World Studies Religion Test
Key writings Hinduism
"Shastras", but it is separated into two different books, the "Shruti" and the "Smriti". The "Shruti", is that which is heard, or the "Revealed truth. The Shruti also has two parts, the Vedas, which is four primary texts of Hinduism. These include the "Rig Veda", the "Sama Veda", the "Yajur Veda", and the "Atharva Veda". The second part of the Shruti is the Upanishads, and there 108 of these. The Upanishads are a collection of texts that are easy to remember, understand, and relate to. The "Smriti" is the "remembered" or the "Realized truth". The Smriti, (which is the second part of the entire Hindu text), is the remembered and memorized Hindu writings, and includes four different texts: The Itihasas (histories or epics) The Bhagavad-gita (philosophy) The Puranas (stories and histories) The Dharma Shastra (law books)
Key people Islam
-Abraham is called Ibrahim by Muslims, and they see him as the father of the arab people. -There have been thousands of prophets and messengers, but only four that have been designated a name in Islam: Jesus, Moses, Muhammad, and Abraham. -God had a special relationship with Abraham, and he tested him to see how devoted he was. He passed the test of sacrificing his son, Ishmael, and was prepared to do it. -Muslims believe Islam has always existed, it is just the prophets who revealed it to humanity. Many prophets made many revelations, but the last and complete one of the faith, was made by Muhammad in the 700 C.E. -Muhammad was a deeply spiritual man. He spent time meditating on Mount Hira, and one night the angel Jibreel visited him while he was meditating and, ans Jibreel told him to recite. So Muhammad recited what he believed was the word of God. Throughout his life, he continued to receive revelations, and they were written down and remembered as the Holy Qu'ran, the Muslim scripture -Muhammad believed that God had chosen him as his messenger, so he began to spread what God had revealed to him. -he was generally accepted by Muslims as the true final Prophet of God
What are the major holidays, what is their meaning and how are they celebrated? Judaism
All holidays actually start the evening before because Jewish days start at sunset, and end at sunset the next day. For Jewish holidays, they are not supposed/allowed to work. This includes driving or going to work, and this rule applies to the sabbath too. The sabbath is from sunset on Friday to sunset on Saturday. Some of the major holidays in Judaism are Rosh Hashanah, which is the Jewish new year and includes fasting, reciting prayers only for this holiday, and the blowing of the Shofar, Yom Kippur (which is the holiest day in the Jewish calendar) which involves reconciling, or forgiving one's sins. This is accomplished through complete fasting and prayer. Along with fasting and prayer, bathing, wearing of perfume or cologne, wearing of leather shoes, and sexual relations are some of the prohibitions on Yom Kippur that are restricted in order to make sure that the individual is only focused on forgiving his sins and not distracted by anything else.
What are the major holidays, what is their meaning and how are they celebrated? Christianity
December 25th is when Christians celebrate the holiday Christmas, which is the most important and significant (besides Easter), holiday. Christmas celebrates the birth of the savior, Jesus Christ, although the day he actually was born was sometime in March (according to the bible). Easter changes every year but is usually in April. It celebrates the resurrection of Jesus. All Hallow's Eve is another holiday celebrated on October 31st, and celebrates the saints. It's name was changed and is now called Hallowe'en. The word hallow came from the meaning Holy.
What are the major holidays, what is their meaning and how are they celebrated? Buddhism
Dharma=celebrate and concentrate on your life and 8 fold path deed: -Dharma is the principle of law that orders the universe -Vesak is the most major holiday in Buddhism, which celebrates Buddha's birthday. -A major holiday in Buddhist culture is the Buddhist new year, which is celebrated 3 days from the first full moon day in April. -Others include Asalha Puja day (paying homage to Buddha on the full moon day of the 8th lunar month), and Pavarana Day (The four monthly holy days that are observed in Theravada countries.)
