Week 2-5 Religious Studies Notes PDF

WEEK 2 **What is Religion?** - **Definition**: A system of beliefs and practices used by a group to interpret and respond to the sacred and supernatural (Johnstone 2004, 13). - Cultural system encompassing behaviors, practices, worldviews, texts, sanctified places, prophecies, eth...

WEEK 2 **What is Religion?** - **Definition**: A system of beliefs and practices used by a group to interpret and respond to the sacred and supernatural (Johnstone 2004, 13). - Cultural system encompassing behaviors, practices, worldviews, texts, sanctified places, prophecies, ethics, or organizations connecting humanity to the supernatural. - **Etymology**: From Latin \"Religare\" meaning to bind - signifies a bond between God and man. - Explores the relationship with the Supreme Being, influencing worship, belief, and ethics. **Summary of Religion** - System of beliefs, practices, and customs. - Relationship with a Supreme Being with obligations. - Influences worldview, purpose, culture, society, and politics. **Elements of Religion** - Beliefs - Organization - Values, Principles, Virtues - Rituals and Ceremonies - Sacred Objects **Religion as Social Reality** - **Substantive**: Focus on what constitutes religion. - **Functional**: Examines the social consequences of religion. **Spirituality** - Process of developing beliefs regarding life\'s meaning and connections. - More individual-focused, relates to peace and purpose. - Religions facilitate spirituality as a way of living. **Elements of Spirituality** 1. Holistic view of life. 2. Search for meaning and purpose. 3. Desire for knowledge about the sacred. 4. Self-reflective existence **Understanding Belief, Faith, & Related Terms** **Belief** - Acceptance of something likely true, shaped by perception and experiences. **Faith** - Belief not based on proof; trust in a person or thing; not just a feeling. **Belief System** - Symbols defining philosophical and spiritual ideas; shapes worldview and society perceptions. - Includes scientific beliefs alongside religious ones. **Worldview** - Explains and interprets reality, history, and civilization; a philosophical perspective. - Strong belief systems lead to clear worldviews. **Major Worldviews Influencing Religious Beliefs** 1. Monism 2. Monotheism 3. Polytheism 4. Atheism **Monism** - All reality reduced to one essence; everything is interconnected. **Dualism** - Mind and body as distinct manifestations versus a single essence. **Theology** - Study of religious faith and practices, focusing on God\'s relation to the world. **Atheism** - Disbelief in gods; reliance on reason and scientific verification. **History of Religion** - Written record of human religious experiences; starts around 3200 BCE with writing. - Earliest evidence of religious concepts dates back to Paleolithic periods (300,000 years ago). **Ancient Religious Practices** - Animism - Animal Sacrifice - Worship of Animals **The Role of Writing in Religion** - Standardization of religious texts, aiding memorization of prayers and rules. - Evolution from primitive polytheism to ethical monotheism. **Organized Religion and Society** - Provides stability, justifies authority, and fosters peace among populations. **Axial Age (900 to 200 BCE)** - Period of major philosophical and religious developments shaping future societies. - Shift towards transcendence noted by Karl Jaspers. **Middle Ages** - Establishment of present-day world religions through various movements and expansions. **Modern Period** - Printing press\'s role in spreading Protestant Reformation. - Colonization contributed to Christianity\'s global spread. **Secularization Trends** Beginning in the 18th century; noticeable decline in religion across Europe by late 20th century. **THE TEN COMMANDMENTS** 1. Thou shalt have no other gods before me 2. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image 3. Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain. 4. Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. 5. Honor thy father and thy mother. 6. Thou shalt not kill. 7. Thou shalt not commit adultery. 8. Thou shalt not steal. 9. Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor 10. Thou shalt not covet WEEK 3 **Judaism** - one of the oldest monotheistic religions - traces its development to the ancient patriarch Abraham and his descendants: Isaac and Jacob - ethnic religion of the Jewish people, comprising the collective religious, cultural and legal tradition, and civilization of the Jewish people **Core Tenets of Judaism** - One Universal God: Yahweh - Jewish history begins with the covenant established between God and Abraham around 1812 BC (over 3,800 years ago) - The story of Abraham is told in the Book of Genesis (the first book of the Hebrew and Christian Bibles) in chapters 12-25 - Covenant: The covenant between God and Jews is the basis for the idea of the Jews as the chosen people and Canaan as the Promised Land - \"I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you\" - \"I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing\" - \"I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse\" - \"and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you\" (Genesis 12:2-3) - \"This is My covenant, which you shall keep, between Me and you: Every male among you shall be circumcised\" (Genesis 17:9-14) - Done on male Jewish infants on the 8th day after birth by a mohel - Symbolizes the covenant between God and the Jewish people - Leader who freed the Israelites from slavery in Egypt - Received the two tablets containing the Ten Commandments at Mt. Sinai - Protected the Jews from the wrath of God and negotiated with God on their behalf - Serve as a fundamental basis for Jewish law and morality - Eventually become part of 613 Mitzvot (commandments or good deeds that Jewish people are expected to follow) - Comes from the Hebrew word, Mashiach, meaning \"the anointed one\" or \"the chosen one\" - Christos (Christ) is the Greek equivalent of the Hebrew term, Messiah (John 1:41) - The Messiah will usher in a new age of peace and prosperity for the Jewish people - TaNaKh (Hebrew Bible, a collection of sacred writings) - Torah (The Law, also called the Pentateuch or Five Scrolls) - Genesis - Exodus - Leviticus - Numbers - Deuteronomy - Major Prophets: Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel - Minor Prophets: Hosea, Micah, Joel, Obadiah, Jonah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi - Historical Accounts: Joshua, Judges, Samuel, Kings - Psalms - The Proverbs - The Songs of songs - Ecclesiastes - Job - Ruth - Esther - Daniel - Lamentations of Jeremiah - The histories in Chronicles, and Ezra-Nehemiah - Talmud (compendium of learning that is the basic source of Jewish oral law, including rabbinical commentaries) - Collective body of Jewish religious laws derived from the written and Oral Torah - The Ark of the Covenant (sacred vessel that stored the fragments of the Ten Commandments) - The Tabernacle (tent structure that stored the Ark of the Covenant during the time of Moses) - The Temple Mount in Jerusalem (holiest place for Judaism) - Western Wall (remnants of a retaining wall enclosing the Temple Mount) - **Sabbath (Shabbat)** - Most important day of the week for Jews - Starts at sunset on Friday and continues until sunset on Saturday - Observant Jews will do nothing that might be counted as work and attend services at the synagogue - The Rabbi (Jewish spiritual leaders who are religious scholars capable of interpreting Jewish law) - Religious Clothing (Kippah, Tallit, Tefilin) - Kashrut (Dietary Law) - Kosher (ritually clean food) - Treyf (not fit to eat) - Meat and dairy products must not be mixed - Pork and shellfish are Treyf - Jews may eat fish that have both fins and scales that are detachable from the skin - Brit Milah (Ritual Circumcision) - Bar Mitzvah / Bat Mitzvah (special ceremony where Jewish boys and girls can be an adult in the eyes of Jewish religion) - Kiddushin (marriage traditions) 1. **Orthodox Jews** - Believe that they have preserved the essence of Jewish identity - Teach traditional Jewish law - Strictly follow the dietary code of Kashrut 2. **Conservative Jews** - Believe that the mandates established in the Torah and Talmud must be followed within the context of living tradition - Seek to strike a balance between the extreme traditionalism of Orthodox Judaism and the Liberalism of Reform Judaism 3. **Reformed Jews** - Emphasize the evolving nature of religion and give importance to values and ethics over tradition and ceremony - Believe that Jews should not await the coming of a Messiah but instead prepare for a Messianic Age characterized by equality, freedom, and brotherhood **WEEK 4** **Christianity** - Christianity is the world\'s largest religion, with approximately 2.2 billion followers. - It is based on the teachings of Jesus Christ, who lived in the Holy Land around 2,000 years ago. - Christians believe that Jesus is the Son of God and follow His teachings and those of the Christian churches that developed after His death. - Jesus as the Messiah: Christians believe Jesus is the prophesized Messiah who rose from the