SOR Prelims Notes (2) PDF

NATURE OF RELIGION WORLDVIEW Religion as a worldview that acknowledges the supernatural dimension and has a belief in a divine being or powers beyond the human and/or dwelling within the individual Define the supernatural dimension ○ Belief in the supernatural dimension is c...

NATURE OF RELIGION WORLDVIEW Religion as a worldview that acknowledges the supernatural dimension and has a belief in a divine being or powers beyond the human and/or dwelling within the individual Define the supernatural dimension ○ Belief in the supernatural dimension is central to all religious traditions ○ The most significant element of a religious worldview is this belief in a divine being or power, which is greater than humankind and the natural world. ○ This being or power is believed to be responsible for the creation of the world, for providing a framework for human life, and being the ultimate destiny of a human person at the end of their mortal life ○ Monotheistic religions: Judaism, Christianity and Islam believe that the supernatural dimension is a single divine being or power ○ Polytheistic religions: Hinduism and BUddhism derive from an understanding of a number of divine beings or powers Discuss a transcendent religious worldview which has a belief in a divine power and/or powers beyond the human ○ A transcendent worldview is one that is beyond the human experience ‘out there’ ○ The transcendent dimension allows humans to move beyond their earthly concerns to the heavenly or spiritual matters ○ For example, in Judaism, Christianity and Islam, the one God exists beyond the human, yet guides humanity throughout their daily existence Discuss an immanent religious worldview which has a belief in a divine being or powers dwelling within the individual ○ An immanent worldview refers to the ‘inner’ aspects of spirituality ○ Emphasis is placed on God or gods in human existence in day to day life ○ Examples: In Buddhism and Hinduism, a divine being or powers dwell within the individual In Buddhism, the ultimate goal is nirvana, which gives a sense of ultimate meaning ○ Immanent: existing within ○ A deity can be both immanent and transcendent. Religion can also be explained through the balance between both the transcendent and immanent 1 Characteristics of religion: beliefs and believers, sacred texts and writings, ethics, rituals and ceremonies Define the characteristics of religion ○ Belief: Trust, faith or confidence in someone or something ○ Believer: an adherent of a particular religion; someone with religious faith ○ Sacred texts and writings: Qur’an, Hadith and Sunnah ○ Ethics: Morals that govern a person’s behaviour or the conducting of an activity ○ Rituals and ceremonies: Salat (daily prayers), Hajj (pilgrimage), Friday prayer Explore the ways in which these characteristics interact to create a dynamic, living religion ○ Dynamic living religion: A living religion is one that is full of life. It is practical, real and immersed, and not removed from or afraid of, everyday human experience. It is evident in society and culture and clearly expressed in the lives of adherents. ○ When the beliefs and believers, sacred texts and writings, ethics, rituals and ceremonies interact creatively, they help to nurture a religion that is alive and active in the lives of adherents ○ Beliefs and believers contribute to a living and dynamic religion through their daily actions, allowing the continual interpretation of religious beliefs to be involved in a contemporary society Example: Christians believe Jesus is the son of God. Believers, as Christians, aim to live out his actions, values and morals ○ Key values and morals are contained within sacred texts. Through understanding the sacred texts, believers apply these to their daily life to live out their faith, demonstrating a dynamic living religion. Example: The Bible allows Christians to gain an insight as to how Jesus lived his life, setting an example for modern day followers. ○ Those who live out their religion dynamically base their ethical and moral stance on these beliefs, which affects adherents’ response to ethical and moral issues in our society Example: This is particularly evident through the Christian belief that people are “made in God’s image”, and apply this idea to a pro-life stance on abortion ○ Rituals and ceremonies reflect a living and dynamic religion, as they allow adherents to physically demonstrate and live out the core beliefs and teachings of their religion communally or individually. Example: When Christians attend a baptism, they renew their baptismal vows and engage with scripture 2 The contribution of religion Appreciate the contribution of religion to individuals and society and culture ○ Religion has contributed to individuals and society throughout human history through attempting to answer the fundamental questions of human existence, such as: Why am I here? Is there a supreme being? Why do evil and suffering exist? Is there life after death? ○ Religion helps to construct meaning, provides ethical guidance and provides a sense of belonging Individuals ○ Religion gives individuals guidance in life through complex ethical systems and sacred texts which they can draw on for wisdom. Religious beliefs contribute to an individual's sense of self, understanding and belonging Society and culture ○ Religion changes, shapes and develops human culture to sustain a diverse society ○ Furthermore, religion creates social cohesion by establishing rites of passage within a culture through rituals and ceremonies ○ Religion contributes to society and culture as it helps individuals to understand the meaning of existence and help sustain the knowledge of a deeper meaning of life 3  AUSTRALIAN ABORIGINAL BELIEFS AND SPIRITUALITIES – THE DREAMING Nature of the Dreaming Outline the nature of the Dreaming in relation to: origins of the universe, sacred