Five Pillars of Islam

1.      The Shahada is the core belief of the entire Muslim belief system. It is central to their identity because a Muslim’s life very much revolves around practicing Islam and this saying is the center of all Islam.

2.      It mentally and physically helps them because the bowing helps them to fully submit to Allah and realize their nothingness. The praying also helps them to constantly realize who they have to thank for their lives.

3.      It makes them look like a very family-like community that takes care of each other. It’s obvious that they care about the poor and want all to have everything they need in life.

4.      It helps because it calls them back to times of frailty and dependence. It helps them recognize their dependence on God.

5.      It is a pillar because it is a requirement of the Islamic faith that all Muslims go on the Hajj and least once in their life if they are able. It is similar because all religions have some kind of requirement for their members. It is different because most religions don’t have a holy city and all don’t require a pilgrimage to it.

6.      Some of the challenges are having to pray five times a day in one direction which takes time, you have to be financially and physically able to travel to Mecca, healthy enough to fast, and it’s hard to give charity if you have little to yourself already.

The Ninety-Nine Names of God

            One name I marked as feminine was The Sanctuary. This name can be applied to God because he is the thing we turn to when we are in trouble. When we need help, we can turn to his sanctuary. He defends us against the evil of the world. God is our sanctuary against the temptations of the devil and sin.

            One name I marked as masculine was The Avenger. It can be applied to God because not only is he our sanctuary, he avenges us. It is believed that no one can harm a child of God without feeling the wrath of God. Avenging your people is part of being a god. One was God avenged his people was the plagues on Egypt.

            Another name I marked as feminine was The Most Kind. God is the most kind because no matter how many times we stray from him and how far, he always welcomes us back. In this way, our story is like the story of the Prodigal Son. The father had every right to disown his son but he instead threw him a big party when he came back. God is like that with us and that makes him the most kind.

            Another name I marked as masculine was The Lord. This name fits God because he is the ruler of all. He is the king and lord of every known and unknown thing. There is no one above him in rank or anything. He is lord because he rules and sets the rules.

            All of these names and attributes can describe one God because he can be anything he wants to be. God all-powerful and can have any and all attributes he wants. Plus it is very possible to have a kind, avenging lord that provides a sanctuary for all of his people. God also goes beyond any name we can give him. He has no possible name and every name.  

Islam

Task #1:

1.      What is highest estimate for the total number of Muslims that live in the world today? 2.1 billion

2.      List 10 countries who have a Muslim population of 86% or greater.

Afghanistan, Algeria, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Comoros, Djibouti, Egypt, Gambia, Iran, and Iraq

3.      What country has the largest Muslim population? Indonesia

4.      How many Muslims are there in the United States? 2,595,000

Task #2:

Summarize each of the key beliefs below in a COMPLETE sentence.

1) They believe in one, unique, incomparable, all-powerful, all-knowing, all-hearing, all-seeing, and kind, loving God.

2) They believe that angels exist and are honored beings that worship, obey, and only act on the command of God.

3) They believe that God revealed books to the people to teach them about Himself.

4) They believe in the prophets and messengers of God and that Muhammad was the last one.

5) They believe in the resurrection of the dead where everyone will be judged.

6) They believe in Divine Predestination which includes believe that God knows everything, God has recorded everything that has and will happen, whatever God wills to happen happens, whatever He wills not to happen will not happen, and that God created everything.

TEACHINGS OF MUHAMMAD

Go to the following website and put 3 of Muhammad’s sayings in your own words.

1.     The best believers are those that have good morals and those with the best morals are good to their wives.

2.     You don’t completely believe until you love your neighbor like you love yourself.

3.     Those that show mercy are shown mercy by God.

Task #3:

1.      What does the Quran provide?  It provides guidelines for a good, just society, proper human interaction, and an equitable economic system

2.      In what language(s) does the Quran exist? Why? It exists in Arabic only because it was revealed from heaven in Arabic.

3.      During which month was the Quran sent down from Heaven?

It was sent down during the month of Ramadan, the ninth month of the Muslim calendar.

4.      What did the angel Gabriel command Muhammad to do? What happened

next? He commanded him to spread the teachings in the Quran and he did and his followers were persecuted.

Task #4:

List and explain the 5 Pillars of Faith.