dead, demonstrating the existence of eternal life with a loving God. - Belief in the Triune God: Major forms of Christianity profess a belief in the Trinity (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit). - Hypostatic Union: Most Christians believe Jesus is both fully divine and fully human, born of the Virgin Mary by the Holy Spirit. - The Ten Commandments and the Great Commandment: Jesus\' teachings fulfill the Old Covenant, emphasizing love for God and neighbor (Mark 12:30-31). - The Sower (Matthew 13:1-9) - The Weeds (Matthew 13:24-30) - The Mustard Seed (Matthew 13:31-32) - The Pearl (Matthew 13:45-46) - The Faithful Servant (Matthew 24:45-51) - The Two House Builders (Matthew 7:24-27) - The Rich Fool (Luke 12:16-21) - The Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37) - The Eight Beatitudes: Standards for perfect happiness as taught by Jesus. - Jesus called twelve men to be His Apostles. - He performed miracles, including: - Turning water into wine - Feeding thousands with five loaves and two fish - Healing the sick - Forgiving sins - Calming storms - Raising the dead - Christians believe Jesus\' suffering and death were a sacrifice for humanity\'s sins, restoring their right to be children of God. - His resurrection, ascension, and second coming are central beliefs, with the promise of judgment for the living and the dead. - A statement of faith established at the Council of Nicaea to counter heresies, particularly Arianism. - Composed of 46 books in the Old Testament and 27 in the New Testament. - The Four Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John) provide accounts of Jesus\' life and teachings. - The Latin Vulgate was the first widespread edition of the Bible, compiled by St. Jerome around A.D. 400. - Christians worship in cathedrals and churches, which vary in architectural styles. - The Holy Land (modern-day Israel) is significant as the location of Jesus\' teachings, miracles, suffering, death, and resurrection. - The Holy Sepulcher is traditionally believed to contain the sites of Jesus\' crucifixion and empty tomb. - Baptism: A sacrament of admission to Christianity, typically involving water and a Trinitarian invocation. - Evangelization: Christians are expected to embody Jesus\' teachings and spread the Gospel. **The 7 Sacraments: Important signs of God\'s grace, including:** - Baptism - Confirmation - Eucharist - Confession - Anointing of the Sick - Marriage - Holy Orders - Eucharist: A sacrament commemorating Jesus\' Last Supper, also known as communion or Holy Communion. - Prayers and Devotions: Christians engage in various forms of prayer, including adoration, petition, confession, and thanksgiving. - Fasting: A form of self-denial to recall Jesus\' suffering. - **Important dates in Jesus\' life are celebrated, including:** - Advent - Christmas - Epiphany - Lent - Holy Week - Easter Sunday - The Ascension - Pentecost - Feast Days of Saints: Celebrating holy men and women recognized as exemplars for Christians. - **Christianity is divided into Eastern and Western theology, with six main branches:** - Catholicism - Protestantism - Eastern Orthodoxy - Anglicanism - Oriental Orthodoxy - Assyrians - Restorationism is sometimes considered **Week 5** **Islam** - **Definition**: Islam is an Arabic word meaning \"submission to the will of God.\" - **Followers**: It is the second most popular religion globally, with approximately 1.9 billion followers. - **Geographical Distribution**: Predominantly followed in the Middle East, Asia, and North Africa. **Articles of Faith** Muslim doctrine is summarized in the \"Six Articles of Faith,\" which are fundamental beliefs every Muslim must adhere to: 1. **Belief in One God (Allah)** - Central belief in Islam; the most important theme. 2. **Belief in Angels (Malaikah)** - Spiritual beings serving Allah\'s purposes. - Messengers who communicate with humans (e.g., Gabriel). 3. **Belief in the Holy Qur\'an** - The most important text in Islam, regarded as the highest authority in religious and legal matters. - Believed to be an errorless record of revelations to Muhammad from 610 to 632 AD. 4. **Belief in Prophets** - Muhammad is the last prophet in a line that includes Moses, Abraham, and Jesus (Isa). - The Qur\'an is considered the final Book of God. 5. **Belief in the Day of Judgment** - Muslims believe in the soul\'s continued existence and a transformed physical existence after death. - A day of judgment will determine eternal destinations: Paradise (Jannah) or Hell. 6. **Belief in God\'s Supremacy (Predestination)** - God foreknows and foreordains all that happens in the world and individual lives. - No soul may die except with God\'s permission at a predestined time. **The Five Pillars of Islam** The Five Pillars are essential acts of worship and the foundation of a Muslim\'s faith and practice: 1. **Declaration of Faith (Shahada)** - The essence of Islam: \"There is none worthy of worship except God, and Muhammad is the Messenger of God.