Law, Religion and the Modern State: Quiz 1

Religion

A tradition or category of human culture, a set of institutions, texts and practices, or beliefs, worldviews and values

Polytheism

Reigning theological view of some areas in the ancient Middle East where they believed in many gods.

Orthopraxis

The correct practices

Orthodoxy

The correct belief

Prophetic Religions

Religions where there is a figure (not a king) who has a direct connection to god and can take the word of god and tell the masses about it.

Hellenism

Greek culture and speaking, the spread of greek philosophy, literature and drama, political structure and currency.

Divine Law

The idea that law comes from God, and God is the only form of law there is.

Natural Law

An institution of nature. Law and justice are not created by God or human rulers, but are simply a feature of the natural order of things.

Logos

Divine reason or order of the universe

Nomos

The law of the universe

Ovens of Akhnai

A debate between Rabbi’s over whether or not an oven is complete and pure due to cracks filled with sand

Bishoprics

Places Bishops work / represents

Eastern Patriarchs

Antioch, Constantinople, Rome, Alexandria, Jerusalum

Lay Investiture

The power from someone outside of the church to appoint bishops, leaders of abbeys and monasteries.

Unam Sanctum

Made in 1302, the Papal declaration of theology.

Two Swords Doctrine

The idea that there is a sword of the church and the sword of the ruler and they fight together to expand christianity.

Rightly Guided Caliphs

Four early followers of the prophet Muhammad that were seeking to be the next prophet.

Shi’a

The branch of Islam that believed Ali was the first successor of the prophet. Approx 15% of all Muslims.

Sunni

The most common version of Islam, those that don’t believe Ali was the first successor of the prophet. Approx 85% of Muslims.

The Mutazilites

Those that believe the Qur’an was created by god, that he wrote it himself and therefore it is one of his creations. Believed all his creations can be studied and interpreted using human reason, and that human reason is sufficient to understand the world.

The Ahl al-Hadith

Those that believe the Qur’an is co-eternal with God and was not created. It is as old as God is, has always been there and will never die. They reject the idea that you can study and understand the Qur’an through reason, and that without the Qur’an we would know nothing and reason would get us nowhere.

Sola Fide

One of the principle beliefs of Lutheranism meaning “Faith Alone”. The idea that by faith alone you are saved, your good or bad deeds don’t mean anything, and it doesn’t matter if you pray, you faith is predestined.

Predestination

The idea that before we are born God chooses our fate, on if we are to be allowed in to heaven or not.

Theodicy

The question of evil. If God is all powerful, all known and all good, how do bad things happen?

Sola Scriptura

One of the principle beliefs in Lutheranism, meaning “Scripture Alone”. This is the idea that we don’t need complicated theology, or people to explain the scripture to you, as long as you can read the language you can read the scripture and understand it.

Peace of Westphalia

The treaty that gives us modern states today and ended the Thirty Years War. Formed ideas of State Religions and Religious Toleration.

State Religions

Formed from the Peace of Westphalia, where one person is the sovereign in that state, they get to choose what the religion is in that state