Grade 11 Exam Review: World Religions (HRT3M1) UNIT 1: INTRO Definitions Ecumenism: Unity for all Christians. There were many divisions that separated the Catholic churches. Many b... Grade 11 Exam Review: World Religions (HRT3M1) UNIT 1: INTRO Definitions Ecumenism: Unity for all Christians. There were many divisions that separated the Catholic churches. Many branches of Christianity. Focus on healing wounds and reconciliation. Religious Pluralism: The coexistence of many religions in a society. Realization that one’s religion is not the sole source of truth. Acknowledgment that some truths exist in other religions. Acceptance that two or more religions with mutually exclusive truth claims are equally valid. Canada’s Charter of Rights & Freedoms guarantees freedom of conscience and religion. Fundamentalist: Very strict. Literal interpretation of a religious text or set of beliefs. A person who holds firm, often extreme, beliefs. Religion: Means 'to bind.' UNIT 2: INDIGENOUS SPIRITUALITY Rituals Smudging: Holy act. Sacred herbs burned in a shell or earthen bowl. Smoke brushed or washed over the eyes, mouth, ears, hands, heart, and whole being of each participant. Smoke purifies people and places before important events. Ashes are considered holy and returned to the earth after the ceremony. Similar to Ash Wednesday or holy water. Birth and Naming Rituals: Name giver (grandparent/elder) enters a time of fasting, meditation, prayer, or dreaming. Spirit reveals the name during a special ceremony. Name expresses the identity of the person and their relation to the spirit power. Myths Creation Myths: Explain origins of Earth and individual aspects of nature. Example: Great Lakes Region – Creator built North America on the back of a giant turtle (Turtle Island). Trickster Myths: Explain how suffering and misery came into life. Example: Coyote – not devilish but a lovable rogue. Hero Myths: Universal themes, idealizing the good and brave person. Example: Maid of the Mist legend (Niagara). Divine Myths: Describe how gods came to be. Linked to creation myths and multiple gods. Cultural Myths: Explain how rituals and customs originated. Example: Lakota – flute makes music. Four Sacred Herbs (CSST) Cedar & Sage: Burned to drive out negative forces. Sweet Grass: Represents kindness, invites good spirits, symbolizes Grandmother Earth’s hair, and purifies individuals and communities. Tobacco: Used to smudge articles before ceremonies like powwows. Each tribe originally had a plant used as incense and passed through the circle. Definitions Medicine Person (Shaman): Spiritual leader who acts as a bridge between the physical and spiritual worlds. Healing powers may be inherited or gained through personal quests. Powers come through visions and discussions with spirits. Pipe Ceremony: Symbolizes unity and harmony in the world. Pipe carriers pray for the universe and all it contains. Components: Stone bowl: Truth, represents woman. Stem: Way of life, represents man. Joining bowl and stem: Unity and balance between man and woman. Powwow: Indigenous gathering, often seen as a pilgrimage. Purpose: Dance of renewal for restoring right relationships and healing creation. Setting: Holy circle. Elements: Dance (playful) and drums (serious), symbolizing the Earth’s heartbeat. Vision Quest: Represents the transition into adulthood. Goal: Get in touch with a spirit guide (animal or mythological figure). Seen as a pilgrimage for sacred purposes. Helps ensure health and success, especially in hunting and fishing. Tasks performed for oneself, the community, and the spirit guide. Preparation: Young individuals prepare for about a year. Timing determined by parents and elders, usually during puberty. Process: Participants stay in remote areas while fasting, praying, and purifying in pools or streams. Sometimes performed in sweat lodges. Sundance: Seen as a replay of the original creation. Purpose: Gives thanks to the Creator. Prays for renewal of people on Earth. Promotes health and socialization. Practice: Involves tall poles and pegs driven through the chest skin to change consciousness through pain. Sweat Lodge: Used for communal prayer, healing, purification, and fasting. Igloo-like structure with no light. Structure: Virgin section in the middle is blessed by an elder with herbs. Four hot stones are placed in the