World Religions Final (Farrell)

What is Religion?

Religions make truth claims

truth (lowercase): conformity to fact, opposite of falsehood

Truth (uppercase): God, supreme reality

Comes from latin word religac that means "to bind together"

Seven Dimensions of Religion:

1. Experiential

Faith is experiential

How all religions began

2.Mythic

Origin stories. non-historical, non-rational

3. Doctrinal

Originates in experience and myth

4. Ethical

Teachings on right and wrong, social justice, violence, etc.

5. Ritual

Formal worship or religious practices that often reenact myths/sacred stories

6. Material

Sacred art, objects, places of worhsip

7. Social

Communal worship, organizational structure

Five Big Questions:

1. What is spiritual perfection?

Deals w/ spiritual potential, achieving perfection in this life, and salvation

2. What is the human condition?

Are just physical bodies or do we have a soul? Cause of suffering?

3. What is ethical and why does it matter?

What does God want us to do? What is good/bad?

4. What is our destiny?

Where are we going? Do we have free will? Is there a master plan?

5. What is the nature of the world?

Cosmology: study of universe

Worlds' origins, reality, religion vs. science

6. What is the ultimate reality and how is it revealed?

Is there a God? Nature of God?

Initiation:

Ceremony, ritual, test, or period of instruction with which a new member is admitted to a religious tradition or given privileges/knowledge

Oral Tradition:

Indigenous traditions tend to be traditions of non-literate people, so they depend mainly on oral traditions

Shaman/Medicine Man/Diviner:

Diviner (Yoruba): a ritual practitioner who specializes in divination, the use of techniques to gain knowledge about the future or root of personal problems

Medicine Man (Lakota): spiritual leader who supervises a person's vision quest, issues intsructions before and interprets visions after

Trickster:

Type of supernatural being who tends to disrupt the normal course of life and has dual nature as good and evil

For the Yoruba: Esu

For the Lakota: Inktomi, a spider

Axis Mundi:

In the Lakota tradition, center of the universe often represented by the tree of the Sun Dance lodge

In the Aztec tradition, the Great Temple is the axis mundi

4 directions:

The world is split into 4 cardinal directions at the axis mundi

Totem/Totemism:

System of belief based on totems (natural entities like an animal or feature of landscape that holds special significance to individual/group) that are common to many primal traditions (especially Aborigines)

Taboo:

In the Aborigine tradition, system of social ordering that says some objects/rituals are set aside for a specific group

Violation of forbiden/sacred activities is punishable

Orishas:

Generic term for the hundred of various Yoruba deities that have gained ritual attention

Orisha-nla is the creator god

Deified Ancestors:

Deceased human who was an important figure in Yoruba society who is worshipped by many

Family Ancestors:

Deceased human who has gained supernatural status via good reputation and old age who is only worshipped by family

Great Temple:

Aztec temple in Tenochtitlan known as Serpent Mountain

The first place Quetzalcoatl was worshipped and the center of the city where the 4 cardinal directions meet

Knower of Things:

Aztec specialist who could communicate w/ gods and make offerings thru language

Tenochtitlan

Origin of cosmos according to Aztec myth

Site of Pyramid of Sun and Pyramid of Moon

Human sacrifice:

Ritual Aztec practice of sacrificing people to nourish the sun and prevent the end of an age

Wakan Tanka

Supreme reality of the Lakota whose name means "most sacred"

Refers collectively to 16 separate deities

Ptesan Wi:

AKA the White Buffalo Calf Woman

Sacred woman of supernatural origin in Lakota tradition who brings important news

Sweat Lodge:

Lakota undergo purification before the vision quest here

Dark, airtight, steamy hut meant to represent the universe

Commonalities of Abrahamic Religions:

Father of the Semitic Religions

Islam

Christianity

Judaism

Abraham = Monotheism

Ethnic vs Religious Judaism:

Secular:

- Those who do not practice the faith but are of Jewish lineage and who may or may not practice certain rituals or holidays.

- (Example = kosher laws)

Religious:

- Those who practice the Jewish faith and are Jewish by birth or conversion

Torah:

There is a written and an oral Torah

- Based on Jewish tradition

- Every Jewish soul that would ever be born was present at the moment the Torah was revealed and agreed to be bound by the covenant

Literally means "teaching/instruction"

Religious moral and social law that guides Jewish living

Has 613 laws called Mitzvot

Tanakh

Hebrew Bible

3 Parts

Consists of the Pentuctach (Torah) - "Law"

Nevi'im (prophets)

Ketuvim (writings)

Talmud/Mishnah:

the vast depository blending together the oral and written forms of Torah, based on the Mishnah with extensive rabbinic commentary

