Prelim Flashcards
Religion as a Worldview
the belief in a divine being which is responsible for the creation of the world and being the moral framework for human life
Transcendent Worldview
Belief in a divine being or power whose existence goes beyond human limitations and exists beyond the known universe. Christianity, Judaism, Islam.
Immanent
Belief that the supernatural being dwells within human being, nature and sacred places. Buddhism
Characteristics of Religion
Principal Beliefs, sacred texts and writings, ethical teachings, rituals and ceremonies
Sacred Texts
Stating the rules and beliefs of a religion
Principals Beliefs
ideas and theories for people to support
Ethical Teachings
reasoning behind moral decision making
Rituals and Ceremonies
Something believers can participate in & practice
Contribution of Religion (Individuals)
-Personal search for meaning
-Ethical guidance
-Sense of belonging
-Ritual meaning
Contribution of Religion (Society and Culture)
- People can come together to share beliefs and practices
- Many laws are based on ethics of a religious tradition
- Religion prevents society from moving away from traditional values
- Religion can bring awareness to issues in society
- Charities have been a source of great support to those in need in Australia, eg. Vinnies, Salvos.
Nature of the Dreaming
- Origins of the universe
- Sacred sites
- Stories of the dreaming
- Symbolism and Art
Nature of the Dreaming - Origins of the universe
- Ancestral spirits created the world –>
The Ancestor Spirits came to Earth in human form, as they moved through the land, animals, plants, rocks and landforms were created - Creation stories express how the land and earth came to be as it is today
Sacred Sites
- Land, rock formations, parts of rivers or seas that are linked to Dreaming stories
- Burial grounds, ceremonial meeting places and other significant places such as birthing caves
- Some sites are for women, some are for men, and some are for the entire group
Christianity Origin
Palestine/Isreal
Stories of the Dreaming
Stories of the dreaming hold truth and explain the beginnings of the world that are passed down to teach law and responsibilities to Aboriginals
- Basis of religious beliefs, law, ceremonies and all knowledge
Symbolism and Art
Art and its symbolism communicate the cultural beliefs and customs of Aboriginal spirituality, the sacred relationship between the people, land and time, and the intimate relationship between the Ancestral Beings and the law, values, customs, ceremonies and obligations of Aboriginal people
Jesus Christ
A teacher and prophet whose life and teachings form the basis of Christianity. Christians believe Jesus to be Son of God.
Jesus’ Life
- Palm Sunday
- The last supper
- His arrest and appearance before Pilate
- Carrying his Cross
- Death and Resurrection
Anglicanism
Orthodoxy
Catholicism
Pentecostalism
Protestantism
Divinity and Humanity of Jesus Christ
The determination of the councils of Nicea (325), Ephesus (431) and Chalcedon (451) clarified that Jesus was at once fully human and fully divine, equal in nature and without sin. Mary was also given the title Mother of God.
Principal Beliefs of Christianity
- The divinity and humanity of Jesus Christ
- The death and resurrection of Jesus Christ
- The nature of God and the Trinity
- Revelation
- Salvation
Salvation
- Death and resurrection of Jesus as a sacrifice
- In communion with God
- Reconciled with God for our sins
- Judged on the Day of Judgement for the ultimate goal of going to heaven.
The Nature of God and the Trinity
Christians believe that there are only one God who is the creator of all things. They also believe that he is expressed in three co-equal forms known as the Holy Trinity. The idea that God is one but also three co-existing people is often disputed among Christians and is one of the reason for the separation between the Roman and the Eastern Churches in 1054.
Sacred Texts
- The Bible is considered to be the word of God as it is inspired by God and a recorded of the key events in the story of humanity’s interaction with God.
The Bible is made up of: - Old testament - Compromised of Jewish scripture, including the five books of the Torah
- New testament - begins with the four gospels by Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.
Death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ
The belief of Christians is that Jesus’ death was important to destroy sin and give humanity the opportunity for eternal life (Romans 8:3-4). Christians have traditionally believed that Jesus died for our sins. Jesus’ death was then followed by his resurrection and ascension into heaven.
