Religion and Diversity

David Marlow

ETH/125

Deena Shehata (Instructor)

Religion and Ethnic Diversity

For this paper, I chose Mahayana (Zen) Buddhism and the Asian ethnic group. Mahayana (Zen) Buddhism is different from other religions in that it does not revolve around a made up god or gods. They follow teachings of Gautama Buddha, a man that lived and taught mostly in eastern India sometime between the sixth and fourth centuries BCE. The teachings in Zen Buddhism do not rely on shrines, relics, or religious statues like many other religions, although some are used, they are not needed. The teachings are to look inside yourself for enlightenment and truth. It teaches that you should rid yourself of all evils in life and of things that you do not need. There is no praying or talking to an all-powerful being up in the heavens. You only talk to yourself and look within yourself for your answers.

In Buddhism, there is not much to write about as far as what happens to non-believers of the Buddhist teachings as there is to what happens to the Buddhist by the non-believers. Buddhism is a very peaceful religion. There are some sects of Buddhism that practice martial arts as a form of meditation and self-defense. It is and always has been the other religions of the world that fight and start wars over their beliefs and to force others to believe in their God.

Asians and Buddhist have contributed a lot to the American culture. American is a melting pot of cultures and religions. Buddhism and the Asians just add to it. Buddhist temples have sprung up all across the country. Also, martial art dojo’s that teach a variety of martial art styles including those taught by the Buddhist are located from coast to coast. American has fallen in love with Asian food and décor. Even my house is full of Asian and Buddhist decorations. Asian teachings can be found in many different environments throughout America. Teachings from Feng shui for a proper flow and feel to orient your buildings for harmonizing...