Religion Exam Notes Summary PDF

Unit 1 - Danica: Identity Symbols: ​ The Christian symbol of the Cross represents faith and salvation. And a non christian religious symbol could be the crescent and star from Islam. St John Henry Newman Background: ​ Born in 1801 and died in 1890, Newman was a man of deep...

Unit 1 - Danica: Identity Symbols: ​ The Christian symbol of the Cross represents faith and salvation. And a non christian religious symbol could be the crescent and star from Islam. St John Henry Newman Background: ​ Born in 1801 and died in 1890, Newman was a man of deep faith who desired to live entirely for God. Initially an Anglican priest, he converted to Catholicism in 1845, which negatively impacted his academic standing due to the prejudice against Catholics in England at the time. ​ Newman emphasized the value of conscience as God's voice and believed that education helps people understand the truth about God and their place in the world. ​ His famous work, The Idea of a University, stressed that education helps individuals discover their true purpose, leading them to become authentic, happy, and integrated. Stereotypes and Prejudice: ​ Racism - The belief that one race is superior to another ​ Prejudice - pre-judgment based on a personal bias; a negative opinion that is NOT based on facts. ​ Stereotype -an idea that many people have about a thing or a group and that may often be untrue or only partly true. ​ Discrimination: The treating of some people better than others without any fair or proper reason. Breakfast Club Characters ​ The characters from The Breakfast Club (Allison, Andrew, John, Brian, Claire) represent various stereotypes, like the Basketcase, Jock, Criminal, Brain, and Princess.Allison - Basketcase, Andrew - Jock, John - Criminal, Brain - Brains, Claire - Princess Four Categories of Identity: 1.​ People 2.​ Places 3.​ Things 4.​ Events Radio (Movie): ​ A true story about James "Radio" Kennedy, a disabled man who becomes beloved in his community after being mentored by football Coach Harold Jones. His inclusion in the community transforms both himself and the people around him. Unit 2 - Danica: The Bible and Jesus The Bible: ​ The Bible is a collection of 73 (27-NT 46-OT) books, divided into the Old and New Testaments. The Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John form the core of the New Testament. The bible was written over a period of 1000 years from about 1450 BC. The Pentateuch is the first five books in the bible (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy) which includes the accounts of the origins of the Jewish people, the story of Exodus, and the giving of the Law. The Pentateuch ends with the Israelites about to enter the Promised Land of Canaan. The Pentateuch is known by Jews as the Torah ​ Old Testament:The Old Testament is the part of the bible that contains the sacred writings of the Jewish people. It contains history, poetry, advice, wisdom, prophecy and laws.It is called the Old Testament because it describes an early promise (agreement) between God and God’s people the Jews.The Old Testament was written over most of the time. The Old Testament focuses on the covenant between God and the Jewish people, ​ New Testament: It was written over the last 100 years of the 1000 years.The New Testament centers on the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The new testament has 4 major sections, the gospels, the acts of the apostles, the epistles, and the book of revelation. ​ The Bible has been translated into almost 2000 languages, with significant milestones including the first printed Bible (Gutenberg, 1456) and the first complete English Bible (Miles Coverdale, 1535). Dead Sea Scrolls: In 1947 a shepherd boy came across some ancient scrolls in caves near the Dead Sea: they were fragments of all the books of the Old Testament, except for Esther, and had probably been written about the time of Jesus. It is thought that they came from the monastery at Qumran and were hidden in the caves by a group of Jews called the Essenes. The discovery showed how accurately scribes had copied these special words throughout the centuries. Abraham and His Family: ​ Abraham, called by God to establish a new nation, faced numerous tests of faith. He obeyed God’s command to sacrifice his son Isaac but was stopped by God, who provided a ram instead. Abraham’s story also involves family tensions, particularly with his wife Sarah and her maidservant Hagar. The Story of Moses: ​ Moses was born an Israelite and raised as an Egyptian prince. After discovering his true heritage, he led the Israelites out of Egyptian slavery, performing miracles like parting the Red Sea and leading them to freedom. Literal vs. Contextual Approach to the Bible: ​ Literal Approach: Takes every word at face value. ​ Contextual Approach: Considers the historical, cultural, and situational context to interpret the message. Jesus, the Christ: ​ Jesus, born in Bethlehem and raised in Nazareth, began his ministry around age 30, preaching love, forgiveness, and the Kingdom of God. He performed miracles and gathered disciples but was ultimately crucified for claiming to be the Son of God. His resurrection and ascension affirmed his divinity, and Christianity spread globally through the work of the Holy Spirit. Nativity Story Luke and Matthew: Caesar Augustus ordered a census of the Roman world, requiring everyone to register in their hometowns. Joseph traveled from Nazareth to Bethlehem with his pregnant fiancée, Mary, because he was from the line of David. While they were in Bethlehem, Mary gave birth to her son and laid him in a manger, as there was no room at the inn. Nearby, shepherds were visited by an angel who announced the birth of the Savior in the town of David, telling them they would find the baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger. Suddenly, a multitude of angels appeared, praising God and declaring peace on earth. The shepherds went to