In this section, we learned about different moral systems besides Christianity: Buddhism, Confucianism, Islam, and Judaism. We also studied smaller moral systems such as Democratic Socialism, Nihilism, Virtue Ethics, Moral Relativism, and Anarchism. It was good to get some exposure to other systems because we have rarely learned anything about them. We found that all these systems have many of the same core values, even though they were started at different times, different places, and we have no evidence that any of the originators knew of each other. They taught the same things about how to live our lives, such as not drinking alcohol in excess, being honest, respecting life, and treating others with respect. They all taught the idea of self sacrifice for others’ well being. This suggests that there really is an objective truth that we are supposed to follow; that there is a set of virtues that we were meant to live our lives by in order to fulfill ourselves.

I want to remember Confucius’ five key relationships and how you are to act within these relationships. They can help point me in the right direction on how I treat others. It’s important for me to be obedient and to respect my elders, and to show concern and kindness to those who look up to me. Sometimes a sixth relationship between teacher and student is added also.

I also liked Islam’s idea of jihad. Looking further into this helped me to understand a little more what is going on in the Middle East. It also helped clear up a few uncertainties that I had about the term. The only definition that I know of before studying Islam was a "holy war." I learned that it is actually more than this. It is actually a very broad idea that includes the struggle to improve the quality of life in society in the path of God and to fight against tyranny and oppression. It does not necessitate violence, as many people have interpreted it to mean. This idea is very close to what the Catholic Church teaches. The problem of war and violence comes when people believe that the only way of bringing about a better society is through violence and killing those with different views.

I also want to remember Buddha’s second Noble Truth, which states that all suffering comes from our own selfish desires and wants. This can help remind me that if I let go of these desires by simply not letting myself get attached to such things, I can reduce if not get rid of my suffering. I do not need to annihilate and completely get rid of my desires, that would be impossible, but I need to just recognize that it is just a desire, and in doing so, I am no longer attached to it.

picture from this site.

This picture of a junior bill looks a lot like Buddha. It reminds me that the teachings of Buddha (and the other moral systems as well) are very similar to what Christianity teaches and to what SLUH’s mission is.

One question for me to think about is how can I take these moral systems and the virtues that they teach and incorporate them into my own set of values.

To become a better and more moral person, I can try to follow Buddha’s Eightfold Path. We did the Right Speech Experiment in class, and it helped me realize all the flaws in my way of speaking. And this is just one of the eight that Buddha taught would help us achieve total piece of mind. By following and striving for the other seven, I think I can live a much more moral and fulfilled life.