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| The expulsion of Jews from their homeland and their dispersal across many areas. |
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| Holds the same meaning as contract. In Judaism, God and Abraham entered into a covenant where Abraham promised to have his family and descendants venerate only one god, observe his rules and circumsize all males. In retuen, God will protect and oberve the destiny of all his decendents. This is the covenental bond and is the basic principal behind Judaism. |
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| The Jewish Bible. It is mainly composed in Hebrew and the Old Testament follows it very closely.It is a composite, or a narration of several different authors. Almost every story is thus seen as the different viewpoints of each author. |
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| The Babylonians invaded Judea, and forced the Jews to remain detained in Babylonia. This is the origin of many Jewish practices, including worship without a temple. A second event takes place in 586 BCE and the temple was destroyed and the Jews expelled from Judaea. |
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| Syrus the Persian, after letting the Jews go home, encouraged the construction of another temple. It was destroyed again in 70 CE due to the Zealots revolt, and was never rebuilt. It also marked a turning point of no turning back in Jewish history. |
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| Haggadah is the formula for the passover supper ritual, and Halakah is the material in the Talmud that is of legal nature, and would thus dictate how Haggadah is done. |
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| The first section of the bible. it is composed of five sections. It is also called the Penta Teuch, and is full of all the most familiar stories (Adam and Eve, Moses..ect..) It is also the most beloved. It can refer to the entirety of the bible. |
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| The combination of all three books together, the Torah, Kethuvim, and Nevi'im. |
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| Oldest authoritative collection of Jewish law. it is all the teachings and laws, and is the second most important document after the bible itself. |
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| A record of rabbinic discussions about law, ethics, history, customs and philosophy. It is composed of the Mishna and Gemara. |
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| Ancient rabbinic commentaries on Hebrew Scripture. |
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| Jewish Temple/House of Worship |
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| Tradition of Judaism that is led by the insights and wisdom of the Rabbi's. It appeared after the destruction of the second temple. New elements: Good doings can be done anywhere, not just at the temple, communal prayer at the synagogue and an emphases on the study of scripture. |
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| Teacher of the Torah, and chief religious authority at a synagogue. |
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| Two different Jewish groups based on descent. Ashkenazi Jews are descended from Medieval Jewish communities along the Rhine through Germany. Literally, German Jews. Also from western and central Europe. Sephardi Jews are from Portugal, Spain. |
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| The spread of Greek culture into other communities. The Jews for example, split into several sects due to Greek influence or music, culture, art and language appearing throughout their communities. The Sadducees were the sect that took most closely to Hellenization. |
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| Sect of Judaism that appeared in the late 19th century, attached to the name Theodore Herzle. It was concerned with developing a Jewish homeland due to the fact that anti-antisemitism would never go away. He thought a Jewish homeland would allow Jews to escape European opinion. Herzle is considered the main inspiration for the state of Israel, though he never saw it in his lifetime. |
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| Born in 1135 in Spain, he is said to be one of the greatest Jewish philosophers. He wrote the Mishneh Torah, and several responses to the Jewish community about resurrection and the arrival of the Messiah. He tried to promote rational understanding of Judaism. |
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| One of the most important Jewish scholars of all time. He translated the Hebrew bible into Arabic and maintained that Judaism alone is the only divine truth. |
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| Branch of Orthodox Judaism founded by Israel ben Eliezer that focused on humility, good deeds and Joy, and said these were the best way to communicate with god. |
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| There are many sects of Judaism that appeared with Hellenization. These sects include, Sadducees, Essenes, Zealots, Pharisees and Samaritans. |
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| Apocalyptic Consciousness |
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| The idea of how God will deal with mankind and that God will have justice in the future and only those that are true to god in the end will receive salvation. |
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| A sect of Judaism that was the most politically active. They were crushed by Roman forces when they tried to revolt and the Second Temple was destroyed. |
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| Another Jewish sect. They produced a large manuscript library, which included the Dead Sea Scrolls. They had a strong apocalyptic belief and lived in isolation with an ascetic life as they disapproved of Greek influence. |
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| An emperor under the Roman empire who changed the fortunes of Christians by supporting Christianity. The emperors after him maintained this support, thus making Christianity a major, official Religion. |
