World Religions Pt 2

Yin-Yang (Taoism)

The symbol of Taoism

Yang

Active force of Yin-Yang. Bright, dry, male, and high

Yin

Passive force of Yin-Yang. Dark, moist, female, and low

Wu Wei

Water. To make it look easy or to go with the flow

Tao

The way. Transcendent, all are interconnected (The basic unity behind the universe)

Te

Efficient (productivity)

Divination

Being able to tell what heaven wants based on natural signs

Sage

A man of wu-wei who has removed his ego and himself from culture, self interests, and ideas

Lao-Tzu

Founder of Taoism whose name means old master

Chuang Tzu

Added to the teachings of Lao Tzu; one must loosen his mind from addiction to words, values, and conventions to move through the world without taking sides and without losing himself in it

Life (live simply and harmony with the force)

The greatest value of Taoism

Achievements and glory

Despised in Taoism

Basic tenants of Taoism

Tao unites the universe

Life is he greatest possession, life simply

Despise achievements and glory

There is no god

Always a balance of good and evil

Govern lightly, serve, don't get involved, isolationist, and treat all equal

Three Taoist Beliefs

Compassion- Leads to courage

Moderation- Leads to generosity

Humility- Leads to leadership

Yin-Yang (Confucianism)

A process of never ending change

Feng Shui

Everything has its placeSin T

Ren

The highest principle of Confucian theory with the goal of self-cultivation

Li

Social guidelines to live by to master ethics in all five relationships

He

The equilibrium of heaven and earth, perfect order

Kung Fu Tzu (Confucius)

Mostly legend. Started in government then policing, but after years of frustration he left to be a teacher to anyone and everyone

Basic Tenants of Confucianism

Agnostic to athiest

Intrinsic goodness (until Hsun Tzu)

Ethics (polite, loving, righteous, honest, kind, loyal to the state)

Confucius= god (deified in 1900)

About life on earth, not after death

Five Relationships

1. Prince to subject (kindness and loyalty)
2. Father to son (love and filial piety)
3. Elder to younger (Benevolence and reverence)
4. Man to woman (justice and marriage)
5. Friend to friend (faithfulness)

The Wu Jing, The Analects, Book of Menicus

Three religious writings of Confucianism

Birth

Mom is protected by baby, rests a month after birth, she is given all needed o r baby for first year

Ancestor worship

Not worship of ancestors as much as appeasement (Confucianism)

Marriage

8 step process (Confucianism)

Death

Willow branch waved at funeral to represent dead person (Confucianism)

6 million

Number of Confucianists

Shin Tao

The way of the gods, this is where we get the word Shinto

Makoto

Goal of Shinto, to have a sincere heart

Kami

A title given to a person, thing, or power by the ancients that was awesome and possessed superior power

Clan ancestors, powers of nature, or souls of dead leaders or heroes

Three groups of spirits (Shinto)

Seijo

Purity

Shojiki

Honesty

Seijitsu

Sincerity

Shinto shrines

Worship place that has three sections:

Elevated chamber with a place for the kami

An object to represent the kami

An inner sanctum where the priest makes an offering

Shinto origin

No founders, came from mythology

Basic tenants of Shinto

Polytheistic

Ancestor worship

People are mostly good

People are divine, god is within

No need for salvation because all are good

Four affirmations of Shinto

Tradition and family

Love of nature- nature is sacred

Physical cleanliness- tons of baths

Matsuri- festival to honor spirits

Yomi

The land of the dead

Shamans

People that are gifted to unite the spirit world with the earthly realm

Bushido

Samurai Code: Loyalty, courage, man of honor, polite, gentleman

Shinto religious writings

None are inspired; Kojiki-records of ancient matters; Nihongi- history of Japan

State

More politically influenced than religiously (Shinto)

Domestic

Worship is all done within the home

Sectarian

The religiously emphasized group (Shinto)

Bon Festivals

A time to honor ancestor spirits, clean graves, hang straw festoons, celebrate, etc.

