[AGE8 00] PRELIM: Lesson 4 Sources of Authority Religion

Sources of Authority (Religion)

• "Love the Lord, Your God, therefore, and always heed his charge: his statutes, decrees, and commandments." (New American Bible)

• This verse is the first line of Chapter 11 of the book of Deuteronomy.

• It expresses a claim that many people of a religious sensibility find appealing and immediately valid: the idea that one is obliged to obey God in all things.

• At first glance, this theory seems to make sense.

• Religious upbringing or another, so it is very possible that there is a strong inclination in us to refer to our religious background to back up our moral valuations.

• As a foundation for ethical values, this is referred to as the divine command theory.

• The divinity called God, Allah, Jehovah (or some other name to signify the Supreme Being) commands us, and each one of us is obliged to obey our Creator.

Code of prohibitions

Given by religion:

• “Thou shall not kill”

• “Thou shall not steal”

• Thou shall not commit”

prohibitive

• In addition, there is an advance here over the law because religion is not simply ___, but it also provides ideals to pursue.

• For instance:

  • One may be called to forgive those who sinned against him.

  • Be more charitable to those who have less.

Supreme Authority

• Further, taking religion to be the basis of ethics has the advantage of providing us with not only a set of commands but also a ___ that can inspire and compel our obedience in a way that nothing else can.

• The Divine can command absolute obedience of a person, as the implications of her actions, good and bad, involve her ultimate destiny.

World Religion

Five world religions have had a profound impact on culture and civilization.

Religion

• A set of beliefs in an ultimate reality

• A set of practices used to express those beliefs

• It is a key component of culture

• Has its own special celebrations and worship styles

• Have their own sacred text, symbols and sites

• All of these aspect help unite followers regardless of where in the world they live.

Jerusalem

A city of significance for Jews, Christians and Muslims

Monotheism

• The belief in single God.

• The belief in only one divine being who deserves recognition, reverence and allegiance.

• The belief that there is only one God, as found in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.

• The belief in only one God.

• The one God is all powerful.

• A more modern type of religion.

• Examples:

  • Judaism

  • Christianity

  • Islam

• Begun by Abraham about 2000 BCE

• Common Beliefs:

  • God created the universe

  • God continues to govern the universe

  • The Ten Commandments were given to Moses by God on Mt. Sinai and must be followed

• Began in Palestine with the Jews

• Abraham is the founder of:

  • Judaism

  • Islam

Judaism

• Monotheism

• Ten Commandments of moral and religious conduct

• Torah: Written records and beliefs of the Jews

• Founder: Abraham

• Followers are called Jews

• Believe that God made a covenant with Abraham and his people (Israelites)

• Adherents are worldwide, but most are in Israel

• Holy book is the Torah (= the first five books of the Old Testament of Christian Bible)

• Worship in a Synagogue

Christianity

• Monotheism

• Jesus as Son of God

• Life after death

• New Testament: Life and teachings of Jesus

• Establishment of Christian doctrines by early church councils

• Worship in a church

• Holy Book: Bible

• Basic Beliefs of Christianity:

  • There is only 1 God

  • God is all-knowing

  • Jesus is the son of God

  • There is final judgement

  • The Bible contains the teachings/stories of God

Islam

• Monotheism

• Muslim name for their God is Allah

• Muhammad, the prophet

• Holy Book: Qur’an (Koran)

• Mecca and Medina

• Started his religion in Mecca, Saudi Arabia.

  • This is the holiest city in Islam.

• Muslims worship in a mosque

• Muslims must follow the Five Pillars of Islam:

  • Stating the Faith

  • Prayer 5 times/day facing Mecca

  • Charity to poor

  • Pilgrimage (Hajj)

  • Fast during Ramadan

Buddhism

• Founder: Siddhartha Gautama (Buddha)

• Four Noble Truths

• Eightfold Path to Enlightenment

• Spread of Buddhism from India to China and other parts of Asia, resulting from Asoka’s missionaries and their writings.

• Basic Tenets of Buddhism

  • The world is full of suffering

  • Meditation is our only escape

  • Nirvana is the ultimate goal

  • Follow the Eightfold Path

• Eightfold Path

  • Right Understanding

  • Right Thought

  • Right Speech

  • Right Action

  • Right Livelihood

  • Right Effort

  • Right Mindfulness

  • Right Concentration

Polytheism

• The belief in multiple Gods.

• Gods have limited power (air, sun, sea, etc.)

• Historically, the oldest forms of belief.

• Examples:

  • Ancient Egypt

  • Greece and Rome

  • Hinduism

• It is the worship of more than one god.

• May accept gods from other religions

• Choose your favorite god!

Hinduism

• From India around 1700 BCE

• No single founder

• 3rd largest religion

• Holy Book: Rig Veda

• Brahman is the source of all divinity (holiness)

• Believe in reincarnation (soul is reborn many times based on Karma).

• Many forms of one god

• Reincarnation: Rebirth based upon karma

• Karma: Knowledge that all thoughts and actions result in future consequences.

• Hinduism embraces many religious ideas.

  • For this reason, it’s sometimes referred to as a “way of life” or a “family of religions,” as opposed to a single, organized religion.

• Most forms of Hinduism are henotheistic, which means they worship a single deity, known as “Brahman,” but still recognize other gods and goddesses.

  • Followers believe there are multiple paths to reaching their god.

• Hindus believe in the doctrines of samsara (the continuous cycle of life, death, and reincarnation) and karma (the universal law of cause and effect).

• One of the key thoughts of Hinduism is “atman,” or the belief in soul.

  • This philosophy holds that living creatures have a soul, and they’re all part of the supreme soul.

  • The goal is to achieve “moksha,” or salvation, which ends the cycle of rebirths to become part of the absolute soul.

• One fundamental principle of the religion is the idea that people’s actions and thoughts directly determine their current life and future lives.

• Hindus strive to achieve dharma, which is a code of living that emphasizes good conduct and morality.

• Hindus revere all living creatures and consider the cow a sacred animal.

• Food is an important part of life for Hindus.

  • Most don’t eat beef or pork, and many are vegetarians.

Reincarnation

Rebirth based upon karma

Karma

Knowledge that all thoughts and actions result in future consequences

Geographic Distribution of World’s Major Religions

• Judaism: Concentrated in Israel and North America

• Christianity: Concentrated in Europe and North and South America

• Islam: Concentrated in the Middle East, Africa, and Asia

• Hinduism: Concentrated in India

• Buddhism: Concentrated in East and Southeast Asia

Israel and North America

• Geographic Distribution of World’s Major Religions

• Judaism

Europe and North and South America

• Geographic Distribution of World’s Major Religions

• Christianity

Middle East, Africa, and Asia

• Geographic Distribution of World’s Major Religions

• Islam

India

• Geographic Distribution of World’s Major Religions'

• Hinduism

East and Southeast Asia

• Geographic Distribution of World’s Major Religions'

• Buddhism