World ReligionsACE Camp 2014 at Lincoln College

Taught by Mike Sorice

Introduction – About Me

Michael Angelo Sorice

Live in Urbana; from Forest Park (west side of Chicago)

Played at Fenwick & Illinois

Coach at Champaign Centennial High School

ACF & PACE member

NAQT writer

First time teaching at ACE

About to read the 2006 PACE NSC All-Star Game

Class Topic – World Religions

4/5ths non-Judeo-Christian religions & topics

1/5th modern religions (since ~1500) ~half of questions from these areas

Won’t cover Judaism Mainstream Christianity The Bible

These are good topics that come up, so learn about them, too… elsewhere! (Not a comment on preferred religion – have no personal preference!)

ANSWER 0: typical slide

Easiest/most basic information first

Harder/more abstruse information later

Clues almost all from actual questions

Buzz words underlined Important, but learn the context, too!

Sometimes information left out because it appears in a later slide I’ll try to point out– leave yourself space in your notes to

fill in

World Religions: Part 1Ancient Religions of India and East Asia

ANSWER 1: Hinduism

Main religion of India

Many gods & goddesses Brahma the Creator, part of the Trimurti (Trinity) Yama (death,) Agni (fire,) Surya (sun,) Chandra (moon) & many others

Scriptures (holy books) Upanishads (“Sitting Near”) Mahabharata (Epic of the Children of Bharata) & Ramayana (Epic of Rama) Puranas (hymns to the gods)

Four goals in life Artha (wealth & skill) Dharma (moral living) Kama (pleasure) Moksha (ultimate release)

ANSWER 2: The Vedas

Main & oldest Hindu scriptures 1500-1000 BCE

Four in number (oldest to newest) Rig Veda, Yajur Veda, Sama Veda, Atharva Veda

Written in Sanskrit

Upanishads are mainly commentaries on them

Vedanta is the school of philosophy of interpreting them

Masters of the Vedas are called Pandits Our word pundit comes from that

ANSWER 3: Vishnu

“The Preserver” - one of the three main Hindu gods In the Trimurti (Trinity) along with Brahma

Wife (consort) is Lakshmi (a.k.a. Sri or Maya,) goddess of wealth

Ten avatars (earthly manifestations) Matsya the Fish; Kurma the Turtle; Varaha the Boar; Narashima the

Lion-Man; Vamana the Dwarf; Parashurama the Axe-Man; Lord Rama; Krishna; and Kalki, who has not yet come

Depicted riding on the eagle Garuda, the Bird King

Carries a conch shell, chakra (discus,) mace, and lotus in his four hands

ANSWER 4: Shiva

“The Destroyer/Redeemer” – one of the three main Hindu gods Makes up the Trimurti along with Brahma and Vishnu

Takes the form of Nataraja, the Eternal Dancer

Husband of Parvati, a.k.a. Durga or Kali, goddess of death Father of Kartikeya and Ganesha

Ganesha has an elephant’s head because Shiva knocked his head off!

Rides the bull Nandi

Also called Rudra (in the Vedas) and Mahadeva

ANSWER 5: Indra

Hindu god of war and storms Main god in the Vedas, but not later Hinduism

Killed the demon Vritra who was stealing all the world’s water According to the Rig Veda

Lives on Mount Meru in the hall of Svarga

Rides an elephant named Airavata

ANSWER 6: Diwali

The Hindu Festival of Lights 5 days long Lamps & candles (called diyas) & fireworks are lit

Celebrates Rama (Vishnu) defeating of the demon Ravana to rescue his wife, Sita (Lakshmi) Especially sacred to Lakshmi, goddess of wealth, who is offered

sweets (mithai) to ensure a prosperous year

Celebrates the home & family House is cleaned on first day (Dhanteras) Between husband & wife (Padva) Between sister & brother (Bahu-beej)

ANSWER 7: Holi

Hindu Festival of Colors Believers throw colored powder on each other

Celebrates love – of Krishna (Vishnu) for Radha (Lakshmi) Radha is one of the gopis, girls whom Krishna loved to frolic with

A bonfire the night before commemorates the burning of Holika, a demoness She was trying to kill Prince Prahlada