center. Purpose: Alters consciousness for better contact with the spiritual world. Includes ceremonies with peyote (hallucinogenic cactus root). Monotheism: Belief in one God or a single all-powerful deity (e.g., Christianity, Islam – Allah, Judaism – Abraham). Polytheism: Belief in multiple gods or deities, each with specific roles or attributes (e.g., Hinduism, Indigenous spirituality, ancient Greek religion). Elders: Carry wisdom and knowledge passed down through generations. Often serve as spiritual guides. Lead rituals and ceremonies. Create a bridge between the living and spiritual worlds. UNIT 3: JUDAISM Covenant Between Moses and God Moses is traditionally credited with writing the Torah (first five books of the Hebrew Bible). Led the Israelites out of Egypt in the Exodus. Advocated for their freedom before Pharaoh with God's help (e.g., the plagues). The Exodus is commemorated during Passover, celebrating liberation from slavery. The final plague (death of the firstborn) led to the Israelites’ freedom. Received the Ten Commandments on Mount Sinai, marking the formal covenant between God and the Israelites. Two Covenants: Covenant with Abraham: Circumcision as a sign of faith and the promise of descendants. Covenant with Moses: God promised protection and the Promised Land (Canaan), while the Israelites committed to obeying His laws and worshiping Him alone. Moses' Early Life: Saved by Pharaoh’s daughter after being placed in a basket by his mother to protect him from Pharaoh’s decree to kill all Hebrew infants. Fled Egypt after killing an Egyptian who was beating a Hebrew slave. Married Zipporah and worked as a shepherd. God appeared to Moses in a burning bush, instructing him to lead the Israelites out of Egypt. Revealed the divine name, 'I AM WHO I AM' (YHWH). First Temple: Built by Solomon (950 BCE). The kingdom was defeated by Babylonians. Jews were exiled for 50 years, and the Babylonians destroyed the temple (587 BCE). Hebrews worked to rebuild the Temple. Second Temple: Destroyed by Romans. Remaining wall (Wailing/Western Wall) used for prayer. What is Shabbat? Shabbat (Sabbath) is the day when the Lord rested after creating the world (7th day of creation). It is the most sacred day of the week. Begins at sunset on Friday and ends at sundown on Saturday. Celebrates the heavens and earth and everything on earth as a gift from God. Celebrated due to the 10 Commandments. How is Shabbat Celebrated? The house is kept clean and tidy. During the Sabbath meal, the table is laid with flowers and the best glasses & plates. Each family member helps to prepare. Sabbath candles are lit as the Sabbath begins, symbolizing peace coming into the house. Father & older boys go to pray at the synagogue while women stay home to prepare the meal. When the boys return from synagogue, everyone wishes each other a 'Shabbat Shalom' (a happy Sabbath). Father blesses God by using wine for the special occasion (Kiddush). Father blesses the Sabbath and his children when reading verses from the Tenach. Blesses two loaves of bread called Shallot. Hasidic Judaism: Falls under Orthodox Jews. Read the Bible as the literal word of God. Recognizable for their distinctive style of dress (men wear full beards, hats, and dark clothing; women dress modestly). No watering down of traditions. Can only be passed on from the mother. Orthodox Judaism: Interpret the Torah literally. Accept Jewish law and teachings as binding. Strict observance of dietary laws and kosher. Use Hebrew prayers. Men wear skull caps and prayer shawls. Men and women worship separately. Men can only be rabbis. Conservative Jews: Subscribe to the divine authority of the Torah and accept biblical scholarship. Believe that Jewish law should be continually examined to meet the needs of each new generation. Dress traditionally only during services. Use more Hebrew than the vernacular. No separation of men and women during services. Accept most Jewish laws and teachings as binding. Community before individual. Largest Jewish denomination in Canada. Reform/Liberal Judaism: Emphasis on ethics: how a Jew should behave. Torah is not considered divinely revealed. Use musical instruments in their services. Limited use of Hebrew language. No strict dietary laws. Encourages women and men to conform to the same standards of ethical practice, ritual, behavior, and