RELIGION MATTERS QUIZ 3

filial piety

A core virtue in the 3 main Chinese religions.

A love and respect for one's parents and ancestors.

Creates social harmony by repaying the debt of life and upholding traditional hierarchy.

Very important for children to support their parents in old age and honor them after death.

wu wei

Literally means "no action."

Refers to acting as nature does - spontaneously and effortlessly.

Submit to what is rather than resisting it in the name of what ought to be.

surfer analogy: 3 options. paddle to shore (intentional action), sit and drift (nonaction), or ride a wave (wu wei).

junzi

"Noble person"; the refined human ideal of Confucianism.

Originally a royal title, a term of rank and privilege.

Cultivates humaneness and observes ritual propriety.

Governs by moral example, not by force. "gentleman"

ren

Humaneness or human-heartedness.

Has to do with fostering social harmony in interpersonal relationships.

An innate potential for goodness that requires cultivation through practice. It's a deliberate choice to act for others' welfare involving overriding selfish desires.

dao

"The way."

The source and natural order of all things.

The dao is not a deity, but a creative force behind existence, expressed through patterns and rhythms seen in nature, like the balance of yin and yang.

qi

The primordial material/energy out of which the cosmos is made.

It is the vital life force that animates and sustains all things in the universe.

Flows through the body and must be balanced.

Energy that links matter and spirit, the tangible and intangible aspects of existence.

li

Ritual Propriety. Refers to etiquette, manners, deference, politeness, and rituals.

What one ought to do in one's particular social role. "Through mastering oneself and returning to ritual one becomes humane"

It encompasses everything from formal ceremonies to everyday manners that maintain harmony in relationships and society.

yin and yang

The alternating "feminine' and "masculine" poles of qi.

The yin yang symbol is technically called the "diagram of the supreme ultimate."

Yin is associated with qualities like darkness, passivity, coolness, and femininity, while yang represents light, activity, warmth, and masculinity.

Yin and yang depend on each other and constantly shift to maintain balance in the universe. (mountain analogy).

kami

Kami are the sacred spirits or divine beings in Shinto.

They can include natural elements like mountains, rivers, and trees, as well as ancestral spirits or powerful historical figures.

Kami are not all-powerful gods but rather forces that influence the world and deserve respect and ritual attention.

Shinto practices focus on maintaining harmony with the kami through offerings, purification, and festivals.

mandate of heaven

Heaven bestows legitimacy upon emperors who provide for the people's welfare.

Teaches that heaven grants a ruler the right to govern based on their virtue and ability to maintain order.

If a ruler becomes corrupt or fails to care for the people, the mandate can be withdrawn, leading to rebellion or the rise of a new dynasty.

Hinduism - Prothero's 4 part model

problem: samsara, the ongoing cycle of birth, death, and rebirth that keeps beings trapped in suffering.

solution: moksha, liberation from this cycle and union with the divine.

techniques: various yogic paths such as bhakti (devotion), jnana (knowledge), and karma (ethical action).

exemplars: figures like gurus, yogis, and deities who model or guide others toward liberation.

Buddhism - Prothero's 4 part model

problem - dukkha, or suffering and dissatisfaction inherent in human existence.

solution - nirvana, the end of suffering and release from the cycle of rebirth.

techniques - following the Noble Eightfold Path, which cultivates ethical conduct, mental discipline, and wisdom.

exemplars - the Buddha, arhats, and bodhisattvas, who embody or guide others toward awakening.

Judaism - Prothero's 4 part model

problem - exile, understood both as physical displacement and spiritual distance from God.

solution - return, meaning a restored relationship with God and the community.

techniques - following Torah, telling the story, remembering, practicing commandments (mitzvot), prayer, and ethical living.

exemplars - patriarchs, prophets, rabbis, and other faithful leaders who model covenantal obedience.

Christianity - Prothero's 4 part model

problem - sin, the moral separation between humans and God.

solution - salvation, made possible through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

techniques - faith, prayer, participation in sacraments, and living a life modeled on Jesus' teachings.

exemplars - Jesus, saints, apostles, and other holy leaders who embody Christian devotion and virtue.

Islam - Prothero's 4 part model

problem - pride, or the human tendency to place one's own will above God's guidance. (Shirk - belief in one's self-sufficiency)

Solution - submission to Allah, aligning one's life fully with divine will.

