World Religions Flashcards
Expirential Dimension
Encounter with the sacred (visions, revelations) the emotional dimension. Often connected with rites of passage.
Mythical Dimension
Stories that provide answers (Bible, Qur’an), the narrative dimension
Ritual Dimension
What believers “do” in practice of their faith, (Mass, Muslim Daily Prayer) transform ordinary into extraordinary
Doctrinal Dimension
Belief systems, official formal teachings of a faith, give order and focus (Trinity, Five Pillars of Islam)
Ethical Dimension
Belief guide lines (10 Commandments, Buddhist 8-fold path) the “behavior dimension” doctrine influences ethics
Social Dimension
Formal organization, human group of believiers in practice (Islamic Mosque, Coptic Christian Church)
Material Dimension
The physical dimension, ordinary places that manifest the sacred, the “symbols” of a faith (chalice, Jerusalem, etc.)
The Dreaming
The mythic (and ritual) period of the Ancestors where they created various forms of life and geographic formations, organized life into tribes. The spiritual essence of the Ancestors live on in their creation. Participating maintains its order, ritual approach gives access to sacred power at sites.
Ancestors
Supernatural beings who emerged and roamed the Earth during the Dreaming. Creates various life forms, organized the first humans, and created language, social customs, and rules.
Totem
Symbol of the relationship of the connection between each Aborigine as a living representation of an Ancestor. Natural entity that has special significance for the religious life of that individual or group.
Taboo
System of social ordering that dictates that specific objects and activities owing to their sacred nature are set aside for specific people/groups and are strictly forbidden to others
Wilyaru
Ritual and social and experiential. Main initiation ritual, men cut arms an let it drip and cake on the initiative. Blood is a connection between Ancestors and living
Ochre
Artistic medium, incredible longevity. Dust from stone, like pastels. Ritual, a prscribed order of events that convey meaning
Lakota
Plains tradition, hunters of bison, shared many traditions with other Native cultures. Means ally, friend
Wakan Tanka
Lakotan name for the supreme reality, means most sacred, Great Spirit. Refers to 16 sperate deities, 4x4 (sacred directions)
Inktomi
(Spider) one of the supernatural beings involved in activites such as creation. Was a Lakota trickster figure. Mediator between supernatural and human worlds. Taught people customs
Inipi
Sweat lodge, a way of purification
Wiwanyak Wachip
Sun dance, celebration of the new year, prepares tribe for annual bison hunt
Hanblechya
Vision quest, crying for a vision
Axis Mundi
Middle of everything, center of the universe, cardinal directions are sacred
Lakota Emergence Story
Lakota people emerge from wind cave, the banished spirits Inktomi (trickster spider) and Anoq-Ita (devil faced women) trick some Lakota to emerge early. Creator turns the early emergers into buffalo to to protecrt them. When the rest emerge they are told to follow the buffalo.
Cosmology
Understanding of the universe
Quetzalcoatl
Created the universe and the ancient city of Teotihuacan is the origin of the cosmos
Topiltzan Quetzalcoatl
Quetzalcoatl’s earthly devotee ruling as a priest-king. Perfect model for authority