World Religions Review Handout PDF

INTRODUCTION TO WORLD Moses is considered one of the most RELIGIONS AND BELIEF SYSTEMS important religious leaders in world REVIEW HANDOUT history. JUDAISM H...

INTRODUCTION TO WORLD Moses is considered one of the most RELIGIONS AND BELIEF SYSTEMS important religious leaders in world REVIEW HANDOUT history. JUDAISM He is claimed by the religions of Judaism, Christianity, Islam, and Bahai as an important prophet of God and the founder of monotheistic belief. (Star of David)- Symbol of Judaism Religion The Ten Commandments are a set of Synagogue- The place where Jews pray. moral guidelines from the Bible that are meant to provide a basic code Western Wall- A wall from the Ancient of conduct for believers to live by. Temple in Jerusalem. Throughout Judaism’s history, its Repair the World- Jews must make the world followers have been called by many better by helping. names: Judaism began about 4000 years HEBREWS ago with the Hebrew people in the Middle East. Refers to those who accepted Yahweh as their God and much of It is the First Monotheistic Religion in their history is written in Hebrew. the World. ISRAELITES Abraham, a Hebrew man, is considered the father of the Jewish Refers to the descendants of the faith because he promoted the Hebrews, which originated from central idea of the Jewish faith: that Abraham. there is one God. God’s offer a Promised Land (Israel) FOUNDER: ABRAHAM for Abraham and his descendants. Abraham (Avraham) was called by JEW (JEWISH) God to leave his country and his Comes from Yehudah or Judah, the people and journey to an Southern Kingdom of Israel. undesignated land, where he became the founder of a new Now it is used to refer to someone nation. who practices Judaism and takes part in Jewish Culture. Jews regard Abraham as the first Patriarch of the Jewish people and Jews do not believe that Jesus was the first person to teach the idea anything more than a good and that there was only one God. wise man who lived and died 2000 years ago. MOSES  Jews still await their messiah. Reform Jews accept the Torah as the foundation of God’s ongoing revelation while learning also from modern exploration of its development. Sacred Text and Selected Issues of Judaism ORTHODOX JUDAISM The Torah is consisting of the five Belief in the direct revelation of (5) books of the Hebrew Bible divine law which was recorded in the Torah. (Old Testament by Christians) that were given by God to Moses on It is the eternal, unchanging, and the Mount Sini. sole guide for life. Carefully, and strictly observe the commandments as the direct will of FIVE (5) BOOKS OF TORAH God. (Pentateuch) 1. Genesis- In the Beginning CONSERVATIVE JUDAISM 2. Exodus- Names Agree that change was necessary 3. Leviticus- And He Called but felt Reform had eliminated too many basic Jewish Practices. 4. Numbers- In the desert of It is a sector of Judaism that seeks to 5. Deuteronomy- Things or Word conserve the traditional elements of Judaism while at the same time Genesis (Bereshit) – contains allowing for modernization that is less stories of creation, records the radical. establishment of the covenant between God and the Jewish Motto is “Tradition and Change”. people, and tells of the lives of REFORM JUDAISM the patriarchs and matriarchs. Reform Judaism affirms the central Exodus (Shemot)- account of tenets of Judaism- God, Torah, and Israelites enslaved in Egypt, the Israel. exodus from Egypt, the receiving Embraces diverse beliefs and of the 10 Commandments at Mt. Practices. Sinai.  Leviticus (Vayiqra)- gives God’s Books include: ethical and ritual laws and Psalms, Proverbs, Job, Song of specific instructions to priests on Songs, Ruth, Lamentations, how to perform their duties. Ecclesiastes, Esther, Daniel, Numbers (Bemidbar)- recounts of Nehemiah, and Chronicles. the Israelites through the desert Contains wisdom literature, and gives more of God’s ethical poetry, songs, narrative, history, and ritual laws. religious philosophy, and love Deuteronomy (Devarim)- Moses hymns. reviews the laws and the people TALMUD AND MISHNAH prepare to enter the promised land. The Hebrew term Talmud (“study” or “learning”) commonly refers to Nevi’im means “Prophet.” a compilation of ancient -Contains writing of God’s messenger, teachings regarded as sacred who spoke his word to the Hebrews. and normative by Jews from the time it was compiled until Two Sub-groups: modern times and still so Former Prophets regarded by traditional religious Jews. Latter Prophets The Mishnah (“repeated study”) is Former Prophet- Joshua, Judges, a collection of originally oral laws Samuel, Kings, Isaiah, Jeremiah, and supplementing scriptural laws. Ezekiel. ANTI-SEMITISM Latter Prophet (12 Prophet)- Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Antisemitism is a certain perception Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, of Jews, which may be expressed as Zechariah, and Malachi. hatred toward Jews. Ketuvim-is the third and final