Does it make sense to know what the Eastern worldview? The
same is justified by the poor knowledge of many Christians with the
exception of references to the Ying and Yang, Confucius and others. However,
it is known that the influence of Eastern religions began to wake up in
the 60''s, receiving a boost with the opening in the U.S. and the
exchange of technology that has given rise to thousands of Americans are
interested in it. Given this reality, what believers should do? The
idea is that in addition to making known the Christian philosophy of
life, clearly presents its worldview and it is necessary to have even
basic understanding of what the Eastern worldview.
The Eastern worldview has common elements that distinguish Although each religion has its differences. What are those basics? One, the Eastern worldview believes that the Absolute, "God" is an all-pervading force. It is impersonal and without any relation to men. Christianity believes in a personal God separate from his creation but in relation to it.
Two, the Eastern worldview is a cyclical conception of history. It did not have a starting point. Here the individual is lost in an endless cycle of reincarnations. For Christianity the story has a beginning and progress towards completion.
Three, the Eastern worldview is pessimistic idea of the purposes of life. This idea is linked to the suffering experienced by the attachment and the desire for physical life. To get rid be lost in the impersonal Brahman (Hinduism) or Nirvana (Buddhism) as a drop of water is lost in the ocean. Christianity
does not deny that life is suffering, as it accepts the reality of sin,
but is optimistic, believing in freedom from sin through Jesus Christ
and the restoration of nature even in the future.
And finally, the Eastern worldview sees life after death through reincarnation. This
is determined by the law of Karma that determines that depending on the
"karmic debt" to accumulate, to be reborn as something inferior. The Christian worldview believes that man is set to die once and then the judgment (Hebrews 9:27). The man does not reincarnate, but resurrected to meet for good or for judgment with the Lord when the time comes.
For
Christians it is necessary to know the Eastern worldview to enable them
to minister in love to those who are imprisoned in it.