studies of religion 1 notes preliminary 2019 syllabus key
TRANSCRIPT
Studies Of Religion 1 Notes Preliminary 2019
Syllabus key
points summary
Topic 1: The Nature of Religion GLOSSARY: Panatheisms: not identifying with any particular faith Ethics: The system of explicit,philosophical and/or religious reflection on moral beliefs and practices to clarify what is right and what is wrong, and what human beings should freely do or refrain from doing Immanent: An indwelling, constant reality of a divine being or spiritual forces as an intrinsic part of the world opposite of transcendent.
( reality/present day) Transcendent: Ultimate reality that exists beyond our world and our experience ( supernatural ) Monotheism: the belief that there is only one God Polytheism : refers to the framework of ideas and beliefs through which a Christian individual, group or culture interprets the world and interacts with it Adherent: someone who believes in a particular faith
● Religion as a world view that: 1.1 : Acknowledges the supernatural dimension
- All adherents believe in a transcendent factor within their religion.
- Uses the idea of a supernatural dimension and/or beyond human existence to answer life’s biggest questions eg. what happens when we die
- Perceived that factors in this supernatural dimensions have control over humanity’s destiny and choices
Examples from each faith: Buddhism:
The purpose of life is to end suffering and the cycle of rebirth and to achieve Enlightenment (nirvana).
Islam: The angel Gabriel appeared to Muhammad and delivered a message from the one true God. Christianity:
- Concept of salvation - Divinity of Jesus - Heaven and hell - Angels
Judaism:
The Hebrews are a chosen people, cared for by God (for example, the escape from Egypt).
Hinduism:
The importance of the Vedas ("Books of Knowledge"), a collection of sacred texts.
1.2 : has a belief in a divine being or powers beyond the human and/or dwelling within the individuals
- Every adherent in a faith have different perceptions and rules towards these figure/s that they look up to as having divine being or powers
- For example: Buddhists have no God, they are a Godless religion
Transcendent and Immanent: - Transcendent can be seen as ‘something beyond the ordinary’ - Religion helps in some ways to map a course through life’s
obstacles and the limitations of human existence
- Some religions do not like to manipulate or depict these divine powers in any form of media. For example: Why do Islam and Judaism oppose the image of God?
- To avoid idolatry - Do not want to depict this image of God - They consider him part of the supernatural world, thus does
not want to create this image of him - They consider this to be a sin or offence to the faith
As aherants of this faith, they believe this needs to be respected and that God is beyond comprehension with his divine powers. ( supernatural )
● Characteristics of Religion
2.1 : beliefs and believers
- Beliefs and believers ( adherent ) sustain all religions. Eg. the central beliefs of Christianity - Jesus of Nazareth as the Son of God
- However beliefs and believers may often create different interpretations of these beliefs and has resulted into disunity.
2.2: sacred texts and writings
- All religions have oral and/ or written sacred texts, writings , or other types of stories. For example, in Buddhism, these are the Pali Ganon. In Islam, it is the Quran.
- Sacred texts and writing interconnect the faith, as well as gives essential direction for their customs. 2.3 Ethics
- Can be understood as the explicit, philosophical and/or religious reflection on moral beliefs within a tradition
- The purpose is to clarify what is right and wrong within the belief - What the adherents should freely do or refrain from doing
2.4 Rituals and Ceremonies
- Systems of actions and beliefs that each have a beginning, a middle and an end.
● 3.1 The contribution of religion
Topic 2: Australian Aboriginal Beliefs and Spiritualities - The Dreaming
● 4.1 The Nature of Dreaming Song line: is a way of telling a story about the land, survival, how to travel from one way to another - the dreaming is in the present, it is part of ongoing life. - aboriginal people see dreaming all around them, helps shapes their kinship and spirituality. It helps identify who they are. it is an ongoing living spirituality. - the dreaming is to do with everything about on going life : plants and life, relationships, mythology, art Where they've come from, how they live, where they're going, responsibilities on how kinship groups needs to be structured after they're dead Diversity: - there's not one language, there's not one song, not one sacred site within australia. All diverse. Origins of the universe -
- Aboriginals have their own lands, languages and customs.