Celebrates the defeat of the seemingly invulnerable demon king Hiranyakashipu, who demanded to be worshipped Vishnu (as the Lion-Man Narashima) slew him for Prince Prahlada, a

devotee of Vishnu

ANSWER 8: Bhagavad Gita

Part of the 6th book of the epic poem Mahabharata

The advice of Krishna (Vishnu,) who is serving as charioteer to the hero, King Arjuna Arjuna is wavering because he’s in a bloody war with his

own relatives. Krishna explains that duty and destiny (dharma) trump even family ties

Each of 18 chapters describes one yoga (discipline) Bhakti yoga, or devotion to the gods, is paramount

Takes place during the Battle of Kurukshetra

ANSWER 9: the castes

Hinduism divides people in to rigid classes, called castes (or varnas) Brahmins – priests and scholars Kshatriyas – warriors and earthly kings Vaishyas – merchants, farmers, and makers of things Shudras – laborers

People outside the varnas are Dalits (or untouchables)

Vishnu’s avatar Parashurama hates the Kshatriyas He killed every Kshatriya 21 times with his axe!

Described in the Laws of Manu (Manusmriti) Manu is the first human being in Hinduism

ANSWER 10: Buddhism

Basic scriptures are the Tripitaka, a.k.a. Three Baskets or Pali Canon

Spread by Ashoka, emperor of India, in the 300’s B.C.E.

Various sects contain many schools Theravada (sometimes called Hinayana) is the older, most

orthodox sect

Temples are known as stupas Each stupa should contain a relic of the Buddha, like a

hair or tooth

ANSWER 11: Buddha

A prince of Shakya named Siddhartha Gautama Buddha is a title meaning “Awakened One”

Some forms of Buddhism use Buddha only to refer to the Buddha; others use it to refer to many different Buddhas

Meditated under the Bodhi tree to realize Four Noble Truths Existence is suffering (dukka), and how to deal with it: the Eightfold

Way

Expounded his ideas in the Deer Park Sermon

His mother, Queen Maya, had a vision of a white elephant with 6 tusks before giving birth 9th avatar of Vishnu

ANSWER 12: reincarnation (samsara)

Central concept in Buddhism & Hinduism (et al.)

Good karma, gained by following dharma, determines the soul’s next life

Also called metempsychosis or transmigration of souls The soul (jiva or atman) takes a new form based on its

actions in this life (or maybe not!)

Quasi-eternal cycle of birth, death and reincarnation is called samsara

ANSWER 13: nirvana (moksha)

“Enlightenment” and escape from the cycle of samsara Technically, nirvana is the bliss resulting from moksha, the

escape from rebirth, but they’re used interchangeably

People who have achieved this are called arhats; those who put it off to help others are called bodhisattvas Different schools have different ideas which is better

Means “extinguishing (of a candle)” (probably)

Four stages Sotapanna (Wader,) Sakadagami (Once-Returner,) Anagami

(Non-Returner,) Arhat (Perfect)

ANSWER 14: Mahayana

Largest sect of Buddhism

Name means “Greater Vehicle” Supposed to enlighten many people at once through group practice, as

opposed to individual enlightenment through individual meditation

Venerates bodhisattvas Saints who have achieved nirvana, but remained in the world to help

others do so as well

Many sub-schools Pure Land Nichiren Tendai Tibetan/Tantric/Vajrayana (sort-of)

ANSWER 15: Zen

Japanese school of Mahayana Buddhism Derived from Chinese Chan Buddhism Sub-sects include Rinzai and Soto, founded by Dogen

Meditative practice called zazen To achieve satori, temporary enlightenment Paradoxical riddles called koans subdue the mind

Blue Cliff Record and Gateless Gate, collections of koans

Founded by Bodhidarma, an Indian monk

ANSWER 16: sutras

Buddhist (and Hindu, etc.) aphoristic scriptures Many thousands of different books Buddhist ones contain sayings of the Buddha

They form the first “basket” of the Tripitaka

Name means “sewn (together)”

Mahayana Buddhist schools often based on one Diamond Sutra: Vajrayana Platform Sutra: Zen Lotus Sutra: Tendai

World’s oldest printed book: 9th-C. copy of Diamond Sutra

ANSWER 17: Jainism

Indian religion centered on ahimsa (non-violence) The Universe is eternal, uncreated & subject to laws, as are the gods.

