Religious Quest Terms

Faith (Iman)

"Christian Thought and Practice": person's attitude/disposition towards a set of beliefs Considered to be inherent in all of us Religion attempts to take this faith and institutionalize it Is faith logic/reasoning (RCC) or more emotional (Evangelical etc)

Allahu Akbar

"God is the Greatest", the call to prayer that is issues from mosques around the world to invite faithful to pray

Actus Purus

"Pure Act", God's essence is existence and creation Has NO potency, only act God's essence is bringing things into creation

Islam/ Muslim

"act of submission means act of voluntary submission (allows for peace - Islam, Muslim, Salaam all have common root meaning peace) Sunni v. Shia (belief in religious/political imam) Muhammad's humanity is central. Muslims practice Islam.

Periods of Christian Church history

1. Biblical - time before Jesus, Jesus' life, and a very early church 2. Patristic - Era of Apology (reasoned defense of the faith) and Church Fathers and Mothers 3. Middle Ages - unity through uniformity, Great Schism, Crusades, Inquisition 4. Reformation - Only scripture, only faith, only grace. Protestants break off from RCC 5. Modern

Points of Comparison

1. Both are monotheistic 2. Both look to scripture as the key source of information about God 3. Both believe God as the creator of all life and the source of all mercy, justice, peace, and forgiveness 4. Both emphasize the importance of living out one's faith in all aspects of life 5. Both have formalized congregational methods of worship that include the reading or recitation of scripture and prayer

All Saints Day

In Christianity, All Souls' Day commemorates All Souls, the Holy Souls, or the Faithful Departed; that is, the souls of Christians who have died. Observing Christians typically remember deceased relatives on the day. Spirits thought to roam the earth one final time

Constitution of Medina

Drafted on behalf of Muhammad. The preamble declares the document to be "a book of the prophet Muhammad to operate between the believers and Muslims from the Quraysh tribe and from Yathrib and those who may be under them and wage war in their company" declaring them to constitute "one nation separate from all peoples

Resurrection and Judgement

Belief that Christians will rise from the death to face judgement about the moral quality of their lives

Tawhid

Belief there is only one God. "oneness" - a clear statement of faith. Islamic concept of the indivisible oneness of God, Statement of God's uniqueness: in Shahadah → there is no other God but The God

Sunni Tradition Structure

Caliphate Rightly-Guided Caliphs Companions Sharia Kharijites - group that seceded from Muslim community once Ali tried to propose arbitration after Uthman's death imam

Via Negativa

Can't have all knowledge of God, limited Everything we say about Him we have to deny

Liturgical Calendar

Christian calendar that supposed to commemorate Jesus's life into the life of the Church

Orthopraxy

Is correct conduct, both ethical and liturgical, as opposed to faith or grace etc MUSLIMS

Abbasid Empire 750 - 1258

The end of this signaled the end of the ideal where all Muslims were under one caliph This ideal of one caliphate as Golden Age is nuanced because it ignores the competing caliphs, poverty/persecution still experienced by Muslims, and etc The effect of these ideals on world view can be large because ISIS uses this ideal to return to a global caliphate and manipulate narratives for own ending with Mongol invasion. Huge contributions to science, math, philosophy.

ESSENCE Divine Attribute

definitional qualities that make something what it is The true nature of something, the core of what that something is

Quran

divine revelation (over 22 years, told by 1 person), final revelation to Muhammad from God through Angel Gabriel in the Arabic language, not chronological Four aspects of Quran 1) final, percept, complete 2) received by Muhammad 3) from angel Gabriel 4) delivered in Arabic language

Khutbah

during mosque service, the part when the imam focuses on the Quran passage and how it relates to believers

Orthodoxy

emphasizes correct belief, and ritualism, the use of rituals. Legalism, doctrinal (ex = Lutherans, Pentecostals) CHRISTIANS

Mihrab

marker in mosque that denotes the direction of Mecca and therefore prayer Niche or brick or stone of different color in a main way

Baptism as a relationship

marks beginning of relationship with church and God to las forever; levels of relationship as you grow

Hajji/Hajja

men and women that have completed the Hajj

Sacraments

moments of encounter with God in Christian faith Not universally defined through different divisions Roman Catholics (7) → special moments of Grace/encounter with God over lifetime Baptism Eucharist Reconciliation Confirmation Marriage Holy Order Anointing of the sick Protestants (2) → only what Jesus did himself: baptism and communion Baptism and Eucharist Everyone expected to do these all (except marriage vs holy order) THERE ARE NO SACRAMENTS IN ISLAM

Sufi

mystics, annihilation of self in God

Mahdi

redeemer / savior of Islam a spiritual and temporal leader who will rule before the end of the world and restore religion and justice

dhimni

refers to a non-Muslim living in an Islamic State with legal protection

Nicene Creed

reminder of fundamental beliefs/purpose (ex = Trinity - Creator, Redeemer, Sanctifier); recited at regular worship services, Church recites this together, a reminder of what you believe, outlines belief in the Trinity

Atonement

reparation or expiation for sin

Agape

self-giving love (not a feeling, an action)

Original Sin

sin moves us away from God, describes the original misgiving of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, a sin that defines all of subsequent humanity. Christians believe that all people are born into Original Sin. Muslims do not believe in Original Sin - only have to atone for sins that were personally committed (so no need for Baptism).

