Taoism Questions

1. What is so interesting about taoism is the way that they caused a religion without advocating for their religion. They don't advocate for their religion because that goes against their beliefs, for they belief it is better to not influence life for they believe life will take its course and everything will work out. The thing I find most intriguing about Taoism is the lack of preaching or indoctrinating that it had during its early phase of growth. Every other major religion has some element of spreading its word.
2. My understanding of the Tao is a great cosmic force that works in a way similar to The Holy Spirit in Christianity.
3. I don't think that Chi in the west has the same meaning that it has in the East. In the west, Chi is perceived as more of a a lifestyle factor and not so much in a spiritual sense
4. I do believe in luck. I feel like somethings happen for a reason and that reason as something to do with luck. Luck cannot really be explained but I think it can be felt in certain situations. Luck is something that can be good or bad so it can be related to karma in a way.
5. My understand of Wu Wei is the conservation of vital energy/Chi, and it is a form of prioritizing everything in one's life in order to evaluate if it is worth the effort of doing. An example of Wu Wei for me is not lifting or running excessively the day before a game, because it will tire me out and deplete my energy (as someone who isn't Taoist, I could call this my supply of glycogen in my liver).
6. Yin and Yang are the opposites that create harmony in their constant cycle of balance. Everything the Yin is, Yang is the opposite, and in nature the two are always equal with one another. I see the inclusion of gender as a positive because it shows how there can be aspects of both in an individual, which would have directly opposed the strict code of Confucianism.
7. I think that the values are relative as one's perspective is going to determine what is good and evil, there is no outright code of morality. Just like Yin and Yang, the two concepts can exist within each other.
8. Life is a journey that is almost cyclic. We start off as children, we grow up, become educated, get married, have kids, and then teach your kids everything that you learned.
9. Taoism is different from other religions in that it is more up to personal interpretation and that there is less of an authoritarian structure that may decrease lightheartedness. 

Religion and Violence

Christian Persecution

During the Roman Empire there was a mass persecution of the Christians because their beliefs differed from the typical beliefs of the Roman citizens. Christianity appealed to the lower class citizens of the roman empire for they believed that there was only one god. Ancient Romans were polytheistic so they believed in many gods. The emperor himself was believed to be a divine power. Because Christians only believed in one God, they did not have the proper respect for the emperor and ultimately had to face persecution. Today, this conflict could have been solved if people were more open about religion. In certain parts of the world religion can be practiced freely so in these places this sort of persecution would be unlikely to occur. However, in other parts of the world, religion is practiced more strictly so this sort of major disagreements in important beliefs could led to this sort of conflict. 

1. Christianity began as a sect of Judaism when the Roman Empire was at its peak.  Christianity spread rapidly throughout the entire roman empire, including both the west and east.
2. Jesus was a Jew fulfilled the role of the Messiah by acting as a rabbi. He taught his disciples and performed miracles such as healing people. 
3. The major doctrines of early christianity were baptism and communion.
4. It is most likely that the letters written by Paul was the first section of New Testament written. The Gospels were written between 90 and 100 CE.
5. Constantine brought power to the eastern side of the Roman empire. HE took power away from Rome and created his own city known as Constantinople. Emperor Constantine didn't not convert to christianity until he was on his death bed. Constantine announced Christianity as the official religion of his empire. This ended all persecutions of christians thought the Roman empire. Christianity in the eastern side of the Roman empire began to flourish and eventually broke off from the Roman catholic church to form the Eastern Orthodox church. 
6. The theological differences were that eastern tend to be more interested in theological formulations and became bitterly divided over certain issues. Western Christians tended to be more concerned with survival in a hostile world. Eastern emphasized the divine nature of Christ and Western emphasized his humanity. 
7. Causes include: beginning of European nationalism, the new learning of the Renaissance, and the decline of papacy.
8. Baptism, Confirmation, Penance, Eucharist, Extreme, Marriage, Holy Orders
9. John XXII became the Pope after Puis XII died. John was determined to revitalize the church and bring it in line with the 20^th century. The Second Vatican Council called for by Pope John XXII enacted the most dramatic changes ever made by the catholic church. These changes were very important for they set the path that the church would follow during these upcoming revelations.
10. Liberation theology is a movement in Christian theology. It was developed mainly by Latin American Roman Catholics and it emphasizes liberation from social, political, and economic oppression as an anticipation of ultimate salvation. It is a branch of Catholic theology that seeks to establish the fact that God has made a supernatural revelation and established the Catholic Church.
11. Jesus healing on the Sabbath day is an example of how the message that Jesus was delivering can be viewed as higher than Jewish Law. He didn't care that he was going against the law so he must have believed that his message held more importance than Jewish Law.