Mishnah + Gemara= Talmud

Mitzvot/Mitzvah (613):

Jewish laws found in the Torah

248 positively formed laws (supposed number of bones in the body)

365 negatively formed laws (number of tendons in the body)

Biblical Judaism:

This era spans from Abraham in 1800 BC to Alexander the Great in 323 BC

Covers the patriarchs, Moses, and the two exiles

Assyrian Exile: In 722 BC, Israel (North) was conquered

Babylonian Exile: In 586 BC, Judah (South) was conquered

Moses

THE Prophet who led the Israelites out of Egypt

Torah revealed to Moses on Mt. Sinai

Patriarchs

Abraham: Father of the semitic religions, established monotheism

Isaac: "God's Laugh", knew he would be sacrificed but trusted God and was saved

Jacob: "Israel", father of the 12 tribes of Israel

Covenant

A binding, solemn agreement between God and his people that holds each to a certain course of action

God made covenants with important figures of the Biblical period like the patriarchs, Noah, and Moses

Decalogue:

The Ten Commandments, the first 10 mitzvah

Temple & Temple Worship:

The synagogue is the forum of worship

All synagagoues carry a copy of the Torah in an ark

Local synagogues are led by a rabbi

Diaspora

Jews lived under the rules of Muslims/Christians

Muslim rule:

- Largely enjoyed religious & political freedom

- Had to pay a special tax

Christian rule:

- Were treated worse originally but made progress by being hired as successful money lenders and helped contribute to economic change in Europe

Diaspora = "Dispersed"

- Not united-away from homeland

Shema

"hear"

The uniqueness of God

Declaration of monotheism

1st Century Judaism Sects:

Sadduccees: High priests/aristocracy, strict interpretation of Torah (written only), rejected the Resurrection

Pharisees: Used oral tradition of Torah, lawyers that tested Jesus in NT, later became rabbies, accepted possibility of resurrection

Essenes: monastic tradition that wrote the Dead Sea Scrolls

Zealots: Political revolutionists that promoted an overthrow of the Romans

Great Jewish Revolt:

The 66 CE revolt of the Jews against their Roman oppressors

Rabbi

a Jewish scholar or teacher, especially one who studies or teaches Jewish law.

Synagogue:

Place of worship for the Jews

Every Synagogue must contain a Torah

Ark (modern):

Place in a synagogue where you keep the Torah scrolls

Role of Home in Judaism

Mezuzah:

- a parchment inscribed with religious texts and attached in a case to the doorpost of a Jewish house as a sign of faith

Tefillin:

- Small set of boxes containing Biblical passages worn on forehead and left arm

Kosher/Kashrut:

- Dietary restriction for the Jews

- Animal must be cut in a certain way/standard

Moses Maimonides:

Philosopher in Muslim Spain

13 Principles of Faith, most widely accepted list of Jewish beliefs

Application of Plato & Aristotle to Jewish belief

Ashkenazi and Sephardic:

Sephardic Judaism - (Spain → Israel), arts, medicine philosophy, Reconquista

Ashkenazi Judaism - (Poland and Central & Eastern Europe → US), Yiddish, banking, black plague

Medieval Judaism under Christianity and Islam:

Under Muslim rule in Spaina and Africa, Jews enjoyed religious and political freedom but were treated as 2nd class citizens

Under Christian rule in the majority of Europe, Jews faced degradation via special clothing, directed riots in England, the Spanish Inquisition, and persecution by Protestants

Zionism

Re-establishment of Jewish homelands

Support for Israel

Fueled by centuries of persecution and anti-semitism

Shoah: (Holocaust)

Large-scale persecution of Jews by Nazi Germany

Shoah = complete destruction

Most horrific tribulation suffered by the Jewish people

4 Branches of Modern Judaism :

Reform: Focuses on adapting to modern society and has a relaxed view on dietary and sabbath restrictions

Orthodox: Focus on retaining traditional Jewish Laws and custioms and not assimilation into modern society. Torah viewed as unchanging standard of truth

Conservative: They adapt to modern society but retain Torah rituals and restrictions. Female rabbis and western education

Reconstructionist: Tries to adapt classical Judaism to current ideas. Evolving civilization that rejects the concept of the chosen people and miracles the parting of the Red Sea

High Holidays/Days of Awe

Rosh Hashanah

Jewish New Year

two major foods: Apples & honey

represents the sweetness of life

Yom Kippur/Day of Atonement

It's the most serious Jewish holiday.

Ask God for forgiveness of their sins.

The holiest day of the year for Jews. It is the day Jews ask forgiveness for communal and personal sins.