Martyr/Shahid

someone who dies for faiht stem of each word is "witness", people that bear witness to death John the Baptist was first - Christians were outside of Emperor religion so seen as political threat The Qu'ran never uses the word Shahid to refer to military action death (used as "witness")

Satan

source of evil, source of temptation (draws us away from God), Not defined as the personification of evil Associated with theft, dishonesty, abuse of drugs/alcohol etc.

Jumma

Friday the Holy day in Islam Men are required to attend service on Fridays and most women go too

Five Pillars of Islam

(1) Shahadah - declaration of faith: there is no God but the God and Muhammad is the messenger of God (2) Salat - 5 daily prayers (dawn, noon, midafternoon, sunset, evening) God is supposed to be part of life daily Some people consolidate into 3 times but still do 5 sets of prayers (especially Shii) (3) Zakat - almsgiving of 2.5% of one's total wealth (not just income afterwards) Traditionally paid during the month of Ramadan but not mandated then (4) Sawm - fasting during the month of Ramadan Fast of food, drink, impure thoughts, cigarettes, sex, etc Point of fasting is that you have the choice but many people around the world have this suffering by force all the time Intent is to to have the experience of lives that other people dont have a choice → foster empathy (5) Hajj - pilgrimage to Mecca (see below notes) Everyone expected to do it but only if you are physically and financially able to Life changing recommitment to God

6 different ways of understanding the Church

(1) focus on worshippers: fellowship of believers (2) focus on what happens in worship: sacramental mystery (3) focus on message of worship: prophetic voice in a sinful world (4) focus on structure/hierarchy: institution or organization (5) focus on the individuals: presence of reign of God within the individual (6) indefectible: authority rooted in function of preserving Christ's revelation with no additions or deletions

Predestination

(as a doctrine in Christian theology) the divine foreordaining of all that will happen, especially with regard to the salvation of some and not others. It has been particularly associated with the teachings of St. Augustine of Hippo and of Calvin.

Tenebrae

(in the Roman Catholic Church) matins (office of readings) and lauds (morning prayers) for the last three days of Holy Week, at which candles are successively extinguished. Several composers have set parts of the office to music.

Points of Contrast

1. Christians identify their discipleship and dedication to God through JC, who is defined as both man and GOd, Muslims are careful to distinguish between God, who is absolutely unique, and M, who is completely human. Islam therefore adheres to a more absolute monotheism 2. Historically, Christianity, particularly the Protestant tradition, has tended to place heavier emphasis on orthodoxy than on orthopraxy, resulting the an emphasis on the development of theology. This results in an emphasis on the study of Islamic law 3. Days of communal worship differ - Christians worship on Sunday mornings. Church services, called masses, include a sermon/homily that explains a Bible passage. Muslims attend congregational prayers at the mosque on Fridays during the noon prayer session. (5 daily times for prayer are daybreak, noon, mid-afternoon, sunset, evening)

Feminist Theology

1. Emphasizes lived experience of faith and the importance of embodiment of knowledge 2. Seeks to reinterpret Scripture by removing historical and contextual biases in favor of egalitarianism 3. Opposed to subjugation of women, racism, exploitation, of the nonhuman, and economic repression 4. Recognizes differences according to race, class, geography and culture 5. Challenges belief that women are inferior to men 6. Believes that restoring value to women in theology can and will help resolve many of the most pressing issues facing women globally (ex. gender-based violence) 7. Three main approaches to feminist theology - reformist, reconstructionist, and revolutionary

Periods of Islamic History

1. Foundational - lifetime of Muhammad 2. Rightly-Guided Caliphs - first forays into questions of authority, legitimacy, and state formation with disagreements as to who was the rightful leader after Muhammad's death 3. Umayyad and Abbasid Empires - ideal of a unified ummah under single leader, solidification of SUnni and Shia identities, rise of Sufism in response to excess of Empire 4. Age of Empires - multiple great rival empires, transition of authority to sultan or Shah 5. Era of Revival and Reform - encounters with modernity and West through Europeans colonial era and independence

Afterlife/al-Akhirah vs. Life on Earth/al-Dunya

1. In that sense, "dunya" is "what is brought near".[1][page needed] It refers to the temporal world—and its earthly concerns and possessions—as opposed to the hereafter 2. In that sense, "dunya" is "what is brought near".[1][page needed] It refers to the temporal world—and its earthly concerns and possessions—as opposed to the hereafter

Cultural Contributions of Sufism - Jalal al-Din Rumi

1. Music 2. Dance - whirling Dervishes 3. Poetry

Theological Trends Within Sufism

1. Religious and ethical discipline based on adherence to teachings of Quran, hadith, and Islamic law combined with spiritual practices. Leadership based on religious knowledge, ethical discipline, adn spiritual insight 2. Veneration of saints and holy people as path to closeness to God. Leadership based on possession of barakah and ability to intercede with God

