World Religions Midterm

What is “Holy Envy”?

• Admiring and deeply appreciating aspects of another person’s culture or religious tradition so much so that you wish another element was reflected in your own

What are the four reasons Professor Gaskill has spent decades studying world religions?

• He’s a convert

• He wants to avoid faux pas

• His mission experience

• His own faith is often misunderstood

What, in essence, was the point of various quotes shared in class regarding the role of non-LDS religions in God’s plan?

• Other religions have received some of God’s light and truth as well, so we should study and learn from them and appreciate them

Which of the Articles of Faith is most applicable to the Saints’ ability to learn from other faiths?

• 13 → seek after anything praiseworthy or of good report

What are the implications of 2 Nephi 29:10-12 on Latter-day Saint search for truth?

• God speaks to all nations of the earth and they write it, so we should look at other religions’ texts to hear more of God’s words

What are some cautions we should have when interacting with or learning about another faith tradition?

• A “Why” question can be a loaded question

• Avoid media sensationalism

• Don’t stare at those who are different

• Avoid loaded terms like “cult” or “normal”

• Be realistic about “Cultural Appropriation”

• Don’t step on already bruised toes

• Know your own beliefs before you study others

What are things Latter-day Saints should do to show respect for other religions?

• Treat their religious articles and practices with respect

• Observe their customers when possible and appropriate

• Never ridicule

• Avoid arguing

• Be kind to their representatives

• Remeber that they are also children of God

If a men enters a Roman Catholic cathedral in Latin America, what should he remove? If a women enters that same cathedral, what should she don?

• Men → remove hat or head covering

• Women → don viel or head covering

What are the three keys for comprehending the doctrines of other faith traditions?

• First Key: What question is this doctrine trying to answer?

  • Theology comes from questions we have. Figure out the question and you’ll understand the doctrine

• Second Key: Jehovah’s Witnesses and Latter-day Saints are unique

  • Most religions are not doctrinal or dogmatic. Most believe whatever they want and don’t worry about “orthodoxy” in beliefs or practices

• Third Key: Keep an open mind and be objective

  • Temporarily set your personal lenses on the shelf. You can’t understand another religion if you try to see it through the lenses of your own religion or personal experiences

Why is the name of Judaism pronounced “Judah-ism” instead of “Judy-ism”?

• It comes from the tribe of Judah

Who, according to our in-class discussion, is the founder of Judaism?

• Abraham

What provoked the creation of Judaism?

• The creation of the covenant with Abraham

What are the six major branches of Judaism, from most observant of the law to least observant?

• Haredi (Ultra-Orthodox)

• Modern Orthodox

• Conservative

• Reform

• Reconstructionist

• Assimilated or Hiloni

What does the word “Haredi” mean?

• To quake or to tremble

Which denomination of Judaism seeks to separate themselves from the secular world, and reject modern clothing, entertainment, and the like?

• Haredi

What is the difference between the “Written Torah” and the “Orah Torah”?

• Moses gets 613 commandments on Mount Sinai

  • The first 10 are written (our Ten Commandments)

  • The other 603 are oral

How many commandments are in the Written Torah and how many are in the Oral Torah?

• 10 Written

• 603 Oral

How do many Reform Jews feel about things like circumcision, a minyan, or a mikveh?

• They think it’s outdated

What is the Reform Jewish view on female rabbis?

• Women can be rabbis → they have more female rabbis than male rabbis

  • There are no “feminine” or “masculine” roles

Statistically speaking, most Jews lean which direction (theologically progressive or theologically conservative)?

• Theologically Progressive

What do scholars describe as the biggest threat to Judaism in the modern age and why?

• Progressivism

• Tradition is not passed down

Was ancient Judaism polytheistic, monotheistic, monistic, modalistic, or monolatrist? And what are they today?

• Today, monotheistic → belief of and worship of one God

• Then, monolatry → belief of multiple legitimate dieties, but you can only worship one god

Why do Jews dislike the term “Old Testament”?

• They think it’s derogatory and implies that it is “no longer valid”

What does “TaNaKh” stand for?