sites, stories of the Dreaming, symbolism and art ○ The Dreaming is a complex network of knowledge, faith and practices which dominates all spiritual and physical aspects of Aboriginal life. It is the most fundamental idea in Aboriginal religion The Dreaming is the central and deepest reality of the Aboriginal world; it is the spiritual dimension of reality which has existed from the beginning and continues to be present in all aspects of life Dreaming establishes the rules linking the relationship between Aboriginal people, the land and all things associated with Aboriginal life Dreaming is experienced through songs, stories, rituals and symbols Origins of the universe ○ The Dreaming stories of creation are the foundation of Aboriginal religion. The Dreaming came when the first beings, the spirit ancestors, arose out of their central sleep from the earth. They created the natural world; they fixed the design of nature and the order of life into an enduring form Every land feature in the environment has a story from the Dreaming attached to it The original spirits also brought all living creatures. Each spirit founded a line of descendants, comprising a natural species and its corresponding human group, which are linked as a single totem of Dreaming All ancestral spirits left behind trails of their lives, called Dreaming tracks, which are marked in the monuments of geography and tribal lands. These Dreaming tracks are recreated in traditional songs and ceremonies Sacred sites ○ The Dreaming creation stories tell of the origin of important landscape features. Some of these features originated during a Dreaming, and are of special significance to Aboriginal peoples. These places are known as sacred sites, which may be land, rock formations, and parts of rivers or seas. Knowledge of the sacred sites is limited, as it is rarely shared with the wider community 4 Stories of the Dreaming ○ The Dreaming stories are an accurate and valid oral history for Aboriginal people. The Dreaming beliefs are passed onto young people by an interwoven network of stories and ceremonies ○ It is through the Dreaming stories that Aboriginals are truly linked to the Australian environment ○ These stories tell of all aspects of Aboriginal lifestyle and law, and explain the creation of the land, the animals and the people. They provide different layers of meaning ○ These stories cover all aspects of life – male and female roles, and sacred and public activities found in traditional society ○ These stories also teach of the natural world – physical characteristics of birds, animals, plants and trees, as well as a detailed map and knowledge of the country. Symbolism and Art ○ Aboriginal stories can be part of body painting, drawn on the sand or painted on various surfaces. More specifically, Aboriginal art is an essential part of Aboriginal life. The artist is the custodian of that knowledge of the Dreaming in which they are painting. As such, the artist is the one with the creative spirit. ○ All elements of the Dreaming are incorporated in traditional Aboriginal Art. This can include law, values, customs, ceremonies and obligations of Aboriginal people ○ Art can be used for rituals or to identify the ownership of Dreaming and to strengthen kinship ties ○ In ritual ceremonies, sacred designs are reproduced as ground sculptures or sand paintings, and in concert with song and dance. Humans become temporarily filled with the creative power of the Dreaming Diversity of the Dreaming ○ There is a diversity of cultures, languages, kinship structures and ways of life among Aboriginal people across Australia. Aboriginal peoples are comprised of many different language ○ Depending on the area, specific plants and animals are associated with the ancestor spirits and are totems for the Aboriginal people ○ These totems allow for kinship with that spirit, providing a relationship with the land of that particular region ○ This also involves ceremonies and rituals which are required to keep the Dreaming present ○ This provides people with an identity 5 The inextricable connection of the Dreaming, the land and identity Investigate the inextricable connection of the Dreaming, the land and identity Importance of the Dreaming for Aboriginal peoples ○ The Dreaming impacts all aspects of life for Aboriginals. The Dreaming stories present an entire worldview, providing ethics, ways to hunt, creation, art, etc. ○ Through practice, Aboriginal spirituality affirms the highest reality of the Dreaming, and maintains daily human life in alignment with that reality ○ Totems allow for meaning and purpose and are a reminder of the harmony of the universe ○ When the relationship with the land is broken, the spirituality can be lost The inextricable link between the Dreaming, land and identity ○ The Dreaming, the land, and the individual are inextricably linked within Aboriginal Spirituality. The Dreaming is the eternal link between Ancestral Spirits and aboriginal humanity. It explains the creation of life, sustains all life, and provides totemic connections to the land and in particular sacred sites provided by Ancestor beings in the present ○ Land sustains Aboriginal lives in every aspect – spiritually, physically, socially and culturally ○ Land is central to Dreaming. Dreaming links a person to the land and with objects within the land. It tells people what rights and responsibilities they each have with respect to the land ○ Land and Dreaming are interdependent because people share the same spiritual essence as the land. Without the land, Dreaming would merely be stories that carry the hopes and values of a people 6  CHRISTIANITY ORIGINS The historical and cultural context in which Christianity began Outline the historical and cultural context in which Christianity began Jewish Context ○ The first Christians were Jews ○ Jesus was a Jew ○ The first disciples were Jews ○ The sacred books of