World Religions Final

Al-Ihsan

"Perfection" or "Excellence" - Achieve spirituality through development of righteousness on the Earth - doing good things to people to benefit them, advocate for the oppressed and vulnerable - Highest level of Islam - Reach to realize full human potential by eliminating darkness within one's soul - Sincere seekers of God attain a state of God-realization resulting in total inner peace and an endless bliss.

The Nevi'im

"Prophets" Narratives that begin after the death of Moses who leads the people of Israel into the Promised Land - Ends with the release from imprisonment of the last king of Judah

Five books of the Torah

"Teaching or Law" - Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy. - The Torah contains the commandments of God, revealed at Mount Sinai

Ketuvim

"Writings" - Eleven books containing poetic books, the five scrolls and other books

Theme of Four Gospels

- All present Jesus as the One who died to save sinners. - All record His resurrection. - Whether the writers presented Jesus as the King, the Servant, the Son of Man, or the Son of God, they had the common goal—that people believe in Him.

What was the role of the temple in pre-Rabbinic Judaism?

- All worshiping was practiced in the temple and only the temple - Place of worship and sacrifice

What are the Meccan and Medinan surahs?

Chapters of the Quaran

Why does God send down prophets in Islam?

To guide human, inform of prophecy Belief in certain prophets who God chose to relay His message to humans is a required article of Islamic faith

Explain the dual Torah theory. What functions do the written and the oral Torah fulfill?

Torah is composed of two parts: the Oral Law (oral tradition handed down) and Written Law (Bible) Written Torah: Old Testament, Tanakh, 24 books Oral Tradition: Tradition explaining what the above scriptures mean and how to interpret them and apply the Laws.

***What were the Qur'an and Muhammad's criticisms of pre-Islamic Meccan society?

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***What were the principal Jewish movements before the rise of Christianity in the first century?

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Al-Iman

- Second level - Faith and certitude in God and beliefs - Belief in the six articles of faith of Islam - Gives Islam its height

What is the theological significance of the Day of Alast? How is it related to the Islamic conception of covenant?

- Associated with the Quranic verse: "Am I not your Lord?" - Represents the perfect state of existence in which all of creation was united - Everyone been bound to God with the covenant of love - Referred to as the covenant of Alast

Gospel of Mark

- Audience is essentially people in the Roman Empire who are unfamiliar with the religion of the Jews - Fast-paced, condensed account - Records Jesus' miraculous deeds and actions; How he got the job done - Not recording His long discourses

What is the significance of prophecy in Islam?

- Belief and faith in oneness of God, worshiping of that one God, avoidance of idolatry and sin, and the belief in the Day of Resurrection or the Day of Judgment and life after death

Christianity

- Bible (Old and New Testament) - Founded by Jesus - One God; Trinity - Jesus is Son of God, God incarnate, savior of the world - Affirm resurrection of Jesus - Affirm second coming

Narrate the life of Muhammad, the major events he experienced, and in what ways these became the foundation of the Islamic tradition.

- Born in Mecca in Saudi Arabia in 570. - Deeply spiritual man, and often spent time in meditation on Mount Hira. - Meditating in a cave on the mountain in 610 - visited by the angel Jibreel who ordered him to recite;Once Jibreel mentioned the name of Allah, Muhammad began to recite words which he came to believe were the words of God. - During the rest of his life Muhammad continued to receive these revelations. The words were remembered and recorded, and form the text of the Holy Qu'ran, the Muslim scripture. - Believing that God had chosen him as his messenger Muhammad began to preach what God had revealed to him. - The simple and clear-cut message of Islam, that there is no God but Allah, and that life should be lived in complete submission to the will of Allah, was attractive to many people, and they flocked to hear it. - Muhammad's popularity was seen as threatening by the people in power in Mecca, and Muhammad took his followers on a journey from Mecca to Medina in 622. - This journey is called the Hijrah (migration) and the event was seen as so important for Islam that 622 is the year in which the Islamic calendar begins. - Within ten years Muhammad had gained so many followers that he was able to return and conquer Mecca. - From this time on he was generally accepted by the faithful as the true final Prophet of God. - Muhammad continued to lead his community both spiritually and in earthly matters until his death in 632

What are the continuities between Judaism and Christianity? In what ways does the latter confirm the former?

