Study of Religion Unit 1 exam

Tanakh (Torah, Nevi’im, Ketuvim)

Judaism

Bible

Christianity

Qur’an

Islam

Vedas and Upanishads

Hinduism

Pali Canon (Tripitaka)

Buddhism

Oral stories, the land, art and dance

Australian Aboriginal Spiritualities

origin and meaning of the Tanakh

Many different authors. Torah traditionally attributed to Moses. Kind David wrote the Psalms. Tanakh was written around c.400-200BCE. Final was written around 200BCE. Oral traditions date back to around 900BCE. Was written in Hebrew. It is the founding document of the people of Israel, describing origin, history, and visions in the future for a just society. It reveals the final covenant made with Yahweh and his instructions and rules for society. It also has a promise of the messiah who will come and purify the world and establish justice.

origin and meaning of the Bible

Composed of both Old (Torah) and New testament. Many authors. Paul wrote the epistles c. 50-60CE, 4 unknown gospel writers, traditionally attributed as Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. The gospels were written c.70-100CE. Traditionally written in Greek. Meaning is ‘the word of God’ that consists of human accounts of the Triune God’s covenantal love for humanity. It culminates in the redemption of Jesus Christ. Provides teachings and guidance for Christians who are called to live like Jesus and realise the reign of God in their lives.

origin and meaning of the Qur’an

The transcribed dictated words of the Prophet Mohammad. Mohammad received this revelation through dreams where the Angel Gabriel visited him. This happened over a period of 23 years, c. 609-632CE. The tet is written in Arabic. It is believed to be the literal word and command of Allah, divine communication about how to find true happiness in this life and later in Paradise. It teaches the way of Shariah and tells stories of the past, present and future. Teachings of Allah on how to live a life of obedience to Allah’s will.

origin and meaning of the Pali Canon

Developed orally by various monastic traditions following the death of the founder Siddhartha Gautama (The Buddha) in 544CE. In 25CE at the Fourth council meeting the Buddha’s teachings, rules and theories were written down on palm leaves in Sri Lanka. Written in many languages such as Pali, Sanskrit and Chinese. Consists of the three baskets; the Sutta (the basket of teachings of the Buddha), the Vinaya (the basket of rules for monks) and the Abhidhamma (the basket of theory about reality and the human mind). Provides guidance towards living a life free of suffering from attachment and desire, work towards nirvana.

origin and meaning of the Vedas and Upanishads

Author is unknown, some believe it may have cosmic origins. Date from 1500BCE to 1000BCE. Written in Sanskrit after first being orally transmitted. Vedas is considered to be the language of the Gods in human speech. Contains creation stories, hymns, incantations and instructions. Serve to assist Hindu’s to know their gods and to understand how to undertake sacrifices and rituals so that they could join the divine through moksha.

origin and meaning of oral stories, the land, art and dance

The ‘Law’ or tjukurpa comes from the ancestor spirits of creation who shaped the world and all its ways of life. ‘laws’ of existence ‘come to the elders’ and are passed through the generations of living beings so that land and life is sustained as at creation. Ancestral spirits still communicate these laws and song lines reinforce these traditions. None of the hundreds of Aboriginal languages have any concept for time, their law is literally timeless. Aboriginal people are people of the land. The land ‘owns’ them; it ‘grows them up’. Aboriginal people take everything from the land and see themselves as part of all that exists. For them the land gives life and binds and connects all living things together. Their ‘Granny Law’ or tjukurpa, handed down by the ancestors, is about kanyini – unconditional love- caring for and being responsible for everything that is alive. Aboriginal people live in the vast space of the land and grow up knowing that everything is family; the trees, the clouds, the birds, the animals, the reptiles – all are family and it is therefore never possible to be lonely.

Moral Codes

create a connection between humanity and divine. They are belief-based codes formed from key concepts of the religion. They are the basis of moral statements and ethical behaviours. 613 mitzot, golden rule and Jesus’ teachings, Shariah law, ‘do no harm’ beliefs of Hinduism and the 10 precepts.

Rituals

help create a transcendent connection between humanity and the divine. Developed in response to beliefs and instruction in the text, can be either implicit or explicit. Informs community of believers about various rituals and guide them through a step-by-step process. - Hajj Islam, Shabbat in Exodus Judaism, Baptism Christianity, Puja offerings Buddhism, and Rigveda Hinduism.