\" 2. **Prayer (Salat)** - Muslims pray five times a day: - Before sunrise - After midday - In the afternoon - At sunset - In the evening - Ritual washing (Wudu) is performed before prayer, facing Mecca. 3. **Fasting (Sawm)** - Observed during Ramadan, where Muslims fast from dawn until sunset. - Abstain from food, drink, and vulgar speech or acts. 4. **Pilgrimage (Hajj)** - Required at least once in a lifetime if conditions allow. - Focuses on the Ka'ba, rebuilt by Abraham. 5. **Zakat (Obligatory Alms)** - Charity based on income and possessions, typically 2.5% of total savings above a minimum amount (nisab). **Sharia Law** - **Definition**: The legal and spiritual system of Islam. - **Sources**: - The Qur\'an - The Sunnah (deeds of Muhammad) - The Hadith (sayings of Muhammad) - Fatwas (rulings by Islamic scholars) **Islamic Dietary Laws** - **Halal**: Permissible food and drink, identified as pure and nourishing. - **Haram**: Prohibited foods, including: - Dead meat (not properly slaughtered) - Blood - Pork - Intoxicating drinks - Meat sacrificed to idol **Polygamy in Islam** - Allowed as a remedial measure in specific situations, particularly during wartime when women may become widows. **Hijab** - An Arabic term meaning 'barrier' or 'partition,' emphasizing modesty in behavior and dress for both genders. **Places of Worship** - **Mosque (Masjid)**: The Arabic term for a place of prostration. - **The Great Mosque in Mecca**: The most sacred site, enclosing the Kaaba. - **The Black Stone of Mecca**: Believed to absorb the sins of pilgrims. - **City of Medina**: Home to Al-Masjid an-Nabawī, built by Muhammad. **Major Feasts in Islam** 1. **Ramadan**: Month of fasting and reflection. 2. **Eid-ul-Fitr**: Celebration marking the end of Ramadan. 3. **Eid-ul-Adha**: Commemorates Abraham\'s willingness to sacrifice his son, marking the end of Hajj. **A Simple History of Islam** - **570 C.E.**: - Muhammad is born in Mecca, a member of the Quraysh tribe, known for his honesty and upright character. - **610 C.E.**: - The Archangel Gabriel reveals the message of Allah to Muhammad. - Muhammad begins to preach the worship of one God, facing hostility and persecution from his community. - **622 C.E.**: - After enduring persecution in Mecca, Muhammad and his followers migrate to Yathrib (later known as Medina). - The people of Medina accept Islam, marking a significant turning point for the Muslim community. - **630 C.E.**: - Muhammad returns to Mecca with a large following. - He enters the city peacefully, and eventually, the citizens accept Islam. - **632 C.E.**: - Muhammad dies after a prolonged illness. - The Muslim community elects Abu Bakr, his father-in-law and close associate, as the first caliph (successor). **Expansion of Islam** - **638 C.E.**: - Muslims enter the area north of Arabia, including Syria, Palestine, Lebanon, and Iraq. - **641 C.E.**: - Muslims enter Egypt and defeat the Byzantine army, viewed as liberators of oppressed peoples. - **655 C.E.**: - Islam begins to spread throughout North Africa. - **661 C.E.**: - The assassination of Imam Ali marks the end of the rule of the four \"righteous caliphs\" (Abu Bakr, Umar, Uthman, and Ali) and the beginning of Umayyad rule. **Major Denominations of Islam** - **Sunni Islam**: - The largest denomination, believing in the elected caliphate and following the Sunnah (traditions) of Muhammad. - **Shia Islam**: - A minority denomination that believes leadership should have remained within Muhammad\'s family, specifically through his cousin and son-in-law, Ali. - **Sufism**: - A mystical branch of Islam focusing on the inward search for God and shunning materialism. **Contemporary Issues in Islam** - **Islamophobia**: - Refers to irrational hostility, fear, or hatred of Islam and Muslims, leading to discrimination and social issues. - **Women's Rights in Sharia**: - Ongoing debates about the interpretation and application of Sharia law concerning women\'s rights and roles in society. - **Fundamentalism, Extremism, and Terrorism**: - Misinterpretations of Islamic teachings have led to extremist ideologies and actions, causing significant global concern and backlash against Muslims.