World of Philosophy

Author(s): Christopher Key Chapple, Intaj Malek, Dilip Charan, Sunanda Shastri, Prashant Dave
Publisher: Shanti Prakashan

Page 401

and pollute it. Over a period of time, it loses its sheen because of the accumulated dirt. But when cleaned it begins to shine again. In the same manner, the soul is pure and clean by its very nature, a source of happiness and fulfilment, but over different cycles of birth and rebirths, the accumulated karmic matter makes it suffer bondage. We attain liberation or moksha from birth and rebirth by destroying the pudgalic influence on the soul by following the three jewels (triratna) right faith, right knowledge and right conduct.
Zoroastrianism, followed by the Parsis, treats evil as a challenge given by God (Ahura Mazda, the 'wise Lord') for man to overcome his limitations. The world is a stage where man has to perform and act his role as defined by God. Good is ultimate because it is the very nature of God. Life is a constant struggle between good (represented by Ahura Mazda) and evil (prompted by Ahriman, the evil spirit). This life is a bridge that man has to walk, through pleasure and pain, to reach the divine kingdom and enjoy bliss. Ahriman will entice him with a more attractive world away from the bridge and his down. fall begins. The freedom given by God should be exercised to promote good and avoid evil. 'As you sow, so shall you reap'; therefore if one does good, one gets good; and if one does wrong, then he has to face evil sooner or later. God gives man the chance to correct himself.
Christianity advocates the doctrine of 'original sin'. God took six days to create the world and only at the end of it did He create man, in His own image. He definitely wanted man to enjoy this paradise. But man went against the divine will and fell into the trap of Satan, the embodiment of evil. Due to the evil influence of Satan, man digressed from the path of good and began to indulge in all that was against divine will. The original sin of Adam and Eve is transmitted to all mankind, is the source of all suffering and will remain so till saved by Christ. God being good, there is scope for redemption if one comes back to God with faith and devotion. Faith, confession, devotion and service are the modes through which one attains God's grace. Evil is a corrective measure to make man think of God and make him participate in the service of mankind.
According to Islam, the evil spirit Iblis misguides man from the path of ibadat (devotion) to God. Allah, the merciful and kind, is also full of love and compassion, and takes care of those who truly follow the path of good. But man falls to the evil influence of the shaitan (Iblis, the evil-monger) and strays from the path of good and rebels against God, inviting God's anger. Suffering is meant to bring man back to devout submission before Allah so that he can repent and come out of evil influences. Those who follow the 'Five Pillars' of Islam cannot suffer evil.
Judaism, the forerunner of Christianity, advocates the message of Jehovah as given by the prophet Moses in the Ten Commandments. The "To
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