the first Christians were the Scriptures of the Jews ○ The first Christians went to the Temple to worship and pray ○ Only gradually did the Christian people move away from Judaism and become a separate movement Jewish Sect ○ Pharisees: Their concern was to implement God’s will, in every aspect of their lives. They were well known for their debates over the interpretation of the Torah and on occasion challenged Jesus to join them in debate. Pharisaic oral traditions were eventually written as a body of teachings in the Talmud ○ Sadducees: The members of this religious/social group were drawn mainly from priestly families and wealthy citizens of the community. THey worked in cooperation with the Roman occupation forces to ensure the status quo ○ Essenes: As a group they withdrew from ordinary life to monastic isolation, where they remained faithful to the Law. Their aim was to prepare for the coming of God’s Messiah. Many scholars suggest that one commune of Essenes was located at Qumran, where the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered in 1947. ○ Scribes: The Scribes were considered an authoritative group on the Torah (Jewish law). They were the keepers and interpreters of the Jewish religious tradition ○ Zealots: The Zealots were more politically oriented. They advocated violent rebellion against Rome and thought that Jewish independence could only be achieved through military action. It was their belief that the coming Messiah would be a great military leader who would overthrow the Roman oppressors. 7 Jesus Christ Examine the principal events of Jesus’ life The Birth of Jesus ○ Born around 6 BCE in Bethlehem ○ The event of the first Christmas – found in gospels of Luke and Matthew Ministry ○ Jesus began his ministry as a teacher and healer at 30 years old ○ Jesus’ public ministry commenced with him being baptised by the John the Baptist in the River Jordan ○ After his Baptism, where he was filled with the Holy Spirit, he withdrew to the desert for a period of prayer and fasting ○ He then called his first disciples ○ He preached and taught intriguing parables such as the: Prodigal Son Good Shepherd ○ Jesus performed many miracles as an act of compassion and to be of service to other people ○ Jesus is reported in the gospels as having: Changed water into wine at the feast of Cana Fed a crowd of 5000 people using only a small amount of loaves and dishes Calmed a violent storm Walked on water Raised many people from the dead Cured many people who were sick Teachings of Jesus ○ He inspired others ○ Sermon on the Mount: This sermon is in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke. The Beatitudes is the name given to the well known portion of the Sermon describing the characteristics of the those who are deemed blessed by God ○ Greatest Commandment of Love Resurrection and Ascension ○ The body of Jesus was taken from the Cross and placed in a tomb ○ On Sunday, a group of women went to the tomb to prepare his body for the burial. When they arrived the tomb was empty and an angel was present, who explained that Jesus has risen. ○ It was 40 days after he had risen that he ascended into heaven (Acts 1:9) where he took his place at the right hand of the father - Ascension 8  The passion, arrest and death of Jesus ○ In the last weeks of his life, Jesus entered into Jerusalem, which is a celebration called Palm Sunday ○ He was involved in a series of public arguments with the Pharisees and Sadducees ○ He then celebrated the Last Supper with his disciples, which today has become the celebration of Holy Communion ○ He then spent the rest of the night in prayer and reflection in the Garden of Gethsemane ○ As he left the Garden, he was arrested and brought to trial before Pontius Pilate ○ He was imprisoned, interrogated, mistreated, tried and sentenced to death and crucified on what Christians call Good Friday ○ He suffered and died with a prayer on his lips: “Father, into your hands I commend my spirit” (Luke 23:46) ○ His death is considered necessary by Christians to bring salvation for all Explain why Jesus is the model of Christian life ○ Through his practice of universal love for humanity and faithfulness to God he demonstrated the way to eternal life. He was baptised, followed the Scriptures, and always maintained his belief in God. He is the model for Christian life as he emphasised the Kingdom of God and demonstrated the importance of prayer, service, love and forgiveness ○ Kingdom of God: Jesus’ teaching focused on the Gospel, a message of good news, of his coming Kingdom ○ Prayer: Jesus lived a life of prayer and he frequently prayed to God. He often withdrew from the pressures of life to pray in a quiet place. He also taught the disciples to pray the Lord’s prayer ○ Service: Throughout his ministry Jesus served others. This is highlighted in the Beatitudes (Matthew 5:1-12) and the Golden Rule (Matthew 8:12). Service is further demonstrated by Jesus when he washes the feet of his disciples (John 13:1-15) ○ Love: Jesus taught the importance of love through forgiveness, service, compassion, empathy, faith and sacrifice. He is the model for Christian life as he modelled love of God, neighbour and self, and he taught the importance of loving one another ○ Forgiveness: Jesus demonstrates forgiveness throughout his ministry. He often spoke about forgiveness, forgave those who sinned against others, and forgave those who sinned against him. He taught “if you forgive others their transgressions, your heavenly Father will forgive you” (Matthew 6:14) 9 The development of early Christian communities Describe the early development of Christian communities after the death of Jesus Pentecost ○ The feast of Pentecost marks the birth of the Christian Church when the Holy Spirit descended on the Apostles (Acts 2:1-11). It was from this day that the disciples of Christ went forth baptising in the Trinity and they who