What are the basic beliefs and practices? Islam
Five Pillars of Islam: -Shahada: is the testimony/creed that there is only one god. ~There is no God but God, and Muhammad is God's prophet. -Salat: performing ritual prayers in the proper way five times each day: early morning noon mid-afternoon sunset evening ~There is a specific way to pray in Islam which includes performing Abultion ~Prayer is preferred to be done in a masjid (mosque), but can be done in a quiet room ~Making sure the area is clean, and you are using a mat or prayer rug, is very important ~Is performed unless you have not hit puberty, you are sick, or you are menstruating. -Sawm: Month-long fasting during the month of Ramadan ~do not eat or drink or smoke cigarettes during daylight hours ~Ramadan is a lunar calendar month, it moves around the seasons. -Zakat: paying an alms (or charity) tax to benefit the poor and the needy ~Percentage of your income must be given to the poor -Hajj: pilgrimage to Mecca ~Hopefully they will go to Mecca once in their life, provided they are healthy and have enough money. -Carrying out these Pillars provides framework for a Muslim's life, and connects their everyday activities and their beliefs into a single religious devotion. -Muslims have six main beliefs: Belief in Allah as the one and only God, Belief in angels, Belief in the Holy books, Belief in the Prophets (such as Muhammad), Belief in the Day of Judgement, and Belief in Predestination (Allah has knowledge on all that shall happen.)
What are the major holidays, what is their meaning and how are they celebrated? Islam
In Islam, there is only really 4 major holidays: Eid Al-Fitr, Eid Al-Adha, Mawlid an-Nabi, and Muharram. Eid al-fitr, is at the end of Ramadan (a month of daylight fasting) and involves Zakat or giving alms to the poor. Eid al-adha, is celebrated on the tenth day of Dhu al-Hijjah (the twelfth and final month in the Islamic calendar. It is a very sacred month in the Islamic calendar, one in which the Hajj (pilgrimage) takes place.) and lasts for four days, during which Muslims usually sacrifice a sheep and distribute its meat among family, friends, and the poor. Mawlid an-nabi is celebrating the birth of the prophet Muhammad and is celebrated by parades and other forms of assembly. Muharram is a celebration of the first month in the Islamic calendar. It started on October 13th and ends on November 12th.
Who is God/gods? And what is their role? Islam
Islam believes in monotheism God created the universe and has power over everything within it Allah is God in Arabic God cannot be seen Jahweh is what God is referred to in the bible Muslims believe that: Allah is eternal, omniscient, and omnipotent, Allah has no shape or form, Allah is Just, only Allah deserves worship, and that to approach Allah one must pray and recite the Qur'an. Muslims believe that there is only one true, supreme god and his name is Allah. Allah created everything and rules everything
What are the basic beliefs and practices? Judaism
Judaism is split into different practices depending on your amount of devotion/dedication. Those with a strong belief in Judaism will follow the Halakhah, the "Jewish Law". The Halakhah is the guideline on how to make every aspect of your life contain some spiritual importance, by following an expansive set of rules. It is sometimes criticized, saying it takes Religion to extremely. Many believe in maintaining a relationship with God and the community. Those people follow 13 principles, which are considered the minimal requirement for Jewish belief. When it comes to the rituals found in Judaism, many of them focus on the coming to age, such as confirmation, or the celebration of an event with major religious significance, such as Yom Kippur. The most important one, is Bar or Bat Mitzvahs. They occur when you turn 13, (Bat is for girls, Bar is for boys), and they celebrate coming of age, and they are recognized as mature.
Key People Hinduism
Manu was the first person alive. There was no specific founder of Hinduism, because no one knows when Hinduism started, and some believe it has existed forever. One of the most important, (and oldest) reformers in Hinduism was Shankara. He travelled widely, defeated Buddhists in the Nastika movement, and founded the Advaita school of Vedanta. He is often called Adi Shankara, and is considered an incarnation of Shiva (an important god). Another theologian was Ramanuja, who is one of the most important ones. He founded the Vishishtadvaita school, and taught devotion to a personal god, Vishnu.