Festival Days:

Passover (Pesach)

- Celebration of freedom from the slavery of the Israelites people from Egypt

- Story of exodus

- Celebrated through meals with family and remembrance/prayer

- Seder

- meal eaten on Passover

- has specific foods eaten and includes reading, drinking 4 cups of wine, telling stories, eating special foods, singing, and other traditions as well

Sukkot (Feast of Booths):

- the feast of Tabernacles begins five days after Yom Kippur and lasts for eight days.

Shavuot (Feast of Weeks):

- Celebration of the revelation of the Torah to Moses

- Associated with the grain harvest

- Represents Moses 40 years journey through the desert

Hanukkah

Celebrates the rededication of the temple following the Macabean revolt

Lighting of the Menorah, Scripture readings, Dreidel

Sabbath (Shabbat):

Begins at sunset on Friday and lasts until sunset on Saturday

Day of Worship and celebration

Modeled on 7th day of creation

Sabbath = symbol of rest

Jews refrain from usual activities

Jewish Life Cycle Events (bris, bar/bat mitzvah, marriage, sitting shiva):

Islam & Muslim:

Muslim = One who submits to God

Islam:

- Root word is salam = "peace"

- Religion of Muslims

Arabic

Language of the Arabs, and the language that the Quran was revealed in

Allah:

Name of Islamic God

1 God

Jibril

Gabriel in English

Messenger Angel that brought divine revelation from Allah to the prophet

Life of the Prophet Muhammad:

Hijrah

Marks the first year of the Islamic Calendar

Migration of the Prophet from Mecca to Medina

Ka'bah:

Holy House of God

In Mecca

It is a big black cube

Muslims believe there is a spiritual kaaba right above it in the heavens that angels worship to

Believed to have been built by Abraham and Ishmael

Five Pillars of Islam:

Shahada:

Declaration of Faith: "No God but Allah and Muhammad is his prophet"

Salat:

Obligatory Prayer - 5 times a day

Zakat:

Giving charity (almsgiving) to the poor

Sawm

Obligatory Fasting - During Ramadan

Hajj

Going on a pilgrimage at least once in a lifetime if one is able

Qur'an

Islamic Holy Book. It is memorized by people called Hafiz.

Source of Divine Revelation - It is taken as the Literal Word of God

Was revealed to Prophet through angel Jibril.

Reciting the Quran itself is a ritual form of worship

Surahs

Individual Chapters of the Quran

114

Hafiz:

One who has memorized the Quran

Sunnah

Prophet's way of life. His example

Combined w/ the Quran, these two things form the basis for sharia

Hadith

Stories of Prophet's teachings

Used by Sunnis to develop the Islamic Legal System

Rightly Guided Caliphs:

Abu Bakr

Umar

Uthman

During his rule, an official manuscript of the entire quran was made

Ali

Cousin/son in Law of the prophet

Dispute happened during his rule where sunni/shia split happened

Umayyads: 661 - 750 CE

Sunni Muslims

Largest Dynasty

Expanded Islam from Damascus into Spain

Abbasids

Islam's golden age happened under Abbasid rule

Moved capital of Islam to Baghdad

Sunni/Shia Divide:

Sunni:

"Trodden Path"

Pray 5x day

Leaders = chosen by community

Imams trace lineage through other Imams

Mahdi - has not been born yet

87% of Muslims

Shia:

"Followers of Ali"

Pray 3-5x a day depending on the shia

Leaders = Descendants of the prophet (lineage)

"Twelvers"

Twelve Imams who are descendant from the prophet and are rightly guided

Mahdi

Disappeared/Hidden will return later.

10% of Muslims

Sufi Islam:

Islamic Mysticism

Sufi = "wool"

Made up of orders of people

Each order is led by a teacher called a sheikh who conducts spiritual practices.

One practice is called whirling dervish.

A dervish is a Sufi who has taken a vow of poverty

Spinning dance to lose sense of world.

Goal:

Extinction of self to gain oneness with God

Called Al-Fana

Mahdi

Guy who is said to come near the end of times

Shia Islam:

Mahdi is said to be the 12th Imam from amongst the "twelvers"

Is hidden right now but wil return near the end of times along w/ Jesus to defeat the Anti-Christ

Jihad

Daily struggle to submit to Allah's will

Mosque/Masjid:

Place of worship for Muslims

Like synagogue or church

Shari'ah

"Path that leads to water"

Purpose is to guide the living and bring justice to all and for all

A just society can only happen through submission to God's will

Food/Dietary Laws:

Halal = Allowed

Haram = Forbidden

Eid al-Fitr:

One of the two major festivals. This one comes at the end of Ramadan

"To break fast"

Holiday is meant to give thanks to God for his help in providing self control during the month

