World Religions

Front 1

Compare and contrast definitions of religion of the following: Halverson, Otto, Durkheim and Jung. Which definition do you most identify with and why? (Partridge and Power Point File)

Back 1

Halverson- set of beliefs that answers the ultimate question
Otto- central idea of “the Holy” a genuine feeling of awe
Jung- religion is psycology
Durkhim- sociological force. Fulfills basic functions in society

Front 2

List five theological themes that are important to a Christian theology of religion (power point slides on Biblical Theology of Religions / Netland).

Back 2

1. God has made himself known to everyone
2. God is the God of everyone – whether they know it or not
3. Everyone is looking for God – in the darkness
4. God calls everyone to worship him only – idolatry is the basis of human sin
5. Loving our neighbor requires us to be respectful of what others “know” and “experience”

Front 3

List five key characteristics of indigenous religions. (Partridge and PPT slides)

Back 3

1. Indigenous Religions are the majority
2. They are very old
3. Oral nature
4. Emphasis on place over space
5. Time understood as the eternal now
6. Link between religious ritual and myth
7. Primarily in small scale societies

Front 4

4. How is ancestor veneration connected to morality in Asia?

Back 4

Beginning of all morality begins with obeying/respecting your parents. Ancestor worship is the extension of honoring you parents, even in death.

Front 5

5. Explain the different roles of a shaman and a witchdoctor in indigenous religion. (Partridge and PPT slides)

Back 5

Shaman – heals and blesses the community through interaction with and prescribing offerings to the ancestors
Witchdoctor – a person capable of harnessing amoral power to do good or to do evil in someone else’s life. They are capable of causing a person’s enemies or rivals to experience illness or bad luck.

Front 6

a. Brahman

Back 6

the ultimate divine, ground of Being

Front 7

b. Samsara

Back 7

cycle of birth and death

Front 8

c. Karma

Back 8

Word for action. Refers to the things that we do. They infer eternal punishment from this.

Front 9

d. Moksha

Back 9

Means liberation from the birth cycle, death and rebirth. Permanent spiritual perfection experienced from enlightenment

Front 10

Vidas (kharma)

Back 10

Their most sacred texts, “knowledge” contains praise, direction for the performance of rituals, and philosophical works

Front 11

Yoga

Back 11

A process of discipline of thought and body, meditation that begins with body control

Front 12

Devotion

Back 12

completely on God that all thoughts of ego are transcended in a pure experience of union. A love affair

Front 13

8. List and describe the characteristics of the two most worshiped gods in Hinduism and the god that students and those starting a new venture in life often worship. (Partridge and PPT slides)

Back 13

• Vishnu
• Favorite incarnations
• Rama
• Krishna
• Preserver of the Universe
• Shiva
• Dances the world into existence
• Dances it’s destruction in the end
• Ganesh- Students and new ventures
• He is the son of Shiva and Parvati – he refused to allow his father in the house without knowing who his father was. Shiva cut off his head not realizing it was his son. Shiva sought a new head and the first beast he came upon was an elephant
• Ganesha is widely revered as the Remover of Obstacles

Front 14

9. What is a Mantra? How might it be used in the religions of the east? (Partridge)

Back 14

A symbolic sound causing an internal vibration which helps to concentrate the mind and aids self-realization. “OM”

Front 15

10. Who is a Sadhu? What might a person go to a Sadhu for? (Partridge)

Back 15

To a Hindu and Buddhist, different than a monk. Renounces community, lives as hermit. Walks around nude, fasting, punishing body, etc.

People ask Sadhu to teach them.

Front 16

11. Explain the concept of a Jiva in Jainism. (Partridge and PPT slides)

Back 16

A soul attached to a body. The soul is flexible and so the same soul can fit into the body of an ant that fits into the body of a human. There are 8.4 million species of Jiva in the world.

Front 17

12. Briefly explain who Mahavira was. When did he die (roughly)? (Partridge and PPT slides)

Back 17

The 24th Jina – died 425 BCE

Front 18

13. Explain the importance of Ahimsa in Jainism. (Partridge and PPT slides)

Back 18

 The 1st Sutra is Ahimsa (Non-Violence) – The supreme religion – sermon by Paramahamsa Nithyananda
 The most crucial sutra
 Ahimsa is essential to human co-existence
 In the East - Love is second to Ahimsa
 Ahimsa is a negative – non-act
 Love promises many things that we cannot deliver. Disappointing those we love is violence
 Love happens naturally as a bi-product of non-violence
 Social moral rules always change and is not based on consciousness, they are social rules that change
ll Dharma deals with Consciousness – as with Ahimsa

Front 19

14. Explain in what way Jainism and Buddhism were reform movements that came out of Hinduism. (Partridge and PPT slides and videos)

Back 19

?

Front 20

15. What was the Buddha’s given name and when did he live? (Partridge and PPT slides)

Back 20

Diddhartha Gautama, India

Front 21

16. What are the four noble truths and the eightfold path? (Partridge and PPT slides)

Back 21

The Noble Truth of Dukkha
The Noble truth of the origin of Dukkha
The Noble Truth of the Cessation of Dukkha
The noble Truth of the Path to the Cessation

Right View
Right Recolution
Right Spreech
Right Action
Right livelihood
Right effort
Right mindfulness
Right concentration or meditation

Front 22

17. Put the name of the major form of Buddhism found in the nations listed below. (Partridge and PPT slides)

Back 22

a. China – Mahayana

b. Sri Lanka – Terivada

c. Japan – Mayhana

d. Mongolia – Vagerana

e. Tibet – Vagerana

f. Laos – Terivada

g. Myanmar – Terivada

Front 23

18. What are three distinct characteristics of Theravada Buddhism? (Partridge and PPT slides, video)

Back 23

1) Enlightenment is thousands of years away. They are mostly concerned with gaining merit.
2) A lot of focus on discipline, mind and emotions. This is the way to achieve enlightenment.
3) Their focus on the historical Buddha and his dharma teaching. 3 Buddha bodies (Karama practice, essence, body)
4) Their scriptures are the triptica

Front 24

19. What are three distinct characteristics of Mahayana Buddhism? (Partridge and PPT slides, video)

Back 24

1) They think enlightenment is close
2) They have different scriptures, lotus and diamond sutras
3) There are hundreds of Buddhas (Bodhisattva, a person enlightened, but not yet in nirvana. People can pray to them and they will help you.)

Front 25

20. What are three distinct characteristics of Vajrayana Buddhism? (Partridge and PPT slides, video)

Back 25

1) They are much more power oriented (magic, etc)
2) Use of tantric philosophy
3) Use of the mandala for use in meditation . (relationship of the buddha families)