Field Trip Reflection

5/5/2015

Sorry for the delay I thought I already completed this reflection but evidently not.

The field trip was an interesting experience. I had gone on this same field trip last year and it was a very enlightening experience. My favorite site was the synagogue, I thought the rabbi there was by far the best speaker and I learned a lot about judaism from his speech. Also, I was fascinated by the Hindu temple for its seclusion. The temple was very orthodox and and I thought it was cool how they stayed true to their customs; even though it created a somewhat hostile tone. The islamic center was also very interesting. I thought they were well prepared for our tour there which was nice but it felt a little awkward. The buddhist temple was unique for the people there were really excited for us to be there and you could tell they were excited to share their beliefs. Because I went on this field trip last year it was interesting to see how they presented their information differently this time around and also what they kept the same. All in all it was a good experience and I thought it linked well to what we learned in class.

Summative Study 5/1/2015

Summative Study

1       1. Catholic Christian views on abortion

From the standpoint of the Catholic Church, abortion is strictly prohibited and it believes that abortion is immoral. By determining who lives and who dies you are playing the role of God which defies the Ten Commandments. The church sees all life, whether born or unborn as vital and that it deserves to live a full life and die a natural death. The church believes that life begins the moment the egg is fertilized.

Saunders, William. “The Catholic Church and Abortion” www.catholicnewsagency.com

Part 2:

     a.) The meaning in this passage is that Catholicism is the true religion and in order to be saved, you must hold the catholic faith. He goes on to say if you do not hold the catholic faith, you will perish. In addition he goes on to describe what it takes to be catholic. In order to practice Catholicism righteously, you must worship the whole trinity, the trinity in unity, and never confound the trinity, meaning never question it or not believe it.

   b.) In order for a Christian to attain salvation first he must accept Christ into his life. He must live his life in such a way that is pleasing to God and that follows the Ten Commandments. If one does this and lives a holy live full of prayer and relief from sins he will be on track to reaching salvation. A key factor that decides if you will reach salvation is if you truly allow God into your life. As described in the quote from the Athanasian Creed, in order to fully let God in your life you must worship him as a trinity. The implications of this are that the trinity itself is hard to comprehend but you must have faith and not confound the meaning of the trinity if you want to truly let God into your life and ultimately reach salvation.

Three Selections from the New Testament

4/17/2015

Three selections of the New Testament

Feeding the 5000 – Matthew 14:14-21; Mark 6:33-44; John 6:1-14

In this section, Jesus is described as a great teacher. He is not portrayed as adivine power. It says that he was able to feed 5000 men ith just a few loafs of bread and a couple fish, he even has some food left over. This is extraordinary. What is is fascinating about this section is the mannor of which Jesus is described. He is not described as this all healing being. He is perceived as one of them. I belive this aspect has a great significance. For one thing, it makes the story seem more believable. The reason is that it is not overdone. The way it is described is very nonchalant and I think that makes the story seem more reasonable.

Jesus Walking on the Water – Matthew 14:23-34; Mark 6:45-53; John 6:15-25

 In this selection, Jesus appears able to walk on water and rescue a boat from the perils of a storm. What is fascinating about this section is that it makes Jesus seem like a divine individual. I believe this is important because at that moment Jesus could no longer be considered a normal individual. The reason for this is that he had exposed his divine power. This is very important to faith because it shows Jesus as a divine power. I think this is important because it asks the question of whether or not you believe this event actually happened, which is a test of your faith.

 

Zacchaeus – Luke 19:1-10

In this selection, Jesus meets a rich man who has the occupation of collecting tax money. This man keeps a large amount of money for himself and that is how he became so wealthy. He is a thief. No one liked him in his community. During a sermon, Jesus walked up to this thief for he was Jesus’ center of attention. Jesus sets the precedent that he is here to fix the sinners. This is a testimony of faith because it shows the importance of Jesus in the lives of his followers.

 

 

Christianity Rituals

Rituals

                There are five main rites of passage in Christianity. They include: Baptism, Fist Communion, Confirmation, Marriage, and Death.

Baptism is the physical act of cleansing the body in order to receive Christ into your life. During this time Godparents are assigned to the child and the child is given a saint name in hope that the child will adopt characteristics of that saint.

After baptism is the first communion, at this time the child will perform his first confession and will also receive his first holy Eucharist.

After Communion is Confirmation. Confirmation occurs during the teenage years and is the act of confirming ones oneness with God.

Christians believe in a monogamous marriage that lasts a lifetime. Marriage ceremonies occur in a church and it is the holy matrimony of a man and a woman in the name of Christ.

Death is the final passage of life. Christians believe life is eternal so because life on earth has ended there is still an afterlife. In order to give the deceased a proper sending away a funeral is performed. A funeral consists of prayers and mourning.

