Sophie's world reflection Nummer Zwei

Here it goes again...



Yesterday, as I was reading Sophie's world I stumbled across the chapter two worlds, a interesting comparison of semitic and indo-european schools of thought, sending me into some rather interesting reflections on America, Buddhism, Hinduism, and morality... have fun!!

First things first, America, cause <sarcasm> we're the best </sarcasm>. While most would argue that Americans are by no means represented by what the rest of the world thinks of us, arrogant xenophobic and racist, it appears that nine times out of ten, they're correct, at least when you look at who our celebrities are. America has decided to promote idiots and buffoons over those who are the smartest or those with the clearest morals, those who portray what we should aspire to be. America is a disease, the virus of Agent Smith, that doesn't actually work on making the world a better place (for the most part) when, as the country with the best means to do so, we should at least feel obligated. In America, the general goal is to experience everything we can, everything we WANT, over what we should do to better ourselves, our country, and our world.

Buddhism is a system based on the teachings of Gautama Buddha, and has Three Jewels, Buddha,  his teachings, and community. Hinduism on the other hand is a system based on the earlier Vedic texts of earlier Indian Cultures. However,they both have similar beliefs about the nature of sould, that it is trapped in this endless cycle of regeneration, until of course you gain enlightenment. Unlike most western religions, they preach not that the only way to salvation is through their way, *glances at christianity*, or you're on a highway to hell. Instead, they preach that their are many paths to God and that while some ways are more efficient, they all eventually have the same end goal. Instead of teaching to help whenever possible, which is a very difficult thing to do, instead they preach doing no harm and speaking truth, virtues that most Americans would assuredly benefit from.

Not only that, some of their teachings mimic those being taught by Jesus in the New Testament. For example, their belief that distancing oneself from the ideals of the world and foregoing material wealth resounds with Jesus's metaphor involving treasure instructing "Store your treasures in heaven, where neither moths nor rust corrupt, nor thieves break in to steal. Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also."


Morals... morals are entirely subjective to a society, what is moral, what is immoral cannot be defined on a cultural basis over anythinng more than a handful of years. What bugs me is when certain fools try to say that their morals are superior to anyone elses when they only follow them out of fear rather than duty or even true belief

Peace.