• Torah (The Law)

• Neviim (Prophets)

• K’tuvim (Writings)

The Mishnah is often called what?

• The Oral Law, or “Oral Torah”

The Mishnah and the Gemara combined is called what?

• Talmud

What does the Mishna offer commentary on?

• Commentary on the Torah (but not the whole Tanakh)

What does the Gemara offer commentary on?

• Commentary on the Mishna → commentary on the commentary

What does the Midrash comment on?

• Commentary on any portion of the Tanakh or Hebrew Bible

How old are Jewish boys when they are circumcised?

• 8 days after birth

Traditionally, how old are boys and girls when they have their Bar Mitzvah or Bat Mitzvah?

• Bar Mitzvah → Boys → 13

• Bat Mitzvah → Girls → 12

Which denominations of Judaism traditionally allow girls to have a Bat Mitzvah?

• Conservative

• Reformed

• Reconstructionist

Jews get married under a canopy that is called what?

• Chuppah

Why do Orthodox Jews make a small tear in some portion of their clothing when a loved one has died?

• Symbolizes the rupture or separation of the relationship

What does it mean for a Jew to “sit Shiva”?

• A week-long mourning period to think about and contemplate and talk about the deceased

• Family members dress in black, say special prayers, and avoid certain things

What articles of symbolic clothing are usually worn by a high percentage of Haredi and Modern Orthodox Jews?

• Kippah → head covering; keeps your head covered to show respect for the divine

• Tefillin → leather/scripture box worn on the head or arm; keeps God’s words at the forefront of their mind and next to their heart

• Tallit → prayer shawl; strings on the four corners and tied in 613 knots (one for each covenant/law)

What is the “Shema” and where is it found?

• The most important and sacred prayer

• Deuteronomy 6:4

What is a “minyan”, how many Jews are traditionally required to be part of it, how old are they, and what gender are they in the Orthodox tradition?

• Quorum of 10 adult males required for public prayer

What does the Hebrew term “mezuzah” mean? Why do Jews kiss them?

• Means “door post”

• There is a scroll on the door post and you kiss them to invite God to be with you in whatever you are going to do and when you come home as a thank you

• Cannot be in the bathrooms or closets/storage rooms

Rosh Ha-Shanah marks the beginning of what?

• Jewish New Years and beginning of every Jew’s “ramped up attempt” to repent ahead of Yom Kippur

What is the point of putting together a “court of three persons” during Rosh Ha-Shanah?

• They are painfully honest or blunt and tell you what you’ve done wrong or need to be better at to provoke repentence or remorse and change your life

What is the point of blowing the shofar (or ram’s horn) during Rosh Ha-Shanah?

• Anciently used to declare war

• Represents declaring war against sin

On Yom Kippur, you can gain forgiveness for sins committed against God, but not for sins committed against other people. Why is that?

• God is not here face-to-face to be forgiven, but if you’ve done things to offend another person, you should go to them and ask for forgiveness from them

What is a “mikveh”?

• Ritual immersion bath to make you pure once again

Why must your sukkot be impermanent, or not permanently affixed to the ground?

• A really strong wind should be able to blow it over

• Reminds you of the instability of the things of this world

What is the focus of the holiday Simchat Torah?

• Marks the end of the Torah reading cycle

• Grand celebration of Jewish people’s love for God’s word

What does the name “Hanukkah” mean?

• Dedication

What is the difference between a Menorah and a Hanukkiah?

• Menorah → 7 branch candle stand; represents God’s glory and presence; lit in the temple

• Hanukkiah → 9 branch candle stand; what is actually lit at Hanukkah; lit as a testament to the world and public witness that you have faith in God

Why is it common during Hanukkah for Jews to eat foods fried in oil, like potato latkes or donuts?

• It celebrates the miracle of the oil

When it comes to the symbolism of fruit during Tu BiShvat, what do the pits/seeds, skin/peel, and edible parts represent?

• Pits/Seeds → sinful or impure things to be avoided → Satan will always put things that we should not consume amongst the good

• Skin/Peel → protecting Holy things

• Edible Parts → Holy things we should partake of or make part of our lives

What does the Jewish holiday of Passover commemorate?