What are the basic beliefs and practices? Buddhism
Nonviolence: -very key in Buddhism beliefs -at the core of Buddhism thinking and behavior -buddhism is a peaceful tradition No caste recognized: -Buddha was a severe critic of the caste system -although caste systems were involved in Buddhists lives sometimes, they were never as harsh as Hindus Yoga: -yoga and buddhism are sister traditions because they share the same spiritual culture of ancient India -they use many of the same terms and practices -Buddhists traditionally would use states of meditative absorption. The accounts of sustained expression of yogic ideas is found in the early sermons from Buddha himself. Meditation: -mental and physical action that separates someone from their thoughts and feelings to become fully aware -although it's not always for religion -involves the body and the mind as a single entity
Key writings Islam
Qu'ran is the Muslim Scripture, revealed to Muhammad, and written down by him over the course of 23 years Sacred word of God, and is made to correct any mistakes that were in the Bible. Qu'ranic revelations are regarded as the sacred word of God From the seventh, eighth, and mostly the ninth century There are 114 chapters in the Qu'ran and it is written in the old Arabic dialect All the chapters except one begin with the sentence: Bismillahir rahmanir raheem, 'In the name of Allah the most merciful and the most kind'. This is the thought with which Muslims should start every action. Each chapter has a range of 3-286 verses The Qu'ran is sometimes divided into roughly 30 equal parts, known as juz' which makes its easier to read on Holy days. Anyone who is able to memorize the Qu'ran is known as Hafiz In addition to the Qur'an, the other sacred sources are the Sunnah, the practise and examples of the Prophet Muhammad's life, and the Hadith, reports of what the prophet Muhammad said or approved. Hadiths are the traditions and saying of Muhammad and are revered and received as a major source of religious law and moral guidance Hadiths- a collection of sayings and stories about the prophets some are credible but not all are true and some are completely made up. Therefore, what is said in these books are not believed by all, but there are some that are generally believed by all Sharia is the law 6 Main beliefs: Belief in Allah as the one and only God Belief in angels Belief in the holy books Belief in the Prophets... Adam, Ibrahim (Abraham), Musa (Moses), Dawud
Key people Buddhism
Siddhartha Gautama: Known as the "Buddha", was an Indian prince lived in 500 BC He grew up living the extravagant life of a young prince His father ordered that he live a life of total seclusion, but one day, he adventured into the world and wa confronted with the reality of the inevitable suffering of life. The next day, he left his kingdom and son to lead an ascetic life and find a way to relieve suffering. For 6 years he practiced rigorously with meditation and religious teachers, but he was never satisfied. But then, he realized that he was doing it all wrong, and that he should practice balance, not extremism. He called this The Middle Way. So then he meditated that night until dawn, and purified his mind of all defilements and attained enlightenment. So he earned the title, Buddha, or "Enlightened one" lama A Lama is a teacher of the Dharma in Buddhism. The role of lama is usually assigned to Monks, Nuns, or other important roles as a title of honor and recognition. Also known as the Dalai Lama, is the head monk of Tibetan Buddhism. He has been in control of the Tibet government until the Chinese took control. The Dalai Lama has been apart of the Gelugpa tradition of Tibetan Buddhism. The Lama has been a recent thing; there has been only 14 Lamas. The term Dalai Lama means ocean of wisdom and the current Dalai Lama is Tenzin Gyatso.
Who is God/gods? And what is their role? Buddhism
Some Buddhists do accept the existence of beings of in higher powers (that are known as devas), but they also are said to be suffering in samsara and are not necessarily wiser than us. Often the Buddha is portrayed as a teacher, and superior to the gods. And they usually pray to Buddha. Most Buddhists do not believe in a God or gods at all.
What are the basic beliefs and practices? Hinduism
Some basic beliefs include: -Truth is eternal -Brahman is Truth and Reality -The Vedas are the most important thing to follow -everyone should try to achieve dharma -Individual souls are neither created or destroyed, and are immortal. -The goal is Moksha -Hindus have the responsibility to continue the Hindu race Some practices include, Punsavana, Jatakarma, and Mundan.
