Studies of Religion Notes 2025 PDF

Studies of Religion 2025 Abrahamic Religions: Judaism, Christianity + Islam (all have Abraham as an ancestor) Religion as a Worldview (Syllabus Dot Points) ➔​ Define Religion ➔​ Define Worldview ➔​ Explain what religion is in worldview terms Religion: A spiritual belief in an object,...

Studies of Religion 2025 Abrahamic Religions: Judaism, Christianity + Islam (all have Abraham as an ancestor) Religion as a Worldview (Syllabus Dot Points) ➔​ Define Religion ➔​ Define Worldview ➔​ Explain what religion is in worldview terms Religion: A spiritual belief in an object, person, thing or spirit of a higher power. This belief governs and affects how people live their lives, and involves tradition and worship Aspects of Religion: ➔​ Beliefs and Believers ➔​ Sacred texts and writings ➔​ Ethics ➔​ Rituals and ceremonies What makes religion relevant to our modern world? ➔​ Belief can change your morals + actions ➔​ Defines the meaning of life + gives purpose to believers ➔​ Humans are inherently curious, so they want to know the answers to life questions ➔​ Gives a sense of comfort in knowing the answers to life's larger questions ◆​ Beliefs around the afterlife ◆​ Creation ◆​ Purpose of life ◆​ Explains unknowable THEMES OF CLASS DISCUSSION: ​ People turn to religion when they want answers to unknowable things ​ Sense of comfort in believing in a higher power ​ Gives purpose and meaning to our position here on Earth (website to flag for contemporary examples: ABC religion and ethics) Article Links Religion In Australia -​ Religious Diversity https://www.abc.net.au › news › harmony-of-faiths-in-l...  -​ Immigration -​ Multiculturalism Christianity in Australia Islam in Australia What is and isn’t a religion Case Study: Scientology -​ Scientology is recognised as a religion, granting it tax-exempt status -​ Debates centre around the legitimacy of its religious standing Video Notes ​ Scientology is not the same as Christian scientists ​ L Ron Hubbard developed it, who was an author of science fiction ​ Navy officer - fired because he was “incapable of command” ○​ Fired upon a Japanese submarine that later was found to have not existed ○​ Fired upon an island that was an ally of America ​ Scientology gives a lot of weight to Ron Hubbard's military achievements ○​ His near-death experiences allowed him to see “the truth” ○​ Disputes Hubbard's military records, saying they were covering up his “secret missions” ○​ Navy records dispute claims of Hubbard's injuries while on active duty ​ Controversy 1: Scientology evolved from works of fiction ​ After the war, Hubbard practised as a hypnotist and dived into other unconventional religious acts ​ Publishes “Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Health” which explains a commonly used Scientologist practice called Auditing ○​ Auditing is used to recall past traumas and get over/through them with the use of an E meter or a conversation that picks up on signals from the body, similar to a polygraph ○​ There were efforts to get this process approved in modern medicine, but proposals were rejected ​ Thetan: our soul being immortal, allowing us to tap into past lives and the trauma from those lives that still affect us today ​ At the start of auditing, Hubbard would charge $500 for 24 hours of auditing ○​ Started the wave of churches across the US ○​ The first church, in Washington DC, still stands as a museum ○​ Headquarters is in Riverside County, Riverside ○​ Church requested that the public road running through it be diverted to around the property, but that request was denied ​ Controversy 2: Rumours of subpar working wages, pursuit teams that bring individuals back, not allowing them to leave and required confessions of any gossip from within the headquarters ○​ Debated as no one from inside the base will complain or make a statement  ○​ Only a few have made statements to police after leaving, but cases were thrown out due to insufficient evidence ​ Believes their souls/thetans are immortal and are capable of anything ​ Supreme Being (Their God) ○​ Each member goes on their unique journey ​ Eight “Dynamics” which include ○​ Urge toward Infinity (discovering God) ○​ Urge to protect animal life ○​ Urge to exist as a peaceful community ○​ Urge to exist as one mankind across all races ​ Once “cleared” through auditing, you can now climb the ladder to powerful positions in the church ​ After auditing, there is a state called Operating Thetan, where you can control the world around you, including life, energy and matter ​ Costs money to progress through the OT stages ○​ The cheapest level is $2 750 ○​ People on high levels sign confidentiality agreements ​ Scientologists believe an alien dropped humans into a volcano, killing them and releasing their thetans into the environment ○​ The thetans were unhappy with that, causing negative emotions ​ OT Level Three is very dangerous ​ The total to get to level three is around $100 000 ○​ Most don’t get to any levels as Scientologists will deliberately keep them in auditing or drop them down a level at the individual's expense ​ Once Hubbard passed away, David Miscavage took over the church ○​ Has been accused of violence and abuse towards church members, but no charges have stuck ​ Celebrity Scientologists ○​ John Travolta ○​ Tom Cruise ​ What is said in auditing sessions is kept in a file, and can be used an anytime to discredit or blackmail them ​ Initiation ceremonies ​ Controversy 3: Seems they have a large amount to hide ○​ Very secretive ​ The moment you feel it's unsafe to leave, the moment you must consider if it's a cult or religion → Isolates people ​ Scientology was registered as a religion in 1983 ○​ Have to benefit the community to gain tax exemption FINISH SCIENTOLOGY VIDEO NOTES AT HOME What is Scientology? Transcendence and Imminence Transcendence: Above or beyond what is natural and unable to be explained by natural laws. Imminence: The idea that God or spiritual forces pervade the universe and are present in every aspect of life Monotheism: the doctrine or belief that there is only one God. E.G. Judaism, Islam Polytheism: The belief in or worship of more than one God E.G. Greek/Roman Mythology Pantheism: A doctrine that identifies God with the universe or regards the universe as a manifestation of God. Adopts beliefs such as karma, manifestation etc. Animism: The attribution of living souls to plants, inanimate objects and natural phenomena E.G. First Nations Spirituality Atheism: Disbelief or lack of belief in God or Gods Agnosticism: The belief that nothing is known or can be known about the existence or nature of God. Usually does not engage in religion Deism: Believing in the existence of a supreme being, specifically a creator who does not intervene in the universe Gnosticism: Belief in salvation through the discovery and fostering of secret knowledge. Views the creator as imperfect SUMMARY Christianity: The belief that God sent his son, Jesus Christ, to die for the sins of the world, which allows Christians to have a relationship with God and go to Heaven Islam: The belief that the Prophet Mohammed was the last and most perfect of God's messengers, including Jesus. Islam encourages followers to devote their lives and surrender to “Allah” Judaism: The belief that God has no form, is eternal, and is actively involved in worldly affairs. They do not believe that Jesus was the Messiah or the Son of God. Buddhism: The belief in the reincarnation of the soul, and by following the teachings of Buddha, they can reach an enlightened stage and stop the reincarnation cycle Hinduism: The belief that the entire universe is God and everything in the universe is God Aboriginal Spirituality: The belief that all objects are living and share the same soul as humans Home Learning - 10/2 1.​ A personal and intimate connection with higher spiritual powers is an aspect of Christianity that falls under the immanent component of the religion. Essentially, this means that immanent faiths, the idea that God and other spiritual forces pervade the natural world, can feel an intimate relationship as believers can “feel God's presence” 2.​ Transcendence does not mean that God is so far away that we cannot relate to or see Him 3.​ Covenant means an agreement or promise 4.​ The term Immanuel, “God with us” can capture God's immanence by implying that even though he is “above the natural world”, he is still very much involved in worldly affairs 5.​ A common feature of the scriptures in the text is the use of the word “high”, meant to confirm that God is transcendent, and the ruler of the Earth in the Heavens 6.​ Transcendence means God is removed from humanity because he is far above what we can understand as humans, therefore humans rely on Scripture and sacred texts to gain a greater and deeper understanding of God and his nature 7.​ According to the bible, the consequence of not knowing God intimately is eternal separation from him 8.​ The Book of Romans occurs in the New Testament of the Bible 9.​ The difference between transcendent and unknowable is that a God who is transcendent can be known but is not within the natural world, however, for a God to be unknowable, they cannot be either of this world or above i,t as they are unknowable 10.​Redeemed means “to compensate for wrongdoings” 11.​Whole creation refers to the Heavens and the Earth, all under God's dominion 12.​Jesus Christ plays a role in the immanence of God as he is God in human form, came to allow humans to have an intimate relationship with the Father so believers are not doomed to eternal damnation 13.​Every being on Earth has a plan for them 14.