Religion 200 Quiz 3

Deism

Lat dens=God; belief in a supreme being who created the world and then left it to its own discoverable and reasonable natural laws; the Deist God is not personal and does not reveal religious truths or work miracles.

Criticisms of Islam

Major criticism that is heard around the world is that Islam is considered a 1: Radical Christian Heresy, christians, jews, some muslims theirselves think that the Islam faith is a diversion and a heresy of the Christian faith. 2: Morality of the life of Muhammad- jesus was god incarnate in chrisitanity lived a sinless perfect life, and Muhammad was far from that. ( how could you believe anything else, b/c in christianity we believe that Jesus was fathered by God, so how could he be anything less than perfect. However, Muhammad never claims to be God. Muhammad was a prophet, a man, and being a man is not without sin. 3: Criticism of the authenticy and the morality of the Qur'an- 4: Criticism of human rights in Isam- (treatment of women) 5: Criticism of the inability of Muslim immigrants to assimilate in the Western society. (when you put us all together, we become a melting pot whom influence and shape one another. Islam faith rejects that concepts. They are not going to be made impure. So because of their unwillingness to blend, they are criticized.

Wahhabi

Ultraconservative Muslim movement founded in the eighteenth century and opposed to all forms of change within religion and culture.

Shari'a tries to describe in detail all possible human acts

dividing them into permitted (halal) and prohibited (haram). It subdivides them into various degrees of good or evil such as obligatory, recommended, neutral, objectionable or forbidden. This vast compendium of rules regulates all matters of devotional life, worship, ritual purity, marriage and inheritance, criminal offenses, commerce and personal conduct. It also regulates the governing of the Islamic state and its relations to non-Muslims within the state as well as to enemies outside the state. Shari'a influences the behavior and worldview of most Muslims, even in secular states where it forms no part of the law of the land.

Ka'bah

enclosure surrounding the black stone in Mecca; this stone became an object of veneration by pilgrims in pre-Islamic Arabia.

Original Sin

in Christian theology, the sin of Adam and Eve; the effect of it is the fundamentally graceless nature of human beings; that is, all people are regarded as having a sinful nature.

Missionary

in Christianity, someone who goes to another region or country and preaches the word of God.

Sunni

most muslims are Sunnis (traditionalists), who accept orthodox Muslim theology and the traditional line of caliphs.

Holy Days

1: Feast of Fast-Breaking ('d al-Fitr): 1st day of Shawwal, the month after Ramdan, celebrates a return to normal life after the prolonged fast. 2: Feast of Sacrifice ('Id al-Adha): the month of the Pilgramage, it is one of the req of the hajj, but it is also observed throughout the Muslim world. Commemorates the time when Abrahahm was commanded by God to sacrifice his son Ishmael. When abrahams faithfulness was revealed, God provided a ram as a subsitute sacrifice. On this date in the Muslim year, the head of each household is to kill an animal and provide a feast. Some of the food is given to the needy in the community. 3: New Year- the month of Muharram is the beg of the Muslim year. It is also celebrated b/c it is believed to have been the month of the Hijrah. 4:Birthday of the Prophet Muhammad (Mawlid an-Nabi)- the trad celeb. for the birth of Muhammad is estab. on the 12th day of the 3rd month. The recitation of the Prophet's bio and prayers for him are among the most common elements of this feast.

What were the several reason for Islams rapid and massive expansion?

1: Islam is a universal religion. Though it arose in the Arab world, it recognizes no national barriers and knows no distinctions among races. All people were created by Allah and all are accepted as Muslims. 2: Islam is a religion with wide appeal. Unlike religions that require learning, meditation, or great sacrifice, Islam at its most basic level is a simple, easily practiced faith. A person who repeats the creed is a Muslim. A person who keeps the five pillars of Islam is a good Muslim. 3: The world that surrounded the early Muslims was confused and corrupt. Byzantine Christian rulers had mistreated and abused Jews and Arab Christians; therefore the Muslim conquerors were frequently received not as an invading army but as deliverers.

