What is it about the nature of human beings that defines who we are? How are we viewed regarding our characteristics and our place within the universe? What makes human beings different from any other species on the planet Earth? How are we viewed from the outside looking in? These are questions that people ask themselves throughout their developmental growth stages. What makes it so interesting is that this topic is one that people do not stray away from. People tend to go through extreme lengths to have these questions answered so that they can gain understanding that will satisfy their soul. An article in newscientist.com suggest that there are six things about our human nature that we all have in common and do very well. When it comes to (1) SKILLS our human nature reflects us as being playful, (2) COMMUNICATION our nature has shown us as being gossipy, our (3) Human BEHAVIOURIAL nature shows how legislative we are in developing elaborate systems of rules and etiquette, when it comes to humans (4) FEEDING, our nature shows how epicurean we are, with (5) SEX, unlike animals who publicly have sex, our human nature shows that we are clandestine, lastly our (6) KNOWLEDGE nature shows us being scientific, we like to figure things out. The nature of humans is one of those things we want to figure out. This study was done by Anthropologists who “have identified many “human universals” – characteristics shared by all people everywhere, which constitute a sort of parts list of our species” (New Scientist). When people do not agree with society and science they often turn to religion, whose vast variety suggest different ideals about human nature. Human nature is at the core of every religion because it defines who people are when they seek to discover themselves in their overall journey. It helps people realize their place and role in the universe. If we explore the many religions we can find some common ground within them all about human nature.
In Hinduism, The Vedas and the Upanishads view human characteristics differently. The Vedas believe humans have one purpose in life, which is to perform proper sacrifices to the gods. The most exemplary model for the humans is the head house holder because they teach the family all they should do according to the caste system, which is their way of life. The Upanishads believes that humans can become one with a higher reality named Brahman. To do this, they must change how they see the world and behave in it. Within Buddhism, Buddhist believes humans need each other. Social engagement, or communication, must occur to gain peace. Without social engagement, without people of different religious backgrounds communicating, wars would never cease. Buddhism brings forth spirituality, which humans need to get to the root of their problems. Deeper knowledge helps us figure it out. As the religions Daoism and Confucianism gained popularity, Taoism, the religion practiced by earlier people of this faith, gradually fell from favor, and changed from an official religion to a popular religious tradition” (BBC,2009). Daoism feels as if people should get to a condition of harmony known as The Great Peace, while living within their chaotic environment. Our human nature allows to separate ourselves from everything going on around us. In the Shinto tradition, the world’s beauty has many helpful spirits all around us, to help guide us. “The body and mind must be purified so that the person can be connected with kami, that are clean, bright, right, and straight” (Fisher 231). The nature of our behaviors helps us accomplish this. In Judaism, through Abraham and his bloodline, Jewish people feel they are chosen people whom God formed a covenant of protection, special favors and blessings, in exchange for obedience of the people. Jewish people like God, being created in his image, are held to ethical standards. If the nature of people is to do and be good, the days of their lives will reap many rewards, as promised by God. Christianity is a religion based on the life, teachings, death, and resurrection of Jesus.” (Fisher 305). He taught that Christians’ nature should reflect the following of Gods commandments so that they may be able to enter Heaven. We are born into sin and must separate ourselves from it so that we can be forgiven through the compassion of God. Within Islam, Humans must be on a quest for a greater self. The more they get to know themselves, the more spiritual they will become. The more spiritual they are, the closer they get to God while in their perfect being. To reach that level one would have experienced a greater peace that not all could reach, but if we communicate with one another then it is possible. Sikhism is also a religion where humans must be on a quest for a greater self. The more they get to know about themselves and treat others the same as themselves, no matter what level of accomplishment they are in in life, the more they will become one with God. We are all part of a greater whole and the more we realize that, the more we become selfless. These acts and characteristics of human nature are also reflected amongst the many New Religious Movements such as Baha’I. This faith has the idea of uniting all religions. The new religions are derived from mixtures of many of the older religions which shows that the same characteristics about human nature exist within them all.
I, myself have personally felt like those amongst the new religious movements. As I agree with some science, seeking answers through religion to help gain a higher spirituality within myself, was my way of gaining comfort. I looked to discover the root of problems that helps produce good deeds to change the nature of human beings. Like Muslims and Buddhist, we must have compassion for one another because that is important. Some may not know it but, for example, the government social services took their ideals of helping mothers and children from Muslims. Discovering our sameness and relatedness in human nature and our structures in society is significant across all religions because it brings people to face their own problems of viewing each other as different. My community takes on these acts of taking care of each other’s families. We know we can heal and help others heal, even if they are of a different faith. We must know why people are the way they are, accept them for who they are, and deal with them accordingly based on their characteristics. This helps people to create ways for all human families to survive. We must shift our knowledge to accomplish and understand the power in our unity.
Resources
1). Fisher, Mary P., Robin Rinehart. Living Religions, 10th Edition. Pearson Learning Solutions, 2016-10-01. VitalBook file.
2). (11/2009). The Origins of Taoism. Retrieved from:http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/taoism/history/history.shtml
3). R. Loy, David. What’s Buddhist about Socially Engaged Buddhism. Retrieved from:
http://www.zen-occidental.net/articles1/loy12-english.html
4). Patheos. Human Nature and the Purpose of
Existence. Retrieved
from:
http://www.patheos.com/Library/Hinduism/Beliefs/Human-Nature-and-the-Purpose-of-Existence
5). Human nature: Six things we all do: Retrieved from: https://www.newscientist.com/round-up/human-nature
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