Religions
According to Confucius, how are virtue (de) and ritual (li) related?
Adding intent and meaning to ritual (li) fosters virtue (de)
Describe an argument for and an argument against religious pluralism.
An argument for religious pluralism is that belief in a higher force or being is something that unites all religions. It finds a common ground for religions. An argument against religious pluralism is that it ignores and declines important difference that make each religion special. It's almost insulting to say that they are all the same.
Explain how the term bhakti is associated with the gods Vishnu, Krishna, and Rama.
Bhakti=devotion It creates a more intimate relationship with whatever god you are most attracted/connected to.
Describe Horace Miner's article 'Body Ritual among the Nacirema.' What was Miner attempting to argue?
Horace descirbes a culture where they have many strange rituals and traditions; this culture is the Nacirema. Some of the Nacirema's rituals include things such as visiting herbalists and medicine men who do things to treat and purify their people. The Nacirema culture is actually American culture. Through this exaggerated and distorted point-of-view , Miner is trying to argue that if you look at any culture, religion, or society from an outside perspective it will seem strange. By writing this he is trying to challenge our ethnocentrism.
How does the I Ching employ the principles of yin and yang?
It shows the relationship between all of the elements in their opposing pairs.
How does the theme of Sacrifice relate to the origins of Christianity?
Judaism: Sacrifice was an everyday thing; People had to slaughter animals for their sin; God sacrificed his only son; Jesus sacrificed himself so no one would have to sacrifice anymore.
Describe one of the ways in which modernity challenges religious tradition.
Modernity favors reason over tradition and science over religion. Example: gay marriage
Explain the significance of Qingming in Chinese religion.
Qingming is the grave sweeping ceremony. It's significant because it's honoring a family's ancestors and spending time with them because in Confucian thought, the dead are still here in spirit. It shows respect for our passed loved ones.
Describe at least two sources of Islamic Law (shari'ah).
Qur'an: recitation (holy book) Surah: Chapter (accounts of Muhammad)
Why is 'religion' so difficult to define? Briefly critique TWO definitions of religion.
Religion is so hard to define because there are so many different ideas and methods of belief. Emile Durkheim, a sociologist, describes religion as a unified system of belief and practice that bring people together into a moral community. William James, a psychologist, describes religion as the feelings and experiences of individuals in their solitude.
Describe the relationship between samsara, karma, and moksha.
Samsara: the cycle of reincarnation Karma: Cause and effect; "what goes around comes around" Moksha: Liberation from the cycle achieved through yoga (building good karma)
How do Muhammad and the Qur'an defend the Qur'an's divine origin?
The Qur'an validates itself and says that only Allah could write it. Muhammad was also illiterate so to produce a document of its kind would take a 'miracle'.
How do Islamic prayers (salat) illustrate the religion's central theme, submission?
The salat illustrates Islam's theme of submission in a number of ways. The position Muslims pray in is such a vulnerable position, the number of times they pray a day and how it could interfere with anything that they are doing, and the words they are saying.
Explain Stephen Prothero's four-part approach to the study of religions
There is a problem, solution, technique, and exemplar/method. For example: sin, salvation, repentance/belief, and pastor/priest.
Why have doctrine and creeds been so important to Christians, historically?
To uphold the traditions, beliefs, and values of Christianity.
Explain the role of an 'apostle' in early Christianity.
To verify and spread the work of Jesus Christ through stories of witness.