Religion: Paper 2, Units 7-8 Flashcards
(Judaism) what is the nature of God?
The almighty is
- one, ‘Hashem is the one and only’ The Shema
- creator ‘Hashem formed a man of dust from the ground’ Genesis
- lawgiver and judge ‘Hashem is our judge. Hashem is our lawgiver’ Isaiah
He has many names.
(Judaism) what are the three groups of Judaism?
Orthodox: Torah is literal word of God, believe in tradition. Hassidic is extreme orthodox.
Liberal/Reform/Progressive: Torah is inspired word of God, should be interpreted in modern context.
Secular: not religious, Jewish due to cultural or ethnic heritage
(Judaism) What is the Shekhinah?
The divine presence of god within the created world
Felt through study or tenakh and Talmud, and in prayer and worship
(Judaism) What are beliefs on the study of the Tenakh and Talmud (the oral law)
To study is an act of worship. Talmud evolved from Rabbis discussing Torah
Jews can study in a Jewish school called a yeshiva. At some Orthodox Yeshiva schools, Torah study is primary focus, some Hassidic Jews even reject secular study entirely
(Judaism) what’s a Minyan
Group of 10 adults over age of 13, men only in orthodox tradition
When praying as a minyan, God is present. Kaddish (praise) and Barachu (call to prayer) prayers can I not be said without a minyan
(Judaism) What’s the Messianic age?
The time when the messiah will rule
Many Jews feel responsible to actively bring about and prepare the world for this age
Orthodox: messianic age is when messiah is ruling world.
Reform and liberal: focus is on the age itself, not the messiah
(Judaism) who’s the messiah
Anointed one, marker for greatness. Will become King of Israel in the End of Days (messianic age)
‘He will administer justice and righteousness’ Jeremiah 23:5-6
(Judaism) what’s a covenant?
An everlasting agreement between God and man
‘Brit olam’ means everlasting covenant
(Judaism) outline Moses’ covenant
Moses ran away from home after discovering he’s a Jew. God spoke to him at the burning bush, sent 10 plagues on Egypt. Pharaoh let Moses and Hebrews out of Egypt. Moses crossed Red Sea whilst being chased by pharaoh. Went to mount Sinai.
Here new covenant given: Jews are chosen people, Ten Commandments given. Don’t follow and you’ll be punished.
Moses then given rest of Torah and Oral Torah, later written as the Talmud. Jews believe every Jewish soul was present at Sinai and agreed to terms of covenant.
(Judaism) What’s the Jewish festival of Shavuot?
Yearly festival where the gift of the Torah is celebrated and it commemorates the day God gave the Torah to those at Sinai
(Judaism) State four of the Ten Commandments
- ‘you shall not have God’s before me’
- ‘you shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain’
- ‘keep holy the LORD’S Day’
- ‘honor your father and mother’
- ‘you shall not kill’
- ‘you shall not commit adultery’
- ‘you shall not steal’
- ‘you shall not bear false witness against your neighbour’
- ‘you shall not covet your neighbours wife’
- ‘you shall not covet your neighbours goods’
(Judaism) Outline the Abrahamic covenant
Abraham is important because he’s one of the three Patriarchs of Judaism
God promised Abraham land and many descendants, Abraham circumcised himself to seal the covenant. He underwent ten tests, and he and his wife were blessed with a child called Isaac, who’s son Jacob fathered 12 sons who established the 12 tribes of Israel
Parts of this covenant are yet to be fulfilled today. The land of Israel is the promised land, but isn’t currently under Jewish control.
(Judaism) What is Pikuach Nefesh
The belief that life is god given, so most Jewish laws can be broken to save a life
Talmud says all people are descended from a single person, so to take a life is like destroying the world
‘So God created man in his image’ Genesis 1:27
(Judaism) What are Orthodox and reform/liberal views on abortion and organ donation
Orthodox: abortion should only happen to save a mother’s life, organ donation is okay if it doesn’t endanger the donor/donor already dead
Reform/Liberal: abortion allows wider circumstances to be considered eg social and medical issues. Organ donation usually permitted in most circumstances
(Judaism) What’s a Mitzvot? What’s a Mitzvah?
Commandments that guide action, the 613 laws in the Torah.
A Mitzvah is a good deed
‘I present before you today a blessing and a curse’ Deuteronomy
(Judaism) what’s the Halakhah? What are some divergent beliefs on it?
The list of Mitzvot that guide Jewish life. Teaches Jews how to perform or fulfil the Mitzvot
The Mitzvot form part of the covenant between Jewish people and God, there’s a punishment for not following them.
Orthodox: Halakhah given orally on Sinai and written In Torah
Reform: Halakhah evolves through the generations and Mitzvot may have been influenced by culture
(Judaism) What do Jews believe about life after death?
General agreement that death is not the end
Some Jews believe in a heaven. Resurrection and reincarnation are traditional Jewish beliefs. Most Jews do not believe in eternal punishment
Orthodox believe the righteous will be resurrected and live in a restored Israel in the Messianic Age
(Judaism) What’s Olam Ha-Ba, what’s Gan Eden, what’s Gehinnom
Olam Ha-Ba is ‘The World To Come’, a spiritual afterlife following the physical death
Gan Eden is heaven
Gehinnom is a place for purification of the soul
‘The Spirit returns to God who gave it’ Ecclesiastes 12:7