Shared Flashcard Set

Details

Rels 311
Rels 311
40
Religious Studies
Undergraduate 4
09/18/2006

Additional Religious Studies Flashcards

 


 

Cards

Term
What is the relationship between religions and death?
Definition
Religion seeks to counter death
Term
In what way does each of the world religions oppose death?
Christianity—
Muslims—
Judaism—
Hindus and Buddhists—
Daoism—
Confucianism—
Definition
-Christianity—everyone offered eternal life through Christ the savior
-Muslims—eternal life in heaven for the faithful who obey god’s commands
-Judaism—alludes to life after death (misrep to say afterlife or eternal life in heaven) is emphasized
-Hindus and Buddhists—round of rebirth
-Daoism—seek immortality through extending this very life for all time
-Confucianism—fails to offer any explanation of what comes, but refers to immortals
Term
What is the Buddhist 3-point contemplation on death?
Definition
-Death is definite
-Time of death is indefinite
-At time of death, the only thing that claims to help is religious practice
Term
What is the distinction between knowledge and belief?
Definition
-Knowledge-- justified true belief or perhaps justifiable true belief. Knowledge observes an actual existence. It is concordant with the fact. One cannot know that which does not exist.
-Belief—not all belief is knowledge “things I believe that I do not know”
Term
How do belief and faith relate?
Definition
All faith is belief, but not all belief is faith
Term
What are the various aspects of faith? Must faith always be spiritual or religious?
Definition
-All human religion and spirituality is faith-based
-Objects of faith: persons, texts, practices, experiences, feelings, places and objects
Term
If we do not know something or if something is merely a matter of faith, is it fair to conclude that it is impossible?
Definition
When rels study is done fairly it at least allows for the possibility that what people believe could be true
Term
What does it mean to say that in order for a religious system to be effective it must accord with reality?
Definition
-Its must accord with realty. Any system which relies upon false assertions or incorrectly describes the way things are cannot lead one to freedom
Term
What is the meaning of Carl Sagan’s saying that absence of evidence is not evidence of absence? How does this relate to issues of religion and spirituality?
Definition
No evidence of god, is not evidence of no god.
Term
What are 5 attributes that one should look for in rels all over the world?
Definition
-An explanation of the self
-An explanation of the ultimate or divine

-Mythology
-Ritual
-ethics
Term
In regard to the nature of the self, what are three main views of the ‘components’ of the person? How is the soul distinct?
Definition
-Body—physicalists – mind arises from body
-Body and mind—only Buddhists- body arises from mind
-Body, mind & soul—soul is permanent aspect of personality; body and mind like clothes
Term
When the Divine is asserted.. what happens
Definition
The Divine is the ultimate truth
Term
-What are the foundations of religions?
Definition
-Foundations of religion is not meant to refer to the origins or earliest evidences of religion. Rather, it is meant to refer to the motivations for religion and the underlying assumptions of religion.
Term
Describe the division of religions into world religions/global religions and small-scale religions
Definition
World (arose in Asia)

Small-scale-two types:
1. particular ethnic beliefs-mayan
2. not ancient, but small-scientology, mormon
Term
What is the list of 7 world religions or global religions?
Definition
o Christianity
o Buddhism
o Judaism
o Daoism
o Confucianism
o Hinduism
o Islam
Term
Describe the division of religions into self-powered and other-powered religions.
Definition
oSelf-powered—Buddhism, Hinduism, Daoism, Confucianism
•Liberation—quest ultimately internal; wisdom
•“be a lamp unto yourself [illuminate your own path]” –Buddha

oOther-powered—Christianity, islam, Judaism
•Power for salvation outside of oneself
•“no one comes to the father except by me” --Jesus
Term
What is soteriology? In what way is the division of religions into self-powered and other-powered a soteriological division?
Definition
Soteriology—having to do with salvation or liberation
Term
In any religion completely self-powered? Is any religion completely other-powered? What does this division mean?
Definition
All religions call for reliance on both oneself and things outside of oneself.
Term
Describe the division of religions into wisdom traditions and prophetic traditions. What do wisdom traditions say is the source of suffering and death? What do prophetic traditions say?
Definition
Wisdom traditions—Asian religions
•Suffering—result of our own ignorance
•Buddhism, Daoism, Confucianism, Hinduism

Prophetic traditions—Abrahamic religions
•Suffering—result of our failure to obey god
•Christianity, Judaism, Islam
Term
Describe the assertion in Asian religions that one may become the equivalent of the Buddha or Lao-zi. Is this sort of assertion found in Christianity?
Definition
We are all cut from the same bolt of cloth, so we too may become enlightened. Buddha and Lao-zi ultimately freed by their wisdom; ordinary people can do the same.