5 pillars

1: Repetition of the Creed (shahadah) Devout holy muslims, must recite or repeat the creed. (there is no God but Allah; Muhammad is the messenger of Allah. The first words a muslim child hears, and they are likely to be the last words uttered by the dying muslim. Utter this as often as possible , every day, and the mere utterance of it makes the reciter a Muslim. 2: Daily Prayer (salaht). Expected to pray five times a day. Dawn, midday, midafternoon, sunset, and nightfall. Prayer could be at the top of graceful towers known as minarets or spoken at the entrance of the mosque. Wherever muslims are, they must pause for a prescribed prayer. Before they pray, they must wash themselves and be cleansed of any impurities. Can cleanse themselves with sand. Once properly cleansed, the worshipers prostrate themselves, facing Mecca, and offer their prayers. Men and women may not pray together b/c of the possiblitly of inappropriate physical contact. 3: Almsgiving (zakaht). Muslims are expected to share their possessions with the poor, widows, and orphans. Alms may also be used to support religious institutions, scholars, and students. Charity is obligatory according to Islamic law and is assessed as a tax amounting to between 2.5 and 10 percent of one's wealth. Because of its emphasis on almsgiving, Islam has never looked on begging as being dishonorable. Receiving as well as giving alms is considered a source of God's blessing. 4: Fasting (sawm). Islam req. the longest and most stringent fast of all. Every year during the month of Ramadan, Muslims are expected to abstain from eating, drinking, smoking, and engagin in sexual relations during the daylight hours. The fast is kept in the remembrance of the month when the Prophet first received his revelation. Because of the Muslim lunar calendar, the month of Ramadan vaires from year to year. The only muslims excused from fasting are sick, travelers, mothers nursing infants, and small children. When the fast concludes, they celebrate with a feast that last 3 days. It is believed that Allah will pardon the sins of all of those believers who complete the fast. 5: Pilgrimage (hajj). Pilgrimage to Mecca was part of pre-Islamic Arab religion. It played an important role in the early history of Islam, and it is mentioned in the Qur'an as a ritual duty. The prophet Muhammad purged the Ka'ba of its idols and, according to Muslim tradition, re-established it as a shrine dedicated to the one God. Every Muslim who can afford the trip should make the pilgrimage to Mecca once in his or her lifetime. Takes place during a special month in the Muslim calendar called the Dhu al-Hijah. During this month pilgrims from all over the world arrive at Mecca. Must walk the whole way. During most of the hajj, pilgrims must abstain from food and drink during the daylight hours, they must abstain from sexual intercourse, and they must not cut their hair and nails. During the days of the pilgrimage, visitors to Mecca visit the Zamzam well, which is believed to have been estab. by Hagar and Ishmael. They make seven trips around the Ka'ba and kiss the sacred black stone. They offer a sacrifice of a sheep or goat on teh tenth day of the hajj to commemorate Abrahams' willingness to sacrifice even his own son to obey God's command. After these duties, they m ay visit Medina to pay respect to the grave of the Prophet Muhammad and to visit his mosque. When the pilgrims return home, they may have the title haji attached to their names so all the owrld will know they have fulfilled this religious obligation.

Mormons

A Mormon is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Although Mormons say they prefer that the entire name be used to refer to them, or the shortened "Latter Day Saint," the nickname Mormon is also acceptable. For many non-members, Mormons are a mysterious group of people, and misconceptions regarding their beliefs abound. It is a relatively new church, although members believe that the church is in actuality, the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. In the year 1820, a young Joseph Smith began the restoration of the gospel which today, has over 12 million members worldwide.

Nation of Islam

A traveling silk salesman named W. D. Fard founded the Nation of Islam (NOI) in Detroit in 1930. A variant of traditional Islam, the NOI taught that God was black and whites were a race of devils whose dominion over the earth would soon end. Fard disappeared in 1934 and leadership passed to Georgia native Elijah Muhammad. The NOI began a period of explosive growth in the 1950s, attracting thousands with a doctrine of black pride, separation, and self-sufficiency. With Malcolm X as its chief spokesman, the NOI created its own school, restaurants, and a newspaper. But soon tensions between the two men surfaced. Boxer Muhammad Ali joined the NOI in 1964, while Malcolm X left to form his own organization. He was assassinated in 1965 by members of the NOI, an event for which Elijah Muhammad would always deny any responsibility.

Adventists

Adventism is a Christian movement which began in the 19th century, in the context of the Second Great Awakening revival in the United States. The name refers to belief in the imminent Second Coming (or "Second Advent") of Jesus Christ. It was started by William Miller, whose followers became known as Millerites. Today, the largest church within the movement is the Seventh-day Adventist Church.

Deity

Allah

Jihad

Arabic term meaning "struggle in the cause of God." Examples range from mission work to armed conflict.

