Introduction to World Religions and Belief Systems (1st Quarter Exam Reviewer)

Judaism

Judaism

the world's oldest monotheistic religion, dating back nearly 4,000 years.

Hebrew Bible

Jewish history is documented in the?

Hebrew Bible (Tanakh)

an anthology of 24 books, many of which were initially separate. They represent an assortment of literary forms, including poems, songs, legal prose, and vivid narratives full of drama and supernatural events. Most scholars believe they were composed by a variety of authors from different segments of society from approximately the 10th to the second century BCE. Eventually, the separate books were assembled in a single canonical collection.

Torah ("Law"),Nevi'im ("Prophets"),and Ketuvim ("Writings")

The Tanakh is divided into three (3) sections

Torah ("Law")

• Genesis • Exodus • Leviticus • Numbers • Deuteronomy

Nevi'im ("Prophets")

• Joshua • Judges • I and II Samuel • I and II Kings • Isaiah • Jeremiah • Ezekiel

Ketuvim ("Writings")

Psalms Proverbs Job Song of Songs Ruth Lamentations Ecclesiastes Esther Daniel Ezra-Nehemiah I and II Chronicles

Talmud

A collection of teachings and commentaries on Jewish law

Mishna

A text that describes and explains the Jewish code of law that was previously orally communicated.

Gemara

(examines the Mishnah) It includes the interpretations of thousands of rabbis and outlines the importance of 613 commandments of Jewish law

Talmud

was finalized around the 3rd century A.D. The second form was completed during the 5th century A.D

Maimonides

13 Articles of Faith, which was written by a Jewish philosopher

Kosher

Observant Jews are required to eat

Orthodox Judaism

Typically known for their strict observance of traditional Jewish law and rituals. For instance, most believe Shabbat shouldn't involve working, driving, or handling money.

Reform Judaism

Considered a liberal category of the religion that values ethical traditions over strict observance of Jewish laws. Followers promote progressive ideas and adaptation.

Conservative Judaism

Many people consider this form of Judaism somewhere in between Orthodox and Reform Judaism. Typically, conservative Jews honor the traditions of Judaism while allowing for some modernization

Reconstructionist Judaism

dates back to 1922 when Mordecai Kaplan founded the society for the Advancement of Judaism. This sect believes that Judaism is a religious civilization that's continuously evolving.

Humanistic Judaism

Rabbi Sherwin Wine founded this denomination of Judaism in 1963. Humanistic Jews celebrate Jewish history and culture without an emphasis on God.

Messianic Judaism

This modern movement combines the beliefs of Judaism and Christianity. Messianic Jews believe that Jesus Christ was the Messiah but still follow Jewish traditions.

Christianity

Developed out of Judaism in the 1st century C.E. It is founded on the life, teachings, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Nowadays, it the most widely practiced religion in the world, with more than 2 billion followers.

The Christian Bible

a collection of 66 books (Catholic Bible contains 73 books) written by various authors. It's divided into two parts: The Old Testament and the New Testament.

The New Testament

written after Jesus's death

Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John

The first four books known as the "Gospels,"

The Acts of the Apostles

a book in the New Testament that gives an account of the apostles' ministry after Jesus's death. The author of Acts is the same as one of the Gospels— it is effectively "part two" to the Gospels, what happened after Jesus's death and resurrection.

. Roman Catholicism

The term catholic has its roots from the Greek adjective katholikós, meaning "universal."

Eastern Orthodoxy

Led by the Patriarch of Constantinople, the Eastern Orthodox Christianity descends from Greek-speaking Christian communities in eastern half of the former Roman empire.

Islam

Arabic word that means "acceptance," "surrender," "submission," or "commitment," and is closely related to the Arabic word salām, which means "peace."

Muhammed

Founder of Islam

Muhammed

Muslims, God's final prophet and the messenger

Muhammed

born around 570 CE in Mecca. His father died before he was born, and he was raised first by his grandfather and then his uncle. He belonged to a poor but respectable family of the Quraysh tribe, the tribe that controlled the sacred sites of Mecca, including the Kaaba. At the time of Muhammad's birth, the culture of the Arabian Peninsula was generally animistic and polytheistic.

Sunna

The second most important source of guidance for Muslims

Shahada (Testimony)

To declare one's faith in God and belief in Muhammad

Salat (Prayer)

to pray five times a day (at dawn, noon, afternoon, sunset, and evening)

Zakat (Charity)

to give to those in need

Hajj (Pilgrimage)

to make a pilgrimage to Mecca at least once during a person's lifetime if the person is able

Hajj

annual pilgrimage to Mecca, consists of several rituals that symbolize the essential concepts of the Islamic faith, such as devotion to God, brotherhood, and unity. The rituals of the Hajj also commemorate the trials of the prophet Abraham and his family. Hajj is required once in a Muslim's lifetime if he is financially and physically able. Two to three million Muslims perform the pilgrimage annually.

Sawm (Fasting)

: to fast during Ramadan

Eid ul-Fitr

This holiday commemorates the completion of Ramadan and lasts for three days, during which Muslims celebrate with special prayers, sweets, presents for children, and community festivities.

Eid-ul-Adha

This holiday takes place on the third day of Hajj and lasts for four days. The holiday commemorates Abraham's willingness to sacrifice his son, who was miraculously replaced by a lamb. The holiday is celebrated much like Eid ul-Fitr with the addition that Muslims

Ramadan

The 9th month of the Islamic calendar, during which Muslims fast daily from dawn to sunset as part of an effort towards selfpurification and moral excellence. Muslims believe that Ramadan is the month in which the first verses of Islam's holy book, the Qur'an, were revealed by God through the Angel Gabriel to the prophet Muhammad.

. Eid-ul-Adha

This holiday takes place on the third day of Hajj and lasts for four days. The holiday commemorates Abraham's willingness to sacrifice his son, who was miraculously replaced by a lamb. The holiday is celebrated much like Eid ul-Fitr with the addition that Muslims