Were the philosophies of the new religions of the late seventh and early six centuries considered different from prior religious philosophies? Why or why not?
What will be an ideal response?
A. Philosophies were new
1. they did not believe in just sacrificing prescribed offerings to God or gods
2. they provided a way to adjust humans' relationship with nature or with whatever was divine
3. rather than just formal rituals they upheld the effectiveness of moral practice as well
4. instead of rites to appease nature they instituted programs of individual moral progress
5. they were religions of salvation, not just of survival
6. they promised the ability to attain the perfection of human goodness in this world or transformation in the next
B. Philosophies were not new
1. the new religions were really forms of old magic
2. the desires for escape and transformation were really quests for immortality
3. contained mystical practices as a kind of elixir designed to prolong or enhance life
4. practices as prayer and self-denial were really copying the characteristics of shamans
5. examples exist to support criticisms
a. Buddha called himself healer as well as teacher
b. legends of the era associate miracles of therapy with founders of religions
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