midterm Flashcards
Founder of Judaism
Abraham
Origin of Judaism
God commanded Abraham to leave to practice his religion, covenant Israel began with Judaism
Nature of God in Judaism
Milieu - Polytheistic
Polytheism
Monotheism
Monolatry
Heaven in Judaism
Similar to Christian construct of Heavenly reward
Messiah in Judaism
don’t all agree -
messiah, political leader, metaphor/symbol, founding of the state of israel
Rites of Passage in Judaism
Circumcision - all males on 8th day, receive name
Connects you to abrahamic covenant
Bar Mitzvah - men at age 13
Bat Mitzvah - women at age 12
Holidays in Judaism (1)
Rosh Hashanah - new years and repentance
Yon Kippur - atonement
Sukkot - instability of things
Simchat Torah - love for scriptures
Hanukkah - dedication, festival of lights
Holidays in Judaism (2)
Tu Bishvat - new years for the trees
Purim - based on ester
Passover/Pesakh - Jewish vs Christian
Omer - 50 days, fills gap between passover to pentecost
Shavout - Pentecost - King Davids birthday, moses got the law
Bein Na - Metzarim - deep clean home, messiah will come during this time
Marriage in Judaism
under Chuppah
Reception can last 7 days long
Symbolizes new joy
Death in Judaism
Sit Shiva (Shiva Hebrew number for 7) Wear black Daily prayers No makeup, jewelry, bath Entire week of mourning
Buildings in Judaism
synagogue and temple are not the same
Denominations in Judaism
Haredi - most observant
Modern Orthodox - less anti modern world
Conservative - middle row Jews
Reform - largest group
Reconstructionist - for heritage not religion
Assimilated - Jew nationality, no spiritual connection
Symbols in Judaism
Persecution - evidence of being the chosen
Menorah - symbol of the state of israel
Star of David - not official symbol of the state of Israel
Scriptures in Judaism
Tanakh - The Law, Torah most important
Mishnah - oral law received by Moses
Gemara - analysis and commentary on Mishnah
Talmud Gemara and Mishnah
Midrash - commentary on any portion of Tanakh - hebrew bible
Role of Scriptures in Judaism
some read daily, some Liturgy, more important to practice
Authority in Judaism
Moses was the only Prophet because he gave law
Other people are lower case p prophets
Rabbis are lower case p prophets
Dietary restrictions in Judaism
fish if has skin and shells
No milk and meat together
Every meal reminds you of who you’re supposed to be
Only eat animals break down and become part of you
Fish - self control - schools of fish
Shell fish in bottom by themselves
Role of Women in Judaism
can be rabbi
Marriage is a commandment
Having kids is commandment
Bar Mitzvah
son of the commandment, Boys attainment of adulthood at age 13
bat mitzvah
daughter of the commandment. ritual for 12 year old girls of conservative and reformed jewish traditions
Get
religious divorce obtainable only at the request of the husband
Founder of Hinduism
none
Origin of Hinduism
Aryans conquer Dracidians - mesh the two together
Nature of God in Hinduism
claim thousands of Gods Big 3 Brahma - creator of the world Vishnu - creator of universe - most popular Shiva - creator and destroyer
Purpose of life in Hinduism
Overcome Maya or Illusion
Obtain release - cycle of rebirths
3 ways to get off wheel: good works, knowledge, devotion
Nature of Worship Services in Hinduism
Puja No sabbath Chanting Prasad - food Offering
Rite of Passage in Hinduism
caste system
Holidays in Hinduism
July - August - Krishna Birthday August - Sep - Elephant- headed god September - Oct - Rama’s victory Oct- Nov - Festival of Lights Jan- Feb - Shiva Festival Feb - Mar - Spring Festival - cycle of life
Marriage in Hinduism
arranged, don’t marry outside caste, love marriage not common
Death in Hinduism
cremation - don’t have a soul, body is nothing
Reincarnation - moving down easy, moving up heard
Sacred Buildings in Hinduism
public temples dedicated to specific deity
Denominations in Hinduism
6 schools of Indian philosophy Nyaya - logical school Vaisheshika - physical reality Samkhya - evolution of all things Yoga - personal, physical, spiritual development Purva Mimamsa - focus on the vedas Vedanta - focus on the upanishads
Unique symbols in Hinduism
none
Hindu Scripture
many holy books
Shruti - canonical writings - heard or revealed
Smriti - popular writings - not as authoritative, more influential
Authority in Hinduism
none, no records kept
Dietary restrictions of Hindu
vegetarian is common- priests required
No beef
No slaying peacock
Animals symbolic of God
role of women in Hinduism
Limit educational opportunities, Man only half man without wife
special clothing in Hinduism
none - possessions risk driving you away from God
Founder of Zoroastrianism
Zarathustra
Origin of Zoroastrianism
1000 BCE sprouted from Aryan
Nature of God in Zoroastrianism
Monotheists
Purpose of life in Zoroastrianism