Catholic vs. catholic

1. Roman Catholic 2. universal "one, holy catholic apostolic church" community

Pillars of Islam

1. Shahadah , or declaration of faith - "There i no god but The God and M is the Messenger of the God" 2. Salat (5x prayer/day) plus jumaa (Friday noon prayer ) 3. Zakat (almsgiving, 2.5% of wealth) 4. Sawm (fasting during month of Ramadan) 5. Hajj (pilgrimage to Mecca one ince a lifetime)

3 things only God knows

1. When we will die 2. What the outcome of Judgement Day will be 3. Where we will spend eternity

Epiphany - enlightened moment

3rd part of liturgical calendar 3 wise men visit toddler Jesus because saw star in the sky and believed that the King of Jews was born The three wise men brought Gold - symbolizes kingship and power of Jesus Frankincense - symbolizes priesthood Myrrh - symbolizes Jesus's upcoming death

Lent

4th part of calendar, 40 before easter, always begins on Wednesday Ash Wed beings - remember you are dust... Contemplation and meditation - Jesus was in desert tempted by devil for 40 days/nights Give up something

Mosque

Physical space where Muslims gather to pray. (Hadith: the entire earth is a Mosque and therefore a place for worship)

Ramadan

9th month of lunar calendar, changes times of year, begins with sighting of new moon Abstain from food, drink, sexual activity, impure thoughts, smoking from sunrise to sunset Those who cannot or don't want to can make up by providing two meals a day to hungry people

Christianity/ Christians

An Abrahamic religion based on the teaching and the life of Jesus. A disciple or follower of Jesus Christ and his teachings

Ash Wednesday

Ash Wednesday is a Christian holy day of prayer, fasting and repentance. It is preceded by Shrove Tuesday and falls on the first day of Lent, the six weeks of penitence before Easter

Shia

Believe Muhammad chose cousin Ali to be successor → first male convert Do not recognize the first 3 caliphs as legitimate - only recognize the hadiths directly traceable to Ali or Muhammad (not Aisha or other caliphs) Follow the Imam (not caliph) → direct male descendants of Muhammad directly appointed as political and religious leader with divine inspiration Not prophets but infallibly interpret Muhammad's words and are sinless See the writings of Imam as another scripture level Ali was eventually assassinated for inaction to punish people for Uthman's murder Ali's son Hasan gave up power and other son Husayn tried to claim it but had little support and was brutally killed Sorrow and regret in Shii belief/practice (evidence in call to prayer) - Husayn's death = martyrdom all Shii recognize same 4 Imams Ali Hasan Husayn Zayn al Abidin Believe Imam (direct descendant of Muhammad) holds the power pray 3 times a day (sung in lower key - sadness/ sense of waiting)

Sunni

Believe leadership passed to friend/father in law Abu Bakr → caliph (ruler but not prophet) Believe in 4 "Rightly Guided Caliphs" - can best answer WWMD, most marriage related Abu Bakr Umar Uthman Ali Believe Caliph is political leader with religious insight pray 5 times a day head to carpet

Individual Time for Christianity and Islam

Birth Death Existence in the grave while awaiting resurrection Events of the day of resurrection, including judgement day final consignment to either heaven or hell eternity

Mecca

Birthplace of M, Hajj, Holy City, Saudi Arabia

Excommunication

Church placing you outside formal faith tradition, you cannot take the eucharist anymore etc.

Church vs. church

Church: the community of all believers/embodiment of God, includes all denominations The church - specific congregation or church The Church is supposed to be a prophetic voice in a sinful world

Taziyeh

Commemoration of Husayn's martyrdom by acting it out (passion play)

Visions - corporeal, imaginative, intellectual

Corporeal: Corporeal vision is a supernatural manifestation of an object to the eyes of the body Imaginative: Imaginative vision is the sensible representation of an object by the act of imagination alone, without the aid of the visual organ Intellectual: Intellectual visions perceive the object without a sensible image.

Collective Time for Christianity and Islam

Creation Signs of the Hour Events of the day of resurrection, including judgement day Final consignment to either heaven or hell eternity

Tradition

Divine (God speaking, so holds absolute authority) Apostolic (Jesus' early followers) Ecclesiastical (Church, deemphasized by Protestants) record of Church's practice (three levels in Christianity) Divine - absolute authority, based on Jesus Apostolic - apostles knew Jesus directly and can best answer WWJD Ecclesiastical - traditional by historically developing by Church since then This is sort of paralleled in Islam because (1) What Muhammad Did (2) What would the 4 Caliphs after say (3) any traditions developed since then

Triduum

Easter Triduum, Holy Triduum, or Paschal Triduum, or The Three Days, is the period of three days that begins with the liturgy on the evening of Maundy Thursday, reaches its high point in the Easter Vigil, and closes with evening prayer on Easter Sunday

Easter

Easter, also called Pascha or Resurrection Sunday, is a festival and holiday celebrating the resurrection of Jesus from the dead, described in the New Testament as having occurred on the third day of his burial after his crucifixion by the Romans at Calvary c. 30 AD.