believed in Christ Spreading the Gospel message ○ The growth of the Gospel message was rapid: “the variety of the disciples was multiplying” (Acts 6:1) ○ Those who left Jerusalem took with them the message of Christ, spreading the Gospel to Samaria through Phillip Followers of Jesus ○ The spread of the Gospel in the years immediately after Christ’s death established many Christian communities, with major centres in Antioch, Armenia and Rome. As the Gospel spread, Christian communities became more varied and began to include Gentiles as well as Jews ○ Paul and Peter: Paul and Peter were the two most significant leaders in the early Church Small groups of Palestinian Jews followed Jesus through the preachings of Peter Larger groups of Diaspora Hellenistic Jews and Gentile Christians followed Jesus through the preachings of Paul The apostle Paul ○ Paul was the greatest of Christian evangelists, and he embarked on a number of missionary journeys which are considered his defining actions. It was Paul’s founding of the Christian communities and his letters that established Christianity ○ Paul developed a powerful interpretation of the significance of Jesus. His message was that Christ was the saviour of all humankind ○ He developed communities in the Gentile world in Asia Minor and Greece and maintained correspondence through his Epistles (letters), which make up part of the New Testament in the Bible. His missionary journeys were essential to the growth of Christianity. 10 The different variants of Christianity Outline the unique features of Anglicanism, Catholicism, Orthodoxy, Pentecostalism, Protestantism. Anglicanism ○ The Anglican Church was formerly the Church of England in Australia. For the majority of Australian history, it was the largest religious denomination ○ The Church of England was established by King Henry VIII in 1534. ○ The Anglican Church of Australia is part of the One Holy Catholic Apostolic Church of Christ ○ The Church regards all the canonical scriptures of the Old and New Testament as being the ultimate rule and standard of faith given by inspiration of God and containing all things necessary for salvation ○ The Church obeys the commands of Christ and administers the sacraments of Holy Baptism and Holy Communion and preserves the orders of bishops, deacons and sacred ministry Catholicism ○ The Catholic Church teaches that it is the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church founded by Jesus Christ in his Great Commission ○ The history of the Catholic Church begins with the teachings of Jesus Christ. The contemporary Catholic Church is a continuation of the early Christian community established by Jesus ○ The teachings are drawn from the Scriptures and traditions ○ The authority is structured under the pope ○ The Catholic Church recognises seven sacraments: Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist, Reconciliation, Anointing of the Sick, Marriage and Holy Orders ○ Catholics believe that during the Eucharist (holy communion), transubstantiation occurs Transubstantiation: The conversion of the substance of the Eucharistic elements into the body and blood of consecration, only the appearances of bread and wine still remaining Orthodoxy ○ The Orthodox Churches are united in faith and by a common approach to theology, tradition and worship. The Churches draw on elements of Greek, Middle-Eastern, Russian and Slav culture ○ In Orthodoxy the Divine Liturgy (celebration of the Eucharist) plays a central role in the lives of Orthodox Christians. The celebration is often entirely sung. ○ Only men are priests. Celibacy is the norm; however, they may be married ○ Orthodox Christians honour the Saints, which feature in icons ○ The Holy Scriptures are highly regarded 11  Pentecostalism ○ Pentecostalism is a Protestant Christian movement that emphasises direct personal experience of God through Baptism with the Holy Spirit. In Australia, Pentecostal Churches include the Hillsong and Christian City Churches ○ Pentecostals have emphasised what they often call “encounter” with God, a direct experience of God’s presence. They believe that they’re driven by the power of God moving within them. ○ This experience which is central to Pentecostal worship, is understood to be the empowerment for divine healing, speaking in tongues and even exorcism. Protestantism ○ ‘Protestant’ is not the name of any single church, but a movement of religious groups in Europe that opposed the doctrine of the Catholic Church and the authority of the Pope. ○ Emphasis on the authority of the Bible ○ The importance of faith as opposed to the idea of earning salvation through good works ○ The recognition of two sacraments: Baptism and Holy Communion ○ Clergy may marry ○ Lutheran Churches have maintained liturgical rituals similar to the Roman Catholic Church, whereas other denominations such as Baptists and Presbyterians have developed less liturgical forms of worship 12 PRINCIPAL BELIEFS The Divinity and Humanity of Jesus Christ Outline the principal beliefs regarding the divinity and humanity of Jesus Christ ○ Early Christians believed that Jesus was divine (of or relating to a God), raising questions about the nature of Jesus and God ○ Because of the questioning, Christians formed the doctrine of the Holy Trinity allowing them to understand that God is one God ○ Christianity acknowledges the full divinity and full humanity of Jesus The death and resurrection of Jesus Christ Explain the importance of the death and the resurrection of Jesus Christian for Christians ○ Historical death of Jesus implies that he existed and that his death and suffering was a sacrifice for Christians ○ Transformed body and soul for eternal life ○ Provides adherents with the belief about life after death ○ Christians will reunite with God in heaven The nature of God and the Trinity Outline the beliefs about the nature of God and of the Trinity ○ Belief that God is one and creator of all things ○ Trinity: God the father, Jesus the Son of God and the Holy Spirit ○ Trinity is the central dogma and beyond mystery Revelation Examine the Christian understanding of revelation ○ Transmission of knowledge from the divine to the human ○ Includes biblical accounts, knowledge given by God about person, events and previously hidden things ○ Enables human to be called by God to respond to faith and action in their everyday lives, deeds and events associated with the persons of Christ Salvation Describe the Christian understanding of salvation ○ To be saved from suffering and evil ○ Forgiveness of sins ○ Christians can achieve salvation in life and death by following will of Jesus ○ The soul endures after the physical body dies, and it receives its reward in the next life (heaven or hell) 13 SACRED TEXTS AND WRITINGS Bible Identify the importance of the Bible in Christianity ○ The Old Testament → record of God’s relationship with adherents ○ The New Testament → record of the influence of Jesus on those who experienced him ○ The Bible is considered to be the word of God as it is inspired by God and thus provides deep spiritual insights for Christians into their religion ○ The Bible highlights key beliefs and determines the practical application of legal, ethical and ritual dimensions ○ Provides guidelines for ritual, prayer and worship ○ 4 Gospels on Jesus’ life: Luke, Matthew, John and Mark CORE ETHICAL TEACHINGS Ten Commandments Outline the principal ethical teachings of the Ten Commandments ○ Exodus 20:1-17 ○ Laws revealed by God to Moses ○ First 3 refer to relationship with God, while the rest refer to obligation to one’s neighbour and society ○ Basis for structuring Christian life ○ Values: Reverence for human life, belief in God, loyalty, obedience and respect New Testament ethics Outline the principal ethical teachings of the Beatitudes ○ Matthew 5: 1-12 ○ Sum up Jesus’ teachings about what it means to live as a child of God’s kingdom ○ Declaration of praise ○ Delivered by Jesus to instruct his followers ○ Provides a model for Christian life ○ Values: patience, peace, justice and acceptance Outline the principal ethical teachings of Jesus’ Commandments of Love ○ Matthew 22:37-40 ○ Love is identified as the defining characteristic of Christian life ○ Summarises the basic ethical obligation ○ Message: Love God, love your neighbour and love one another ○ Values: love, compassion and selflessness 14 PERSONAL DEVOTION Prayer Describe the different types of prayer ○ Prayer means to retreat or request and is used to develop a closer personal relationship with God ○ Vocal prayer: Used verbal expressions - hail mary, our father Helps the person to be attentive and adds to its intensity Example: Hymn singing ○ Mental prayer: Application of soul, intellect, imagination and memory Example: meditation ○ 5 forms of prayer: Blessing and Adoration → We acknowledge our dependence on God Petition → We ask God for physical and spiritual goods Intercession → We make requests on behalf of other people Thanksgiving → We thank God for everything He does for us Praise → We express our love for God (Gratitude) 15  ISLAM ORIGINS Pre-islamic Arabia as the cultural and historical context for the development of Islam - Outline the social conditions and religious practices that existed in pre-islamic Arabia. Men and Women in Society ○ Society was typically patriarchal in nature. ○ In some social groups, prostitution and trading wives in times of war were common ○ The marriage contract was held by the woman’s legal guardian (husband/father) ○ Common characteristics: - Men had as many wives as they wanted - Women were property to trade - Trade was the most common method of employment - Adultery and female infanticide were common When and where did Islam begin? ○ Islam began in 7th Century in Saudi Arabia ○ Two main cities in Islam: Medina and Mecca ○ Mecca: ‘Holy City’ - Founded on trade routes between Indian Ocean, Syria and Egypt - Location of the Ka’bah ○ Medina: ‘City of the Prophet’ - Second holiest city in Islam - Name changed from Yathrib - Muhammad fled here to avoid persecution in Mecca Religious adherence in pre-Islamic Arabia ○ Local religion was typically polytheistic, worshipping aspects of nature. There were small cults with temples and the adherents participated in rituals such as human/animal sacrifice. ○ The selling of false idols at the Ka’bah was very common. Pilgrims would travel to Mecca and purchase idols from the local merchants; successful business for men. Idols known as Hubal (God worshipped in pre-islamic Arabia represented in idol form). There were some Jewish and Christian adherents–in the minority. ○ Most powerful tribe was the Quraysh, controlling most of the economy in Mecca. The Quraysh made profits from pilgrims visiting the Ka’bah. They exploited pilgrims and controlled society making them disliked by others. 16 Prophet Muhammad - Examine the principal events in Muhammad’s life Timeline of key events ○ Born in 570 in Mecca ○ Orphaned at age 5 or 6 ○ Becomes a trader in teen years ○ Acquires a nickname as an honest person nicknamed “Al-Ameen” ○ Khadijah hires him to lead her caravan ○ Khadijah proposes marriage to him ○ Married at 25 ○ Has 6 children ○ Begins meditating in a cave at Mount Hira ○ The angel Jibril appears to him at age 40 ○ Muhammad starts to transfer these revelations into writing in the Qur’an ○ Muhammad takes his message public ○ New Muslims are persecuted in Mecca by the Quraysh because Muhammad’s teachings threaten their pagan way of life ○ Muhammad ascends to heaven (circa 621) where he speaks to Allah who gives him instructions to take back to the faithful on earth about the number of times to pray each day ○ Muhammad moves to Medina (622) where he establishes the community of Islam ○ A long war follows until Muhammad’s army finally conquered Mecca (630) ○ Muhammad spares the conquered army, re-dedicates the Ka’ba and Islam in accepted ○ Muhammad dies of June 8 632, aged 62, and is buried in Mecca 17 - Explain why the Prophet Muhammad as the final messenger is the model for Muslim life Why is Muhammad a role model for Muslim living? ○ Muhammad’s life, his faith, courage and leadership qualities provide an excellent model for Muslim life ○ Perfect example of Islam (submission to Allah) ○ He was chosen as a prophet by Allah to convey the message of Islam ○ He was the first Muslim and a fearless preacher and warrior for Allah and Islam ○ All Muslims are encouraged to follow his example in living Islam and perfecting their character Muhammad’s Character ○ Orphaned at an early age–becoming a ‘child of everyone’ ○ Honesty and integrity as a trader – ‘Al-Ameen’ ○ Loyal and faithful husband and father ○ Man of prayer, spiritual searcher ○ Strong leader and statesman, yet humble and simple ○ Resolves disputes justly ○ Social, political reformer – cared for the poor, abolished slavery and infanticide and improved conditions for women ○ Known as the ‘Walking Qur’an’ – an embodiment of all its teachings in human form Muhammad’s character in the texts of Islam ○ Hadith: Record of Muhammad’s teachings - “Whoever treads a path seeking knowledge, Allah will make easy for him the path to Paradise” (Jannah) - “The pursuit of knowledge is obligatory on every Muslim” ○ Sunna: Book of Muhammad’s actions - “How perfect Allah is and I praise him” - “The straightening of rows is essential for a perfect and correct prayer” 18 The development of Islam under the leadership of the Four Rightly Guided Caliphs - Describe the development of Islam after the death of Muhammad under the leadership of the Four Rightly Guided Caliphs, accounting for the emergence of the Sunni and the Shi’a Origins and roles of a caliph ○ When Muhammad died in 632, there was a political crisis ○ A decision was made that Islam should be lead by a king, who had a personal and strong relationship with Muhammad ○ For the next 30 years, the Islamic world was ruled by 4 caliphs ○ A caliph had multiple roles in the early life of Islam, including: - To make laws based on the Qur’an - To lead the Muslim community (umma) - Responsible for creating and maintaining a way of life where Muslims could live according to key Islamic principles ○ The four caliphs were: - Abu Bakr - Umar Ibn al-Khattab - Uthman Ibn Affan - Ali Ibn Abi Talib Abu Bakr (632-634) ○ Father of Aisha (one of Muhammad’s wives after Khadijah’s death) ○ Very wealthy – put most of his fortune towards building the Muslim community ○ One of Muhammad’s most trusted friends ○ Restored stability to a community in turmoil following Muhammad’s death ○ Initiated the process of compiling the Qur’an in written form ○ Managed to strengthen and consolidate the community and the state Umar Ibn al-Khattab (634-644) ○ Ruled for 10 years before assassinated in 644CE ○ His death was a reflection of political instability and risks during the period following Muhammad’s death. ○ Conquered Jerusalem during his reign ○ When he arrived in Jerusalem, he found an old Jewish temple left as a rubbish dump which he then cleaned up, discovering the ‘holy rock’ ○ This is now the site of the first mosque in Jerusalem ○ Extended the Muslim empire to Palestine, Syria, Egypt, Iraq, Persia and Armenia ○ Effective military leader ○ Famous conquest – Jerusalem ○ Appointed a committee to choose the next caliph 19 Uthman ibn Affan (644-656) ○ Appointed by Umar however was not the first choice. Ali refused terms of the caliphate so the role was given to Umar ○ Refused to retire and accused of nepotism by distributing wealth and land to his family ○ Management of Egypt was harsh and unreasonable – creating many enemies and leading to his murder by Egyptian assassins in 656CE ○ The first 6 years he focused on promoting peace ○ Extended empire to Libya and Eastern Europe ○ The Qur’an was completed during his reign Ali Ibn Abi Talib (656-661) ○ Married Muhammad’s daughter Fatima and had been close to Muhammad for over 30 years ○ The decision to elect Ali was not unanimous and this caused great tensions amongst the Muslim community creating a civil war and political upheaval — leading to his assassination in 661 Sunni and Shi’a ○ Two variants of Islam emerged as a result of the great disagreement around whom should be selected as the leader of Muslim community ○ The choice of Muawiya as the next caliph after Ali’s assassination was the trigger that led to the schism in Islam forming Sunni and Shi’a ○ Sunni: - 90% of all Muslims - Leader should be chosen from descendants of tribe of Muhammad, but not necessarily his family ○ Shi’a: - 10% of all Muslims - Leader MUST be a descendant of Muhammad - Iman - rightful leader (i.e. part of the rightful bloodline) - They believe the final Iman vanished without dying and will appear to Muslims in times of need 20 PRINCIPAL BELIEFS The articles of faith explained in the Aquida as: Tawhid, Angels, Books of Allah, Rusul, Akhira and Fate/Predestination Overview of the core beliefs ○ Centre around the belief in one God, promoting the importance of monotheism and worship of one God. The six beliefs include: Tawhid – belief in one God Books of Allah – sacred texts in Islam (Qur’an, Hadith, etc.) Rusul – prophets of Islam which include Muhammad, Jesus and Abraham Akhira – Judgement Day and afterlife Fate/Predestination – destiny and fate in Islam Angels – role of Angels in delivering Allah’s messages Tawhid ○ Belief in the immanent and transcendent Allah ○ Relflected from the Qur’an, “He is Allah, the One, Allah is Eternal and Absolute. None is born of HIm, He is unborn. There is none like unto Him.” (Surah 112) ○ The opposite of Tawhid is shirk and thus denouncing the belief in Allah is considered haram (forbidden). Outline the implications of Tawhid for Muslim belief ○ Tawhid