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

Humanism

Humanism was the philosophical and cultural movement that spread through Europe in the 15th and early 16th centuries.

Astronomy

In 1543, the astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus published On the Revolutions of the Heavenly Spheres, presenting his heliocentric theory. According to Copernicus, the sun was the center of the universe, not the Earth. All the planets revolve around the Sun. However, the church continued to insist that the Earth was the center of the universe.

Medicine

In 1543, the doctor Andreas Vesalius published On the Structure of the Human Body. Based on direct observation, this book was a big step forward in the knowledge of human anatomy. It became the manual for students of medicine at that time. Ten years later, the doctor...

The Worm: Symbolism of Repression and Fallenness in William Blake's Poetry

Metaphorical Meanings of 'Worm'

• Death and decay
• Snake or serpent (alluding to the Fall of humankind)
• Christian teaching of the devil's unseen presence
• Phallic associations, representing the impact of the Fall on sexual ecstasy

'Flies in the Night' and 'Howling Storm'

* Night symbolizes the time when fears and fantasies are most active. * 'Howling storm' suggests ungovernable turmoil and passion.

'Has Found Out'

* May echo Psalms 90:8, referring to the exposure of 'secret sins.'

'Crimson'

* Denotes passion, blood, shame, and sin in the Old Testament. * Suggests that ideas of shame, sin, and secrecy have reached the innermost part of the person, infecting their capacity for joy.

Effects

A baby speaks of its entry into the world, which brought pain to its parents. The world it came into seemed dangerous. It was helpless, vulnerable, noisy, encased in its body like a devil hidden in a cloud.

The baby struggled against the confinement of its father's hands and the swaddling in which it was wrapped. Unsuccessful, it resigned itself to sulking on its mother's breast.

Commentary

For Blake, a fiend was not to be regarded as evil – it was an embodiment of energy and instinct. So here, the baby comes into the world not as a peaceful, meek being, but as one filled with positive energy and instinctual life. However, the response of the parents is ambiguous. Do they groan and weep because:

• Of the physical anguish of childbirth?
• The baby

S

Salaf

The "pious ancestors," the first three generations of Muslims, whom some modern Islamists (also known as Salafis) uphold as embodying the ideal manifestation of Islam.

Salat

The prescribed five daily prayers, one of the "Five Pillars" required of all Muslims.

Sawm

Fasting performed during the month of Ramadan, one of the "Five Pillars" required of all Muslims.

Sayyid

An honorific title denoting people accepted as descendants of the Prophet Muhammad.

Shahada

Witness to faith; stating (in Arabic), "There is no god but God and Muhammad is His messenger"; one of the "Five Pillars" required of all Muslims, signifying conversion to Islam and a part of the ritual prayer (salat).

Sharia

The religious law derived from the four sources of law in Sunni Islam...

Theravada

Theravada views itself as representing the original and authentic teaching of the Buddha. It emphasizes the pursuit of Nirvana through the individual’s own efforts. The Buddha is revered as one who achieved Nirvana and provided his teachings, the Dharma, so that others could do the same. But the Buddha himself is beyond the reach of the individual and no longer available to provide direct assistance. Theravada stays true to the Buddha’s last words: “Work out your salvation with diligence.” The individual pursues Nirvana primarily through meditation, for which the monastic lifestyle is best suited. Theravada therefore also emphasizes the central role of the monastic community, or Sangha. Those who do attain Nirvana are known...

Understanding the Church and Sacraments

The Four Marks of the Church

• One: Unity in Faith

  We are bound together, united in Christ.

• Holy: Sacredness and Divine Presence

  We are sacred, bringing God into ourselves.

• Catholic: Universal Reach

  Universal; encompassing all people and places.

• Apostolic: Tracing Our Roots

  Our roots trace back to the very beginning, to the Apostles.

Dimensions of Church Sacraments

• Memorial: Remembering God's Presence

  Sacraments help us remember that God is present with us at all times and has acted for our benefit in the past.

• Celebration: Worship and Thanksgiving

  All seven sacraments are rituals that give worship and thanks to God.

• Communion: Connection with Christ and Community

  • Christ and the Church
  • Other Catholics
  • People throughout the

The Rise of Cities and the Economy

Major epidemics disappeared, leading to population growth and increased demand for land cultivation. This agricultural surplus, coupled with improvements in shipping, fueled trade, manufacturing, and the growth of cities and ports. Economic power shifted towards activities like trade, manufacturing, and banking, leading to the emergence of the first capitalist companies.

Strengthening of Monarchy

During the 15th century, monarchs began to reclaim power from the feudal nobility, who had amassed significant influence during the Middle Ages.

Humanism: A Cultural Revolution

Humanism emerged as a cultural revolution, placing human beings at the center of creation. It emphasized:

• Humans as free beings capable of rational

God's Motivation for Creation

God creates all things out of a perfectly free act of love to share happiness with creatures and manifest His glory. Reason and revelation agree God is the creator; time began with creation, and all God creates is good. God preserves and guides creation according to His wisdom toward the end He has in mind.

God's Creative Functions

Preservation: Refers to the continued existence and maintenance of created things. Unlike a sculptor and a statue, God's creation constantly depends on Him.

Providence: God's plan for all creatures, leading them to their intended purpose. Every creature is guided by grace and nature according to God's will, which is fulfilled when we seek and conform to it.

Divine Governance: God's work of...

Characters in All Quiet on the Western Front

Paul Bäumer

Paul Bäumer is a young German soldier fighting in the trenches during World War I. Paul is the protagonist and narrator of the novel. He is, at heart, a kind, compassionate, and sensitive young man, but the brutal experience of warfare teaches him to detach himself from his feelings. His account of the war is a bitter invective against sentimental, romantic ideals of warfare.

Stanislaus Katczinsky

Stanislaus Katczinsky is a soldier belonging to Paul’s company and Paul’s best friend in the army. Kat, as he is known, is forty years old at the beginning of the novel and has a family at home. He is a resourceful, inventive man and always finds food, clothing, and blankets whenever he and...