Introduction
Before we embark on comparing the spread of Christianity and Buddhism, as religious doctrines, we will need to come up with the definition of religion, because it will provide us with the insight on the dynamics of religious teachings becoming popularized. From today’s perspective, the classical concept of religion can be defined as structuralized system of spiritual beliefs that emphasize on transcendent essence of one’s existential identity.
During the course its evolutional development, homo sapiens was becoming less and less subjected to its animalistic instincts, as the tool of insuring its physical survival. It was people’s superior intellect that allowed them to become undisputed masters in animal kingdom. At the same, the concept of intellect corresponds to one’s ability to operate with purely abstract categories. However, it is only when such ability becomes combined with idealistic properties of people’s character, which creates a precondition for the emergence of a religion.
Christianity only became a religion, in full sense of this word, when materialistic spirit of Judaism was being transformed into something opposite to what it originally used to be by European mentality. In other words, Christianity is best defined as Semitic religious worldview that is being adapted to Aryan existential mode. Buddhism, on the other hand, is best defined as essentially the system of Aryan beliefs, which is being dogmatized by Asians. This is the most profound conceptual difference between two religions, which in its turn, resulted in Christianity and Buddhism being popularized in different manners.
Main body
It is a well known fact that it was not up until 75 A.D. that the first Gospels were being composed. Apparently, Jesus, who claimed himself as the son of God, could not really be thought of within a context of God’s revelation, at the time when he used to preach. This is the reason why neither of Apostles was present at Jesus’ crucifixion. It is only after recollections of what really happened began to fade in people’s memory, and after the deaths of those who had witnessed the actual events, that the image of Jesus began to gain mythological properties.
However, in Judea, Christianity could not possibly take a root, simply because Jews are not capable of thinking of religion as something that does not provide them with immediate practical benefits. It had to be brought onto a foreign ground, in order to start gaining popularity among people. In their turn, along with being idealistic, these people would also have to be decadent. Such people were Romans at the time.
Once Christianity had taken hold in Roman Empire, Christians began to spread the “word of God”, throughout the known oicumena, because Jesus himself insisted on that: “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations” (Matthew, 28:19).
In 5th century A.D., Christianity was being exported to Ireland. In 988 A.D., people in Kievan Rus were being forcibly baptized by Prince Vladimir. By 12th century, Christianity had also reached Scandinavia. With the beginning of “era of discoveries”, Christianity was being introduced to the native people in America and it had the same effect on them as it was the case with Romans – it corrupted them spiritually to such an extent that they were not able to put up any effective resistance against foreign invaders, who had embarked on wholesale extermination of their newly found “brothers in Christ”.
In 1523, Martin Luther translated Bible from the Latin into contemporary German, which initiated the process of self-destruction, within Christianity. Before Reformation, Catholics were only aware of the fact that Jesus was good and the Devil was bad and that Saint Mary was the person to address their prayers to. However, once they were able to learn about God’s contradicting “commandments” on their own, by reading Bible that was being translated into their native languages, people began to come up with their own interpretations of God’s “shining truth”.
Therefore, even though it appeared that in 16th – 18th centuries Christianity was still spreading its geopolitical influence, it was actually growing weaker from within. By 20th century, Christianity had firmly established itself as one of world’s most popular religions. However, only the “snake handlers” in America’s South can be now considered as true Christians, because they alone take what is being said in Bible as literal truth and actively practice their beliefs. Thus, we cannot seriously refer to contemporary Christianity as “religion of millions”, in classical sense of this word. Nowadays, it is being turned into “religious lifestyle” for majority of those who consider themselves as Christians.
Therefore, we can say that example of Christianity shows that, in order for a particular religion to continue spreading its influence, among people, it needs to be in the state of continuous theological development. Even though Catholic, Orthodox and Protestant leaders claim that there is one God, they appear to be very reluctant, when it comes to discussing the theological differences between their versions of Christianity, since they are perfectly aware of the fact that, once they start doing it, the conceptual absurdity of Christianity, as religion, will become even more apparent.
Thus, we can conclude that when religion becomes fully dogmatized, its geopolitical influence begins to weaken. In the next part of this paper, we are going to prove the validity of this statement, by analyzing the spread of Buddhism from historical and ideological perspectives.
Gautama Buddha, who was born as Prince Siddhartha in 563 B.C., belonged to the royal caste of Khatrees. As we know from Buddhist sources, the future Buddha used to spend days, while contemplating on the essence of very abstract categories. The traditional schools of Buddhist thought emphasize that one’s ability to indulge in abstract philosophizing is the essential precondition for “enlightenment”. This is the reason why the original Buddhism can hardly be referred to as religion but rather as philosophy of life.