Good thoughts, good words, good deeds
Use agency to choose good over evil
Redeemer would be an offspring by virgin mother
Nature of Worship Services in Zoroastrianism
No sabbath
Worship at home
Rites of Passage in Zoroastrianism
none
Holidays in Zoroastrianism
7 major holidays - gatherings
Marriage in Zoroastrianism
commandment if biologically able
Have to have kids if able
Bound together
Death in Zoroastrianism
spirit stays around body for 3 days and 3 nights
Peace during this time if you had good thoughts, words, deeds
Spirit guided across, narrows if you were evil, wide if righteous
Your hell how you treat others
Sacred buildings in Zoroastrianism
fire temples
Wash face and hands before entering
Remove shoes and cover head
Pump with frankincense
Denominations in Zoroastrianism
survived 3000 years without fracturing into multiple denominations
symbols unique to Zoroastrianism
fire - treat fire with respect, don’t worship
Faravahar - ring symbolizes truths are eternal
3 layers of wings, good thoughts, words, deeds
Prayer - symbolic washing, 5 times a day, untie and retie Kusti
Scriptures in Zoroastrianism
- yasna - hymns for worship
Visparad - hymns for praise and sacrifice
Yashts - sacrificial hymns
Vendidad - laws against demons and ritual impurity
Authority in Zoroastrianism
priest
Keep fire lit
Always dress in white
Dietary restrictions in Zoroastrianism
none
roles of women in Zoroastrianism
nurturer in the home
Can’t hold priesthood
Special clothing in Zoroastrianism
Navjote ceremony
Sudreh - undershirt - shield of protection
Bag of righteousness - good thoughts, words, deeds
Kusti - belt - suppress lower thoughts, nurture higher
Wrap 3 times for thoughts, words, deeds
Founder of Taoism
Lao Tzu
Origin of Taoism
Lao Tzu disillusionment with social and political situation, 600 BCE - 100 BCE
Nature of God in Taoism
philosophical don’t believe in God, sometimes polytheists. Tao only overseer
Purpose of life in Taoism
Balance between yin and yang
Find balance in ourselves, find it in universe
Wu - Wei
Wu- wei - unattached action Don’t resist, confront, defy Embrace what God sends you Don't try to better or change others Better yourself Don't exhibit excessive ambition, desire, or pride Be in harmony with the universe
Rites of Passage in Taoism
Priests perform rites of passage
Holiday, Marriage, Death, Sacred Building in Taoism
did not cover
Denominations in Taoism
philosophical and religious
Yin and Yang
Religious - yang
Philosophical - Yin
Symbols unique to Taoism
yin and yang
Everything contains opposite within
Water - humility, power
Scripture in Taoism
Tao Te Ching - main scripture
Chuang Tzu - second most popular
Dream career for Taoism
Farmer
Authority in Taoism
priests and monks
Dietary Restrictions in Taoism
dietary school, no wine and meat- Gods inside you don’t like
Role of Women in Taoism
women submission to man - seen as equal but traditional values block from being treated as equal
special clothing in Taoism
none
Founder of Jainism
Vardhaman Mahavira
Origin of Jainism
left family for quest of enlightenment
Gets rid of all attachment
Nature of God in Jainism
reject any belief in a supreme god or deity
Soteriology of Jainism
renounce materialistic attachment - can break self off the wheel
Ahimsa - never kill if possible
Heaven in Jainism
Nirvana - not same as Hindu Nirvana
Right knowledge, right faith, right conduct
5 principles or vows of Monasticism
Ahimsa - protect All life
Satya - speak truth - avoid harming anyone else
Asteya - avoid theft, greed, exploitation
Detachment from material things
Brahmacharya - chastity
Nature of Worship services in Jainism
Temples of meditation - no worship
Don’t have a god to worship
rites of passage in Jainism
none
Holidays in Jainism
Paryushana
Marriage in Jainism
married under canopy like the Jews
Death in Jainism
Transmigration - same person going from body to body
Individuality is retained
How to get off the wheel in Jainism
Celestial Being, Human, Animal, Plant, Protoplasmic life
Sacred Buildings in Jainism
temples of meditation - no god to worship
Denominations in Jainism
split during 4th or 3rd century BCE
Digambaras - sky clad
Svetambaras - white robed
Unique symbols to Jainism
seemingly sexual symbols outside temple
Orange streak on forehead - committed to obeying rules of Jainism
Cows - provides work - everything interconnected
Elongated earlobes - wisdom, supernatural status
Scripture in Jainism
no official cannon
Agama - tradition
Siddhanta - doctrine
Source - revelation
Authority in Jainism
24 divine teachers
dietary restrictions in Jainism
vegetarians
roles of women in Jainism
Digambara- must eventually become a man to get off the wheel
Svetambara - women can obtain release
Negative attitude toward women because they are attachment
Special clothing in Jainism
Svetambara - white robe