​The benefits to understanding Transcendence and Immanence include being able to understand religions more effectively, especially your own Religion as a Worldview 10/2 Development of Religion ➔​ The English word “Religion” comes from the Latin word “Religare”, meaning “Tie Back” ➔​ Early Roman usage mainly referred to Christianity as Rome became Christian ➔​ 700s - refers to monotheistic religions, including Islam  ➔​ 1800s - refers to something concerning a ‘supreme’ being ➔​ 1900s - religion refers to a whole range of religious systems and does not have to include a ‘supreme God’ Axial Era notes ➔​ Most “great” religions found their fundamental and enduring forms around the same time ➔​ 800 - 400 BCE, a new calibre of religious consciousness had been established in the Middle East, China and India ◆​ China: Confucianism and Taoism ◆​ India: Hindu, Buddhism, and Jainism ◆​ Iran: Zarathustra began teaching an ethical monotheism between good and evil ◆​ Palestine: Judaism ➔​ Karl Jaspers coined the phrase “Axial Era” to refer to this time ➔​ The Axial Era was important as it was when humans started to go to religion to receive answers to questions of meaning ➔​ The answers found have never lost their relevance The Axiel Era - Reading ​ All of the world’s great religions formed at the same time, ○​ ~800BC - 400 CE. ​ A new calibre of religious consciousness in China, India, and the Middle East. ○​ Religious traditions everywhere secured a new depth and clarity of insight into the biggest questions of life, the universe and everything. ○​ China ​ Lao Tzu began Taoism & Confucianism. ○​ India ​ Found his way to enlightenment with Hinduism. ○​ Iran ​ Zarathustra began teaching ethical monotheism ​ The power struggle between cosmic good and evil ○​ Good God, Ahura Mazda ○​ Evil Spirit, Angra Mainya ○​ Palestine ​ Judaism became defined as a prophetic monotheism. Religious Worldviews ​ The living system of belief and practice that constitute the world’s religions differ from one another in various important ways. Nonetheless, all religions have certain basic features that make them ‘religions’ in the first place. ○​ Religious symbols ​ The Christian Crucifix ​ The Islamic Star  ​ Judaic Star of David Semitic Faiths - transcendent religious worldviews ​ Christianity, Islam, and Judaism → grouped to create the Semitic family of religions. ​ ‘Semite’ refers to the offspring of Shem, the son of Noah. With his direct descendence to Abraham → lived around 1900 BCE. ​ Semitic faiths all worship the God of Abraham. ○​ All members of the Semitic family worship the God of Abraham. Monotheism ​ Semitic traditions are unconditionally monotheistic → insist no other god exists ○​ The single divine Being is personal, with a mind and will of his own. ○​ God acts in human history and enters into a special relationship with human beings. ​ Yet he transcends the limit of space, time, and gender. ​ God is eternal, all-knowing, ever-present, and all-good. ​ God is moral and expects that human beings will also live moral lives. Cosmology ​ The Hebrew book of Genesis is accepted as a sacred text by Semitic religions. ○​ The story of the creation of the universe at the beginning of the book of Genesis provides the foundation for cosmology in three traditions. ○​ The natural world → seen as a physical creation and a reality separate from God, although dependent on God for its continued existence. ​ Creation is regarded as good and realm, not evil or illusory. Revelation ​ In unique historical events, God reveals His will and Law to humanity. ○​ Revelation is given in writings in the form of the Hebrew scriptures, the Christian Bible and the Islamic Qur’an.  ○​ God’s revelation requires human obedience. Salvation ​ Semitic religions believe in ○​ life after death, ○​ and that divine judgement will result in eternal reward or punishment depending on God’s mercy and justice. ○​ Moral quality → an individual’s action in life will contribute to the state they're in after death. Common emphases ​ The Semitic faiths share distinctive emphases ○​ Human beings are capable of transcending ○​ Believe that humanity is superior to nature ○​ Individuals have personal responsibility for their actions in life and are therefore morally accountable to God for their thoughts and deeds. ​ Semitic religions view the created world as a morally good order of existence ○​ All three faiths see the movement of history not as an endless cycle but rather as a linear progression from the original creation. Indian Religions - immanent religious worldviews ​ Hinduism and Buddhism emphasise spiritual salvation through wisdom or esoteric knowledge ​ Both religions emerge in India ○​ Hinduism and Buddhism are historically related through Siddhartha Gautama (founder of Buddhism) ​ Siddharta Gautama started off as a Hindu ​ And is why Buddhist worldviews are similar to Hindu worldviews. Knowledge & Deliverance ​ In Hinduism & Buddhism, there is a major emphasis on spiritual salvation.  ○​ Through wisdom or esoteric knowledge. Spiritual wisdom is more than just theoretical information on the world It is deep familiarity with the ultimate truth of life, which includes and transcends the world itself. ​ Wisdom is direct personal wisdom or esoteric knowledge ​ Eastern religions admit that there is more to life than what meets the eye, and wisdom reveals the deeper reality beneath the surface phenomena and accidents of life. The experience of wisdom ​ Wisdom reveals the ultimate reality of life, the universe and everything ○​ The scale and intensity of wisdom make it tremendously exhilarating and frightening at the same time. ​ A reason as to why people often avoid wisdom ​ The whole point of many religious identities, or inner sense of self, so that one is strong enough to seek wisdom ​ Wisdom is not like any ordinary knowledge ○​ Ordinary knowledge acquaints us with the object of the world; wisdom joins us in a living reality of the world. ○​ Knowledge can be left unchanged, but wisdom is an immediate and personal experience that alters us to the core of our existence. ​ Ordinary knowledge separates us from what we know, and in that sense is ‘objective’. ​ Wisdom joins us with what is known to us, so that ‘we’ and ‘what we know’ are the same. The experience of wisdom unites us with what we know so that we are what is known to us. Deliverance and the world ​ The unifying power of wisdom leads to deliverance. When wisdom reveals eternal reality, then whoever has that wisdom becomes united with that reality and so they become eternal themselves ​ Reincarnation allows the spirit to gain that additional wisdom to take it to a higher spiritual plane ○​ Semitic religions regard life as linear, moving from birth in a spiritual journey to the afterlife ○​ Indian religions, though, see life more as a cycle or spiral, progressing through birth, life, and death to rebirth (reincarnation). ​ Ideally, one grows with wisdom through each lifetime until reaching  the ultimate spiritual goal of Enlightenment. ○​ The Eastern attitude of transcendence of the world to gain deliverance from the suffering of life is often mistaken by Western thinkers to be a denial of life and a condemnation of the world. Characteristics of Religion ​ Easy to regard religions as having a number of outward forms. These visible features can be classified into four main observable categories. ○​ Belief ○​ Sacred texts and writings ○​ Ethics ○​ Rituals and ceremonies ​ The boundaries of these aspects overlap and bleed into one another, and may also include social structures, myths and stories, religious experience and symbols. Beliefs & believers ​ Beliefs are ideas that are considered true and express the self-understanding of the tradition. ○​ The earliest attempts to put beliefs into words used sacred stories and myths to convey deep insights. ​ At a more developed level, we find doctrines and creeds expressing beliefs in a clear form. ○​ Many sophisticated traditions offer the formal study of religious beliefs called theology. ○​ All organised religions have a system of beliefs that offers a comprehensive picture of reality - the first step in knowing how best to live. Sacred texts and writings ​ The notion of text has a wide meaning that takes in more than just written material. ○​ In addition to ancient manuscripts and modern printed books, texts are taken to include oral traditions and artistic representations. ○​ Not all religious texts are ‘sacred’ in the sense of containing revelation or having a direct relation with the transcendent. ​ In addition to scriptures, most religions hold in high regard various other writings that are works of commentary or explanation. Ethics  ​ Ethics are ideas about worthy human conduct ○​ Religious traditions spell out the consequences of beliefs by offering guidance on how one should live. Rituals & Ceremonies ​ These are established ceremonies and customary acts that involve special, deliberate and repeatable patterns of behaviour. ○​ Rituals often provide opportunities for members of a tradition to enact their beliefs and commemorate important past events by burning them into the present ○​ Religious rituals affirm the values meanings and purpose that are shared within tradition. Rituals can include such activities as worship, meditation, pilgrimage, sacrifice, sacramental and healing rites, and festivals. ○​ Religious events are used to either mourn sadness or celebrate joy. Myths & Stories ​ The dimensions include the stories and historical narratives of a tradition as well as its symbolic and instructive myths. ‘Stories’ and ‘myths’ may be loosely distinguished because the former more or less respects the conventions of time and space. ○​ There are historical incarnations (e.g. Krishna, Christ). ○​ The distinction is not hard and fast, because there are often religious stories such as infancy narratives which have mythic qualities that not all would take literally. Symbols ​ These may include material objects and artistic creations, for example, temples, icons and pulprits. Symbols have the power to represent realities beyond themselves. ​ They focus on beliefs, communicate meanings, promote community identity and enliven faith experience. Religious experience  ​ The dimension of experience, including associated emotional reactions to the world and to ritual, is often of central importance in religious history and contemporary practice. Indeed, religious traditions have their earliest and deepest foundation in personal experience or revelation of some power or transcendent spirituality daily greater than humans. Social structure ​ Religious traditions are manifested and perpetuated within society through institutions and specific leadership groups. And specific leadership groups. These communicate established beliefs and traditional practices from one generation to the next. ​ The social structure of religious traditions often takes the form of separate institutions within society (E.g. the church) in tribal cultures they commonly occur as distinctive features of society (e,g, a priestly caste). In traditional Australian Aboriginal spirituality such as traditions are incorporated into everyday life and the dissemination of knowledge is through tribal elders. Worldview: The set of lenses through which you see life and the world around you Dimensions of religion Natural: Religious thought or practice that emerges from unaided human reason - makes no reference to the divine revelation from divinities Supernatural: Above or beyond what is natural - not able to be explained by known natural laws Religion: Semitic Religions ➔​ Islam, Christianity and Judaism are grouped as Semitic religions ➔​ Semitic derives from “offspring of Shem” - son of Noah ➔​ Begins with Abraham ➔​ Common factors ◆​ The world is viewed as separate, but dependent on God ◆​ God reveals his power and will to Humanity ◆​ Salvation ◆​ Humanity superior to nature ◆​ Linear progression from original creation to final redemption Indian Religions ➔​ Hinduism and Buddhism emphasise the discovery of spiritual truth from within the human spirit ➔​ Spiritual salvation through wisdom and knowledge ➔​ Deep familiarity with the ultimate truth of life ➔​ When wisdom reveals eternal reality, the individual becomes joined with that wisdom and becomes eternal themselves ➔​ Wisdom is deliverance from the suffering of this world ➔​ Sees life as circular, reincarnation allows the spirit to gain more wisdom to take it to a higher spiritual plane Dimensions of Religion 11/2 Divine powers within man -​ Buddhism -​ Hinduism Divine powers beyond -​ Judaism -​ Islam -​ Christianity Divine Power -​ Belief in one God -​ Beyond human dimension -​ Guides Humanity Impact on Worldview -​ What happens after they die is affected by how they live their life -​ Serving their God -​ Model certain behaviours shown in sacred texts -​ Created for a purpose, by that divine power -​ That divine power guides their life Divine Power within man -​ Power within an individual -​ Search for the ultimate goal/principle Impact on Worldview -​ To find enlightenment/ultimate goal -​ Reincarnation -​ Continues UNTIL you find enlightenment FROM THE SYLLABUS ​ Religion’s influence on human behaviour ​ How religion is an integral part of the human experience and a component of every culture ​ How religion acknowledges a supernatural dimension - a belief in something beyond the natural world ​ Significance in society on a national and global scale ​ Importance of Aboriginal belief systems and spiritualities in Australia and around the world  ​ Religious tradition has its integrity and contributes to a well-ordered society ​ How religion can give people distinct answers to the human need for meaning in life ​ Helps with developing skills in analysis, research, collaboration and critical thinking ​ Provides a learning experience that prepares students for further education and training Skills - develop critical thinking, independent research, collaboration, life-long learners - gain understanding of other religions, and other people, develop respect for other cultures - prevents us from being egotistic and self-centred to empathetic and respectful Students to learn - how religion shapes our world and influences society Students learn to contemplate/reflect on their worldviews Characteristics of Religion 12/2 Beliefs and Believers ​ Beliefs are the ideas that are considered true and express the self-understanding of the tradition ​ The earliest attempts to put beliefs into words used sacred stories and myths to convey deep insights ​ At a more developed level, we find doctrines and creeds expressing beliefs in a clear form ​ Many sophisticated traditions offer the formal study of religious beliefs called theology ​ All organised religions have a system of belief that offers a comprehensive view of reality - the first step in knowing how best to live Notes from slides ➔​ Belief is a state of mind → trusting something that isn’t 100% factual ➔​ Mutually supported beliefs = Religious system ➔​ Relates humanity to spirituality ➔​ Intended to give meaning to life and/or explain how life came to be ➔​ Many religions have narratives (Jesus' death on the cross), symbols (cross), traditions (baptism) and sacred history (Dead Sea Scrolls) ➔​ Organised behaviour → prayer, pastor/priest ◆​ The majority have sermons, the commemoration of the activity of a God/gods, sacrifices, festivals, feasts, trance, initiation, funeral, marriage, music, art, dance, etc ➔​ Religion has existed since time itself ➔​ Religion connects human beings to the relationship they have with something holy, sacred, divine and spiritual Sacred Texts 13/2 ​ All religions have oral and/or written sacred writings, texts or other types of stories ​ Sacred texts are how people are connected with the truth claims and the supernatural dimension of a religion ​ They are believed to be a revelation of divine truth directly from a deity or by some other supernatural means Home Learning: 13/2 How does religion impact people's ethical behaviour? ​ Following patterns of behaviour dictated in sacred texts ○​ Biblical values of kindness and mercy ​ Believers have the responsibility to treat people in the way a significant individual treated others ○​ Treating people the way Jesus did ​ Eating Dinner with Sinners ​ “Hate the Sin, Love the Sinner” ​ Love your enemies ​ Pray for those who persecute you ​ Commonly, sacred texts will outline things believers should do to stay within the ethical expectations of a religion ○​ Islam ​ Charity, honesty, and respect ○​ Christianity ​ Kindness, charity and mercy ○​ Hindu ​ Non-violence, love and peace ○​ Judaism ​ Kindness, mercy, social welfare Ethics, Morality and Law 18/2 Ethics are principles that determine a person's sense of right and wrong and behaviour in certain situations Ethics aid an individual in developing moral principles due to its guidance in decision-making, fostering self-reflection, encouraging self-awareness and cultural recognition. Ethics and religious beliefs are closely intertwined as religious sacred texts will have ethical and moral values that believers are expected to follow, these are consolidated by religious teachings such as sermons In religious communities, believers can find guiding principles through sacred texts and other spiritual teachings such as sermons The relationship between ethics and law is that laws will usually follow the ethical values of the dominant group in society VIDEO NOTES -​ Laws are formal rules that govern how we behave as members of society -​ What we must and mustn’t do -​ Basic enforceable standard of behaviour -​ Imposed by courts -​ Subject to ethical assessment -​ Morality refers to an informal framework of values, beliefs, customs, principles, and ways of living -​ Aren’t usually enforced by the state, but social pressures arise -​ Christianity, Stoicism, Buddhism -​ Provides a set of answers to basic ethical questions -​ What should I do -​ How should I live -​ Morality is usually inherited -​ Morality can be applied as a matter of habit -​ Ethics is a branch of philosophy that aims to answer the question “What should I do” -​ Process of reflection in which people's actions are shaped by their values, principles and purpose -​ Good, right and meaningful -​ A reference point for all possible actions -​ An ethical decision is based on conscious reflection VIDEO TWO NOTES -​ Christian ethics begins with Jesus Christ, his person and work, moral instruction and example -​ Christian ethics can also begin with the Hebrew Bible -​ Christian ethics is intrinsically interdisciplinary -​ Study the Bible, theology, church history and philosophy to understand it -​ Many captors of Christian conquerors adopted the faith but developed new ethical guidelines Rituals and Ceremonies 20/2 Rituals and ceremonies are an established part of the religious community. They involve special, deliberate and repeatable patterns. Rituals and Ceremonies are a way to keep religion dynamic and relevant to the present-day ​ Serves as a way to remind religious adherents of core values and to create a sense of solidarity and unity within a community ​ Serves to pass on knowledge from one generation to another; myths and stories, relevance of symbols, nuances of religious experience and reinforce social structures within the religion Types of rituals and ceremonies ➔​ Worship rites ➔​ Sacraments ➔​ Rites of passage (eg. coming-of-age ceremonies) ➔​ Atonement and purification ➔​ Oaths of allegiance and dedication ➔​ Birth, marriage, death ➔​ Meditation ➔​ Pilgrimage ➔​ Sacrifice ➔​ Healing EDROLO NOTES: What is a Dynamic, Living Religion When beliefs and believers, ethics, rituals and ceremonies, and sacred texts and writings interact, it nurtures a religion that is alive and active in the lives of adherents ➔​ Full of life ➔​ Practical, real and immersed in everyday human existence ➔​ Evident in society ➔​ Clearly expressed in the lives of adherents Contribution of Religion to Society ➔​ Attempts to answer fundamental questions of human existence ◆​ Why am I here? ◆​ Is there a supreme being? ◆​ Why do evil and suffering exist? ◆​ Is there life after death? ➔​ Religion helps construct meaning, provides ethical guidance and a sense of belonging ➔​ Religion contributes to an individual sense of self through sacred texts, believers can draw on for wisdom, and complex ethical systems ➔​ Religion shapes human culture to sustain a diverse society ◆​ Social cohesion through establishing rites of passage ◆​ It helps individuals to understand the meaning of existence and a deeper meaning of life Contribution of Religion to the Individual 27/02 Religion serves to find answers to the great questions of human existence ​ What happens after you die? ​ Shape views on controversial issues (homosexuality, abortion) ​ What is our purpose? ​ What is right/wrong? ​ How should I treat others? ​ Why do I exist here/now? ​ How is Earth/Universe created? ​ Why is there suffering and how should I deal with it? ​ Why is there evil/conflict/war? Identity and Sense of Belonging ​ Rituals and ceremonies within a community ​ Being part of a community – shared beliefs and practices ​ Christianity, for example – loved specifically by God  ​ Ethics and morals shape a person's identity – contribute to a person's belief system and the way they engage and interact with others and the world around them ​ Comfort – being watched over, divine powers being in control or guiding an individual through life Confront and Challenge Religion can confront and challenge individuals to bring about paradigm (pattern) shifts in society ​ Martin Luther King Jr, Martin Luther, King Henry the Eighth, Thomas Cromwell ​ Interpretation of scriptures ​ Social morals – slavery, segregation, marriage, contraception, gender identity Worldview Religion can refine or define an individual's worldview, achieved through ​ Sets of moral or ethical principles an individual should live through ​ Answer the difficult questions of life – morality, purpose, meaning ​ Awareness of diversity in people – appreciation of diversity ​ Knowledge and understanding of the sacred texts, doctrines and rituals Moral Compass Religion can serve as a way to provide an individual with