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

A

Amir: commander or prince, frequently used with reference to the person who leads the community.

Aya: verse of the Quran; also used in a general meaning of “sign” from God.

Ayatollah: In Shia Islam, a high-ranking title given to clerics recognized as experts in Islamic studies.

B

Basmala: the statement at the beginning of each sura of the Quran (except sura 9), “In the name of God, the Merciful, the Compassionate”; also used by Muslims as an invocation.

Buraq: the winged horse which carried Muhammad on his “night journey” from Mecca to Jerusalem.

D

Dhimmi: a member of a protected community, especially referring to the Jews and Christians who live under Muslim rule. The right to practise their own religion was guaranteed by their payment... Continue reading "Glossary of Islamic Terms" »

Jewish Traditions and Observances

Sabbath (Shabbat)

A weekly day of worship and rest, observed from Friday at sundown to Saturday at sundown. The Sabbath meal involves breaking bread, blessing, and sharing wine.

Shabbat Observance

Orthodox Jews who cannot travel to the temple on foot may establish smaller prayer groups when the synagogue is too far to reach.

Shavuot

The Feast of Weeks (Pentecost), commemorating the giving of the Torah and the Ten Commandments to Moses on Mt. Sinai.

Shiva and Kaddish

Shiva involves the Kaddish, a prayer for mourning. It teaches that even when we question God, we continue to offer praise. A Minyan is required to recite the Kaddish:

• Conservative: 10 Jewish adults.
• Reform: 10 people.

The number 10 represents the covenant.... Continue reading "Jewish Traditions and the Psychology of Grief" »

Revenge Tragedy

Revenge Tragedy in Elizabethan and Jacobean Drama-Renaissance Lit: The Revenge Plot - The Spanish Tragedy (a revenge play) follows the Senecan model:

• A secret murder, usually of a benign ruler by a bad one
• A ghostly visitation of the murder victim to a younger kinsman, generally a son
• A period of disguise, intrigue, or plotting, in which the murderer and the avenger scheme against each other, with a slowly rising body count
• An eruption of general violence at the end, often accomplished by means of a feigned masque or festivity
• A catastrophe that generally decimates the dramatis personae, including the avenger

Early Works

The Spanish Tragedy (Thomas Kyd 1582-1592), The Battle of Alcazar (George Peele c.1590), Titus Andronicus (William... Continue reading "Revenge Tragedy in Elizabethan and Jacobean Drama: Themes and Context" »

Foundations of Hinduism: Texts, Deities, Society

The Vedas: Ancient Sacred Scriptures

The Vedas are a large body of religious texts originating in ancient India, considered sacred scriptures in Hinduism. There are four primary Vedas: the Rigveda, the Samaveda, the Yajurveda, and the Atharvaveda.

Vedic Influence on Indian Religions

The Vedas have had a vast influence on later Indian philosophies and religions, including Buddhism, Jainism, and Sikhism. They also touch upon concepts related to the coordination and order of the universe.

Indian Epics: Heroic Tales and Moral Lessons

Indian epics are long narrative poems, typically recounting heroic deeds, adventurous quests, and often featuring fantastic creatures and divine interventions.

Mahabharata:

Prison Epistles: Letters Written While in Prison

• Philippians
• Ephesians
• Colossians
• Philemon

Two Types of Local Church Leaders

• Deacons
• Elders

High Christology of Philippians 2:5-11

Jesus is Lord; God created Jesus; every knee shall bow. Jesus is the supreme model and chose not to use all powers given.

Basic Pauline Letter Structure

• Opening: Salutation, wealth wish, prayer/thanksgiving
• Body: Ethical institutions, requests, commands
• Closing: Health wish, greetings

Discontinuity View of Paul in Relation to Jesus

Secular views often believe Paul created Christianity, positing that Jesus was just a really good rabbi, not the Son of God (SOG), and that Paul came along and turned him into the SOG.

Most Debated Group of Pauline Letters

• Colossians
• Ephesians
• 2 Thessalonians
• 1

Ijma

Consensus, one of the four sources of law in Sunni Islam, along with Quran, sunna, and qiyas.

Ijtihad

The use of personal effort to make a decision on a point of law not explicitly covered by the Quran or sunna; the person with the authority to do this is called a mujtahid.

Imam

The prayer leader in the ßalåt who keeps worshippers' actions in unison during prayer. Also a title for revered Shia leaders and founders of Sunni schools of law.

Islam

The religion preached by Muhammad, meaning 'submission'; adherents are called Muslims.

Isma

A doctrine stating that prophets, especially Muhammad, were protected from sin during their lifetimes.

Isnad

The chain of authorities through whom a hadith report has passed; the list forms the first part of the... Continue reading "Key Concepts in Sunni Islam" »

Literary Context and Parallels

Parallels with Boccaccio’s Decameron

• Dante and Virgil serve as inspirations for the pilgrims.
• Structure and Focus: The narrative employs a linear structure focusing on the journey and the tales told.

Critique of Medieval Society

The work functions as a profound critique of 14th-century English society.

• Characters represent people in specific professions and social strata.
• Religion is a significant theme, often presented through criticism of the Church's corruption.
• The Conflict Between Classes (The Three Estates):
  1. Those who pray: The Church (Clergy).
  2. Those who fight: The Nobles (Aristocracy).
  3. Those who work: Peasants and Commoners.

Liminality and the Pilgrimage

The pilgrimage is presented as a liminal experience: traveling... Continue reading "Chaucer's Canterbury Tales: Structure, Themes, and Social Commentary" »