Relationships

Creation concepts create connection between humanity and the divine. Informs ideas and explanation about current situations and reality. Helps create understanding of the place of God and the divine in their lives. Shows relationships with each other through moral code.

Reverence, Interpret and Respond for the Tanakh

• communally chant the Torah

• scribes write the tanakh as a scroll

• one and only revelation from God

• recited using the silver yad - impure if words are touched or pointed at by hand

• written and recited in Hebrew only

• reveals covenant with God

• record of divine revelation

• 613 mitzvot for Jews to live a righteous life

• wear tallit (shawl - 613 tassels) and kippah (hat) and tefillin (box/straps)

• Kiss the Torah - intimate embrace of God as king

• Not interpreted literally

• kept in the ark of the synagogue

• decorated in breastplate

Reverence, Interpret and Respond for the Bible

• sometimes interpreted literally

• translated into many language to spread the ‘good news’

• read in native language

• Many authors that were inspired by God

• Jesus is the highest revelation of God, no the bible

• ‘word made flesh’

• Gather as community singing and reading passages aloud

• might be raised high or exalted with an Alleluia cry before a gospel passage is read

• traditionally face toward the East (rising sun) when the Bible is read in Church

• Generally treated with respect

• interpret the Gospels of the New Testament is a narrative of the teachings and sacrifice of Jesus Christ who saved humanity through God’s grace and forgiveness.

Reverence, Interpret and Respond for the Qur’an

• Communally chant passages of the Qur’an aloud in Arabic.

• They resist translations as they are corrupt. It is unalterable and error free.

• The divine Literal word of God. It is a sacred object from Allah, and therefore must never be placed on the floor or touched with unwashed hands.

• A special cradle (rehal) is used to support it and keep it off ‘unclean’ surfaces.

• Instructions tightly woven into daily life

• Salvation earned by following Qur’an instructions

• often memorise to emphasise its oral nature

• a series of commands and explanations from Allah that should be obeyed so as to ensure a reward in Paradise.

Reverence, Interpret and Respond for the Tripitaka

• list of instructions

• printed as a booklet of leaves of text

• does not have divine origin, but contains wisdom of the Buddha and Sangha

• reveals pathways to freedom from suffering

• written in many languages

• dharma (rules) of the buddha and sangha

• 227 rules for Bhikkhus and bhikkhunis

Reverence, Interpret and Respond for the Vedas and Upanishads

• source of moral guidance and knowledge about their religion and traditions

• read portion of text as part of worship

• read x related to certain deities of days associated with the deity

• explore from scholars pov

• never placed on floor or touched by dirty hands or feet

• prayers recited before usage

• silk cloth wrapping

• books used for recitation and personal study

• ancient ones are etched on leaves

Narrative

Story lines. Hero/villain. Often includes actions of consequence.

Parables

fictional stories told to describe an important concept or idea. Teach Morality or Theology. often includes like.

Sacred Myth

story concerning the early history of a people, place or event, or and natural or social phenomenon.

Miracles

extraordinary events not able to be explained

Poetry

evoke a feeling and tell a story or present information

Qur’anic passages are poetic.

Ultimate questions Islam

purpose of life:

• submit to Allah, following instructions in the Qur’an and guidance of the Hadith

  Life after death:

• Allah weights up all sins on Day of judgement. Spirit leaves the body at death. End goal is to be with Allah in paradise.

• Allah resurrects everyone, either end up in paradise or jahannam (hell).

  Why is there evil in the world

• humanity has free will, must choose between right following Allah, and wrong following Shaytan.

• Evil and suffering is a result of humanities sinful decisions.

• Evil exists because Adam and Hawwa (Eve) rebelled against Allah.

  Creation story:

• Allah created the world, commanded things to come into being. Allah then made all living creatures, the angels, the planets and the rain to allow vegetation to grow.

Ultimate questions Buddhism

life after death:

• the incarnating entity will reincarnate until all attachments to the world have been released and they have achieved total purification of the mind so that they no longer undergo rebirth, reached nirvana - like a candle blowing out.

Purpose of life:

• here to attain nirvana - the cessation of suffering. Life as we know it is an illusion, nirvana is the attainment of liberation from karma and rebirth.

evil and suffering:

• simply accept suffering exist, don’t question why. first noble truth is suffering - due to craving, the second noble truth. Everything is impermanent so suffering occurs to craving and desire. Also exist due to karma. Reduced by following the buddhas teachings and the eightfold path. Nirvan means the suffering will cease.