1.      Shahada (Shahaadah) – It is the testimony of faith. To perform the testimony of faith, one is required to say with conviction at least once in his or her life: "There is no god but Allah, and Muhammad is the messenger of Allah." 

2.      Salat (prayer) - Muslims pray five times daily, at dawn, noon, mid-afternoon, sunset and night facing Mecca.

3.      Zakat (almsgiving) - Charitable giving, or Zakat, is a requirement of faith for all Muslims. Used to benefit the poor, Zakat represents a fixed portion of one's wealth and assets

4.      Siyam (Sawm) (fasting) - Sawm literally means any ritual fasting, but is generally understood to refer to ritual fasting during the month of Ramadan. From dawn to dusk for the entire month, Muslims must refrain from eating, drinking and engaging in sexual relations so they can focus on Allah.

5.      Hajj (pilgrimage) - During the last month of the Islamic calendar, Dhu al-Hijjah, some two million Muslims ascend to the holy city of Mecca for the Hajj, or pilgrimage. Every able-bodied Muslim is required - if their finances permit - to make the pilgrimage at least once in their lifetime.

2) Why are they important? They strengthen their faith in and service to Allah.

3) Why is cheating on the 5 Pillars impossible? The Five Pillars are a matter between the individual Muslim and Allah: the community may well insist

on certain practices, but at the heart lies the relationship between a Muslim and Allah.

4) Compare the 5 Pillars with similar activities in other religions. Shahada is similar to the Apostle’s Creed in Christianity. Salat is similar to the Prayers of the Hour the monks of Christianity do every day. Zakat is similar to God’s call to love your neighbor as yourself and give to the poor. Siyam is similar to what Christians do during Lent.

Task #5:

1.     What is Ramadan? Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, when Muslims fast during daylight hours.

2.     What restraints are placed on Muslims during Ramadan? They are not allowed to eat or drink during the daylight hours. Smoking and sexual relations are also forbidden during fasting. At the end of the day the fast is broken with prayer and a meal called the iftar. In the evening following the iftar it is customary for Muslims to go out visiting family and friends. The fast is resumed the next morning.

3.     What can destroy the good acquired during Ramadan? the telling of a lie, slander, denouncing someone behind his back, a false oath, and greed or covetousness

4.     Why is the 27th day of Ramadan significant? Muslims celebrate the Laylat-al-Qadr(the Night of Power). It is believed that on this night Muhammad first received the revelation of the Holy Quran. And according to the Quran, this is when God determines the course of the world for the following year.

5.     What happens when Ramadan ends? When the fast ends (the first day of the month of Shawwal) it is celebrated for three days in a holiday called Id-al-Fitr (the Feast of Fast Breaking). Gifts are exchanged. Friends and family gather to pray in congregation and for large meals. In some cities fairs are held to celebrate the end of the Fast of Ramadan.

6.     What are the 3 reasons Ramadan is important? The Qur'an was first revealed during this month. The gates of Heaven are open. The gates of Hell are closed and the devils are chained up in Hell.

7.     Why is easier to do good during Ramadan? They also believe that it is easier to do good in this month because the devils have been chained in Hell, and so can't tempt believers.

Task #6:

List 10 interest facts you learned from the websites above.

1.     The al-Burda, also called Qasida (hymn) Burda, is an Arabic poem honouring the Prophet Muhammad. The name means 'poem of the mantle' or 'of the cloak'.

2.     The Burda was also engraved on the Prophet's mosque in Madina. There it adorned its walls and reminded believers for centuries before being erased by people who could not comprehend it. There is still one line left that has not been removed.

3.     Historically, the veiling of the face was practised by many cultures before Islam and scholars say the adoption of its practice by Muslims was part of fitting into the society.

4.     Architecture is one of the greatest Islamic art forms. An Islamic style is seen in mosques but also in Muslim houses and gardens.

5.     Muslims regard abortion as wrong and haram (forbidden), but many accept that it may be permitted in certain cases.

6.     Islam allows abortion to save the life of the mother because it sees this as the 'lesser of two evils' and there is a general principle in Sharia (Muslim law) of choosing the lesser of two evils.

