RELI 1730 Lecture Notes - Lecture 8: Hindu Views On Evolution

• School: Carleton University
• Department: Religion
• Course: RELI 1730
• Professor: Josee Compion

Document Summary

The hindu creation myth of purusha: his sacrifice and dismemberment gives birth to the world, purusha, the primal man, is at the origin and foundation of the universe, all things come from this one substance, parallel with brahman. Its justification of the traditional indian socio-religious structure: specific rights and duties follow from being born in 4 hierarchically ordered social classes, mouth = brahmans, arms = warriors, thighs = commoners, feet = servants, born into classes. Identifying moral norms and: when religion puts too much stress on right conduct, it may legitimating them lead to, rewarding and renewing. How religion can help morality: by identifying practices, authoritarian and dysfunctional situations, moral norms, models of excellence, religious codes of moral conduct, the minimum. Ideally, one should try to the maximum virtue: capacity to motivate people to reach higher, religious figures from history or myths. Ex: decalogue: pancasila (5 buddhist precepts, no harm, theft, sexual misconduct, lies, intoxicants.