a code of ethics through which they use their morality to navigate the everyday ​ Methodology to live out values ​ Accountability framework Case Study: Jewish response to suffering and evil in the world The Jewish attitude towards suffering is a major distinguishable difference between Judaism and other Abrahamic religions. The attitude of Jews towards suffering stems from the acknowledgment of suffering as part of God's arching plan for society. It is believed that the innocent who suffer are rewarded in Heaven, these beliefs were largely crafted and reformed after the tragedy of the Holocaust. Jewish adherents are implored to rectify the suffering they see and extend active compassion to those suffering. What can religion offer us? ​ Appreciate and proactively live in the present ​ Consider reality beyond the present – points to a divine or spiritual dimension ​ Religion is alive and dynamic when it contributes to and shapes contemporary society Religion shapes the zeitgeist of its contemporary society by impacting the lives of adherents, forming and introducing social paradigms, affecting society as a whole. Contribution of Society -​ Charities -​ Education -​ Hospitals -​ Government -​ Laws -​ Cultural Traditions -​ Music -​ Arts -​ Buildings -​ Economic Structures Religion as a Peacemaker ​ Forgiveness of themselves and others ​ Doctrine to love and value each individual ​ Contentment of one's life – knowing it will all work out in the afterlife ​ Acceptance ​ Hierarchical framework to establish harmony Christianity - In Depth Greek - Christianos (Follower of Christ or Little Christian) -​ Came out of people noticing what they saw of followers of Christ (derogatory) Greek - Χριστός (Christos/Christ) - anointed one Hebrew - ‫( המשיח‬Mashiach/Messiah) - anointed one Story of the Bible leading up to the birth of Jesus -​ People of Israel and their oppression under foreign rule -​ Expectations of how God would save them -​ Prophetic writings in the Old Testament about the coming of a Messiah Gospel accounts of Jesus’ birth, life and death -​ Jewish expectations and religious beliefs -​ Influence of Roman Society Establishment of the church and the spread of Christianity -​ Persecution of Christians under the Roman Emperors (Key reason why Christianity spread as significantly as it did) -​ Development of principal beliefs and heresies Heresies → Beliefs that are rejected by the majority of a group ESSAY PLAN “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of Heaven” (Matthew 5:10) Asses the factors leading to the early expansion of Christianity. Refer to the above stimulus to support your response 1.​ Identification with Jesus in persecution 2.​ Pax Romana afforded missionaries the ability to travel to other Roman occupied provinces 3.​ Attracting converts through counter-cultural narrative (hospitality, philosophy during a time of persecution) Principal Beliefs Humanity and Divinity of Jesus -​ Hypostatic union -​ Hypostasis - the idea of the whole being -​ Jesus is fully human and fully divine -​ Also known as Two Natures Christology Development of Theology and Doctrine -​ Early Christians began to debate about how to understand Jesus, his nature and his teachings -​ Doctrines began to be developed and circulated that some Christian communities agreed with and others disagreed with -​ Some of these doctrines were labelled as heresies: -​ Gnosticism - believed that only those who possessed a certain knowledge could be saved -​ Marcionism - the God of Jesus was different to the God of the Old Testament -​ Docetism - Jesus was pure spirit and his physical form was an illusion Council of Nicea ​ Emperor Constantine convened the Council of Nicaea in 325 AD (first Roman emperor to legalise Christianity) ​ A group of Christian bishops came from around the Empire to Nicaea in Turkey to agree on some foundational beliefs that would define Christianity ​ The doctrine focused on coming to a consensus on the nature of Jesus and his relationship to God the Father ​ The bishops rejected Arianism, which said that although Jesus is the same substance as the Father, he is not the same as the Father - only God the Father is supreme and Jesus as his Son is lower in rank ​ The bishops supported the belief that the Father and the Son are equal, using John 10:30 as evidence: “I and the Father are one” See Slide 14 of Christianity Principal Beliefs for The Nicene Creed Key Quotes -​ “Of the very same nature as the Father” -​ “He took body, soul and mind and everything that is in man” The Chalcedonian Creed ​ Emperor Marcian held the Council of Chalcedon in 451 AD to address more heresies about Jesus’ divinity and humanity ​ The Chalcedonian Creed has been affirmed by Catholic, Protestant and Orthodox churches ever since See Slide 15 of Christianity Principal Beliefs for The Chalcedonian Creed Summary: Jesus and God are indivisible Key Quotes -​ “One and the same Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, the same perfect in Godhead and also perfect in manhood” -​ “Truly God and truly man” Theories about Jesus’ Humanity and Divinity Martin Luther ​ used the analogy of iron & heat to understand the divine and human in Christ ​ Just as heat pervades an iron bar so also in the incarnation, Jesus’ divinity extends throughout his humanity ​ Nothing is accomplished by either of Jesus’ natures without the cooperation of the other “This unity of the two natures in one person is the greatest possible so that they are equally predicated and communicate their properties to each other.” Collected Works 73, 1520 John Calvin ​ Believed two natures of Christ remain separate even within the unity of Jesus’ person ​ Jesus sometimes operated from the human nature and at other times from his divine nature “For we affirm his divinity so joined and united with his humanity that each retains its distinctive nature unimpaired, and yet these two natures constitute one Christ” Institutes of the Christian Religion, 1536 Biblical Basis for Jesus’ Humanity ​ It is foundational to Christianity that Jesus was a real human being ​ Denial of the true, full humanity of Christ has always been regarded as a heretical deviation from the gospel ○​ 1 John 4:2-3: “By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh (Greek in carne - incarnation) is from God, and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God” ​ Jesus is understood by the early church as the ‘true human’ or the ‘new Adam’ - the ideal and perfect human ○​ 1 Corinthians 15:22: “For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive.”  ​ Jesus experienced the conditions of human existence: ○​ He grew in a womb and was born (Luke 2:6; Matt 1:18, 25; 2:7) ○​ He grew from boyhood to manhood, experiencing normal human development (Luke 2:40, 52) ○​ He experienced the full range of human emotions such as anger (Mark 3:5), grief over the death of a loved one (John 11:35-36), pity for those suffering (Mark 1:41) and dread (Mark 14:33-35) ○​ Jesus got tired, thirsty, and hungry, he slept, drank and ate like other humans do (Mark 4:38; John 4:6-7) ○​ Jesus experienced human temptations (Luke 4:1-13; Hebrews 2:18; 4:15) ○​ Jesus died and after his resurrection was and still is a man, with a real body of flesh and bones (Luke 24:36-43; Acts 10:41; 17:31; 1 Corinthians 15:47; 1 Timothy 2:5) VIDEO NOTES - Reverend Dr NT Wright ​ Question: What is the biggest misunderstanding that Christians have about Jesus and how does this stump our faith? ○​ Because Jesus was divine, people believe that, therefore, he couldn’t have struggled or doubted ​ Garden of Gethsemane “Is there another way?” ​ Sweat blood ​ “Jesus wept” ○​ Divinity can’t trump Humanity ○​ Humanity of Jesus is just as important as his Divinity ○​ Can become easy to disregard Jesus’ Humanity for the story of his Divinity (resurrection, death, etc) Why is Jesus’ Humanity Important to Christians? ​ Jesus, as the Messiah, becomes the personification of Israel ​ Jesus becomes the representative of Israel and all humanity (Hebrews 2:16-17) ​ Jesus died labelled as a rebel, zealot and unclean sinner, taking the place of Israel and all of humanity (Luke 23:2) ​ Jesus’ experiences as human show that God is not ignorant to suffering, therefore those who suffer relate closely with Jesus’ experiences of persecution (1 Peter 4:12-13) ​ Jesus’ humanity provides the basis for imitating his life and how he treated others (1 John 2:6) Biblical Basis for Jesus’ Divinity ​ Jesus as the Word (logos) ○​ John’s Gospel refers to Jesus as the logos in John 1:1 - “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” ○​ The logos in the Bible referred to the creative power and wisdom of God ○​ By claiming Jesus is an embodiment of the logos, John claims that Jesus is  divine ​ Jesus was born of a virgin ○​ Luke’s Gospel tells of Mary becoming pregnant by the Holy Spirit while she was a virgin in Luke 1:34-35 ○​ Theologian Karl Barth said that the virgin birth is “a single sign that this life [Jesus’ life] is marked off from all the rest of human life” (The Miracle of Christmas, 1956) ​ Jesus referred to as ‘God’ ○​ John 1:18 - “No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known” ○​ John 20:28 - Thomas refers to Jesus as “My Lord, My God” after his resurrection ○​ Romans 9:5 - “Christ, who is God over all” ○​ Titus 2:13 - “Our great God and Saviour Jesus Christ” ○​ Hebrews 1:8 - “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever” ​ Islamic perspective: Jesus Is Not God Or The Son Of God (100% PROOF) -LoveAllah328 ​ Jehovah’s Witness perspective: BBC - Religions - Witnesses: Beliefs. VIDEO NOTES - REVERAND DR N.T. WRIGHT ​ Jesus as God was retrospectively applied ​ The language that we have in the New Testament very clearly connects to descriptions of God in the Old Testament ​ Early Christians were attempting to say God is Jesus with their limited language ○​ Telling the story of God as the story of Jesus ​ Jewish people, who were familiar with the Old Testament and scriptures, could see God’s movement in communities, ○​ God would send a Messiah ○​ Messiah would be God in human form Why is Jesus’ Divinity Relevant to Christians? ○​ Jesus cannot forgive sin unless he is God (Mark 2:4-7) ○​ Jesus cannot fully reveal all of God unless he is God (John 14:8-9, Hebrews 1:3) ○​ Even a morally perfect human cannot bear the weight of all sin at once (Romans 6:10) ○​ The resurrection affirms Jesus’ divinity (Romans 1:4) ○​ Jesus’ divinity means bringing an end to the power of death and the promise of life (2 Timothy 1:10) ○​ Jesus’ divinity gives hope of a future with no death and evil (Revelation 21:4) CORE BELIEFS AROUND THE