7.     Muslims believe that:

all living creatures were made by Allah

Allah loves all animals

animals exist for the benefit of human beings

animals must be treated with kindness and compassion

8.     Muslims are only allowed to eat meat that has been killed according to Sharia law. This method of killing is often attacked by animal rights activists as barbaric blood-thirsty ritual slaughter. Muslims disagree. They say that Islamic law on killing animals is designed to reduce the pain and distress that the animal suffers.

9.     According to Al Hafiz B A Masri, using animals for research may be permitted in Islam. The animals must not suffer pain or mutilation and there must be a good reason for the experiment.

10.                        The baby's first taste should be something sweet, so parents may chew a piece of date and rub the juice along the baby's gums. It was a practice carried out by the Prophet Muhammad and is believed to help tiny digestive systems to kick in.

Hasidim vs. Prophets

Though both try to follow G-d exactly as he teaches, Hasidim and prophets have a lot of differences. Despite these differences, they can still be considered prophets for the way they try to be examples of the true follower of G-d. They stick very closely to the law of G-d and follow every single one. They are exactly like prophets since they don’t go around preaching and trying to convert people. They are more like personal, internal prophets then social ones.

            The things that make them internal prophets are their distrust of power, intolerance, and their agreement with the prophet Isaiah. Both prophets and Hasidim distrust political powers. This is shown by how strongly they opposed a Jewish state without having G-d physically there to build it. Their intolerance is shown when Daniel’s father excommunicates Robert because his father is advocating for a Jewish state in Palestine. They agree with the prophet Isaiah because they both are distressed when people looked to weapons instead of G-d, like again with the state in Palestine.

            They have certain differences from prophets too, like isolation, the gift of being guided, and influence. The Hasidic aren’t really isolated except maybe from people that aren’t Hasidic. They have huge communities where they stick together. They don’t have the gift of being guided like the prophets since they don’t stand in the presence of G-d. Another difference is the influence. The Hasidic don’t preach like the prophets did so they don’t have that kind of an influence.

            The Hasidic can be called modern day prophets but there are a lot of major differences. The similarities are enough to call them prophets though. Both groups have a distrust of power, intolerance, and agreement on certain matters. The major differences include isolation, the gift of being guided, and influence. I feel like they would make good social prophets if they tried though.

Blog Post 22

1)      Zoroastrianism began flourish in Iran during the Persian Empire in the fifth and fourth centuries BC.

2)       Zoroastrianism spread after Persia was conquered by Alexander the Great and it spread through that empire.

3)      When Zarathustra was thirty an angel called Good Thought came to him and brought him as a disembodied soul to Ahura Mazda, the Wise Lord. Zarathustra recognized him as the one true god.

4)      The oldest sacred text is the Avesta. The oldest texts in it are the Gathas, his seventeen hymns.

5)      His characteristics and actions were eternal, universal goodness, controller of the cosmos, and the destiny of human beings.

6)      Ethical dualism is the belief in universal forces of good and evil.

7)      Lie is an evil, cosmic force that opposes Ahura Mazda.

8)      They must choose between truth and Lie, between the beneficent spirit and the hostile spirit.

9)      His understanding of human destiny was that after death they were judged. The good go to paradise while the bad go to hell. He also believes in full bodily resurrection of everyone for judgment by fire and molten metal.

10)   The general ethical demands are caring for livestock and fields, always tell the truth, do what is right, and avoid evil people.

11)  The Parsis are Zoroastrians that now live in India.

12)  The Iliad and the Odyssey are commonly regarded as having been the Bible of the Greeks.

13)  It means that the gods had human attributes, none of them are all-knowing or all-powerful, and all have their own specific talents, functions, and limitations.

14)  Aeschylus’s main contribution was that he was mainly concerned with the ideal of divine justice. For example he portrayed Zeus as ruling with order and justice.

15)  An oracle is a mortal that the gods communicate their desires and intentions through. An oracle was a sanctuary favored by a particular god, who communicated in some manner to those who visited the site. The most famous one was the oracle at Delphi where people sought the wisdom of the god Apollo. She was consulted on issues ranging from private matters to far-reaching public concerns.

16)  The three basic aspects are that individuals had to choose to become initiates and went through a ritual, initiates experienced a personal encounter with the deity, and initiates gained spiritual renewal through participation in the religion and hope for a better afterlife.

