Searching for Happiness: Brief Histories of Religions - Past and Present -

By Meg Wegs

In this book, the author gives brief histories of the main religions. Past and present. Each history is usually followed by a symbol and a few prayers or some quotations from the founder or a follower.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Apr 16, 2016
• ISBN: 9781514475423

Meg Wegs

Margaret Wegs was born in Estherville, in northwest Iowa. She studied one year at Briar Cliff College (now University) in Sioux City, Iowa. Then she joined the sisters in their Franciscan community in Dubuque, Iowa. She taught the Catholic grade schools for twenty-five years, Later she was a houseparent for mentally handicapped women in Montana. Returning to Iowa, she worked in a nursing home. She visited the residents and accompanied them to their doctors when their families could not. A sister told her she might like to read a book about Hildegard of Bingen, Germany. She found the book and the religious are was inspiring. She drew and colored or painted many of the illustrations, to share them with friends. While working in the nursing home she met a nurse of the Baha’I Faith; she investigated the writings of the Faith, mainly that the founder was the new Messenger for this age. She wrote a letter to explain her new Faith, to the sisters and they showed acceptance and understanding… She found a friend to live with in Saginaw, Michigan. Some years later she moved to a HUD building for retired senior citizens. She has enjoyed making art work and for a few years she tutored grade school children.

Book preview

Truth in All Religion

Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism understand the various deities to be expressions of a single Absolute Reality; the different paths lead to one Supreme God. Judaism has the Noahic Laws: God’s revelation to humans shows that non-Jews can be righteous. Sikhism affirms that Hindus and Muslims have the same God. The Islamic teaching affirms that Jews and Christians are people of the Book who share the One God as the God of Muhammad.

However, some interpreters of religion consider their path as the best path. Christians may point to the uniqueness of God as revealed by Jesus Christ. Muslims may regard other scriptures as being corrupted, and the Quran as accurate.

World Scripture 34

All Scripture is given by God. And all Scripture is useful for teaching and for showing people what is wrong in their lives.

2 Timothy, 3:16 (ERV)

Truth is one and the learned call it by many names.

World Scripture.10. Rig Veda

The purpose of this book is summarized by these two quotations.

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Zoroastrianism

Zarathustra (or Zoroaster, 1000 B.C.) founded Zoroastrianism in the eastern part of the ancient Persian Empire (today known as Iran). They were expelled and the community known now as Parsees live mainly in the Bombay, India vicinity. They worship God known as Ahura Mazda Who is symbolized by fire. God is called the Lord of Wisdom whose various aspects are found in the Scriptures as the Archangel Good Mind, Righteousness, Devotion, Dominion and others.

The soul is immortal, and each soul will receive divine justice according to its deeds in life. The Scripture is the Avesta. The main liturgical text is the Yasna. The Gathas are hymns composed by Zarathustra and his first followers. The Gathas are at the center of Zoroastrian worship.

Zoroastrianism has influenced Judaism, and Christianity.

Based on World Scripture. 9-10

symbols-835892.jpg

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To me, Zarathustra, the prophet and sworn friend of righteousness

Lifting my voice with veneration, O Wise One,

May the Creator of the mind’s force show, as Good Mind, His precepts, that they may be the path of my tongue.

World Scripture. 452. Zoroastrianism Yasna 50.6,

Holy is the man of devotion;

Through thoughts and words and deeds.

And through his conscience he increases Righteousness;

The Wise Lord as Good Mind gives the dominion.

For this good reward I pray.

World Scripture. 545. Zoroastrianism.

Avesta, Yasna 51.21-22,

To thee as a sacrifice Zarathustra offers the very life and being of

his self; he dedicates the first fruits of his loving thoughts to Ahura

Mazda; he offers the best of his words and deeds and willing

obedience to the Divine Law.

World Scripture. 626. Zoroastrianism. Avesta, Yasna 33.14.

In heaven, the ox-soul pleads for justice.

To you did the soul of the ox complain:

"For whom did you create me? Who made me?

Fury and violence oppress me, and cruelty and tyranny.

I have no shepherd other than you: then obtain good pastures for me."

Then the creator of the ox asked the Right,

"Hast thou a judge for the ox that you may give him, with the pasture, the care for the raising of the cattle?

Whom did you appoint his master who shall

put to flight Fury together with the wicked?"

As Righteousness, reply was made: "No companion is there for the ox that is free from hatred. Men do not understand how the great deal with the lowly.

Of all beings he is the strongest to whose aid I come at his call"….

"With hands outstretched we pray to the Lord,

We two, my soul and the soul of the mother cow,

Urging the Wise One to command that no

harm shall come to the honest man

To the herdsman, in the midst of the wicked who surround him?"…..

World Scripture. 223. Zoroastrianism

Avesta, Yasna 29.1-4.

(Zoroastrianism later abolished ritual slaughter of oxen, practiced by Vedic Aryans.)

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The Jewish Religion

The Bible is a collection of sixty six books telling of creation, of many tribes and nations, their growth and clashes, and messages God gave