Where Islam was birthed from.

Basic religions characteristics such as: animism, sacrifice and totems, in that culture of that kind of worship that Islam was birthed. That Islam surfaced and developed.

Hadith

Collections of traditions concerning the life and words of the Prophet Muhammad.

Caliph

From Khalifa (literally, "deputy," "representative"); successors of Muhammad in leading Islam. At first, the caliphate was limited to the companions of the Prophet Muhammad, but as Islam grew, the caliphate took on the role of a dynastic political leadership.

Pentecostalism

In addition to speaking in tongues, Charismatic Pentecostals have been known to carry out far more obscure practices such as snake charming. These believers also have other roots strong in the Methodist Holiness Movement, which subscribes to living as sin-free a life as possible, according to strict and ancient biblical laws. Miracles, the existence of heaven and hell, and Creationism are common themes, as are the pursuit of grace, a personal relationship with the spirit of Jesus, and ritual baptism to form a closer bond with the divine.

Protestant reformation

In the sixteenth century, the Western church was torn asunder by a violent revolution that made it what it is today. This revolution has been called the Reformation, but it went far beyond reforming Christianity; it upset it, destroyed its unified hold on Europe, challenged its authority, and disrupted it for centuries. The causes of this revolution are many, varied, and intricate. However, the major ones may be listed broadly as the beginning of European nationalism, the new learning of the Renaissance, and the decline of the papacy.

Tracing the roots of Islam back to Judaism and Christianity

Islam began among the Arabian desert people in the seventh century C.E. The people of this area had developed religious forms of their own and had been exposed to various other religions for centuries. Although the influence was not strong, Byzantine Christianity had been a factor in the lives of these people. Judea, the home of Christianity, was not very far from Arabia. Such cities as Damascus, Caesarea, Antioch, and Alexandria were neighbors to Mecca and Yathrib (Medina). Christian princes ruled from these cities, and many of the early church fathers wrote and taught there. The people of Arabia were also familiar with Judaism. Several of the desert tribes were Jewish. Although the origins of these tribes are unclear, many historians believe they were the descendants of Jews forced out of Judea when the Romans squelched rebellion in the land in 70 C.E. and again in 135. When Muhammad, the Prophet of Islam, entered Medina in 622 C.E., some of the residents of that city were Jewish. Another religion that may have influenced the formulation of Islam was Zoroastrianism. Although the effects on Islam were not as strong as on Judaism and Christianity, it is possible that Muhammad and some of his disciples were in contact with the Persian Zoroastrians. Perhaps the major religious force from which Islam grew - and reacted against - was the native religion of the Arab people. Apparently, the pre-Islamic people worshiped a variety of gods. They recognized one supreme High God, who was separate and unapproachable by human beings, whom they called Allah (literally, "the God"). The most basic belief of Islam is that there is only one God, who is called Allah, the same God worshiped by Jews and Christians. He is the sole and sovereign ruler of the universe. Though Allah has made himself known through other prophets at other times, his final revelation was to the Prophet Muhammad in the seventh century C.E. Islam teaches that a person has just one life to live. How believers live this life determines how they will spend their eternal existence. During this one life, believers must submit to the will of Allah. Thus adherents of this religion are called Muslims (those who submit to God).