No suggestion in Christianity that one can ascent to level of Christhood. Christ is divine
Term
What is the list of countries in South Asia?
Definition
o India—Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, & Sikhism developed here
o Pakistan
o Bangladesh
o Sri Lanka (formerly Ceylon)
o Tibet
o Nepal
o Andaman Islands
Term
What do Hindus call their tradition? What is the meaning of the term?
Definition
Dharma – that which holds
•‘that which holds reality, truth, duty, law… etc’
Term
What are two very important differences between Hinduism and Buddhism that the Prof. pointed out?
Definition
Hindus—god created world; denied by Buddhists

Hindus—believe everything has soul; denied by Buddhists
Term
Describe the Hindu creation myth. Who are the four important Gods who play in the myth? What is the role of each? What is kalpa? What is the kaliyuga?
Definition
-Brahman (ultimate world soul)
-Shiva (destroyer god)—not seen as evil; destroys world to start anew when it becomes adharma (horribly unlivable)
-Vishnu (sustainer god) sleeps on 1000 headed cobra. Out of Vishnu’s navel grows a lotus, where the god Brahma (creator god) is born. Brahma holds the universe in his hand—shaped like an enormous egg, “The Egg of Brahma.”
• Egg divided into 21 zones, earth is 7th from top
• Paradise 1-6, Earthly world 7-14, Netherworlds 15-18?, Hells 19-21
-Vishnu awakens and governs world throughout the aeon. At the end of the aeon, Vishnu once again sleeps and universe is absorbed into his body.
-Eventually even Vishnu & potency of universe contained within him will merge with Brahman until once more Brahman gives issue to Vishnu & process is repeated
-Kalpa—4.2 billion years (day of Brahma)
-Kaliyuga – began 31,023bce, lasts 432 k years, dark era—aeon *avg human lifespan will lesson to only 10 years*
Term
What is the meaning of the Sanskrit terms “lingam,” “yoni,” and “tantra?”
Definition
o Lingam—means “sign” (sign of being a man is having a penis) rounded stone
o Yoni—represents vagina
o Tantra—“continuem”
Term
Who are the “devas?” What is the literal meaning of this term?
Definition
Deva—“shining one, luminous one, deity, divine”

Devas—the gods of the Aryans
Term
Briefly describe the Hindu caste system. What is the meaning of the term “varna”?
Definition
1. The priests
2. the rulers and warriors
3. the merchants or common people
4. the servants
-Varna: color, lighter skin- higher caste, darker skin- lower caste
Term
What is the meaning of the term “veda?” What is the big Rig Veda?
Definition
Vedas—earliest class of Hindu religious literature; means “wise” “sacred knowledge”

Rig Veda—“veda of praise;” prayers to devas (shining one); original Hindu religious text
Term
What is the meaning of the word “karma?”
Definition
Karma—that which is done
Term
What is the definition of karma? What does each part of this definition mean?
Definition
-The virtuous, non-virtuous, and neutral actions of body, speech, and mind as well as the pleasant, unpleasant, and neutral effects which may arise from those actions.
-Virtuous actions—of the type that may give rise to pleasant effects.
-Non-virtuous actions—of the type that may give rise to unpleasant effects
Term
What is the definition of karma? What does each part of this definition mean?
Definition
-The virtuous, non-virtuous, and neutral actions of body, speech, and mind as well as the pleasant, unpleasant, and neutral effects which may arise from those actions.
-Virtuous actions—of the type that may give rise to pleasant effects.
-Non-virtuous actions—of the type that may give rise to unpleasant effects
-Karma is destroyed by wisdom—like film is destroyed by sunlight
Term
What are the three doors of action?
Definition
Body Speech and Mind
Term
What is the “good news” about karma
Definition
The good news about Karma is that it can be destroyed in order to earn liberation
Term
What are some of the things that karma is compared to?
Definition
Seeds, photographic images, scented rice, and spiritual currency
Term
What are the 4 aspects of the law of karmic cause and effect?
Definition
-Karmic seed inevitably ripen in accordance with their causes
-Just as one seed grain of rice produces many grains, so a karmic act has many effects
-One will not experience the effect of karma not performed
-Karmic seeds never lose their potency
Term
What are the 6 factors that determine the “weight” of a karma, either positive, or negative?
Definition
o Nature of the act
o Force of thought
o Quality of the action
o Object of the action
o Constant commitment
o Opponent forces
Term
What are the three kinds of effects of a karmic action?
Definition
o Main effect or ripening effect
o Effect consistant with the cause
o Environmental effect
Term
What is the meaning of the statement, “tat twam asi?”
Definition
o “that thou art”
o this doctrine is that one is of the same stuff as God
Term
What is “maya?” What is maya compared to?
Definition
o Maya—power of creation and illusion
o Compared to seeing a rope as a snake
Term
What is the meaning of “mantra?” How is the sacred syllable “om” understood in Hinduism?
Definition
- Mantra—Sacred Syllables
- om-- the most sacred symbol in Hinduism
-OM symbolizes the infinite Brahman and the entire universe.
Supporting users have an ad free experience!