The broad contour of beliefs, values and attitudes remains and persists into modern Aboriginal spirituality .The primordial spirits travelled about and in the course of their adventures they encountered one another and negotiated the terms of existence.The spirits of ancestors gave cach living species its own law, or design of life. They taught humans all the thing that are important for survival, including how to hunt, how to make fire and utensils and how to perform ceremonies.
Sacred Sites - - The dreaming creation stories are described as the origin of
important landscape features some of places where important events occured. These are known as sacred sites. They may be land, rock formations, parts of rivers or seas. They are used for different events, such as burial grounds, ceremonial meeting places, places of danger and significant places such as birthing caves. The custodians that have the knowledge on these sacred sites reveal little as possible. Sacred sites are used in ceremony and are connected by the Dreaming tracks. These are followed in Walkabout.
- Dreaming tracks establish a relationship between one place and
another. These are the trails of the lives and movements of the ancestral spirits. They connect sacred sites and are sometimes known as ‘ songlines’’. They can be depicted in sand paintings, paintings, engravings and body paintings. They contain the spirit children of the ancestral spirits who are yet to be born either as a natural species of animal or plant or as a human. Walkabout use to be seen whites as no more than idle wandering around the countryside. Nowadays it is more widely appreciated as a deliberate pilgrimage along ritual paths which link the Aboriginal sacred sites . Going on walkabout is thus a spiritual journey which renews and develops the soul by cultivating higher states of consciousness and higher experiences of reality.
Diversity of the dreaming -
- Aboriginal spirituality is based on a variety of beliefs. Essential to all tribes is the belief of an ancestral creative spirit who came out of a darkened world and by the process of his travels created the landscape, significant landforms
the people, animals and plants etc. Particular plants and animals, are associated with this spirit and are the totems for people in that area. They have a kinship with that spirit. This encompasses the ownership of the Dreaming tracks and Sacred sites associated with that creative spirit and those Dreamings. This kinship and responsibility gives spiritual and temporal identity to the Aboriginal people
Symbolism and Art
● Artwork could be about the dreaming, stories about the ancestors, spirits of the land. Also can be about song lines and survival.
● It is significant as there was no written language, artwork is the physical record. It is the equivalent of a written language. eg carvings in trees.
● It was the consist form of transmission in spiritual beliefs. Coveys rituals, stories and spiritual beliefs. eg where the kangaroos gather. Strengthen kinship ties.
● Can depict sacred sites that only men and women are to have knowledge of.
● Different artworks have different meanings. if this didn't exists, the transmission of the dreaming from one generation to the next, it would be really difficult to pass on the culture.
4.2 Inextricable connection to dreaming, land and identity.
● Inextricable - cannot separate. eg . you can't unscramble an egg, its intertwined. The same can be said about an aboriginal person with the dreaming and their identity.
● They are one. “The land is alive with ancestral beings.” It is where they live.
● The land was shaped by ancestral beings during the dreaming. ● Certain landforms have meaning for aboriginal people. Eg. where
they've been travelling, where they lived, where they were born. Totems
● Another way the dreaming, land and identity are inextricably linked is through totems.
● Aboriginal people identify with certain landforms or animals which are their totemic symbol. This is where ancestors reside, and where they lived before they were born and where they will return when they die
● Custodianship of these totems is critical to an Aboriginal persons life. ● The significance is custodianship, the responsibility to care for
land, to care for animals.
Topic 3 [core]: Christianity Outline the Social and cultural context of Christianity (1 Paragraph) In the proceeding 2000 years before Jesus was born, different cultures and empires had come in and invaded and taken people away for slavery. Occupation of land by the Greeks and taking control. At the time there was a distinct Jewish religion, he was born into a time where
there have been a period of occupation and displacement by the Assyrians, Egyptians, babylonians, Greeks and Romans. Additionally, there was an Messianic expectation that a Messiah was going to come and fix this. However Jesus came and was revolutionary, he had preached the message of peace. Therefore, the cultural context was developed as the Jews had recognised him as the Messiah. 1.1 Principal Beliefs: THE DEVELOPMENT OF EARLY CHRISTIAN COMMUNITIES - what is the “early church”
● Jesus establishes a form of “ church” - a gathering of people. ● The word ‘ekklesia’ used in Matthew means “ assembly,
congregation, council” so the context wasn’t “ Church” like it is today
● In Ephesians, written 50 years after Gospel, and early writers began to refer to Christian communities as a Church.