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| One of the sects of Christianity. It is also known as the Eastern Church, or the Byzantine. They thought they held the correct beliefs. They did not like that the Latin Church had added words to the creed ("and the son"_. They also used Icons as a symbolic way of celebrating their god. |
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| Made in the 4th century, it represents the basis of the Christian Doctrine henceforth. It came from the Apostles Creed. It is the most widely used brief statements of the Christian faith. |
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| First had the name Saul and was a Jew wanting to protect Jewish purity, but after he got a vision of Jesus he changed in spirit and gained the name Paul. He came into a lot of conflict with Jesus followers. He is also known as the original architect of Christianity, and he brought about many changes and innovations that gave shape to the Christian community. |
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| A Christianity associated with the doctrines and beliefs of Paul through his writings. |
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| A break in the Church (of any religion really) where one group of believers do not agree with another group. In Christianity there were two major Schisms. One was the schism between the Orthodox Church and the Latin Church, then later on, was the Protestant reformation, which created the Protestant Church. |
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| The "Holy War" where the Turs wished to expel infidels (Muslims at the time) from the Holy Land. They took volunteers for this with the promise of Martyrdom. They created small states and even controlled Jerusalem for a while. It created a sort of Religious Nationalism and was highly destructive. Ever since there was distrust between Christians and Muslims. |
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| Gospels of Mark, Matthew and Luke. They are share similarities and probably came from the same source, and sometimes only two share similarities where the other is different, indicating a separate source. |
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| A fight against heresy. This involved torture and execution of those deemed heretics. It started in the 12th century. |
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| A religious censure used to deprive or suspend a membership in a religious community. In some circumstance it even involved spiritual condemnation of the member or group. |
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| A scripture that includes various accounts of Jesus' life, and it is composed of the Gospels. It also includes letters of Paul, and unlike the Old Testament, deals exclusively with Christianity. |
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| The biographical accounts of Jesus' life. There are four canonical Gospels..Gospel Of Mark, Matthew, Luke and John. They were probably originally oral, then came to be written down later on. None of the gospel writers were a part of Jesus' inner circle. |
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| This has existed since the earliest generations of Christianity. It involves small groups of people going off to live in poverty, simplicity and removed from worldly concerns to try and achieve a closer conversation with god. The Benedictine Order and Franciscan order were monastic orders. |
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| A building, or group of buildings designated for prayer. Also the living and working quarters for monks and nuns. |
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| A movement in the 1960's-1980's. It had a major christian element with hippy culture. |
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| The figure of Jesus Christ. Son of God and the Messiah of the old testament, as well as the core figure for Christianity itself. |
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| A hypothetical document that is said to have helped Luke and Matthew create their gospels. It's contents are not now but it can be estimated what it contains based in the gospels of Matthew and Luke. |
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| Founder of the Franciscan Monastic order and woman's order of St. Clare. He is one of the most venerated saints. |
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| A philosopher and theologian who was highly influential. The grace of Christ was indispensable for him and he re-framed the concepts of original sin and just war. He also developed that the church was a distinct spiritual city of god. |
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| Caused the creation of the Protestant Church. Set forth by those who disliked the veneration of relics, the corrupt wealthy church, and the close relationship between politics and papacy. Also the buying and selling of religious offices to sons of religious families who did not have the religious persona needed. (Sometimes the clergy was so poorly educated that they could not even read the scriptures due to this)They also thought that scriptures should be available to the emerging middle class, especially not the middle class could often read what the clergy could not. |
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| Principal that warns against idolatry and that God is beyond history and history and he can only be spoken to through the human mind, which is limited in understanding |
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| A German Monk annoyed by Simony (buying and selling of church office)He also was against indulgences. (He saw this as a form of corruption to merely gain money from the people) He created the 95 theses (a list of 95 things wrong with the church) and pasted it on the door, and within months they had fanned out across Europe. The churches deemed him a heretic, but his life was saved by Prince Frederik. |
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| Arabic word meaning 'community' or 'nation' |
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Five Pillars are ideas about living and practice and they consist of:
1)Shahadah, the creed r single thing that makes a Muslim, and the affirmation of belief.