Comparative Theology

Evaluate each theology based on their own histories, values, etc. and assess where we find truth in both or either Not the same as comparing theologies like apples to oranges

3 Christian Theological virtues

Faith hope love (agape) Expressed through sacraments (moments of grace in the Roman Catholic tradition - 7 in total; indicate spiritual growth), Protestant definition = ritual initiated by Jesus (only 2 = baptism, Holy Communion/First Supper)

4 Branches of Shia

Fivers (Zaydis) - Zayn al Abidin's son as 5th and last Imam MOST LIKE SUNNI - don't denounce Abu Bakr or Umar Believe in choice of ruler but only between descendants Seveners (Ismailis) - believe in Zayn al Abidin, then his brother and two others ending with Ismail Ibn Jafar Believe Ismail's son will return as messiaic figure Twelvers (Imamis) - believe in 12 Imams, last one hiding and will return with Jesus After Imams, believe one scholar is chosen and all follow them Scholars cannot infallibly interpret (unlike Imams) so cannot call for military jihad

Forgiveness

Forgiveness is a choice we make. It is a decision of our will, motivated by obedience to God and his command to forgive.

Divine Immutability

God cannot change, change implies decay God is perfect so he wouldn't want to change

Divine Impassibility

God cannot suffer, does not feel pain

Divine Eternity

God exists in all times and places (not a body)

Divine Infinity

God has no starting point, has always/will always exist

Problem of Divine Attribute

God is omnipotent God is omniscient God is omnibenevolent Evil exists in the world

Divine Simplicity

God is simple, you cannot take God apart Simplicity implies not being able to be broken down into other parts

Christ

God's anointed one who came/will come again to save the world. Synonymous with Jesus to Christians; greek term.

Jesus

God's anointed one who comes to save the world. Death and ministry of Jesus is central. Fully God and fully man to Christians. To Muslims, he was not divine and was not crucified - rather, he was taken to heaven or died later.

Grace

God's gift to humans through faith - certainty of salvation through faith. Balances out sin. what inspires us to live righteously and when we make a mistake to admit/repent etc

Messiah

Hebrew term for Jesus. Jews still waiting for Messiah

Hildegard of Bingen

Hildegard of Bingen OSB, also known as Saint Hildegard and Sibyl of the Rhine, was a German Benedictine abbess, writer, composer, philosopher, Christian mystic, visionary, and polymath. She is considered to be the founder of scientific natural history in Germany

Divine Perfection

If God is not Immutable or Impassible, He is not Perfect

Shii Tradition

Imamate After the last Imam died.... Hujjate al Islam - "proof of Islam"... honorific title given to scholars that had achieved level of acclaim and popularity Ayatollah - "Sign of God"... honorific title given to scholars that had achieved level of acclaim and popularity Marja' al-taqlid - highest title of acclaim: "reference point for imitation" ... there should only be ONE of these that all Twelver Shia follow Later this role was expanded to be a collective council to include diversity of contexts in the community

Sufism

Islam's mystical tradition; individual spiritual quest to follow and know God (requires discipline of mind and body) Emphasis on individual experience, ritual devotion, love of God, oppening to finding meaning in ritual practices/customs/faiths outside of Islam Began as reactionary to period of Umayyad Empire → Umayyad caliphs pursued wealth, luxury, conquest, questionable morals Wanted return to "simpler" lifestyle of Muhammad

Ashura

Islamic equivalent of Yom Kippur, major religious commemoration of the martyrdom at Karbala of imam Husayn, a grandson of the Prophet Muhammad; falls on the 10th of Muharram, the first month of the Islamic lunar calendar

Jihad

Jihad is not one of the 5 pillar (defined as the struggle to live a righteous existence)

Kufr

Kufr is the "denial of the Truth" (truth in the form of articles of faith in Islam)

Baptism

Marks the moment when we become formal members of the church. Receive forgiveness for Original Sin.

All Hallows Eve

October 31

Dogma

Official theological teachings of the church that are supposed to be taken as absolute truths, developed through human reasoning

3 Omni's of God

Omnipotence - all capable/all powerful Problems: could God create a rock that God could not lift? Omniscience - all knowing Problems: if God knows everything do we have free will? Am I culpable for my decisions? Solution: God exists in all times and places but does not consider time to be linear Omnibenevolence - all loving → key aspect of all 3 monotheistic religions Comes directly from gospels

Reconciliation

Reconciliation, in Christian theology, is an element of salvation that refers to the results of atonement. Reconciliation is the end of the estrangement, caused by original sin, between God and humanity.

Umayyad Empire 661-750

Once Ali was assassinated for not prosecuting Uthman's killers → Uthman's relative claimed caliphate and founded Umayyad Empire Importance (1) Marks the passing of political power to people who did not know Muhammad (2) creation of the first Islamic state clearly build on claim of one family for the right to rule Return to the pre-Islamic pattern of lineage privilege NOT promptly or universally recognized because of this controversy

Parochial vs. Votive Mass

Parochial Mass = typical mass Votive Mass = celebrate a special purpose or occasion

Ihram

Pilgrimage to Mecca (last pillar of Islam), the ultimate expression of community with Muslims throughout the world gathered in Mecca to engage in same rituals SEE FIVE PILLAR NOTES Between 8-13th days of last month of Islamic calendar → limited to these days is from Muhammad's example Dress rehearsal for Judgement Day - stripped bare of worldly things and stands in God's presence to answer how one's time on earth was spent and to repent and ask for forgiveness for times did not behave as should have Ideally serves as great equalizer for all

