Unit 1 (Intro-Religious Impulse & Pluralism)
What is the EASTERN vs. WESTERN perspective of the afterlife?
Eastern believes in re-incarnation (rebirth) and that karma shapes future lifes. Western believes in one life, with judgement at the end to determine if you spend the afterlife in heaven or hell.
What is the Hindu trinity (trimurti)? What is the role of each?
Brahma - creator, Vishnu - preserver, Shiva - destroyer
Who are the two key figures associated with the beginnings of Judaism and what were their roles?
Abraham = father of the Jewish people who formed the covenant with God; Moses = teacher/prophet who educated people on the Covenent and lead the Exodus.
Name the 5 pillars of Islam (provide English and Arabic names).
Faith (shahadah); Prayer (salat); Charity (zakat); Fasting (sawm); Pilgrimage (hajj).
What is the Christian Holy Trinity? What does each part represent?
Father (God), Son (Jesus), Holy Spirit/Ghost (life giving presence of God that helps believers live faithfully).
Define "religious pluralism".
A positive attitude towards the existence of many faiths in one society (e.g. in Canada).
What is the difference between Brahman, Brahma, Brahmin?
Brahman = supreme and ultimate reality; Brahma = creator god; Brahmin = priests or teachers (highest caste level)
What are the components of the written vs. oral torah?
Written (tanakh) = torah, neviim, ketuvim; Oral (talmud) = mishnah, gemara
In addition to the Qur'an, Muslims follow the guidance of Sharia Law and the writings of the Hadith. What is the difference between these three?
Qur'an = holy book, literal word of God; Hadith = sayings/actions/approvals of Prophet Muhammad later recorded in books explaining how to live the Qur'an; Sharia = legal/moral system (not a book) of rules on how to practically apply Islamic teachings (i.e. actions on how to live our lives).
What is the difference between the Old vs. New Testament?
Old = written BEFORE the time of Jesus, known as the “Hebrew Bible”. New = written AFTER Jesus’ death by his followers.
Name the 6 common elements of religion.
1) Scripture/sacred stories; 2) Beliefs; 3) Actions/Rituals; 4) Sacred Time; 5) Sacred Space; 6) Community.
Name the 6 Laws of Samsara. Explain ONE.
Atman - soul; Maya - illusion of reality; Dharma - life duties; Karma - what you put out will come back to you; Samsara - cycle of birth, death and rebirth; Moksha - freedom from samsara cycle
According to kashrut (Jewish dietary laws) what are the three major kosher categories guiding what Jewish people may eat and how? Give an example of each.
Meat (e.g. chicken - no pork!), Dairy (e.g. milk), Pareve (neutral - e.g. fruits, fish but no shellfish).
What is the significance of the kabaa in regard to the origins of Islam?
Kabaa is a cube building in Mecca that Muslims pilgrim to (circle it during hajj) and pray towards daily in revernce to Allah. It the holiest site in Islam.
Name the 7 sacraments.
Baptism, Communion, Confirmation, Reconcilliation (confession), Matrimony, Annointing of the Sick, Ordination.
Describe the difference between a cult and a fundamentalist group.
Cults are tightly controlled groups with a charismatic leader that demands loyalty, isolates and manipulates members. Fundamentalists are people who interpret religious texts literally and emphasize tradition.
What qualities are associated with the "sacred cow"?
Symbolizes non-violence; provides essential resources for people (dairy); linked to fertility and abundance; supports the idea of vegetarianism to respect animals.
Describe the star of David and explain what it symbolizes/its significance.
Compare (describe) Ramadan, Eid-al-Fitr, and Eid-al-Adha?
Ramadan = holy month of fasting to remember when the Qur'an was first revealed to Prophet Muhammad; Eid-al-Fitr = festival of breaking the fast celebrated with food and family; Eid-al-Adha = festival of the sacrifice celebrated to commemorate Ibrahim's sacrifice and his trust in God.
What does the "fish" symbol resprent in Christianity? Explain its significance.
Early Christian symbol representing the Son of God as our saviour. Used secretly during the persecution of Jesus, linked to the "fishers of men" (*recall Jesus fed the multitude).
Define the following terms: monotheism, polytheism, henotheism, atheism, agnostic.
Monotheism is the belief in ONE god, polytheism is the belief in MANY gods, henotheism is the belief in many gods but choose to worship one main deity, atheism is the absence of belief in any god, agnostics are undecided about god but believe in a higher power.
What is the difference between Holi and Diwali?
Holi = festival of colours that celebrates spring and rebrith; Diwali = festival of lights that celebrates the victory of light over darkness (related to Ramayana story).
1) Orthodox - purely traditional (includes Hasidic); 2) Conservative - middle ground, flexiblility in regard to interpretation; 3) Reform - liberal branch emphasizing that Judaism must evolve with the times.
Describe the division between Sunni vs. Shia (what are the differences?).
Sunni - believe that the caliph (leader) should be chosen by the Muslim community based on ability and experience; Shia - believe that Muslim leaders should stay within the Prophet Muhammad's lineage.
Describe the Great Schism in Christianity.
The Church grew and split into the Eastern and Western branches. Eastern = Orthodox (believe the pope should not be an authority); Western = Roman Catholics (pope is the leader).