5 - Many Gods to One

Question 1

Also called the Babylonian Exile. Refers to the deportation and exile of the Jews of the ancient Kingdom of Judah to Babylon by Nebuchadnezzar when he conquered Jerusalem in 586 BC. The exile formally ended in 538 BC, when the Persian conqueror of Babylonia, Cyrus the Great, gave the Jews permission to return to Palestine

Answer 1

Babylonian captivity

Question 2

covenant

Answer 2

Usually a formal, solemn, and binding agreement; compact. The concept of covenant was central to the origin and history of the religion of ancient Israel, with major covenants being made between Yahweh and Abraham, Moses (at Sinai), David, and others, not always of the same type. The concept remained important for New Testament writers, with Jesus being the fulfillment of covenants made between Yahweh and various individuals (and often Israel by extension) in the Hebrew bible. The concept remains important in some Christian traditions today.

Question 3

Greek deka logoi, “10 words,” synonymous with the Ten Commandments, the list of religious and moral precepts that, according to various passages in Exodus and Deuteronomy, were divinely revealed to Moses on Mt. Sinai and were engraved on two tablets of stone.

Answer 3

Decalogue

Question 4

Diaspora

Answer 4

The dispersion of Jews among the Gentiles after the Babylonian Exile (586 BC), or the aggregate of Jews outside Palestine or present-day Israel

Question 5

The second book of the Bible, which recounts the departure of the Israelites from slavery in Egypt, their journey across the Red Sea and through the wilderness led by Moses, and the giving of the Ten Commandments. The events have been variously dated by scholars between about 1580 and 1200 BC.

Answer 5

Exodus

Question 6

Messiah

Answer 6

Hebrew, “the anointed one”; in the Hebrew Bible, the prophesied expected king of the Davidic line, promised by Yahweh, who would deliver and restore Israel. Jesus is regarded by Christians as the Messiah of the Hebrew prophecies and the savior of humankind.

Question 7

Belief in the existence of but one God, or in the oneness of God; as such, it is distinguished from polytheism, the belief in the existence of many gods, and from atheism, the belief that there is no God. Monotheism characterizes the traditions of Judaism, Christianity, and Islām, and elements of the belief are discernible in numerous other religions.

Answer 7

Monotheism

Question 8

prophet

Answer 8

One who utters divinely inspired revelations; a person who speaks by divine inspiration or as the interpreter through whom the will of a god is expressed; a divinely inspired revealer, interpreter, or spokesman. In ancient Israel, a prophet may be compared to something like a lawyer of the covenant on Yahweh’s behalf (yet also vice versa–though that was principally the role of the priests); he both rebuked and reproved but also comforted and gave hope to people of the covenant community.

Question 9

In Judaism, in the broadest sense the substance of divine revelation to Israel. The meaning of the term is often restricted to signify the first five books of the Old Testament, also called the Law or the Pentateuch. These are the books traditionally ascribed to Moses, the recipient of the original revelation from God on Mount Sinai. The term Torah is also used to designate the entire Hebrew Bible.

Answer 9

Torah

Question 10

Christ

Answer 10

Not originally a name (à la Jesus Christ) but a title derived from the Greek word christos, which translates the Hebrew term meshiah (Messiah), meaning “the anointed one.” This title indicates that Jesus’ followers believed him to be the anointed son of King David, the expected deliverer of Israel.

Question 11

The body of people ordained for religious service

Answer 11

clergy

Question 12

Evangelist

Answer 12

From Greek euangelion, “good news”; the writer of one of the four Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, or John). One who seeks to share the Christian gospel.

Question 13

The first four books of the New Testament, which tell the life story of Jesus and explain the significance of his message, life, death, and resurrection. Gospel means “good news” — in this case, the news of the salvation made possible by the death and resurrection of Jesus. The four Gospels are attributed to Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.

Answer 13

The Gospels

Question 14

Monophonic (as opposed to polyphonic) liturgical music of the medieval Christian church, consisting of unaccompanied melody sung in unison to Latin words. It is named for Pope Gregory I (late 6th cent.), who may have contributed to its collection and codification.

Answer 14

Gregorian Chant

Question 15

liturgy

Answer 15

A form or set practice according to which public religious worship, especially Christian worship, is conducted

Question 16

Religious service of the Roman Catholic Church, which has as its central act the performance of the sacrament of the Eucharist

Answer 16

mass

Question 17

Main part of a Christian church, extending from the entrance (the narthex) to the transept or chancel (area around the altar). In a basilican church (see basilica), which has side aisles, nave refers only to the central section. Medieval naves were generally divided into many bays, producing the effect of great length.