- Both founded in Palestine - Popular in Europe and North America - One God is the ultimate reality - Death by crucifixion

What are the discontinuities between Judaism and Christianity? In what ways does it break away from the former?

- Christianity nature of God as a Trinity (one substance, three persons), Judaism as a Unity (one substance, one person) - Bible vs Tanakh - Christianity believes in a resurrection and second coming, Judaism does not

Ijma

- Consensus of the community is sought (or at least the consensus of the legal scholars within the community). - Consensus based on a statement traditionally attributed to the Prophet

In what ways does John portray Jesus?

- Considers Jesus more than a man and more than an angel. - He is God in flesh

Why and in what ways were Jews persecuted in Europe in the pre-modern and modern periods?

- Decline of the Roman Empire and rise of Christianity led to declining popularity of Jews - Jews lost most legal protection - Christians replaced the Jews as God's "chosen people" - Conversion or death - Segregated quarters - ghettos - Blamed for Black Death - Jewish communities destroyed in massacres

What is the deeper significance for Christians of the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus? How are these central to the cosmic drama of Christianity?

- Despair is not the final word - hope that just as Jesus was raised from the dead, so may be those who have faith in him - Resurrection: Through faith, Christians are spiritually resurrected with Jesus, and redeemed for new way of life - Jesus gives his ultimate demonstration that he has power over life and death, thus he has the ability to give people eternal life

What were the factors leading to the emergence of Rabbinic Judaism?

- Destruction of the temple, Jerusalem off limits to the Jews - Creation of rabbinic ideology and practice, which were not dependent on Temple, priesthood, or political independence - Rabbinic Judaism built upon Jewish tradition while adjusting to new realities. - Development of the oral law and the Talmud to control the interpretation of Jewish scripture and to encourage the practice of Judaism in the absence of Temple sacrifice and other practices no longer possible, while waiting for the Third Temple - The oral law was subsequently codified in the Mishnah and Gemarah, and is interpreted in Rabbinic literature

Quran

- Direct words of Allah, as revealed to and transmitted by the Prophet Muhammad - All sources of Islamic law must be in essential agreement with the Quran, the most fundamental source of Islamic knowledge

What role did Paul play in the formation and interpretation of early Christianity?

- Doctrines of Christianity come mostly from the teaching or influence of Paul - Paul is regarded as the great interpreter of Jesus' mission - explained how Jesus' life and death fitted into a cosmic scheme of salvation - Death of Jesus as saving mankind from sin - not seeing Jesus as a messiah of the Jewish type human savior from political bondage - Saw him a salvation-deity whose atoning death by violence was necessary

Gospel of John

- Establishing the fact that Jesus was the eternal God who became a man - Emphasizes Jesus' deity by selecting many conversations and sayings of Jesus on the subject and also including "signs" that prove He is the Son of God

What were the reasons behind the Sunni/Shi'a split and what do they say about authority in Islam?

- Fight over who should lead the faithful after the prophet Muhammad's death in 632 - Shi'as: Someone from his family should take up his mantle - Sunnis: Wanted the community of Muslims to determine who would succeed him - Violence and war split the small community of Muslims into two branches that would never reunite

Al-Islam

- First level - Voluntary submission to God - Following the Five Pillars of Islam - Gives Islam its foundation

What is the significance of the Messiah in Judaism?

- Great human leader like King David, NOT a savior to sacrifice himself - Much speculation about when the mashiach will come - The Bible identifies several tasks that the mashiach will accomplish - Jews do not believe in Jesus because he did not accomplish these tasks

How has the myth of the exile and return played out in Jewish history and theology?

- Jews had to change how they worshipped (no longer had temples or animal sacrifices) and how they thought about God - The Jewish concept of God as their tribal protector, who would save them from being conquered or exiled, had to undergo revision. - Inspired the changes in post-exilic Judaism

How do Judaism and Christianity see the other?

- Judaism sees Christianity as a false interpretation of Judaism; Jesus is false prophet - Christianity sees Judaism as a true religion, but with incomplete revelation

How can God be seen as the divine storyteller in the Abrahamic traditions?

- Knows all, sees all, creates all - Eternal, omniscient and creator of the universe. - God is transcendent, but also personal and involved - Listens to prayer and reacting to the actions of his creatures.

