IWRBS

Religare/Religio

To bind humanity and the divine together.

Re(again);lig(to join or connect)

To join again or reconnect, in this context, humanity and the divine, or the human world and the sacred world

Relegare(to tread carefully)

Indicates respect and care for both the natural and supernatural worlds (Palmer 2004), suggestive that a primary concern of religion is to provide guidance on how humans ought to live.

Substantial

Involves beliefs and practices which assume the existence of super natural beings

Edward Burnett Tylor

Argued that religion was the attempt of primitive human beings to understand their inexplicable individual experiences

Functional

Unified system of beliefs and practices relative to sacred things, beliefs and practices, which unite into one single moral community.

Worldview

Refers to a set of beliefs that is both coherent and comprehensive.

Spiritual World

Religion believes or assumes that there is a spiritual world or a transcendent reality, in addition to the physical, natural world we live in.

Sacredness

Religion regards certain things as sacred and are to be treated with respect or reverence.

Inherently Sacred

Usually spiritual in nature, such as God or gods, souls, principles and values.

Derivatively Sacred

Usually physical in nature, such as spaces (like places of worship), symbols, statues, relics, scrolls, and clothing.

Ethical Codes

Referring to guidelines concerning how humans ought to relate to the divine, treat one another, or behave towards one another, God, gods and revered teachers.

Community

A belief system is shared and practiced by a community of believers which usually involves an organization consisting of hierarchy of authorities.

Sacred Writings

Are divinely inspired and contain the main teachings or doctrines, central stories, ethical codes, and prophecies.

Sacred Writings

Contents are usually revealed by a God or gods through chosen messengers.

Central Stories

Include accounts of how the world and the human race began, how God was personified or manifested in the world, how a great teacher came to a realization of religious truths or received messages and instructions from God, and the like.

Rituals

Include ceremonies that reenact sacred stories, and various activities, such as songs and dances that express praise or thanksgiving to God, gods, or a revered teacher or prophet.

Artistic Expression

Can be in the form of music, dance, architectural design, sculpture, poetry, drama and others.

God-centered sacredness

The divine absolute takes the form of a God or gods

Nongod-centered sacredness

Sacredness is centered on either the soul, certain principles, or the teachings of a revered teacher.

Theism

Asserts the reality of God or gods.

Atheism

Rejects the reality of God or gods.

Agnosticism

There is no certainty whether or not God or gods exist.

Nontheism

Simply makes no position bout the existence of God or gods. The best way to describe _______ is its attitude of indifference to the very question of the existence of a divine being.

Monotheism

The belief that there is only one God.

Polytheism

The belief that there are many gods.

Henotheism

A form of polytheism, serves and worships a single god while recognizing the existence of other gods that can equally be served and worshipped.

Kathenotheism

A form of henotheism, worships a single god at a time, or when it worships different gods at different times, depending on the person’s needs and/or which god is considered supreme at a certain time.

Traditional Theism

Views God or gods as transcendent beings in that they exist outside the natural world.

Pantheism

views God or gods as immanent beings in that they exist within the natural world.

Panantheism

sees God or gods exist within the natural world. While God or gods exist within the natural world, their identity (their being God or gods) is independent of the natural world.

Theology

The etymological meaning of the word theology-based on its Greek origin, namely theo, which means “God,” and logos which means “discourse” or “study,” is the study of God.

Religious Studies

Examine the different religions of the world.

Comparative Religion

Refers to a branch of religious studies that is concerned with the systematic comparison of the doctrines and practices of two or more particular religions.

Philosophy of Religion

Deals with the philosophical issues of religion, tries to settle issues in religion solely by means of the human power of reasoning.

Psychology of Religion

the application of the different psychological theories and methods to explain religious phenomena, which include the belief in God, religious experiences and behaviors, and spirituality.

Sigmund Freud

The founder of psychoanalysis, God is just the projected ultimate father image that helps humans deal with their feelings of helplessness and guilt.

Sociology of Religion

Studies religious beliefs, practices, and organizations using the theories and methods of the discipline. Sociologists are primarily interested in examining the effects of religion on society.

Emile Durkeim

Was more interested in the unifying effect of religion among members of a society.

Anthropology of Religion

Explores the ways religious practices are embedded in specific forms of sociality, regimes of power, historical struggles, and mode of production. It studies religion in relation to other social institutions and compares religious beliefs across cultures.

Three Reasons for Studying Religion

1. They are a vital ingredient in the varied story of humankind’s various experiments in living.

2. In order to grasp the meanings and values of the plural cultures of today’s world, we need to know something of the worldviews which underlie them.

3. Different religions of the world provide different models of spirituality from which we can learn or which we can eventually follow a we desire to improve our own spiritual lives.

The Theoretical, Practical and Artistic Values

1. It provides us with a better picture of human civilization as religions are an integral component of the development of human civilization.

2. Understanding religions helps us deal with the fundamental questions about life such as those concerning our place in the universe, where we come from, the purpose of our existence, and how the world will end. We need to address these questions to appease our mind.

3. Different religious traditions will help us cultivate a better appreciation for the arts

Religion promotes Social Harmony

Religion practices a set of rituals and ceremonious rites of passage and intensification. Common participation in rituals together with basic uniformity of beliefs help promote social cohesiveness.

Religion provides moral values

This is one of the most significant functions of religion. It provides a systematic model of the universe, which in effect determines organized human behavior. By providing moral values, one is able to distinguish right from wrong, good from evil.

Religion provides social change

Since religion is a source of moral values, it provides social change. Religion has the potential to institute social change, especially in the issues concerning poverty, reproductive health, gender equality and religious discrimination.