Perhaps the most important of all the rituals is Baptism. Baptism is so important because it is the initial connection or acceptance of Christ into your life. By being Baptized you also gain an identity, for  from that moment on you are considered as Christian and you join the whole Christian community. Baptisms can occur at any age and to any gender. During a baptism Godparents are assigned. God parents consist of one man and one woman so although there are no gender issues involved there may be some sexuality complications. 

Christianity Focused Study Part1.1

Christianity Key Concepts

God: Christianity is a monotheistic religion. Christians believe there is only one true God.

Jesus: Jesus is believed to be the son of God. He is believed to be sent to Earth to guide humans to fulfill God’s wishes.

Trinity: Christians believe in The Father (God) The Son (Jesus) and the Holy Spirit. Christians believe that God took human form as Jesus Christ and that God is present today through the Holy Spirit.

Justification by faith: Christians believe that by following Jesus Christ and accepting God, the relationship with God will improve and there will be a heaven after death.

Life after death: Christians believe there is a life after death. Based on ones earthly action you either go to heaven or hell.

Saints: A saint is considered a Christian who has lived a holy life. In order to gain sainthood, that individual must perform three miracles.

Prayer: Prayer is the way to communicate with God. Prayers can be said to God, Jesus, or even Mary. Prayer is not required a certain number of times a day.

Church: The Christian place of worship is the Church. Church services are most commonly held on Sundays.

Eucharist: The Eucharist is believed to represent the body and blood of Christ. The Eucharist is consumed every Sunday at church.

Baptism: A baptism is an annunciation of the inward commitment to God. Baptisms can be held at any age however most occur during childhood. 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/christianity/beliefs/basics_1.shtml 

Huston Smith Part 4

Chapter 8- Sufism

Question: What is Sufism and how did it come about?

Main Ideas:

1. Sufis are those within the Islamic Community that came after Muhhamads death.

2. Every message in the Quran is important

3. Sufis wanted to see God directly

4. Sufism is very complicated and only understood and practiced by few

5. In Sufism, symbolism is very important

Thesis Statement: Sufism came to be after the death of Muhammad and is the mystery dimension of Islam.

Summary: Sufism is a small branch of Islam. It is practiced by a few however its beliefs are hardly understood by those out of that denomination. Since Gods image cannot be replicated, symbols are used as centers of worship. This is important because the goal of Sufis is to encounter God directly.

 

Chapter 9- Whither Islam

Question: How has the importance of following Muhammad's teachings changed in Islam?

Main Ideas:

1. Islam has changed overtime in accordance with the world. So Muhammad’s teachings have changed overtime as well.

2. As western culture has continued to grow and become more important, Muslims have wandered from the words of Muhammad

3. Faithful prayer is still very important in Islam

4. God is good

5. Islam is a monotheistic religion. They believe Allah is the only God.

Thesis Statement: Muhammad is still very important in the religion of Islam, but his words have slightly different meaning now and Muslim's interpret them differently because of "mere profession".

 

Summary: As times have changed so have the customs and practices. This process has especially happened due to the growth and impact of western culture. Today, Muhammad’s words are not understood or practiced the way they would have been in the past. However, somethings have remained the same. This being the devotion to pray 5 times a day.

Huston Smith Part 3

Chapter 6-The Five Pillars

Question: What is the impact of the five pillars on a Muslims life?

Main Ideas:

1. Islam teaches people to walk the right path

2.  Islam believes the path is direct and explicit

3. The five pillars are principals that regulate Muslims' lives in their dealings with Allah.

4. Prayer is daily, around 5 times a day

5. Purpose of pilgrimage to Mecca is to improve a follower’s devotion to God

Thesis Statement: The five pillars help Muslims to make wise decisions based on what will keep them on a straight path.

Summary: The five pillars are a central aspect of Islam. The goal is to help Muslims find God and stay on the straight and just path. The first of the five pillars is that there is no god but God, and Muhammad is His Prophet. The second pillar states that a follower’s faithfulness must be constant. The third pillar of Islam is charity, the fourth is the observance of Ramadan, and the fifth Islam pillar is the pilgrimage to Mecca. All of these pillars help Muslims make the right decisions to lead them on the right path.

 

 

Chapter 7- Social Teachings

Question: What concepts within social teachings are taught in Islam?

Main Ideas:

1. Love your family

3. Society needs everyone to follow and nurture it for it to grow and develop

4. Family is a good foundation for society

5. Interracial marriages is a form of equality

Thesis Statement: Islam focuses on social teachings through race, sexual status, and economy.