Hajj

Pilgrimage to Mecca (last pillar of Islam), the ultimate expression of community with Muslims throughout the world gathered in Mecca to engage in same rituals SEE FIVE PILLAR NOTES Between 8-13th days of last month of Islamic calendar → limited to these days is from Muhammad's example Dress rehearsal for Judgement Day - stripped bare of worldly things and stands in God's presence to answer how one's time on earth was spent and to repent and ask for forgiveness for times did not behave as should have Ideally serves as great equalizer for all Path (see also notes on Inside Mecca Documentary) Mecca - declare arrival to God and see Kaaba Kaaba = black stone inside Grand Mosque that beleive Abraham and Ismail used to build first altar to God, focal point of Muslim prayer Cicumambulate the Kaaba - imitation of angels circling God's throne in heaven, symbolizes their entry into God's presence Hajj centers around Abraham and sons (Imsail and Isaac) Run between Safa and Marwa (Hagar hills) Stoning of Devil Use it to drive away the devil and throw sin/temptation/negative thoughts out of their lvies Plain of Arafat - were Muhammad gave his Farewell Sermon before death Believers stand before God, pray, repent, ask forgiveness - make personal requests for what they feel is wrong in their lives etc Eid al-Adha Feast of the Sacrifice: commemorates when Abraham almost sacrifice his son - replaced by a ram Pilgrims must sacrifice a ram/camel and shave their heads Symbolizes that pilgrims like abraham hold nothing closer than God and this sacrifice is redistributed to poor Center around Abraham is important because Abraham is considered by Muslims to be first monotheist and he serves as point of connection between the big 3 mono religions Many of sites for hajj are in Old Testament not the Qu'ran

Structure of Roman Catholic Church

Pope Cardinals Archbishops Bishops Priests Deacons Laity

Scripture

Received through revelation. Heard directly from God or expressed in visions and dreams the sacred texts, readings of the religions; both religions use it Christians - some believe bible is exactly words of God, others believe it is an inspired text by God (not direct), and still others don't associate it with divine much Muslims - believe the Quran is direct revelations/word of God given to Muhammad through the angel Gabriel

Husayn 680 CE

Second son of Ali, grandson of M, leads his followers against Umayyad army. Did not get a lot of support. Martyred on the 10th of Muharram, known as Ashura. Sorrow and regret of this is still evidence in Shia tradition (call to prayer)

Religion (Din)

Set of rituals/beliefs/values and experiences to help us create a worldview centered on alternate reality Brings us into a relationship with what we believe is sacred and holy Religion can fulfill multiple purposes Helping you find purpose and meaning in life Helping you find community/connection Helping you find structure and order in the world Helping you see yourself as part of something greater Provides opportunity to find peace within yourself What motivates people to turn to religion Fear → Hell House, external pressure Love → internal motivation, love/relationship with the divine

Last Supper

The Last Supper is the final meal that, in the Gospel accounts, Jesus shared with his Apostles in Jerusalem before his crucifixion

Ritual

Type of worship, usually a tradition / practice / ceremony that carries a symbolic / spiritual meaning (ex. recite rosary)

Sharia v. Fiqh

Sharia v. fiqh = Sharia - values and objectives outlined in the the Quran and Hadith that are supposed to guide the community. In contrast, Fiqh is jurisprudence - transforming Sharia into actual law. Shariah = divinely revealed principles Broad and wide ranging behavioral and moral code that addresses human obligations to god (is explicitly in the Qu'ran, divinely revealed) Fiqh = jurisprudence or legal reasoning Fiqh is theoretical activity that offers advice on how to think about a case... But not actual application Fiqh is concrete expression of those values in jurisprudence

Imam

Shii belief, leader is the DIRECT Descendant of Muhammad → served as political leader but with special insight into the Quran

Sin

Sin distances followers from God, specific wrong deeds committed by individuals, Forgiveness is needed to repair that relationship

Jalal al-Din Rumi

Spent life displaced and fluent in many languages Turned to mysticism → languages of the heart (music and poetry) allowed intoxication into the divine Believed a person needed to find their way to God through experience not just intellectual knowledge Must recognize the divine in each person so you don't just tolerate them but fully acceptance them Famous for his poetry - devastation of separation from beloved and longing lover experiences, God gives people unconditional and never ending love

Prophet 2.0

Sunni = killing Ali prompted question over community cohesion, cohesion achieved under Umayyad and Abbasid Empire (Golden Age of Islam) Shia = Hassan (grandson of M) rightful successor, but didn't want it; Husayn took it and declared opposition to Umayyad caliph, but killed in Ashura (dramatized in taziyah cinema) Splits in Shia Fivers (oldest, Zaydis, Houthis in Yemen); Seveners/Ismailis (Africa/Asia - Tajikistan, Pakistan; founded archaeology program at MIT), Twelvers (Iraq/Iran/Lebanon, 12th imam has gone into occultation before peace reigns)

Caliph

Sunni belief, leader of political body etc but also setting a religious example

Structure of Protestant Denomination

Synod, President, Bishop, Dean of Conference, Dean, Pastor, Deacon, Church Council, Committees, Laity

God v. Allah

THE ultimate divine being (both religions talking about the same monotheistic God) Allah is the word in Arabic and God is in English Names used for God in original texts (YHWH or Elohim) so neither is technically the original and therefore one cannot judge the other religion's God based on a different name

covenant

The Christian view of the New Covenant is a new relationship between God and humans mediated by Jesus which necessarily includes all people, both Jews and Gentiles, upon sincere declaration that one believes in Jesus Christ as Lord and God.