2)Salat: Daily Prayer, 5 times a day
3)Zakat:Muslims are obligated to give 5% of their wealth to various things, to promote the welfare of those less fortunate
4)Ramadan: The 30 day fast once a year during the Holy month (eating drinking and sex is not allowed during the daylight hours)
5) Haj: The pilgrimage that s to be done once in a lifetime to Mecca. One achieves a higher status once they have done this. It attempts to replicate Abraham's and Ismael's journey to Arabia. |
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| The city originally called Yathrib, and it was the year that Muhammad and his followers migrated here that marked the beginning of the Muslim calender (year 623 CE) |
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| A city in Saudi Arabia, and it's beginnings are attributed to Ismael's descendants. Islam was proclaimed here by Mohamed, and is regarded as the Holiest City in Islam. |
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| The title for a ruler of the Islamic community |
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| One of the two sects of Islam. The Shia think that Ali, Mohammed's son in law, is the only legit leader of Islam..and they trace their lineage back to him, and to his sons. |
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| One of the two sects of Islam. The Sunni believe that any of the four leaders were rightly guided and that leadership should not just be restricted to lineage, but to the person most capable of the job. |
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| A person who practices the religion of Islam |
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| Abraham is seen as the patriarch of the religion and Islam is seen to pass down through his son, Ishmael, fathered by the servant girl Hagar (rather then in Judaism, where it is seen to pass down through Issac, Abraham's wife's son) |
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| In Islam, this is the period preceding the revelation to Mohamed. It is a concept of "Ignorance of Divine Guidance". It has come to refer to anyone not following Islam. |
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| IS an Islamic prophet and was given the final revelation of God and received the Qur'an. He is also seen as the last and closing chapter of the five greats. He also was the one that began the spread of Islam by attracting followers, and his way of life and beliefs are of great importance to the community. He is looked at for the ideal and pious life. |
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| A cube shaped building in Mecca and is the most sacred site in all of Islam. Islam states that this building was constructed by Abraham and Ismael. All Muslims in the world face this building during prayer no matter where they are. |
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| Muhammad's son an law and the fourth Islamic leader after Muhammad's death. He did not punish the assassinator of his predecessor and was met with resistance for this, and is later assassinated himself. |
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| The first leader after Muhammad's death. He only lasted a couple years, but he expanded the Islamic community into the Arabian Peninsula. |
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| The religious book of Islam, and central, most important script. It is understood to be the direct word of god. |
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| The Migration of Muhammad and his followers to the city of Medina |
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| Means 'custom or habit' in Arabic and refers to the sayings and living habits of Muhammad. The larger corpus containing stories of his life, the things he said and did in different circumstances. There is a huge reliance on these stories in the Islamic community. |
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| A specific story or event in the life of Muhammad. They shape the way Muslim communities live drastically. |
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| Means Islamic Law. It is law aimed at the principals for 'right living as the essence of faith'. How to express faith properly? It is based on four sources, the Quran, Sunnah, Ljtihad (personal reasoning and best efforts of scholars) and Jima (consensus of the believing community) |
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Several schools developed based on creating principals that reflect faith. There are FOUR major schools:
1. Hanafi School, founded by Hanbifa. It is the oldest school in Islam and was the official school under the abassids. It is the most widespread Sunni school.
2. Maliki School: Founder, Maliki bin Anas, and he made a school placing equal weight on all sources and taking a fair amount of community input.
3. Shafai School: Absolute reliance on the Qu'ran and Sunnah. It is most influential in Southeast Asia, North Africa and Southern Peninsula.
4. Hanbali School: Conservative legal perspective, exerting a disproportionate amount of influence. It operates in Saudi Arabia and has been championed by revolutions through history. |
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| A Mystic. Some claim that Muhammad was a Sufi as well. There is a lack of otherworldly possessions and the practice of Sufism goes along with it. |
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Term
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Definition
Several schools developed based on creating principals that reflect faith. There are FOUR major schools:
1. Hanafi School, founded by Hanbifa. It is the oldest school in Islam and was the official school under the abassids. It is the most widespread Sunni school.