Creation:

• time is cyclical and the ‘creation’ stories in the Buddhist texts are more accurately ‘re-creation’ stories. present is caused by past events and becomes, in turn, the cause of future events through the process of karma. There is no creator being.

Ultimate questions Christianity

After death:

• soul leaves body and is judged either end up in heaven or hell. both those who believe are saved from eternal separation from God and God forgiving all sins and searching for all souls.

Purpose of Life:

• live life based on Jesus’ teachings by loving God and each other. ultimate goal is to achieve holiness and eternal life in heaven.

Evil and suffering:

• evil exists because of Adam and Eve, the original sin. Can choose between right, following Jesus’ teachings and wrong, following the devil. Life is a period of temptations. God will forgive all who repent. Evil and suffering is a result of humanities sinful decisions.

Creation story:

• God created the Earth.

Ultimate questions Judaism

After death:

• soul leaves body and is judged, end goal is to end up in heaven with god.

Purpose of Life:

• here to fulfil the covenant with God and follow the 613 commandments, live a life of justice.

Evil and suffering:

• evil exists because of Adam and Eve, the original sin. Can work against by following the mitzvot. Must choose between right, following the commandments and wrong, following the devil. Life is a period of temptations. Evil and suffering is a result of humanities sinful decisions.

Creation story:

• God created the Earth.

Ultimate questions Hinduism

Creation story:

• time began, no heaven and no Earth. ‘om’ sound filled the emptiness and Brahma was formed. Brahma created the Earth.

After Death:

• idea that spiritual atman/life spark is different from the body we inhabit while alive is a belief concept in Hinduism and the sacred texts describe the life and ultimate death of the body. Reincarnation of the spirit is the fate for all until one reaches the point where they reunite with the divine - moksha

Purpose of life:

• role on Earth is to act virtuously and do no harm, seek good karma and through that reach unity with Brahma

Evil and suffering:

• exits but isn’t related to the gods but rather the result of humanities accumulated bad karma. Reduces the ability to reach moksha.

Ultimate questions Aboriginal Spiritualities

Creation:

• in retelling of the art, music, dance and stories creation is re-created to maintain the Earth. All life is interconnected. Dreamtime stories tell of creation.

impact of people society and culture

represent beliefs and practices central to the religion. tetell and capture stories important to the religion, passing them on the generations - connects them with the land and the divine. Informs their beliefs, actions and attitudes and not only personal behaviour but political involvement, environmental responses and attitudes to social moores and opinions.

interpretation - contextual

worlds of the text - interpretation depends on whether one understands the world in which it was written

world behind the text

• historical, social, cultural, geographical, religious background.

world of the text

• literary style; genre, structure, characters, themes.

world in front of the text

• interpreted over time, engage contemporary readers, how they are used within the tradition.

interpretation - Hermeneutics

our experiences determine how we interpret the world

Feminist

• liberation of woman and advocating for equal rights. Texts written by men show that in patriarchal societies women are dominated. Not God’s will.

Liberation

• highlights the needs of people - food, water, shelter, freedom of speech, political expression, protest. Obtained from god s gift or submission to Allah, not by someone having all the power.

Political

• change occurs in society. God supports equality of people, freedom of expression, love, mercy, and justice for all - not political parties.

interpretation - literalist

recognise that some passages are clearly written as poetic and that certain stories like the parables are fictional and that some phrases are metaphorical and need to be interpreted figuratively, but literalist adherents believe most passages, like that god really did create the earth in 6 days and that he really did flood the human race leaving only Noah and his ark.

interpretation - fundamentalist

an ideology more than interpretation. use specific attitudes to inform understanding and beliefs. All authority was submissive to the one authority which is scripture. perceived ‘corrupting’ of scripture and actions, try to return to ‘obvious meaning’ of literal words. may react to science with hostility as its the enemy of faith.

why are some texts sacred

any text that discusses notions such as beliefs, rituals, ethical principles or history of the religious tradition. Supernaturally arthored or divinely inspired. central tenet of faith. importance of text to understanding of their beliefs or traditions.

1.Preserve the communal and individual identity of people within the tradition

2.Nurture the beliefs and ritual practices of a tradition

3.Provide meaning, motivation and hope for people within the tradition

4.Build community by uniting people in beliefs and values

5.Offer guidelines for behaviour and ethical decision making

6.Provide sources of healing for people by enabling people to experience life analogously