Part Five

　　A Religion For Real Human Progress

　　第五篇

　　宗教與人類的進展

　　Chapter 13 Nature, Value And Choice Of Religious Beliefs

　　第十叁章 自然.價值觀和宗教信仰

　　Man and Religion

　　人類與宗教

　　Man is the only living being in this world who has discovered religion and performs worship and prayer.

　　人類是自然界中，唯一有宗教信仰的生物。

　　Man developed religion in order to satisfy his desire to understand the life within him and the world outside him. The earliest religions had animistic origins, and they arose out of man”s fear of the unknown and his desire to placate the forces which he thought inhabited inanimate objects. Over time these religions underwent changes, being shaped by the geographical, historical, socio-economic, political and intellectual environment existing at that time.

　　人類建立宗教信仰，爲了滿足自己對生命內在和外在的了解和欲望。由于人類對自然現象的恐懼，崇敬自然現象，賦予自然現象擬人化的表征，從而産生了最原始的宗教。這些原始宗教，受到時間、地理、曆史、環境、經濟、政治、文化的影響，不斷的在演變。

　　Many of these religions have become organized and are flourishing to this day, backed by a strong following of devotees. Many people are drawn to organized religions because of the pomp and ceremony, while there are some who prefer to practice their own personal religion, inwardly venerating their religious teachers and applying moral principles in their daily life. Because of the importance of practice, every religion claims to be a way of life, not merely a faith. In view of their various origins and paths of development which religions undergo, it is hardly surprising that the religions of man should differ in their approach, the understanding and interpretation of their followers, their goal and how it can be achieved, and their concept of reward and punishment for deeds performed.

　　很多原始宗教，因爲組織健全和信徒們大力的支持，至今不但存在，還在繼續的發展。很多人被宗教儀式和典禮所吸引，但是，某些人選擇了自己的信仰，在生活中實踐道德性的修持。因爲強調道德性的重要，每一個宗教都宣稱他們的教義不止是信仰，還是生活的道路。各種宗教所了解的範圍和所闡述的道理都不一樣，它們的宗旨和如何實現目標的方法也不一樣，它們對人類行爲的賞、罰概念也不一致。

　　In terms of approach, religious practices may be based on faith, fear, rationality or harmlessness: Faith forms the basis of many religious practises which were developed to overcome man”s fear and to meet his needs. A religion of miraculous or mystical powers exploits that fear which arises from ignorance and makes promises of material gain based on greed. A religion of devotion is based on emotion and the fear of the supernatural which, it is so believed, can be appeased through rites and rituals. A religion of faith is based on the desire for gaining confidence in the face of the uncertainty of human life and destiny.

　　這是因爲各種宗教的緣起、背景和經曆都不一樣的緣故。某些人可能是因爲信心、恐懼、理智或仁慈的理由而信仰宗教。很多宗教以滿足信徒的欲望和恐懼，來爭取信徒。有些以奇迹或神秘的力量來迷惑那些貪婪和無知的信徒，並許諾信徒將獲得物質的報酬。有些以迷信的概念，通過法事和儀軌來誤導那些畏懼于超自然力量的信徒。有些信仰是樹立人們的信心去面對生命的無常和對命運的恐懼。

　　Some religious practices grew as a result of the development of man”s knowledge, experience and wisdom. The rational approach to religion had been adopted in this case, incorporating the principles of human value and natural or universal laws. It is based on humanism and concentrates on the cultivation of humane qualities. A religion of cause and effect or kamma is based on the principle of self-help and assumes that the inpidual alone is responsible for his own happiness and suffering as well as salvation. A religion of wisdom is based on the application of reason and seeks to understand life and the reality of worldly conditions through analytical knowledge.

　　有些宗教的發展，是基于人類的學識、經驗和智慧。理智的宗教信仰，融入自然法和人類的價值觀，建立在仁慈、善良的品質上。一個以「因果」爲基礎的宗教，強調一個人必須對自己的善與惡業負責，接受自己所造成的幸福或苦難。一個智慧型的宗教，建立在以智慧分析和了解生命的本質以及宇宙的真理上。

　　Harmlessness and goodwill are common elements found in religion. A religion of peace is based on the principle of causing no harm to oneself as well as others, and its followers are to cultivate a harmonious, liberal and peaceful life. A religion of goodwill or loving-kindness is based on the sacrifice and ser…

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