Ancient Religions Flashcards
Indigenous groups of humans (nomads) first worshipped what kind of diety?
Goddesses (Mother Nature or Earth Mother)
There are four types of beliefs in God. What are they?
Polytheistic, Trinitarian, Monotheistic, None
What does BC mean for Christians?
BC = Before Christ (time before Jesus’s birth
What does AD mean for Christians?
AD = Anno Domini (“In the year of the lord”)
Did ancient religions give us the names for our current calendar system?
Yes (Days of the Week based on Old English and a mix of religious mythology; Months of the Year based on Roman Mythology)
What are Hieroglyphics?
A writing system devised by the Ancient Egyptians to record their history and religious beliefs for all recorded time.
What are Pharaohs?
Equivalent of Kings in Egypt who are considered divine in their origin (incarnations of previous Gods) and ruled as Gods, not as representatives of Gods.
The Egyptians sources of scripture were based on what three forms
Pyramid texts; Coffin Texts; The book of the Dead
The Ancient Egyptians were most closely associated with what two elements of religion?
The afterlife and the human soul
Ancient Greeks were masters of this form of communication
Oral Communication
Ancient Greeks believed in this type of God(s)
Polytheistic
This God was considered the “father” of Gods/Goddesses in Greek Mythology
Zeus
Which two poets were considered responsible for the main oral traditions of Greek mythology
Homer and Hesiod
Ancient Roman mythology parallels Greek Mythology
True
The two most important Gods in Roman Religion were whom?
Vesta (Goddess) and Janus (God)
Who are considered to be the four main Gods in the Egyptian Mythology?
Amun-Ra, Osiris, Isis and Anubis
The three main arms of Chinese spirituality are
Ancient Worship; Confucianism; Taoism
What is Confucius’ name in Chinese?
Kung-Fu tsu
What are the Five Constant Relationships in Confucianism?
The five types of relationships central to social life, all of which must be properly conducted in order to maintain a healthy society
1) Husband and wife
2) Parent and child
3) Elder sibling and younger sibling
4) Elder friend and younger friend
5) Ruler and subject
What is Li?
In Confucian thought, “li” refers to “the way things should be done” or “Proper Behaviour”
- Literally, “ritual”
- In this context, extends to secular situations
- The behaviors and traditions that lead to a peaceful civilization
Who is the Founder of Taoism?
Lao-Tzu
What is the Central Text of Taoism?
The Tao Te Ching
What is the literal meaning of “Tao”?
The Way
What is the most important symbol of Taoism and what does it represent?
The yin-yang symbol
- Opposites that complement rather than undermine each other
- Function together within a larger whole
- This applies to many dualities, e.g., life and death, male and female, warmth and cold
What is ch’i?
The life-force that flows through one’s body
Literally “breath”
Maximization and control of ch’i is central to Taoist exercises