● Jesus preached the gospel to all, knowing only some would adhere and spread the word. So audience wasn’t limited. His concept of ‘church’ wasn’t ours.
● Communities developed in Antioch, Ephesus, Rome, Corinth ( think of “ paul's letters to..”
● Women were also given key roles in the leadership of the early Church, eg, Phoebe ( given same status as Timothy), Chloe ( leader at Corinth ), Tabitha ( mourned after death), Mary Magdalene
THE DEVELOPMENT OF EARLY CHRISTIAN COMMUNITIES - some early figures
● Simon became a leader. Jesus gave him the name “rock” which translated to “petros” ( Greek ) which is Peter.
● Peter left Jerusalem to move to Antioch, then was leader in Roman Church
● James became leader in Jerusalem ( later put to death 62 CE ) ● Saul ( later Paul ) undertook many missionary journeys and wrote
extensively contributing heavily to New Testament PG 45 - THE DEVELOPMENT OF EARLY CHRISTIAN COMMUNITIES - stages in early Christian development
● The development of Christianity was more complicated than it seemed
● Jesus chose 12 from among his disciples. All acknowledge that Simon from Galilee was the leader of the group.
● Peter however was forced to leave Jerusalem and moved his centre to Antioch, and is said to have gone to Rome and become the first Bishop
● Due to this, James became the undisputed Christian leader in Jerusalem. However was put to death in 62 CE by a Jewish group attached to the Temple.
● Therefore to summarise; There were two early Christian leaders - Peter, who was the leader of the 12, and James, whose group had its base in Jerusalem.
● Another significant figure in this formative period was Saul. A roman citizen in modern day Turkey. He was well trained in Jewish learning and awaited the coming of the Messiah.
● Saul was converted to Christianity and took a new name - Paul. PG 45-46 : THE STAGES IN EARLY CHRISTIAN DEVELOPMENT CAN BE IDENTIFIED IN FOUR MAJOR STAGES :
- STAGE 1 : Jesus’ death and resurrection is announced to the Jews and others at Pentecost
- STAGE 2: The Church leaders its first lesson about expansion. The first break - the gospel message is not tied to Jerusalem
- STAGE 3: The Church learns about a second valuable lesson. Expansion and disagreement- you need not be a Jew to be Jesus’ disciples
- STAGE 4: The Church expands through Paul’s missionary journeys.
PG 46 : EARLY CHURCH COMMUNITIES AND FOLLOWERS - ‘assembly , congregation, council’ became the term used to
express the concept of united Christian Church.
PG 51 THE DEATH AND RESURRECTION OF JESUS CHRIST
● From early Christian belief, they had believed in the resurrection of the body; that he was divine, yet this raised questions about the nature of Jesus and the nature of God.
● They asked in what sense was Jesus both truly divine and truly human.
● They had begun to understand that he was human, although at the same time he was also mysteriously the divine Son of God.
● The gospels affirm that Jesus not only rose from the dead but also was seen by many of his followers.
● It gives every Christian hope that if they rely on Jesus and repent and turn themselves to God
● At the council of nicea it was the understanding of jesus being divine and human was resolved- the questioning of people at the time about the divinity and nature of Jesus.
PG 52 THE NATURE OF GOD AND THE TRINITY ● God is One and the Creator of all things. ● This same God is also known as three persons: Father or
Creator of all, Jesus the son of God, and the Holy Spirit or Sanctifier.
● This is known as ‘the mystery of the holy or Blessed Trinity’ ● This is the central dogma and mystery of the Christian faith ● When one person in the Trinity acts, so too do the other two
persons. Each person is distinct but down to act in isolation from the others.
