Full Idea
For Western minds, religion entails the belief and hope that we will be saved from death and live forever, but the belief of Eastern religions is that we do live forever, and it is from this dreadful fate that we must look to spirituality to save us.
Gist of Idea
Western religion saves us from death; Eastern religion saves us from immortality
Source
Gordon Graham (Eight Theories of Ethics [2004], Ch.9)
Book Reference
Graham,Gordon: 'Eight Theories of Ethics' [Routledge 2004], p.198
A Reaction
Nice. I have certainly come to prefer the Eastern view, simply on the grounds that human beings have a limited capacity. I quite fancy three hundred years of healthy life, but after that I am sure that any potential I have will be used up.