12Sor Christianity Notes PDF

1 12SOR - Knowledge for the external exam Christianity – LINEAR WORLDVIEW Sacred Text Bible – Old Testament (Hebrew Scripture) New Testament (Christian Scripture) and other Church Encyclicals – social issues and...

1 12SOR - Knowledge for the external exam Christianity – LINEAR WORLDVIEW Sacred Text Bible – Old Testament (Hebrew Scripture) New Testament (Christian Scripture) and other Church Encyclicals – social issues and ethical teachings from Popes documents Catechism – beliefs and moral guidance Revelations is the revealing or disclosing of some form of truth such as God is a revelation for Christians. The revelation of God through the birth, life, death and resurrection of Jesus leads to spiritual salvation. Jesus came as a human which emphasises the dignity of humans as a creation of God that is worthy of respect and free from exploitation. Examples, Matthew 5:2-12, John 13:33- 35, 1 Corinthians 13:4-7). Incarnation is the Christian doctrine of God becoming flesh (man) Jesus Christ showing Jesus was fully God and fully human. It also enables Christians to have, through Jesus, a personal relationship with God. Resurrection - Christians believe Jesus returned to life on the third day after his crucifixion. Resurrection in Greek means “raising up”. It is also believed by many Christians (Catholics in particular) that Christians will see God and the Saints once they are resurrection in the Kingdom of God. Apostles’ Creed – “… resurrection of the body, and life every lasting.” Nicene Creed – “…I look forward to the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come.” Christians believe that everybody will be resurrected on the Day of Judgement , when God will judge everyone individually. According to the Book of Revelation, after people have been judged, they will be sent to Heaven or Christian Hell. Teachings Salvation is the saving of human beings from sin and its consequences, which include death and separation from God, by Christ's death and resurrection, and the justification following this salvation. Catholics believe that they are justified or redeemed from sin by faith. However, they also believe that ‘good works’ can also help people to secure salvation. Lutherans believe that they are saved through God’s grace while Baptist belief they are saved by faith alone. Christian repentance involves a heartfelt conviction of sin, a contrition (feeling remorseful) over the offense to God; turning away from the sinful life and following God. During Lent Christians are reminded of this notion of repentance with Ash Wednesday “turn away from sin and be faithful to the Gospel” meaning being more Christlike. According to the Catechism, Christ entrusted the exercise of absolution to his ministry so ordained priest can assist with absolving sins through Confession. The Catholic tradition teaches that human dignity can be protected and a healthy community can be achieved if human rights are protected and responsibilities are met. Pope Leo III’s wrote about Catholic Social Teachings in his encyclical 1891 Rerum Novarum. Catholic Social Teaching Principles 1. Life and Dignity of the Human Person. 2. Solidarity. 3. Care for God's creation. 4. Call to Family, Community and Participation. 5. Option for the Poor and Vulnerable. 6. Rights and Responsibilities. 7. Dignity of Work and Rights of Workers.  2 Sacredness of human life - Genesis 1:27 God created humans in His own image. Exodus 20:1-17 The Ten Commandments. Matthew 22:36-40 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind – greatest commandment of law. Second is ‘Love your neighbour as yourself’. Covenant – Biblical covenant include Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses (Israelites – 10 commandments), David, and New Covenant – the Grace and death of Jesus Christ as sacrifice. Religion- Vatican City – religious state State Birth – Baptism Baptism is seen as a statement of faith. The central moment is when water is poured over the head of the person (baby), and the priest says, ‘I baptise you in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit’ Catholics believe that every infant needs to be baptized and it is important for their salvation. This is the sacrament that cleanses the believer of original sin. It also allows a person to become a full member of a Church. Baptists (Christian denomination) reject infant Baptism and believe that only adults can only be baptized. Only they can understand the teachings of Christ and only believers should be baptized. Rituals This means that only adults are full members of the Baptist Church. The Baptists also practice full immersion in water. Catholicism only pours Holy Water on the head of a young infant and continue baptizing in a manner that has been handed down since the early Middle Ages. Greek Orthodox tradition – until the 8th day when he/she receives a name and is received as a member of the church. Death – Last Rites and funeral The Last Rites are a collection of prayers and sacraments that are administered to a person who is in grave danger of dying. Funeral service is led by a priest/pastor and conducted in a church. Coffin is covered in white cloth called a pall and a cross or crucifix is placed on the coffin. Coffin sprinkled with holy water, incense is used and the Easter candle is lit. Service consists of hymns, readings from the Bible and a sermon and eulogy. Burial or cremation is permitted. Prayers are offered on the 40th day and on the anniversary of the death. Catholics also pray for the dead on All Souls Day. (November 2) How do Christians respond to human rights issues?  