Unit 1 Review
He argued in God is Not One that world religions do not lead up the same mountain, but diagnose fundamentally different human problems.
Who is Stephen Prothero?
Composed between 1500–800 BCE, this primary four-part body of sacred texts includes hymns, melodies, sacrificial formulas, and magic/medicine.
What are the Vedas?
This first aim of life refers to a person's moral duties, social obligations, justice, and rules of conduct based on their role in society.
What is Dharma?
In Ramakrishna’s story, Krishna demonstrates Maya by sending this sage to fetch a glass of water, resulting in 12 years of illusion in 30 minutes.
Who is Narada?
Shankara’s philosophy maps onto Jnana Yoga, which seeks liberation through this intellectual method.
What is knowledge / study / self-inquiry?
At the 1893 Parliament of Religions, this perennialist thinker famously compared religions to different rivers all flowing into the same ocean.
Who is Swami Vivekananda?
The core revelation of the Upanishads is that Atman (the true inner self) is identical to this single, infinite, ultimate cosmic reality.
What is Brahman?
Both bad karma (iron chains) and good karma (golden chains) keep a soul bound to this continuous cycle of rebirth.
What is Samsara?
Shankara’s school of Advaita translates to this English term, holding that the soul (Atman) and God (Brahman) are 100% identical.
What is non-dualism?
Madhva’s dualism powers this devotional path (Marga), focused on personal love, worship (Puja), and surrender to a personal deity.
What is Bhakti Yoga?
Her Cultural Studies framework emphasizes three core principles: religions are internally diverse, constantly changing, and embedded in culture.
Who is Diane Moore?
Written around 200 BCE, this "Song of God" featuring Krishna and Arjuna made spiritual enlightenment accessible to ordinary, everyday people.
What is the Bhagavad Gita?
While "Pop Karma" treats karma as cosmic revenge, classical philosophy teaches that our thoughts, words, and actions plant seeds that affect these two timeframes.
What are our current and future lifetimes?
While Shankara uses the metaphor of salt dissolving in water, Madhva insists that physical life and emotional suffering in the world are this, not a dream.
The Bhakti Movement democratized Indian religion by composing sacred songs in local spoken vernaculars rather than this ancient language.
What is Sanskrit?
Yuval Noah Harari uses this phrase to describe human-created constructs—like religions, nations, and money—that allow large groups to cooperate.
What are "imagined realities"?
The first of five "sheaths" or layers (Koshas) covering the Atman in the Taittiriya Upanishad.
What is the "food sheath"?
These two earthly aims of life represent the material wealth needed to support one's life and emotional or sensual pleasure.
What are Artha and Kama?
Madhva’s school of Dvaita insists that the soul and God are eternally separate, using this human dynamic as its core metaphor.
What is Lover and Beloved?
This 16th-century Rajput princess and Bhakti poet defied royal expectations to sing of her exclusive devotion to Krishna.
Who is Mirabai?
Ninian Smart is famous for organizing the study of religion not by truth claims, but by evaluating key aspects (such as narrative, ritual, and experiential).
What are the Seven Dimensions of Religion?
According to the Isha Upanishad, a person who sees the Self in all beings and all beings in the Self naturally stops experiencing these two destructive feelings.
What are fear and hatred?
Intentional actions plant these psychological "seeds" or impressions in the subtle self, shaping future habits and character.
What are Samskaras?
Sri Ramakrishna reconciled both schools by stating that when he considers his body he is separate (Dvaita), but when he meditates on Atman, he experiences this state.
What is Oneness / Advaita?
he Bhakti Movement bypassed traditional Brahmin monopolies on ritual, opening direct spiritual liberation to these two historically excluded groups.
Who are women and lower castes / untouchables / dalits.