section of Anti-Semitism, Hostility toward or the Tanakh (Hebrew Bible), after Torah discrimination against Jews as a (instruction) and Nevi’im (prophet). In religious group or “race.” English translations of the Hebrew Bible, HOLOCAUST this section is usually entitled “Writings”. It contains wisdom literature, poetry, The word “holocaust,” came songs, narrative, history, religious from the Greek words “holos” philosophy, and love hymns. (whole) and “kaustos” (burned),  was historically used to describe “Messiah”, and thus its central a sacrificial offering burned on figure. an altar. The most common symbol for During the war, the Nazi regime Christianity is the cross, for and their collaborators Christians believe that Jesus died systematically murdered over six on the cross to save humanity million Jewish people. from their sins and to restore people’s relationship with God the Father. Jesus is depicted as a Jewish teacher from Galilee who performed many miracles of healing and deliverance. He called 12 Jewish men to follow him, working closely with them to be trained and prepared to carry on the ministry. CHRISTIANITY Cross- Symbol of Christian Religion Christianity is considered the most popular religion in the world with the greatest number of SACRED TEXT: BIBLE adherents among all religions. OLD TESTAMENTS It centers on the life, teachings, The Old Testament, is based death, and resurrection of Jesus principally upon the Hebrew Christ, who is considered the Bible, a collection of religious Messiah or Savior of humanity. writings by ancient Israelites FOUNDER: JESUS CHRIST believed by most Christians (and observant Jews) to be the sacred In Christianity, Jesus of Nazareth is word of God. the Christ, the promised NEW TESTAMENTS  The New Testament, is the second 1. Baptism major part of the Christian 2. Eucharist biblical canon. It discusses the 3. Confirmation teachings and person Jesus, as 4. Reconciliation well as events in the first-century 5. Anointing of the Sick Church of Christ. 6. Marriage 7. Holy Orders CREEDS The Creeds, is an idea or set of VIRGIN BIRTH believes that guides the actions of a person or group. The virgin birth of Jesus or simply “Virgin Birth” designates the A statement concerning what we doctrine of traditional Christianity believe. that Jesus Christ had no natural father, but was conceived in the womb of his mother Mary through the power of the Holy Spirit, and born while Mary was yet a virgin. DIVINITY OF CHRIST The divinity of Christ is the belief that Jesus Christ is God. This is a central doctrine of Christianity, as GOSPEL it is the basis of trusting Christ's The teachings of the Christian authority and teachings. Religion. The Bible and the Church affirm Gospel means “Good News” that Christ has both human and about Jesus Christ. divine natures and that he possesses the attributes of deity, DOCTRINES: such as eternity, omnipotence, HOLY TRINITY omniscience, and omnipresence. The Christians also believe in the Holy Trinity, which means God RESURRECTION has three aspects— Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit. Generally, “resurrection” designates the concept of a SEVEN (7) SACRAMENTS OF CHRISTIANITY  living being coming back to life after death. It is the cornerstone of Christian ISLAM doctrine and the foundation of Christian hope. STAR AND CRESCENT-Symbol of Islamic LAST JUDGEMENT Religion The Bible declares that God “has Islam is an Abrahamic set a day in which he purposes to monotheistic religion that judge the inhabited earth.” This espouses that God is one and day of judgment, also known as incomparable and that the the Final Judgment, is when purpose of man’s existence is to Jesus, the Son of God, will judge worship and serve God. "the living and the dead" before destroying the old heaven and The Arabic word for God is earth, which are corrupted by sin. “Allah”. Judgment Day is the end of the The most populous Muslim world when Jesus Christ will judge country is Indonesia, followed by every person who has lived and Pakistan and Bangladesh. separate believers from FOUNDER: PROPHET MUHAMMAD non-believers. Muhammad was the last prophet according to Islam. His revelations, covering political, and social as well as religious principles became the basis of Islamic religion and civilization. SACRED TEXT: QUR’AN, HADITH The Qur’an (Koran) is the holy book of Islam. It is a primary revelation in Islam, held to be the direct word of God given to the Prophet Muhammad.  