BUDDHISM

Core beliefs of Buddhism:

Buddhism, like most of the great religions of the world, is divided into a number of different
traditions. However, most traditions share a common set of fundamental beliefs.
One fundamental belief of Buddhism is often referred to as reincarnation -- the concept that people
are reborn after dying. In fact, most individuals go through many cycles of birth, living, death and
rebirth. A practicing Buddhist differentiates between the concepts of rebirth and reincarnation. In
reincarnation, the individual may recur repeatedly. In rebirth, a person does not necessarily return to
Earth as the same entity ever again. He compares it to a leaf growing on a tree. When the withering
leaf falls off, a new leaf will eventually replace it. It is similar to the old leaf, but it is not identical
to the original leaf.
After many such cycles, if a person releases their attachment to desire and the self, they can attain
Nirvana. This is a state of liberation and freedom from suffering.
The Three Trainings or Practices:
These three consist of:
1. Sila: Virtue, good conduct, morality. This is based on two fundamental principles:
 The principle of equality: that all living entities are equal.
 The principle of reciprocity: This is the "Golden Rule" in Christianity -- to do onto others as
you would wish them to do onto you. It is found in all major religions.

2. Samadhi: Concentration, meditation, mental development. Developing one's mind is the path to
wisdom which in turn leads to personal freedom. Mental development also strengthens and controls
our mind; this helps us maintain good conduct.

3. Prajna: Discernment, insight, wisdom, enlightenment. This is the real heart of Buddhism.
Wisdom will emerge if your mind is pure and calm.
The first two paths listed in the Eightfold Path, described below, refer to discernment; the last three
belong to concentration; the middle three are related to virtue.

The Four Noble Truths:

The Buddha's Four Noble Truths explore human suffering. They may be described (somewhat
simplistically) as:
1. Dukkha: Suffering exists: (Suffering is real and almost universal. Suffering has many causes:
loss, sickness, pain, failure, the impermanence of pleasure.)

2. Samudaya: There is a cause for suffering. (It is the desire to have and control things. It can take
many forms: craving of sensual pleasures; the desire for fame; the desire to avoid unpleasant
sensations, like fear, anger or jealousy.)

3. Nirodha: There is an end to suffering. (Suffering ceases with the final liberation of Nirvana
(a.k.a. Nibbana). The mind experiences complete freedom, liberation and non-attachment. It lets go
of any desire or craving.)
4. Magga: In order to end suffering, you must follow the Eightfold Path.
The Five Precepts:
These are rules to live by. They are somewhat analogous to the second half of the Ten
Commandments in Judaism and Christianity -- that part of the Decalogue which describes behaviors
to avoid. However, they are recommendations, not commandments. Believers are expected to use
their own intelligence in deciding exactly how to apply these rules.
1. Do not kill. This is sometimes translated as "not harming" or an absence of violence.
2. Do not steal. This is generally interpreted as including the avoidance of fraud and economic
exploitation.
3. Do not lie. This is sometimes interpreted as including name calling, gossip, etc.
4. Do not misuse sex. For monks and nuns, this means any departure from complete celibacy. For
the laity, adultery is forbidden, along with any sexual harassment or exploitation, including that
within marriage. The Buddha did not discuss consensual premarital sex within a committed
relationship; Thus, Buddhist traditions differ on this. Most Buddhists, probably influenced by their
local cultures, condemn same-sex sexual activity regardless of the nature of the relationship
between the people involved.
5. Do not consume alcohol or other drugs. The main concern here is that intoxicants cloud the mind.
Some have included as a drug other methods of divorcing ourselves from reality -- e.g. movies,
television, the Internet. 1
Those preparing for monastic life or who are not within a family are expected to avoid an additional
five activities:
6. Taking untimely meals.
7. Dancing, singing, music, watching grotesque mime.
8. Use of garlands, perfumes and personal adornment.
9. Use of high seats.
10. Accepting gold or silver.

The Eightfold Path:

The Buddha's Eightfold Path consists of:
Panna: Discernment, wisdom:
1) Samma ditthi Right Understanding of the Four Noble Truths
2) Samma sankappa: Right thinking; following the right path in life

Sila: Virtue, morality:

3) Samma vaca: Right speech: no lying, criticism, condemning, gossip, harsh language
4) Samma kammanta Right conduct by following the Five Precepts
5) Samma ajiva: Right livelihood; support yourself without harming others

Samadhi: Concentration, meditation:

6) Samma vayama Right Effort: promote good thoughts; conquer evil thoughts
7) Samma sati Right Mindfulness: Become aware of your body, mind and feelings
 8) Samma samadhi Right Concentration: Meditate to achieve a higher state of
consciousness.

ISLAM
Beliefs are very important in Islam. To be considered a Muslim, one must believe and recite a
statement of faith known as the Shahada: "There is no God but God, and Muhammad is his
Prophet."
There is no other official creed to which one must adhere to be considered a Muslim. However, the
"Six Articles of Faith" summarizes Islamic beliefs about God, angels, prophets, the Qu'ran, the
afterlife, and predestination.