is the foundation of the Muslim faith. ○ Tawhid asserts the monotheism of Islam emphasising there is only one God (Allah) ○ Tawhid emphasises the absolute authority of God over all creation. Muslims believe that Allah is the creator, sustainer and controller of the universe and nothing happens without His will. ○ Tawhid acknowledges the worship of Muslims. Muslims believe that worship should be directed solely to Allah to acknowledge his oneness. This includes rituals to devotion of faith (the 5 pillars of islam): prayer, fasting, charity, pilgrimage and the belief in Allah. ○ Tawhid intersects with the concept of prophets in Islam. Prophets are sent by Allah to call people to the worship of the one god and to uphold his commands. The message of all prophets was centred around Tawhid. ○ Belief in Tawhid is fundamental for salvation in Islam. Muslims believe that affirming the oneness of God and living according to his guidance leads to salvation in the afterlife (akhira). ○ The belief in Tawhid is fundamental for the belief that angels carry the sacred messages of Allah to the prophets. Allah presents his revelations through the angels, who then pass on these important messages to the prophets. 21  Explain the role of the Books of Allah and prophecy in Islam Rusul (Prophets) ○ Chosen messengers by Allah to reveal God’s teachings to humankind. ○ Muslims believe in many Rusul: Abraham, Moses and Jesus ○ Muhammad is considered to be the last and greatest of these prophets and is known as the seal of the prophets. ○ Adam (Genesis) is the first prophet of Islam – a belief that is shared with other monotheistic religions; Judaism and Christianity Books of Allah (Kutubullah) ○ Revealed books of the Rusul are known as Books of Allah. ○ Muslims believe that over time, many of these books have not been properly preserved and no longer represent the messages of Allah This means that the Torah and Bible are still respected by Muslims however they believe that they have been altered from their original form and cannot be relied upon as the literal words of Allah ○ The Qur’an is believed to be the last of the revealed books which is considered to be the complete and reliable source of revelation of Allah. Outline the principal beliefs about Angels, life after death and fate/predestination Angels (Malaikah) ○ Angels carry the sacred messages of Allah to the prophets ○ Allah presents his revelations through the angels, who then pass on these important messages to the prophets. ○ Angel Gabriel (Jibril) is one of the most renowned angels who delivered the sacred messages from Allah to Muhammad, forming the basis of the Qur’an ○ Muslims believe every person has two angels who keep a record of both their good and bad deeds in life, acting as a protector to the adherent. ○ At the conclusion of salat (prayer) it is common for an adherent of Islam to turn to the right and left to bless the angels guiding them through life. ○ Angels referred to in the Qu’ran: Azar’i is with the adherent just before their death to receive their soul as it leaves their body Israfi calls the souls on the Day of Judgement Mika’il guards places of worship and its worshippers 22  ○ Iblis: Former angel who became the devil When Adam (man) was created, Iblis disagreed with God’s decision to create man. His opposition to Allah’s will came from his belief that he was superior to Allah. He was punished, leading to his animosity towards humankind. This is why the devil tries to get people to do the wrong thing – to seek revenge against Allah ○ Jinn: Jinn have their own free will but have neither good or bad tendencies in general They are led by Iblis and thus can be associated with evil They exist outside the natural world but are able to influence the world and some people they come into contact with Afterlife (Akhira) ○ Life after death ○ After death, there is a waiting period before the Day of Judgement known as Barzhah (barrier). Every action a person takes is recorded by two guardian angels and influences their fate on the Day of Judgement. Muslims believe in forgiveness and that Allah will know their true intentions which influences their ability to enter the afterlife (Akhira) ○ Jannah (paradise) is portrayed like an oasis in a desert in a world of peace and love. ○ If people fail the judgement test, they enter Jahannam (hell) which is portrayed as a place of fire, hot winds and torture, without Allah’s love. Fate and Predestination (Qadar) ○ Muslims are given free will and decisions, including whether or not they submit to the will of Allah, directly influence their fate in the next life ○ Nothing happens by chance, it all happens by design with a specific purpose by Allah. ○ Allah already knows our destiny in life however Islam is not a fatalistic religion; the belief that all events are predetermined and inevitable ○ Muslims do not believe in fate as Allah is the only source of guidance. They see it as pointless to turn to anything else as this would constitute idolatry which is haram (forbidden) in Islam. 