Religious responses to the basic questions of life.
The unexamined life is not worth living – Socrates, Apology 38a
Certain questions have puzzled people for thousands of years. These have sometimes been referred to as ‘the great questions of human existence’
They include
·Is there a supreme being?
·Who am i?
·Why are there evil, pain and suffering?
·Is there life after death?
Many peoples, civilizations and cultures have searched for answers to some or all of these questions throughout pre-history and history. It is important to acknowledge also that many cultures outside those based in or dominated by Western ‘first world’ countries, are not specifically interested in questions such as these. These cultures, such as many indigenous ones, understand their relationship with the cosmos in terms of the perceived unity of past, present and future. Such cultures have very little interest in questions to do with the origins of the universe, humanity or related areas.
Is there a supreme being?
A supreme being, God or deity is the name given to a god or goddess, depending on the religion being considered. In the Christian, Jewish and Islamic traditions, ‘the Deity’ often refers to the monotheistic God (One God). In these religions, the Supreme Being, or God is understood as the source and create of the universe, the source of all that exists, and the ultimate ruler of all time and space.
Who am I?
The question ‘who am I?’ takes a person to the heart of human existence. For Christianity, the question ‘who am I?’ is understood in relation to ‘what is human nature and what is its ultimate purpose?’ For many religions and traditions, the human person gains their identity (answer to who am i?) by relating to their God or gods, guided by the beliefs and practices of their tradition.
Why is there evil, pain and suffering?
Human evil, pain and suffering have limitless aspects – physical illness, death, social injustice and poverty, loneliness and aloneness. This also raises limitless questions – does life have meaning because or apart from suffering? If God is all powerful and all loving, why does God allow evil, pain and suffering to exist?
In most traditions, evil is the opposite of the good and the beneficial. It can be understood as a cosmic power or as a human way of behaving or deciding. Evil, pain and suffering are interrelated. Suffering can be understood as the experience of pain that could be caused by evil, ignorance or neglect. Buddhists, for example, refer to suffering as dukkha, and give as examples birth, old age, death, sorrow, anguish, despair and not acquiring what one desires. The cause of dukkha is selfish, craving desire. The noble truth that leads to the end of dukkha is the Noble Eightfold Path- right understanding, right intention, right speech, right conduct, right occupation, right endeavour, right contemplation and right concentration.
Is there life after death?
‘Death’ is generally understood as the ending of ordinary human existence. Issues and questions about the origin of death and the destiny of the dead, as well as rituals for the dead, are part of all religious traditions. Each of the attitudes to death in the major religious traditions is not a scientific explanation of death, but an attempt to make sense of life- to understand death as part of the pattern of life. Reincarnation, resurrection and other concepts of life after death provide powerful images for their believers. They help sustain people in the knowledge that there is a deeper meaning to life than that which is played out externally. The responses to death and afterlife in each tradition have helped humans to live with the mystery of existence and to give concrete meanings to their lives.
For example, Muslims believe that death is the common destiny willed by God for all living things. ‘Every soul will taste of death’ – Qur’an.
After death, Muslims believe the soul waits in barzakh (place of waiting for Judgement Day). When judgement comes, God will deal with everyone according to their actions. After judgement, the dead will be restored to their bodies; hence, Muslims do not cremate their dead.
Religion pervades intensely the whole frame of society, and is according to the temper of the mind which it inhabits, a passion, a persuasion, an excuse, a refuge, never a check. – Percy Bysshe Shelley, preface to The Cenci.