Ascension

The ascension of Jesus is the departure of Christ from Earth into the presence of God.

Hell

The belief that persons who by their own free will ultimately refuse God's offer of salvation and friendship will not ascend to heaven but will experience an afterlife removed from the being and presence of God

Purgatory/al-Barzakh

The belief that persons who have lived a fine, but imperfect life will experience a period of cleansing before realizing their final destiny in heaven; "waiting room"

Heaven

The belief that under God's full reign, evil and suffering in every manifestation will be overcome

Rightly-guided Caliph

The first 4 leaders after Muhammad - each knew him personally and thus had some religious legitimacy (SUNNIS)Are not divine in any way and are infallible Believe in 4 "Rightly Guided Caliphs" - can best answer WWMD, most marriage related Abu Bakr Umar Uthman Ali (SHIA)

White martyrdom v. Red martyrdom

White = cut yourself out of worldly benefits Red = bloodshed

denomination

a recognized autonomous branch of the Christian Church

Theology

a search for truth, thinking about the divine Compared to Philosophy (the search for wisdom through human reason) - theology focuses on divine revelation Begins by implying that any truth can be known Questions of theology: general/fundamental questions about life: why am i here? Does life have a purpose, what happens when I die? Christian/theologic history questions: Who is Jesus? How should church be structured?

Venial vs. Mortal Sin

a venial sin is a lesser sin that does not result in a complete separation from God and eternal damnation in Hell as an unrepented mortal sin would

Zawiyah

an Islamic religious school or monastery

Worship

any way we might show honor and reverence to God; act of praising/adoring God (ex = service to other people, prayer, song)

Shirk

association of someone or something other than God with God Suicide in Islam is an example: you claim God's powers for yourself

Ummah

body of believers ("umm" = mother → inclusion of female), transcends all other identities (ethnic, tribal, national) and is inclusive and diverse

Perpetua and Felicity

both died for their faith and rejected other faiths, their motherhood (year 203) Perpetua: was 22 years old with young son Felicity: slave woman that had just given birth, given to the gladiators to be killed

Bible

chronological text of God's interactions with human beings some believe bible is exactly words of God, others believe it is an inspired text by God (not direct), and still others don't associate it with divine much Old Testament - beginning until Jesus ("promise", "law") New Testament - from birth of Jesus through early church ("fulfilmment", "gospel") A one size fits all interpretation method might cause us to miss stuff conflicts at times with archaeological evidence

Canon law

collection of Church regulations, includes Scripture and tradition Faith, hope and love (agape)

SUBSTANCE Divine Attribute

combination of form and matter/stuff, form gives the particular shape/way of being Human beings have same essence but different substance

Holy Communion

commemoration of Last Supper. To Muslims, no need for communion because Jesus was not divine (+ no resurrection). The first acceptance of the consecrated bread and wine of Christ

Liturgy of the Eucharist

component of mass consisting of delivery of the Eucharist Different ways to participate in this deliver/receive/drink etc. Different Frequency

Liturgy of the Word

component of mass consisting of prayers, confession, homily, readings Constancy/certainty threatens to encourage people to be passive in the faith instead of active participaters

Dhikr

constant remembrance of God in the Sufism tradition

Doctrine

core principles or beliefs of a religious tradition, connect to the formalization of a faith and its development, passing down of faith experience over time (ex. 7 for Christianity - God, Jesus, Holy Spirit, Trinity, Church, Salvation/Sin/Grace, Eschatology)

10 commandments

engagement with God (1-3 = expectations for Christian relationship with God, monotheism); 4-10 = human relationship between each other 1. I am the Lord, your God. You shall have no other gods before me 2. You shall not take the name of the Lord, your God, in vain 3. Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy 4. Honor your father and mother 5. You shall not kill 6. You shall not steal 7. You shall not commit adultery 8. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor 9. You shall not covet your neighbor's house 10. You shall not covet your neighbor's wife

Sermon/homily

exegesis and application of Bible, discussion of the Bible reading and how this relates to life today

Eid al-Fitr

feast of the breaking of the fast: marks the end of Ramadan Three days that are comparable to Christmas with special foods, visits, gifts etc Marks a time for repairing broken relationships

Advent

first phase of liturgical calendar, 4 weeks before christmas purple/blue → contemplation and preparation then pink → rejoice Music is quite and somber to reflect contemplative nature of the time

Wudu

form of minor ablution before prayer/touching or reading from Qu'ran - wash hands, face, arms, feet, ears Enter into worship so you must prepare yourself in body and soul

Ghusl

full body ablution after bodily fluid release: sexual intercourse, menstruation and childbirth

