Religion Review

1. Religion Review

2. Religion • Ways to study religion (see slideshow on our Website) • Hindui

3. Buddhism • Noble Truths • Life means suffering (Duhkah) • The origin of suffering is attachment (Trishna) • The cessation (getting rid of) suffering is attainable • The path to cessation of suffering: Eightfold Path (RIGHT) • View • Intention • Speech • Action • Livelihood • Mindfulness • Effort • Concentration

4. Buddhism • Noble Truths • Life means suffering (Duhkah) • The origin of suffering is attachment (Trishna) • The cessation (getting rid of) suffering is attainable • The path to cessation of suffering: Eightfold Path (RIGHT) • View • Intention • Speech • Action • Livelihood • Mindfulness • Effort • Concentration

5. Hinduism • Polytheistic and Monotheistic (Brahman can manifest in infinite number of ways) • Originated in India • Brahman - everything • Trimurti - Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva • 4 Paths to Salvation • Devotion (Bhakti Yoga - playing house - Puja [ritual]) - Darsan [seeing the divine] • Wisdom and Knowledge (Jana) • Action and Deeds (Karma) • Meditation (Raja)

6. Hinduism • Ganges River is sacred (goddess) • Samsara (circle of birth, live, death) • Maya (illusion) • Moksa (enlightenment) • Celebrations (birth, death, marriage) • Varna (caste system) (Creation Story of Purusha) • Brahmin (Priests) • Kshatriya (Warriors) • Vaishya (Merchants) • Sudras (Servants) • Untouchables

7. Hinduism • 4 Stages of Life • Student • Householder • Forest Dweller (Retirement) • Ascetic (spiritual quest - renounce the world) • 4 Aims/Goals of Life • Dharma (duty) • Artha ($ honestly) • Kama (Pleasure/Love) • Moksha (Enlightenment) • Sacred Texts (Gita, Vedas, Upanishads, Purana) • Mantras (prayers/chants [i.e. OM, Krishna] - supposed to focus thoughts

8. Buddhism • The concept of God is controversial as different denominations have different opinions (is there a god/angels etc…) • Founded by Guattama (Buddha) • 5 Precepts (Rules) • Don’t harm/kill human beings • No steal • No improper sexual conduct • Don’t lie • No drugs/alchohol • Anatta – ‘no self’ which exemplifies the buddhist ideas of impermenance

9. Buddhism • Noble Truths • Life means suffering (Duhkah) • The origin of suffering is attachment (Trishna) • The cessation (getting rid of) suffering is attainable • The path to cessation of suffering: Eightfold Path (RIGHT) • View • Intention • Speech • Action • Livelihood • Mindfulness • Effort • Concentration

10. Zoroastrianism • Zoroaster was a prophet/messenger - leader • One of the first Monothesistic religions • Ahura Mazda (The God) - AngraManyu (the twin) • Ancient Persia (Iran) • Dhakma - (Towers of Silence) dead bodies are place there • Sacred Fire - fire represents (God - Ahura Mazda) • Good Speech • Good Thought • Good Action/deeds

11. Judaism • Creation Story • Genesis, 7 days, let there be light there was light (power of the word), Adam and Eve, Garden, ate from the tree of knowledge of good and evil, kicked out of the garden • Noah (flood - God wanted to start over) • Abraham (covenant with God - Follow me (God) and you get nation/land and lots of descendents) • Pray at the Western Wall (original of the temple) • Diaspora (Jews not in the promised land) • Mitzvah (good deed/fulfillment of a commandment) - Bar/Bat (coming of age ritual - man/women) • Shabbat (Sabbath) day of rest - Friday (sundown) Sat night) • Synagouge (place of worships) • Hannakah (8 day celebration remembering the Maccabean revolt when candle burned for 8 days instead of ½) • Shiva - 7 d=ays of mourning • Yamakah (Kippah) - hat that reminds the wearer that god is above you • Kosher – dietary rules (i.e. dairy and meat don’t touch, must chew cud and have split hooves, blessed by a rabbi)

12. Judaism • Torah (sacred text Bible) • Talmud, Midrash (Secondary Rabbinc texts) • One God • Shoah (the holocaust) • Moses (Save the Jews from Egypt [plagues - passover (Passat), Red Sea] - renewed covenent, 10 COMMANDMENTS (Rules) • Jews are still waiting for their Messiah (saviour)

13. Christianity • Jesus is important • Messiah (saviour) • Son of God • Part of the Holy Trinity • Son of that guy (Joseph) and Mary (virgin) • Died on the cross (crucifixion) • Holy trinity (Father, Son, Holy Spirit) 3 but 1 • New Testament • 4 Gospels (details on the life of Jesus – Matthew, Mark, Luke and John)

14. Crucifixion – the forgiveness of humanity’s sins and the promise of eternal life (Easter) • 12 Disciples (followed Jesus around – spiritual apprentices) • God is the same as in Judaism and Islam (one god) • Last supper

15. Last judgment • Jesus was arrested because…? • 2 billion Christians • Branches of Christianity • Catholic • Eastern Orthodox • Protestant • Pentacostal… etc… • Church is usually on Sundays • Transubstantiation – the transformation of bread and wine into the body and blood of Christ (holy communion)

16. Islam • Mohammed is the prophet • Islam means - surrender/submission to God • Muslim means – one who has surrendered to God • 5 PILLARS • Shahaddah – declaration of Faith • Zakat - Charity giving • Salat - Pray 5 times a day • Sawm - Fasting • Hajj – Pilgrimage to Mecca

17. The Koran – Qu’ran • Holy book/scriptures • Memorization is encouraged • Words from God through Mohammed over time therefore it is sacred and cannot be changed – should be read in Arabic always • Surahs – chapters of the Koran/Qu’ran • Polygamy is acceptable • Halal – dietary practice

18. Hijab – modest appearance (hijab generally refers to a women’s headscarf, niqab – just the eyes showing, burka – everything is concealed) • No images in Islam – ensures no worshipping of a false idol (emphasis on the word and not what one see) • Kaba – large rock (building) in Mecca that is supposed to house God – a focal point of the Hajj • Juma – Friday prayer at the Mosque (place of worship)