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

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:

-Kantian deontology: follow the rules and laws. XVIII (cathegorical/hypothetical)

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" »

Lutheranism

The Lutheran doctrine was based on a number of basic principles:

• Salvation by faith and not by deeds
• Defence of a universal priesthood
• Belief that the Bible was the only source of truth
• Reduction of baptismal and Eucharist sacraments
• Refusal to worship the Virgin and saints

Anglicanism

King Henry VIII of England separated from the Pope because he refused to annul his marriage to Catherine of Aragón. The Act of Supremacy was passed in 1534, declaring him the leader of the Church of England.

Calvinism

It arose in Switzerland under the guidance of John Calvin, who added the doctrine of predestination to Lutheranism. This claimed that people were predestined at birth and had to honor this divine grace through hard work and a strict morality.... Continue reading "Key Principles of Lutheranism, Anglicanism, and Calvinism" »

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... Continue reading "Key Islamic Terms: A Glossary" »