Messenger

has a guarantee success from those revelations. 5 Messengers who were guaranteed for their message: Noah, Abraham, Moses, Muhammad, Jesus messenger is commanded to deliver that revelation to other people

Redemption

he action of saving or being saved from sin, error, or evil

Safa and Marwa (sa'y)

hills that Hagar ran between when Abraham was asked to leave Hagar and Ismail in the desert Pilgrims run between these hills as imitation Hagar's search ended when crying out to God, angel gabriel struck the ground for water

Muhammad

human being (610-632), represents the perfect living out throughout all life of the Quran teachings, the last prophet (received the Quran) the most perfect human being in the eyes of Muslims, the perfect example A human being - not worshipped as divine

Christmas

incarnation of divine logos, 2nd part of calendar Repurposed Roman calendar 12 Days of Christmas White → joy and triumph birth of Jesus Religious holidays taking over pagan traditions (holiday of Sun, Constantine)

Hadith

initially oral accounts of Muhammad's sayings and deeds (later written) stories not written by Muhammad, written by people that remember what Muhammad did or said Multiple viewpoints from each person present at the event → this variance doesn't delegitimize, but rather makes a composite understanding All people could transmit a hadith (women, slaves, kids, etc) The purpose and authenticity is still questioned because is it just descriptive of time and place or what is actually expected within the faith

taqwa

is an Islamic term for being conscious and cognizant of God, of truth, of the rational reality, "piety, fear of God". It is often found in the Quran.

People of the Book

is an Islamic term referring to Jews, Christians, and Sabians and sometimes applied to members of other religions such as Zoroastrian

Ummah

larger muslim community (like the Church) May not be able to unite politically but reach across borders through common belief in faith Hajj brings 1.5 million believers to one place → example of global ummah Ummah - worldwide muslim community; chief source of identity and belonging for Muslim → transcends all other identities (ethnic, tribal, national) and is inclusive and diverse Ummah - worldwide muslim community; chief source of identity and belonging for Muslim → transcends all other identities (ethnic, tribal, national) and is inclusive and diverse Purpose in community - intended to live in relationship with God and each other Majority consider this to be a social identity - lends them to connect with muslims suffering in Syria, Afghanistan etc around the world ISIS and others try and make ummah a political idea → want to assert leadership of global caliphate to return to Golden Age

Rabia al-Adawiyya

lived out Sufism: woman recognized as an important spiritual teacher, even taught men (8th century now Iraq) Introduced concept of selfless love - chose to be celibate to not distract herself from God 3 components of Rabia's love Love between everyday people - don't expect much just love because they exist Love of mutual cooperation between 2 people - ex. Best friend God's love - agape love, willful love for all time 3 steps to Love (1) repentance → everyone of us is ultimately sinful and we must take ownership; sin causes distance between the human the divine (2) patience → hold out for greater rewards in adversity (3) poverty → lack of dependence on material things Paradise = opportunity to be in divine presence for eternity (4) LOVE → you see God in God's eternal beauty

Signs of the hour

natural disasters, rising levels of violence, false prophets The Signs of the Hour are the signs that will precede Yawm al-Qiyaamah (the Day of Judgement) and indicate that it is nigh. The Hour (al-Saa'ah) means the time of reckoning, and is either: 1. Saa'ah sughra (the lesser hour), which is a person's death, whereupon his reckoning starts when he leaves this world and passes into the Hereafter; 2. Or Saa'ah kubraa (the greater Hour), which is when mankind will be resurrected from their graves to be judged and rewarded or punished accordingly.

Suicide

nonco-erced, intentional killing of oneself Strictly forbidden historically in both traditions Catholic church: its bad because it opposes God's sovereignty, the belief of the stantity of the human body, and violates the prohibition on killing Degree of culpability depends on mental state because to be responsible you must have formed intellect and give full consent Islam: historically the person must be condemned Serious sin because you are claiming for yourself God's power over life and death and has negative impact on the community Hadith says if you commit suicide you'll spend the rest of eternity committing the same act Difficult if not impossible to justify suicide bombings by Islamic Law - ban killing civilians

Circumambulation (tawaf)

on Hajj, Muslims circle Kaaba 7 times Symbolize their entry into God's presence and imitate angles circling God's throne

Prayer

opportunity to regularly remember God's power, presence, majesty, and mercy and recenter on God Islamic prayer combines meditation, physical exercise, devotion etc.

