Chapter 5: Eurasian Cultural Traditions

            This chapter is one impressing and two interesting, it pretty much hands us a whole bunch of cultures and their traditions. All these cultures had something in common that happened all in a similar time zone where gods or spirits explained what happened in this world. In the reading these various cultures and the religions that follow have survived thousands of years such as Buddhism, Confucianism, Hinduism, Judaism, and Christianity. These beings of spirituality seemed to be similar to human beings though more powerful and all knowing. New ways in worshiping were coming in order and some source out in the universe a higher power shaped mankind and influenced a change of thinking. This new way of thinking included morals a way of living and a way of worshiping changed generations after.

            Two religions that really stood out to me were Confucianism and Buddhism. Confucianism impressed me because it really wasn’t about the all mighty god but the way of standard living and the morals that come along with life. Buddhism had changed the way I thought about the culture just because I am use to seeing a figurine with a round belly and that’s not who he is apparently it’s a man named Siddhartha Gautama a prince from a small north Indian state.  The people to follow Buddhism achieved enlightenment, but were taught nirvana and karma.

            As I was reading the book on page 126 to 127 the last paragraph contained all these questions and some analysis to why, and what happened. The question that stood out was “what is the relationship between human life in this world and the moral spiritual realms that lie beyond?”  And it says “precisely why various societies developed their own distinctive answers to these questions remains an elusive mystery a tribute, perhaps, to the unpredictable genius of the human imagination.” With these two quotes left me speechless because it just shows how outstanding the human mind is and how we can shape reality with a combination of high spirituality.