Living World Religions Exam 1

Acts 17:16-31: Paul was...

respectful, informed, persuasive

1. He was comfortable re-purposing non-Christian philosophy to point to one true Creator

2. He didn't insult the "gods" to make the case for Christ

3. He had done his homework, knew the religious background of his audience

4. He believed faith in Christ was a matter of eternal life & death

Correct definition of religion?

We all know what we're talking about even if we can't define it. It is nearly impossible to define. (Basically idk)

What do you mean by "pluralism"?

1. Empirical pluralism: the fact of diversity

2. Cherished pluralism: the good things about diversity

3. Philosophical pluralism: the idea that all belief systems are equally valid

Van Voorst's distinction between "theology" and "religious studies"

Theology: "study of religion, based on one's own religious commitment, in order to promote it"

Religious studies: academic study of religion that aims to understand all religious traditions objectively. in a religiously neutral way"

Where did religion come from? Various views:

1. Psychological: people invented religion to fulfill their emotional needs

2. Sociological/Anthropological: people invented religion for the sake of social cohesion

3. Critical theory: post-colonial study of religion that recognizes the inherent biases in western approaches, especially with regard to cultural imperialism

4. Biological: the evolution of religion

5. Original monotheism: the belief that the religious impulse is inspired by God himself who revealed himself in the beginning as the one true God and has "not left himself without testimony" in the religious traditions of the world. In fact, he has "set eternity in the human heart"

The typical story line goes like this (biological view of religion):

1. Humans sensed mana (a spiritual force in the world) and designed the magic needed to manipulate it (mana)

2. men personified those spiritual forces as ancestors (animalism)

3. Then, elevated departed spirits to god-like status and personified abstract principles like "justice" or "love". Magic changed to "worship" (polytheism)

4. Found themselves believing in many gods, but groups of them were worshipping only one as supreme as best explanation of the "one and the many" (henotheism)

5. the one won out (monotheism)

mana - animalism - polytheism - henotheism - monotheism

How should Christians respond to non-Christian religions? 4 common views:

1. Exclusivism

2. Inclusivism: the basic claims of the Christian faith are true, and Jesus is unique, but God reveals himself and, through Christ, saves people through other religions as well

3. Pluralism: rejects the idea that Jesus is unique and suggests that God reveals himself in all religions and saves all pious people

4. Universalism: all people will be saved regardless of what they know or how they lived

What is an "Anonymous Christian"?

A label for people who are saved but don't claim to be Christian

The 4 views of Exclusivism:

1. Jesus is the unique incarnation of God, fully human and fully divine

2. Salvation is found only in Him

3. The Bible is true, unique, authoritative, revelation

4. Claims incompatible with the Bible must be rejected as false

What are the two thorny questions Exclusivists must face?

1. What about those who have never heard?

2. What about hell?

What can people learn about God from general revelation?

General revelation ("common grace"): what we may learn about God by observing the universe around us

Special revelation: what we may learn about God by reading the Bible and focusing on Jesus

Is "messenger mentality" a better label than "exclusivist"? Messenger mentality means:

1. We pass on the message we believe has been passed on to us, focusing on truth, not just "experience," minus the judgment calls we are not authorized to make

2. We reject "works salvation" accepted (implicitly) by those who believe people may be saved by their piety outside of Christ

3. We reject the combative, hateful tone that too often characterizes "exclusivists"

4. We engage in dialogue as an indispensable way of finding mutual understanding and building friendships. The most meaningful relationships begins with listening

5. We are not surprised to find truths in other religions and not afraid to affirm those truths when we find them

6. We stress the uniqueness of Christ without ridiculing other religious figures. "We do not step on Buddha to lift up Christ"

7. We pray fervently that God will put us in the path of seekers

8. We embrace the combination of humility and confidence

3760 BCE

Traditional year of Creation, year 0 on the Jewish calendar

The year 2025 on the Jewish calendar

5785 A.M. (until sundown on September 22, 2025)

A.M. means:

"Anno Mundi" ("year of the world")

The meaning of "Torah" has expanded to mean:

"Teaching" or "instruction"

Torah + Prophets + Writings =

Tanakh (Torah + Nevi'im + Khetuvim) - an acronym for the 3 parts of the Hebrew Bible

586 BCE

The temple was destroyed - commemorated on the 9th of Av

722/586 BCE

Exile

In exile:

1. development of synagogue, focus on Torah and role of rabbis

2. development of "Rabbinic Judaism"