There is no concept of emotional deity can be found in Buddhism, because people, among which this philosophy had originally gained popularity, still possessed the remnants of Aryan mentality, which prompted them to look for the God within themselves. This explains why Buddha never insisted that his teachings should be spread out among foreign nations – apparently, unlike Jesus, he was well aware of the fact that it is people’s biological makeup that defines them as individuals more then anything else does.
However, as more and more people were being attracted to Buddha’s philosophy of life, they started to quarrel about what particular interpretation of Buddhism was the proper one. In other words, Buddhists were engaging in ideological discussions, which, just as it was the case with Christianity, boosted the appeal of their religion as whole; because, for as long as internal divisions exist within a particular religion, it remains alive.
As catacomb Christians, early Buddhists relied on oral transmission, as the tool of popularizing the teachings of their guru. This proves once again that the birth of a religion is quite impossible, until the figure religion’s founder is being mythologized to a considerable degree. While being spread out, Buddhist wisdom was slowly transforming its original essence. In its turn, it required the most prominent Buddhists of the time to get together, every once in while, to discuss the theoretical aspects of their religion.
There were three so-called “Buddhist Councils”, that had taken place between 5th and 2nd centuries B.C., which had structuralized Buddhist teachings. This however, did not lead to Buddhism becoming an undisputable religious doctrine in India. It is only when Buddhism was being exported in other countries, which resulted in “petrifaction” of its local versions. For example, Tibetan Buddhism (Vajrayāna), has very little to do with the original concept of Buddhist enlightenment, as something that can only be achieved through lengthy meditations.
In order for Tibetan Buddhist monk to qualify for the “enlightenment”, he will need to spin the prayer wheel non-stop for twenty years. On the other hand, despite the fact that Zen Buddhism is a creation of comparatively recent times, its ideological essence closely relates to Buddha’s original teachings, which can be explained by the fact that Japanese cannot be referred to as Asians, in full sense of this word, because they have a considerable amount of Aryan blood running in their veins.
Unlike Christianity, Buddhism was not being forcibly imposed upon people. Its spreading across Asia followed the establishment of a Silk Road, which was being used for transporting various goods even to as far as Europe. After having helped establishing Buddhism in India, Indian King Ashoka also tried to promote Buddhist philosophy in other parts of the world by sending Buddhist emissaries to China, Bengal and Afghanistan. Buddhist monks even succeeded in converting many Mongolic tribes to Buddhism.
In 4th century A.D., a Buddhist monk Kumarajiva was being granted a permission to found a translation center in China, where Buddhist tests were being translated into various Chinese dialects. It is now estimated that by 6th century A.D., there were close to 2 million Buddhist in China. During the course of the process of Buddhism being popularized, across the Asia, it largely transformed its essence from being a method of achieving self-awareness, to the tool of suppressing one’s desires, as the ultimate mean of eliminating suffering, which in its turn, corresponds to Asiatic mentality. This is the reason why, out of today’s 350 million Buddhists, 95% are Asians.
In recent times, Buddhism started to appeal to more and more people in Western countries, which can be explained by the fact that the essence of Buddhist teachings correspond to White people’s existential mode. For example, the majority of these people think of sacrificing animals to God Jehovah as something utterly horrible, even though they are being explicitly required to do this by the Bible. Buddhism, on the other hand, promotes humane attitude to animals. It will not be an exaggeration to say that the original spirit of Buddhism corresponds to White people’s mentality more then the Semitic religion of bloodthirsty tribal God Yahweh. This is the reason why Buddhism is going to be embraced by more and more people in Western countries, as time goes by.
Conclusion
Thus, we can conclude that both religions are based on historical events that were being mythologized. The reason why Christianity and Buddhism were able to win millions of adherents is because these religions could be adapted to the racial psyche of people, among which they were being popularized. At the same time, whereas Christianity is now rapidly loosing its appeal, the Buddhism continues to gain more adherents, which is why we can predict that, in near future, it will became the second largest religion after Islam.
Bibliography
- Howard Marshall, “Orthodoxy and Heresy in Earlier Christianity”. Early Church. 2002. Web.
- Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche, “The Three Buddhist Councils”. Simhanada. 2001. Web.
- New King James Version: Scofield Study Bible. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 1982.
Freiberg On Southwest Airlines’
“Nuts! Southwest Airlines’ Crazy Recipe for Business and Personal Success” is based on what can be referred to as the success story of Southwest Airlines. It is a guide towards how to achieve success in business, harsh as the business world today may appear to be.
Southwest Airlines is the largest airline in the United States. Situated in Dallas, Texas it had the largest number of passengers carried in the world domestically as of December 31, 2007. Other successes include that the airline maintains the third-largest fleet of aircraft in all of the world’s commercial airlines.