17)  The Eleusinian mystery honored Demeter and her daughter Persephone.

18)  Dionysus is associated with fertility, vegetation, and the vine. He is often depicted with vines and grapes.

19)  The goal is have the soul escape the body and fully realize its divine, Dionysian nature.

20)  Plato’s theory of knowledge is that we know things in this life partly because we have experienced them in previous lives.

21)  Platonic dualism is the belief that wisdom lies in identifying oneself with the truth of the Forms, rather than with the changing and imperfect material world.

22)   Jesus seemed to have much in common because both were called Savior, and the intimacy of the worshipers’ relationship with Asclepius bore a strong resemblance to the relationship with Christ celebrated by Christians.

23)  Numina were supernatural powers each in charge of a specific function and were thought to inhabit Roman homes, towns, the countryside, fields, streams, trees, doorways, altars, and shrines.

24)  The most powerful Roman deity was Jupiter.

25)  The six planets are Jupiter, Venus, Mars, Neptune, Mercury, and Saturn.

26)  It was essential to ensure the peace of the gods.

27)  The main rivals were Mithraism and the cult of Isis.

28)  The Egyptian myth of Isis and Osiris is that Osiris was killed and hacked into pieces by his evil brother, Isis searched far and wide, finally finding Osiris’s body parts. She mummified him, which brought him back to life and he became god of the underworld.

29)  Augustus encouraged worship of his genius or guardian spirit which was thought to guard the welfare of the entire state.

30)  Christian and Roman rulers clashed over emperor worship because Christians didn’t want to worship the ruler since it would go against their belief in one God. The Romans didn’t like this because it looked like the Christians did not support the state. 

Judaism

1.      The three functions of a synagogue are to be a place where Jews can meet, a place where Jews can learn and teach the Torah and other sacred texts, and a place where they can pray.

2.      When you enter a synagogue, on the eastern wall is the ark where the Torah scrolls are kept which is often covered by a parokhet and the Ten Commandments of the eternal light is above it.

3.      A rabbi is a man who leads and guides the Jewish community he serves. A man becomes a rabbi through rabbinical ordination by passing a test of knowledge of the Torah and Talmud. Most will study in a yeshiva, a Jewish institute of higher learning. He is different from other clergymen because he doesn’t wear anything special, doesn’t have the same restrictions like abstinence, and focuses on making people better by pointing out their good aspects. A rabbi’s role is answer questions, counsel, and inspire.

4.      The Sabbath is a day of joy and a gift from G-d. It is a day of rest and spiritual enrichment and occurs every seventh day.

5.      The Torah is the Old Testament, the entire Jewish bible, and is the body of their laws and teachings. The Talmud is the “Oral Torah” and which states what the scriptures mean and how to interpret them and apply the Laws.

6.      Orthodox Jews follow Jewish law laid down the Torah and Talmud and that G-d gave the entire Torah to Moses. Reform Jews focus more on moral law and monotheism. Conservative Jews believe that G-d wrote the Torah but that there was also a human component therefore it must adapt. Zionist Jews believe that anti-Semitism can be overcome through assimilation and calls for Jews to return to Palestine which is now Israel.

7.      Hebrew is the official language of Israel and it spoken by some five million people there.

8.      Yiddish is the language of Ashkenazic Jews in shtetl found in eastern and central Europe and mean “Jewish”.

9.      Mazal Tov means congratulations. Shalom means hello, peace, or goodbye.

10.  Brit Milah (Bris) is the ceremony of circumcision where a boy enter the Covenant on his eighth day of life. The Bar/Bat Mitzvah is when a boy or girl reaches 13 years old and a day and is legally mature and assumes full responsibility for observing the commandments and for all his/her deeds. A Jewish wedding is done under a chupah (wedding canopy) which symbolizes the home the couple will make together. Afterward they sign a ketubah which is a legal lien on the husband's property which is given to his wife. Then they do Bedeken where the husband lifts the veil of his to-be-wife to see if she is the right person. Then the man arrives at the chupah first and the woman is escorted there by shoshvinim. Then the bride circles around the groom either three or seven times. Then there is a blessing over wine and Birchat Erusin (the betrothal benediction). Then the rings are presented, and the formula of kiddushin pronounced. Then the Sheva Berachot (seven wedding benedictions) which are about the joys of marriage. Then ceremony ends with the groom, or both the bride and groom, breaking a glass which has been wrapped in a cloth to prevent the fragments from hurting anyone.