Great Purification

Time to purge sins twice a year

New Year

Time period for Orient religions that emphasizes cleansing and renewal, as well as feasts and giving gifts to the kids and new clothing

Pure and Bright Festival

A time in April where the Orient religions offer food to past ancestors and are encouraged by the yang forces at work

All Souls Day

A time in August where the Orient religions celebrate the spirits being freed from purgatory for awhile

Autumn Harvest Festival

A time in September where the Orient Religions are grateful for their harvest

Zoroastrianism Date

1500 BC (Egyptian Captivity)

Amesha Spentas

Seven Ideals of morals (Goodness, good mind, truth, power, devotion, perfection, and immortality)

Ameshaspand

Highest created being with god qualities

Fire temple

Zoroastrianism place of worship

Satum

Meal offering for the dead

Fresho-Kereti

Making the world fresh

Sadre

Sacred shirt given when you are old enough

Kushti

A sacred belt made of 72 threads to symbolize the chapters in the Yasna

Zarathushtra/Zoroaster

The founder of Zoroastrianism

Ahura Mazda

The all good god with no evil in him in Zoroastrianism

Anghra Mainyu

The evil counter god to Ahura Mazda

Seven Creations

Sky, water, earth, plants, cattle, man, and fire (fire is the highest due to its light, warmth, and life)

3 areas of the Amesha Spentas

Good thoughts, good words, good deeds

Zoroastrianism Basic tenants

\-Savior born of the line of Zoroaster

\-Humanity has total free will

\-Ethics are emphasized and determine your destiny (scale)

\-Soul sleeps for three days after death

\-Body is a contaminating element so it must be purged after death

\-Ahura mazda will wipe out all evil

Zoroastrian Religious writings

Avesta, Yasna

Zoroastrian Holy days

Jasans- Feasts, each month

No Ruz- New Years Day, celebrating renewal of earth

Gahambars- Seasonal feasts (Six feasts to celebrate days of creation)

Muktad- All souls day where all souls are free to visit relatives. Relatives lay out food, drink, and sandalwood

Islam history

\-600 AD

\-Mecca

Islam

Submission to the will of god, contraction of "I" and "Salaam" peace and security with god as a result of submission

Allah

god

Muslim

A person following Islam

Ramadan

9th month of Muslim year, when they fast

Mecca

Most holy city, Muhammad's birth place

Hadith

Authenticated sayings of prophet at Mecca and Medina

Ka'aba

Holy temple at Mecca. Means cube

Jihad

"Striving in the way of faith" there are two forms of "lesser" or "greater"

Halal

What is permitted in Islam

Haram

What is forbidden in Islam

Imams

Divinely inspired figures/people

Five Pillars of Islam

Shahadah, Salat, Zakat, Sawm, Hajj

Shahadah

Profession of faith: "There is no god but Allah, and Muhammad is his messenger"

Salat

Pray five times a day facing Mecca

Zakat

Purification of wealth: Give 2.5% of your money to the poor

Fasting (Sawm)

Fast from dawn to dusk during Ramadan (Ends with Id al Fitr)

Hajj

Pilgrimage to Mecca, if financially able

Six Pillars of Faith

1. Believe in one God, Allah
2. Believe in angels of god
3. Believe in books of god
4. Believe in the messengers of god
5. Believe in the Day of Judgment
6. Believe in fate- Allah is sovereign

Quran

The only Islamic text that is considered infallible, Revelation of god to Muhammad. It was not written by Muhammad since he was illiterate

Torah, Psalms, and the Gospel

The Revelations of Moses, David, and Jesus that are in the Christian Bible and are considered holy by Muslims

Sunnis

The majority of Muslims that use the Quran and Hadith as authoritative

Shi'a

The minority of Muslims that have extra books of authority on life. Some Imams are waiting to return to earth and a Messiah will come. The Quran is allegorical

Sufis

Believe in a mystical union with god. They wore wool as a symbol of poverty and rejection of the world's pleasures

Islamic Jihad/Taliban

The sect of Islam that is the rendered struggle in the path of god. A holy war is one for the basis of god not self or politics. The warriors of god

Black Islam

Black people are the superior race, white people were an experiment by a black scientist

Number of Muslims

1.8 Billion

Dome of the Rock

A Muslim shrine in Jerusalem where it is said that Muhammad ascended

Judaism History

Abraham to Moses (2000-1400)

YHWH

"I am who I am", Jews do not say this name

Elohim

Common name for YHWH, derived from Adonai and YHWH

Covenant

A binding agreement between two parties. They establish blessings, signs, and obligations, in this case between Gd and man