REL-1300 Chapter Notes - Chapter 1: Four Noble Truths, Dharma, Arhat
Document Summary
Yoga meditation is a common practice today in america: common in american religious life in the new age ; yoga can be either in hindu or buddhist forms. Transcendental meditation is an example of hindu yoga. Zen buddhism is an example of buddhist yoga. Methodism was one of the most successful evangelical forms of christianity transplanted from england to america. Originated as rebellion against religious dogmatism and the religious wars that the dogmatism caused in europe. Methodism emphasized spiritual practices of piety and prayer/praying regularly or methodically and being born again was more imp than religious dogma. True test of faith was to exercise ethical compassion to everyone. Zen is one way in which the methodist impulse of pragmatic americans find expression in the new age; like methodism, it puts more emphasis on spiritual practice leading to transformative experience+ethical compassion than on belief. Rooted in yogic meditation whose roots are in india.