2. Maliki School: Founder, Maliki bin Anas, and he made a school placing equal weight on all sources and taking a fair amount of community input.
3. Shafai School: Absolute reliance on the Qu'ran and Sunnah. It is most influential in Southeast Asia, North Africa and Southern Peninsula.
4. Hanbali School: Conservative legal perspective, exerting a disproportionate amount of influence. It operates in Saudi Arabia and has been championed by revolutions through history. |
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| In the Indic Worldview, this is the notion that the universe has always been going, without beginning or end. Thus there is no creator. It's FORM does change though, and change in the universe is constant. |
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| Means time, and is an understanding of how time works. Each of the major Indic traditions sees time slightly differently. It is either in wavelengths of high points and low points (Jainism) or in cyclical patterns of creation and destruction (Buddhism and Hinduism) |
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| In the Hindu time cycle, Yuga is the point in the cycle where everything is fresh, new, young and pure. It's opposite is the Kali Yuga, where everything is sick, corrupted, old and falling apart. |
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| The nature of wordy experience. In the Indic worldview, this is the constant movement of time and change that results in a sense of stress and anxiety. The assertion is that the constant experience of change is ultimately unsatisfactory and results in anxiety and stress, and is not a place conductive of lasting happiness. |
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| In the Indic worldview, it is the assumption that everyone's actions are what keep the movement of time going. We are born, live and die, yet death only means shedding one body for another. The quality of your actions determines what you will reborn as. |
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| Also known as Nirvana. This means freedom and is the final point in the Indic worldview. It is the end of the cycle of rebirth and leads to eternal joy and happiness. This is the final goal of the Indic traditions. |
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| Means action. It's an action of various kinds, physical, emotional, verbal or mental. These are all choices that we make. They can also me moral, immoral or amoral. The final point is that all actions have consequences, and the buildup of these actions cannot be logically experienced, so we must be reborn in order to understand the consequences of our actions. One can always alter their own actions, and as a result there is no judgment day. |
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| The movement of people leaving their home and wandering off into the wilderness to focus on philosophical thinking (Who am I? What is my relationship to others?) There were many groups following this tradition and rejecting the Vedic Traditions. Buddhism, Jainism and Hinduism came out of the Sramama movement. |
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| The Aryan religion, and it is structured around the concept of sacrifice and that everything is interconnected. Anything that disrupts one part disrupts everything else. |
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| People that originated from central Asia, and migrated in tribes over various areas. They were a pastoral people and over the years of traveling and settling they set themselves up as an elite class. Their culture, language and religion becomes the norm of the Indian continent. Their religion is the Vedic tradition. |
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| A teacher of the Jain tradition. One of the two types that will appear at different periods in time during downward or the point in time in order to guide us back up. It means conqueror of the challenges of everyday existence in the world. |
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| A teacher of the Jain tradition. One of the two types that will appear at different periods in time during downward or the point in time in order to guide us back up. This one means bridge building. |
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| Non-harm,non violence. Taken every seriously in the Jain tradition. No form of violence and harm is okay, and everything in earth down to an insect must be given the opportunity to live and be free of pain. It is the greatest and first duty. |
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| Anekantavada (Many Sidedness) |
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| Everything is constantly undergoing change. Because of this, there is always more then one point of view. Syadvada is a part of this. The only thing that is absolute is Brahman. |
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| There is always more then one perspective on any one subject and that there are many different parts and realities to even one thing. What may be something to one may not be the same to another. One cannot make an absolute claim because it disregards all other perspectives. One of the Jain beliefs of right knowledge. |
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| This theory of Karma describes karma as a sort of residue that builds up with everything you do and constrains us. Our aim is to get rid of this Karmic dust, and in order to do so you must get rid of desire. |
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| In Jainism, this is the soul or spirit. It is usually luminous but Karmic dust dulls it. |
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| The Jain teacher that is closest to us in time. He is also known as Mahavira. He is also the founder of Jainism. He practiced ascetic living, and is presented as a person of extraordinary compassion and kindness. |