DIVINITY OF JESUS TASK Catholic Church: Christ is both God and Man, follows the teachings of the Chalcedonian Creed Baptist Church: Christ is both God and Man, follows the teachings of the Chalcedonian Creed Pentecostal Church: Christ is both God and Man, baptises in the name of Jesus Christ to receive freedom from Sin Development of Christian Denominations Key Dates ​ 312 CE - Emperor Constantine legalises Christianity ​ 325 CE - First Church Council at Nicaea ​ 451 CE - Council of Chalcedon ​ 476 CE - Fall of Roman Empire - Christianity spreads through Europe ​ 1054 CE - The Great Schism - break between Catholic (West) & Orthodox (East) ​ 1517 CE - The Reformation - division of Catholic & Protestant DEATH AND RESURRECTION OF CHRIST - IMPORTANT FOR ASSESSMENT ​ The death of Jesus is recorded in all four Gospel accounts ​ Jesus was crucified as a form of execution ​ Jesus’ death has significance to the Christian ideas of forgiveness and salvation VIDEO NOTES - THE BIBLE PROJECT ​ Religious leaders thought Jesus was a threat to their power ​ Jesus is weeping as he rides his donkey ○​ Knows that Israel will continue down its path ○​ Knows that he will be crucified ​ Jesus drives out the traders in the temple ○​ This is meant to be a house of worship, but you have made it a den of thieves ​ Jesus uses the symbolism of passover ○​ Broken bread - Bones ○​ Wine - Blood ​ Garden of Genthesies ○​ Struggles with temptation to save his own life ​ Arrested by Roman soldiers ○​ Rebel who is stirring up ○​ Barrbarros - The innocent is handed over in the place of the guilty ​ Jesus was mocked on the cross ○​ Prayed for his executors HOW ARE THESE EVENTS EXPRESSED IN CHRISTIANITY -​ PALM SUNDAY -​ GOOD FRIDAY -​ EASTER -​ COMMUNION -​ BAPTISM (the washing away of sin, representation of dying to your sins and being  reborn/resurrected) Jesus’ death in the Bible - Death & Resurrection of Jesus in the Gospels -​ Matthew 27:11-66 -​ Mark 15:1-47 -​ Luke 22:66-23:56 -​ John 19:1-42 HOW IS IT DESCRIBED IN THE BIBLE? There are many ways that the death of Jesus is described by the various New Testament authors. Here are some of them: Obedience ​ Jesus was obedient to the will of the Father, which required him to die for humanity as a substitute (in place of) ​ Romans 5:19: “For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of one man the many will be made righteous” (Adam - original sin, everyone is born sinful - CATHOLIC VIEW) Sacrifice ​ Jesus’ death is described as a sacrifice for human sins in the context of the Old Testament sacrificial system ​ Understanding that humanity could not be in relationship with a perfect God while sinful ○​ Something had to pay for that - Sacrifice of lamb ​ 1 Corinthians 5:7: “Get rid of the old yeast that you may be a new batch without yeast - as you really are. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed.” Propitiation ​ On the cross, Jesus took the sins of humanity onto himself (Jesus became Sin) ​ 1 John 2:2: “He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.” Redemption ​ Jesus’ death liberates humans from bondage to sin as it brings forgiveness and freedom ​ Ephesians 1:7: “In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our sins according to his grace.” Reconciliation  ​ Jesus’ death reconciles humans to God and one another through the creation of a new humanity ​ Ephesians 2:15: “His purpose was to create in himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace, and in this one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross.” ​ Everyone that was meant to be the bridge between God and humanity failed (Adam, Israel), so Jesus died for this relationship Justice and Justification ​ Jesus took on the judgement of sin on humanity’s behalf as a mediator between humans and God, so that all could be justified ​ 2 Corinthians 5:21: “For our sake he became sin, he who knew no sin, so that we might become the righteousness of God.” Victory ​ Jesus’ death defeats sin, death and evil (Satan) ​ Hebrews 2:14: “Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery.” OTHER VIEWS - SCAPEGOAT THEORY - (Jesus dies because humans cannot acknowledge their violent nature, and therefore kill an innocent person to deflect their nature) ​ Some contemporary and more progressive theologians reject the view that Jesus’ death was the will of God, that Jesus was sent to die for the sins of humanity ​ The basis for this rejection is the nature of God as loving and the stories of God rejecting human sacrifice in the Old Testament (e.g. Abraham and Isaac) ​ Instead, they believe that Jesus was executed for his actions and ministry that confronted the religious and political systems and structures of the day - he was executed for threatening the powers at play ​ These theologians believe that Jesus’ death was not the will of God but rather the violent acts of humans, and that Jesus’ willingness to die was the ultimate sacrifice of non-violence ​ They believe Jesus’ resurrection is the ultimate act of God, with the power of God overcoming the Empire’s greatest weapon: death ​ Jesus’ death inspired other early Christians to die for their faith, in the belief that death was not the end ​ Sin, in this context, refers to the systems and structures that oppress and control people, so Jesus dying as a result of his ministry inspired others to challenge oppressive structures in their contexts RESURRECTION OF JESUS  ​ The resurrection of Jesus is recorded in all four Gospel accounts ​ The resurrection of Jesus is linked to salvation ​ The resurrection points to a new creation VIDEO NOTES - BIBLE PROJECT ​ Jesus was a threat to religious leaders ​ Jesus called Israel's leaders “a gang of rebels” ​ Religious leader named Joseph who opposed Jesus’ execution wanted to see Jesus and bury him ​ Women visited the tomb and the tomb was open and empty ○​ Angels tell them Jesus is risen ○​ No one believed their report ​ Disciples travelled a road, Jesus shows up walking beside them, they don’t recognise him ○​ Talk to Jesus…. About himself? ​ Israel needed a king who would suffer and die as a rebel on behalf of rebels ​ They eat some broken bread, and their eyes are opened to Jesus ○​ Jesus disappears ​ Jesus and the disciples have dinner together ○​ Jesus says that he’ll give disciples the same divine power that brought him back from the dead, so they can spread the gospel ​ Jesus disappears into Heaven ○​ Jesus enthroned as the divine king of the whole world ​ Luke continues his gospel in the book of Acts JESUS’ RESURRECTION IN THE BIBLE - Death & Resurrection of Jesus in the Gospels The crucifixion and death of Jesus is found in all four Gospel accounts: ​ Matthew 28:1-20 ​ Mark 16:1-20 ​ Luke 24:1-53 ​ John 20:1-30 VIDEO NOTES - DR NT WRIGHT ​ Wasn’t in disciples' plan, they had no idea what was going to happen ○​ They didn’t expect Jesus to be arrested or die ○​ Messiah was seen as someone who would rescue Israel from the Romans, not be killed by them ​ God’s new creation has begun ○​ God has defeated death and leads to a new kind of life ○​ God had an ideal plan that was corrupted ​ Through Jesus’ death, that sin is dealt with ○​ A new kind of life that allows adherents to be close to God ​ Ancient scriptures had been fulfilled, but differently than expected ○​ They read the ancient scriptures in a new way (with new eyes) ○​ Starting to see Jesus in the ancient scriptures  ​ The people who were close to Jesus were a part of the new exodus ​ The ultimate slavery is Sin and Death ○​ No resurrection means Sin has not been dealt with ​ If Jesus has been raised from the dead, he is the Messiah and Lord of the World ​ New political movement: a leader who has conquered death ○​ The one true king has a weapon beyond death ​ Atonement (reparation for Sin) is complete FULFILLMENT OF OLD TESTAMENT SCRIPTURES ​ Genesis ​ Creation Story ​ God is sovereign and creator of all things ​ Humans created in God’s image ○​ Part of God's family ​ God wants them there → As a partner for God, not a slave ​ Relationship with God and harmony with creation ​ Jesus is a new Adam NEW EXODUS ​ Jesus mirrored Israel's story ○​ Born poor and in oppression ○​ Egypt vs Rome  ○​ Red Sea and Jesus Baptism ​ Jesus goes to the wilderness (40 days) after baptism ​ Jesus tested + tempted ​ Food ​ Power ​ Jews go to the wilderness (40 years) after the Red Sea ​ Food ​ Power ​ Jesus succeeds temptation where Israel fails (Jesus is new Moses) ​ Israelites were an example of people made in God’s image ​ They don’t lol ​ Jesus shows what it means to be a true human → God becoming human ​ Crossover time → Earth as it is and how it’s meant to be ○​ Now and the Not Yet ○​ Eschatology DEALS WITH SIN AND DEATH ○​ Took the consequence of sin (both of us and from before) ​ Because of human nature, we exploit each other → creates a world that oppresses, destroys and exploits each other → it is growing ○​ Beaten death ​ Death is the empire's greatest weapon to control and exploit people → poverty, execution, not dealing with mental health ○​ Jesus confronts these cycles and brings dignity and hope to people stuck in these cycles, and their voices are heard in the Bible → unique in that sense as no other historical documents were written by marginalized people BIG PICTURE SIN THAT JESUS DIED FOR = CYCLES OF SIN FULFILLS OLD TESTAMENT SCRIPTURES ​ Salvific motif ​ Davidic covenant → when God promised the Messiah to King David ​ Every king was thought to be a possible Messiah SUMMARY Jesus represents the true human and is a model for all humans to follow, the new creation is about all humans created in God's image living in harmony with God, one another and the Earth, Jesus fulfills the old testament scriptures as Jesus is described as a descendant of David and fulfills of the salvific promises of the Old Testament scriptures. The resurrection of Jesus can also be seen as a new exodus where Jesus’ life and experiences mirror that of Israel, but where Israel fails to trust God and live as an example of God's character and nature in the world, Jesus succeeds and is the ultimate representation of God. The resurrection also shows how God deals witb sin and and death, Jesus proivides another way if being in the world by challenging thr systems and structures that lead to oppression and exploitation and people who experience salvation are compelled to follow his example, his resurrection also defeats death, which can be seen as the empires greatest weapon and shows that God is more powerful than any human attempt to destroy life. THE TRINITY ​ Refers to the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit ​ Tri - Unity (the unity