Leaders/founders are the 24 Tirthankaras (“Ford-Makers”) Only the last two are historical; the 23rd, Parsva, lived ~900 B.C.E.

Two major sects, differ on who can be clergy, who can achieve nirvana, and what monks should wear Digambara (“Sky-Clad”) – Male-only, naked Svetambara (“White-Clad”) – Men and women, robed

Major scriptures are the Agamas (Agamasutra)

Paryushana/Das Lakshana is major holiday (along w/ Diwali) 8-day festival – gods (devas) celebrate Tirtankaras Believers fast and dedicate themselves to study

ANSWER 18: Mahavira

24th (last) Jain Tirthankara & central figure of Jainism Lived ~500 B.C.E.

Symbolized by the lion Each Tirthankara has a symbolic animal

Originally named Prince Vardhamana Mahavira is a title meaning “Great Warrior”

Preached Five Laws of Trust Ahimsa, or Non-Violence Satya, or Truthfulness Asteya, or Non-Theft Bramhacharya, or Chastity Aparigraha, or Renunciation of the World

ANSWER 19: Sikhism

Indian (mainly Punjabi) monotheistic religion Founded by Nanak c. 1500 C.E. Centered on the Golden Temple of Amritsar

Scripture is called the Granth (or Adi Grath)

Sikhs practice the Five K’s Kesh, non-cutting of hair

Sikhs usually wear a turban to hold their long hair Kangha, carrying a small wooden comb Kara, wearing an iron bracelet Kacchera, wearing a particular undergarment Kirpan, carrying a dagger

Sikhs may be baptized in holy water (Amrit) to join the Khalsa

ANSWER 20: Gurus

The Gurus are the leaders of Sikhism Nanak (“Light,”) founder of Sikhism; Angad; Amar Das;

Ram Das; Arjun; Har Gobind; Har Rai; Har Krishan; Tegh Bahadur; and Gobind Singh

The 11th Guru is eternal: it’s the Sikh scripture, the Granth Called Guru Granth Sahib in this context

In the same fashion, the Khalsa is sometimes also considered a Guru Called Guru Panth (“Embodied Guru”)

ANSWER 21: Shintoism

Japanese native animism (worship of nature spirits)

Gods/spirits known as kami Shinto also called kami-no-michi (“Way of the Kami”)

Major kami Susanoo, god of sea and storm Izanami (1st woman) and Izanagi (1st man,) made the world

Shrines have gates called torii and maidens called miko

Myth collection called the Kojiki (“Ancient Record”)

ANSWER 22: Amaterasu

Sun goddess and chief kami of Shinto Name means “Heaven Shiner”

Ancestor of the emperors of Japan She gave them her sacred mirror, jewel, and sword

Sword is named Kusanagi, or “Grass Cutter”

Born from the left eye of Izanagi After he washed it following a visit to the underworld, Yomi

Chief shrine is at Ise is razed and rebuilt every 20 years

ANSWER 23: Confucianism

Chinese philosophy/religion founded in the 6th C. B.C.E.

Four Books (Si Shu) are its scriptures Analects – life and sayings of Confucius Mencius – dialogues of namesake scholar

Ethical principles are the Wuchang (“Five Eternals”) Ren, “Humaneness;” Yi, “Justice;” Li, “Piety;” Zhi,

“Knowledge;” Xin, “Integrity”

Also “Four Virtues” (Sizi) Zhong, “Loyalty;” Xiao, “Respect for Ancestors;” Jie,

“Continence;” Yi, “Justice”

ANSWER 24: Confucius

Philosopher born in Lu state during the Chinese Spring and Autumn period, c. 550 B.C.E.

Believed to have written or edited the Five Classics I Ching, Book of Songs, Book of History, Book of Rites, and

Spring and Autumn Annals

Central idea: Rectification of Names Words must correspond to reality, or nothing can succeed

72 disciples Ziyuan, Zilu, Zichang, Zigong, etc.

