Theos-Talk Archives (April 2005 Message tt01538)

4 23 2005



Re Roots of religion 



Dear Friends:





May I offer an approximate chronological sequence?





An historical sequence seems to roll back in time from the present as
follows:





1 Major "faiths" to day (all having sub-divisions): 



Buddhism, Christianity, Confucianism, Judaism, 

Hinduism, Islam, Taoism, Zoroastrianism, 







2 What are their roots in terms of antiquity ?





Christianity (reform of Judaism)

[ Roman Catholic, Protestant, .... ]





Islam (reform of Judaism)





Judaism (reform of Zoroastrianism, Chaldean Wisdom, Hinduism)





[ Chaldean, Egyptian, Greek "Mysteries"] (related to Brahmanism)





Buddhism, (reform of Brahmanism / Hinduism)

[ Hinayana, Mahayana, Theravada, Lamaism ]





Zoroastrianism (reform of Brahmanism / Hinduism)





Taoism (China - related to Tibetan Wisdom Schools)





Confucianism (Pragmatic moral rules of communal conduct)





Brahmanism { Hinduism -- Vedas, Upanishads, a whole literature

Hinduism devoted to science and philosophy and offers a

basis for moral conduct





Tibetan and Mongolian WISDOM SCHOOLS





Theosophy (The universal wisdom of the rules and .laws of nature)

(Universal Moral applications derived from facts:



1 Immortality of the Soul / spirit

2 Reincarnation

3 Karma ( Law of effect exactly following causes )

4 Brotherhood of all beings and of mankind.



-------------------------------------------------------------



It is apparent that in all cases there is :



1 The popular religion, rites, observances of the masses.



2 The knowledge and wisdom of the Priests.



3 A non-sectarian WISDOM implying a knowledge of the facts, rules,
regulations and purposes of the Universe -- leading to an individual
perfection of knowledge and intelligence . This is open to all humans
everywhere. 



It is a combination of science, philosophy and religion.



===============================



Best wishes, 



Dallas



===========================



-----Original Message-----
From: Of John
Sent: Friday, April 22, 2005 1:00 PM
To: 
Subject: Roots and Vines, offshoots and sects, etc.





>>Do you then find the Christian religion to be a great Root religion



A lot of this depends on defining what a "root" religion is.



Since Christianity and Islam are both offshoots of Judaism, Judaism 

would be more entitled to the root description of root.



At some point in the past, I would say that both C & I would be offshoot 

religions, but eventually, they both developed independent roots of 

their own, so may have turned into what some people would call "root 

religions" with their own offshoots developing (sects).



But I'll point out that whether Christianity is a "root" or an 

"offshoot" or "both" depends on who you ask. I doubt you'll find a 

general enough consensus.



So, I'd say that Judaism is "The Root" while Christianity or Islam could 

be called "A Root" and "Offshoot" ...like vines which can develop new 

root systems completely independent of the mother vine.

-- 

John, 



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