3 Judaism – LINEAR WORLDVIEW Sacred Text Torah – which is the first 5 books of the Old Testament or 5 Books of Moses. The five books include Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy. The Torah or Pentateuch is written in Hebrew and contains the 10 Commandments. Leviticus - Third book in the Torah; contains laws relating to the priests and Levites and forms of Jewish ceremonial observance. The Jewish priest instructs people to live holy lives and follow the laws. The book clarifies God’s expectations for his people. Religious Text Talmud – contains the history of Judaism, laws and beliefs (basic tool for learning ethics and dictating all aspects of life for observant Jews) Revelations Jews believe that God's will is revealed through the interaction of humanity and God throughout history eg. Moses – 10 Commandments. Torah is a product of an ongoing revelation. Sin - Jews regards the violation of any of the 613 commandments as a sin. Judaism teaches that to sin is a part of life and everyone is inclined to do evil. Repentance is the way of atoning for sin. Judaism recognises that everybody sins on occasion, but that people can stop or minimize those occasions in the future by repenting for past transgressions. Free will - Jews believe when God created them, he gave them free will. People are entitled to make their own decision and distinguish right from wrong. Therefore, Jews believe that it is an individual's responsibility to follow the mitzvot. (mitzvah = covenant in Hebrew which refers to a commandment commanded by God to be performed as a religious duty) Divine and Human Justice - Jews believe that there is a single God who not only created the universe, but with whom every Jew can have an individual and personal relationship. They believe that God continues to work in the world, affecting everything that people do. Jews tend to believe in the importance of justice. They believe that God is just, and that God Jewish judges humankind. From ancient times onwards, Judaism has always had a justice system and Teachings courts. Jews today still believe that this is a good system to use. Sanctity of Life (Genesis) The term sanctity of life means the extent to which human life is considered precious. Jews believe that humans were made as part of God's creation and in God's image. Therefore, human life should be valued and considered as sacred and God-given. God blessed them said, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it; and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the air and over every living thing that moves upon the earth.” Exile – Exodus describes the Israelites deliverance from slavery from Egypt through the hand of Yahweh (G’d) and leadership of Moses. Shoah is the mass murder of Jews under the Nazi regime; the Holocaust. Shoah is a Hebrew word meaning complete and utter destruction whereas the Holocaust is an English word used to describe terrible events. 10 Commandments (Exodus) – 1. I am the Lord Your God 2. You shall have no other gods besides the Lord your God. 3. You shall not take the Lord’s name in vain. 4. You shall keep the sabbath day Holy. 5. Honor your Father and Mother. 6. You shall not kill. 7. You shall not commit adultery. 8. You shall not steal. 9. You shall not bear false witness. 10. You shall not covet (desire) your neighbour’s wife or house  4 Covenant - Central to Judaism is the Covenant between Yahweh and the Jewish people which is an agreement of rights and responsibilities. As humans often fail in their responsibilities there is a need to atone, or repent and make amends, so the Covenant can be renewed and maintained. The annual atonement ritual of Yom Kippur. The re-forming of the Covenant on Mount Sinai reminds Jewish adherents that they have a social responsibility to repair relationships with others by acting justly and compassionately towards them to achieve a peaceful world. Jewish tradition – 3 types of rights 1. Divine rights of G-d claims for G-d’s self 2. Natural rights that all humans claim for themselves, individually or collectively 3. Torah rights that Jews claim for themselves, individually or collectively. Religion- Israel – religious state State Birth – Brit Milah is the Jewish ritual performed on a baby boy eight days after he is born – circumcision. Women who have just given birth are considered to be unclean. At 8 days the boys are circumcised by a mohel. This is seen as a physical mark of the covenant between God and Abraham. The baby is then given his formal Hebrew name. Girls – Simchat Bat ceremony. Girls have a prayer ritual in the home with the attendance of a rabbi. Rituals Death – funeral The dying person must not be left alone and it is forbidden to speed up the dying process. Once the person has died they are not left alone until burial and are covered with a sheet to maintain dignity. A guard stays with the body and reads the Psalms. There is seven days of mourning in which members of the family tear a small portion of their clothing (Shivah). The body is prepared and wrapped in a white linen shroud. Burial must take place within 48 hours of dying. At the cemetery, each person puts three shovels full of dirt into the grave. They do not pass the shovel, but place it on the ground so as not to ‘pass on death’. Observant Jews wash their hands before leaving the cemetery. Mourning for parents continues for eleven months. After 12 months the tombstone is added. On the anniversary of the death it is customary to light a memorial candle that burns for 24 hours in the home. How do Jews respond to Human Rights Issues such as the Shoah?  