What are Islam's critiques of Judaism and Christianity?

- Muslims believe that Islam supersedes Judaism and Christianity - Quran is the final and complete word of God and that Muhammad is the last of the prophets. - Muslims believe that what is written in the Old and New Testaments is a corrupted version of the original revelation to Moses and Jesus

In what ways does Luke portray Jesus?

- Perfect MAN (and more than human) is here fleshed-out with a story that includes the story of John the Baptist's birth and the story of Mary before Jesus' birth. Develops Jesus as a child and Mary and Joseph as parents of the child. - His genealogy through Joseph is listed in full, tying him strongly to his Jewish roots, including Abraham and Adam. - The Jesus of Luke is far softer than in Matthew, although there are similar moments of severity

In what ways does Mark portray Jesus?

- Portrayed by his actions as separate and secretive - Announced by John the Baptist as 'the one who is more powerful than I' (Mark 1:7), but does little to enhance this appearance of power. - He works miracles and then firmly tells people to keep it secret. - Overall feeling is secrecy.

Gospel of Luke

- Portrays Jesus as the remedy of the world's ills; the perfect man - Focuses on those events in Jesus' life that stress His humanity - Emphasizing His perfect humanity and humane concern for the weak, the suffering, and the outcast

What role does Muhammad, his practices, and his sayings play in the Islamic tradition?

- Possessor of all virtues - Deeds and sayings in the life of Muhammad (Sunnah) are considered a model of the life-style that Muslims are obliged to follow - Recognizing Muhammad as God's true messenger is one of the central requirements in Islam - Second part of Shahadah, the Islamic proclamation of faith: "There is no god but Allah, and Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah".

Islam

- Quran - Founded by Muhammad - One God - Jesus is true prophet; message corrupted - Affirm resurrection of Jesus - Affirm second coming

Specific features that Judaism, Christianity, and Islam have in common with each other

- Sacred text - Day of worship - Monotheistic faiths that worship the God of Adam, Abraham, and Moses-creator, sustainer, and lord of the universe - Common belief in the oneness of God, sacred history, prophets and divine revelation, angels, and Satan. - All stress moral responsibility and accountability, Judgment Day, and eternal reward and punishment

Why are there four gospels?

- Specific audience in mind to address a defined issue. - Each one selected and arranged the factual historical data of Jesus's life in a way best suited for their chosen audience - Work together to provide a complete testimony of Jesus, a beautiful portrait of the God-Man. - Gospels differ slightly in theme but the central subject is the same

In what ways does Matthew portray Jesus?

- Strict and conservative man - Life from birth to death is the fulfilment of fourteen prophetic sayings from books in the Old Testament - Language of the gospel portrays Jesus as an ascetic - movements and actions are directed by the prophecies

Sunnis and Shi'as

- Sunnis: Believed that leadership should fall to the person who was deemed by the elite of the community to be best able to lead the community - Shi'as: Believed that leadership should stay within the family of the prophe

Judaism

- Tanakh (Old Testament) - Founded by Abraham and Moses - One God; Unity - Jesus is false prophet - Deny resurrection of Jesus - Deny second coming

The Sunnah

- Traditions or known practices of the Prophet Muhammad, many of which have been recorded in the volumes of Hadith literature - Clarify details of what is stated generally in the Quran

What are the contents of the Book of Revelation and how have they been of significance in Christian history?

- Unveiling of Jesus Christ - Day of the Lord and those events immediately preceding His revelation; "that day," when this present age is wrapped up and the new one begins - Strengthen and encourage the Christians to endure suffering, to call them to repentance and a spiritual renewal, faithfulness to the true Word and its teachings, assure them of the certain hope of victory that was theirs in Christ over evil

Gospel of Matthew

- Writing to a Jewish audience - Records how Jesus fulfills the promises God made in the Old Testament, with regard to the Messiah - He is the long-awaited Messiah

***Five covenants between God and human beings found collectively in the three traditions

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***How do each of these traditions exemplify the 'myth of history'?

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***The Abrahamic traditions can be seen as three variations or takes on a single story. Elaborate.

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What are the two central doctrines of Islam as stated in the Shahadah?