● The trinity traditionally has been described in relation to three key functions:
→ Creating ( bringing God’s new life to all creation) → Sanctifying ( blessings and making holy all creation) → Redeeming ( turning all creation from sin and darkness and more fully towards God)
PG 52/53 REVELATION → definition : revelation is the transmission of knowledge from the divine to the hyman that is ongoing throughout human history. Includes; biblical revelation as well as revelation that is evident throughout the whole human history. → THE MAIN CHRISTIAN REVELATION Christians believe that revelation is not only God’s self-communication to human beings but it is also loving and utterly free invitation to join in friendship with God. → THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN GENERAL AND SPECIAL REVELATION ○ General revelation – knowledge of God through nature, philosophy,
reasoning, human conscience, etc ○ Special revelation – knowledge of God can be discovered through
supernatural means, eg, miracles and Scriptures. Anything other than “man”
PG 53 SALVATION ○ Agnus Dei – Lamb of God – Jesus
was the ultimate sacrifice ○ Christian Salvation:
○ Deliverance from sin – shown through reconciliation
○ Resurrection to afterlife – possible after death for those who are forgiven
○ Healing through God – eg, miracle events like Lourdes water ○ Salvation recognises the past forgiveness of sins, the present living
as a saved person, and the future afterlife Salvation is the belief that human beings require deliverance by God from the power of sin and darkness. Yet it is also the process or way in which humans are saved or brought to fullness of life in God. SALVATION HAS THREE MAIN FEATURES : → the initial fruits of salvation: may be experiences now in this present life. → people cannot achieve salvation by themselves. It is only through grace of God that humans can attain salvation → Jesus Christ is the central to salvation, for it is through his life, death, and resurrection that God has offered salvation to all humanity. Some believe that those who strive to do God's will as it is made known to them in conscience can be saved,even if they are not members of that particular Church. → salvation is more concerned with the all-powerful and all-knowing love of God who is Mystery and beyond all human understanding. → Christians believe that to experience God’s love is to experience the essence of salvation’s meaning and mystery. PRINCIPAL BELIEFS IN THE BIBLE Divinity and humanity of Jesus Christ The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. Jn 1:14 Jesus was referred to as “the Word”, ie, Word of God, showing the divinity of Jesus. The passage also states that the “Word became flesh”, ie, Jesus becoming part human. He lived among humans, and people have witnessed his glory. Consequently, this reflects the Christian belief that Jesus was part human, part divine. The Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit are three eternal and equal entities that coexist, and are at work in the world, yet God is all these entities.
Salvation Jn 3:16 16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in
Whoever believes in God shall not perish and will instead have eternal life, because God sacrificed His Son for his love of the world.
him shall not perish but have eternal life.
TEN COMMANDMENTS → The commandments provide a moral structure in which Christians live their lives, as well as a guidance on how individuals share their lives with other people in society
→ Even with the use of language like ‘thou shalt not’, we always as Christian adherents attempt to perceive that it is out of love, in order to encourage it with all interactions
→ The first three commandments of the Decalogue refer to the worship of God, while the rest refer to obligations to one’s neighbour and society.
→ The commandments should be viewed as life principles to be internalised by the human heart - not avoided because of perceived punishment and damnation by God.
→ Overall, the ten commandments call Christians back to loving God alone and loving their neighbors as themselves.
1. You shall not murder 2. You shall not steal 3. You shall not give false testimony against your neighbour
BEATITUDES
fulfil the promise made to Abraham
● They mostly speak of rewards for the aforementioned behaviours, with rewards including finding forgiveness (Blessed are they who mourn for they shall be comforted) and a promise of the heavenly kingdom (Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of heaven)
● This comes into contrast with the attitude shown in the Old Testament, where the focus was placed mostly on the actions or behaviours we must not follow . The Beatitudes, on the other hand, focuses on rewarding behaviour that should be followed .