Meal called iftar

Eid al-Adha:

Other major festival. This one comes at the end of Hajj

Remembers Prophet Abraham's sacrifice when he was tested with his son

- Sheep story

Each Muslim reminds themselves of their own submission to Allah and their own willingness to sacrifice anything for God

Muslims who can afford it

- Must sacrifice a domestic animal as a symbol and reference to prophet Abraham's sacrifice

Monotheism, Polytheism and Monism:

Hindus believe in one, sole supreme reality, Brahman, but at the same time worship a vast array of deities who are considered avatars/manifestations of Brahman

Indus Valley Civilization:

Early civilization near the Indus River where Hinduism originated

Harappa is one of the most prominent archaeological sites at which evidence of this civilization was uncovered

Indo-Aryans:

The group of people living in the Indus River Valley who founded the basis of Hinduism

Sanskrit

Language brought by the Indo-Aryan people. This is also the language of most of the Vedas.

Rejected by Buddhism due to caste system.

Vedas:

The formal set of scriptures mostly used by Brahmins, knowledge for enlightenment

Veda literally means knowledge

The most important and complete of the Vedas is the Rig-Veda

Upanishads

Literally means "to sit at the feet of the guru"

Group of texts that are philosophical interpretations of the Vedas

Shruti

"That which is heard", the Vedas and the Upanishads

Smriti:

"Stories to be remembered",

Puranas: stories of gods, interactions with humans

Epics: Ramayana and Mahabarata, poetry about good and evil

Reincarnation:

In Hinduism, there is belief that there is life after death and rebirth. Your rebirth status or your caste in your future life depends on your karma.

Dharma

The eternal law to which everyone is subject, unchangeable

dharma

One's duty in life (often based on caste)

Karma

In Hinduism and Buddhism, the sum of a person's action in this previous state of existence.

viewed as deciding their fate and future existence.

Samsara

In Hinduism, the endless cycle of birth, death, and rebirth or reincarnation until one has achieved oneness with Brahman (Ultimate Reality).

Hindus believe that the illusion that a person is an individual rather than being one with Ultimate Reality fuels samsara.

Buddhists believe much the same thing, but they believe that life is full of suffering.

Maya

False sense that I am not Brahman. Where illusions happen. Where sins happen

Demon in Hinduism

Moksha

achieving ultimate freedom from samsara and unison with Brahman

Atman:

In Hinduism, the individual soul or essence.

"Self"

Brahman

Divine essence that is present in everything and ties the universe together

Puja

Prayer

Major way to connect to the divine

Can be done anywhere at anytime

Mahabharata:

An epic regarding the feud between the powerful Oandava and Kauracva families. The epic contains many smaller philosophical stories as well

Ramayana:

An epic about the adventures of Prince Rama who attempts to rescue his wife from the demon-king Ravana

Bhagavad Gita:

One of the stories of the Mahabharata epic that details a dialogue between the warrior Arjuna and Krishna, an avatar of Vishnu, concerning personal detachment

Yoga: 4 yogas

type of puja that is individual seeking of moksha

"union"

Allows energy in you and outside of you to flow

Karma Yoga:

- Performing one's duty selflessly

- Working for others without attachment

Jnana Yoga:

- Studying and Contemplating on the scriptures

Bhakti Yoga:

- Loving God through devotion and service

- Heavy on meditation

Raja Yoga:

- Focusing inwardly on the divine through meditation

- Was specifically for the kings

3 paths in Gita:

Refers to the paths to liberation (yogas), but excludes Raja Yoga

Gods and Goddesses

Tri-murti:

- Brahma (creator)

- Vishnu (preserver)

- Shiva (destroyer)

Tri-devi

- Saraswati: the goddess of knowledge and consort to Brahma

- Lakshmi: the goddess of wealth of prosperity and consort to -Shiva

- Shakti/Parvati: goddess of powe and consort to Shiva

-shakti is also the general term for power (usually of the gods)

Ashramas

Stages of life that provide guidance and structure

4 Stages

Brahmacharya:

- Student

Grishastya:

- House holding stage

- Job is to provide for your house after after

Vanprashta:

- A focus on spiritual duties in life after building a strong household

- More vedic rituals through prayer

Sanyasa:

- The life of an ascetic hermit

- Their whole life is dedicated to holy studies and spirituality

Caste System:

Comes from the word varna (meaning color).

This term refers to the division of society into four distinct classes (four main classes are then divided into thousands of subcasts for each profession).

The system dates back to 1000 BCE when Aryan conquerors of indigenous people of India introduced the system.

Contains four castes: Brahmin, Kshatriya, Vaishya, and Shudra (possible last additions are the asprishya/dalit).