Religion, Philosophy, and the Bible

• Religion is a form of worship and a system of religious attitudes, beliefs, and practices.
• Philosophy is the systematized study of general and fundamental questions like existence, reasons, and value.
• Evolution is an ancient philosophy with roots as far back as Aristotle and is also a scientific theory.
• Creation is the act of making, inventing, or producing.
• The soul is self-consciousness, a vessel.
• The body is world-consciousness and the external/outer organ.
• The spirit is god-consciousness, the innermost/deepest part.
• Sin separates humanity from God, bringing death and judgment.

Why Read the Bible?

• The Bible provides identity.
• The Bible gives understanding.
• The Bible offers comfort.
• The Bible provides salvation.
• The Bible gives hope.

Babylon

• Babylon the Great symbolizes the world empire of false religion, originating from Babel, and is described as a great city/kingdom. (Revelation 17:18)
• Bricks and tar are analogous to stone and mortar.
• The Tower of Babel was envisioned as a tower reaching to the heavens.
• Nimrod was known as a mighty hunter before the Lord or a tyrant.
• Paniym means "before," "in front of," or "in the face of."
• Puja is the practice of making offerings to gods in Hinduism.
• Tilak is a yellow or red spot worn on the forehead.
• The Q'uran is the Islamic holy book.
• The Ganges River is considered purified water used for purification in Hinduism..
• The Aztec tribe was known for offering the still-beating hearts of humans to their gods.
• Shinto is the indigenous religion of Japan, focusing on "kami."
• Torii is a traditional Japanese gate marking the transition from the mundane to the sacred.

Animism

• Animism involves the worship of objects and souls as gods.
• Edward Tylor was an English anthropologist known for his work on animism.
• Animatism is a refinement of animism, as described by R.R. Marett.
• Robert Marett is associated with the concept of an impersonal force/supernatural power.
• James Frazer, a Scottish folklore expert, wrote "The Golden Bough" and studied the conciliation of power.
• Sigmund Freud, an Austrian psychoanalyst, explored "Totem" and "Taboo."
• Father-figure Neurosis suggests that the earliest religion equated God with a father figure.

Myth

• Myths are stories of unknown origin, often featuring supernatural beings.
• Hesiod was the first Greek to write about theogony.
• Gaea is another name for Gaia/Earth.

Genesis 1: Creation

• Day 1: Light was separated from darkness.
• Day 2: The sky and water were created.
• Day 3: Land, sea, and vegetation were created.
• Day 4: The sun, moon, and stars were created to govern day and night.
• Day 5: Creatures filled the seas, as well as birds and wild animals.
• Day 6: Humans were created.
• Day 7: God rested.

Genesis 7: The Flood

• Noah was 600 years old during the flood, taking 7 pairs of every kind of animal onto the ark 7 days before the flood.
• Anubis is a jackal-headed god.
• Maat is the goddess of truth and justice.
• Hebrew is the language of the Old Testament.
• Moses wrote the first five books of the Bible.
• The Bible consists of 66 books.
• Catholic countries often feature the crucifix and rosary.
• Christianity believes in the Holy Trinity.
• A rainbow is a symbol of God's promise.

Superstitions

• Superstitions are practices/beliefs associated with deities or spirits.
• Spirituality is inherent in human nature, providing a worldview and way of life to satisfy deeper human needs.
• Fortune sticks are used as a fortune-telling tool to calm people.
• Magic is a Western conception.
• Imitative magic involves producing desired effects by mimicking them.
• Divination seeks to uncover hidden information or foresee the future through signs or omens.
• Physiognomy involves examining facial features.
• Chiromancy is reading the lines of the hand, also known as palmistry.

Hindu Gods

• Brahma is the creator god.
• Vishnu is the protector god.
• Shiva is the destroyer god.
• Swah is a region to enjoy rewards.
• Brahmaloka is the highest heaven.
• Patala is the lowest of the seven low worlds.
• Buddhism is associated with Siddhartha Gautama.
• Judaism is associated with Abraham and Moses.
• Islam is associated with Muhammad and Allah.
• Sikhism is associated with Guru Nanak and the concept of one god, "Waheguru."

Hinduism

• Hinduism is a slowly developed religion focused on helping the soul.
• Om/Aum is a symbol of Hinduism representing the spirit of all things through sound.
• Vedas and Upanishads are collections of writings dealing with karma, samsara, and moksha.
• Samsara refers to reincarnation.
• Karma refers to how deeds of a former existence cause the current state in life.
• Moksha is freedom from rebirth considered the highest level of rebirth.

Four Vedas

• Rig Veda is dedicated to gods.
• Sama-Veda focuses on rituals and melodies.
• Yajur-Veda includes sacrificial formulas.
• Atharva-Veda deals with medicine and healing.

Four Main Beliefs

• Truth is Eternal, meaning there is only one eternal truth.
• Dharma entails following the moral law.
• Reincarnation means the soul enters a new living thing.
• Moksha is release from the cycle of death and the ultimate goal.
• Mohandas Gandhi was known as "Mohatma" and associated with the Sanskrit term "ahinsa".
• The Caste System, or "varna," is a system of social classes.
• James Barr was a Scottish biblical scholar known for his work on biblical interpretation.
• Homer was an ancient Greek poet who wrote the "Iliad" and "Odyssey."
• Flavius Josephus was a Jewish historian, scholar, and military leader who wrote about Second Temple Judaism and early Christianity.

Bible Verses

• 2 Corinthians 4:10 discusses carrying the death of Jesus in our bodies so that his life may be revealed.
• Revelation 17:18 identifies a woman as the great city that rules over the kings of the earth.
• 2 Timothy 3:16-17 states that all Scripture is God-breathed and useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness.
• Acts 8:26-38 describes Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch, where Philip explains the scriptures to him, leading to the eunuch's baptism.
• 2 Timothy 3:5 warns against those having a form of godliness but denying its power.