5 Islam LINEAR WORLDVIEW Sacred Text Quran – written in Arabic Religious Hadith – second authority to the Quran – it is sayings of Prophet Muhammad and a major source documents of religious law or moral guidance. Worldview Linear Revelation of the Prophet - In Islamic belief, revelations are God's Word delivered by his chosen individuals – known as Messenger prophets – to humankind. When understanding revelation to Islamic the Prophet Muhammad, Muslims consider the Quran and the Hadith. Analysing the life of the teachings Prophet provides Muslims with a practical understanding of Islam’s perspective of human rights. Predestination is an Islamic belief that Allah has decided everything that will happen in the world and people’s lives. Muslims believe that humans cannot choose to do something if Allah has not already chosen that path for them. The Quran says: The Lord has created and balanced all things and has fixed their destinies and guided them (Surah 87:2-3). Note: Muslims do believe in free will but that they will be judged by Allah for their actions in the next life. The Greater Jihad refers to the personal spiritual struggle of every Muslim to follow the teachings of Allah in their daily lives. The root of the word jihad means to use all one’s strength or struggle in the path of God. Greater Jihad refers to the personal spiritual struggle of every Muslim to follow the teachings of Allah in their daily lives, and includes overcoming evils such as anger, greed, pride and hatred, forgiving people who hurt them, and working for social justice. Submission to the will of Allah - To live in 'submission' to the will of Allah in practice means that a Muslim must try to live their daily lives by showing faith in Allah. When Muslims discuss ‘submitting to God’s will’ it usually entails the notion of accepting whatever obstacles, tests and tribulations come their way. Five Pillars of Islam are the obligations that Muslims must satisfy to live a good and responsible life and to bring them closer to Allah. This is a constant reminder of the importance of Allah in the life of a Muslim. The Five Pillars of Islam are considered mandatory and are the foundation of Muslim life. They are summarized in the Hadith of Gabriel. The five duties of every Muslim: 1. shahādah, the Muslim profession of faith; 2. ṣalāt, or prayer, performed in a prescribed manner five times each day; 3. zakāt, the alms tax levied to benefit the poor and the needy; 4. ṣawm, fasting during the month of Ramadan; 5. hajj, the major pilgrimage to Mecca, if financial and physical conditions permit. Al-hagg Islamic term for human rights and also used to mean an ‘established fact.’ Rights given by Allah is the only cause of existence of any right and no right can emerge or exist merely through human sources. Five objectives of Sharia – The five basic human rights every individual is afforded include: 1. Life 2. Property 3. Human mind 4. Belief and religion 5. Family  6 Obligations of Islam – two types 1. Negative duties or mandatory abstention (harem) 2. Positive duties or mandatory practice (fard) Islam’s perception of human rights is rooted in human dignity and it is, at the same time, intertwined with human obligation. Obligation is a primary concept, indeed the main focus, of the Sharia, and it often takes priority over right. It is through fulfilment of obligations that individuals acquire certain rights. Dignity thus becomes a reality when there is a balanced emphasis on rights and obligations. Human rights Muslims follow is the universal Islamic Declaration of Human Rights and the Cairo Declaration of Human Rights. The Qur’an teaches a sense of justice, truthfulness in speech and action and empathy to support the weak. Religion- Iran (theocratic religious state – Shia) State Saudi Arabia (religious state Wahhabism – Sunni) theocratic Pakistan -Sunni and official Malaysia -Sunni state Yemen – Shia and Sunni religion Birth (Adhan – prayers in newborn ear) Aqiqah (ceremony when 7 days old) Rituals When a baby is born, various rituals accompany the arrival of the new child. As soon as the child is born, the adhan (call to prayer) is whispered in the newborn’s ear. As Allah is the most important person in a Muslim’s life, calling the adhan immediately symbolically brings the child into awareness of God. Aqeeqah is the ceremony when a sheep or two is slaughtered to celebrate the birth of the child. This meat is distributed to the poor. At the aqeeqah it is also customary to shave the baby’s head and donate in charity its equal weight in gold. The naming of the child is often revealed at the aqeeqah.  