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

Biblical Divisions

The Pentateuch (The Law)

• Genesis
• Exodus
• Leviticus
• Numbers
• Deuteronomy

Wisdom Literature

• Job
• Psalms
• Proverbs
• Ecclesiastes
• Song of Songs (or Song of Solomon)

Major Prophets

• Isaiah
• Jeremiah
• Lamentations
• Ezekiel
• Daniel

Key Biblical Concepts

Prophecy

Foretelling the future through words.

Typology

Foretelling the future through things or events.

The Six C's of Biblical History

1. Creation
2. Covenant
3. Comeback
4. Christ
5. Church
6. Consummation

The Book of Genesis

Creation

The six days of creation:

1. Light
2. Sea & Sky
3. Dry Land & Plants
4. Sun, Stars, & Moon
5. Birds & Sea Creatures
6. Land Animals & Man

Image of God: Holiness

The Flood Narrative

• Duration: 40 days and 40 nights (rain) / 1 year and 1 day (total duration in the ark).
• Reason: God saw the great evil that existed on

Islam

Islam is a religion that began in Arabia, Saudi Arabia, in the 7th century. It is the second largest religion in the world.

Arabia

The Kaaba was a popular pilgrimage site in the city of Mecca. The most important cities were Mecca and Yathrib (Medina).

Islam Characteristics

It is a strict monotheistic religion: Allah means God and Muslim means believer.

It was founded by Muhammad, who is considered the last prophet.

The Quran (or Koran) is the holy book.

Islamic law, a code of conduct for Muslims, is called Sharia.

The 5 Pillars of Islam

• Faith: One God; Muhammad is His prophet.

• Prayer: 5 times a day, facing toward Mecca.

• Alms-giving: Compulsory charity.

• Fasting during Ramadan.

• Pilgrimage to Mecca.

• No alcohol or eating pork is permitted.

• No gambling (apostar)

Robert Bolt's Man for All Seasons (1960)

This is a fragment of the play “A Man for All Seasons”, written by Robert Bolt in 1960. It deals with events from the 16th century, specifically concerning **Thomas More**.

Bolt was a socialist and agnostic playwright who considered More a hero because he was a man of conscience, who defended his principles under every circumstance; that is what the title of the book means.

Historical Context: Henry VIII and the Schism

When the scene happens, **Henry VIII**, of the House of Tudor, is the King of England. He ruled England from 1509 to 1547. He made a very controversial move by marrying Princess Catherine of Aragon, the widow of his brother Arthur, despite the disapproval of the Church, since the Bible...

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

Understanding Core Islamic Vocabulary

Adhan

The call to prayer performed from the minarets of mosques by the *muezzin*.

Allah

Arabic for God.

Amir

Commander or prince, frequently used with reference to the person who leads the community.

Aya

A 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.

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.

Dhimmi

A member of a protected community, especially referring to...

The Conversion of Saint Ignatius of Loyola

After becoming injured in battle, Saint Ignatius had a lot of time on his hands as he recovered. He asked for some readings to pass the time, but all they had was “A Life of Christ” and “The Saints of Castilian.” Following these readings, he began to reflect on his life and what God meant in it; this is when he decided to live the rest of his life for God and began to think about his Spiritual Exercises and what shaped the current Jesuit traditions.

The Purpose of Human Existence

Human beings are created to praise, reverence, and serve God Our Lord. To do this, I must make myself indifferent.

A Journey Fired with God

One thing he wanted to do was travel to Jerusalem as soon as he had recovered,...

First Things First

I'ma say all the words inside my head
I'm fired up and tired of the way that things have been
The way that things have been

Second Thing

Don't you tell me what you think that I can be
I'm the one at the sail, I'm the master of my sea
The master of my sea

From Brokenness to Belief

I was broken from a young age
Taking my soul into the masses
Writing down my poems for the few
That looked at me, took to me, shook to me, feeling me
Singing from heartache, from the pain
Take up my message from the veins
Speaking my lesson from the brain
Seeing the beauty through the...

You made me a believer, believer
(Pain, pain)
You break me down, you build me up, believer, believer
(Pain)
I let the bullets fly, oh let them rain
My luck, my love, my God, they came...

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If Not Higher

Literal Comprehension

Early every Friday morning, at the time of penitential prayer, the Rabbi of Nemirov disappeared. He wasn't found at home either. People thought he went to heaven at that time. But a Litvak didn't believe it. He decided to find the truth. He secretly went to the Rabbi's room and watched every activity of the Rabbi during the night before Friday. The next morning, the Rabbi left home as a peasant outside the city. The Litvak secretly followed him. In the forest, he chopped a tree and made a bundle of sticks. He came back to the city with the bundle of sticks and sold it to a sick Jewish woman on credit. He also helped to build the fire. While tending the fire, he recited different portions and penitential...

The definition of נזיקין, is

-Damages

Which following tractate is NOT included in סדר זרעים?

-Tahara -Shabbat

Which following tractate is NOT included in סדר מועד?

-Demai -Maasrot

Seder קדשים included the following three tractates?

-Zavachim, Menachot, Chullin.

The words משנה למלך mean

-Deputy to a King

Why are these tractates referred to as משנה?

-It is similar to the words משנה למלך, since the written Torah is the king and the Mishnah is subordinate to it.

The sages of the Gemara are called

-אמוראים

1. בית שמאי lived during the time of the- תנאים
   
2. בית הלל lived during the times of the -תנאים
   
3. חנניה was an -תנא

The meaning of תנא is

-Teacher

The definition of an אמורא is

-

Challenges related to religion have always been present globally, but their visibility and frequency are more pronounced today, largely due to the internet. This powerful tool allows the world to learn about events more easily and rapidly. In past centuries, people were often unaware of events beyond their immediate surroundings. Today, we can be informed in seconds about significant developments, such as terrorist attacks by certain groups or decisions from the Vatican, among other crucial matters.

Understanding Global Religious Diversity

The world is home to a vast array of religions, including Buddhism, Judaism, Islam, Christianity, Hinduism, and Taoism, among many others. Each faith is distinct, characterized by unique customs, specific rules,...