In a report dated July 12th, 2008, the airline operates three thousand five hundred flights approximately per day and it is known to have carried more customers than any other U.S airline for both domestic and international passengers and it posted a profit for the thirty-fifth consecutive year in the month of January the year 2008 making it one of the world’s most profitable airlines.
The book tempts one to look at the history of Southwest Airlines which originally served only three cities in Texas in 1967 that is Dallas, Houston, and San Antonio. As is familiar in the business world, other airlines of the time took legal action in a bid to keep Air Southwest on the ground but it eventually succeeded when the supreme court gave the airline a go-ahead to fly in Texas in 1970.
That legal fight story was later turned into a children’s book ‘Gumwrappers and Goggles’ by Winifred Barnum and then adapted into a stage musical ‘Show your Spirit’ which was sponsored by Southwest Airlines and played in the towns serviced by the airline. This appears a lot like the idea of the airline’s founder and CEO Herb Kelleher who not only strives to build a dedicated and productive workforce but is also determined to make flying be a fun-filled experience for everyone one who flies with Southwest Airlines.
The book is divided into four parts; The first, A legend Takes Off: The Southwest Spirit is born, shows how the Airline fought to get off the ground and of the innovations that came about even in the midst of the fires of tough competition and how the airline was finally able to create a corporate personality. It tells of how the small regional airline prospered in the midst of deregulation within the industry, a number of recessions, and an oil crisis to boot to become the world’s safest and most ‘punctual’ airline. Apart from its first year, the airline has all along enjoyed profitability and massive stock growth.
In the second part, Basics Gone Nuts: Doing Business Basics with a Southwest Twist, the reader is taken through the founder’s secrets of success in Hiring for Attitude and training for Skills. One gets an overview of the company’s recruitment and hiring practices which are built on the idea that humor has the ability to help people or company employees to thrive during change, to remain creative and active under pressure, to work more effectively at all times, to be able to play more enthusiastically and in the process be able to stay healthier.
The Human resources department looks at employees as more than just resources within the organization but as real people whose satisfaction is valued and respected. This explains why Southwest airlines hire for attitude and trains for skills and also for the reason that fun can counterbalance the stress associated with hard work and competition.
Kelleher emphasizes that life is too short, hard, and serious for most people especially business people for them not to be humorous about it which is the reason fun in Southwest Airlines is taken very seriously among the working crew or staff and the airline’s clients. The idea behind it is that nowadays, most people work smarter, harder, and faster than ever as a result of the changes that need to be embraced especially in the business world. This has resulted in people losing touch with the lighter side of life. Most organizations expect their employees to be serious and businesslike and follow a lot of bureaucratic practices like checking the employee’s personal baggage at the door before getting into the office. In such organizations, humor is viewed as unprofessional and reserve for children and not professionals.
In Southwest airlines, humor is encouraged since they believe that failure to do so in the workplace not only undermines the production capacity, the creativity of the employees, their adaptability, and their morale, but it can end up driving people crazy. The airline also discovered that by putting humor on top of the list during recruitment and hiring they are able to nourish joy, pride, and fun in those working for them on and off the job. This has seen the company achieve the dream of satisfying the work and job security for a lot of people which many organizations might not be in a position to offer their employees.
The book shows how in Southwest Airlines, professionalism has gained a whole new meaning where the professionals are empathetic and believe that the business of business lies in making a profit by serving people and making live more fun for those being served and those serving them. Their kind of professionalism is practiced with flair and without offending those who think of themselves as professionals. The airline’s customers appear to be content with this kind of service judging from the positive comments customers give in their letters of unique experiences with Southwest Airlines.
This kind of professionalism if adopted in organizations today will allow employees to be authentic and real in their workplace. This will enable them to express themselves realistically and creatively as has been done in Southwest airlines where the employees influence the uniqueness of the airline through the projection of their own individuality. The advantage is that a better relationship is enhanced between the employees and the customers who find themselves drawn to the Southwest employees.
From the book, Southwest Airlines is probably one of the few companies where fun, humor, and laughter are treated as life-enhancing gifts. A relaxed atmosphere is created and it gives people the freedom they require to play and have fun while still working.
The third part, Nuts Gone Basic: Doing the Extra Special Exceptionally Well, is among other things about the importance of celebrating the milestones the organization makes, giving back to society in various ways, or social responsibility. It also gives some very useful tips on advertising which if adopted by other organizations can be of great use and also the importance of treating both the employees and customers with care.
The fourth part The Legend Lives on: Leadership Spices It Up provides useful information which can be of great use especially for those in leadership positions in organizations. This tends to take one back on the part on how to think like owners as opposed to nonowners and how that can be adopted in organizations to bring out the potentials of the company and those working there. Since ownership is considered to be a state of mind, one is fully engaged to be active in pursuing the organizational objectives because owners are likely to focus on the business implications of their actions regardless of what others think about it, unlike the nonowners who live by the laid down rules.
