Studies of Religion II Preliminary Lecture Notes Flashcards

Flashcards covering the Nature of Religion, Aboriginal Spirituality, Judaism, Christianity, Islam, and the history of religion in Australia pre-1945 based on the preliminary lecture notes.

Supernatural Dimension

A belief in a divine being or power which exceeds the limits of or is greater than the human and physical world, and cannot be explained by science or nature.

Religious Worldview

An individual’s personal interpretation about the composition of the world around them in relation to their religious beliefs and practices.

Polytheistic

A religious system that acknowledges more than one divine being, which can be both transcendent and immanent.

Monotheistic

A religious system that acknowledges one divine being who is transcendent and exists beyond the human dimension.

Transcendent Worldview

A belief that a divine being is beyond the human world, allowing humans to engage in spiritual concerns outside their physical existence.

Immanent Worldview

A belief that a divine being or powers dwell within the human spirit or the natural world.

The Dreaming

A concept that underpins all physical and spiritual beliefs in Aboriginal communities, telling stories of ancestral beings who created the natural world.

Totem

A link between a natural species and its corresponding human group, founded by ancestral spirits during the Dreaming.

Inextricable Connection

The intertwined relationship between the Dreaming, the land, and identity for Aboriginal peoples.

Talmud

The oral law in Judaism, comprising a compendium of faith, stories, traditions, customs, and laws.

Halachah

The collective body of Jewish laws, encompassing both the written and oral traditions of the Torah.

Torah

The first five books of the Bible (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy) representing written law.

Covenant

The eternal relationship between God and the people of Israel, serving as the foundation of Jewish identity.

Patriarchs

The founding fathers of Judaism: Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

Mitzvot

The 613 commandments in the Torah that govern religious ritual, interpersonal relationships, business, and dietary requirements.

Decalogue

The Ten Commandments received by Moses on Mount Sinai.

Tikkun Olam

A Jewish ethical teaching meaning 'repairing the world,' practiced through social justice and compassion.

Tzedak

A Jewish concept of charity, specifically 'hidden charity' where actions are done while keeping one's identity a secret.

Shabbat

The Hebrew term for Saturday, a day of rest commemorating God’s creation and the redemption from Egypt.

Messiah

In Christianity, the Savior believed to be Jesus of Nazareth, the Son of God came to teach about the Kingdom of God.

Sanhedrin

The council that governed Moses’ law in Palestine during the time of Jesus.

Pharisees

A religious group known for strict observance of Oral Law involving the Sabbath, tithing, and dietary laws.

Transubstantiation

The Catholic belief in the actual change of the substance of bread and wine into the Body and Blood of Christ during the Eucharist.

Beatitudes

Eight blessings taught by Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount that provide a model for Christian life.

Atonement

The Christian belief that Jesus’ death was a sacrificial act that pays the penalty for humanity's sins.

Tawhid

The Islamic belief in the existence and unity of God, who is personal and transcendent.

Sunnah

The traditions and practices established by the behavior of the Prophet Muhammad, which inform Islamic law.

Hadith

The recorded accounts of the words and actions of Muhammad, used as a secondary source of guidance in Islam.

Shirk

The sin of idolatry or polytheism in Islam, considered the greatest sin an adherent can commit.

Qadr

The Islamic belief in predestination, stating that everything happens as a result of Allah's plan.

Jihad

The struggle to overcome ego or defend the faith; the 'greater' version is the internal struggle for spiritual growth.

Rightly Guided Caliphs

The four leaders (Abu Bakr, Umar, Uthman, and Ali) who succeeded Muhammad and ensured the maintenance of Muslim orthodoxy.

Ijma

The consensus among religious leaders and scholars used to make rulings in Islamic jurisprudence.

Qiyas

A legal ruling in Islam arrived at through deductive or analogical reasoning comparison with the Qur'an or Hadith.

Fatwa

A non-binding religious opinion or legal ruling issued by leading Islamic religious authorities.

Sectarianism

A belief in its own sense of rightness by a particular subgroup, historically causing division between English Protestants and Irish Catholics in Australia.

Bush Brotherhood

Anglican religious orders established in the late $1880s$ whose members took vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience to serve outback communities.

Sabbatarianism

A movement to enforce the compulsory observance of the Sabbath and improvement of moral confidence among convicts in early Australia.

Wowsers

A term used for individuals, often from the Salvation Army, who tried to impose their moral beliefs on others, particularly regarding alcohol.