Quick Overview of the similarities and differences between Islam & Christianity

Islam is similar to Christianity, both believe that: - There is only one God. He is the Creator and Sustainer of the universe. - God sent prophets such as Noah, Abraham, Moses, David, Joseph, John the Baptist, Jesus, etc. - People should follow the Ten Commandments and the moral teachings of the prophets. - Mary, the mother of Jesus, was a virgin; therefore Jesus was born miraculously. - Jesus Christ is the Messiah and he performed miracles. - The Old testament/Torah and the new testament/Gospel) are holy scriptures. - Satan is evil; therefore, people should not follow Satan. - An Anti-Christ will appear on Earth before the Day of Judgment. - Jesus Christ will return by descending from Heaven and will kill the Anti-Christ. - The Day of Judgment will occur and people will be judged. - There is hell and paradise. There are 3 main differences between Islam & Christianity: 1. Today, most Christians believe in the Trinity, meaning that God has 3 forms (Father, Son, Holy Ghost/ Spirit). The concept of trinity was not adopted by Christianity until the Council of Nicea in 325 AD. Some of the early Christians were Unitarians. Even today, there are Christian Unitarian churches that do not accept the Trinity. Notable Rationalist Unitarians include thinkers such as Ralph Waldo Emerson (American), scientists such as Isaac Newton (British), as well as famous figures such as Florence Nightingale (British) in nursing and humanitarianism, Charles Dickens (British) in literature, and Frank Lloyd Wright (American) in architecture. While in Islam, (a) Trinity is totally rejected. Jesus is neither God, nor Son of God (in the literal sense). Jesus was a human prophet and not divine. (a) Muslims worship only God, the one and only the creator of the universe. (b) This God (the Quran refers to as Allah) is the God and creator of Jesus and is the same God that Jesus in the current Bible refers to as Father and to whom Jesus used to pray. (c) Muslims consider Mohammad, Moses, and Jesus as prophets and messengers sent by God ("messengers" is term that refers to prophets who brought holy scriptures to their people as a message from God). These prophets were human beings, not divine, and should not be worship directly or indirectly. (d) Muslims believe that each human being can be called son/daughter of God because he/she was created by God. So there is nothing special or divine about Jesus being called son of God and therefore Jesus should not be worshiped. (e) Finally, angels (such as Gabriel) are servants/agents of God. Angels are created by God; therefore, they are not divine and should not be worshiped. 2. The Quran says Jesus did not die on the cross, but God made it appear that way to people. Furthermore, the Quran also says that Jesus was ascended to Heaven by God. Most Christians today insist Jesus was crucified and died on the cross, but two days later was resurrected. 3. Christians believe in the concept of "Original Sin" which means that human beings are born as sinners , bearing the burden of the "Original Sin" of Adam and Eve. Muslims do not believe in the " Original Sin" for 2 main reasons: (a) In the Quran, God forgave Adam for what he has done, and (b) according to the Quran, no one should be made to bear the burden of someone else's sin or mistake because it is unfair.

Comparing and Contrasting Islam, Christianity and Judaism

Islam is the second largest religion in the world after Christianity. As a monotheistic faith that originated in the Middle East, Islam holds many beliefs and practices in common with Judaism and Christianity. Judaism, Islam and Christianity are collectively known as "Abrahamic religions" because they trace their history to the covenant God made with Abraham in the Hebrew Bible. The Prophet Muhammad met both Jews and Christians during his lifetime, and Islam has come into frequent contact with both of its fellow monotheistic faiths throughout most of its history.

Jehovah's Witnesses

Jehovah's Witnesses believe in a supreme God — a spirit which has a body, but not a human body. Jesus is the Lord and Savior but He is not a part of God. Jehovah's Witnesses do not believe in the Trinity — the father, son and holy spirit — as, for example, Catholics do. Rather, Jesus is separate from God and was God's servant on Earth. Jesus is also said to have been given an exalted status in heaven to a higher level than angels. Because Jehovah's Witnesses believe Jesus is not God, and because they believe that prayer is a form of worship and that one must not worship false gods, Jehovah's Witnesses pray to God, not Jesus.

The basic beliefs of the Mormon religion are quite similar to many Christian denominations. They believe that God is man's Heavenly Father and that he is the creator. His son

Jesus Christ is their Savior and atoned for the sins of mankind. Through repentance and adherence to God's commandments man can return to live with God for eternity. Mormons also believe in the Holy Ghost, which guides them and gives them knowledge of the truth of the gospel. Although Mormons believe in the Godhead, they do not believe in the Holy Trinity version which claims that all three are one unified being. Mormons believe in a living prophet, not unlike the prophets of the Old and New Testament. As of 2006, President Gordon Hinckley is one of the oldest and longest serving prophets of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Its headquarters are located in Salt Lake City, Utah, a state where approximately 14 percent of its membership resides. According to their beliefs, members receive timely instructions from God through the prophet as to how they should live their lives and how the business of the church should be conducted.

For Muslims

Mecca is a very important and sacred place. All able-bodied Muslims must travel there during their lifetimes to fulfill hajj, or pilgrimage, one of the Five Pillars of Islam. The city is holy for a number of reasons. The primary reason for most Muslims is that Mecca is the birthplace of Muhummad, the prophet of Islam. Many of his revelations also occurred within the confines of the city.

In addition to being the birthplace of the Prophet

Mecca is also the location of the Kaa'ba, a structure allegedly built by Abraham. The Kaa'ba is housed inside the Masjid al-Haram, the Grand Mosque, and is visited by millions of Muslims annually. The Zamzam Well, the holy well that supposedly sprung into existence to give water to Hagar, wife of Abraham, can also be found in Mecca.

