Week 2 Flashcards
(26 cards)
Three Common Levels of the World
Sky, Earth, Underworld
Petra: High Altar of Sacrifice
The place where the Nabataeans worshipped
Jordan River
Significant to Jews and Christians. Where Jesus was baptized and where the Israelites crossed into promise land.
9 Patterns of Religiosity
- Shamanism
- Connecting to Cosmos
- Temple Religion, Prophetic Religion
- The Energy God
- Purity and Monasticism
- Mystery Religion
- Avatar
- Scriptural Religion
Shamanism
A generic term for someone who is a liaison between people and the spirit world (both good and bad). Often used for good fortunes in hunting.
Connecting to the Cosmos
Some examples would be the pyramids of Egypt
- Often had to do with public rituals like weddings
- People paid close attention to cosmic cycles
Hilltop Tombs
Many societies favoured burying their dead in high places because it’s closer to deities.
Animals and Gods
Cosmos connections also manifested in the association of animals and deities. (Ex.: Bull is associated with strength and the creator god)
Temple Religion
Started occurring 3000 years ago. Played significant role in Judaism, Hinduism, and Chinese traditions.
Judaism and Temple Religion
First built 3000 years ago by King Solomon. Only site where sacrificial rituals could be performed. Those who worked in the temple were genetically related and all had to be descendants of Aaron.
Prophetic Religion (Prophet)
One who speaks on behalf of a deity/predicts future.
Ex.: Greek Priestess would speak on behalf of Apollo.
Abrahamic Prophetic Traditions
In Judaism, Abraham was a prophet, though the idea of prophethood didn’t start until 586 BCE (babylonian exile)
In Christianity, Jesus is considered the fulfillment of Hebrew prophecies.
Zarathustra
Emerged as a prophet in Eastern Iran/Afghanistan. He played an important role in establishing monotheism. Zoroastrians believe in heaven and hell.
The Energy God
A religious pattern that considers the divine not as god or a human like entity, but as the energy of the cosmos.
Examples: Chinese Daoism, the Upanishadic wisdom of India, pre-Socratic philosophy of Greece
Daoism
Dao is within everyone, cannot be described. It shows how to live in harmony with one’s inner nature.
Upanishad
Believes the force that energizes everything is the highest reality.
Pre-Socratic Greece
Energy, not Gods, underlies all things.
Purity and Monasticism
Its followers typically sought spiritual enlightenment through asceticism or intense bodily discipline. Often non-violent. (Ex.: Ganges spirituality wouldn’t even kill microscopic organisms)
Mystery Religion
The core teachings would be kept secret from the masses, only those who went under initiation in the hope of securing blessings and eternal life would be taught.
(Ex.: At first baptism was this for Christianity, and they wouldn’t spread the word)
Avatar
A deity comes down to earth as human. (Ex.: Jesus, Krishna, Amitabha Budha (Budhism)
Scriptural Religion
Also shaped about 3000 years ago. Many religions believe their scripture existed before the world did.
The Torah
Started to play significant role during the Babylonian Exile. During this period, Rabbis had to play more important role than priests
Rabbi
Scholars of Torah and Jewish law
Christianity and Scripture
Written two or three generations after Christ. Canonized in third century.
