The Five Spiritual Paradigms
There are five major spiritual paradigms in the history of religion. They can be referred to as: Primitive, Abrahamic, Naturalism, Dharmic, and Unio Mystica
These paradigms are not exclusive from each other but often coincide within a religion. The chief characteristics of the paradigms are:
Primitive Paradigm - appeasing god(s), especially through the use of food/animal/human sacrifices, morality is to not make them angry, greatest hope from gods is to avoid calamity and get temporal benefits (most prevalent in Ancient Religions)
Abrahamic Paradigm - personal relationship with almighty creator God, focus on adherence to his external laws established by prophets, every single action will be judged, disobedience merits punishment in hell and obedience merits reward in heaven, worship and prayer for mercy, peace comes through obedience (most prevalent in Islam, Christianity, Judaism)
Naturalism Paradigm - harmony with the eternal way, return to original nature, balancing internal energy, attaining wholeness, contentment, and happiness (most prevalent in Taoism)
Dharmic Paradigm - karma, salvation through intense personal effort, meditation on human nature, awakening, liberation from suffering, escape from the samsara cycle of rebirth, returning to the unconditioned reality (most prevalent in Buddhism, Jainism, Hinduism, Sikhism)
Unio Mystica Paradigm - continual mantra/prayer meditation on the absolute, transformative grace, communion with the divine presence, mysticism of union, deification, supreme beatitude (most prevalent in Sikhism, Hinduism, Christianity, Sufism branch of Islam)
Paradigms 2-5 involve purification, transformation, and perfection of the self/soul to various degrees.
These paradigms are not exclusive from each other but often coincide within a religion. The chief characteristics of the paradigms are:
Primitive Paradigm - appeasing god(s), especially through the use of food/animal/human sacrifices, morality is to not make them angry, greatest hope from gods is to avoid calamity and get temporal benefits (most prevalent in Ancient Religions)
Abrahamic Paradigm - personal relationship with almighty creator God, focus on adherence to his external laws established by prophets, every single action will be judged, disobedience merits punishment in hell and obedience merits reward in heaven, worship and prayer for mercy, peace comes through obedience (most prevalent in Islam, Christianity, Judaism)
Naturalism Paradigm - harmony with the eternal way, return to original nature, balancing internal energy, attaining wholeness, contentment, and happiness (most prevalent in Taoism)
Dharmic Paradigm - karma, salvation through intense personal effort, meditation on human nature, awakening, liberation from suffering, escape from the samsara cycle of rebirth, returning to the unconditioned reality (most prevalent in Buddhism, Jainism, Hinduism, Sikhism)
Unio Mystica Paradigm - continual mantra/prayer meditation on the absolute, transformative grace, communion with the divine presence, mysticism of union, deification, supreme beatitude (most prevalent in Sikhism, Hinduism, Christianity, Sufism branch of Islam)
Paradigms 2-5 involve purification, transformation, and perfection of the self/soul to various degrees.