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| The ritual voluntary fasting to death, usually only undertaken by deeply spiritual people who have reached a great age. |
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| One of the two groups of Jains that formed after the founders death. They're known as "white clothed" They believe that the founder was an ordinary human being, who was mortal ans achieved enlightenment. They say he had a daughter and was married (supported by written evidence) and also that women can achieve enlightenment while in female form. |
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| The second group of Jain's that formed after the founders death. They are called sky clad (no clothes) and argue that it is not possible to achieve enlightenment while clinging to the shame of needing to cover up. They saw the founder as being close to divine (not a god, but someone who never had karma)They also say that he never married or had kids. They also say women cannot achieve enlightenment in female form. |
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| A sacred symbol of auspiciousness and in Jainism it represents the four realms of existence that we can be reborn into. (Ghost, Animal, Human or Divinity). The three dots on top represent the Three Jewels, and the crescent represents the separation between the heavenly realm and everything else. |
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| Right Belief, Right Knowledge, Right Conduct. The three dots on top of the Swastika represent these. |
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| Five Principals of Right Action |
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Definition
In Jainism, these are how one should behave to live as the best you can:
1. Ahimsa
2. Truth: Many-sidedness
3. Non Stealing
4. Sexual Restraint
5. Avoid Possessiveness |
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| In Buddhism, it is the non-existence of the self. We are always changing, physically and mentally and nothing remains of our original self. Even the soul is not immune to change. This is the most crucial difference that Buddhism has from Jainism and Hinduism |
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| Age disease and death are all characteristics of our existence in the world. Suffering, psychological and physical is all a part of human life. It is also one of the four noble truths, and one of our goals is to find a way to over come this suffering. |
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Definition
Also known as Tripitaka (The three baskets) It is the central script and teaching of Buddhism and is composed of three parts:
1. Sutrapitaka: It contains the major insights of Buddhist form, mostly attributed to Buddha.
2. Vinaya Pitaka: The rules of living especially for Monks and Nuns
3. Abhidarma: An analysis or the part that analytically develops Buddhist teachings It explains things in great and elaborate technical detail about how these things can be. |
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| A person who has achieved enlightenment in the Buddhist community. Thervada Buddhism believes these people are then perfect and have the same level of enlightenment as Buddha and cannot regress. Mahayana Buddhism rejects this idea) |
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| A very influential Buddhist King who sponsored many things Buddhist and was responsible for missionary movements. Be sent out his son and daughter to spread the word, and this missionary movement probably kept the religion alive. It died out in India for a bit but thrived in Sri Lanka where the missionaries had traveled to. |
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| Is like the Arhant in the sense that it is a highly enlightened person who is at the same level as Buddha and the Arhant. The difference is that AFTER having achieved enlightenment, they choose to remain on earth and assist others reach the same level of insight. |
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| Dependent Origination. It explains the reality of continuity in the face of change. In order for change to happen, circumstances need to progress in a certain way. Things continue in a certain way because the conditions exist for things to continue in that way. |
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| The congregation of Buddhist monks and nuns. The Community of practicing Buddhists, or Community of those who have achieved enlightenment and may help the practicing Buddhist do the same. |
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| "Path of the Elders" It is the older and more traditional Buddhism, and is mainly found In Southeast Asia and India. Believed in the Arhant, and unlike the Mahayana, their Bodhisattva's were CLOSE to being enlightened, but not fully. They have a meditative practice that is specific to them, and the TRUEST Buddhist practice was to be monastic (be a monk or nun) |
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| "Greater Vehicle' This Buddhism is found in East Asia. There is a large influence placed on teaching. These teachers were called UPAYA and this is a very important concept for this branch. It says that truly skilled teachers can realize both the limitations and the abilities of their students in order to better instruct them towards enlightenment. The Buddha is said to be the greatest teacher. The scripture is never closed either, and things are constantly being changed and added to suit the environment of the time. The Buddha is also more then a mere human here. |
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| Three Marks of Conditioned Existence |
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Definition
These are all a part of the First Noble Truth (Dhukka)
Impermanence
Frustration\Suffering
Non-Self |
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| Three Refuges\Three Jewels |
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Definition
The three things that Buddhists take refuge in.