1. Affirms Islam's absolute monotheism, an unshakable and uncompromising faith in the oneness of God 2. Affirmation that Muhammad is the messenger of God, the last and final prophet who serves as a model for the Muslim community

What are three dimensions of Islam as narrated in the Hadith of Gabriel?

1. Al-Islam 2. Al-Iman 3. Al-Ihsan

Six articles of faith of Islam

1. Belief in God 2. Belief in the Angels 3. Belief in Divine Books 4. Belief in the Prophets 5. Belief in the Day of Judgement 6. Belief in God's predestination

Five Pillars of Islam

1. Declaration of faith 2. Obligatory prayer 3. Compulsory giving (Almsgiving) 4. Fasting in the month of Ramadan 5. Pilgrimage to Mecca

What three parts is the Tanakh divided into?

1. Five books of the Torah 2. The Nevi'im 3. Ketuvim

What are three principal parts of the New Testament?

1. Four narratives of the life, teaching, death and resurrection of Jesus, called "gospels" (or "good news" accounts); 2. Narrative of the Apostles' ministries in the early church: "Acts of the Apostles" 3. Book of Revelation - book of prophecy, containing prophetical symbology, about the end times.

Four Gospels

1. Matthew 2. Mark 3. Luke 4. John

Parts of Talmud

1. Mishnah 2. Gemara

What are the three different ways that Jews have responded to modernity resulting in the three main contemporary denominations of Judaism?

1. Orthodox Judaism 2. Reform Judaism 3. Conservative Judaism

What are the four sources of Islamic law?

1. Quran 2. The Sunnah 3. Qiyas 4. Ijma

Why are Judaism, Christianity, and Islam called Abrahamic traditions?

All trace their roots back to Abraham - all 3 religions stem from Abraham. Judaism: Isaac, son of Abraham Christianity: Jesus - Isaac, son of Abraham Islam: Muhammad- Ishmael, son of Abraham

Qiyas

Analogical reasoning - In cases when something needs a legal ruling, but has not been clearly addressed in the other sources, judges may use analogy, reasoning, and legal precedent to decide new case law

Reform Judaism

Designed to bring Judaism into line with the ideas of the western European enlightenment - Reject outdated practices of Orthodox Jews and focus on the ethical dimensions of the faith instead of the traditional rituals, commandments and practices - Set aside the kosher dietary codes and the distinctive ways of dress, often discarded circumcision as well

How is a ruling of Islamic law derived?

Developed as a response to real religious and political concerns and issues

What is the role of covenant in each of the Abrahamic traditions?

Emphasize their special covenant with God - Judaism through Moses - Christianity through Jesus - Islam through Muhammad

What is the relationship between the Oral and Written Torah?

Impossible to fully understand traditional Jewish teaching or thought without both The Written Torah, mentions each of the Commandments, or Mitzvos, only in passing or allusion. The Oral Law fills in the gaps.

What are the characteristics of the God, or the Divine Being, in these three traditions?

Islam: "Allah" in Arabic; the same God revealed in the Jewish and Christian Bibles, ascension into heaven during crucifixion (not death) Christianity: One God, Trinity, death by crucifixion Judaism: One God, Unity, death by crucifixion

What is the Word of God in Christianity, Islam, and Judaism?

Islam: Qu'ran Christianity: Bible (Old Testament + New Testament) Judaism: Bible (Old Testament)

Orthodox Judaism

Maintain the most traditional beliefs and practices of the religion - Strictly observe the dietary laws, and the practices of the sabbath and other rituals

What is the difference between the Meccan and Medinan surahs?

Meccan: Earlier and more religiously binding Medinan: Primarily political, concerned with Muhammad's creation of the Medinan state and therefore not universally binding

Describe the different parts of the Talmud and how they function in relation to each other?

Mishnah: Discussions of the oral Torah; intended to show Jews how they could sanctify life and make it holy despite their loss of the temple - "core text" Gemara: Commentary on the Mishnah that would link the oral to the written Torah - "analysis and commentary"

Why are the two central doctrines of Islam as stated in the Shahadah important in the Islamic tradition?

One needs to only make this declaration of faith, this Shahadah, to become a Muslim

Conservative Judaism

Reaction to a perceived radical nature of Reform Judaism - Middle position between Orthodox and Reform groups - Many traditions and practices are retained, but some reforms are instituted as well