of Himalayan Art Project/ The Shelley & Donald Rubin Foundation
207
Optional Module 1: Religion and Life
Issue 3: How does religious sentiment demonstrated through the arts?
Key point b: The arts as manifestation of religious sentiment
208
Optional Module 1: Religion and Life
Issue 3: How does religious sentiment demonstrated through the arts?
Key point b: The arts as manifestation of religious sentiment
Appendix 1
Video Description
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Appendix 1
Video description
Video 1-3, could support
Issue 2: How does religion affect our lives?
Key point a: The social functions of religion
Material 13: Religious festival
Source 1: Religion and Popular Religious practices and Source 3: Beating the “petty
people”
Video description:
1. PettyMan-beating.mpg
This extract shows the setting of “petty-man beating”. Those who are doing the
job are mainly old ladies. They gather together and use shoes and wooden clogs to
beat the “Petty man paper”. The customers can be male and female, young and old.
In the booth, there is an altar. First, the lady will ask you the name of “the petty
man”. Later on, she beats the “petty man paper” vigorously and keeps murmuring
to herself until the paper is totally worn off.
2. PettyMan-burning_paper_tiger.mpg
This extract illustrates an important tool in “Petty man beating”—Paper tiger.
These paper tigers are put on the altar in an orderly manner and will be burned
into ashes together with other paper offerings after “beating the petty man”.
3. PettyMan-sweeping_the_back.mpg
This extract records an important act in “Petty man beating”—“Sweeping the
back”. The old lady will first circle around a burning candle with paper and then
she will use that paper to cleanse the customer’s back. This symbolizes sweeping
away the misfortune.
Video 4-5, could support
Issue 3: How does religious sentiment demonstrated through the arts?
Key point a: The impact of religion through the arts
Material 41: Veneration of the Bodhisattva in Hong Kong
Source 2: The bodhisattva in popular context
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Appendix 1
Video description:
4. KuanYin-interview.mpg
This excerpt is an interview with a lady who went to the temple at Kuan Yin
Festival. The best time for worshipping should start in the midnight, however, on
that interview day, the best time was extended to 3 p.m. People had to queue up
and wait for about ten hours before they could get into the temple, some waited till
midnight of another day.
5. KuanYin-worship_pack.mpg
This excerpt shows that hundreds of worshippers are visiting the temple at Kuan
Yin Festival. Before they get into the temple, they carry some joss sticks with
them. When they leave, they carry a paper windmill or some Fai Chun with them.
Some people simply worship and pray outside the temple with their hands closed.
In the middle part of the excerpt, a woman explains what is written on the bamboo
fortune stick and she will write down some blessed words on the red paper and
will give the customers some paper offerings to Kuan Yin.
Video 6-8, could support
Issue 2: How does religion affect our lives?
Key point a: The social functions of religion
Material 13: Religious festival
Source 1: Religion and Popular Religious practices
Video description:
6. Yulan_auction.mpg
This clip records the setting of Yulan auction, though there aren’t any buyers in it.
In the auction, people bid and sell. These are fictitious and are used for amusing
the ghosts.
7. Yulan_general.mpg
This video excerpt shows a common scene during Yulan festival. People usually
set up scaffolds and put up words like “Great kindness and compassion to save all
sentiment beings” and “Buddhadharma is boundless” on them. Inside the scaffold,
there is an altar on which all kinds of offerings and worshipping tools are placed.
Some special decorations will be made in front of the altar.
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Appendix 1
8. Yulan_opera.mpg
This excerpt shows a Chinese opera “Liu Guo Da Feng Xiang” performed during
Yulan Festival. There is a phrase: “Gods and humans have fun together” on the
stage, which illustrates the aim of this opera. This is a Beijing opera. The setting,
the decorations and the costumes are all very elaborative. Near the stage, there
places the Gods’ altars.
Video 9-13, could support
Issue 2: How does religion affect our lives?
Key point a: The social functions of religion
Material 13: Religious festival
Source 6: Dragon dance is used to prevent and eliminate plagues
Video description:
9. Fire-dragon_ceremony.mpg
This excerpt shows the rituals in preparation for Tai Hang fire dragon dance. The
guests of honor will hang flowers, red ribbons and fresh vegetables onto the fire
dragon’s horn, its beards and its ears. After that, they will officiate and take photos
in front of the fire dragon.