of all three) ​ All three are God, all three are equal Development of Theology and Belief ​ The word ‘trinity’ does not exist in the Bible ​ However, the belief that God exists in a trinity is central to the Christian faith ​ This belief came out of the experiences of the people of faith in the early church ​ This belief grew out of an understanding and acceptance of Jesus’ divinity into the monotheistic view of God ​ The Holy Spirit was also accepted as being part of God in the experience of the early church ○​ Acts 5:3 - Peter talks about how lying to the Holy Spirit is equal to lying to God ​ After the Council of Nicaea, where the divinity of Jesus was affirmed, early Christians focused on how the Holy Spirit fit into this ​ Early theologians described the trinity as God having one ‘essence’ (ousia) but three ‘realities’ (hypostaseis) with each ‘reality’ having special properties or activities ​ There were debates about whether there was a hierarchy within the Trinity, and whether Jesus and the Spirit were created by God the Father ​ It is now affirmed by Christian denominations that Father, Son and Spirit are equally divine Doctrine of the Trinity ​ Theologians such as Karl Rahner, Jurgen Moltmann, and Wolfhart Pannenberg have been influential in their work on the Doctrine of the Trinity ​ There are four key statements that help to define the Trinity: ○​ God is one - one divine essence, Yahweh ○​ God is three - Father, Son & Spirit share together in one divine essence ○​ God is diversity - Father, Son, & Spirit differentiate themselves from each other ○​ God is unity - all three are involved in every area of God’s working in the world How is this expressed by Christians? ​ Religious rituals ○​ The sign of the cross in prayer - Father, Son & Spirit ○​ Baptism in the name of the Father, Son & Spirit (Matthew 28:19) ​ Ethics ○​ God as perfect unity is a model and standard for humankind - how to live in community with each other - 1 John 4:11 - “Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another” THE HOLY SPIRIT - VIDEO NOTES ​ God's spirit is the way the Bible's authors talk about his personal presence ○​ Invisible energy ○​ God’s spirit is invisible and powerful like wind and sustains life like breath  ​ God's spirit gives empowerment to people for specific tasks ○​ Joseph can understand interpret dreams through ○​ Prophets can see historical events from God’s point of view ​ The Holy Spirit had made God's world good, but human nature had corrupted it ○​ Spirit would transform the human heart ​ Jesus' baptism → God's spirit rests on Jesus’ shoulder after he emerges from the water ○​ Empowers Jesus to begin the new creation ​ Seen where he heals and forgives people, creating life where there once was death ○​ Raises Jesus from the dead ​ Jesus breathes on followers and imparts the Holy Spirit ○​ Learning how to live by the energy and influence of the Holy Spirit ○​ Holy Spirit hovers even now, turning people to God every day ​ Heaven is permeated with God’s life-giving spirit THE HOLY SPIRIT ​ “Pneumatology” - The Doctrine of the Holy Spirit ○​ “Pneuma” = Greek word for “breath” - the word used in the Septuagint and New Testament for “spirit” ○​ “Ruach” = Hebrew word for “breath” - the word used in the Hebrew Scriptures for “spirit” ​ “Paraclete” = helper - used in the New Testament to refer to the Holy Spirit ○​ 15 “If you love me, you will keep my commandments. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper (Paraclete), to be with you forever, 17 even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you. John 14:15-17 ​ Theologians ask two main questions to determine the nature of the Holy Spirit: ○​ Is the Spirit full divine, or a reality less than God the Father? ○​ Is the Spirit fully person, or merely an impersonal force? ​ Christians believe that the Spirit is fully divine and personal ○​ Apostle’s Creed - acknowledges the Spirit as the third person of the Trinity ​ The Spirit, therefore, has been in existence from the beginning of time OLD TESTAMENT - HOLY SPIRIT ​ The ruach of God is connected to the breath of God ○​ 7 then the Lord God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature. Genesis 2:7 ​ The Spirit became closely linked to the divine life and God’s bestowal of life into all created beings ​ The Spirit in the Old Testament was only experienced selectively or corporately ​ The people hoped for the Spirit of God to dwell permanently among the people - the hope was that the Messiah would bring this about “Although the presence of God’s Spirit in nature suggested the idea of God’s immanence, the concept of God sending his Spirit reminded them of the parallel idea of the divine transcendence. They sensed that as Spirit the transcendent God entered the natural order unpredictably.” Stanley Grenz, (1994), Theology for the Community of God, p. 471 NEW TESTAMENT - HOLY SPIRIT ​ The people expected the Messiah to be both anointed with and a carrier of the Spirit of God ​ According to the Gospels, Jesus of Nazareth fits these categories ​ The Spirit of God is how Jesus was able to fulfil his ministry ○​ “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favour.” Luke 4:18-19 ​ Jesus promises to send a Helper (paraclete) - the Spirit of God ​ Acts 2 describes the event of Pentecost - a Jewish festival that saw people from all over the Empire come to Jerusalem - many of these people experienced the Spirit of God personally. SALVATION ​ The resurrection of Jesus is recorded in all four Gospel accounts ​ The resurrection of Jesus is linked to salvation ​ The resurrection points to a new creation WHAT IS SALVATION? Salvation relates to the saving activity of the triune God. ​ Christians believe that God is bringing salvation to all of creation ​ Jesus’ incarnation, his life, death and resurrection, are a central part of God’s salvation plan ​ God offers salvation to individual humans ​ The moment of accepting God’s salvation is called ‘conversion’ ​ The process of being ‘transformed’ by God’s salvation is called ‘sanctification’ ​ The ultimate goal of salvation is ‘glorification’ - the renewal of all things and eternal life with God CONVERSION ​ Conversion is the first experience of salvation - when a person accepts salvation from God ○​ Romans 10:9: “If you declare with your mouth Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved”  ​ Christians believe that after conversion, they become aware of the Holy Spirit in their lives ​ The goal is for the Holy Spirit to transform the person to be more like Jesus and bring the person closer to God ​ Conversion brings the person into a community of other believers who have also experienced conversion ​ Another way of describing conversion is to be “born again” ○​ John 3:3: “Truly I tell you, no-one can see the Kingdom of God unless they are born again.” SANCTIFICATION ​ The saving work of the Holy Spirit in an individual does not end at conversion - this is just the beginning ​ The ongoing process of becoming like Jesus is called “sanctification” - meaning to be made pure and holy ○​ John 13:19: “I make myself holy for them so they too can be made holy by the truth” ​ Christians believe that they receive sanctification by the grace of God - God has chosen for them to be sanctified, so they are sanctified ​ Christians also believe that they must make the effort to become like Christ ○​ “Make every effort to be holy; without holiness, no one will see the Lord” (Hebrews 12:14) ​ The goal of sanctification is to become Christlike - to love God and love others, to resist sin and advocate for human flourishing GLORIFICATION ​ Christians believe that God’s salvation plan is eternal, meaning that once salvation occurs, that person will have eternal life with God ​ One perspective is that there is an ultimate reality of perfection that Christians will reach ​ A prominent belief is that Christians will be conscious in the afterlife, with bodies and spirits, just as Jesus was after he was resurrected ​ Christians believe that eternity will be spent in community with God and one another and that this is the ultimate goal of God’s saving activity REVELATION ​ “Revelation” is a translation of the Greek word apokalypsis, which means the removal of a veil so that something can be seen. ​ Many religions believe in divine revelation to explain and justify their beliefs about God or the supernatural. ​ Revelation refers to instances of divine speaking or divine acts in history and can refer to any kind of divine self-disclosure (e.g. through nature). ​ There are two main types of revelation in Christian theology - General Revelation and Special Revelation. GENERAL REVELATION General revelation, also known as natural revelation, is the knowledge of God that is available to all people through the natural world, conscience, and reason. ​ Nature: observing the beauty, order, and design of the universe can lead to a sense of God’s existence and power (stewardship) ​ Conscience: An inner sense of right and wrong, suggesting moral standards that point to a moral lawgiver ​ Reason: philosophical and logical thinking can lead to insights about God’s attributes and nature IN THE BIBLE Psalm 19:1-4 1 The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. 