ANSWER 25: Taoism (Daoism)

Chinese philosophical religion centered on the Tao (“Way”) and founded c. 500 B.C.E.

Central idea is Wu Wei (“Non-Action,”) Representing harmony with nature’s opposites, yin and yang

Differing pantheons of gods Jade Emperor Three Pure Ones Pangu, god of creation

Zuganzi (or Zhuang Zhou) is a major Taoist thinker

ANSWER 26: Laozi (Lao-tzu)

Central figure of Taoism

Name is a title meaning “Old Master” Real name may have been Li Er

Author of Tao To Ching, central text of Taoism “The Tao that can be spoken of is not the Tao” “Spokes join to form a wheel, but the central hole moves the

wagon”

Legendarily fathered by a star and gestated for 62 years

Deified as Taisahng Laojun (“Supreme Old Master”) Head of the Three Pure Ones

End of Part 1

World Religions: Part 2Ancient Religions of the Near East

ANSWER 27: Zoroastrianism

Dualistic (world divided into good & evil) religion of Persia Chief good god Ahura Mazda; evil, Angra Mainyu/Ahriman

Also called Mazdaism for that reason

Still exists among Parsis of India & Iran Leave the dead exposed in Towers of Silence to be eaten by vultures

Human flesh is bad and would pollute the world

Worship in Fire Temples (Dar-e-Mehr)

New Years’ Festival Nowruz near Spring equinox

Stories of an evil dragon named Azi-Dahaka Chained up by the hero Fredon in the Alborz Mtns.

ANSWER 28: Zoroaster

Founded Zoroastrianism c. 2000-500 B.C.E. (?!)

Also called Zarathustra

Wrote parts of the Avesta, the Zoroastrian holy book Specifically, the hymns called the Gathas and Yasna

Saw life as a struggle between asa (truth) and druj (lies)

Converted King Vistaspa to spread his religion

Biography of him called the Spend Nask (lost)

ANSWER 29: Islam

Centers of worship are called mosques or masjids

Priests are known as imams

Dietary code called Halal

Creed is the shahada “God (Allah) is the only God and Muhammad is his messenger”

Savior known as the Mahdi will signal end times

Devout Muslims pray 5 times per day toward the qibla The direction to the holy city of Mecca

The misbaha is a rosary used to pray 99 beads count the 99 Names of God

ANSWER 30: Muhammad

Founder of Islam, which considers him the last messanger Thus called Seal of the Prophets

Fled from Mecca to Medina in 662 C.E. The Hijra (or Hegira) is the start of the Muslim calendar (A.H.)

Biography & sayings (sunnah) are collected in the Hadith

First prophetic vision in the cave of Hira in 610 C.E.

Member of the Banu Hashim, a branch of the Quraysh tribe of Arabia

ANSWER 31: Koran (Quran)

Holy book of Islam – name means “Recitation”

Revealed (wahy) to Muhammad by Angel Gabriel (Jibril) Text perfect & co-eternal with God

Chapters are called Suras “The Cow” (Baqara) “The Night Journey” (Isra) “The Cave” (Kahf) “Romans” (Rum)

Verses called ayahs; Arabic recitation called tajwid A hafez is someone who can recite the whole from memory

ANSWER 32: Shiism (Shia Islam)

Smaller of two major sects of Islam (majority in Iran & Iraq)

Believe Muhammad’s son-in-law, Imam Ali, was proper 1st Caliph (successor of Muhammad) Lost the First Fitna (Islamic Civil War) over this issue

Supreme leaders called Imams Sub-sects based on #: Twelver, Sevener/Ismaili & Fiver/Zaidi

Twelvers believe 12th Imam (Mahdi) on Earth in Occultation

Important holiday of Ashura Commemorating death of Imam Hussein (son of Ali) at Karbala

ANSWER 33: Sunniism (Sunni Islam)

Larger of two major sects of Islam (larger than Shiism)

Believe Abu Bakr was proper 1st Caliph & that the body of Muslims should choose the leader Won the First Fitna (Islamic Civil War) over this issue

Consider the first 4 Caliphs Rashidun (“Rightly Guided”)