Answer 17

nave

Question 18

The state of sinfulness that according to Christian theology characterizes all human beings from birth as a result of the Fall of mankind. Developed chiefly by St. Augustine, the doctrine has its basis in the Bible. It is not, however, explicitly mentioned in the Genesis account of the Fall of Adam, though the purpose of the account is to explain the suffering, death, and universal sinfulness of the human condition, and it may be implied (cf. Ps. 51:5). The main scriptural affirmation of the doctrine is found in the writings of St. Paul and particularly in Romans 5, in which Paul establishes a parallelism between Adam and Christ, stating that whereas sin and death entered the world through Adam, grace and eternal life have come through Christ.

Answer 18

original sin

Question 19

allah

Answer 19

Arabic: “God”; the one and only God in the religion of Islām. Yet Allāh is also the standard Arabic word for “God” and is used by Arab Christians as well as by Muslims.

Question 20

Title given to those who succeeded the Prophet Muhammad as real or nominal ruler of the Muslim world, ostensibly with all his powers except that of prophecy.

Answer 20

caliph

Question 21

Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca that takes place in the last month of the year, required of all Muslims at least once in their lifetime, provided they are physically and financially able. It is one of the Five Pillars of Islam

Answer 21

hajj

Question 22

Also Hejira or Hijrah, Latin Hegira. Muhammad’s departure from Mecca to Medina in 622, prompted by the opposition of the merchants of Mecca and marking the consolidation of the first Muslim community. The date represents the beginning of Islam. The second caliph, ‘Umar I, began the practice of using the event as the starting point for the Muslim calendar

Answer 22

Hijra

Question 23

Head of the Muslim community. In Sunnite Islam the imam was identical with the caliph, designating the political successor of Muhammad

Answer 23

imam

Question 24

In Islam, a war or struggle against unbelievers. Islam distinguishes four ways by which the duty of jihad can be fulfilled: by the heart, the tongue, the hand, and the sword. There is also greater jihad, the spiritual struggle within oneself against sin.

Answer 24

jihad

Question 25

The central, cubic, stone structure, covered by a black cloth, within the Great Mosque in Mecca that contains a sacred black stone and is the goal of Islamic pilgrimage and the point toward which Muslims turn in praying; considered by Muslims everywhere to be the most sacred spot on Earth.

Answer 25

Kaaba

Question 26

City in western Saudi Arabia, considered by Muslims to be the holiest city of Islam. The birthplace in 570 of the prophet Muhammad, it was the scene of his early teachings before his emigration to Medina in 622. On Muhammad’s return to Mecca in 630 it became the center of the new Muslim faith

Answer 26

Mecca

Question 27

A Muslim place of public worship and prayer

Answer 27

mosque

Question 28

In Islām, the official who proclaims the call to prayer on Friday for the public worship and the call to the daily prayer five times a day, at dawn, noon, mid-afternoon, sunset, and nightfall.

Answer 28

muezzin

Question 29

mullah

Answer 29

An educated Muslim trained in Islamic theology and sacred law, and usu. holding an official post.

Question 30

A title given to the founder of Buddhism, Siddartha Gautama (c. 563-460 BC). Born an Indian prince in what is now Nepal, he renounced wealth and family to become an ascetic, and after achieving enlightenment while meditating, taught all who came to learn from him.

Answer 30

Buddha

Question 31

In Hinduism, the principle of cosmic order; virtue, righteousness, and duty, especially social and caste duty in accord with the cosmic order. In Buddhism, the doctrine, the universal truth common to all individuals at all times, proclaimed by the Buddha.

Answer 31

dharma

Question 32

Eightfold path

Answer 32

In Buddhism, the path to nirvana, comprising eight aspects in which an aspirant must become practiced: right views, intention, speech, action, livelihood, effort, mindfulness, and concentration.

Question 33

The four central beliefs containing the essence of Buddhist teaching: (1) all existence is suffering, (2) that the cause of suffering is desire, (3) that freedom from suffering is nirvana, and (4) that this is attained through the ‘eightfold’ path of ethical conduct, wisdom, and mental discipline (including meditation).

Answer 33

4 Noble Truths

Question 34

A dome-shaped structure erected as a Buddhist shrine, a commemorative monument usually housing sacred relics associated with the Buddha or other saintly persons.

Answer 34

stupa