10. Fire-dragon_ending.mpg
After the fire dragon dance ends, the fire dragon that is full of incense strides away,
though at both sides there are still a sea of audiences. This film also shows how
“long” that fire dragon is.
11. Fire-dragon_lighting_dargon.mpg
This document records the lighting fire dragon. People worship it and then put the
incense onto the dragon’s body. The route of the fire dragon usually starts off at
Tai Hang, bypasses Southorn Playground and ends at the Victoria Park.
12. Fire-dragon_process.mpg
This excerpt records the process of the fire dragon dance. Along the route, it is
crowded with audiences. Music is played during the parade. The body of the fire
dragon is full of incense, with trails of smoke floating in the air. One man drives
the dragon’s head, while the others take turns to maneuver the dragon’s body. This
shows how heavy the fire dragon is.
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Appendix 1
13. Fire-dragon_starting.mpg
This piece shows that the fire dragon is ready to go. There are lots of audiences by
the side of the road. In order to maintain the law and order, police are there to
standby. The start of the dragon dance is stunning, a large group of people are
playing their music when they are marching in.
Video 14-21, could support
Issue 2: How does religion affect our lives?
Key point a: The social functions of religion
Material 13: Religious festival
Source 1: Religion and Popular Religious practices
Video description:
14. Che-kung-drum_beating.mpg
This excerpt was shot in Chekung festival, all worshippers including children and
foreigners go to strike the drum after worshipping Chekung. The reason for
beating the drum is to tell Chekung that they have visited him before.
15. Che-kung-general.mpg
This excerpt was shot in Chekung festival, a day when lots of worshippers go into
the temple and pray for God’s blessings. Worshippers usually have paper
windmills with them as they are asking for a “turn” of luck. Inside the temple,
there are booths selling blessed decorations, paper windmills and joss sticks. The
worshippers are very eager to buy them home. The middle part of the excerpt
shows the busy setting of the temple. To ensure the safety, the police allow each
citizen to bring three joss sticks only when they go into the temple. Some citizens
choose to worship and pray outside the temple.
16. Che-kung-interview1.mpg
In this excerpt, a citizen who has queued up for about an hour is waiting for his
turn to get into the Chekung temple. People queue up in a circle, which indicates
that they hope to have good luck. Most of these worshippers go to Chekung every
year to pray that they can do well in business and can have every success in life.
The interviewee worships many gods and he will visit the Wong Tai Sin temple
afterwards. About the spinning of the windmill, he thinks that if he is lucky the
year before, there is no need to spin it every year.
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Appendix 1
17. Che-kung-interview2.mpg
A citizen who has waited for half an hour outside Chekung temple was
interviewed. Every two or three years, he will visit Chekung on the third day of
the Lunar New Year (The Birthday of Chekung). But he rarely goes to Wong Tai
Sin Temple. He goes to the temple not because he wants to ask for something, he
just treats this as a family activity and wants to experience the atmosphere during
the festival. Personally, he does not have any religious faith, though he has the
practice of worshipping some traditional Chinese gods. He spins the windmill that
day, but he did not toss the fortune stick.
18. Che-kung-windmill.mpg
This excerpt shows the spinning of the golden windmill at Chekung temple. While
they are spinning it with all their might, they mutter a few prayers. With regard to
the direction of the spinning, there are no standard rules.
19. Che-kung-wishing&interview.mpg
In this excerpt, some citizens go to Chekung temple to toss fortune sticks. A lady
said that she got a fortune stick which shows “very good luck” as she asked for
her love fortune. She said that was the first time she and her friends had visited the
temple and she would not go to Wong Tai Sin temple. She does not have any
religious faith, but she thinks it is the right thing to do during the New Year.
20. Che-kung-wishing.mpg
This video clip shows that the citizens are visiting Chekung temple. While they
are praying, they are carrying the windmill and the fortune stick buckets with
them. Some even toss more than one fortune stick.
21. Che-kung-wishing_board.mpg
The wooden board “Being Number one” (Jin Pang Ti Ming) shown in the excerpt
is covered with red paper with people’s aspirations written on them. Some people
ask for good health and some ask for more wealth.
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