Cultural Identities of Asian People: Religion, Philosophy, and Beliefs

Flashcards covering key terms, figures, and definitions of major Asian religions and philosophies from ARPAN 8 Lesson 1.4.

Religion

Refers to human recognition of a supreme power ruling over all things, setting laws and commands that shape the history of Asian regions and enrich their culture.

Judaism

The religion of the Israelites, whose followers are called Jews, who were among the first to believe in one all-powerful God and creator named Yahweh.

Torah

Meaning 'law' or 'teaching', it is the central focus of study in Judaism containing the five books of Moses: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy.

Abraham

The first Patriarch of Israel and father of Judaism from whom God's chosen people originated.

Isaac

The son of Abraham who served as the next patriarch.

Jacob

The son of Isaac who succeeded him as patriarch and whose descendants formed the tribe of Jews.

Joseph

The son of Jacob who was sold into Egypt by his jealous brothers, became trusted by the Pharaoh due to his dream-interpretation ability, and later reunited with his family during a famine.

Moses

The savior of the Israelites who spoke with Yahweh, led the Jews out of Egypt toward Canaan, and received the Ten Commandments written on stone tablets.

Christianity

A religion founded by Jesus, a Jew, which originated from Judaism.

Bible

The holy book of Christians divided into the Old Testament (matching Jewish scriptures) and the New Testament (covering the life and teachings of Jesus Christ and his disciples).

Jesus

Born in the first century through the Holy Spirit to the Virgin Mary, believed to be the Only Begotten Son of God and Savior who was crucified, rose on the third day, and ascended into heaven.

Islam

A religion in Western Asia meaning 'peace', whose followers are called Moslems or Muslims.

Allah

The term used by Muslims for God.

Qur'an

Also spelled Koran, it is the holy book of Islam.

Muhammad

Born in 571 CE in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, he is the founder, teacher, and propagator of Islam who died in Medina in 632 BCE.

Hegira

The flight of Muhammad from Mecca to Medina, where Islam was accepted as a religion.

Hinduism

A religion established in the first millennium BCE centered on three main gods: Brahma (creator), Vishnu (preserver), and Shiva (destroyer).

Reincarnation

The continuous cycle of birth and death.

Karma

The concept where living a righteous life causes one's soul to be reborn in a higher form, whereas living an evil life leads to rebirth in a lower form.

Moksha

Freedom or liberation from the cycle of birth and death, achieved when the soul becomes pure and unites with Brahman.

Nirvana (Hinduism)

True happiness and complete tranquility.

Buddhism

A religion founded by Siddharta Gautama Buddha in response to certain Hindu beliefs.

Siddharta Gautama Buddha

A wealthy son of the ruler of Kapilavastu kingdom in Nepal living in the 6th century BCE who abandoned luxury to become an ascetic and attained enlightenment through meditation.

Four Noble Truths

Core Buddhist principles stating that life and suffering are inseparable, desire causes suffering, eliminating desire removes suffering, and following the Eightfold Path removes desire.

Eightfold Path

The eight practices in Buddhism to end desire: right thought, right view, right intention, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right understanding, and right concentration.

Confucianism

A philosophy originating during the Zhou dynasty in China focused on restoring social order through self-improvement and valuing relationships.

Confucius

The most famous Chinese philosopher born in 551 BCE who taught virtues such as benevolence, righteousness, and respect.

Five Classics

The collection of books containing the teachings of Confucius and his philosophical solutions to societal turmoil.

Golden Rule

The core Confucian teaching: 'Do not do unto others what you do not want done unto you.'

Shinto

The indigenous animist religion of Japan meaning 'kimi no michi' or 'way of the gods'.

Kami

Sacred spirits in Shinto that inhabit nature, deceased emperors, great leaders (samurai), or ancestors.

Amaterasu

The sun goddess enshrined in Ise Jingu, considered the center of worship in Shinto and the ancestor of Japan.

Animism

The indigenous religion of Southeast Asia whose followers believe the world is inhabited by powerful forces or spirits, performing offerings for good harvests and attributing natural disasters to angry spirits.