Revelation
Christians believe in one God who has revealed himself to humanity and offers himself in a loving relationship to all. He revealed himself through the Bible, creation, the Holy Spirit and Jesus Christ. This represents God’s unconditional loving relationship as a process to live according to his will.
Personal Devotion
Prayer can be a request, an offering of praise or an attempt to communicate with entities beyond the world.
Ethical Teachings (Ethical)
- based on Gospel teachings but focus on two key relationships:
- Right relationship with God
- Right relationship with humanity
+ Ten Commandments
+ Beatitudes
+ Jesus’ Commandment of Love
Types of Prayer
Formal - Lords Prayer, Rosary
Informal - Morning and Evening, Grace at meals
Origins of Islam
Islamic communities (umma) developed around the 7th century, triggered by the life of Muhammad
Muhammad
-the founder of Islam, believed to be the last true prophet sent by God, wrote the Quran which were his revelations
- Muhammad was charged with conveying Allah’s message to all humanity.
Four Rightly Guided Caliphs
Abu Bakr - Entrusted by Muhammad to carry out important tasks
Umar ibn al-Khattab - Highly effective military leader and political administrator who grew an empire
Uthman ibn Affan - Collected material to produce the definitive text in the dialect of Arabic
Ali ibn Abi Talib - Tensions resulted in a civil war and political upheaval
Principal Beliefs of Islam
- Tawhid
- Angels and Jinn
- Books of Allah
- Rusul (messengers) or prophets
- Akhira - afterlife
- Fate/predestination - the decree (qadar)
Tawhid
The oneness and unity of Allah
- ‘There is no God but Allah and Muhammad is his messenger’
Angels and Djinn
Belief in Allah’s Angels
- Angel Gabriel, brought Qu’ran to Muhammad
Books of Allah
The revelations that God made to his messengers, who came with his authority to preach his single unchanging message: that he is One, and that he sends messengers, each with a book presenting knowledge of himself and the law that he wishes individuals to live by.
- “People of the Book”
Rusul
Belief in the prophets of Allah
Akhirah
Every human who has ever lived is brought to judgement before Allah, and punished for their sins or be rewarded for their goodness.
Fate
Everything is as Allah foresaw and decreed it would be. For others, it is whatever Allah decrees on that Day.
Quran
the sum of divine revelations received by Muhammad.
- the sacred writings of Islam revealed by God to the prophet Muhammad during his life at Mecca and Medina
Hadith
A narration on the life of the Prophet, Muhammad. This is distinguished from the sunna, which is the details of the actual life of Muhammad.
Core Ethical Teachings
Islamic jurisprudence - the body of Islamic law extracted from detailed Islamic sources = the scholarly interpretation and human understanding of Shari’a.
Expression of Faith
Five Pillars - The Pillars are the five basic practices of Muslims, through a system of rituals that calls Muslims to be constantly aware of their duty to Allah.
Shahada
Is the confession of Islamic faith that is recited everyday, affirming one’s membership in the Muslim community.
Salat
Performance of daily prayers that must be done five times a day
Zakah
This is charity and requires Muslims to give 2.5% of their income to the poor and needy every year.
Sawm
For one month each year, all Muslims must not eat, drink or have sexual intercourse between dawn and sunset. - Ramadan
Hajj
Is a pilgrimage to Mecca performed by all physically and financially able Muslims at least once in their life.
Covenant
an agreement or promise between god and human beings. A covenant involves and ongoing relationship between parties
Patriarchs
the male head of a family. in judaism, the patriarchs are the forefathers of jewish people, including abraham. isaac and Jacob
Israelites
used to refer to the descendants of the patriarchs in ancient times
Exodus
a mass departure of people
Halakha
the collective body of jewish religious laws derived from the written and oral torah
Tanakah
the jewish scripture which consists of 3 divisions: the torah, Neviium and the Ketivum
Mishnah
the first major work of rabbinic literature and first maior written collection of the jewish oral traditions
Prophet
a person regarded as an inspired teacher or proclaimer
Passover
A festival recalling the passing over of the houses of the Israelites as god seized the firstborn of the Egyptians