➢ Matthew's gospel communicates the aspects of Happiness ➢ In Luke’s version, Jesus blesses his listeners for conditions of real
poverty, hunger and bleakness by promising them future rewards from God. JESUS’ COMMANDMENT OF LOVE
● Moral compass - Christians adherents expected to
reflect on ethical teachings when presented with a range of issues
● Guidance for contemporary issues - useful for interpreting ethical issues such as sexual morality, bioethics, international economics, ecological concerns and the use of force in international conflicts. For Catholicism, helps inspire the Catechism of the Catholic Church
● Role model - life and ministry of Jesus provides a model for life. This is reflected in the Christian ethos of caring for the needy and the vulnerable. It was ‘agape’ love - unconditional and inherent regardless of circumstance. This is the challenge for adherents
THE IMPORTANCE OF THE BIBLE
→ THE BIBLE WAS INSPIRED BY GOD
- Christians believe that the bible is inspired by God and thus carries the authority of God
- The bible provides a special connection between God and humans and provides human beings with deep spiritual insight into their religion
- Some believe the inspiration of scripture amounts to God dictating a word for word account which was then passed down to Christian communities
- The bible contains how we as humans are getting into heaven; Salvation is one of the principle beliefs describing how we as humans need to live a Christ life
→ BIBLE CONTAINS SALVATION HISTORY
- The bible depicts the hand of God intervening into human history, the bible contains salvation history from the origins of creation through the covenant
→ MODEL FOR CHRISTIAN LIFE AND ACTION
- The bible conveys an understanding of model of life and action; these actions are based on broad principles rather than specific teachings that outline what is required of a Christian
- The bible is a source of unity for Christians as it provides a link to a communal religious heritage
- Since the bible provides a model for action the fundamental source of ethical guidance is derived from the bible and in particular the New Testament
→ DIFFERENT APPLICATION OF THE BIBLE ACROSS THE SPECTRUM OF CHRISTIANITY
- While being critical and equal importance to all Christian denominations, is nevertheless used differently across the spectrum of denominations
- The Catholic and Orthodox believe that the revelation of God comes through scripture in the light of tradition
- In contrast, Protestants do not place the same emphasis on tradition as a means of illuminating the meaning of the sacred text
- The teaching authority of the Church is seen as relevant, but they are more directly related to biblical teaching
- Personal conscience and individual interpretation of the biblical
texts are more pronounced in Protestant Churches - The bible has a vital role in determining the rituals and practical
dimensions of Christianity - The bible provides guidelines for ritual, prayer and worship, the
latter being strongly based on scripture
Question: Discuss how different Christian denominations approach and apply the Bible.
There are varying approaches within the bible. The denominations that stem place a greater emphasis on the bible being the as a source of spiritual. Protestants the way you apply in rituals is a source of God's word, but protestant believe it's through scripture alone, the word of the bible and is up to the individual to apply it in their own lives
PROTESTANTISM
PRAYER
→ done as a community with sacraments
→ different denominations do it as apart of community, however different sacraments don't apply to all denominations
→ jesus models that prayer is important in community, prayer is part of sacraments
→Jesus models that prayer can be used as a way to ask for strength and guidance eg prayer of intercession, prayers of the faithful
→
Topic 4 ( core 2) : Islam ORIGIN
SYLLABUS: • pre-Islamic Arabia as the cultural and historical context for the development of Islam
PRE-ISLAMIC ARABIA : Social conditions and religious
practice -
→ Islam developed in central Arabia
- 7th century CE pre-Islamic Arabian society and religion reflected the tribal realities of Arabian Peninsula
- The landscape was dotted with oasis towns and cities. Among the more prominent were Mecca, a centre of trade and commerce, and Yathrib ( Medina )
- Gods and Goddesses served as protectors of individual tribes and their spirits were associated with sacred objects - trees, stones, springs and wells.
- In Mecca, there was a central shrine of the Gods, the Ka’ba, which housed 360 idols of tribal patron gods.
- While these Gods were main objects of worship, beyond this tribal polytheism was a shared belief in Allah.
- Allah was the supreme high god - the creator and sustainer of life.
- The arabian tribal system value system or ethical code
- At this time there were also three other flourishing religious traditions - Judaism, Christianity and Zoroastrianism.
- Mecca and Medina were prospering and attracting many from nomadic to a more settled life.