Mecca

Mecca is the Holy City of Islam, although the city had religious importance before the advent of the religion. It is located in the western region of Saudi Arabia, near the Red Sea. Technically, the city is formally known as Makkah al-Mukaaramah, translating into English as "Mecca the Blessed." The Saudi Arabian government has pushed many English speaking nations to adopt Makkah as the proper transliteration from Arabic, rather than the more common name. The change is spelling has not, however, caught on in most of the English speaking world.

Medina

Medina is the second holy city of Islam, after Mecca. Its importance as a religious site derives from the presence there of the Masjid al Nabawi, the Mosque of the Prophet, which was built on the site of Muhammad's home and is where he is buried. The first mosque of Islam is also located in Medinah and is known as Masjid al-Quba, the Quba Mosque.

Fundamentalism vs. Liberalism

Modern Christian fundamentalist literature has detailed explanations of how the events of the Bible can be explained scientifically which are considered to provide a guarantee of certainty and exactness of interpretation. The liberal, however, is willing to allow that the texts of the books are open to more than one interpretation. External factors in society may influence the way that the Scriptures are interpreted. Allegorical and symbolic interpretations may be used particularly of passages that appear to contradict human reason. Traditional interpretation may be examined for whatever useful insights it may present but has no binding force on the present. The liberal is much more willing to acknowledge that the Holy Scripture is a historical document.

Founder

Muhammad

Muhammad

Muhammad, the prophet of Islam, was born in Mecca around the year 570. Orphaned before he had reached the age of six, he was raised under the protection of his uncle Abu Talib. Muhammad began working as a merchant and became known for his trustworthiness. When he was about twenty-five, he married Khadija, a wealthy widow whose status elevated Muhammad's position in Meccan society. Muhammad and Khadija had four daughters and two sons, both of whom died in infancy. About fifteen or twenty years after his marriage, he began to have visions and hear mysterious voices. He sought solitude in a cave on Mount Hira on the outskirts of Mecca. One night during Ramadan, the traditional month of spiritual retreat, when Muhammad was about forty years old, an angel appeared to him in the form of a man and ordered him to; Recite in the name of thy lord who created, Created man from a clot; Recite in the name of thy lord, Who taught by the pen, Taught man what he knew not. Muhammad, fearing that he was being attacked by an evil spirit, fled down the mountain in terror. The voice called after him, "O Muhammad, you are the messenger of God, and I am the angel Gabriel." This revelation was soon followed by others about the one true God. Eventually, the angel told Muhammad to begin proclaiming God's message.

Eid ('ld al-fitr/feast of fast breaking)

Muslim feast of fast breaking, celebrates a return to normal life after the prolonged fast of Ramadan.

Mosque

Muslim house of prayer.

People of the Book

Muslims believe that God had previously revealed Himself to the earlier prophets of the Jews and Christians, such as Abraham, Moses, and Jesus. Muslims therefore accept the teachings of both the Jewish Torah and the Christian Gospels. They believe that Islam is the perfection of the religion revealed first to Abraham (who is considered the first Muslim) and later to other prophets. Muslims believe that Jews and Christians have strayed from God's true faith but hold them in higher esteem than pagans and unbelievers. They call Jews and Christians the "People of the Book" and allow them to practice their own religions. Muslims believe that Muhammad is the "seal of the prophecy," by which they mean that he is the last in the series of prophets God sent to mankind. Muslims abhor the followers of later prophets. This attitude serves to explain the extreme Muslim animosity toward Bahais, followers of a nineteenth-century prophet, who in the Muslim mind is false.

Scripture

Qur'an

Secularization

Secularization or secularisation (see spelling differences) is the transformation of a society from close identification with religious values and institutions toward nonreligious (or irreligious) values and secular institutions. The secularization thesis refers to the belief that as societies "progress", particularly through modernization and rationalization, religion loses its authority in all aspects of social life and governance

Seventh-Day Adventist

Secularization or secularisation (see spelling differences) is the transformation of a society from close identification with religious values and institutions toward nonreligious (or irreligious) values and secular institutions. The secularization thesis refers to the belief that as societies "progress", particularly through modernization and rationalization, religion loses its authority in all aspects of social life and governance. The Adventist movement has its roots in the 19th-century "Millerite movement," which centered on the belief that Jesus would return on October 22, 1844. William Miller (1782-1849) was a farmer who settled in upstate New York after the war of 1812. He was originally a Deist, but after much private Bible study, Miller converted to Christianity and became a Baptist. He was convinced that the Bible contained coded information about the end of the world and the Second Coming of Jesus. In 1836, he published the book Evidences from Scripture and History of the Second Coming of Christ about the Year 1843.