• The miraculous escape of the Jewish people from bondage in Egypt

Jews typically say that the reason they eat unleavened bread on Passover is what?

• They ahd to leave Egypt in a moment’s notice and didn’t have time for the bread to rise

• You cannot have sin or corruption in it → yeast leads to bread going bad

What two holidays does The Omer connect together?

• Passover and Pentacost

What is the one “semi-celebratory” event that takes place during The Omer?

• In Orthodox denominations, a boy cannot get a haircult until the Omer after his second birthday

• On the 33rd night of the Omer, a respected member of the congregation cuts off all the hair on the boy

Shavuot commemorates what event in Jewish history?

• The giving of the law on Mount Sinai

• King David’s Birthday

What is a common way to commemorate Shavuot, and why is that how it is commemorated?

• To stay up all night and read the Torah in two nights

• Some people read the Psalms instead because the Torah is so long

What does Bein ha-Metzarim commemorate?

• The various tragedies that have befallen the Jewish people through their history

• Includes the destruction of the temples (Harod’s and Solomon’s)

Are Jewish rabbis more comparable to Catholic Priests or LDS Bishops, and why?

• Catholic Priests

  • There are no general authorities → they are run by rabbis

  • Rabbis are not priesthood holders

  • Rabbis get their ordination after studying → they graduate and start their own community or find a synagogue that is looking for a rabbi

What does the Hebrew word “Kosher” mean?

• “Fit” → doesn’t mean “healthy” necessarily

The Hebrew word for “unclean” is tawmay. What does tawmaymean and what does it not mean?

• Does NOT mean dirty or messy

• Means ritual or spiritual impurity

What animals can observant Jews eat? And which are they forbidden to partake of?

• Yes

  • Fish with scales and fins

  • Animals that chew the cud

  • Grasshoppers and locusts

• No

  • Shelfish

  • Hare or rabbits

  • Pig

  • Single hooved animals

  • Scavenger birds

Is it accurate to say that “kosher” animals are “healthy” to eat, and non-kosher animals are “unhealthy” to eat?

• No

According to ancient sources described in class, the Hebrew Kosher law deems certain animals as “unfit” for consumption because they symbolize what?

• Pagan and temple symbols

• Things that forget God or abandon him

On waht occasions might an observant Jew participate in a mikveh?

• Night before Yom Kippur

• Used for converts as well → enter a new community, transition from the old to the new, etc.

• 7 days after your period ends so you can declare yourself clean and pure

When is the Jewish Sabbath?

• Friday sundown to Saturday sundown

What is the official symbol of the State of Israel?

• Menorah

Does Hinduisim require that you believe certain doctrines or practice certain rites in order to be a faithful Hindu?

• No

Who was the founder of Hinduism?

• There isn’t one

Hinduism likely began through the interactions of what two groups of people?

• The Aryans

• The Dravidians

Do Hindus today believe it appropriate to proselytize converts? Why or why not?

• No

• If you had a right to be Hindu, you would have been born as a Hindu → people should be in the religion they were born into

Do Hindus believe that religions other than Hinduism have a role to play in the spiritual purpose of mortality or the spiritual development of humans?

• Every religion is used by God to get to Nirvana and are part of the plan → they all bring you to God

• Hinduism is the last rung on the ladder

What does the term “Hindu” mean?

• “Indian” or “from India”

• It’s a geographic name

According to your readings, what is a name for Hinduism that is deemed more appropriate than “Hindu”?

• Dharma → “the way”

Which of the following are acceptable beliefs for faithful Hindus: Polytheism, Monism, Modalism, Monotheism, and/or Atheism?

• All of them

The various Hindu gods are technically just different ways to perceive of what?

• Brahman the Ultimate

• “of God”

Who are the best-known Hindu gods?

• Brahma (Creator)

• Vishnu (Preserver)

• Shiva (Destroyer)

What is the difference between Brahma, Brahman, and Brahmin?

• Brahma → 1 of the “Big 3” gods

• Brahman → the Ultimate (only real God)

• Brahmin → priestly caste

Why do most Hindus not worhsip Brahma?

