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

Theravada

Theravada views itself as representing the original and authentic teaching of the Buddha. It emphasizes the pursuit of Nirvana through the individual’s own efforts. The Buddha is revered as one who achieved Nirvana and provided his teachings, the Dharma, so that others could do the same. But the Buddha himself is beyond the reach of the individual and no longer available to provide direct assistance. Theravada stays true to the Buddha’s last words: “Work out your salvation with diligence.” The individual pursues Nirvana primarily through meditation, for which the monastic lifestyle is best suited. Theravada therefore also emphasizes the central role of the monastic community, or Sangha. Those who do attain Nirvana are known...

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...

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...

The Medieval Synthesis and Its Cracks

Asturian Architecture (9th Century)

San Julian de los Prados

• Structure: 3 naves inscribed in a rectangle with a basilica scheme.
• Features: 3-parted head covered with barrel vaults, Visigothic precedents, Roman arches, and semicircular arches.
• Design: Includes a narthex and interior mural decoration featuring fake arches without human figures.

Santa Maria de Naranco, Oviedo

• Structure: Compact stone volume with an inclined roof and two independent floors.
• Aesthetics: Rhythmical, vertical appearance with symmetrical floorplan.
• Details: Upper room with barrel vaults and transversal arches, buttresses, blind arches for lightness, and Corinthian capitals.

Mozarabic Architecture (10th Century)

Refers to Spanish-Roman citizens living in Andalusia during the

Templar Church of Santa Maria de Eunate, Navarra

The Templar Church of Santa Maria de Eunate in Navarra features an east semicircular apse and an external cloister enclosing the church. The main portal faces the Way of St. James. It is designed with an octagonal plan. The dome is not Islamic because the ribs pass through the center. The structure includes pillars on the southern side and double columns on the northern side.

The Pantokrator

The Pantokrator is painted in the most important part of the church. It depicts the full body of Christ holding the New Testament in his left hand and rising his right hand. It includes the four evangelists: Matthew, Luke, Mark, and John.

St. Foy de Conques

St. Foy de Conques is characterized by vertical monumentality...

Why Study Nursing History?

Studying nursing history provides:

• Knowledge of the profession's seniority
• Professional group identity
• Understanding the profession's evolution
• Appreciation of the profession's progress and advances

The nursing profession has undergone profound changes in the last century, evolving from an occupation without formal qualification to a university career.

Knowledge of the profession's history helps understand the developmental stages of nursing awareness and its current state.

In recent years, there has been a considerable increase in studies and publications on nursing history, filling a gap that other disciplines began to address long ago.

Healthcare in Ancient Greece

The ancient Greeks had gods of the earth and underworld,...

Historical Contexts of the Bible

A) Old Testament Origins

• Geographical Region: Ancient Near East
• Dates: 1000–150 BCE
• Languages Used: Hebrew and Aramaic
• Writing Materials: Scrolls and parchments
• Sources: Oral tradition, prophecy, legal, and liturgical materials

B) New Testament Origins

• Geographical Region: Greco-Roman world
• Dates: Mid-1st to early 2nd century CE
• Language: Greek
• Writing Materials: Papyrus and codex
• Sources: Oral traditions, Old Testament, apostolic writings, and liturgical materials

The Biblical Apocrypha

The term Apocrypha denotes a collection of ancient books found in some editions of Christian Bibles, typically placed in a separate section between the Old and New Testaments or as an appendix. Some Christian churches include these texts...

The Pentateuch

• Genesis: Creation, the world, humanity, and the people of Israel.
• Exodus: The departure from Egypt led by Moses.
• Leviticus: Laws regarding holiness and worship.
• Numbers: The Israelites' journey through the desert.
• Deuteronomy: Meaning the "Second Law."

Historical Books

• Deuteronomistic History: Contains six books (Joshua, Judges, 1 & 2 Samuel, 1 & 2 Kings) covering the entry into Canaan through the Babylonian exile.
• Chronicles and Post-Exilic Books: 1 & 2 Chronicles, Ezra, and Nehemiah, focusing on the restoration after the Babylonian exile.
• Maccabees: 1 & 2 Maccabees cover 40 years of Jewish history in the second century BC.
• Literary Fiction: Tobit, Ruth, Esther, and Judith are considered literary works for pedagogical