Notes, summaries, assignments, exams, and exercises for Religion for University

Ancient Japanese Culture and Beliefs: An Overview

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3 Treasures

  • Compassion: groundbreaking responsibility to take care of others and care about others
  • Frugality: being conscious and mindful of spending
  • Humility: only humble people are generous and compassionate

Amaterasu

Sun goddess, her grandson becomes the 1st emperor of Japan, the imperial court lives on to be divine, Japanese flag is the sun, emperors are gods

Analects

Selected writings of Confucianism, discussed the Chun-tzu (superior man) which stated that leaders must be chosen by virtue and not just family name or appointment; small men are self-serving and have no accountability

Ancestor Veneration

A religious practice based on the belief that deceased family members have a continued existence, that the spirits of deceased ancestors will look...

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The Pentateuch: First Five Books of the Bible

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The Pentateuch

Pentateuch comes from the Greek language and means, properly, "the book of five cases", that is, the book divided into five cases, consisting of five volumes or rolls. These are: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. It was recognized by Jews as the Torah.

Versions for the creation of the Pentateuch:

  • Yahwist: The authors called God by the name of Yahweh.
  • Elohist: Called God by the name of Elohim.
  • Deuterocanonical version, which enriched the previous two, is at least 400 or 500 years after them.
  • The priestly version.

Genesis

It is called so because it describes the origin of the creation of the world and humanity. Indeed, *Genesis* is of Greek origin, meaning *beginning*. It is the first book of the Pentateuch and the...

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Key Concepts in Sunni Islam

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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...

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Key Figures and Concepts in History and Philosophy

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Plato: Plato was an Athenian philosopher during the Classical period in Ancient Greece, founder of the Platonist school of thought, and the Academy, the first institution of higher learning in the Western world.

Gilgamesh: The best-known and most popular hero in the mythology of the ancient Near East, Gilgamesh was a Sumerian king who wished to become immortal. Endowed with superhuman strength, courage, and power, he appeared in numerous legends and myths, including the Epic of Gilgamesh.

Monotheism: Monotheism is the belief in a single all-powerful god, as opposed to religions that believe in multiple gods. Judaism, Christianity, and Islam are widely practiced forms of monotheism. ... Monotheism is any religion that believes in one god. From...

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Islamic Architectural Heritage: Key Elements and Eras

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Islamic Architectural Elements

  • Minbar: Small ladder to raise the prayer to a higher altitude, facing the Qibla.
  • Minaret: Tower used to call the Muslim community to prayer.
  • Mihrab: A semicircular niche in the Qibla wall (post-Muhammad) oriented toward Mecca.
  • Maqsura: A protected space for Caliphs and Emirs in front of the Mihrab.
  • Ablutions Area: Ritual washing as part of prayer preparation (Haram, Ziyada, Sahn, Sabil).
  • Quincunx: A symbolic layout where Allah is the center and everything moves around Him.
  • 5 Pillars of Islam: Faith, Prayer, Zakat, Fasting, and Pilgrimage.

Decoration

Key features include vegetal patterns, calligraphy, geometry, water, light, and muqarnas.

Umayyad Period (7th–8th Century)

  • Dome of the Rock, Jerusalem (7th C): Site of Abraham'
...
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Bible Interpretation: Principles for Christians

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Principles for Christians Reading the Bible Together

Understanding Yourself and Others

  • Every Christian must determine the context from which he or she speaks.
  • Every Christian should recognize which theological orientation to the Bible is most natural.
  • Patience and tolerance are needed to dialogue with those who approach the Bible in a different manner.

Working Responsibly with Ancient Customs and Beliefs

  • Recognize that ancient Israelite society, as well as Greco-Roman society, were very different from our modern society.
  • To understand these differences well, it may involve seeking additional knowledge beyond what we initially bring to the text.

The Three "C"s of Interpretation

Dialogue is enhanced if we commit ourselves to the three “C”s of interpretation:...

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Purgatorio: Journey Through Dante's Seven Terraces

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Canto X: The Proud

Entering the first terrace of Purgatory, the proud begin their slow ascent, burdened by the weight of their sin. Sculptures carved into the rock depict scenes of humility, a stark contrast to their prideful nature. The penitents, bent low like worms, bear the physical manifestation of their spiritual condition.

Canto XI: Prayers for the Proud

The journey through the first terrace continues, as the proud souls inch along their path. Prayers are offered for their purification, a testament to the hope of redemption that permeates even this realm of suffering.

Canto XII: An Angelic Encounter

A radiant being appears, guiding the way and revealing the steps that lead to the next level. With a touch of its wings, Dante feels lighter,...

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Hinduism and Buddhism: A Comparison

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Hinduism

Hinduism is one of the world's major religions and the dominant religion in the South Asian subcontinent. It encompasses a variety of different traditions, beliefs, and practices, forming a broad daily ethic. Hinduism is mostly distributed in India, making it a regional religion. As an all-encompassing complex, it is both a religion and a way of life.

Core Beliefs

Hinduism emphasizes the eternal nature of the human soul and the concept of reincarnation. It teaches that karma, the law of cause and effect, influences the cycle of birth, death, and rebirth. Through spiritual practices and righteous living, individuals strive for liberation (moksha) from this cycle.

Buddhism

tells us that we must transcend ourselves and learn to create new...

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Masaccio and Masolino: Analyzing Brancacci Chapel Frescoes

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The Healing of the Cripple and the Resurrection of Tabitha

Masolino and Masaccio Collaboration

Location: Right wall, upper register.

These two combined scenes correspond to the Acts of the Apostles, Chapters 3 and 9, respectively. This work is attributed primarily to Masolino with a minor contribution by Masaccio, reflecting the common artistic collaborations of the time. Christ has already died and risen; this depicts the era of the early Christians.

St. Peter heals the cripple on the left and revives the dead (Tabitha) on the right. Some figures kneel before him while other standing men express surprise.

Architectural and Stylistic Analysis

  • The porch lacks the precision of Brunelleschi, featuring a rushed vanishing point that fails to deliver proper
...
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Symbolism in Henry James's Daisy Miller

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Symbols

Symbols are objects, characters, figures, or colors used to represent abstract ideas or concepts.

Daisy and Randolph

The most frequently noted symbols in Daisy Miller are Daisy herself and her younger brother, Randolph. Daisy is often seen as representing America: she is young, fresh, ingenuous, clueless, naïve, innocent, well meaning, self-centered, untaught, scornful of convention, unaware of social distinctions, utterly lacking in any sense of propriety, and unwilling to adapt to the mores and standards of others. These traits have no fixed moral content, and nearly all of them can be regarded as either virtues or faults. However, Randolph is a different matter. He is a thinly veiled comment on the type of the “ugly American”...

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