Teaching About Religion: Compare Nature and Deity

Nature and Deity

NONRELIGIOUS Worldview

No recognition is given to any metaphysical forces or god-like beings. There
is the natural world only—no divine power. [Without scientific or substantial
evidence of “something else” (supernatural) existing, the natural is taken as
“all that is.” Human pronouncements are discounted as valid sources of truth,
and it is only human statements/writings—which do not cohere—that exist as
verification for claims of divine entities.]

BUDDHIST Worldview

Generally recognizes the existence of “supernatural” or god-like beings, but
adherents do not believe in an omnipotent creator God. All Buddhists
recognize a transcendent truth and some conceive this in terms of a
“Buddha Nature” which infuses everything.

CHRISTIAN Worldview

One God, creator of all things, is considered to be three “persons” (the
Trinity): God the Father / the Son (Jesus Christ) / the Holy Spirit. These three
aspects of God co-exist within a single Godhead.

HINDU Worldview

There is one Godhead or Divine Power, with innumerable forms. Three
major forms are: Brahma, creator of each universe; Vishnu, sustainer and
defender; and Shiva, destroyer and re-creator. (Vishnu has ten main forms
or avatars, which come to the help of the universe. These include Krishna
and Rama.)

MUSLIM Worldview

There is but one God, Allah (Arabic term). Allah is indivisible, has no equals,
is the creator of all and has spoken to humanity through many prophets, of
whom Muhammad is the last. Allah is the supreme lawgiver, and his laws
are for the whole of creation, not just for human beings.

JEWISH Worldview

One God (whose name must not be pronounced) has created all things and,
through his special covenant with the Jews, has guided human life and
destiny.

SIKH Worldview

There is One God, who is the true Guru (teacher). Unbound by time or space
and beyond human definition, he makes himself known to those who are
ready.

TAO Worldview

There are universal forces of nature – yin and yang. Through creative tension
with each other they keep the world spinning and moving. (Popular Taoism
has thousands of gods, but no single supreme deity.)

DEIST Worldview (of historical interest)

A “Creator” has apparently formed our universe (the mechanistic universe of
Descartes and Newton) and set it in motion by mathematical laws that
include rational principles of conduct. Divine control is consistent and
rational. After establishing these laws, the Creator has retired from the
scene, leaving the Creation to pursue its rational course. Having shaped the
universe as a perfectly rational machine, this deity is aloof (not a God of
miracles and revelation).