Religion reduces fears of the unknown

Religion was developed from man’s need to have a sense of origin and destination; to discover where they came from and where they are bound to go when they die. Religion provides answers for phenomena and questions that science or reason cannot explain.

Religion gives positive goals in life

People were inspired by the stories of different prophets from their own religious affiliations like that of Moses, Buddha and Muhammad. Their narratives may give people a sense of meaning in life; that they are not placed in this world without a purpose, that each has a mission to fulfill and it is up to them to fathom what their missions in life are.

Religion gives people a sense of belonging

Belonging to a particular religion –whose members share the same beliefs, practices the same rituals and worship the same god –gives individuals a sense of being in the right place with the right people.

Religion affirms Social Hierarchy

Some religions often favor men and as a result, perpetuate the notions of class or gender discrimination or oppression.

Religion causes discrimination

Some people do not tolerate religious ideologies different from the one they follow. Religious fanaticism can lead to feelings of hatred, which could lead to racism and eventually violence.

Religion triggers conflicts and fights

Wars have been fought in the name of religion. Numerous lives were sacrificed and lost and this phenomenon continues up to the present time

Religion as an economic tool for exploiting the masses

Karl Marx said “Religion is the opium of the masses.” he believes that religion maintains social inequality by propagating a worldview that justifies oppression. People will not complain of being poor or being in the lower ranks because “the kingdom of Heaven is waiting for them”

Religion impedes scientific success and development

Catholic church claimed that the earth was flat and that it is the center of the solar system and so when Copernicus stated his theory that the sun is the center of the solar system, He was banned from the church and his book was banned for more than 200 years.

Religion obstructs the use of reason

Many question the sustainability of religious doctrines to the needs of the present and future generations.

India’s Caste system

The system which divides Hindus into rigid hierarchical groups based on their karma (work) and dharma (the Hindi word for religion, but here it means duty) is generally accepted to be more than 3,000 years old.

Inquisition

The _________ was a powerful office set up within the Catholic Church to root out and punish heresy throughout Europe and the Americas. Beginning in the 12th century and continuing for hundreds of years, the Inquisition is infamous for the severity of its tortures and its persecution of Jews and Muslims.

Sati

The ancient Hindu tradition called _____, wherein a widow would throw herself on her husband’s pyre and burn to death, was initially a voluntary act considered courageous and heroic, but it later became a forced practice.

Monotheistic

A western belief that believes in one GOD

Morality is based on learning the will of God, understanding and living it out individually and as a community.

Polytheistic

A eastern belief that believes in more than one god. All elements of creation from plants to animals have an animated spirit

Meditation

Is central to polytheistic faiths. There is a belief in reincarnation or rebirth Things can be made better or worse through karma

Isaac and Ishmael

Who are the sons of Abraham

Isaac

Jacob is the son of?

Ishmaelites

The 12 tribes of Arabs is also known as?

Israelites

The 12 tribes of Jews is also known as?

Rachel

Who is the daughter of Laban and the younger sister of Leah?

Leah

Who is the daughter of Laban and the elder sister of Rachel?

Jacob

The tribes of Israel is founded by?

Zilpah

Who is the slave of Leah?

Bilhah

Who is the slave of Rachel?

Esau

Edomites is derived from?

Moses

The Israelites Miraculously Cross the Red Sea because of?

Joshua

Who divided the holy land among 12 tribes?

Synagogue

These started as community centers for Jews in the Diaspora. Far from the temple in Jerusalem, these Jews of the dispersion gathered together for fellowship, affirmation in their national identity, and, among other things, to hear the Torah.

Masada Synagogue

It is built by Herod the Great

Shema

Jewish Prayer Life

The Hebrew Bible

Also called Tanakh, 24 Books

Torah

Teaching or law of Judaism

Nevi’im

Prophets of Judaism

Ketuvim

Writings of Judaism

The Writings

• Psalms

• Proverbs

• Job

• Song of Songs

• Ruth

• Lamentations

• Ecclesiastes

• Esther

• Daniel

• Ezra-Nehemiah

• Chronicles

Torah

• Genesis

• Exodus

• Leviticus

• Numbers

• Deuteronomy

Prophets

• Joshua

• Judges

• Samuel

• Kings

• Isaiah

• Jeremiah

• Ezekiel

• Book of the Twelve (Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi)

Central Beliefs of Judaism

• God is one, formless, all-knowing, creator and judge, both loving and just.

• Words of the prophets

• That God gave the law to Moses

• That the Messiah will come

• (The traditional Jews refused to accept Jesus as the Messiah, and so now they remain waiting for the Messiah.”)

• That there is a resurrection of the good in the “world to come.”

Jews

_____ do not eat pork and shell fish

Kosher

Specific rules of how to slaughter, cook, and serve the animals. It means “ritually correct.”

Passover

Most important of the many Holy Days commemorates the liberation from Egypt celebrated for 8 days, begins on the 15th of Nisan

Seder

Paschal meal is shared by the family on the eve of the first day of the feast.

Matzah

Unleavened bread is the primary food ingested, which was consumed during the Exodus.

Elijah

A table is set for ______, believed to come again to prepare the way of the Messiah.

Sephardic Jews

Jews from West Israel and Spain

Ashkemazic Jews

Jews from Central Europe

Falashas

Jews from Ethiopia

Orthodox Judaism

Traditional practices and beliefs of Biblical Judaism.

Reform Judaism

Aims to modernize Judaism by integrating themselves with European culture

Conservative Judaism

Trying to reconcile traditional with liberalism