In conclusion, Southwest Airline’s success can thus be attributed to among other things, the hiring of self-driven people who have an entrepreneurial drive and enthusiasm, the company therefore assumes the role of creating a suitable environment that nurtures that entrepreneurial spirit to bring out the employees full capabilities while boosting the organization in various ways.
Reference
Freiberg, K., Freiberg, J. (1998). Nuts! Southwest Airlines’ Crazy Recipe for Business and Personal Success. Bantam Doubleday Dell Publishing Group.
Prevention Of Substance Abuse
Drug abuse is becoming a growing social and a public health problem. There are many substances blamed to be of use and abuse. Substances are either licit or lawful (bought legally as tobacco and alcohol) and illicit or illegal as heroin, cocaine, amphetamines, or cannabis. This has influenced public and individual view to the whole problem. Public view on a drug being a licit one, there is no enough cause to face its consumption. Second, being licit, it is available for everyone’s’ wide use; yet, the harm is still cropping up (Fagg, pp.1-15). This essay aims to discuss briefly prevention of substance abuse.
On reviewing the literature, substance use, abuse, and dependence are used interchangeably (Fagg, pp. 1-15). Based on the American Psychiatric Association Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM IV-TR (2002), both substance abuse and dependence are maladaptive patterns of substance use. The difference is mainly in the decisive factors needed to consider a case an abuse or dependence. Drug abuse is an individual showing one or more of the following signs within 12 months of drug use. Repeated drug use results in failure to fulfill a principal commitment (work, school, social, or family). The individual does not avoid using the drug in possibly risky circumstances as driving or working on a machine. Other signs include repeated use of the drug despite exposure to legal problems, social or family problems caused by, or aggravated by using the drug. In drug dependence, the individual fulfills at least three (or more) of the following signs on condition, signs take place within 12 months of drug intake. First is tolerance, it takes one of two forms , either there is a need to take increasing doses to get the wanted effect or continued intake of the same dose results in reduced effect. Second, drug withdrawal results in symptoms relieved by drug intake. Third, is despite continuous urge to stop the drugs but repeated trials persistently failed. Fourth, longtime, persistent, repeated, and failing efforts spent trying to control the drug intake are signs of drug dependence. Other signs are declining significant commitments whether social, work-related, or leisure-related because the individual keeps on taking the drug (DSM-IV, pp.185-198).
A successful substance abuse prevention program should fulfill the following stipulations (National Institute on Drug Abuse, pp. 2-25).
- About risk and protective factors: a prevention program should focus on strengthening protective factors, and minimizing risk factors. It should also address all possibilities of substance abuse (single or in combinations) and should be planned for the targeted community.
- Prevention programs usually give better results if combined (school and family targeted), and delivered at times of transition (as the transition from middle school to high school)
- It should be research-based in structure, content, and delivery.
- It should be long-term with interventions or booster sessions, and delivered in multiple settings (school, clubs, family, or religious organizations)
- Several Meta-analysis studies confirmed that interactive approaches produce better results than non-interactive ones.
- A successful prevention program should include training of the executive personnel.
Based on data from the Institute of Medicine (IOM), there are three different approaches to choose the one most suitable to the target group. The universal approach, the selective approach, targets a subgroup considered at high risk. Third, is the indicated approach that aims at the subgroup showing early signs of substance dependence (Nebraska Behavioral Heath Program, pp.9-10).
Prevention of substance abuse needs inclusive and intricate approaches that interconnect school, family, and community. Whatever the approach is, it has to rely on an understanding of the psychological, social, and cultural factors behind the problem (Center for Mental Health in Schools at UCLA, p. 85). Psychological comorbidity is common with substance abuse, Rosack (p.32) stated that smoking in the targetUS population is nearly 23%, in schizophrenia and mood disorders patients tobacco abuse rises nearly to 90%. A figure that points to how important prevention-associated, intervention programs are.
Works Cited
- American Psychiatric Association (2002). Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental
- Disorders DSM IV-TR (4th ed). Washington, D.C.: American Psychiatric Press.
- Center for Mental Health in Schools at UCLA. UCLA Dept. of Psychology. A resource aid packet on Substance Abuse. 2003.
- Fagg, D. “Adolescent Drug Use.” Revolve vol 13 2006. p. 1-15.
- Nebraska Health and Human Service System. Office of Mental Health, Substance Abuse and Addiction Services. SICA Guidance Document For Selecting Science-Based and Promising Substance Abuse Prevention Strategies. By Nebraska Behavioral Health Prevention Program. 2004.
- Rosack, J. “NIDA, APA Collaborate On Substance Abuse Series.” Psychiatric News vol 39 (4) 2004. p. 32.