study. Began the ordination of women as rabbis. Jewish Holidays/Festivals Hanukkah: Means dedication. Festival of lights. Celebrates the victory of Jewish people over the empire and the rededication of the second temple. Miracle of the Maccabees. November to December. Lasts eight days. Use a nine-branched menorah. Play dreidel, eat fried food, and give gelt (money) to children. Purim: Based on the Book of Esther. Celebrates the salvation from Haman's genocide. February/March. Includes a feast and dressing up. Shavuot: Festival of Weeks. Takes place 7 weeks/50 days after Passover. Begins at the end of the harvest. Celebrates the giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai. Lasts two days. May/June. Eat dairy, decorate with flowers. Pesach/Passover: Celebrates the Exodus and freedom. March/April. Lasts 7 days. Enjoy the Seder meal and remember the past. Eat Matzah (unleavened bread), Maror (bitter herbs), and shankbone. Youngest child asks the 4 questions and drinks four cups of wine (representing the four expressions of redemption). Bar/Bat Mitzvah: Bar = Boy (13), Bat = Girl (12). Coming of age, responsible for actions under Jewish law. Usually happens on Shabbat. Study to learn Hebrew. Receive gifts and host feasts or parties. Lead a prayer service and read from the Torah in front of the congregation. Marriage: A mitzvah (commandment). Represents union and commitment to live according to the laws. Continuation of the Jewish people. Ketubah: contract signed by the groom and two witnesses. Chuppah: canopy where the wedding takes place, representing the home they will build together. Breaking of glass represents fragility and treating the relationship with care. Drink wine from Kiddush. Badeken: veiling, due to Rachel and Jacob. Two stages of the wedding: seven blessings and days of celebration. Death & Burial: Believe the soul is immortal and will eventually resurrect. Death is part of God's plan. 24-hour burial at a Jewish cemetery. Wash the body and dress in simple clothing. Men and women are separated during mourning. Kaddish: prayer for mourning; mourners put dirt on the grave. Shiva: 7 days of mourning, staying at home, refraining from work, remembering the deceased, sitting low, and avoiding mirrors. Yom Kippur: Day of seeking forgiveness and atonement for sins. Moses asked for forgiveness after the Israelites built the golden calf. September/October. Fast for 25 hours. No leather shoes, cosmetics, sex, showering, or working. Several prayer services are held. The kittel and shofar is blown to mark the end. Sukkot: Feast of Tabernacles. Sukkah: temporary structure that commemorates walking in the desert, represents God's hug, can still view the sky, usually built in the garden. Give thanks for the fall harvest and remember what truly matters. October. Use citron, palm frond, willow, and myrtle for prayer (Arba Minim). Pray to remember seven holy guests. Lasts 7 days. Rosh Hashanah: New Year and beginning of the High Holy Days. Celebrates the creation of the world. Starts the 10 days of repentance. 7th month. September/October. Shofar is a wake-up call. Eat apple and honey to represent a sweet new year. Pomegranates represent good deeds. Shanah Tovah: Good year. Tashlich: throwing bread crumbs into the air to cast off sins. Definitions Synagogue: Means bringing together. Jewish assembly/congregation meets for religious worship and instruction. Ark to hold Torah Scrolls – read on a raised platform with gloves. Men & women are separated during service. Torah: Instructions/laws. Nevi’im – Prophets. Ketuvim – Writings. Five books: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy (Old Testament). Mezuzah: Special box containing the Shema, the central prayer of the Jews. Mounted on the right side of door frames (except bathroom doors). Orthodox or observant Jews touch it as they pass by and kiss their fingers to express love of God. Torah Scrolls: Contains the Torah (teaching) and is central to the Jews. The first 5 books of the Old Testament. Most important object used at synagogue services. Used to study for Jews. Recited at Bar/Bat Mitzvah. Menorah: 9-branched candelabra. Recognition of the miracle of the Maccabees when the oil lasted for 8 days. 7-branch candelabra symbolizes the 7 days of creation. Used in the synagogue to represent Israel as “the light unto nations.” Central