Reply to forums Religion/History

Please do a responce for each and two referances PER forum

Each forum should end with a question about the topic

Relgion Forums

Forum 1

 For this week’s discussion I have chosen to discuss option A comparing and contrasting if Buddhism should be identified as a religion or philosophy. First I want to start off with defining the two. Religion is the belief in and worship of a superhuman controlling power. Philosophy is the study of fundamental nature of knowledge, reality, and existence.  

         I would consider Buddhism to be a philosophy, before reading this weeks reading I would have considered it to be a religion. In Buddhism the person that people worship is Siddhartha. A lot of what he knew was from experience and not power from a higher being. Siddhartha experienced so many new things after being sheltered by his dad. He was looking for the source of happiness, peace, or freedom from suffering. Although it is said that he achieved this, it is in fact just a theory from a man who meditated and did not let anything distract him. Did he awaken we don’t know. 

          Buddhist often practice two or more religions to a greater or lesser extent. (Wiley & Sons, 2015, P.63) I believe they practice many other religions because Buddhism is a philosophy. It is the practice of a man’s way of living that gave him the peace he earned for. In Buddhism the council met and decided what practices they were going to use. That alone explains that Buddhism is philosophy because it was each person vote on what is to be taught to their people whom believed Budda awakend. Another interesting fact was the details of Siddhartha’s life was written down hundreds of years after his death. (Wiley & Sons, 2015 P.65) Meaning much of his teachings could have been rewritten. Buddhism is a philosophy because is the study of the the fundamental nature of how Buddha Awakened to find peace not the belief of a superhuman controlling power.

Forum 2

When it comes to the followers of Buddhism there are philosophies that they live by and help guide them to a better understanding of the universe. The question at hand however is that, is Buddhism a philosophy or a religion? On the one hand it’s easy to think of Buddhism as a philosophy because it was founded on Siddhartha try to reach enlightenment by different means and asking himself the question of how to find true peace. Those who follow Buddhism are in the pursuit of some kind of enlightenment through different guidelines that have been tough them. At the end of the day though Buddhism is considered a religion from the view point of the outside world and of it’s followers. It probably won’t be this weeks focus for this class if it wasn’t. Some of the main talking points to defend that view though would have to be that Buddhism has believe in some kind of afterlife. They believe that the soul continues on after our physical form dies and through Buddhist teaching you can find ways to have a better life the next cycle or reach nirvana and break free from the cycle all together. Even though Buddhism has no believe in a god or gods they do believe in supernatural beings that either have a positive or negative effect in our life. Buddhism is a religion that has a lot of philosophy inside it but it is still a religion with millions of followers hoping that their faith is the right one so they can be lead to a better tomorrow. 

Forum 3

 Is Buddhism a religion or a philosophy? Let’s start by looking at what makes a religion a religion. The word religion comes from a Latin word that means “to tie or bind together.” Modern dictionaries define religion as “an organized system of beliefs and rituals centering on a supernatural being or beings.”(Religion and Identity, n.d.) With that being said, does Buddhism meet the definition? It is an organized system of beliefs and rituals, but does it revolve around a centralized supernatural being? With the practice of Buddhism, one is not worshipping a Deity, one is looking into one’s self to achieve enlightenment. You can argue that there are Deities within Buddhism, but from how I interpreted the lesson there are not as many Deities as there are one’s uncertainties and doubts to the path of enlightenment.

               Now, to look at the definition of what philosophy is. Philosophy is by definition the study of ideas about knowledge, truth, and the nature and meaning of life, or it can be a set of ideas about how to do something or how to live. Buddhism is, in my opinion, more of a philosophy based on philosophy’s “book” definition than it is a religion. Buddhism has a set standard on how someone should meditate, what someone should eat, or how someone should live. You, as a follower of the buddhas teachings, are constantly searching for knowledge into one’s inner self and to the world around you. Philosophy has long become a key term in the study of Buddhism, defining the moral and rational essence of the Buddha’s teachings, while maintaining a grasp on the modern world.

History forums

(these are just hypotical situations please respond like your in that time frame aand add a question 

Forum 4

As a merchant who has been purchasing and selling furniture from great Britain for years, these "Patriots" are making a mistake. We get everything we need form Britain. They organize our slave trade, make necessary products, and keep us governed. All we have to do is listen so people like me can still get paid and run a successful business. You Patriots are going to get everything taken from us. Where will I get my furniture to sell? Where will these rebels buy their furniture? Not at my store. This rebellion is costing everyone slaves and workers because of Dunmore’s Proclamation. When all of the workers and slaves join the loyalist for freedom the Patriots will come around. Many of my fellow Loyalist are descents of the Royal family and are highly respected in the colonies, the Patriots do not stand a chance. James Chalmers himself said "I urge you all to consider the price we would pay for the rebellion against the Crown. Some of our Colonists call this revolution but you must realize that this is a huge mistake, any actions against Crown represent a mere rebellion." Listen to him!

Forum 5

My fellow colonists, though many good points have been made, please consider these facts. 

    The British Empire has raised the most powerful military in our life times.  This rebellion against the crown will become a British invasion into our colonies, cities, and our homes.  It will be fought in our own backyards without mercy.  As a married man and father of two children, I refuse to subject my family and my slaves to the horrors of war.  Our women and children will become prisoners to the crown, and they will be sold for labor, or worse, to the soldiers of the British Empire.

    Furthermore, Great Britain is my home.  Rebellion to the crown is morally wrong, and we risk alienation form our families in the kingdom if we choose the wrong side.  Additionally, what will happen to our families and colleagues back in Great Britain?  They will face reprisal for being associates of ours.  Coconspirators the King’s army will call them.  And surely to avoid reprimand, they will fight for the crown to show loyalty.  Tearing families apart. 

    We also risk throwing these established colonies into chaos and anarchy.  Let’s say we do weaken the assault of the King’s powerful army.  What happens when both the rebels and soldiers of the crown are fatigued from battle?  There will be no established order in the streets of our cities. The natives will notice, clearly, and fight to reclaim the land they lost to us a few decades ago.  We have to remember that good order and discipline are the keys to success.  The British Empire is crucial to our commerce and economic wealth.  I believe the Americas will have independence one day.  Let’s agree to allow that independence to come organically rather than force it through a winless war.

Forum 6

As a shop owner living in New York I agree that we should have our independence. They continue to bring up new acts and taxing us money in order to send goods to and from Great Britain and other countries. Why should we have to be taxed for them being in debt. We should all fight for equality and work together. The way we are being taxed is unacceptable. The loyalists need to realize that we need to have our own independence and build our own government for our 13 colonies. We should have a say in how our country should be ran and not by a country thousands of miles away that only care about themselves. We are the hard working people living here in the New World. 

Our 13 colonies will be able to build our economy and grow as a nation with liberty. We will have a government that allows us an opportunity to be heard before making decisions. This is the future of our country and we need to gain our independence. I encourage the loyalists to read Common Sense by Thomas Paine. Every word he speaks in that pamphlet has meaning. He talks about how having our independence will give us a nation that will prosper. One that has no debt and have a fresh start. With starting a new country we know it comes with different obstacles. As Thomas Paine stated in common sense “It is not in numbers, but in unity, that our great strength lies; yet our present numbers are sufficient to repel the force of all the world.” (Paine,1776)  My fellow patriots and I will stand behind our country.