Barakah

perceptions of blessings in the Sufism tradition that is associated with saint like figure This barakah could be transferred to people close to the saintlike figure after death so if you are close with them you not only will become closer to God but also access barakah

Prophet 1.0

person regarded as an inspired teacher or proclaimer of the will of God Both religions believe in many of the same prophets... Moses, Abraham, Jesus, etc. Islam claims Muhammad as the last prophet Muslims don't believe in divinity of Jesus - believe in him as a prophet but just as human (also don't believe in the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus)

Du'a

personal petitions of prayers that can be made after obligatory prayers in Islamic services

Umra

pilgrimage to Mecca that occurs at any other time of the year other than Hajj

Saint vs. saint

prayer partners, evidence of God's ability to intervene in humans Important because they serve as examples for us to follow, exemplify Christian virtues Ex. patron saint of drivers (St. Christopher), patron saint of Ireland (St Patrick) Differently named/defined in different denominations

Prostration

prayer position where you kneel on the floor and put head on the ground Previously expected to do this before a ruler to demonstrate acknowledgement of lack of power For God - you submit to Him as a rule Sunni will touch heads to carpet but Shii will touch heads to ground or rock Transferring this position to prayer signifies the believer's unbounded submission to will of God, expressing home of receiving mercy but acknowledging that only God can and will judge and that judgment might be deserved

Tazir

punishments that are left for humans to decide/judge, the crimes are against humans so therefore it is the humans that decide the punishment

Hudud

punishments that are mandated and fixed by God, the crime is against God therefore God has mandated the punishments Sexual activity outside of marriage - challenges bloodlines too False accusations of sexual activity outside of marriage - to accuse, women must have 4 witnesses to the actual act of penetration Theft Consumption of alcohol The hadiths (not the Quran) say punishment for adultery is stoning

Pentecost

the Christian festival celebrating the descent of the Holy Spirit on the disciples of Jesus after his Ascension, held on the seventh Sunday after Easter.

Good Friday

the Friday before Easter Sunday, on which the Crucifixion of Jesus Christ is commemorated in the Christian Church. It is traditionally a day of fasting and penance.

Palm Sunday

the Sunday before Easter, when the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem is celebrated in many Christian churches by processions in which palm fronds are carried.

Maundy Thursday

the Thursday before Easter, observed in the Christian Church as a commemoration of the Last Supper.

Intercession

the action of saying a prayer on behalf of another person

Adhan

the call to prayer song

al-Fatihah

the central belief of Islam: believe in god and muhammad as the messenger (first chapter of the Quran) Divine revelation Shows the simplicity of Muslim doctrine

ACT Divine Attribute

the concept of being, "that which is" Waterbottle etc. exist so they participate in act

Catechism

the declaration of belief/summary and most important pieces of Christian faith; summary of Christian principles in Q&A form

Qibla

the direction of the Kabaa, in Mecca, the direction in which Muslims pray

Tariqah

the individual attainment of mystical states and spiritual statins on the path to God Including the annihilation of the self in God

3 Branches of Islam

the main difference between the three is who rightfully took leadership of the Muslim community after Muhammad's death Sunni - 85% of world's population Shia - 10-15% of world's pop Sufi

Death

the permanent end to a life, results in the end of human existence Normal progression death vs death before their "time" was supposed to come → these challenge us and our faith Just because God can create a miracle doesn't mean God will Christian tradition: buried on 3rd day to symbolize Christ resurrection Islamic tradition: buried within 24 hours, ritual washing of the body before burial Family helps with burial as final act of care/love Face turned towards mecca when buried

imam

the person leading Friday worship service, the person most well versed in faith tradition in the community Not to be confused with Imam (direct descendents of Muhammad) Full time imam expected to provide activities/outreach etc Typically a man but women are allowed to lead other women in prayer

Free will/choice

the power of acting without the constraint of necessity or fate; the ability to act at one's own discretion How does this compare to to God's omnipotence

Canonization

the process of declaring someone a saint in Christianity only after they die, must be associated with a miracle after their death (provides evidence of closeness with God and can intercede) In RCC it is a very particular legal process

Shariah

the values, principles, and objectives underlying Islamic Law → longstanding core values and objectives that promote righteous living and love of God/neighbor Protection of life/family/property, collective security, pursuit of common good, fairness in marketplace and justice Broad ideas/purposes/values Islamic Law itself is how these are implemented in practice (humans) Islamic Law concretized these Shariah and has many forms

Zamzam

the well on Safa and Marwa that was the water struck by angel gabriel for Hagar Pilgrims drink from this well during Hajj because believe it has special powers.... Some take this in bottles and bring it home

Soteriology

theology of salvation → how do we get there etc.?

Eschatology

theology of the end of history, last events, BOTH faiths: people will die, raise from the dead, stand in front of God/Allah on judgement, and then consignment

Eucharist

transubstantiation to Catholics. Primarily symbolic to Protestants. RCC → believe bread and wine actually changed into the body and blood for Jesus Protestants → some believe in dual existence and some believe the bread/wine is representative

Systematic theology

type of theology that aims to arrange religious truths into a self consistent whole, study of interconnections among theological doctrines and sources

Church

united communitarian body of ideals, the people who gather together in Christian worship

POTENCY Divine Attribute

what something could be Chalk can be anything but chalk (it already is that)

Heresy

when you teach or proclaim something against Christian dogma Formal charge made against you... supposed to be able to present/defend yourself and give your reasoning to the scholars This implies there is only one correct view

Minbar

where the imam stands to deliver the khutbah Pulpit from which the Friday sermon is given (this also indicates direction of mihrab)

imam

worship leader in a mosque(most knowledgeable). Can also be a political and religious leader.

Apostasy

you formally renounce the religion, in BOTH religions (in some islamic countries this is punishable by death) Islamic Apostasy Process: (1) education in the tradition (2) chosen tradition for self (3) declare Shahada (4) renounce the faith