Quiz #5: Comparative Religions Flashcards
A 6th century religious movement begun by a Hindu prince named Siddhartha Gautama. Frustrated by the lack of happiness in pursuit of external pleasures, he spent over six years searching ot discover the middle path between opulence and poverty. Enlightened, Siddhartha, now called _____, (“The Awake One”) taught that understanding the source and purpose of human suffering is the key to an inwardly contented, compassionate, and simple life. His eight-fold path taught how to control speech, desire, motivation and ego. Buddhism holds little or no concern about a personal deity and is generally taught as a philosophy rather than a religion. It is usually considered the fifth most popular spiritual movement in the world with over 450 million adherents.
Buddhism
This is an area of religious study that analyzes the similarities and differences of sacred scriptures, moral codes, myths, sacred acts and rituals, sacred space, and theological principles among the world’s religions. An objective study of comparative religions will prove this adage: “World religions have similarities but not sameness.”
Comparative Religions
This religious ideology claims to be the true expression of dogma to the exclusion of all other faiths. The Muslim creed: “Ther I no God but Allah and Muhammad is his prophet” is an _____ religious statement. That “there is salvation in no other” than Jesus Christ, sets Christianity apart, exclusively, from all other world religions. Judaism, Mormonism, and Jehovah’s Witnesses also declare that their religion is God’s only divine truth in a secular world.
Exclusivism
This Christian Church movement seeks to understand the doctrinal differences that separate the Christian communities of faith. The Schism of 1054 and the Protestant Reformation of the 16th century have left the Christian family fractured into denominational sects. _____ movements and dialog within divisions of Christendom seek reconciliation, understanding, fellowship, mission and service.
Ecumenism
The traditional belief that “human beings are the measure of all thigns” forcuses on man’s intellect and capacity to advocate peace, prosperity, and the common good. This ideology, which seeks to build a world on reason and justice, is often placed in opposition to religious faith and hope.
Humanism
This popular monotheistic world religion is based on a Muslim’s “submission” to Allah and Allah’s revelation through the Qur’an. Muslims reject the notion of God incarnate and therefore reject Jesus’ divinity, denying that Jesus died upon the cross. The five pillars of faith are Confession (Shahadah), Daily Prayer (Salah), Prescribed Almsgiving (Zakah), Annual Fasting during the month of Ramadan (Sawm), and a pilgrimage to Mecca (Hajj). The testimony of the prophet Muhammad in the Hadith and the scriptures of _____ law known as Shariah also serve to set this exclusive religion at serious opposition with other religions.
Islam
“Here, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one.” (Deut. 6:4) This confession of faith is read at the outset of Sabbath worship in _____. It explains their monotheistic roots introduced to Abraham in the Tanakh, the _____ Scriptures. (Christians refer to this as the “Old Testament”.) _____ believe they are Yahweh’s chosen covenant people. Annual festivals of Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Pesach (Passover), Succoth, and Purim remind _____ of their rich historical ties to God’s revelations through more than 2000 years of pilgrimage, war, persecution, and survival. _____ reject the Holy Trinity of Christianity and consider Jesus a lesser and often errant prophet. As Jesus is not the Messiah, the _____ pray and wait for God’s final deliverance.
Judaism
This intriguing and complicated eastern religion has its roots in the sub-continent of India. It is an inclusive religion with deep cultural roots. Inclusive religions find the good in all faith traditions and are slow to criticize or disparage other religions. _____ believe that if you are not born into _____, you need not covert but follow your own spiritual journey in this life…until the next reincarnated life.
Hinduism
The Watchtower and Tract Society, (the official name), began in the latter part of the 19th century. Charles Taze Russell and Joseph Franklin Rutherford, former Christians, began this religion borrowing theological concepts from “end-of-the-world” prophets (specifically the “Millerites”) along with Russell and Rutherford’s own personal denial of a literal Hell as taught by the Christian Church. _____ believe that _____ God is the only true god. They teach that Jesus Christ was the Archangel Michael in the flesh. After his crucifixion on a “stake” and not a cross, he rose spiritually from the dead and returned to Heaven, reassuming the personage of Michael. Those who are not _____ are annihilated at the moment of death, while _____ await eternal life on a new, redeemed planet earth. They reject blood transfusion, participation in government, celebration of birthdays, Christmas, Easter, and other “pagan” remembrances.
Jehovah’s Witnesses
Begun in the early 19th century in the state of New York, through the revelations of Joseph Smith, Jr., the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is a rapidly growing religion in America and throughout the world. _____ base their beliefs on the writings found in The Book of _____, Doctrines and Covenants, and The Pearl of Great Price. While they claim to accept the concept of the Holy Trinity, their origin and theology of Father, Son and Holy Spirit are decidedly not Christian. The God of this world, Heavenly Father, was once a man on another planet in the universe. Upon his death, the Council of the Gods of the universe, noting his exemplary life, assigned him to oversee this planet. Throughout celestial wives, Heavenly Father produces “spirit-children” to be born into this world, beginning their eternal progression to Heaven. The Temple, (entrance is restricted to _____ in good standing), is the place where unique _____ ordinances are practiced. In their temples _____ practice baptism of the dead to seal non-_____ to the Church in the afterlife. When a _____ couple seals their marriage in the Temple, it is considered an eternal marriage. In addition, _____ require faithful tithing of their members, teach certain dietary restrictions, and strongly recommend a two year mission for all young men and women.
Mormons [LDS]
A religious philosophy which states that nay exclusive teachings declared by faith traditions are debatable and may be harmful to true unity and tolerance of all religious movements. Generally, the Christian Church has held to this maxim: “Unity is essentials; freedom in debatable issues; and charity in everything.”
Pluralism
This ideology rules out the value of religious beliefs or practices and leans heavily upon reason and human experience to explain all things. Generally it denies the existence of God and the supernatural, while disclaiming faith as a sound tool for discernment of truth and reality.
Secular Humanism
The theological practice of assimilating different or even contradictory beliefs or practices into a new, unique expression of religious faith and life. The difficulty in this theological exercise is that assimilating doctrines or practices, creates new teachings which lose their exceptionality and proper place in the teachings of the Christian faith. Examples of religious _____ can be: the introduction of Hindu yogic practices to Christian prayer, or secular understandings of same-sex marriage and the Church’s teaching on the sacrament of marriage.
Syncretism
This religious doctrine teaches that all people, all religions, all spiritual paths, and all faith traditions lead to God’s redemption and eternal purposes. Some Universalists teach there is neither eternal punishment nor reward but that death begins a new life of spiritual development.
Universalism