7 Buddhism – CYCLICAL WORLDVIEW Sacred Tripitaka (three baskets – Pali Canon) Tripitaka meaning three baskets or sections is the Buddhist Text sacred texts. Reincarnation - In accordance with the law of cause and effect, Buddhist teachings propose that any Buddhist being born into this (cyclic) universe is the result of something that has gone before. In turn, when teachings any being dies they creates the causes for the birth of a new being. All beings, then, are not living separate lives, individual lives, but are links in an endless causal chain that reaches back into the beginningless past and forward into the endless future. Beings may be reborn in one of several kinds of realms including as a human being in the human realm. Karma – karmic consequences. Karma is both cause and effect. The word karma means ‘action’. The Buddha taught that every intentional action modifies our consciousness, thus building our character and so influencing our behaviour, our experience and ultimately, our destiny. Individuals may resist previous conditioning and establish new patterns of behaviour, creating the causes for future positive results including a good rebirth. In times of distress, Buddhists may seek to do good works to alleviate continuing negative conditions. Samsara is the cycle of birth, death and rebirth. To break this cycle would be achieving enlightenment. Nirvana is the highest state someone can obtain, a state of enlightenment. Dukkha = suffering (cessation of pleasure) Fundamental Buddhist assumption that unless humans have disciplined their desires, consequences will result and are manifested as Dukkha. Four noble truths: 1. Dukkha – suffering (life is unsatisfactory and full of suffering) 2. Samudaya – the origin of suffering (this is caused by desire or cravings) 3. Nirodha – the end of suffering (break the cycle no more suffering) 4. Magga – the path of the end of suffering (Buddhist must follow the eightfold path) The four truths are: that our ordinary existence is unsatisfactory, that this is caused by our ignorance and craving, that we can overcome the suffering we experience, and that there is a pathway and means for us to do this and achieve happiness and freedom. Eight-fold path is a way to assist in good karma and achieve enlightenment. These are: 1. Right understanding 2. Right intent 3. Right speech 4. Right action 5. Right livelihood 6. Right effort 7. Right mindfulness 8. Right concentration *Note the ones in bold align with human rights The fundamental spirit in taking the Five Precepts is to refrain from trespassing and harming others. The action of taking precepts is considered a summation of our morality. Five Precepts: 1. Refrain from taking life eg. killing 2. Refrain from taking what is not given eg. stealing 3. Refrain from the misuse of the senses eg. Committing adultery -lust 4. Refrain from wrong speech eg. Lying and gossiping 5. Refrain from intoxicants that cloud the mind eg. Alcohol, drugs  8 Accompanying Precept Related to human rights virtues 1. I refrain from destroying living Kindness and Right to life creatures compassion Generosity, almsgiving, 2. I refrain from taking that which is not and renunciation of Right of property given physical possessions Contentment and 3. I refrain from sexual misconduct Right to fidelity in marriage respect for faithfulness Being honest and 4. I refrain from false speech Right of human dignity dependable 5. I refrain from intoxicants which lead to Mindfulness and Right of security and safety carelessness responsibility The Three Jewels or Triple Gem - The Buddha, fully enlightened one; the Dharma, the teachings by the Buddha, and the Sangha, the Buddhist order monks/nuns. Buddha is the teacher; Dharma is the teachings and Sangha is the Buddhist community. o To take refuge in the Buddha is in fact to take refuge in our own self nature. o To take refuge in the Dharma is to take refuge in the truth o To take refuge in the Sangha is to take refuge in Buddha’s teaching Siddhartha Gautama founder of Buddhism. Religion- Tibet before 1950s (Tibetan) Cambodia – Theravada Myanmar (Burma) – Theravada State Sri Lanka (Theravada) Bhutan ( Vajrayana) Death Buddhism does not prescribe any particular preparation of the corpse or type of funeral so this will vary depending on cultural traditions although cremation is common. The ashes of the deceased may be dispersed at particular places, kept, or enshrined in a Buddhist temple or monastery. Buddhist funeral services are normally performed by Buddhist monks or nuns. The body is washed and placed in a wooden coffin and carries it to a local temple to the shrine room. Cheerful music generates good karma. Rituals Tibetan sky burials - Happens 3-5 days after the person has passed. The family chooses a lucky day on which the ritual is to take place. Monks handle the ritual – for much of the process, they also act as the ‘bone breakers’ (rogyapa). They burn incense around the body and chant mantras. Families are prohibited from viewing the actual burial. The corpse is wrapped in a white cloth. Corpse is left in a corner of the house for five or so days to allow the soul to separate from the body. Priests read