In 114 chapters (suras), the It refers to the five ritual duties Qur’an discusses several topics that mainstream Muslims consider including the life of Muhammad, as principal to their faith. the relationship between God SHAHADA OR KALIMA and humans, prophets and (PROFESSING THE CONFESSION OF messengers, and human FAITH) responsibility and judgment. The first act of worship that every Muslims believe that the Qur’an is Muslim performs is a confirmation the timeless word of God, the like of faith, known as the shahada. which no human can produce. It is inimitability and anchored on The shahada involves the belief in the divine authorship pronouncing the Arabic of the book. statement “La ilah illa Allah wa Muhammad rasul Allah”, The Qur’an first chapter is meaning “There is no God but al-Fatiha (“the Opening”) is a the one God, and Muhammad is small chapter that is recited his prophet”. during each of the five daily prayers and in several other ritual prayers. SALAT (PRAYER) It starts with the formula “in the Daily prayer is a touchstone in a name of God, the Merciful Lord Muslim’s life. In Islam, prayer is of Mercy” (‘bism Allah al-Rahman directly to Allah alone, directly, al-Rahim’). without any intermediary or Every chapter is divided into intercessor. verses called ayat (singular aya, Muslims take time out five times meaning “sign” or “proof”). each day to direct their hearts The Hadith is a second source of towards worship. The movements religious and moral guidance of prayer – standing, bowing, known as “Sunna”. sitting, and prostrating – represent humility before the Creator. DOCTRINES: FIVE PILLARS OF ISLAM Words of prayer include words of The Five Pillars of Islam, called praise and thanks to Allah, verses arkan in Arabic. from the Quran, and personal supplications. SAUM (FASTING) Such is the impact of the experience and the hardship that Muslim fasting prescribed only for it entails. The Hajj pilgrimage healthy adult Muslims during the occurs during a certain set month 30 days of Ramadan, the ninth every year, lasts for several days, month in the Islamic calendar. and is only required of those No food, drink, or sexual relations Muslims who are physically and are allowed from dawn until dusk. financially able to make the journey. Sick individuals and nursing women are excused, though they are expected to make up GOD: ALLAH for missing the fast at other times in the year when they are healthy Allah is the Arabic name of the again or no longer nursing. supreme being. The term is a contraction of the Arabic al-llah, ZAKAT (ALMSGIVING) “the God”. In the Quran, giving in charity to The Qur’an declares that Allah is the poor is often mentioned the creator and the one who hand-in-hand with daily prayer. rewards and punishes; that he is It is an annual wealth tax that unique and can only be one; serves as just and lawful claim of that he is eternal, omniscient, the poor against the affluent omnipotent, and all-merciful. ones. It is central to a Muslim’s core PRACTITIONERS: SUNNI, SHI’ITE belief that everything we have comes from Allah, and is not ours Sunni Islam is one of the two main to hoard or covet. We should feel branches of Islam, Shia (or Shi’ite) blessed for everything we have Islam being the other. Sunni and must be willing to share with Muslims constitute the vast those less fortunate. majority of the Islamic community in the world. HAJJ (PILGRIMAGES) Sunnis believe that the Qur’an is Unlike the other “pillars” of Islam, the literal word of God. They which are performed on a daily believe in electing their religious or annual basis, the pilgrimage is leaders; that the position is not required to be done only once in a lifetime.  passed down through the to eradicate discrimination Prophet Muhammad’s Bloodline. against women and to outflow practices such as polygyny The first Caliph (leader) chosen (multiple wives), limitation of the by the Sunnis was a friend of right of divorce to the husband, Prophet Muhammad named Abu and purdah. Bakr. Purdah, refers to a system of Shia (or Shi’ite) Islam people seclusion of women practiced by believe many of the same things some Muslims (and Hindu as Sunnis, including all the core People). tenets of Islam (a monotheistic faith system, etc.) ISSUES: MILITANT ISLAM Shia Muslim’s core difference For non-Muslims, the terms from Sunnis is their belief that only “Militant Islam” and Islamic Prophet Muhammad’s direct fundamentalist induce images of descendants can be leaders of hostage crises, ambassies under the Islamic Faith. siege, hijackings, and suicide bombers. PRACTITIONERS: SUFI Islamic Militants try to attain their Sufism, is a mystical Islamic belief goals through violence. and practice in which Muslims seek to find the truth of divine ISSUES: MIGRATION love and knowledge through The issue of migration, on the direct personal experience of other hand, is never new to God. Muslims. It consists of a variety of mystical During the initial years of paths that are designed to Muhammad’s preaching, he ascertain the nature of humanity made just a few converts among and of God and to facilitate the the pagan Meccans who experience of the presence of worshipped many different gods. divine love and wisdom in the But over time, Muhammad’s world. adherents grew in number, and ISSUES: GENDER INEQUALITY they began to be viewed as a threat by Mecca’s elite. In Islamic countries, the issue of gender inequality involves a Yathrib- an oasis town north of secular, liberal feminism seeking Mecca.