WHAP Chapters 4,5 and 9: WORLD RELIGIONS

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What are some of the differences between these newly developing cultural traditions according to the introduction

some cultural traditions focused more on the supernatural realm, God, and gods (Indian, Persian, Jewish traditions) while others focused more on human rationality and worldly affairs (China, Greece).

How do the cultural traditions created in the Classical era contrast with those that existed previously?

began to see God or gods as source of order, many religions started focusing on monotheism instead of polytheism

List at least one argument historians give as to why all of these religions/cultural traditions devolved around the same time

More warfare, growing cities, and increased trade led people to start thinking about life more deeply and reevaluate how they viewed the spiritual world

Explain what caused the emergence of new Chinese thinkers and cultural traditions that attempted to promote tranquility and harmony in China

the chaotic period of warring states caused Chinese thinkers to look for a way to unify the empire again

What was the solution to China's problems, according to Legalism?

clear, strict laws and harsh punishments for the people to follow

What was the relationship between people and the state, according to Legalists?

the government and people did not have a positive relationship- people of the gov were seen as elites while common people were seen as stupid and ignorant

According to Confucius, how could China solve its problem of disorder and allow peace and harmony to prevail?

Moral example of superiors; father was the example for the son, older brother to the younger brother, and ruler to the subject

How were people supposed to morally better themselves in order to promote harmony in China?

by showing benevolence- nobility of heart- kindness towards all

How did Confucianism leave a lasting impact on Chinese politics?

emphasized education, established social relationships, established order, filial piety

Define "ancestor veneration"

custom of deeply respecting ancestors who are still considered part of the family- ancestors are able to intervene with living world

Define the Confucian virtue of "filial piety"

respecting elders

How did Confucianism reinforce patriarchy in China

men were set to lead by moral example and women to follow after them and be educated to serve them

According to Confucius, who were "superior men"?

those who held rationality, scholarship, literary, and artistic abilities (not warriors)

Define "social mobility" and explain the positive effect Confucianism had for men of lower classes.

• social mobility is being able to change your social status

• Confucianism enabled lower class men to become elites by passing the civil service exam

What was the Confucian expectation for those who were superior in society?

• superior men were to keep harmony in their families-

• officials were to meet the needs of he people and keep low taxes

Why is Confucianism more often described as a philosophy rather than a religion?

it did not have an influential supernatural force/deity but instead focused of human relationships and effective government

According to Daoism, what is the solution to China's problems of disorder?

to not engage in social activity including politics and education; meditation and taking a break from the world

Practically, what did Daoist living look like?

-simple

-self sufficient

-limited government

-inactive

• meditative

Explain the concept of yin and yang

concept of yin and yang, which expressed a belief in the unity of opposites (yin is female yang is male)

What are some similarities and differences between Hinduism and other world religions/philosophies that were developing at the time?

Hinduism embraced diverse culture, religion and philosophy; you couldn't easily convert to it (it was an ethnic religion like Judaism)

What were the Vedas?

A concentration of poems, hymns, prayers and rituals in Hinduism

What were the Upanishads, and how were they different from the Vedas?

explain the reasoning behind the rituals mentioned in the Vedas

Explain the idea of "Brahman"

idea that all things are woven together/unified in some universal reality

What is "moksha"

-the effort to be in union existence with brahman

• becoming one with surrounding atmosphere

• release from the endless cycle of life

According to Hindu belief, how does one go about achieving Moksha?

• Get good Karma by doing good deeds and doing you duty; this helps you get a better status when you rebirth

• you eventually you stop rebirthing and become one with nature once you have reached an acceptable status in the caste system

Explain how Hinduism supported inequality in social classes and gender relations.

social classes:

• caste system

• idea of karma leading higher status in rebirth and Moksha

gender relations:

-women had limited role in religion

-women were fully submitted to men whether it be a husband, father, or son

In what ways did Hinduism also sometimes empower women?

some control in love life, religious activities (rituals and devotionals), and the fact that most spiritual deities were portrayed as women

According to Buddha, what is the "disease" of life and how can one go about "cursing" this "disease"?

life contains greed, sorrow, pain, hate, and selfishness, but one can receive peace of this discomfort through meditation and enlightenment

Describe "Nirvana"

a state in which suffering and the urge of self-pleasure disappear

How was Buddhism similar to and different from Hinduism?

Similar:

-karma and rebirth, end of life

-meditation

-patriarchy

Differences:

• moksha v. nirvana

• Buddhism had no religious authority, no caste system

• Buddhism had a founder (Siddhartha Gautama)

Explain why Buddhism appealed more to women than Hinduism

women had more freedom, independence, active involvement, and control of their own affairs if they became monks (nuns)

Explain how Buddhism changed over time. (i.e.: from Theravada to Mahayana)

Theravada:

-teaching of elders

• psychological practices rather than beliefs

-little godly role-self-effort

Mahayana:

-salvation

-Buddha was a god

-bodhisattvas delayed their entry to nirvana to help others who suffered

Why did Buddhism die out in India, the place of its origin?

-it was reincorporated into Hinduism

-had competition with Islam

What are some changes to Hindu beliefs about achieving moksha that occurred in response to its competitor, Buddhism?

common people (not just elites) could achieve moksha through selflessness- if they had less greed and less ego

Define "monotheism" and explain how it is different from polytheism

• the belief of only one God

-in contrast to polytheism which encourages the idea of multiple gods

Define "universal religion"

A religion that is in universal scope, which is allows anyone, regardless of their family to convert. (Not like Hinduism and Judaism, which are difficult to convert to)

What beliefs of Zoroastrianism subsequently found a place in Judaism and Christianity?

-conflict between good and evil

-a last judgement

-savior

-defeat of evil

-hell and heaven

-remaking of new world

What was distinctive about the Jewish religious tradition?

one holy and pure God who had the ability to communicate with people on earth and engaged in historical events

What are the distinct features of the Greek intellectual and cultural traditions?

-separating science form religion

-rationality

-logic

-questioning

-morals, ethics, and natural laws

List some of the famous thinkers who used Greek philosophy to discover concepts about the world

Aristotle, Socrates, Democritus, Plato

Describe the Greek legacy on both the Western world and the Islamic world.

Western World:

-updated Christian theology

-Europe's scientific revolution

Islamic world:

• influenced fields of study such as medicine, astronomy, geography, chemistry, mathematics

Similarities and differences between Jesus and the Buddha:

Similarities:

• spiritual seekers, wisdom teachers, taught of love and compassion

Differences:

• Jesus was a low-class, Jewish, prophet and was crucified

• Buddha was born to Indian royalty

• No supernatural or miraculous aspect

• Less of a political threat

Describe Christianity's stance on the role of women.

women were closely involved through Jesus and in the church playing many leadership roles but were still subordinate to men

How did Christianity gain followers?

• through missionaries who spread the news