2 Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge. 3 They have no speech, they use no words; no sound is heard from them. 4 Yet their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world. Romans 1:20 For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse. SPECIAL REVELATION Special Revelation is God’s specific and supernatural communication to individuals or groups, which is not available to all people through natural means. ​ Scripture: The Bible, both the Hebrew and Christian scriptures, is considered a primary form of special revelation ​ Miracles: Supernatural events, like Jesus’ miracles, are seen as evidence of God’s power and intervention ​ Prophecy: God’s communication through prophets, conveying messages and warnings ​ The Incarnation: God’s becoming human in Jesus Christ is a supreme example of special revelation IN THE BIBLE John 1:14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. Hebrews 1:1-2 "Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world." CHRISTIANITY SACRED TEXTS The Bible ​ Old & New Testament (Hebrew Scriptures) ○​ Testament from Latin testari - to testify ○​ Greek - diatheke - covenant (law/agreement) ​ Deuterocanonical books/ Second Temple Writings Within SOR, because it is a multi faithed discipline, it is respectful to identify the Old Testament as Hebrew Scriptures and the New Testament as Christian Scriptures. VIDEO NOTES -​ One of the most influencial books in human history -​ Explores lifes most complicated questions -​ Bible is a small library of books derived from the Prophets -​ Expertly crafted Hebrew language to create -​ Texts produced over a thousand years -​ Starting with Isaels origins in Egypt -​ Israels oppression -​ Tells a story on how God works through humans to bring order to chaos -​ Hebrew Scriptures end with no Messiah  -​ Apostles created the New Testament out of letters, gospels and acts -​ God speaking to his people through the New Testament and Hebrew scriptures -​ Deuterocanonical books are other second temple writings, only included in some denominations, such as Catholicism HEBREW SCRIPTURES TORAH - Law NEVI’IM - Prophets KHETUVIM - Writings Different Christian traditions have different versions of the Bible ○​ Catholic - officially compiled in 1610 ○​ Orthodox - officially compiled in 1672 ○​ Protestant - officially compiled in 1534 (printing press coincided with the Protestant Reformation) THE WORD OF GOD ​ The Bible was written over several centuries by Jewish and Greek individuals and communities ​ Christians believe the Holy Spirit inspired these people to write the words of the Bible ○​ 2 Timothy 3:16 “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work” ​ Christians believe that the words and stories in the Bible reveal the nature and character of God ○​ Hebrews 1:1-2 “Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son” ​ Christians believe that the words and stories in the Bible guide people in the way they should live their lives ETHICAL TEACHINGS 10 Commandments  ​ 10 commandments are part of 613 commandments (first 10) RITUALS - PRAYER ​ Adoration - praising God for his greatness and admitting dependence on him ​ Confession - owning up to sin and asking for God's mercy and forgiveness ​ Thanksgiving - thanking God for his many blessings, eg health or children ​ Petition - asking God for something, eg healing, courage or wisdom ​ Intercession - asking God to help others who need it, eg the sick, poor, those suffering in war (Direct line of communication / conversation with God → some Christians have a very informal approach to prayer, others have a ritualistic attitude towards prayer) The Lords Prayer Matthew 6:9-13 9 Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done,  on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. VIDEO NOTES - BIBLE PROJECT ​ Taught in Sermon on the Mount ​ 1st Half of the prayer represents loving God and seeking his will ​ 2nd Half of the prayer represents the challenges of human daily life as they await the arrival of God's kingdom ​ God has appointed humans as God's representatives ○​ Humans disregard that calling ​ When humans treat others with Godly values, they are entering God's kingdom ​ It uses imagery from Israel's time in the desert ○​ ‘Give us today our daily bread’ ​ Jesus’ audience is full of poor and oppressed people ​ God is forgiving the long history of human sins, he calls us to do the same ​ Human desire for pain keeps the cycle of revenge going ○​ Forgiveness in this context ○​ Forgiveness is like breathing, you must be in the habit of giving it up ​ Asking for protection from those who tempt us ​ Jesus prayed this way in the garden of Gethsemane ○​ This prayer carried him through his execution ​ Prayer invites adherents to a daily trust in God ESSAY PLANNING Walter Brueggemann explains: “Jesus is saying you can’t say ‘God’ without saying ‘neighbor’; it’s almost hyphenated— ‘God-Neighbor.’ To love God means to love your neighbor. To love your neighbor is the active form of loving God.” Describe the importance of the ethical teaching of ‘love your neighbour’ to Christian adherents. You should make reference to the stimulus above to support your response. OVERVIEW OF CHRISTIANITY Beliefs -​ Divinity and Humanity of Jesus → John Calvin and Martin Luther → Important to Christians through salvation → Jesus’ humanity makes him relatable -​ Death and Resurrection of Jesus → Key to Christian belief → Bridges the gap between God and Earth → Sacrificial Lamb (connected to Passover) → Taking sins of Humanity on our behalf → Plan of atonement (usually involves the punishment of an innocent for the salvation of the guilty) → Redemption and Reconciliation → Scapegoat (progressive theory) -​ Salvation → Penal substitution → Ransom Theory → Universal Salvation → Glorification and Moral Influence Theory -​ Revelation → Special (direct miracles, prophecy) and General (nature) Rituals and Ceremonies -​ Prayer → Lord’s prayer → Special revelation → Deatj (Jesus prayed in Gethsemane) -​ Baptism → Death and resurrection → Sacred texts → Reconciliation -​ Communion and Eucharist → mirrors death and resurrection / salvation Ethics -​ Jesus commands us to love → “To love God is to love your neighbor” -​ Beatitudes → Social justice manifesto → Connected to the Sermon on the Mount (Jesus’ core teachings) -​ 10 Commandments (morals and ethics to live by: how to worship and treat others for a harmonious society) → Exodus Origins -​ Roman persecution → Spread of Christianity -​ Jewish origins → Hebrew Scriptures (Early Christians were practising Jews) -​ Messiah connected to prophets -​ Story of slavery → rescued and chosen by God to be representatives -​ Missionaries -​ Roman occupation Sacred Texts -​ Bible → Apocrphyical and Deuterocanonical BOTTOM LINE: Everything is interconnected :) Islam - In Depth Origins of Islam Global Context ​ The Western Roman Empire had collapsed in the previous century and as a result, Europe was split into many Germanic Kingdoms ​ The surviving Eastern Roman Empire had recaptured North Africa and Italy at the beginning of the 6th century ​ There were successive wars between the Persian Empire and Eastern Roman Empire to determine borders and religious rights Around 565, the Byzantine Empire was the largest and most powerful state in the region The Byzantines can control Constantinople — a major centre of the world Social Conditions ​ Arabia was located at the fringe of the civilised world. ​ Mecca was the hub of Indian Ocean trade; Medina was an agricultural town ​ Tribal conventions and customs (no central power or laws) ​ Good virtues: Bravery, hospitality and freedom ​ Poor ones: No rights for women, poor, slaves and foreigners, Infanticide of the firstborn girls. MECCA ​ Mecca has always been regarded as the Holy Land by the Arabs ​ It is referenced in the Bible as a place of respite for pilgrims ○​ “As they pass through the valley of Bakkah, they make it a spring, the rain also covers it with pools” (Psalms 84:6) ​ As it was the place where Abraham established the Ka’ba, the religion of Abraham (monotheism) lingered in the region but was diluted over time IN SUMMARY: After the collapse of the Roman empire, there was conflict among surviving empires about land borders and religious rights, mostly tribal with their conventions and customs, and no rights for the poor, women, slaves or foreigners. Mecca was a significant history from the start of recorded history. Life of Prophet Mohammed Main Phases in the Life of the Prophet ​ The life of the Prophet Muhammad is generally presented in three distinct stages. 1. Early life as an ordinary person (571-610) 2. Mission in Mecca as a religious minority (610-622) 3. Independent community and polity in Medina (622-632) ​ Early Medina (CE 622-628) ​ Peace with Mecca (CE 628-630)  ​ Mass conversions of Arabian tribes (CE 630-632) Early life ​ Prophet Muhammad was born in 571. ​ He was orphaned at a very young age. ​ His father passed away before he was born ​ His mother passed away when he was 6 years old ​ In his youth, he gained a reputation for trustworthiness (nickname Al-Amin – the trustworthy). ​ He mainly engaged in trade and had a reputation for helping the poor and needy. ​ In his late thirties, he becomes increasingly spiritual and withdraws himself to meditation and solitude in a mountaintop cave. First Revelation ​ In 610, at the age of 40, he received his first revelation. “Read in the name of your Lord Who created, created man from a clot of congealed blood. Recite: and your Lord is Most Generous, Who taught by the pen, taught man what he did not know” (Qur’an, 96:1-5) Meccan Period ​ Meccan establishment first ignored him; they ridiculed him, and then they violently opposed him. ​ 619-622 were the hardest years for the Prophet and his followers. ​ There was an economic and social boycott that was applied to Muslims. ​ This boycott was responsible for the death of many Muslims, including the wife of the Prophet ​ His wife Khadijah and tribal protector Abu Talib (his uncle) die. ​ After the death of his uncle and wife – he attempted to travel outside Mecca to spread the message of Islam ​ The people of Ta’if rejected Islam and threw rocks at him whilst he left the city ​ After he was insulted and abused, he did not plan to exact revenge, instead, he said “I rather hope that God will raise form amongst their descendants who will worship, God, the one and will not ascribe partners to Him”. Migration to Medina ​ Islam rapidly spread in Medina (Funky Cold Medina) whose inhabitants invited the Prophet to the city as a peacemaker and leader. ​ In 622, Muslims started to migrate to Medina. ​ The Prophet leaves last in an epic escape from bounty hunters. ​ Despite the abuse and oppression, the migration from Mecca to Medina was undesired by the tribes in Mecca ​ The loss of the Muslims meant the loss of power and control ​ The year 622 marks year 1 in the Islamic calendar.  ​ Following the migration of the Muslims to Medina, an agreement was drawn up between the Muslims, main tribes of Medina, Jews, Christians and the newly converted Muslims ​ It established all these groups as one ummah (community) ​ They were united beyond tribal society ​ The agreement also noted that each religious group was free to practise its religion freely MILITARY ENCOUNTERS SUMMARY: There was a military conflict between the Meccans and the Muslims Conquest of the Mecca ​ Mecca broke the treaty of Hudaybiyyah (peace treaty) two years later. ​ In 630, the Prophet leads an army of 10,000 towards Mecca. ​ After successful diplomacy the city surrenders. ​ The Prophet declares general amnesty to all Meccans, despite the years of persecution suffered. ​ This is remarkable considering the abuse, torture and oppression the Muslims suffered under the hands of the Meccans Amnesty: A grant of forgiveness against an opposing state “But above all, we can learn from Muhammad how to make peace. His whole career shows that the first priority must be to extirpate greed, hatred and contempt from our own hearts and to reform our own society. Only then is it possible to build a safe, stable world, where people can live together in harmony, and respect each other’s differences.” — Karen Armstrong, Muhammad: A Biography of the Prophet SUMMARY: Muhammad chose peace whenever possible Mass Conversions ​ 630-632 period is called the period of delegations as Arab tribes one after the other convert to Islam in mass. ​ During this period it is estimated that anywhere between 60-100 tribes and their members converted to Islam (abandoning their Pagan ways) ​ These tribes were from all different regions of Arabia ​ The Prophet sent companions to each of these tribes to accompany them on their journey and to teach their communities the practices and beliefs of Islam Farewell Pilgrimage (Hajj) ​ A pilgrimage is an important Religious journey to a sacred site ​ In 632 as the time of pilgrimage drew near, the Prophet announced his intention to make a pilgrimage (Hajj) → First Mosque that was built by Abraham ​ Thousands of people travelled to Medina to join the Prophet in this pilgrimage ​ During this time, knowing his death was near, Muhammad gave his final sermon known as ”The Farewell Sermon” at Mount Arafat → Important pilgrimage as well “O People, listen well to my words, for I do not know whether, after this year, I shall ever be among you again. Therefore, listen to what I am saying to you very carefully and take these words to those who could not be present here today...Return the goods entrusted to you to their rightful owners. Treat others justly so that no one would be unjust to you. Remember that you will indeed meet your Lord and that He will indeed reckon your deeds....Every right arising out of homicide and blood-killing in pre-Islamic days is henceforth waived… O People, it is true that you have certain rights over your women, but they also have rights over you. Remember that you have taken them as your wives only under God’s trust and with His permission... All mankind is from Adam and Eve. An Arab has no superiority over a non-Arab nor a non-Arab has any superiority over an Arab; also, a white has no superiority over a black nor a black has any superiority over white except by piety and good action... I am leaving you with the Book of God (the Quran) and my Sunnah. If you follow them you will never go astray... Be my witness, O God, that I have conveyed your message to your people.” Death of the Prophet ​ Muslim pilgrims After a 13-day illness, he passes away of natural causes in the arms of his wife Aisha ​ He is buried in the same ground where he dies ​ Today, many Muslims visit this site when they visit the city of Medina Muslims believe they descended from Ishmael (Abraham and Hagar's child) Hajj will be looked at in the HSC Course Role of the Prophet for Muslims ​ “Say: 'If you do love God, follow me; God will love you and forgive you your sins; For God is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful." (Qur’an, 3:31) ​ “You have indeed in the Messenger of God a beautiful pattern (of conduct) for any one whose hope is in God and the Final Day, and who engages much in the Praise of God” (Qur’an, 33:21) PICK ONE OR TWO QUR’AN VERSES TO MEMORISE FOR EXAMS Prophet’s Example ​ Sunnah – the words, actions and approvals of the Prophet Muhammad set a standard of practice for Muslims and source of knowledge in Islamic law. 1.​ Symbols of Islam (mosque, call to prayer, Eid, etc) 2.​ Practices pertaining to worship 3.​ Prophetic moral standard 4.​ Manners in everyday life ​ Sunnah is captured in two ways  ○​ Recorded in text form as narrations from the Prophet’s immediate followers (Companions). Each narration is called a hadith. (A version of a sacred text) ○​ Represented in human conduct and transmitted from master to student since the time of the Prophet. ​ Sunnah refers to the exemplary aspects of the Prophet (i.e. the Prophet's way) ​ Hadith refers to written reports/narrations about the Prophet’s actions, words and approvals Why do Muslims Love and Believe in Muhammed as a Genuine Prophet? The same reasons that caused Muslims to love and believe in Muhammad (pbuh) as a Prophet initially are the same today that convince people he is a true Prophet of God ​ The evidence of Prophethood falls into three categories 1. The strength of his character 2. The miraculous quality of the Qur’an 3. Many inexplicable acts that he exhibited PBUH - Peace be upon him (Muslims say or write this after referring to Muhammed or another prophet) ​ Since the advent of Islam, Muhammad’s (pbuh) conduct has so deeply impressed people that they are attracted to Islam ​ The miraculous nature of the Qur’an and its eloquence are beyond human capability ​ When the Qur’an is recited well – many people are moved to tears, even if they do not understand the meaning (spiritual significance to the way the Qur’an is recited) ​ Muslims have a genuine love for the Prophet for being the link between them and the book of God Possible Exam Question: WHY IS MUHAMMED A ROLE MODEL TO MUSLIM ADHERENTS? There were also many paranormal events surrounding the Prophet (pbuh) during his mission Out of more than three hundred authentically reported (witnessed by multiple people then recorded within records) miracles, some include: ​ The flowing of water from his fingertips ​ The satisfying of large amounts of people with little food ​ Healing the sick ​ Disclosing people’s secrets that only they could know ​ Predicting the conquest of Constantinople by the Muslims ​ The prediction that his daughter Fatima would be the first one to join him after his death Parallels to Jesus Christ Characteristics of Prophet Muhammed ​ Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) led a simple life and had minimal worldly possessions when he had the opportunity to live like a king “What have I to do with worldly things? My connection with the world is like that of a traveller resting for a while underneath the shade of a tree and then moving on” (Bukhari) “Head of the state as well as the Church, he was Caesar and Pope in one; but, he was pope without the pope’s claims, and Caesar without the legions of Caesar, without an standing army, without a bodyguard, without a palace, without a fixed revenue. If ever any man had the right to say that he ruled by a right divine it was Muhammad, for he had all the power without instruments and its support. He cared not for dressing of power. The simplicity of his private life was in keeping with his public life.” Reverend Bosworth Smith ​ He enjoined upon Muslims to treat the poor kindly and to help them with alms, charity and in any other way. “He is not a perfect Muslim who eats his fill and lets his neighbour go hungry.” “Do you love your Creator? Then love your fellow beings first.” ​ He was gentle, kind-hearted, always inclined to be gracious and overlook the faults of others ​ Politeness, courtesy, compassion and tenderness, simplicity and humility, sympathy and sincerity were some of the keynotes of his character ​ Though a virtual head of Arabia and an acclaimed prophet, he never assumed an air of superiority. ​ He used to pray, “O God! I am but a man. If I hurt anyone in any manner, then forgive me and do not punish me.” ​ He always received people with courtesy and showed respect to young and old and stated: “To honour an old man is to show respect to God.” ​ On another occasion, he was sitting with his companions when a funeral procession passed him. He immediately stood up in respect of the deceased. His companions stated that the deceased was not a Muslim. He replied: “Irrespective, he is still a human being”. ​ He avoided sitting at prominent places in gatherings ​ No type of housework was too lowly or indigent for him ​ He did not hesitate to do the menial work of others, particularly orphans and widows ​ He was particularly compassionate with children and would often get into the childish spirit of their games The Prophet as a Role Model ​ Following the Prophet shapes and guides the daily life of Muslims ​ All of the characteristics of an exemplary human being are manifested within the Prophet ​ The Qur’an refers to him as uswa al-hasana (the best of examples) ​ Muslims not only follow the example of the Prophet because Islam states that his example is the one to be followed, but also out of love, awe and admiration ​ Muslims try to live in the way that Muhammed did  ○​ Everything Muhammed did was that of an exemplary human Model ○​ When humans grow to love, admire and respect someone, it naturally follows that they want to emulate them ​ Muslims strive to emulate the Prophet in character, outward appearance and his habits ​ Many people do this with other celebrities Development of the Rightly Guided Caliph (Successor) - IMPORTANT TO NOTE ​ Abu Bakr – The 1st Caliph, Successor to Prophet, (632-634), first adult male Muslim and close friend of the Prophet Muhammad. Father in-law to the Prophet. ​ Omar Ibn Al Khattab – The 2nd Caliph (634-644). Initially hostile to Islam, his conversion in the 6th year strengthens Islam. Father in-law to the Prophet. ​ Uthman bin Affan – The 3rd Caliph (644-656). Early convert. Contributed to Islam with preaching and through his philanthropy. Son-in-law of the Prophet. ​ Ali ibn Abu Talib – The 4th Caliph (656-661). First child converted to Islam, the Prophet’s cousin and son-in-law. AISHA: Very significant in Islam, wrote a lot of the Qur’an Is Sin based on what’s culturally relevant? Muhammed was sinless yet married a 6-year-old…? Abu Bakr ​ Prophet passed away in 632 ​ Abu Bakr said, “whoever has been worshipping Muhammad know that Muhammad is dead. But those who worship God, know that He is the Living and will never die”. (Khalid, 2005, p. 6) ​ “Muhammad is but a Messenger, and Messengers passed away before him. If, then, he dies or is killed, will you turn back on your heels? Whoever turns back on his heels can in no way harm God. But God will reward the thankful ones.” (Qur’an, 3:144) Caliphate (Leadership) of Abu Bakr ​ Three main groups, the Asnar (Helpers), the Muhajirun (migrants) and the tribal members of the Prophet (pbuh) gathered to mourn. ​ Various people spoke and made suggestions on who should be the successor to the Prophet in terms of leader of Muslims. ​ Shortly before the Prophet’s death, he asked Abu Bakr to lead the prayer, some had taken this as an indication of the Prophet’s preference for Abu Bakr to be his successor ​ Eventually, Abu Bakr was elected as the caliph. ​ Ali was not present at these deliberations ​ During the Caliphate of Abu Bakr, Islam had spread throughout Arabia entirely and was under a unified Muslim leadership ​ Isla