23 SACRED TEXTS AND WRITINGS The Qur’an and Hadith Identify the importance of the Qur’an Muslims believe that Muhammad received the revelations from the angel Jibril progressively over a period of 23 years The text is divided into 30 equal parts (114 Surahs and 6236 ayahs) The written form of the Qur’an lead to the significant development of Islamic art and architecture with many mosques and sites of religious worship with beautiful calligraphy It’s a sin to bring the Qur’an into the bathroom The significance of the Qur’an ○ Contains the literal words of Allah which was passed onto Muhammad (Rusul) through the angels ○ The Qur’an is meant to be read aloud which was how Muhammad originally recalled the verses from the angels as he was illiterate at the time ○ People who have committed the entire Qur’an to memory are greatly honoured by their communities and are known as the Hafiz. ○ The central message of the text revolves around the Day of Judgement where the faithful will receive a life of happiness while the evil will experience the harshness of the eternal separation ○ Influences decisions, guides Muslims lives, literal words of allah, provides muslims with jannah (purpose). Rules when reading from the Qur’an ○ As the literal words of Allah, it must be respected ○ When the Qur’an is read aloud, all must be silent ○ Before reading, the adherent needs to bathe with an appropriate attitude before reading the text ○ Women can’t read from the Qur’an during their period ○ When it is not in use, it needs to be left in an elevated position protected with a sheet so that it doesn’t collect dust Identify the importance of the Hadith ○ Hadith: Collection of traditions of the words and deeds of the prophet Muhammad ○ Means spoken word ○ Emerged after Muhammad’s death and thus is of secondary importance to the Qur’an ○ There are two types of Hadiths; Prophetic and Sacred. The Sacred Hadiths are the most important ○ Hadiths are considered secondary to the teachings of the holy Qur’an as they are the words of a human, not the words of Allah, which can only be found in the Qur’an 24 CORE ETHICAL TEACHINGS Islamic jurisprudence Outline the principal ethical teachings within Islam Core sources of ethics in Islam ○ Qur’an: Outlines what actions are obligatory, those that are permitted and those that are forbidden ○ Hadith and Sunna: Of secondary importance to the Qur’an, but still considered important as they are the traditions of the prophet Muhammad ○ Shariah Law: Ethical jurisprudence which guides adherents’ daily behaviour, and their treatment of others on a wide variety of issues ○ Fiqh: Theory or philosophy of Islamic law. What are the principal ethical teachings in Islam? ○ Submission to Allah: the ultimate goal of the Muslim adherent is to demonstrate belief in Tawhid ○ Taqwa: adherents should strive to make all actions and decisions based on the needs of Allah, also known as God-consciousness ○ Striving: adherents are called to ‘strive’ for spiritual perfection thereby living an Allah-centred life, responding to Allah’s divine will ○ Sacred texts: source of divine revelation (Qur’an) and the sayings and teachings of prophet Muhammad (Hadith and Sunna) ○ Qiyas: use of an analogy to make ethical decisions ○ Ijma: use of judgement provided by Islamic scholars ○ Itjihad: personal judgement and reasoning to make a decision ○ Shariah: process of Islamic jurisprudence ○ Equality: the ummah are all equal in the eyes of Allah Muslim virtues ○ Selflessness ○ Naturalness: the natural world was designed by Allah in a particular way, and should be left as such ○ Humility ○ Modesty: particularly in regards to women and dress ○ Love of Allah: reflects belief in Tawhid Halal and Haraam ○ Halal: permitted actions ○ Haram: forbidden actions ○ Respected leaders: if they are typically against an issue, it would be commonly considered haraam. ○ Precedents: a legal term based on what has happened previously. If there is a case where something was permitted in a similar circumstance, it will typically be permitted in future, similar circumstances 25  ○ Common good: the welfare of others and justice is the key concern when making an ethical decision. Even though an action may not be considered haraam, it may still be considered harmful. ○ Fard: required actions or behaviours ○ Mandub: desirable or recommended actions ○ Mubah: unclear actions which require iti jihad (personal judgement) ○ Makruh: actions considered hateful and thus are not recommended EXPRESSION OF FAITH The Five Pillars as the expression of the faith of Islam Outline each of the Five Pillars Shahada 26  ○ Proclamation of the belief in one God ○ “I bear witness that there is no God but Allah and that Muhammad is his messenger” ○ Foundational concept of being a Muslim ○ Denial of anything that falsely claims to be God ○ The physical sign of the belief in Tawhid Salat ○ Five daily prayers from sunrise to sunset which can be performed anywhere facing the direction of Mecca (holy city) ○ Recited in arabic and accompanied by ritual actions ○ Before praying, a Muslim must enter a state of ritual purity via washing themselves ○ Prayer is on clean ground using a prayer mat and removing your shoes ○ Every friday, if possible, Muslims gather at the Mosque at midday for group prayer known as Friday prayer ○ It is important because it: Is a sign of obedience and proclaims oneness to Allah Provides strength to carry out what it means to be a Muslim in everyday life Zakat ○ Donation of 2.5% of yearly income to charity ○ The money goes to poor, freeing others from debt and setting people free of slavery ○ Aim is to purify and cleanse wealth and allow one to be free of greed and selfishness – lose attachment to money and material possessions ○ Muslims believe all their wealth and possessions belongs to Allah, not themselves ○ Muslims are to give selflessly, without telling others how much they have donated Sawm ○ A month of fasting during Ramadan (month when the Qur’an was revealed to Muhammad) during daylight hours ○ Requirement for all Muslims once they are a teenager ○ Avoid committing any sins ○ At night, they gather, celebrating with a feast ○ Reminds Muslims of the realities of poverty ○ Ends with the feast of ‘Id-ul-Fitr’ – a celebration at the completion of fasting Hajj ○ Journey to Mecca to retrace the steps of Muhammad and Abraham to achieve spiritual renewal ○ All Muslims must go at least once in their lifetime ○ Commence at Ka’bah 27 ○ They complete a series of activities, including: Tawaf: Circle the Ka’bah 7 times to symbolise the oneness of Allah Sa’y: Run between 2 hills 7 times to demonstrate trust in Allah Stand at Mt Arafat: Meditate and ask Allah for forgiveness of their sins Stoning of the Devil at Jamarat: Casting away sin and temptation 28