symbol of Hanukkah (9-candle menorah). Shofar: A ram’s horn blown as a celebration of God’s creation and heralding the Messiah. Used as a “call to prayer” on special occasions like Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. Kippah/Yarmulke: A skull cap that is beautifully embroidered and worn as respect for God by covering the head. Worn during prayer, Torah study, and synagogue services. Orthodox and very observant Jewish males wear them all the time. Tallit: A prayer robe/shawl made of silk/wool with 613 tassels on the fringe for the commandments. Worn during prayer, Torah study, and at mourning synagogue services. Tefillin: A leather strap with two leather boxes attached (one by the heart and one on the forehead) containing quotes from the Torah and/or the Shema. Worn during prayer/Torah study at synagogue service. Represents that God is in our mind and heart. Mitzvah: Commandment or good deed. There are 613 mitzvot in the Torah. Star of David 7 space recognizing the 7 days of creation Used on the shield of King David to win battles When/ Where is it used? 1) shield of David 2) Israeli flag 3) symbol of Jews Why Eat Kosher? Kashrut in Hebrew. Eating this way brings you closer to God. Worship: human life is made sacred. Religious observance requires worship of God. The Torah and Talmud contain 613 commandments (mitzvot) for religious life (e.g., keeping the Sabbath holy, festival laws). These are seen as a gift of God’s love, not as a burden. Kosher Guidelines: Only permitted to eat “Kosher food” meaning “fit” or “proper.” Food is kosher if its production is overseen by a Rabbi and blessed with special prayers. Kosher rules are called Kashrut. Any meat eaten must be from an animal that only eats plants. The animal must chew its cud and have cloven hooves (e.g., only cows can be eaten, not pigs). Animals must be killed mercifully, and all blood must be drained from the meat. Sport hunting is virtually non-existent among Jewish people. Fish that are eaten must have scales, a backbone, and fins. Shellfish are forbidden (e.g., lobster, crab). Chicken is permitted, but not birds of prey. No dairy products may be consumed at the same time as meat products. A kosher kitchen has distinct dishes and cutlery for dairy and meat. During Passover, dishes are changed again, and additional cabinetry is used. UNIT 4: CHRISTIANITY What is at the Heart of Christian Beliefs? In the first centuries of the Church, there was no clear distinction between the Greek East and Latin West; the Church was, for the most part, united. Schism means separation. 5 major patriarchs (bishops) were responsible for the organization of the Church and shared power with other bishops. These patriarchs were located in: Rome Constantinople Alexandria Antioch Jerusalem Over time, two cultural and religious traditions began to develop in the East and the West (Catholic & Orthodox). The split between the East and West happened because of geographical, cultural, and religious differences that developed over a long period of time. The split did not happen overnight! Geographical, Cultural and Religious Factors Behind the Split: Geographical: Distance between Rome and the Eastern bishops made it difficult for the Pope in Rome to develop strong relationships with other bishops. Cultural Icons: There was a misunderstanding over the use of icons (images) in worship. Some icons were destroyed, leading to a period known as iconoclasm. Catholics and Orthodox do not worship icons or statues of Mary, Jesus, or the saints but venerate them, meaning to treat with respect because they are considered holy. Religious Creed: An addition was made to the Nicene Creed in the 11th century, called Filioque (Latin for 'and the Son'), by the Bishop of Rome. Eastern bishops did not accept this change. Paul: Second Most Important Figure of Christianity Paul, originally named Saul, was born in Tarsus to Jewish parents who were Roman citizens. As a Pharisee, Paul was known for his strict observance of Jewish law and for persecuting Christians, believing that Christianity was a threat to Jewish law. On his journey from Damascus to Jerusalem, Paul experienced a vision of a flashing light and heard a voice saying, 'Why are you persecuting me?' This was Jesus speaking to him. Paul became blind for three days and did not eat or drink. A disciple