Who is God/gods? And what is their role? Christianity
The Christian religion is monotheistic, worshipping only one god. Even so, they believe in the Holy Trinity, which is not completely understood by Catholics. The Trinity states that there are 3 Persons, God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit, in one God. Each part of the Trinity is believe of neither gender. The first Person is God the Father. He is known as the creator of the earth, the judge of heaven, unconditionally loving, merciful towards his people, and in control of the world's fate. His son, Jesus, is the second Person in the Trinity: God the Son. Jesus was born on earth to bring salvation to humankind. The third person is the Holy Spirit. He is the inspiration of the gospel as well as the provider of new life and power. The Trinity is the god to whom Christians pray to at the start of each prayer, using the Sign of the Cross (In the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit...). It is a very important belief in the Christian faith.
Key people Judaism
The founder of Judaism is Abraham and he is the most important person in Judaism. All jews trace their lineage back to him. He was the founder of monotheism. Before him, everyone only believed in multiple gods. Moses was also important. As an adult, God told Moses to lead the Jews out of Egypt. Out in the desert with the Hebrews, Moses climbed Mount Sinai to pray. When Moses came down he was holding two stone tablets engraved with the Ten Commandments. Kings David and Solomon were also important in Judaism. David made Jerusalem the nations capital. Solomon made the great temple
Key writings Judaism
The main focus of writing in Judaism is the Torah, which is the first part of the Jewish bible and has been used throughout the ages (there are 5 parts in total). It is said that God told Moses what to write in the Torah, and how Jews should live their lives. The word "Torah" has many meanings in English. These include: teaching, instruction and law. For Jews, the Torah means all of these. Three days a week, the Torah is read. These days are Monday, Thursday, and at the beginning of the sabbath. However, on some special occasions, such as Yom Kippur afternoon, certain sections of the Torah will be read depending on the occasion
What are the major holidays, what is their meaning and how are they celebrated? Hinduism
There are 15 majors holidays: Diwali, Ganesh Chaturthi, Hanuman Jayanti, Holi, Krishna Janmashtami (Krishna Jayanti), Mahashivratri, Makar Sankranti, Navratri, Raksha Bandhan, Rama Navami, Swaminarayan Jayanti, Thaipusam, Vaisakhi, and Varsha Pratipada. Diwali is the festival of light. Navratri symbolizes when good is triumphed over evil. Varsha Pratipada is the birth of the year, and symbolizes renewal. Raksha Bandhan is a celebration of brotherhood and love. Hanuman Jayanti celebrates the birth of Hanuman Ji, the monkey god, and symbolizes strength and energy.
Who is God/gods? And what is their role? Judaism
There is only one God in Judaism, which means it is a monotheism. The idea of God in Judaism is one of the few ideas that are clear cut and undisputed among Jews. To Jews, there are several well-accepted beliefs about God, including: God exists, God is one, God is the creator of everything, God is incorporeal, God is neither male nor female, God is omnipresent, God is omnipotent, God is eternal, God is both just and merciful, and God is holy and perfect. This basically sums up what Jews believe about their God. There are also many names for God, including Yahweh, Hashem, and Adonai. God and belief in God is a very fundamental part of Judaism.
Key people Christianity
Today the community of Christians is known as the Church of Christ, but there were originally others who inspired Christianity. Jesus is known as the messiah, savior, or anointed one. He is was chosen by God to spread his word.He fulfilled his mission as an adult, proclaiming the message of love of God and others, healing the sick and forgiving sinners. He completed his ultimate mission - dying on a cross, rising from the dead, and returning to heaven, so that all people could live in heaven eternally. During his years of missionary prior to his death, he chose 12 followers called the disciples who spread his teachings, wrote parts of the Bible, and became important leaders in the start of Christianity. One of the disciples, Peter, was a particularly special disciple. He was appointed by Jesus as the first Pope, or head of the Church. The current Pope, Pope Francis, continues to be a key figure in Christianity.
