Unit 1 (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 Covenant 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?
Father (God)
Son (Jesus)
Holy Spirit (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 = laws recorded in books according to how Prophet Muhammad lived his life
Sharia = not a book but a system of rules built on the interpretation of the Qur'an and Hadith (i.e. actions how we need 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)
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
Reconciliation
Matrimony
Anointing 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.
It is two triangles intertwined, one pointing up, one pointing down. It represents the Covenant (looks up to God, down toward us on Earth). Appears on Israel's flag and is found on the archways of syangogues. Believed to be on King David's shield.
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
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)
Identify the three main branches of Judaism. What are their differences?
1) Orthodox - purely traditional (includes Hasidic)
2) Conservative - middle ground, flexiblilty 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)
West = Roman Catholics (pope is the leader)