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

Understanding the Old Testament Prophets

Major and Minor Prophets

Major: Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel.

Minor: Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi.

What is a Prophet?

A prophet is a messenger of God, a close advisor to the king, true to the Torah, an advocate for the people and God, and an agent of God, a truth-teller.

A prophet is not a fortune teller, a perfect believer, or a prognosticator/predictor of the future.

Superpowers and Empires During the Time of the Prophets

Persia, Egypt, Babylon, Assyria, Rome, Greece (these empires affected the Israelites).

Prophetic Actions

• Isaiah: Walked around naked for 3 years, symbolizing the people would be carried away naked, or without defense.
• Jeremiah:

Biblical and Classical References

• 1. One Greater Man: Jesus Christ.
• 2. Heavenly Muse: The source of Milton's inspiration, identified with the Spirit of God that spoke to Moses.
• 3. Oreb... Sinai: Mounts on which Moses heard the voice of God.
• 4. Shepherd: Moses.
• 5. The Chosen Seed: The Jews.
• 6. Sion Hill... Siloa's Brook: Places in Jerusalem, the holy city of the Jews.
• 7. Aonian Mount: Mount Helicon in Greece, sacred to the Muses.

Theological Concepts and Arguments

• 8. Argument: Subject.
• 9. Providence: God's plan for the universe.
• 10. Justify: Show the justice of. Milton states his purpose in this line.
• 11. Transgress: Sin against.
• 12. Our Grand Parents: Adam and Eve.
• 13. For One Restraint: On account of the command not to eat of the Tree of Knowledge.

The Fall

Moksha, Atman, Brahman and Samsara

Moksha

Moksha — means liberation. Path of renunciation (what people really want). Being, knowledge, joy.

Atman and Brahman

Atman (hidden self) — Brahman (creator). We must cleanse ourselves of pain, frustration, boredom to find this already divine, existing nature. We are seeking this eternal truth.

Sanatana Dharma

Sanatana Dharma — (external truth). See Sanatana Dharma. Set of duties / religious practices:

• Honesty
• Do not injure living beings
• Purity
• Goodwill
• Mercy
• Patience
• Self-restraint
• Generosity

Raja Yoga

Raja Yoga — realization of Brahman through psychophysical exercise. Takes determination and consistent practice. Use the mind to go to a higher level. A form of meditation. Buddha sat under the Bodhi tree / remained... Continue reading "Moksha, Atman, Brahman and Samsara: Hindu-Buddhist Concepts" »

1. The Crusades and Anti-Semitism

Why do some historians mark the Crusades as the beginning of anti-Semitism in Europe?

Some historians view the Crusades as a catalyst for anti-Semitism in Europe. The crusaders' primary goal was to conquer Jerusalem, a city of immense religious significance to both Christians and Jews. During their journey, crusaders perpetrated violence against Jewish communities along the way, engaging in massacres and plunder. This violence stemmed from the belief that Jews were responsible for the death of Jesus, a sentiment deeply ingrained in the Christian world at the time. These events are seen by some historians as an early manifestation of organized Christian violence against Jews, fueled by religious intolerance and... Continue reading "The Crusades: Origins, Impact, and Key Figures" »

The Protestant Reformation

The Spiritual Crisis of the Church

At the end of the Middle Ages, people began to question the practices of the Church, including:

• The luxurious lifestyles of the high clergy.
• The lack of culture and weakening of moral standards of the clergy, who set a bad example.
• The buying and selling of ecclesiastical positions for personal economic benefit.
• The selling of papal bulls and indulgences, which made the Church wealthy under the pretense of pardoning sins and granting access to heaven.

The Lutheran Reformation

In 1517, Martin Luther condemned the wealth of the Church, denied the value of indulgences, and advocated a new religion based on:

• Salvation through faith: Only faith in God could lead to eternal salvation, regardless

The author of Revelations is believed to be John. The overall theme of Revelations is the end of the world and the rise of a New Earth and New Heaven.

One criticism is falling into sin and following the devil.

One complement is keeping the faith and following Christ.

Babylon represents the Roman Empire falling. The jewelry represents wealth and the color purple represents royalty. These two are allusions to powerful people. The people who are given the names that God should have, we might apply this to today by saying that people are given the name "Lord" and that should not happen.

John is referring to when people are pure and time is right, everyone will enter heaven. This is also a reference to purgatory. We see this in scripture again when... Continue reading "The Themes and Symbolism in the Book of Revelations" »

Early Roman Persecutions and Imperial Decrees

• 64 AD: First Roman persecution under Emperor Nero.
• 250 AD: Decius issues an edict requiring sacrifices to Roman gods (marking the first systematic Roman persecution).
• 257 AD: Valerian orders Christian clergy to perform sacrifices to Roman gods and prohibits Christians from holding meetings in cemeteries (Edict of Persecution).
• 303 AD: General persecution of all Christians under Diocletian (considered the worst and most severe persecution).

The Tetrarchy and the Rise of Constantine

293 AD: Seeing the need for further governance, Diocletian establishes the Tetrarchy, featuring both an Augustus and a Caesar in the East and the West.

• The East: Diocletian (Augustus) and Galerius (Caesar).
• The West: Maximian

BIOETHICS

Utilitarianism

Searching for useful solutions.

Consequentialism

Takes into account consequences that are different to life’s support.

CHARACTERISTICS OF BIOETHICS

• Positive: related to personal conditions and circumstances.
• Negative (prohibition): some are non-conditional and others are relative (avoiding less evil).

GENERAL BIOETHICAL PRINCIPLES (Belmont’s report)

• You shall represent human life at all levels.
• Respect human dignity.
• Both an embryo and an adult person must have independence of their life.
• Procure the good and avoid malfeasance.

HUMAN LIFE

• ‘A human being is a rational individual’.
• Rational Soul: men need to think in order to live (thinking is fundamental).
• Body: relation between human intelligence and body morphology.

ABORTION

• The

Christian Family and Marriage: Core Principles

The Christian Conception of Family

• The family serves as the initial cell of social life, where individuals learn moral values and the proper use of freedom.
• The relationship between the State and the Family is based on subsidiarity: the State should provide support without usurping the family's functions.
• The concept of building a family is intrinsically linked to love, as it forms the foundation of matrimony. It is a lifelong commitment to a partner with whom one builds a family and provides for its needs.
• The sexual relationship is a participation in the co-creation of life. Men and women complement each other in every way.
• A primary goal of marriage is procreation.
• Marriage benefits the community.
• Marriage