Shari'a

Shari'a is an Arabic word meaning "path" or "way." Today the term is used most commonly to mean "Islamic law," the detailed system of religious law developed by Muslim scholars in the first three centuries of Islam and still in force among fundamentalists today.

Shia

Shia Muslims account for approximately 15 percent of the total Muslim population in the world. Shiism has the greatest influence in the contemporary world in Iran where nearly 90 percent of Muslims are Shiite, but Shia are also the majority in Iraq, Bahrain, and Yemen. The division between the Shia and Sunni is rooted in disputes over the proper succession of leadership after the death of the Prophet Muhammad in 632 C.E. The Shia maintain that the rightful successor of the Prophet was his cousin and son-in-law, Ali. Shia especially revere a succession of scholars (called Imams).

Sufism

Sufism or taṣawwuf (Arabic: تصوّف‎) is defined by its adherents as the inner, mystical dimension of Islam.[1][2][3] A practitioner of this tradition is generally known as a ṣūfī (صُوفِيّ). Sufis believe they are practicing Ihsan (perfection of worship) as revealed by Gabriel to Muhammad, "Worship and serve Allah as you are seeing Him and while you see Him not yet truly He sees you."

What the major difference between Christianity and the other two religions?

The major difference is that most Christians believe that Jesus was divine, the son of God. Islam reveres Jesus as a prophet only. Judaism does not think Jesus is the Son of God.

Luther

The most outstanding figure of the reformation. Traditionally regarded as the founder of the Protestant Reformation.

WHAT ARE THE MAJOR SIMILARITIES BETWEEN JUDAISM, CHRISTIANITY AND ISLAM?

They all come from Abraham and his sons Ishmael and Isaac. They all share the Old Testament. They all believe in God. They three believe in an afterlife. They all have a Holy Book

The most basic sectarian dispute is that between Sunnis and Shi'ites

This division is based on an early dispute concerning leadership of the Muslim community. The Sunni maintain that decisions about leadership were the prerogative of the Muslim community; the Shi'ites believe that it should be in the hands of Imams, who were descendants of the Prophet Muhammad. Since the death of Husayn, the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad, in the battle of karbala in 680 C.E. the division between them has been bitter, often sparking sectarian violence. Approximately 85 percent of Muslims are Sunni; 15 percent are Shi'ite. The Shi'ite are concentrated in Iran and Iraq.

Imam

To Sunni Muslims, the imam leads the community in prayers; to Shi'ite Muslims, imams were the legitimate successors of Ali.

Evangelism

While evangelism is usually regarded as converting non-Christians to Christianity, this is not always the proper usage of the word. If converting to Christianity includes services or material benefits it is called proselytism. Different denominations follow different theological interpretations which reflect upon the point of who is doing the actual conversion being the Evangelist or the Holy Spirit or both. Calvinists, for example, believe the soul is converted only if the Holy Spirit is effective in the act

Denominationalism

a denomination is a specific church group united in polity and belief; denominationalism has several meanings - (1) the variety and independence of various churches; (2) the notion that there are and ought to be many differing church bodies; (3)the movement to unite local churches into one larger body; in this third sense, denominationalism has been opposed by those who clearly favor congregational politics or who value their own distinctness; antidenominationalism is resistance to any centrally organized church body.

The Great Schism

a period of division in the Roman Catholic Church, 1378-1417, over papal succession, during which there were two, or sometimes three, claimants to the papal office.

Counter reformation

a response to the Protestant Reformation. Those who wanted to purify the Church without establishing another form of Christianity. They wanted a reformation without the attendant revolution. These individuals remained within the Roman Catholic Church and initiated the Counter-Reformation.

Ecumenical Movement

action among modern Christian denominations to attempt to minimize differences among various Christian groups and achieve some form of unity.

Place of Worship

generally Muslim worship is carried out in a variety of place. Islam is not a temple-oriented religion. Although certain places are venerated by Muslims, it would not have suited the nomadic life of the Arab people to require them to worship in any sort of temple. The nature of their lives demanded that they be free to worship Allah every day, wherever they might be.