167-164 BCE

Invasion by Antiochus IV "Epiphanes" of Syria

1. Offering of pig to Zeus on altar in temple

2. Maccabean revolt, Judas Maccabees (Maccabee means hammer)

3. Rededicating the temple on 25 Chislev, 164 BCE

Prominent sects of Jews at the time 37-4 BCE

1. Pharisees: ultra orthodox

2. Sadducees: collaborators with Romans

3. Essenes: practiced extreme celibacy

4. Zealots: take by force and fight

Famous first century rabbis

Hillel and Shammai

(The grandson of Hillel appears in Acts 5: Gamaliel)

135 BCE

Simon Bar Kochba (Kosiba/means son of disappointment) executed. Whole city destroyed. Rebuilt with a Roman name

Mishna

"Repetition" - Oral interpretations of the rabbis, finally written down

Gemara

"Study" - rabbinic commentaries on the Mishna added over time

Mishna + Gemara =

Talmud (commentaries on the law)

"A fence around the Torah"

Traditional safeguards against breaking the law

Kosher

"Proper"

Moses Maimonides (Rambam) published a commentary on the Mishnah including his:

"Thirteen Articles of Faith"

Gheta

Foundry; word evolved into ghetto

Present day Jewish groups in USA:

1. Reform (largest at 37%) - theologically liberal

2. Conservative (17%) - known as Masorti in Europe

3. Orthodox (9%) - most strict

4. Reconstructionists (4%) - preserve ethnicity without religious obligations

5. Self identify as secular - 32%

1917 "Balfour Declaration"

Allowed Jews to work toward an independent state

Inspiration for 614th commandment:

Survive! (Jews say there are 613 commands)

Tikkun Olam

"Repairing the world"

Zionism

Refers to the effort to establish a Jewish homeland in Palestine. "Christian Zionism" is the label for Christian support for that cause

Philo's question on suffering:

Is God willing to prevent evil, but not able? Then he is impotent. Is He able, but not willing? Then he is bad. If he is both willing and able, then where does evil come from?

May 14, 1948

David Ben Gurion declares Israel an independent state

What keeps Jews around the world together?

1. Remembering the Holocaust

2. Protecting the state of Israel

3. Protecting Jewish minorities in other nations

1967

Nasser closes Gulf of Aqaba to Israeli ships, amasses troops on border. Israel launches "pre-emptive" strike against Egypt, disables most of Egypt's air force, and much of Jordan's and Syria's. Israel wins this "six day war," takes all of West Bank, Golan Heights, Jerusalem, Gaza, and Sinai. U.N. passes Resolution 242 demanding that Israel withdraw to its pre-war borders

1973

Egypt and Syria launch surprise attack on Israel on October 6 (Yom Kippur) and take Golan and Sinai. Israel requests and receives U.S. weapons, fights back, and regains lost territory. Arab nations impose oil embargo, driving up price of oil

2005

Israel withdraws from Gaza

2011-2018

"Arab Spring": political movements in Arab world began with great promise, have resulted in chaos, ended peace talks. Israelis call the movement "Muslim Winter."

2023

On October 7 HAMAS invades and kills 1200+ Jews in attack on Israeli towns near Gaza border

2024

Hayat Tahrir alSham (HST) overthrew Assad regime in Syria on Dec. 8

Seder means:

"Order"

"Bread of affliction"

The matzos - 3 whole pieces per seder plate

"Aphikomen"

Greek for "dessert" - hidden until end of meal when children search for it

Boiled egg

Cut in half and dipped in salt water - symbolizes crying after destruction of Jerusalem, 70 CE

Charoset

Symbolizes the mortar used in brick making

Hallel

As the meal ends - songs of praise remembering the exodus (Ps. 120-136)

Cup of Elijah

The cup of anticipation/hope

Rosh Hashanah

Jewish New Year, a ten-day period of repentance leading up to Yom Kippur. Called "High Holy Days" (1 Tishri - September/October)

Yom Kippur

Day of Atonement, a time when Jews seek forgiveness of those who have been wronged; also the major fast of the year (10 Tishri - September/October)

Hanukkah

Dedication of the Temple, a time when the eight-branched Hanukkah candle is lit commemorating the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem in the 2nd century BC, when the Temple lamp miraculously stayed alight for eight days, even though there was only enough oil to last one day (25 Kislev - 3 Tevet - November/December)

Pesach

Passover, celebrating God's deliverance of the Israelites from captivity in Egypt; families gather for the first evening of the festival to share the Seder meal, which recalls in words and symbols the departure of the Israelites from Egypt (15-22 Nissan - April)

Tishah B'Av

This date recalls the disasters that have befallen the Jewish people, including the destruction of the first and second temples in Jerusalem; it is also a time to mourn the events of the Holocaust (9 Av - July/August)