Exploring Major World Religions and Their Key Concepts

Nostra Aetate

significant document that revised the Church's approach to other religions

Francis and the Sultan

fanciscans gain key to holy land

Religion

a person or community bound to a belief

Basic elements of a religion

scriptures, beliefs, practices, sacred time, goal, moral code, places of worship

Why should we study major world religions?

be more accepting/learn from other sources of wisdom

Spiritual

personal journey of seeking meaning and connection

Religious

structured system of beliefs and practices often involving a community and a shared understanding of the divine

Theism

god does intervene

Deism

god does not intervene

Agnosticism

impossible to know existence of god

Atheism

disbelief in god

Replacement Model

christianity replace other religions

Fulfillment Model

christianity becoming balanced with other religions

Barth

said no jesus = no dialogue

Rahner

said gods grace is active in other religions

Ecumenism

the movement promoting unity and cooperation among different Christian denominations

Interreligious Dialogue

exploring other religions on common ground

3 Major Christian denominations

orthodox, Catholicism, protestant

Sacred texts for Christians

bible

Trinity

father, son, holy spirit

Incarnation

God becoming fully human in the person of Jesus Christ

Great Schism

contrast between east (orthodox church) and west (roman catholic church)

Protestant Reformation

religious reform movement that challenged the authority of the catholic church

Differences in practice / belief between Catholic Church and Orthodox and Protestant Church

Ethnic Jews

ancestry/passed though Jewish mother only

Religious Jews

adheres to Jewish religious practices and beliefs

Branches of Judaism

orthodox, conservative, reform, reconstructionist

Spiritual Goal of Jews

to live a life that reflects the values and principles outlined in the Torah

Monotheistic

belief that there is only one God

Abrahamic Religions

Judaism, Christianity, and Islam

YHVH

was intended to be the name of God that was beyond pronouncing to remind people that God is beyond the limitations implied by a name

HaShem

a way to avoid using the Divine Name (YHWH, sometimes pronounced as Yahweh) in vain

Mitzvot

Commandments guiding Jewish ethical behavior

Tanakh

Hebrew Bible, consisting of Torah, Prophets, Writings.

Talmud

primary source of Jewish religious law and Jewish theology

Torah

Central reference of the religious Judaic tradition. kept in the synagogue in a torah shell

Zionism

developing a national homeland for Jews in Palestine

Kosher

Dietary laws governing what is permissible

Rabbi

teacher of Jewish law or theology

Tefillin

small black leather boxes

Tallit

shawl worn during morning prayers

Yarmulke

Skullcap worn by Jewish men

Rosh Hashanah

Jewish New Year

Hanukkah

Festival of Lights, celebrating the Maccabean victory

Shavout

Feast of Weeks, celebrating the giving of Torah

Shabbat

Weekly day of rest and worship

Yom Kippur

Day of Atonement, fasting and repentance

Which three major world religions claim ties to Jerusalem / Israel?

Christianity, Islam, and Judaism - consider Jerusalem to be a sacred place

West Bank and Gaza strip

Regions involved in the Palestinian Israeli conflict.

Grievances in Palestinian Israeli conflict

Concerns held by each group involved in the conflict.

Synagogue

A place of worship in Judaism where one can find an Ark, Torah, new tamid (eternal light), menorah, 10 commandments, star of David, pews for congregation, and bimah.

Birth celebration in Judaism

The ceremony focuses on blessing the baby and explaining the choice of name made by the parents.

Bar Mitzvah

Coming of age ceremony for boys in Judaism.

Bat Mitzvah

Coming of age ceremony for girls in Judaism.

Kosher laws

Three main dictates: must have cloven hoof/chewing cud, fish need to have fins AND scales, no meat and dairy products together.

Origins of Islam

Angel Gabriel talked to Muhammad in his cave.

Muhammad

Messenger of God.

Branches of Islam

Sunni Islam, Shia Islam, Sufism.

Ramadan

Fasting festival held from sunrise to sunset.

Eid al Fitr

Festival of Breaking the Fast.

Qur'an

The holy book of Islam.

Hadith

Tradition relating the words or deeds of the Prophet Muhammad.

Sacred cities in Islam

Mecca, Medina, Jerusalem.

Mecca

Birthplace of Muhammad.

Medina

City that Muhammad immigrated to.

Jerusalem

Site of Muhammad's brief ascension to heaven.

Mosque

A place of worship where one can find Qubba, Mihrab, Sahn, Minaret.

Five Pillars of Islam

Shahadah, Salat, Sawm, Zakat, Hajj.

Shahadah

Witnessing.

Salat

Prayer.

Sawm

Fasting.

Zakat

Almsgiving.

Hajj

Pilgrimage.

Six beliefs in Islam

Oneness of God, Angels of God, Books of God, Prophets or messengers of God, Day of Judgement, Divine decree.

Hijab

A headscarf worn by Muslim women.

Islam

Arabic word meaning surrender/submission.

Allah

Term for God in Arabic.

Caste system

Social hierarchy for Hinduism.

Vedic Restraints

Guidelines in Hindu philosophy and yoga.

Smriti

Less authoritative but most popular, usually contains stories of deities.

Shruti

Divine revelation and more authoritative, considered most sacred scripture.

Monism

The belief that all reality is ultimately one.

Brahman

The ultimate reality, no depiction.

Brahma

Creator god, 4 heads and arms.

Shiva

Destroyer god, blue with third eye holding a trident.

Vishnu

Maintainer god, blue with four arms holding 4 things.

Puja

A form of worship or ritual performed to honor deities.

Diwali

The return of Rama to his kingdom after exile, marked by deep cleaning of homes.

Holi

Love between Krishna and Radha, celebrated by coloring each other with colored powders.

Moksha

Freedom from samsara.

Samsara

The cycle of birth, death, and rebirth.

Reincarnation

Soul gets put into new body when you die.

Four Noble Truths

Life = suffering, cause of suffering = desire/want, end suffering = stop desire, follow 8 path.

Eightfold Path

Right understanding, intent, speech, action, livelihood, effort, mindfulness, and concentration.

Dalai Lama

The spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism.