Emergent Religions Essay, Research Paper
Emergent Religions
Like Christianity, Janeism is an emergent religion; that is to say that it is an evolution of church doctrine based on a still existing religion. However, unlike Christianity, Janeism is twice emergent: based on Buddhism which finds its basis in Hinduism: Christianity is primarily based on Judaism.
In both religions, there are nuns and monks, lay men, and lay women. In Janeism, these are the pillars of the religion and are represented by the four points of the swastika. Like Janeism, Christians also have a 4-pointed symbol, which represents to them the promise of life everlasting. In religious practice the two are similar: religious leaders are paid only by the grace of the lay people, and the lay people in return will gain religious merit.
Although the religions are very different there are several parallels between them, and their practices similarities cannot be denied. The monks and nuns of Janeism take special care to never harm another living being. They walk barefoot, as to not step on bugs, and cover their mouths, so that they don’t kill a bug while breathing. They eat only the minimum needed to survive, in fear of killing too many microorganisms. What s more is that they are not only afraid of killing life, but also in harming it. The monks and nuns try to make sure that they don t say anything that could be found offensive to another person. Moreover, they try to not even think things that could be offensive. Their goal seems to practice total humility and love for every organism on this earth. In their beliefs if they can accomplish this, they will not have accumulated any Karma (good or bad) and will enter Moksha (release from the wheel of life.)
Janes believe that life is precious. They believe that life must be protected, if nothing else, from the bad things in this world sometimes the bad things are us. Like devout Hindus, and Buddhists, Janes pay no mind to their bodies: for a body is only the vessel, it is the soul and the mind that matter. Moreover, they actually pull all of their hair out twice yearly (apparently it is OK to do harm to a living creature, if the creature is yourself.) They are euspsychic their entire adult lives. If one lives within his/her own mind, and spends ones entire life perfecting it, they are closer to being like God and can enter her realm. If one spends their entire life on earth, amongst life, and never lays his/her hand in earthly manners, he/she is like God. If one is humble to man, then one can be humble to God; however, the ego is a difficult thing to crush. To be a part of the world, and yet, not be, that is the goal of the Jane monk or nun. For God is amongst us, yet we cannot see her, we hope that she never thinks poorly of us, and we know that she would never take a life on earth, because she created it. Janes want to be felt like God, if they can exist and not be seen, but be felt, then they are on the same plane as She. If one is on the same plane as God, haven t they exited the wheel of this life, and graduated onto the next step?
Christians as well aspire to be Godlike. They also try to love all that is good and pure (natural things fall into this category because they are created by God.) In eastern thought, removal is key. I.e. if you remove yourself from a situation, even mentally, then you can escape the human split decision and give an educated reaction instead. Christians rather try to respond with love and compassion, even when one has been hurt or offended they are taught to turn the other cheek. Following from these practices to similar yet completely different religions arise, one that practices removal and compassion, the other which teaches involvement and compassion.
Both Christianity and Janeism have a book of their beliefs, and with both some lay people have a difficult time with some of the concepts. For example, in the book of Janeism it states that the earth is flat. Reasoning, as lay people do, leads one to the understanding that a man wrote this book, during the time of a common belief that the world was flat. Just because something has been proven otherwise, you shouldn t discard the whole book, but everything about the book should be kept in perspective. The book of the Janes was undoubtedly inspired by God herself (as are most religious documents.) The take-home message of the book is not changed because the book says that the earth is flat. Although, I do not want to steer you wrong, because most Janes believe that the earth is flat, as it is written in their holy text. The problem with a holy text is that written word can be taken literally or deciphered into a million and one things, it is completely dependent upon who is reading and interpreting the text.
A Christian sect in Scrabble Creek is one such group that takes the text literally. In the 16th Chapter of the book of Mark in the bible, Mark writes of those who did not believe the miracle that Jesus had risen from the dead. And they go to seek Jesus out, for they fear that he has returned to punish them for their lack of faith. When they find Jesus, he tells them that whoever believes in God and is baptized will ascend into heaven, but that those who do not believe shall be damned to hell. In versus 17 and 18 Jesus continues:
And these signs shall follow them that believe: in my name shall they cast out devils, they shall speak with new tongues, they shall take up serpents, and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them, they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.
In the holiness church, the congregation takes up serpents, and even play catch with them! Verse 18 is taken literally and performed as often as one is called by God to do so. Those who handle snakes and drink poison are completely submitting themselves to God, and leaving whether they live or die up to him. If they are lucky, God will protect them.
Psychologically these people take several steps to reaching the point of surrender. Their singing brings out the deep mind, and puts the limal mind at rest. They also spin in circles to disorient themselves changing the way that they see their surroundings makes it easier to put yourself out of your mind. Also, this practice and these meetings take place for 4 6 hours in the middle of the night. When people become delirious is about the time they begin handling snakes and drinking poison.
These two religions differ only by their practice. The fundamental teaching remains the same. Perhaps it does not matter how we reach our inner self, as long as we reach it. Churches and doctrines and man can all be wrong, we can all do things a little backward, but as long as our hearts are in the right place, and we are trying then progress is being made in the right direction.