Summary: Social Teachings in Islam are very important, as they display the importance of family love. Using the Quran as a spiritual guide, it becomes clear that family is key, as well as economy, the positive status of women, equality in race, and positive use of force in society. Family love is very important in society. The Quran states that family love is very important and the Quran can be seen as a spiritual guide. Also, for society to succeed there must be equality. Equality among gender and equality among race.

Huston Smith Part 2

Chapter 4: The Standing Miracle

 Question: Why is the Quran said to be the standing miracle?

 Main Ideas:

 1. The Quran is the most recited book in the world

 2.  “Salam” "Blessings and peace be upon him"

 3. The Quran was formed by 23 years of Muhammad’s teachings.

 4. "This is the scripture whereof there is no doubt"

 5. Quran regulates how every event in a Muslim’s life is judged

 Thesis Statement: The Quran is said to be a standing miracle because it still has great importance to this day and is a daily reminder for the right actions.

Summary:

Muhammad taught the word of God for 23 years before it was written down as the Quran. To this day the Quran shows religious significance and is seen as a daily reminder of right action in day to day life. The Quran is a guide on how to live the way the lord intended. Muslims are able to deepen their understanding and strengthen their connection with Allah through reading the Quran.

Chapter 5: Basic Theological Concepts

Question: How do the basic concepts of Islam compare with other religions?

Main Ideas:

1. Judaism, Christianity, and Islam all have similar basic concepts

 2. God is the focus of the religion

3. God cannot be portrayed in any way because that is not the true form of God

4. Muslims respect and fear Allah

 5. The Quran is read in hymn

Thesis Statement: The ideals of Islam are central aspects of Islam and are similar to other religions as well

    Summary:
Islam, Christianity, and Islam have similar basic ideals. One difference is, Muslims fear God while Christians have immense love for him. Muslims must surrender themeselves to God and also follow the right path in order to please God. In addition, the Quran is read in Hymns, unlike the bible.

Objective 1.7

How great is the impact of the prophet Muhammad on the different sects of Islam?

Objective 1.6

Objective 1.6

 

Salfasts believe the ideaology of Islam is not practiced the way it should be. Salfists believe in order to keep Islam authentic, they must revert back to follow the original teachings. Salafists that believe in jihadism can be described as extremists or even, terrorists. These extremists are here for one goal, to create a free Islamic state. The problem is that they try to gain their power by inflicting fear and terror. Also, they believe this is the way God intended, so they push take themselves to great extremes and believe it is the right thing to do because they believe it is God’s plan.

Objective 1.5

Objective 1.5

  Sufism: The Hear of Islam

•A sufi is a good Muslim who follows Sharia and seeks the internal meaning behind Sharia

•Because you are a Muslim, you are not required to follow Sufi

•There is a boundary between ones secular self and their religious self

•Most Muslims chose to live a secularist life

•The goal of Sufism is to lose your ego

•Finding God within oneself leads to a good life

If you do not allow God into your life you may become a vestitute

•Sufism is a journey that takes a lifetime

•Choosing to believe in Allah is a conscious choice

Objective 1.4

Objective 1.4
 

Part 1

·      1.3 million Muslims are Shia

·      Shia are minority

·      Concentrated in Iran and southern Iraq

·      The split occurred after the death of the Prophet Muhammad in the year 632

·      Shiites believe that Muhammad was the final prophet to proclaim the true word of God, Sunnis believe there are other prophets that followed

·      Shiites are looking for the coming of the Messiah.

 

Part 2

·      Shiites of Iraq and Lebanon were ruled by Sunni Ottoman sultans.

·      The Shiites of Arabia were under the authority of Sunni tribal leaders.

·     The name Iran was created by Pahlavi and the goal was to create a secular Government

 

Part 3

·      The Shiites although considered the minority they have become well known in the US.

·      Revolutions happened to try and spread Islamic beliefs throughout the Middle East

·      They encountered resistance from the Arab states led by Sunnis

·      Sunni is Islam's majority branch

·      Sunni and Shiites settled their differences violently

·      Their objective was to overthrow of secular governments and establishments of Islamic states

·      President Ronald Reagan sent U.S. troops to Lebanon to keep the peace

 

Part 4

·      The United States invasion of Iraq began on March 20th, 2003.

 

·      Thought the war was expected to be brief and islam would regain peace

 

·      The U.S. claimed that Iran was responsible for much of the violence in Iraq

 

·      Clerics took the lead because there's hardly any form of secular civil society in the country today that can act as the nucleus of an Iraqi political system

 

·      Shiite clerics in Iraq worked hard to pursue their own model of government

 

·      Shia never governed a modern Arab state.

 

·      Shia controlled Iran while Sunnis controlled most of the Arab states in the middle East

 

 

Part 5

·      Conflicts between Shiites and Sunnis are yet to be resolved

·      U.S. view Shiite forces as very dangerous and hostile