Who is God/gods? And what is their role? Hinduism
Brahma: Creation of the world and all creatures Shiva: Destroyer of the universe Lakshmi: Goddess of wealth and purity, wife of Shiva Vishnu: Preserver of the universe There are many more gods in Hinduism (the Upanishads say there are 330 million, but the Vedas say there are 33, so the number is disputed), but these are the most common/significant. Brahma is not worshiped as much as the other gods because his role as creator is over with. Hindus believe Shiva's powers of destruction are used to destroy all the impurities of the world, paving a way for beneficial change. Lakshmi resides in a palace of hard work, and leaves when it is not present. Vishnu's role is to bring the earth back from troubled times, and to restore the balance of good and evil.
Key writings Buddhism
Buddha's teachings: These teachings which include the Sutra of the Four Noble Truths and other discourses, are the principal source of the Hinayana, or Lesser Vehicle, of Buddhism. Later, Buddha taught the second and third Wheels of Dharma, which include the Perfection of Wisdom Sutras and the Sutra Discriminating the Intention respectively. The Four Noble Truths: - "I teach suffering, its origin, cessation and path. That's all I teach", declared the Buddha 2500 years ago. - The Four Noble Truths contain the essence of the Buddha's teachings. -The truth of suffering (Dukkha) -The truth of the origin of suffering (Samudaya) -The truth of the cessation of suffering (Nirodha) -The truth of the path to the cessation of suffering (Magga) - Buddha is compared to a Physician. In the first 2 he diagnosed the problem, (suffering), and identified its cause. The third is the realisation that there is a cure. The fourth is the prescription, the way to achieve a release from suffering. Disciples: People who follow him are going to become monks Shariputra, Maudgalyayana, Mahākāśyapa, Subhuti, Purna Maitrayani-putra, Katyayana, Anuruddha, Upali, Rāhula, and Ananda are the 10 principal disciples of Gautama Buddha. 8 Fold Path The Noble Eightfold Path is one of the principal teachings of Śrāvakayāna. It is used to develop insight into the true nature of phenomena (or reality) and to eradicate greed, hatred, and delusion. The Noble Eightfold Path is the fourth of the Buddha's Four Noble Truths; the first element of the Noble Eightfold Path is, in turn, an understanding of the Four Noble Truths. A guide for areas to explore and practice. Wisdom can be attained in the path. The Eight paths are: Right View, Right Intention, Right Action, Right Speech, Right Livelihood, Right Effort, Right Mindfulness, and Right Concentration. 5 precepts - Like the ten commandment, rules or "principles of training" Not killing or causing harm to other living beings. Not taking the not-given. Avoiding sexual misconduct. Avoiding false speech. Abstaining from drink and drugs that cloud the mind. -Undertaking the five precepts is part of both lay Buddhist initiation and regular lay Buddhist devotional practices.
Key writings Christianity
Christianity's main text is the holy bible. It's purpose was to influence civilians into following certain morals and ideals. The bible is compiled of many books, which are divided into the Old Testament and New Testament. The Old Testament was written as sacred Jewish scriptures, while Christians wrote the New Testament in 100 AD. The Old Testament is made up of 39 book, which are organized in three sections. The Law is the first, which consists of stories with morals that influence how followers should live their everyday lives. The Ten Commandments are an important part of The Law because they say what you have do to reach salvation and righteousness. It is believed that Moses, a holy figure who lived in Ancient Egypt, wrote those texts. The next section of the Old Testament is The Prophets, which are history books regarding key events in ancient history. Last are The Writings, which are Psalms and Proverbs that were often read at ceremonies or festivals. The New Testament is divided into only two parts: The Gospels and the Letters. The Gospels, the first section of the Bible, speak of the teachings of Jesus and his impact on civilization. The Letters were the last part of the story of Jesus, and were written by holy figure Saint Paul.
What are the basic beliefs and practices? Christianity
Christians refer to the Bible. They believe all life was created by God. The organisms created can only be created by God and organisms can't create other organisms. When you are born you are born sinful. Meaning you intend to do bad things and disobey God. This is called Original Sin. Original Sin explains why there are wars, abuse, guilt and etc. Some Christians believe there is no cure for the Original Sin. There are two theories about Adam and Eve and what started the original sin.. Either they brought evil to humanity by disobeying God or evil already existed in humans.
