the Balance in the World of Religions

The Balance in the world of religionshand it could be argued that, while an aggressive
Each religion including that of Christianity, BuddhismIslam needed to be opposed, a peaceful Islam was
and Islam had its particular impact on the veryimpotent and only fit for cultural improvement.
essence of the word, shaping its culture, politics,On the other hand, the role of force in Islam could
science, social life according to the main prerogativesbe down-played. From the middle of the seventeenth
of the religions mentioned. Moreover, religions had, Icentury there had been those who decried it as a
would say, the most important influence on history. Itvulgar opinion that Muhammad spread the faith by
is due the conflict between Christianity and Islam thethe sword. [Tailor.T, 1868].
progress of Western society turned out to be soTo cover Islam from the perspective of cultural,
extensive and deep. It is due to Buddhism people tryartistic, political and social perspective I would like to
to bring profound changes to their lives making anpropose you the following brief analysis of Islam.
effort to free themselves from negative influence ofCultural tradition: religious enthusiasm, argument
the society they live in.concerning the relative truth of Islam
BuddhismArtistic traditions: dominance of religious contest in all
As the religion of more than 90 per cent of Thailand'skinds of artistic traditions
population, Buddhism became one of the three pillarsPolitical system: justified use of force, mission of
of the national ideology, alongside the monarchy andspreading the faith, imperial confidence in the virtue
the nation. Since the very beginnings of Buddhism inof Islamic culture, radical political and social
Thailand in the thirteenth century, it has always beenimplications, the image of Islam as a religion of force,
closely linked with the state, and specifically with thethe political decrepitude and moral and social evils
king in the form of the dhammaraja (Dharma ruler orSocial system: secular and religious patronage, the
just ruler).moral degradation of women, slavery, the physical
Buddhists stress the personal choice of the individualand mental debilities of men, envy, violence and
or family when it comes to religion. No religion iscruelty, the disquiet and misery of private life, the
superior to another: the goal of all religions iscontinual agitations, commotions, and revolutions of
identical--to lead a moral life--and converting others topublic life.
Buddhism is not given much prominence.According to Smith Islam and scientific and political
Buddhism in the age of Asoka had made universalprogress are incompatible.
claims to the allegiance of man. Eventually, allegianceThus, Islam was often seen as the source of all the
or commitment would become the major feature ofevils which, in the western imagination at least, had
other religions such as Christianity and Islamafflicted Islamic societies. It was Islam, extravagant
Christianity unjustified use of force. The Christians arebut not progressive, that had relieved the eastern
convinced that theirs is the way of ultimate truth. Formind from the discipline of improving itself, and had
Protestants even more than for Catholics, Christianityleft it in its preferred state of untamed wildness.
is seen as superior to all other religions.Islam and scientific and political progress are
Christianity has become the religion of dogmas.incompatible, as Christianity and scientific and political
However, divided by heresy and factionalism, andprogress are not incompatible". [Smith B., 1995]
permeated by impiety, inequity, iniquity and idolatryConsequently, Islamic religion can be characterized by
Christianity was near to lose its humanistic nature.1.Blind devotion to Muhammad
Still, the image Christianity as a vibrant, active,2.The presence of Islamic fatalism.
progressive was a good contrast to a passive inert3.religious intolerance
Islam. This was one of the factors that enabled4.political despotism
religious and political hegemony of Western culture.Despotism.
These were common definitions of differencesThe perceived relationship between Islam and
between these two religions. Edward Freeman, fordespotism has always been the landmark of many
example, defined the west as progressive, legal,disputes. However, I would again refer to Bosworth
monogamous and Christian, and the East as arbitrary,Smith, who considered that it to be wrong to judge
stationary, polygamous and Mahometan. To WilliamIslam in terms of despotism as well as Christianity in
Muir, Islam may have been suitable to the Arabia ofterms of Anabaptists, Pillar Saints, or Shakers.
the time of Muhammad, but quite unsuited to otherConsequently, a strong tendency to evaluate Islam
times and places: "it binds society hand and foot", heas the source of all evil is a mistake.
declared. [Smith B, 1995]. So, my evaluation ofIt is quite visible that there are significant differences
Christianity as a religion would look as follows.in the cultures of different religious societies.
Cultural tradition: no religious enthusiasm, argumentHowever, my reading the book by Herb Ziegler
concerning the relative truth ChristianityTraditions & Encounters: A Global Perspective on the
Artistic traditions: partial religious contest in all kinds ofPast has helped me to shape my perception of
artistic traditions, the prevalence of secular traditionshistory as connection of "complex societies"[Ziegler
over religious onesH.,2005] that eventually is an inevitable process for
Political system: Legal basiscoexistence of different worlds and ways of life.
Social system: secular and religious patronage, theHowever, the most controversial issue in this aspect
moral value of women, slavery, , violence and cruelty,is religion.
revolutions of public life.6
Islam as religion of enthusiasmConclusion.
In the later part of the eighteenth and into theThe world religions (Buddhism, Christianity, Islam)
nineteenth century, religious enthusiasm no longercreated the history and shaped it in the way of
carried the radical political and social implications it hadcontinuous contest the outcome of which is the
held during Commonwealth and Restoration times. Itsociety we are having now as it has been stated in
was more often viewed as potentially self-deceptivemy paper. My research also proved that each religion
than socially disruptive. As Nathan Alcock put it inis unique in its own way, and is build upon long-term
1796: "Enthusiasm may cause a man to deceivetraditions. In fact, all religions has both positive and
himself, and take his own fancies and conceptions fornegative sides. Eventually, neither of religions could be
divine suggestions. This probably was the case withdefined as right or wrong. That is why everyone
Mahomet and the success of his enterprises [sic]must be aware f other civilization's presence and its
might still further persuade him that his cause wascultural, social and political values. Consequently, the
the cause of God." [Thomas Alcock T.,, 1796]rivalry between this West and that East--between
In the Victorian period, the cultural hegemony ofthe West and Islam--is natural rivalry of two different
west over east allowed for modifications to thesystems each of which has strong demand for world
image of Islam as a religion of force. On the onedominance.