Techniques - practicing the Five Pillars—faith, prayer, fasting, almsgiving, and pilgrimage—along with living ethically and following the Quran.

Exemplars - Muhammad, the prophets, and pious leaders who model complete submission to God.

Confucianism - Prothero's 4 part model

problem - chaos or disorder in society caused by selfishness and lack of moral cultivation.

solution - social harmony, achieved when individuals act virtuously and fulfill their roles responsibly.

techniques - practicing li (rituals and etiquette), cultivating ren (humaneness), and following moral education and self-cultivation.

exemplars - Confucius, sages, and virtuous rulers, who model ethical behavior and guide others toward harmony.

Daoism - Prothero's 4 part model

problem - disharmony, the human disconnection from the natural flow of the universe.

solution - unity with the Dao, living in accordance with the natural order and balance.

techniques - wu wei (non-action or effortless action), meditation, breathing exercises, and aligning oneself with nature.

exemplars - Laozi, Zhuangzi, and other sages, who model a life of simplicity, spontaneity, and harmony with the Dao.

Shinto - Prothero's 4 part model

problem - pollution or impurity (kegare), which disrupts harmony with the kami and the natural world.

solution - purification (harae), restoring balance and maintaining a proper relationship with the kami.

techniques - rituals, offerings, festivals, and prayers at shrines to honor and appease the kami.

Differences between Vedic religion, philosophical Hinduism, and devotional Hinduism

Vedic religion - earliest form of Hindu practice, centered on ritual sacrifices, emphasizes correct performance of rituals and the authority of the Vedas, less focus on personal devotion or philosophical inquiry.

philosophical Hinduism - focuses on understanding ultimate reality (Brahman) and the nature of the self (Atman) through meditation, reasoning, and texts like the Upanishads. It is more introspective, concerned with liberation (moksha) and abstract concepts rather than ritual performance.

devotional Hinduism (bhakti) - emphasizes personal devotion to a deity (like Vishnu, Shiva, or Devi) as the path to moksha. Practices include prayer, singing, temple worship, and rituals, and it is accessible to all, prioritizing love and devotion over ritual or philosophical study.

Major differences between Theravada, Mahayana, and Vajrayana Buddhism

Theravada - Predominant in South and Southeast Asia, known as the "Way of the Elders."Goal is to reach individual liberation from suffering and escape the cycle of samsara.

Mahayana - One of the major Buddhist traditions known as the "greater vehicle" predominant in East Asia.The goal is to become a Bodhisattva, delaying one's own nirvana to help all sentient beings achieve awakening and liberation from suffering.

vajrayana - Predominant in Central Asia, known as the "diamond/thunderbolt vehicle."Deals with tantra (ritual and visualization).The goal is to rapidly achieve awakening and Buddhahood in the present life.

Major differences between Reform, Orthodox, and Conservative Judaism

reform - Earliest and largest modern branch of Judaism, Adapts Jewish tradition to modern society, Ethics > traditional rules, No gender separation, Politically progressive

orthodox - Traditionalist reaction to the reform movement, Strict observance of the law, Law > morality (still important tho)

conservative - Moderates between reform and orthodox, Maintains traditional laws and practices, Stresses the ongoing, developing collective awareness of the Jewish people in the dialogue with times and culture

differences between Orthodox, Catholic, and Protestant Christianity

orthodox - Unity with God (mysticism), Authority of both scripture and tradition, salvation as an ongoing process of "theosis" or deification through faith and "faith working through love,"

catholic - Faith + works (sacraments), Authority of both scripture and tradition and also recognizes the authority of the Pope, Believes salvation is a process that starts with baptism and includes faith and good works, which can earn merit.

protestant - Faith alone, Scripture alone as the pure authority, Believes salvation is achieved through "faith alone"

differences between Sunni and Shia Islam

sunni - Largest branch of Islam (85%), Follows the prophet Muhammad, "people of the prophetic tradition and the community", Believe the prophet did not appoint a successor.

shia - 15% of Muslims, The "party" of Ali, Hold that the prophet did appoint a successor, his son-in-law and cousin Ali

differences between Confucianism and Daoism

Confucianism - Focuses on social order, ethical behavior, and proper relationships. It emphasizes rituals (li), moral cultivation (ren), and duty to family and society to maintain harmony.

Daoism - Emphasizes living in harmony with the Dao (the Way) and the natural world. It values simplicity, spontaneity, non-action (wu wei), and alignment with nature rather than strict social rules or moral duties.