11.  Rosh Hashanah is commonly known as the Jewish new year and occurs on the first and second days of Tishri. It is one of their holiest days. Yom Kippur is the day set aside to atone for the sins of the previous year and occurs on the tenth day of Tishri. Hanukah is an eight day festival beginning on the 25th day of the Jewish month of Kislev. It is not very important and the main tradition is the lighting of nine candles. Passover begins on the 15th day of the Jewish month of Nissan and is related to the Exodus from Egypt in the Bible.

12.  I knew about Passover and that the Torah was basically the Old Testament.

13.  The most surprising thing to me is that Jews don’t really care about Hanukah which I thought was related to our Christmas which would make it a big deal.

14.  One aspect I guess is a little related is going to church on Sunday.

15.  One tradition that is different is the Bat Mitzvah since the only thing I have is a sweet 16. 

Buddhism Questions

1.      Siddhartha Gautama

2.      The four passing sights were that of an old man, a sick man, a corpse, and an ascetic. The first three were important because they taught Gautama about the unavoidable suffering in life and the fourth is important because it gave him hope that there could be an end to despair.

3.      The doctrine of the Middle Way states that a healthy spiritual life depends on a healthy physical life and that you need a balance between the two.

4.      He was meditating under a fig tree and Mara sent every temptation he had at him, even his three daughters Discontent, Delight, and Desire. Gautama did not waver and touched the ground to call upon the earth to be a witness to his resolve.

5.      The Sangha is a Buddhist monastic community. The members are men and women who are called monks and nuns that follow Buddha.

6.      The Three Jewels are the Buddha, the Dharma, and the Sangha.

7.      The features that are shared are that they both regard time as cyclical, they believe in many worlds with many gods and goddesses, both are considered eternal, and the doctrine of samsara.

8.      The Buddha’s reaction was discontent with the speculative philosophy and sacrificial rituals of the Brahmin class and the rejection of the institutional structure.

9.      The Three Marks of Existence are anatta (no-self), anicca (impermanence), and dukkha (suffering). They are interrelated through change.

10.  Anatta is the doctrine of no-self. You have no self because you are constantly changing. It relates to Atman because it says that Atman does not exist.

11.  According to samsara your bundle of energy gets passed into the next life. The role of karma is the transference of personal identity.

12.  The ones that apply to everyone are do not take life, do not take what is not given, do not engage in sensuous misconduct, do not use false speech, and do not drink intoxicants. The ones for monks and nuns are do not eat after noon, do not watch dancing or shows, do not use garlands, perfumes, or ornaments, do not use a high or soft bed, and do not accept gold or silver.

13.  Possible English translations are suffering, frustration, dislocation, or discomfort. I would describe it as all the negative feelings that you have throughout life that you can’t really handle.

14.  Tanha is desire or craving. It is the cause of dukkha.

15.  The steps are right views, right intentions, right speech, right conduct, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, and right meditation.

16.  The difference is that the Buddha achieved complete nirvana through death but enlightened people have only a foretaste of nirvana.

17.  An arhat is an enlightened person. They are free from suffering and desire, have fully realized no-self, have achieved spiritual perfection, are no longer attached to the affairs of the world, are friendly, joyful, compassionate, and even-minded.

18.  It literally means “blowing out” which helps explain how a person’s life energy is blown out like a candle.

19.  The three divisions are Theravada, Mahayana, and Vajrayana.

20.  The main focus is the teachings of Buddhism.

21.  The literal meaning is Great Vehicle. The implication is that it is better than Theravada Buddhism.

22.  It fights desire with desire by trying to stir up emotions within themselves through mandalas, mudras, and mantras.

23.  The Dalai Lama is the head of a clergy called lamas. They are chosen through rebirth originating with the incarnation of a prominent bodhisattva and it sought through supernatural and mundane ways.

24.  The primary geographical regions are Cambodia, Burma, Sri Lanka, and Thailand for Theravada; China, Japan, and Korea for Mahayana; and Tibet for Vajrayana.