the scripture aloud to assist in ascension. Smoke is burned to attract the vultures whilst the Lamas chant sutras to forgive the sins of the dead. The rogyapa laughs and jokes to ensure that the atmosphere is ‘light’. Crying and sadness is prohibited. Tibetan Buddhists believe that the soul is attached to a deceased’s body for 3 days – this is called the nam she.  9 Hinduism CYCLICAL WORLDVIEW Sacred Text Vedas – veda meaning knowledge, contains prayers, religious instructions, and philosophy. There are four Vedas. Written in Sanskrit ancient language in Hinduism. Many Hindus believe in Brahman as the ultimate reality – one 'Supreme Spirit' in many forms. Brahman is male, female and even animal. Brahman is also commonly understood as the source of all creation. Hindus believe that there are four goals in human life: kama, the pursuit of pleasure; artha, the pursuit of material success; dharma, leading a just and good life; and moksha, enlightenment, which frees a person from suffering and unites the individual soul with Brahman. Reincarnation or transmigration of a soul: is a Hindu belief in which the soul passes from one body to another either human or animal on the cycle of rebirth. Reincarnation is the philosophical or religious belief that the non-physical essence of a living being starts a new life in a different physical form or body after biological death and transformation. It is also called rebirth or transmigration. Hinduism is the belief in a supreme being that watches over an endless cycle of creation, preservation, and dissolution. Hindu Karma is a concept which explains a system where beneficial effects are derived from past teachings beneficial actions and harmful effects from past harmful actions, creating a system of actions and reactions throughout a soul's reincarnated lives forming a cycle of rebirth. Karma, a Sanskrit word that roughly translates to "action," is a core concept in some Eastern religions. Samsara is the process of reincarnation, a continuous cycle in which the soul is reborn over and over again according to the law of action and reaction. At death many Hindus believe the soul is carried by a subtle body into a new physical body which can be a human or non-human form (an animal or divine being). Hindus believe that the soul passes through a cycle of successive lives (samsara) and its next incarnation is always dependent on how the previous life was lived (karma). Moksha is the liberation from samsara – the cycle of birth, death and rebirth. Moksha is the end of the death and rebirth cycle and is classed as the fourth and ultimate goal. It is achieved by overcoming ignorance and desires. As the soul finds unity with the Supreme Being and a person exits the cycle of birth, death, and rebirth, self-realization occurs. As part of the process of achieving moksha, one loses the focus on the ego and the body and can focus on her or his own divine self. Atman means 'eternal self'. The atman refers to the real self beyond ego or false self. It is often referred to as 'spirit' or 'soul' and indicates our true self or essence which underlies our existence. Caste system is meant to be a relationship of mutual benefits, however, the system does not always work that way and more often than not is discriminatory particularly for those in the lowest caste. The belief that one's karma determines one's birth in the next life has supported the structure of the caste system in India, made up of four varnas that determine one's occupation: Brahmins (priests), Kshatriyas (nobles and warriors), Vaishyas (commoners) and Sudras (servants). Though the former colonial government officially abolished the caste system and implemented  10 affirmative action policies to rectify imbalances in wealth and education, there are still socioeconomic advantages to belonging to a higher caste. Dharma - duty - In Hinduism Dharma is the religious and moral law governing an individual conduct. While Dharma means living in conformity with what is spiritually beneficial and right – (duties, conduct, laws, virtue). Duties not the same as rights. Person’s place in the world is linked to their duties. Dharma texts prescribe a person’s duties and responsibilities in terms of gender, caste and stage of life. Rather than seeing one set of human rights for all, dharma texts specify a person’s responsibility and rights in terms of a social context. There is an acceptance that every action creates consequences. Gandhi advocated learning to stand up for human dignity and rights are necessities of life. Religion- Nepal before 2006 State Death – funeral A Hindu priest typically performs certain death rites, but the family may act as a substitute if a priest is not available. Bodies are usually cremated rather than buried. A relative will bathe and dress the body in new clothes. The corpse is placed on a pyre beside a river. The feet must face Rituals south towards the realm of the god of death, Yama. Offerings are thrown into the fire. Cremation acts as a symbolic act of returning to ash in the transience of life. The ashes are scattered into a river, preferably the Ganges. Mourning lasts for ten days. Many rituals follow including: the chief mourner shaving, bathing and receiving a new sacred thread.