named Ananias helped restore his sight and baptized him. Saul changed his name to Paul and began preaching about Jesus. He went on three major missionary journeys around the Eastern Mediterranean, setting up new Christian communities, converting Jews, and sharing the gospel with Gentiles (non-Jews). Paul's letters to these communities were written before the Gospels and provide early insight into Christian life after Jesus’s death. Paul was arrested in Jerusalem, imprisoned for two years, and then appealed to Roman courts. He traveled to Rome under house arrest, where he continued preaching until he was eventually beheaded. Thanks to Paul, Christianity spread beyond Judaism and became a universal religion open to all, especially Gentiles. The Edict of Milan Roman Emperor Constantine issued the Edict of Milan in 313 CE, making Christianity a legitimate religion and ending the persecution of Christians. Constantine also supported Christian moral teachings and made Sunday a Christian holiday, different from the Jewish Sabbath (Saturday). The Rise of Great Heresies Christianity required all members to believe in specific teachings about Christ. Heresy refers to the distortion or invention of beliefs that conflict with official Christian teachings. The Church fought against heresies to maintain doctrinal purity. What Impact Did Constantine Have on the Church? Christianity was no longer under the threat of persecution, which allowed the Church to expand rapidly. Pagans (non-Christians) were converted to Christianity in large numbers. As Christianity became the official religion of the Roman Empire, people joined the faith for personal gain. The Church adopted a hierarchical structure similar to the Roman Empire, with the Bishop of Rome (the Pope) as the head, and other bishops serving as local overseers. Some Roman customs were adopted by the Church, such as changing the official day of worship from Saturday to Sunday and celebrating Christmas. Protestant Reformation and Martin Luther The Protestant Reformation was a movement that challenged the practices and authority of the Catholic Church, aiming to reform perceived corruption and errors in teachings. Martin Luther wrote the 95 Theses, criticizing the sale of indulgences and calling for theological reform. He argued that the Pope should not be considered the ultimate authority above the Bible, and many saw the clergy as corrupt or unfaithful. Counter/Catholic Reformation The Catholic Church’s response to the Protestant Reformation was the Counter-Reformation, which aimed to address internal corruption and reaffirm Catholic doctrines. The Church developed strategies to combat the spread of lies and rumors against its teachings. The Reformation reshaped the religious, political, and cultural landscape of Europe, leading to greater religious diversity and inspiring ongoing discussions about faith, authority, and reform. Indulgences Indulgences were payments made to the Church, which people believed would reduce the punishment for their sins. The sale of indulgences was one of the major issues that Martin Luther and other reformers criticized. UNIT 5: ISLAM What Key Event Initiated the Founding of Islam? (Life of Muhammad) According to Islamic doctrine, Muhammad was a prophet divinely inspired to preach and confirm monotheistic teachings. The central belief in Islam is: 'There is no god but Allah, and Muhammad is the messenger of God.' Muhammad is considered the last prophet, known as the Great Prophet. Born in Mecca in 570 CE, Muhammad worked as a trader and was raised by his uncle Abu Talib. He married Khadijah, and at the age of 40, he spent one month and one year in a cave where he heard the voice of Angel Gabriel telling him he was a prophet. Muhammad got into trouble with the authorities for preaching equality and monotheism, especially in a society where many people were exploited by the richer clan members. The Hijra (Hegira) refers to Muhammad’s migration from Mecca to Medina, where he established the first Muslim community (umma). The First Revelation was received on the Night of Power. Muhammad had only daughters, meaning there were no direct male heirs to succeed him. The first mosque was the courtyard of Muhammad’s home. Muhammad is NOT a god, and Muslims do not worship him. Islam maintains that no more revelations will come. Read more