TOWARD A NEW ASIAN ORDER : A WORLD REPORT SPECIAL SECTION : Speaking Of: : Three Religions

The Pacific Rim embraces diverse faiths. But three of the indigenous ones share values such as self-discipline, self-denial and harmony with others and with nature. These values influence Asians’ approach to work, family and politics.

Buddhism

Beliefs: Right thinking and self denial will enable the soul to reach Nirvana, a divine state of release from misdirected desire.

Before a soul reaches Nirvana, it undergoes an endless cycle of rebirths dictated by Karma, the “fruits of actions” and the intent behind the actions.

Founded: About 525 B.C. in India by Gautama Siddhartha, the Buddha - or the Enlightened One, who achieved enlightenment by living a life devoted to intense meditation. Buddhism spread across East and Central Asia and practitioners are now found throughout the world.

Sacred texts: The Tripitaka , a collection of the Buddha’s teachings, rules of monastic life and philosophical commentaries on the teachings; also a vast body of Buddhist teachings and commentaries exist, called sutras .

Organization: The sangha is the basic monastic order through which traditions are passed down. Monastic life tends to be democratic and anti-authoritarian. Large lay organizations have developed in some sects.

Confucianism

Beliefs: Emphasis on the Chinese concept of Li , code of proper conduct, which underlies all relationships, public and private. The family is the nucleus of the State, and the “five relations” between king and subject, father and son, man and wife, older and younger brother and friend and friend, are determined by the virtues of love of fellow men, righteousness and respect.

Founded: About 500 B.C. in northern China by Confucius (Kung Fu-Tzu), a teacher and philosopher.

Sacred texts: In China, Confucianism is termed “The School of the Literati”, scholars and teachers of the Five Classics which includes the Analects a collection of his sayings as recorded by his students and the I Ching or Book of Changes

Organization: Confucian scholars, or literati, perform twice yearly temple sacrifices in which Confucius and ancestors are venerated according to tradition.

Taoism

Beliefs: The Taoist ideal is a person who avoids conventional social obligation and leads a simple spontaneous and meditative life close to nature and thus achieving immortality. There is also a belief in a balance that governs all of life and nature, the yin and the yang, both in perfect harmony and both representative of good; evil only appears when the harmony between them is disturbed.

Founded: Taoism as a religion arose from a philosophy originated by Lao Tzu, a chinese philosopher who lived around 300 B.C.

Sacred texts: the Tao Te Ching , or The Classic of the Way and the Virtue , deals with the Tao, the way, as the source and reality of the world and the application of it in life.

Organization: Taoism has a hereditary priesthood which conducts public rituals.

Other Faiths Asia and the Pacific

Hinduism

Beliefs: Life in all its forms is an aspect of the divine, but it appears as a separation from the divine, a meaningless cycle of birth and rebirth (samsara) determined by the purity or impurity of past deeds (karma).

Founded: In India around 1500 B.C. by Aryan invaders.

Sacred Texts: The Veda , including the Upanishads , a collection of ritual and myth.

Countries With Significant Numbers: Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore.

Islam

Beliefs: God is the creator of the universe, omnipotent, just and mercifull. Man is God’s highest creation, but is limited and commits sins. He is misled by Satan. Those who repent and sincerely submit to God return to a state of sinlessness. In the end, the sinless go to Paradise and the wicked burn in Hell.

Founded: By Mohammed, the Prophet, in Medina around 622 A.D.

Sacred Texts: Koran , the words of God. Hadith , collections of the sayings of the Prophet.

Countries With Significant Numbers: Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand.

Christianity

Beliefs: Christians believe that Jesus Christ is the son of God, the one creator and preserver of creation. Behind the visible processes of the world there is this one divine unity of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.

Humans are fallen and are in need of rescue and people who come to God in faith receive the gift of grace.

Founded: Around 9 B.C. in Jerusalem when a group of Jews gathered around the rabbi Jesus of Nazareth.

Sacred Texts: The Bible, viewed by various groups as either the literal Word of God or as witness to the life of Jesus Christ who in turn is that Word.

Countries With Significant Numbers: Most of the region.

Country by Country

Although Buddhism is popular, most major faiths are represented in Asia.

Australia

Main Religion: Christianity, 74%

Other religions: 15%

Non-religious*: 11%

China

Main Religion: Folk religions, 21%

Other religions: 19%

Non-religious*: 60%

Hong Kong

Main Religion: Buddhist (with Confucianist and Taoist), 74%

Other religions: 26%

Indonesia

Main Religion: Muslim, 87%

Other religions: 13%

Japan**

Main Religion: Shintoist and Buddhist, 86%

Other religions: 14%

Malaysia

Main Religion: Muslim, 53%

Other religions: 47%

New Zealand

Main Religion: Christianity, 61%

Other religions: 22%

Non-religious*: 17%

North Korea

Main Religion: Traditional, 16%

Other religions: 16%

Non-religious*: 68%

Philippines

Main Religion: Christianity, 94%

Other religions: 6%

Singapore

Main Religion: Buddhist, 29%

Other religions: 53%

Non-religious*: 18%

South Korea

Main Religion: Buddhist, 37%

Other religions: 63%

Taiwan

Main Religion: Chinese folk religions, 49%

Other religions: 51%

Thailand

Main Religion: Buddhist, 95%

Other religions: 5%

* Some countries do not list a non-religious category.

** Many Japanese adhere to both Buddhism and Shintoism, a faith emphasizing worship of nature and ancestors.

Total Population

Australia: 17.5 million

China: 1.2 billion

Hong Kong: 5.9 million

Indonesia: 181.4 million

Japan: 123.8 million

Malaysia: 18.1 million

New Zealand: 3.5 million

North Korea: 21.8 million

Philippines: 62.3 million

Singapore: 2.8 million

South Korea: 43.1 million

Taiwan: 20.5 million

Thailand: 57.5 million

Source: Britannica World Data. 1989

Compiled by Times researcher KEVIN FOX.