CROSS CULTURAL SPIRITUAL VALUES AND PROSPECTS FOR PEACEFUL COEXISTANCE

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Eric Hubert Bruton, Jr.

A Thesis Submitted to the

University of North Carolina Wilmington in Partial Fulfillment

Of the Requirements for the Degree of

Master Arts in Liberal Studies

Department of Liberal Studies

University of North Carolina Wilmington

2005

TABLE OF CONTENTS

ABSTRACT.......................................................................................................................... iv

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS.................................................................................................. v

DEDICATION....................................................................................................................... vi

LIST OF TABLES................................................................................................................ vii

LIST OF FIGURES.............................................................................................................. vii

Conventions Used In The Work............................................................................ vii

FORWORD.......................................................................................................................... viii

INTRODUCTION.................................................................................................................. 1

Section 1 - Scriptural Evidence

of Tolerance and Respect for Others........................................................ 5

Role of Prayers As A Tool For Tolerance.................................................................... 8

Questions That Lead To Faith....................................................................................... 10

What Will Happen To Me After This Life...................................................................... 13

Questions About Existence After Life........................................................................... 14

Is There A God or Gods?............................................................................................... 16

Is There A Purpose For My Life?................................................................................. 17

SECTION 2 – SHARED LINKS TO OUR ANCESTORS, AND DESCENDANTS...... 21

Religion, Faith and Belief As Psychological Functions.............................................. 23

Religion, Spirit, Belief Per Jung.................................................................................... 24

Soul and Spirit................................................................................................................. 26

Faith.................................................................................................................................. 30

Belief................................................................................................................................ 31

Western and Eastern Spiritual Perception................................................................... 32

Western Understanding Of Self..................................................................................... 32

Eastern Understanding OF Self.................................................................................... 36

Class Room Experiment – Meditation On Self............................................................ 38

SECTION 3 - Common Spirit Manifested In Symbol........................................ 41

Conclusion..................................................................................................................... 45

Bibliography................................................................................................................... 48

End Notes........................................................................................................................................................................ 50

ABSTRACT

New compilations of religious scriptures from all over the world allow for comparisons of cultural similarity and hint at prospects for world peace. This prospect is further supported by scientific research begun in the early twentieth century by Carl Jung and continuing today in many medical fields. This project looks at some of the scriptures, scientific discoveries, and shared values that form a basis for explorations of peaceful coexistence. A major tool for this search is an Anthology of World Scriptures which was a project of the International Religious Foundation. This work groups world scriptures together under topical headings which allow comparisons of many religious philosophies in detail. The passages are all translated by scholarly practitioners of the faiths presented. The Collected Works of C.G. Jung are used to show connections with the psyche as well as explain differences between soul, spirit, faith, and belief. Because Dr. Jung saw value in the study of Eastern Religions and saw Buddhism as a source of understanding that could lead to the treatment of long suffering mentally ill patients, this work also considers the connection of Western and Eastern thought and considers implications for common peaceful respect with mutual understanding. The result of this undertaking is a greater awareness of potential world unity points. These points lead one to the conclusion that world peace will happen when mutual respect for a broad range of value systems is brought to consciousness in most of the population.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

My most sincere thanks to Phrakru Buddamonpricha, Abbot of Wat Carolina Buddhajakra Vanaram located on Midway Road near Bolivia, North Carolina, for his patience over the last fifteen years. His compassion and gentle way of instruction have added a new dimension to my search for enlightenment.

The Meher Spiritual Center, a spiritual retreat located in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, must be mentioned as a major factor in the planning and research for this work. The library at this wonderful location is an exceptional repository for information about World Religions. It is also a powerful site for deep and ongoing meditation. My best samadhi mind ever, was experienced there in the barn, as a gentle rain played its primal rhythm.

A very special thanks to my dear Sempiternal Harmony friends for the encouragement and support they provided through the writing of this project.

Finally, but perhaps most importantly, I thank Dr. Jenny Yates, M.A.R., Ph.D. for her guidance during the development of this project. She introduced me to the work of Carl Jung and his life long dedication to the mysteries of the psyche. His work has allowed me to bring Anthropology, Scripture, and Psychology into an understanding that there are uniting factors which can lead to peaceful coexistence.

DEDICATION

This project is dedicated to those who would dare to think about the possibilities of peace among the people of the world. Seek the light in your own heart and manifest it in your life. Know that there is and has always been, a Sempiternal Harmony.

LIST OF TABLES

Table

1 People Required To Produce A Child In 2004..................................................................... ix

2 Causes Of Suffering – Theravada Buddhism....................................................................... 22

LIST OF FIGURES

Figure

1. Theravada Buddhist - Wheel Of Life................................................................................ 20

2. Soul And Spirit Within The Self...................................................................................... 27

3. The Self per Von Franz................................................................................................. 33

4. An Embroidered Sacred Heart....................................................................................... 41

5. Calligraphy Of The Word Allah...................................................................................... 42

6. Typical Image Of Buddha With Halo............................................................................... 42

7. The Holy Family........................................................................................................... 43

8. Ancient Taoist Dance To The Sky.................................................................................. 44

9. Moon Snail Shell.......................................................................................................... 44

10. The Living Mandala....................................................................................................... 47

Conventions Used In The Work

All references to The Divine Essence, independent of their use in a sentence, or their part of speech, are capitalized when they might be considered a divine attribute. The word god is used with lower case when it refers to more than one divine essence.