Name means “Traditionalists” (from Sunnah, the traditions of Muhammad’s life)

ANSWER 34: Sufism

The mystical tradition within Islam

Possibly named for their simple woolen clothes

“Whirling Dervishes” are Sufis who worship by spinning

The poet Rumi founded an order of Sufis

Orders of Sufis are called turuqs Alevi Mevlevi Chishti

ANSWER 35: the Five Pillars

The basic practices of Islam Recite the Shahada (creed) Pray 5 times each day (Salat) Give alms to the poor (Zakat)

2.5% of ones wealth is to be donated Fast during the month of Ramadan (Sawm) Make a pilgrimage to Mecca (Hajj)

Delineated in the Hadith of Gabriel

Known in Arabic as the arkan al-din

ANSWER 36: Hajj (Haj/Hadj)

Pilgrimage to Mecca All able-bodied Muslims must go at least once (it’s a Pillar!)

Commemorates the lives of Abraham (Ibrahim) and Hagar (Hajar)

Central rite: circling (Tawaf) the Kaaba at Masjid al-Haram (“Forbidden Mosque”) Some believe the Black Stone of the Kaaba absorbs Hajjis’ sins

Many other rituals Visiting the Well of Zam Zam Running (Sayi) between the hills of Safa and Marwah Throwing stones at pillars representing Satan (“Stoning the Devil”/Ramy al-Jamarat)

Happens during final month of the Islamic calendar Dhu al-Hijjah (“Hajj Month”) Ends with the feast holiday Eid al-Adha

ANSWER 37: Ramadan

Able-bodied Muslim practice sawm (fasting from sunrise to sunset) One of the Pillars

9th month of the Muslim calendar, name means “Hot/Dry” Commemorates the Hijra Determined by sightings of the crescent moon over sunset

Ends with the feast holiday Eid al-Fitr

Fast is broken with a meal called iftar & begun after a dawn meal called suhor

Extra night prayers called tarawih are said

Contains the holiday Laylat al-Qadr (“Night of Power”)

ANSWER 38: Druze

Egyptian (now Lebanese/Syrian )offshoot of Ismaili (Sevener) Shia Islam Begun in the 11th C. C.E. Have reserved political positions in Lebanon

Revere al-Hakim, a Fatimid Caliph May believe he was manifestation of god

Represented by a five-pointed, multicolored star

Practice taqiya, the hiding of their faith from outsiders

Named for Muhammad ad-Darazi Though they consider him a heretic

Founded by Hamza ibn Ali

End of Part 2

World Religions: Part 3Modern & New World Religions

ANSWER 39: Voodoo

Afro-French syncretic offshoot of Catholicism Uses Fon, Ewe, Bakongo & Yoruba practices

Believe in spirits called loas Bondye (“Good God” – chief deity) Papa Legba Shango Baron Samedi

Priests known as houngans & priestesses mambos

Worship places called Sosyetes or Hounfours

ANSWER 40: Santeria

Afro-Spanish syncretic offshoot of Catholicism Mainly uses Yoruban traditions, including chief god Olurun

Name means “Way of the Saints” Gods syncretized/disguised as Catholic saints Also called Regla de Ocha or Lucumi

Lucumi is also the name of the language of worship

Deities/saints known as Orishas (or Orichas)

Divination ceremony known as Ifa

Temples called Iles (or Casas de Santos)

ANSWER 41: Quakers

17th C. English offshoot of Christianity

Also called Religious Society of Friends

Name may come from tremors of ecstatic worshippers (or fear at persecution)

Founded by George Fox

Established in America by William Penn in Pennsylvania

Worship in Meeting Houses

Believe in the Inner Light Force of god may inspire anyone at any time, so no clergy

First members called the Valiant Sixty

ANSWER 42: Shakers

18th C. Anglo-American Christian sect Began as offshoot of Quakers

Wrote the hymn “Simple Gifts” (basis for Appalachian Spring)

Founded towns in America like New Lebanon, NY

Most prominent leader was “Mother” Ann Lee Believed to be a second coming of Christ Other leaders: James Whittaker, Lucy Wright & Joseph Meacham