• Doesn’t do anything anymore

• not seen as being “engaged” in the lives of humans or Hindus

When Vishnu awoke from his sleep, what came into existence?

• The Universe (not Earth)

What Hindu deity is not worshipped much because he does so little outside of creating the earth?

• Brahma

Shiva is said to be “the energy of” whom? He is akin to what Christian concept?

• Energy of the Ultimate, who is Brahman

• Akin to the Holy Ghost, the light of Christ

What is symbolized by depictions of Shiva dancing on the back of the demon of ignorance?

• As long as you are ignorant, you’ll be stuck in the cycle of reincarnation

• Shiva can conquer or destroy the concept of illusion or ignorance, and all humans need to overcome their illusions to achieve Nirvana

According to our in-class discussion, what does the term “Shakti” mean?

• The 4 Wives of Shiva:

  • Parvati

  • Kali

  • Uma

  • Durga

• “To enable” → without his wives, he cannot activate his power

What is technically the title for the “Supreme Being” or “single god” of Hinduism?

• Brahman

A common symbolic analogy for our return to God at the end of the cycle of reincarnation is what?

• We are a drop of water getting absorbed with the ocean

Is there “good karma” in orthodox/traditional Hindu belief?

• No

• Karma is negative accountability for bad choices you make

What is “Ātman” in Hinduism, and how does it differ from traditional ideas of the “soul”?

• We don’t have an individual soul, so there is no individualism → it’s Brahman or piece of it within you (God within)

• Atman is the breath of God → means “breath” in sanskrit

While many don’t understand that there is a distinction between “reincarnation” and “transmigration of the soul”, what is the primary difference between these two ideas? Which is technically the Hindu belief?

• Transmigration → implies you have a sense of individualism; tat essence is you that moves between bodies

• Reincarnation → your Atman dissipates and a new one is formed into a new creature based on the consequences of the previous one

  • Traditional Hindu belief

Though there are technically tons of castes in Hinduism, class covers five most common castes. What were those five castes, and who falls into each caste?

• Brahmins → scholars, elite, etc.

• Kshatriyas → politicians, military, etc.

• Vaisyas → merchants, storekeepers, farmers, etc. → vast majority

• Sudras → peasantry → housekeepers, cooks, artisans, construction workers, etc.

• Untouchables (or “Harijan”) → unclea jobs → sewage, cleaning roads, etc.

What are the three ways off the round of rebirths, and what does each approach focus on?

• Karma → selfless service; do good works to get rid of your karma

• Jyana → knowledge; study the sacred texts and become enlightened

• Bhakti → devotion; you worship, sacrifice, and flatter a god or goddess and they save you → chosen by majority of Hindus

Which of the three ways off the round of rebirths could be called “salvation by grace”, “salvation by works”, and “salvation by thought/intellect”?

• Salvation by Grace → Bhakti

• Salvation by Works → Karma

• Salvation by Thought/Intellect → Jyana

Which texts are technically mroe authoritative or canonical in Hinduism: the “Smriti” or “Shruti”?

• Shruti

What is the meaning of the term “Shruti”?

• “Heard or revealed” → revealed by God to human beings at the beginning of time

What is the meaning of the term “Smriti”?

• “Remembered”

How consistently are scriptures used in Hinduism?

• The Shruti are only used by Brahmin priests recite it every day

• The Smriti are used by most Hindus → they’re the most popular and can be used by the general public

• Most Hindus don’t read or study scripture other than Brahmin priests that recite it every day

What are the four stages of life and social interaction, commonly known as “Ashrams”?

• Student

• Householder

• Seeker (Hermit)

• Ascetic (Holy Man)

What is the common Hindu term for worship?

• Puja

Hindus may worship god (or their gods) via doing various things. What are some common acts of Hindu puja?

• Circumambulating a shrine

• Viewing a statue

• Self-sacrifice

• Chanting

• Home celebrations

• Sexual dscipline

• Service

• Making offerings

Do most Hindus believe that their statues are an actual god?

• No, it’s more of a divine reminder to connect with God

What is the Hindu position on “sacred clothing”?

• There is their sacred thread

• They consider it an oxymoron → clothing is a material possession and draws you away from God