World Religion Final

Talmud

collection of Jewish law and tradition

Conservative Judaism

Jews who keep some of the requirements of the Mosaic Law but allow for adaptation of other requirements (as some of the dietary laws) to fit modern circumstances

Mordecai Kaplan

Founder of Reconstructionist Judaism

Hasidism

form of Judaism that emphasizes a personal relationship with God

shoa

Hebrew word for Holocaust

Haggadah

"narrative"; sacred stories in the Jewish tradition

Baptism

a Christian sacrament signifying spiritual cleansing and rebirth

Eucharist

A Christian sacrament commemorating the Last Supper by consecrating bread and wine.

Paul of Tarsus

The most important figure in the spread of Christianity after Jesus's death

martin luther

95 Thesis, posted in 1517, led to religious reform in Germany, denied papal power and absolutist rule. Claimed there were only 2 sacraments: baptism and communion.

Kingdom of God/Heaven

The beginning of God's new reign on earth, which was to bring the forgiveness of sins, the healing of the sick, and the establishment of a time of peace and joyful living for all. Jesus, the Redeemer, initiated this new Kingdom.

Sunni

one of the two main branches of orthodox Islam

Shari'ah

Islamic law

Shauvot

Festival of "weeks". 50 days after Passover; commemorates Moses receiving the Law on Sinai.

Reconstructionist Judaism

advocates Judaism as a culture, not only a religion

Torah

First five books of the Hebrew Bible

Midrash

The literature of delving into the Jewish Torah

Maimonides

A Jewish scholar in Cordoba, Spain, who organized a collection of Jewish oral law.

Shema

a prayer from the Book of Deuteronomy reminding the Jewish people to love God with all their heart, soul, and strength

Minyan

The quorum of ten adult males required for Jewish communal worship

Mitzvah/Mitzvot

commandments

Covenant

A solemn agreement between human beings or between God and a human being in which mutual commitments are made.

Zionism

A movement to create a Jewish homeland in Palestine

Diaspora

A dispersion of people from their homeland

Halakhah

Jewish legal decision and the parts of the Talmud dealing with laws

Moses (Judaism)

Given the ten commandments by God, led Jews out of Eypt and into the Sinai

Abraham (Judaism)

In the Torah (Jewish bible) God chose Abraham to be the "father" of the Jewish people.

Yom Kippur

Jewish Day of Atonement- fasting and reflecting on one's sins

Rosh Hashanah

Jewish New Year

Passover (Pesach)

A joyful spring festival that recalls the Hebrews' exodus from Egypt and freedom from oppression.

Mikvah

a bath in which certain Jewish ritual purifications are performed

Teffilin

represents Heart and Mind; worn to pray

YHWH (Yahweh)

The shorthand initialism (Tetragrammaton) used by the Israelites for the name of God

Nature of God in Judaism

They believe that all existence in heaven and on Earth comes from God, and that God alone should be worshipped. They may describe the nature as of God as: omnipresent - God is present everywhere. omnipotent - God is all-powerful, and able to do all things that are consistent with God's nature.

Syncretism in religion

Combination of two or more religious value systems. When smaller religions take from larger more dominant religions.

Mormons are geographically syncretic

Baha'i - syncretic with Ramamdan

Scientology - syncretic with hindusim and buddhism

Sacrament

worship, spiritual ritual (such as baptism)

Transubstantiation

Catholic belief that the bread and wine actually become the body and blood of Christ.

Jesus Christ

A teacher and prophet whose life and teachings form the basis of Christianity. Christians believe Jesus to be Son of God.

Gospels

Four books in the New Testament that tell the story of Christ's life and teachings

Matthew, Mark, Luke and John

indulgences

pardon sold by catholic church to reduce one's punishment

Protestant Reformation

A religious movement of the 16th century that began as an attempt to reform the Roman Catholic Church and resulted in the creation of Protestant churches.

Lutheranism

A Protestant denomination of Christian faith founded by Martin Luther

Parables

Short stories that use everyday images to communicate religious messages.

Protestant

a member of a Christian church founded on the principles of the Reformation

Pope

the bishop of Rome, head of the Roman Catholic Church

Augustine of Hippo

Early Christian church father and philosopher; his writings helped shape Christian doctrine for centuries.

Liturgy

the official public worship of the Church

Trinity

Father, Son, Holy Spirit

John the Baptist

A cousin of Jesus, older by six months. His baptizing and preaching in the wilderness prepared the way for Jesus.

Grace

God's gift of friendship and life that enables us to share his life and love

John Wesley

English clergyman and founder of Methodism (1703-1791)

Constantine

Emperor of Rome who adopted the Christian faith and stopped the persecution of Christians (280-337)

Purgatory

A state of final purification or cleansing, which one may need to enter following death and before entering Heaven

Bible

The holy book of Christians.

Francis of Assisi

Italian monk who founded the Franciscan order; he devoted his life to serving the poor and sick.

Ali (Islam)

muhammads cousin and the first convert of islam

Hijab

a headscarf worn by Muslim women

Ramadan

the ninth month of the Muslim year, during which strict fasting is observed from sunrise to sunset.

Caliph

A supreme political and religious leader in a Muslim government

Abu Bakr

first caliph after death of Muhammad

Hijrah

Muhammad's migration from Mecca to (Yathrib) Medina

khadija

First wife of muhammad and first to convert to Islam.

Quran

The holy book of Islam

Hadith

A tradition relating the words or deeds of the Prophet Muhammad; next to the Quran, the most important basis for Islamic law.

Shia

the branch of Islam whose members acknowledge Ali and his descendants as the rightful successors of Muhammad

Sufi

The branch of Islam that believes in a more mystical connection with Allah.

Jihad

A holy struggle or striving by a Muslim for a moral or spiritual or political goal

Ummah

Muslim community

Ka'bah

"Cube"; the square shrine at the center of the great mosque of Mecca

Fatimah

Muhammad's daughter

Prophet

A person who speaks or interprets for God to other people

Muhammad

Founder of Islam

Aisha

a beloved wife of Muhammad who is known for transmitting many hadith

Sunnah (Islam)

A collection of writings about the way Muhammad lived that provides a model for Muslims to follow

dervish

a member of a muslim order who has taken vows of poverty

Allah

God of Islam

5 Pillars of Islam

1. belief in one God, Allah, and Muhammad his prophet2. daily prayer; pray 5 times a day facing Mecca- mosques- Jewish places for worship 3. alms (offering) for the poor 4. fasting (sunrise to sunset) during Ramadan (September-October) 5. hajj- pilgrimage to Mecca at least once in your lifetime (and visit Kaaba)

Tanahkh

hebrew bible

Orthodox Judaism

Jews who strictly observe the Mosaic Law as interpreted in the Talmud. Branch of Judaism

Reform Judaism

Modern Judaism with fewer rules and more room for individuality (Most Liberal branch)

Pentateuch

The first five books of the Bible