1. Buddha: Either the Buddha himself or the Buddha nature
2. Dharma: The teachings of the Buddha
3. Sangha |
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| The ideal or highest spiritual potential that exists within people. Part of the Three Jewels |
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| The Monk who is credited with the creation of the Chan/Zen School of Buddhism. |
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Definition
1. Noble Truth of Suffering (Dhukka): No living being can escape suffering
2. Noble Truth of Origin: Suffering arrives from a craving from excessive desire
3. Noble Truth of Cessation: Suffering will cease, or ease when desire ceases.
4. Noble Truth of the Eightfold Path: It is possible to put an end to desire by following the eightfold path. (Right View or understanding, right thought, right speech, right conduct, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness and right meditation. |
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| This is present in Mahayana Buddhism, and shows that all the Buddha's that have been on earth shared a oneness, as well as the idea that there is a unity to Buddha nature in all forms. There are three main bodies that their more divine Buddha possesses. The first is the Appearance body (his human body) the second is the Body of Bliss, which is kind of a reward body for the Bodhisattva to complete his vows and become a Buddha. It allows them for an easier time to devote themselves to a life of contemplation. It is the bliss of enlightenment and the reward of spiritual practice. The Third body is the Dharma Body, which states that the Buddha is the absolute essence of the universe. |
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Definition
| Founded by Bodhidharma, it is one of the branches of Buddhism that extended into China and Japan. It centers on meditation and the teaching that the ultimate reality is not expressible in words or logic, but needs to be grasped through direct intuition. Enlightenment is accessible only by ourselves |
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| Another Chinese branch of Buddhism. Enlightenment here can only be achieved through the help of others. It is the most popular school among laypeople. The text devotes itself to the Bodhisattva Amytabha, and because he has already been enlightened, we need his help to get there ourselves. One needs to repeat his name constantly and when one can have ten moments of consecutive ABSOLUTE faith, then one can be reborn into the pureland (a comfy realm in the heavens) |
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Definition
Comes from a controversy in the Chan school about weather our Buddha-nature comes suddenly or takes a lot of work to emerge.
Rinzai: It comes like a slap to the face
Soja: It takes longer and come on more gently. Sitting meditation here is where monks will just sit for hours. |
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| Buddhist leader of the Tibetan branch of Buddhism. |
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| In Hinduism, this is that the real self is beyond sense It is the lasting unchanging self that will exist forever. We must be able to tell the difference the visible self and who we ultimately are. |
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Definition
| The essence we all share. We are all part of an organic unity the precedes the individuality we seem to have. |
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| The core of the Vedas, and the youngest portion. It is also the most complex and is not intellectually accessible to everyone. It is limited too...mainly for a master and their pupil. In Hinduism this is the most important part of the Vedas. |
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Definition
| The oldest known religious texts. They are still used in the Hindu religion and are composed of four parts. Hymns, Ritualistic commentary, philosophically driven stories written in the context of the forest, and the Upanisads. |
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Definition
| When we superimpose our limited ideas of something onto what something actually is, or who we really are. |
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Term
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Definition
| In Hinduism, when a person makes a decision, how do we make it? Dharma are our obligations that are determined by things like your stage of life, gender, social class, age and the circumstance of the moment. |
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Term
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Definition
The two kinds of people in Hinduism.
Nivrtti is the person who is interested in Moksha (radical spiritual goals)The renounces.
Pravtti: The regular person who needs specific guidance. These are the vast majority. Religious education thus needs to be differently directed for both kinds. |
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Term
| Four Goals of Human Striving |
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Definition
Righteousness
Wealth
Desire
Salvation |
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Term
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Definition
In Hinduism there are four major stages:
1. Student: The Learning stage where everything is focused on studies..goes to around age 25
2. Householder: Family stage where your expected to get a family, make money get property..ect.
3. Forest Dweller: Renouncing most things unless its necessary. It's like retirement.
4. Renouncer: Final stage of life for those serious about Moksha. Everything is renounced, even family, and one will not stay in a singe place for more then a night. It is a time of contemplation. |
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