1) Belief in God:
Muslims believe in one, unique, incomparable God, Who has no son nor partner, and that
none has the right to be worshipped but Him alone. He is the true God, and every other deity is
false. He has the most magnificent names and sublime perfect attributes. No one shares His
divinity, nor His attributes.
No one has the right to be invoked, supplicated, prayed to, or shown any act of worship, but
God alone. God alone is the Almighty, the Creator, the Sovereign, and the Sustainer of everything
in the whole universe. He manages all affairs. He stands in need of none of His creatures, and all
His creatures depend on Him for all that they need. He is the All-Hearing, the All-Seeing, and the
All-Knowing. In a perfect manner, His knowledge encompasses all things, the open and the secret,
and the public and the private. He knows what has happened, what will happen, and how it will
happen. No affair occurs in the whole world except by His will. Whatever He wills is, and
whatever He does not will is not and will never be. His will is above the will of all the creatures.
He has power over all things, and He is able to do everything. He is the Most Gracious, the Most
Merciful, and the Most Beneficent. In one of the sayings of the Prophet Muhammad , we are told
that God is more merciful to His creatures than a mother to her child.1 God is far removed from
injustice and tyranny. He is All-Wise in all of His actions and decrees. If someone wants
something from God, he or she can ask God directly without asking anyone else to intercede with
God for him or her.
Islam rejects that God rested on the seventh day of the creation that He wrestled with one of
His angels that He is an envious plotter against mankind, or that He is incarnate in any human
being. Islam also rejects the attribution of any human form to God. All of these are considered
blasphemous. God is the Exalted. He is far removed from every imperfection. He never becomes
weary. He does not become drowsy nor does he sleep. The Arabic word Allah means God (the one
and only true God who created the whole universe). This word Allah is a name for God, which is
used by Arabic speakers, both Arab Muslims and Arab Christians. This word cannot be used to
designate anything other than the one true God. The Arabic word Allah occurs in the Quran about
2700 times. In Aramaic, a language related closely to Arabic and the language that Jesus habitually
spoke, God is also referred to as Allah.

2) Belief in the Angels:

 Muslims believe in the existence of the angels and that they are honored creatures. The
angels worship God alone, obey Him, and act only by His command. Among the angels is Gabriel,
who brought down the Quran to Muhammad

3) Belief in God’s Revealed Books:

Muslims believe that God revealed books to His messengers as proof for mankind and as
guidance for them. Among these books is the Quran, which God revealed to the Prophet
Muhammad. God has guaranteed the Quran’s protection from any corruption or distortion.
4) Belief in the Prophets and Messengers of God:
Muslims believe in the prophets and messengers of God, starting with Adam, including
Noah, Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, and Jesus (peace be upon them). But God’s final
message to man, a reconfirmation of the eternal message, was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad.
Muslims believe that Muhammad is the last prophet sent by God. Muslims believe that all the
prophets and messengers were created human beings who had none of the divine qualities of God.

5) Belief in the Day of Judgment:

Muslims believe in the Day of Judgment (the Day of Resurrection) when all people will be
resurrected for God’s judgment according to their beliefs and deeds.

6) Belief in Al-Qadar:
Muslims believe in Al-Qadar, which is Divine Predestination, but this belief in Divine
Predestination does not mean that human beings do not have freewill. Rather, Muslims believe that
God has given human beings freewill. This means that they can choose right or wrong and that they
are responsible for their choices.
The belief in Divine Predestination includes belief in four things: 1) God knows everything.
He knows what has happened and what will happen. 2) God has recorded all that has happened and
all that will happen. 3) Whatever God wills to happen happens, and whatever He wills not to
happen does not happen. 4) God is the Creator of everything.

IGLESIA NI CRISTO
What is Iglesia Ni Cristo?
This is an independent Christian denomination founded by Felix Manalo, a Filipino who
from his history said that he joined many different denominations in search for the truth about God
and salvation. His stay from these churches gave him so many confusions until he studied the Bible
and came up with his own church. He registered the name in 1914 and that‘s when rest of the
church‘s history continued.

Beliefs
As compared to Catholic and Protestant doctrines, the beliefs of the Iglesia Ni Cristo is
highly different. To name a few, presented is the list of the beliefs of Iglesia Ni Cristo members.
> They reject the idea that Jesus is God and strongly disagrees on the doctrinal point of Trinity.
They believe that Jesus Christ is purely and fully human. Christians should call him Lord because
Iglesia Ni Cristo members say it is the right title to call him as he was the son of God.
> The only true church is their own. Anyone outside of their church cannot attain salvation. Unless
a non-INC member submits himself to the church, he will be saved. All other denominations and
religions is what they believe came from darkness and not from light and truth.
> Faith should not only focus to believing in God, personal relationship to the Lord or by doing
good works. They strongly adhere to the teachings that Church membership is essential.
> Their founder Felix Manalo is the last messenger of God to restore and proclaim the true church.

Practices
Iglesia Ni Cristo members have many practices. Here is another list to mention some.
> They don‘t eat Dinuguan ( Filipino dish made from animal blood) or other foods with blood stew.
> They don‘t allow interdenominational or interreligious marriage.
> They don‘t celebrate many feasts including Christmas, Halloween, and Valentines. They only
celebrate the Sta. Cena (Holy Supper) as well as New year.
> They don‘t practice putting religious images, statues and objects inside their homes and in their
churches.
> Everytime they attend worship services, they wear formal attire.
> They have two worship services in a week. Usually the schedule is Thursdays and Sundays.
> Members don‘t involve themselves to join worship services or other religious activities of other
denominations.
> Members are not allowed to drink alcoholic beverages, to smoke and to gamble.
> They practice Pagtitiwalag (Act of expelling a member from their church if proven that he/she
violated the teachings of the church. E.g. smoking, drinking liquors, gambling).
> Ministers (a title for their preacher) use a lot of Bible versions as a basis for their teachings and
doctrines.
> They practice bloc voting which is voting for an official not on their own individual decisions but
upon the decision of the whole church. They believe that such practice leads to unity of all members
inside the church.
> They don‘t practice infant baptism. Also, their process of baptizing someone who would like to be
a member of their church is not being done through sprinkling of water but through immersion.
> During their worship service, male and female members sit separately.
These are some of the beliefs and practices of the Church. If anyone would like to learn more and
ask something about the INC, just approach the nearest church in your place. The writer is not a
member of the church.