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

Psalm 73: Faith, Envy, and the End of the Wicked

Book III of Psalms

A Psalm by Asaph (World English Bible Translation)

1 Surely God^[a] is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart.

2 But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had nearly slipped. 3 For I was envious of the arrogant, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.

4 For there are no struggles in their death, but their strength is firm. 5 They are free from the burdens of men, neither are they plagued like other men. 6 Therefore pride is like a chain around their neck; violence covers them like a garment.

7 Their eyes bulge with fat; their minds pass the limits of conceit. 8 They scoff and speak with malice. In arrogance, they threaten oppression. 9 They have set their mouth... Continue reading "Psalm 73: Finding Strength When the Wicked Prosper" »

Foundations of Faith

• Bible: Foundational scripture.
• Tradition: Practices and reasons.
• Reason: Understanding claims.
• Experience: Personal faith experiences.
• Sola Scriptura: Only scripture is valid (excludes tradition).
• Magisterium: Church teachings (pope, bishops).
• Orthodoxy: Accepted beliefs.
• Heresy: Deviates from tradition (often false).
• Sensus Fidelium: Faith through the church.
• Revelation: God discloses truth.
• Certainty vs. Strategy: Assurance vs. account for human action.

Christian Positions on Science and Faith

• Fundamentalist: Strict interpretation as God’s reflection.
• Dialogue: Scientific understanding with faith.
• Integration: Merge science and faith.
• Evolutionary Theory: Explains life; debated in Christianity.
• Hermeneutics: Interpretation of the Bible.

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" »

Introduction to The Holy Innocents

The Holy Innocents completes a trilogy of rural narratives by Miguel Delibes, alongside The Road and The Rats. It is imbued with the love and emotional vehemence with which Delibes defends life in the countryside, a life free from contamination. Nature is depicted as a kind of Arcadia, threatened by progress. The action unfolds within this natural world.

It is said that the novel's landscape coincides with the Extremaduran countryside, where the flora and fauna are meticulously described. The rural men, resigned and content, live in perfect harmony with the earth. The farm owners, however, only visit for leisure or to oversee matters: Iván goes hunting with his influential friends, and the Marchioness and Miss... Continue reading "The Holy Innocents: Rural Life, Class, and Nature in Delibes' Novel" »

El Rocío: History, Culture, and Tradition

El Rocío is a small village located in the municipality of Almonte, in the province of Huelva, in the autonomous community of Andalusia, Spain. Known for being one of the most important pilgrimage destinations in all of Europe, El Rocío is famous for its sanctuary dedicated to the Virgin of El Rocío.

The Annual Pilgrimage

Thousands of faithful come to the village each year during the Pilgrimage of El Rocío, a major celebration that takes place in the month of May.

Landscape and Architecture

The landscape surrounding El Rocío is one of the most beautiful that exists, featuring extensive marshes, white sand dunes, and streets full of albero (yellow sand), roads, and meadows surrounded by vegetation.... Continue reading "Andalusian Pilgrimage and the Technological Future of Humanity" »

From a theological perspective, the Catholic Church is understood as a church because it reflects the essential characteristics of Christian community. One key characteristic is Koinonia, which means communion or fellowship.

Koinonia: Communal Unity

The Catholic Church forms a visible community of believers united in faith, sacraments, and leadership. In Aotearoa New Zealand, this is seen through parish communities, dioceses, and national coordination by the New Zealand Catholic Bishops Conference. Catholics gather together not only for worship but also to support one another spiritually and socially, demonstrating strong communal unity.

Kerygma: Proclaiming the Gospel

Another important characteristic is Kerygma (Didache), which refers to proclaiming... Continue reading "Theological Foundations of the Catholic Church" »

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What Were the 95 Theses?

The "95 protest" refers to the 95 Theses written by Martin Luther in 1517. It was not a protest in the modern sense like a street demonstration, but rather a formal list of arguments or criticisms against the Catholic Church’s sale of indulgences.

Key Facts

• Full name: Disputation on the Power and Efficacy of Indulgences
• Author: Martin Luther, a German monk and theologian
• Date: October 31, 1517
• Location: Luther reportedly nailed the 95 Theses to the door of the

Ancient Indian Ritual Architecture: Temples and Yagya Kunds

Key Scriptures for Temple Architecture and Rituals

Two important scriptures that establish the principles for temple construction and associated rituals are:

• Āgama: A comprehensive collection of texts that lay down rules for worship, temple building (mandir nirman), spirituality, and specific rituals.
• Mayamata: A foundational architectural treatise (Vastu Shastra text) dealing with all aspects of dwelling places for gods and humans, covering everything from choosing the site to the iconography of temple walls.

The Significance and Science of Yagya Kunds

In the Vedic period, before the widespread construction of permanent temples, yajñas (sacrifices) were performed in specialized structures... Continue reading "Vedic Wisdom: Āgama, Mayamata, and the Science of Yagya Kunds" »

Asturian Architecture (9th Century)

San Julian de los Prados

• Structure: 3 naves inscribed in a rectangle with a basilica scheme.
• Features: 3-parted head covered with barrel vaults, Visigothic precedents, Roman arches, and semicircular arches.
• Design: Includes a narthex and interior mural decoration featuring fake arches without human figures.

Santa Maria de Naranco, Oviedo

• Structure: Compact stone volume with an inclined roof and two independent floors.
• Aesthetics: Rhythmical, vertical appearance with symmetrical floorplan.
• Details: Upper room with barrel vaults and transversal arches, buttresses, blind arches for lightness, and Corinthian capitals.

Mozarabic Architecture (10th Century)

Refers to Spanish-Roman citizens living in Andalusia during the

Ancient Greek Political Origins

Ancient history.

Western political philosophy has its origins in ancient Greek society, when city-states were experimenting with various forms of political organization (monarchy, tyranny, aristocracy, oligarchy).

Plato's Republic and Justice

Plato's Republic is his best known work. In it, Socrates and various Athenians discuss the meaning of justice.

Aristotle's Politics and Community

In Aristotle's Politics, Aristotle concludes that a man is by nature a political animal. According to Aristotle, the community or city is prior to the individual: they place the well-being of the community above the well-being of the individual.

In the Greek world, citizens identified strongly with the city they belonged to, and exile... Continue reading "Western Political Philosophy from Greece to the Renaissance" »