Formally called United Society of Believers in Christ’s Second Appearing

Believe in strict celibacy Communities tend to die out – only one left (Sabbath Day Lake Village,

Maine)

ANSWER 43: Mormonism (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints)

American offshoot of Christianity founded c. 1820 in NY

Followers fled to Deseret (Utah) after being persecution & infighting in Ohio, Illinois & Missouri Issues persisted until the Utah War of 1857-58, a.k.a. “Buchanan’s

Blunder” Mountain Meadows Massacre

Believe Tribes of Israel became American Indians Nephites & Lamanites

Scriptures include Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants & The Pearl of Great Price Latter two are additions to the King James version of the Bible

ANSWER 44: Book of Mormon

Central scripture unique to Mormonism (it uses the Bible as well)

Believed to have been translated from Golden Plates written in Reformed Egyptian Found in the Hill of Cumorah Translated using “seer stones” called Urim and Thummim

Components Books: Plates/Books of Nephi, Book of Jarom, Book of Omni, Words of Mormon, Book of Mosiah, Book of Ether

Attested by the Testimony of the Three Witnesses and Testimony of the Eight Witnesses They appear at the start of most editions

ANSWER 45: Joseph Smith, Jr.

Founder of Mormonism & author of the Book of Mormon

Visited by the angel Moroni in 1823 Clued in to the existence of the Golden Plates

Moved to Kirtland, Ohio, then Independence, Missouri, then Nauvoo, Illinois (which he founded)

Worked with Oliver Cowdery, his scribe

Killed by a mob in jail in Carthage, Illinois in 1844 Jailed after his followers destroyed the printing press of a sect

who disagreed with “plural marriage”

ANSWER 46: Bahaism

19th C. syncretic offshoot of Shia Islam All religions fundamentally worship the same god

All people are one and all religions valid Use practices & scriptures from other religions

Founded by Bahaullah, nee Mirza Hysayn Ali Nuri Bahaullah and most early Bahais had been Babis

Babis were followers of the Bab (“Gate,”) a (slightly) earlier preacher from Persia

Believes religious founders were Manifestations of God

Calendar of 19 months of 19 days (plus 4 or 5 intercalary)

Symbolized by 9-point star

Basic texts by Bahaullah: Book of Laws (Kitab-i-Aqdas) & Book of Certitude (Kitab-i-Iqan)

ANSWER 47: Jehovah’s Witnesses

American Christian sect founded c. 1870 by Charles Taze Russell

Publishes a newsletter called The Watchtower

Refuse blood transfusion or donation

Worship in Kingdom Halls

Grew out of the Movement of Bible Students

Believe that exactly 144,000 people go to Heaven

Believe that end times began October 1, 1914

ANSWER 48: Christian Science

American Christian sect founded 1879 by Mary Baker Eddy After recovering from a slip & fall in Lynn, MA, 1866

Refuse most medical treatment, preferring to trust in the power of prayer

Worship in Churches of Christ, Scientist

Central text: Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures (by Eddy) Also Manual of the Mother Church

Christian Science Mother Church built in Boston, 1894

ANSWER 49: Rastafarianism

Jamaican offshoot of Ethiopic Christianity founded c. 1930 Revere Ethiopian Emperor Haile Selassie I (Ras Tafari) Also integrate pan-African/back-to-Africa ideologies

Consider Marcus Garvey a saint/prophet

Call god Jah (short form of Jehovah)

Dietary code called I-tal

Sacred text Holy Piby

Holiday Grounation Day (Haile Selassie 1966 visit to Jamaica) Sometimes erroneously “Groundation” in questions

Sects known as Mansions Bobo Ashanti, Nyabinghi, 12 Tribes of Israel

ANSWER 50: Nation of Islam

Black nationalist American sect founded c. 1930 Most members converted to orthodox Sunni Islam 1976; the

current group is a revival created 1977

Led by Malcolm X, Elijah Muhammad & Louis Farrakhan

Founder Wallace Fard Muhammad Believed to be god (Allah) incarnate

Believe in giant flying saucers called Mother Planes

Believe white people are devils resulting from “grafting” by scientist Yakub

End of Part 3