Liberation Theology

grew out of the needs of the poor of Latin America and tends to view religion in revolutionary terms. Liberation Theology is based in part on portions of the Gospels and Acts that mention social justice and economic equality as basic teachings of Jesus and the early Christian community. It purports to read the Bible through the eyes of the poor and the oppressed and to apply its message to contemporary problems. Its adherents believe that the proper role for Christianity is political identification with the struggles of the poor.

American Muslim Mission

if you guys know this. just edit the cards, i have set it up to be edited by anyone. Thanks.

Monastic Movement

introduced by the early medieval church, the monastic movement became a major part of Christianity. Of all the major religions of the Western world, Christianity is the only one to encourage monastic orders. Neither Judaism nor Islam has encouraged its members to live alone apart from the evils of normal life, although there have been minor movements in both religions in that direction. It began to develop in the 3rd century. Basically monasteries were secluded places where people dedicated themselves to a simple life of hard manual labor, prayer, fasting, and sometimes study.

Anabaptist

literally "rebaptizer"' a radical group of Protestant reformers who insisted that baptism is for adult believers only.

Hijrah

literally, "migration"; the migration of Muhammad and his community from Mecca to Medina in 622 B.C.E.

Allah

literally, "the God"' Arabic name for the deity, used by Muslims and Christian Arabs.

Qur'an

literally,"reading," "recitation"' Muslim scripture.

Calvin

prob the greates and most influential mind of the reformation. His writings set the intellectual base for much of the later Protestant theology. His concern for the rightness of labor and thrift as expressions of religion is felt 500 years later among those who have been reared in Calvinistic religion.

Muslims view the Qur'an as a divine scripture revealed by God in the same way that many Christians and Jews view their scriptures. The Arabic word "Qur'an" means "the Recitations" or "the Revelations." It is a collection of the revelations that Muslims believe Muhammad received

starting in 610 when he was 40 years old. According to its own message, the Qur'an does not establish a new religion. Instead, it confirms and clarifies the truth of the original monotheism of Abraham, the focus of the Torah and Gospels.

Rather than a chronological narrative

the Qur'an addresses the social and inner condition of believers. Ethical and spiritual by turns, it occasionally refers to Biblical prophets, religious figures and events- Joseph in Egypt, Noah and the Flood, Jesus and the Virgin Mary, among many others- but it is not a book of history or narration. Rather, the Qur'an is concerned with people's spiritual destiny, the Day of Judgment, and what it means to believe in God and be a responsible person. In this last regard, the Qur'an occasionally lays down rules of behavior, but it is not a detailed book of laws like Leviticus or Deuteronomy.

What is Islam based on?

the life and teachings of the Prophet Muhammad. Islam means "Submission to God. " Allah is the Arabic word for God. This is the same God worshiped by Jews and Christians. The Prophet Muhammad was born about 570 C.E. Tradition holds that he received his first revelation from God in 610 a process that continued until his death in 632 C.E. Together these revelations are the Qur'an which Muslims believe to be the speech of God.

WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE THREE?

the major difference is that most Christians believe that Jesus was divine, the son of God. Islam says Jesus was only a prohet.. The Jews do not believe that Jesus was a Prophet, or in any way holy. Muslims think the Christian Bible us a holy document, as it describes the life and times of one of their Prophets, though they do not agree with some of the details.

Feast of Sacrifice ('Id al-Adha)

the month of the Pilgramage, it is one of the req of the hajj, but it is also observed throughout the Muslim world. Commemorates the time when Abrahahm was commanded by God to sacrifice his son Ishmael. When abrahams faithfulness was revealed, God provided a ram as a subsitute sacrifice. On this date in the Muslim year, the head of each household is to kill an animal and provide a feast. Some of the food is given to the needy in the community.

Day for Worship

though Muslims pray as often as possible, it has been mandated that on Fridays, Muslims are allowed to pray together in a Mosque, but this is the only day they are allowed to do so within a certain place.

Muhammad

was the political leader of the Muslim community as well as a prophet. Follwing years of persecution, he led the Muslim community from Mecca to Median in what is now Saudi Arabia in 622 C.E. For the next eight years, there was intense and often violent conflict with the people of Mecca, who sought to destroy the new religion. Mecca was taken in 630 C.E. and Islam rapidly became the religion of almost all Arabs.