Faith/Experience
What is the Holy Trinity (of Christianity)?
He is the father of Ishmael (Muhammad's forefather) and Isaac (Moses/Jesus's forefather)
the messiah figure, who comes at the end of days to save the world from its perpetual evil
Name one item of clothing that Jews and Muslims, respectively, might wear.
Judaism: yarmulke, tzitzit, etc.
Islam: hijab, Sufi cotton gown/vest, etc.
All Abrahamic religions pray. Jews might pray, "Hear, O Israel. The Lord is our God, the Lord alone." What is this central prayer of Jewish faith?
the Shema
a martyr
Name two significant Christian texts that were written by the "early Church" in the time period after Jesus's death.
The New Testament: the Gospels, Paul's Letters, the Apostles' letters, the Revelation of John
the Apostles' Creed and the Nicene Creed
What is the Eucharist, and what are the seven central Christian rituals of which it is a part?
body and blood of Christ; community meal shared at Mass; one of the Seven Sacraments
What are the three houses of worship called?
(Judaism) synagogue/temple; (Christianity) church; (Islam) mosque
What is the Hijra?
It is "Year One" of the Muslim calendar (620 A.D.) when Muhammad journeyed to Medina (formerly, Yathrib) and converted his first city of followers; he then returned and converted Mecca; this event is the beginning the religion of Islam
What is the doctrinal principle of the "Seal of the Prophets"?
tearing of garments, shaving one's beard
sitting "shiva" with family members of deceased
refrain from socializing
avoiding normal seating at Temple
etc.
What is a "shofar" and when might it be played?
a horn of a ram; used to announce God's presence at the New Year (Rosh Hashanah)
"Al-fana" literally means "extinction." Explain how or what Sufism means by this mystical experience.
"extinction of the EGO (self)"; describe practices of the Whirling Dervishes; or explain the monistic concept that there is "NOTHING but God"
the Diaspora is when the Jewish people were exiled from Israel by the Romans (destruction of the Temple); Zionism is a movement that has heightened after the Holocaust, through which Jewish peoples of the world have migrated back to Palestine/Israel
For all three religions, what would the "official doctrine" be called? What are "standard" or "traditional" practices of the followers called?
canon - "standard" practices, or "rules"
orthodox - "right doctrine"
Rosh Hashanah is the 10-day new-year festival during which people gather communal for prayer, meals, and reconciliatory purposes; Yom Kippur is the TENTH day ("day of Atonement") when fasting and reflective prayer is observed
What are the three part of the Tanakh?
Torah (laws), Nevi'im (histories of prophets and kings), and Ketuvim (wisdom books)
Describe how each of the Abrahamic religions "experience(d)" the revelation of God in their lives.
Judaism - Moses' Ten Commandments (today's Torah at Temple)
Christianity - Jesus Christ's life and words (today's Eucharist at Mass)
Islam - Muhammad's "recitation" of God's word in the Qur'an (read at Mosque, in some cases Shari'a law)
Name two "Protestant" churches within the world of Christianity, and WHY they originally separated.
Eastern Orthodox Church
Lutheran Church
Calvinist Church
Church of England (Anglican)
What is the difference between Sunni and Shi'i muslims of the world?
Shi'i muslims are "partisans of Ali," meaning they hold that Muhammad's son-in-law (and his descendants) are the proper caliphs/Imams for the Islamic world; Sunni muslims, while being the majority in the world's population, hold that the proper caliph need only be one of the "proper custom" of Muhammad
What are the Five Pillars of Islam?
1. stating the Shahada (creed)
2. prayer (5 times/day)
3. fasting (e.g. Ramadan)
4. zakat (charity/tithings)
5. the hajj (pilgrimage to Mecca)
What are the three most significant collection of writings to Islam?
the Qur'an (God's word), the Sunna (customs of the Prophet), and Shari'a law (socio-political doctrine)