"I never knew what compassion meant until I heard..."
....why can't you all be impressed by magic powers, lightening shooting from ur fingertips? The power to communicate with the mind, the power to know all things? Why instead is this... not meaning to offend...this miserable, wet, gushy hippy stuff what ppl want?
It would be a reductionism to say that religion is the rhetoric of hope. However, it's clear that major world religions have something to say on the subject. In fact, I think it would be fair to say that hope is the single most important derivative of faith.
Christianity in particular would seem to emphasize hope, especially in relational terms - as in hope for forgiveness, salvation, and a heavenly afterlife granted by a merciful Father who takes an ongoing interest in His Creation. The Christian view can be seen as a form of G-d dependence that is effectuated through the New Covenant, as ushered in by Jesus Christ.
Expectation of the Kingdom and Divine Justice is certainly a significant form of hope for Christians. People subordinate their entire lives to the plan of action, namely, to get into Heaven.
Assurance of being an empowered person who is confident about being able to master present challenges based on a strong, stable relationship is also a significant form of hope for Christians, as is moral certainty. Example: "Receive Christ's
energy and believe that you can do all things through the one who gives you strength. Receive his
Lordship, knowing that you belong to him and that He looks out for you. Receive his
love and feel confident that nothing can separate you from it."
Amazon.com: Come Thirsty: No Heart Too Dry for His Touch (Lucado, Max): Max Lucado: Books
As for Buddhism....For all its focus on mental afflictions and unwholesome emotions, I see Buddhism as being saturated with hope. It can be seen as a proactive system for dealing with life's challenges that would otherwise lead to a steady erosion of hope.
The Buddhist literature includes fairly detailed discussions of despair. Obviously, defining the problem is the first step toward developing solution. And being a practical approach to developing emotional intelligence, Buddhism has very clear ideas about a solution that follow from fairly clear understandings of the problem.
Buddhism would appear to be holding itself as a universal resource of hope - a hope that is borne of the conviction that compassion and service will make good things happen and move humanity toward a certain predestined goal ... no matter how long it takes. Indeed, why would the Bodhisattva commit to a vow to overcome all afflictions unless it was possible?
The Bodhisattva's aspiration, dedication, patience, courage, and determination to overcome adversities and develop a full-fledged Bodhi Mind -- these are all based on hope, which in turn is based on faith in the Buddha Dharma and the conviction that one can indeed live up to one's Bodhisattva vows and achieve excellence in accordance with that conviction. This hope involves a sincere expectation of following in the Buddha's footsteps, along with a pure faith in the path of illumination itself.
From Torei Zenji's Bodhisattva Vow:
At the peak of each thought a lotus flower opens, and on each flower there is revealed a Buddha. Everywhere is the Pure Land in its beauty. We see fully the Tathagata's radiant light right where we are (every moment and everywhere). May we retain this mind and extend it throughout the world so that we and all beings become mature in Buddha's wisdom.
Daily Zen Buddhist Sutras
