Notes, summaries, assignments, exams, and problems for Religion

Seljuk Turks

A group who conquered Palestine in 1073 and began to persecute Christians who visited.

Second Crusade

The second crusade was an effort to retake Edessa and was a disaster. It was led by King Louis VII and Emperor Conrad III.

Third Crusade

Led by Richard the Lionhearted, Philip II, and Frederick Barbarossa.

Cathedra

The word for the bishop's chair.

Chancel

The word for the choir area.

Sic et Non

A famous work by Peter Abelard.

Summa Theologica

A 21-volume work by St. Thomas Aquinas.

St. Bonaventure

A saint who distrusted St. Thomas Aquinas's theological system.

Abbot Suger

The person who designed St. Denis Cathedral.

Trivium

Rhetoric, logic, and grammar.

Quadrivium

Arithmetic, geometry, astronomy, and music.

Chartres

The most outstanding example of Gothic... Continue reading "Key Figures and Events in Medieval History" »

We must remember that when the division happened, most of the Muslims did not follow Ali; they followed Abu Bakr. During Ali's imamate in 656, the third Caliph Rashidun, the first Fitna war (656-661) occurred. It ended because Ali agreed to negotiate with his enemy to avoid the brutal civil war. However, this was seen as treason by some Shia extremists because they argued that power given by God could not be negotiated. Therefore, Ali was assassinated.

The Rise of Muawiya and Imam Hasan's Role

After the end of the first Fitna, Muawiya ruled as caliph from 661 to 680. Hasan, the second Imam (661-670), accepted Muawiya as caliph because he did not want to continue the war that opposed Sunni vs. Shia. However, Shia thought Hasan practiced Taqiyya... Continue reading "Shia Islam: History, Beliefs, and Practices" »

Unit 3: Religious Reform and Spanish Hegemony

Corrupt Practices in the Church

• Indulgences were bought and sold.
• Clergy did not live humbly.
• Clergy did not honor their religious vows (for example: living with women, drinking, going to taverns) and they were not able to give proper spiritual guidance to their parishioners.
• They engaged in corrupt practices.

Impact of Indulgences on the Church's Spiritual Authority

Sins could be pardoned in exchange for money given to the Church. For Catholics, this was a way of becoming more spiritually and morally relaxed, as they no longer feared going to Hell.

The Protestant Reformation

Martin Luther then developed his own doctrine based on individual Christianity:

• Salvation through faith: In order to save your soul,

The Medieval Synthesis and Its Cracks

First, the definition of a human person as the Church sees it is that they see men and women as the living image of God Himself, the image of His plan. They have received a part of God's dignity. The Church invites all people to recognize in everyone a brother or sister "for whom Christ died". A human individual possesses the dignity of a person, who is not just something but someone. He is capable of self-knowledge, self-possession, and of freely communicating with other persons. He is called by grace to offer his Creator a response of faith and love.

Human faculties: The Catholic social doctrine of the Church is based on the concept of society, which has been created according to a specific cultural model.

Man is a rational being, and this

Visitations of Angels

In both Matthew's and Luke's Gospels, angels play a crucial role in announcing the birth of Jesus. In Matthew's Gospel, the magi visit the Christ child, symbolizing his status as a king and the true Messiah for the Jewish audience. In Luke's Gospel, shepherds visit the Christ child, representing the marginalized Greek gentiles.

Parable of the Weeds

The parable of the weeds among the wheat, found in Matthew's Gospel, illustrates the coexistence of good and evil in the world. The weeds represent sinners, while the wheat represents the righteous. God, as the farmer, allows both to grow until the harvest, which symbolizes judgment day.

Genealogy of Jesus

The genealogies of Jesus in Matthew's and Luke's Gospels serve different purposes.... Continue reading "The Significance of Visitations and Parables in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke" »

Church

The Catholic Church soon realized that it needed to occupy a significant role in the feudal world.
Thus, clergymen came up with the Theory of the Three Estates (or the Three Orders), which divided the feudal society into:

• Bellatores (warriors): privileged noblemen and knights who defended the society by means of war.
• Oratores (prayers): privileged churchmen and churchwomen who prayed for the spiritual salvation of the world. They were the Pope, his bishops and millions of priests, monks and nuns.
• Laboratores (labouring people): non-privileged peasants who provided material sustenance to all three groups.

Pyramid

• King: top nobleman.
• High Nobility: dukes, marquises, counts.
• High Clergy: the Pope, his cardinals and bishops.
• Low Nobility: barons,

Chapter 21: The Hermit's Solitude

They finally reached the hermit's cell. The hermit tells them that he had lived for fifteen years in solitude to avoid all evil. After a conversation about his experience, the hermit decides to return to Cairo with them.

Chapter 22: The Assembly of Learned Men

Sometimes Rasselas joined an assembly of learned men, where they shared their opinions and thoughts. There, Rasselas exposes his meeting with the hermit. One of them suggests that happiness can be found in life according to nature. Rasselas is interested in his explanation and asks him to explain what he has quoted; however, he cannot explain to Rasselas how to live in accordance with nature.

Chapter 23: Dividing the Search

Rasselas and his sister, Nekayah,... Continue reading "Rasselas's Pursuit of Happiness: A Journey Through Chapters 21-27" »

44. In this chapter they talk about the power of imagination and everyone talk about their dreams. Pekuah imagines herself as the queen of Abyssinia, the princess wants to be shepherdess  and the prince dreams of a perfect government. They decide to stop thinking about it because Imlac warns of the danger that some day those dreams may prevail over reality and reason.

45. They decide to return home and they meet an old man who shows his sadness at being alone because all his loved persons have died. The princess tries to cheer him up but responds that no praise can animate his soul because he cannot share that pride with their loved ones. Finally the old man abandons them and they are thinking about old age. On the other hand the princess and... Continue reading "Exploring Happiness: A Journey Through Rasselas" »

1. The Written and Oral Torah

Which part of the Torah was always in a written form?

The Written Torah, תורה שבכתב

Which part of the Torah was not committed for public broadcast?

תורה שבעל פה - The Oral Torah

2. Pre-Mishnaic Transmission

What would the leading Torah authority write during each generation prior to the Mishna being organized?

He would make personal notes of the teachings he received from his master, which he then would teach orally to people.

3. Rebi and the Mishna

Who was “Rebi”?

רבי יהודה הנשיא - Rabbi Judah the Prince

What did “Rebi” collect and compose?

All the decisions, laws, interpretations, and explanations that had been heard from Moshe, or that the Sanhedrin innovated. From this material,... Continue reading "The Oral and Written Torah: A Comprehensive Guide" »