Bethlehem, found Mary, Joseph, and the baby, and spread the word of what they had seen. Everyone who heard their story was amazed. Mary reflected on these events in her heart, while the shepherds returned, praising God for all they had witnessed. The passage describes events surrounding the birth of Jesus, beginning with the visit of the wise men from the East who follow a star to Jerusalem, seeking the newborn "king of the Jews." King Herod, troubled by their inquiry, learns from religious leaders that the Messiah is to be born in Bethlehem. He secretly sends the wise men to find the child, hoping they will return to inform him so he can "worship" the child as well. The wise men find Jesus in Bethlehem, guided by the star, and worship Him, offering gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. After being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they depart for their homeland by another route. An angel then warns Joseph in a dream to flee to Egypt with Mary and Jesus, as Herod intends to kill the child. They stay in Egypt until Herod dies, fulfilling the prophecy "Out of Egypt I called my son." In Herod's rage, he orders the massacre of all male children in Bethlehem and the surrounding area who are two years old or younger, which fulfills another prophecy from Jeremiah. After Herod's death, Joseph is told in a dream to return to Israel. However, when he learns that Herod’s son, Archelaus, is now ruling Judea, he is afraid to go back. Instead, he moves with his family to Nazareth in Galilee, fulfilling the prophecy that Jesus would be called a Nazarene. Differences: Luke has shepherds but Matthew has wise men. Matthew also doesn’t mention that Mary and Joseph were in Nazareth before being in Bethlehem. The Miracles of Jesus ​ Turning water into wine of Cana ​ Healing the official’s son in Capernaum ​ Healing the sick man at the pool of Bethsaida ​ Feeding the 5000 near the sea of Galilee ​ Healing of a leper ​ The catching of the fish ​ Walking on the water of the Sea of Galilee ​ Calming a storm ​ Healing a blind man in Jerusalem ​ Healing of the Paralytic ​ Raising Lazarus from the dead in Bethany The Parables ​ The Parable of the Lost Sheep (Farmer leaves his 99 sheep to find the last one that wandered) ​ The Parable of the Lost Coin (Woman loses one silver coin, looks everywhere, finds it, has a party) ​ The Parable of the Prodigal Son (Bad son asks for his father money and leaves to party once he runs out of money he comes back and asks for forgiveness, the father spoils him and kills the fattest calf, the eldest son who didn’t leave is mad) ​ The Parable of the Good Samaritan ( A jewish man is on the grown and being passed by a levite and a priest, it is a Samaritan that feeds him and helps him Jesus of History vs. Christ of Faith: ​ Jesus of History refers to the verifiable facts about Jesus’ life, such as his Jewish heritage, his ministry, and his crucifixion. ​ Christ of Faith refers to Christian belief in Jesus as the Messiah, who brings salvation and embraces all people, regardless of background. Unit 3 - Ariana: The Hero’s Journey A hero embodies the Golden Rule, demonstrating unselfishness, sacrifice, equality, and courage. The Hero's Journey consists of seven stages: 1.​ Birth/Early Life 2.​ Discovery of Purpose 3.​ Retreat/Leaving the Familiar 4.​ Call to Adventure 5.​ Difficulties and Challenges 6.​ Crisis/Final Challenge 7.​ Victory/Goal Achieved Jesus's life follows this structure: ​ Birth: Born to Mary and Joseph, with a divine message about his mission. ​ Discovery of Purpose: Simeon, guided by the Holy Spirit, identifies Jesus as the Messiah. ​ Retreat: Jesus spends forty days in the wilderness, resisting temptation from the devil. ​ Call to Adventure: Jesus is baptized by John, marking the beginning of his ministry. ​ Difficulties: He heals the sick and casts out demons.  ​ Crisis: Jesus faces crucifixion, questioning God before dying, causing a natural upheaval. ​ Victory: Jesus is resurrected, appearing to disciples and teaching them about spiritual blessings. Unit 4 - Ariana: Creation The Bible presents creation as the work of a single God, who creates everything purposefully and calls it good. Genesis describes creation in stages: 1.​ Day 1-3: God creates the earth, sky, land, and plants. 2.​ Day 4-6: God creates celestial bodies, animals, and humans. 3.​ Day 7: God rests. Genesis also tells the story of Adam and Eve, who were created in a garden but sinned by eating from the Tree of Knowledge, leading to their expulsion. The Jewish/Christian worldview holds four truths: 1.​ There is one God who created everything. 2.​ Creation was planned, not accidental. 3.​ All creation is good. 4.​ The Sabbath is holy and meant for rest. Human Domination Over the Earth: The Bible's idea of dominion over the earth can be interpreted as responsible stewardship rather than exploitation, which has led to ecological damage. The importance of respecting nature is emphasized through the teachings of Chief Seattle and David Suzuki, who stress the interconnectedness of all life and the need to live in harmony with the earth. Sin and Alienation: There are five types of sin: 1.​ Person vs God 2.​ Person vs Self 3.​ Person vs Others 4.​ Person vs Nature 5.​ Group vs Group These lead to alienation from God, self, others, and nature. Stories such as Cain and Abel and the Tower of Babel illustrate the consequences of sin, including separation and division. The Pentecost event reverses the Babel story by uniting people through the Holy Spirit. Other Stories: ​ The Lorax: An environmental tale of a businessman who exploits nature, leading to its destruction. ​ Seasons of Gray: The story of Brady Gray, who faces betrayal, imprisonment, and personal growth through visions, ultimately reconciling with his family and finding love. In both units, the focus is on personal growth, responsibility, and the consequences of one's actions in relation to others and the world around them.