1. One paragraph summary of the key idea summarizing the topic of the week.

This section we discussed four major moral systems in the world: Islam, Judaism, Buddhism, and Confucianism. There were student presentations on the ethics, moral teachings, and histories of each of the four. The four were then compared and contrasted by members of each of the four groups to reveal that great similarity exists among the different teachings of the systems. There was overwhelming similarity about what being moral and how to live that way is which led to a conclusion that it is possible that there is a higher objective morality governing us all. To see each group's site, click on the links above.

2. List and explain three of the most important ideas you want to remember from this week.

~Buddhism's Four Noble Truths:

There is Suffering in Life

This Suffering is due to the attachment of people to worldly goods

There is an end to this Suffering, Nirvana

The way to achieve Nirvana is to follow the Eightfold Path

Buddha taught these four truths as the basis of his philosophy. They can be applied to everyone's lives and look to give incentive for people to live the "right life" in order to achieve the state of no suffering: Nirvana.

~Jihad- Sometimes considered the 6th Pillar of Islam, Jihad is commonly misperceived. There are two parts to Jihad. The first is an internal struggle faced by everyone in there lives between living a good, pure life or choosing to live a wanton life. The second part is an armed military struggle dedicated to Allah against non-Muslims. Most Muslisms practice the first part of Jihad, not the second which is only practiced by a small percent of the world's Islamic population.

~Suggestion of Objective Morality- I hinted to this in the first section. There is a strong implication of an objective morality when the four systems are compared. There are similarities, such as the limits on alcohol and the idea that internal struggle occurs in everyone, that, when taken into account with the fact that the founders of these systems did not know of on another nor were they aware of the other philosophies, stronly imply a higher moral objectivity over all of us that is ingrained in our hearts and consciences.

3. One image of that reminds you of the topic.

Thanks to katalystonline.com for the image.
OK, I got a little obstract here. I'm really harping on this objective morality thing because I believe in it. When I look at this picture, I see one figure, the objective morality, standing in the foreground and four figures, the four systems we studied, braching off of it in the background.

4. One good question I should keep with me to ponder.
How are the moral values of these four systems similar to the moral values of Catholicism? How are the similar to my moral values?

5. What should you try to do to make you a better person, a more moral person, from this study of other moral systems?

I can start by taking things that I agree with and like from each of the systems, such as the Four Noble Truths or the idea of Jihad as an inner struggle, and applying them to my life to see where I suffer or fight inner struggles and work to achieve a Nirvana-esque life by living morally. Studying these systems, especially Judaism, also gives me a better background as to where Christianity's and Jesus' morality come from. I am now better able to accept Jesus' moral teaching with the knowledge that it is not completely unfounded and off his cuff, but has a history centuries old.