- The emergence of Mecca as a major commercial centre ushered in the beginnings of a new political, social and economic order
- Women, poor and slaves had no rights is patriarchal society
- There was no belief in the after life, they believed in “ God in the sky”
- Kaaba was originally built by Abraham and Ishamael but overtime became a centre of polytheism
PRINCIPAL EVENTS IN MUHAMMAD’S LIFE
SYLLABUS: - the prophet Muhammed
→ MAIN PHASES
- There is 3 distinct stages 1. Early life as an ordinary person ( 571-610) 2. Mission in Mecca as a religious minority (610-622) 3. Independent community and polity in Medina (
622-632)
PRIOR TO PROPHETHOOD
→ prophet Muhammad was bron in 571. He was orphaned at a very young age
→ In his youth, he gains a reputation for trustworthiness.
→ At the age of 25, he marries a 40 year old widow - Khadijah
→ mainly engaged in trade and had a reputation of helping the poor and needy
→ in his late thirties, he becomes increasingly spiritual and withdraws himself to meditation and solitude on a mountain-top cave
MECCAN PERIOD
→ In 610, age of 40, he receives his first revelation
→ Meccan establishment first ignore him; they ridicule him; and then they violently oppose him
→ 619-622 were the hardest years for the Prophet and his followers
- His wife and tribal protector die - The prophet is pelted out of the town Ta’if - Economic and social boycott applied to Muslims
MIGRATION TO MEDINA
→ In 621, six people from Medina become Muslime
→ Islam rapidly spreads in Medina whose inhabitants invite the Prophet
to the city as a peacemaker and leader.
→ the prophet leaves last in a epic escape from bounty hunters
EARLY YEARS IN MEDINA
→ the prophet established the first pluralistic constitution by defining Muslims, Jews and Polytheists in Medina as one Ummah
The first mosque in Islamic history is built and the Friday prayer is conducted
HIS ROLE
• The example of Muhammad’s life, his faith, courage and leadership qualities provide excellent model for Muslim life
• Surrender to Allah = Islam, Muhammad is seen as the perfect example by his total submission to Allah
• All Muslims encouraged to follow his example in living Islam and perfecting their character
• Chosen by Allah to convey the message of Islam- acclaimed prophet
• Tradition- reveals his character and leadership qualities Hadith: book of his teachings Sunna: book of his actions
• Orphaned at an early age- became a ‘child of everyone’, developed an affinity with those marginalised and alienated
• Honesty & integrity as a trader- ‘Al –Ameen’ • Loyal faithful husband & father • Man of prayer, spiritual searcher- close to Allah before the
revelations began • Following revelation, complete Faith, Trust in Allah, submitted fully
to the will of Allah -first Muslim and a fearless preacher and warrior for Allah and Islam
• Strong leader & statesman- virtual head of Arabia – yet humble and simple
• Arbitrator and judge, resolving disputes justly, fair wages, no corruption
• Social, political reformer - cared for the poor, abolished slavery, infanticide, improved conditions for women
• Known as the ‘The Walking Qur’an’- embodiment of all the teachings of the Qur’an in human form
• Arabian tribal society in transition
• Mecca and Medina prospering and attracting many from nomadic to a more settled town life
• Mecca emerging as a major commercial centre with consequent changes to social, political and economic order.
• Some Changes were: new wealth , Quraysh tribe gaining in economic and political power, greater divisions between social classes and more inequality and disparity between rich and poor which led to stresses in traditional Arab tribal; values and way of life TIMELINE
1. Born in 570 in Mecca 2. Orphaned at age 5 or 6 (575) 3. Went to live with Uncle age 8 (578) 4. Became a trader in his teenage years 5. Acquired a reputation as an honest person nicknamed “Al-Ameen” 6. Khadijah hired him to lead her caravan (594) 7. Khadijah proposed marriage to him 8. Married at age 25 (595) 9. Had 6 children – 2 boys & 4 girls 10. Muhammad began meditating in a cave at Mount Hira 11. The angel Gabriel (Jibril) appeared to him at age 40 (610) 12. Khadijah took him to see her cousin Waraqa Ibn Mawfal who
reassured them that this was all ok 13. The Qur’an began to be written 14. Makes his message public (613) 15. New Muslims were persecuted in Mecca by the Quraysh because
his teachings threatened their pagan way of life 16. Khadijah dies (circa 620) and Muhammad’s uncle and protector
dies. 17. Muhammad ascends to heaven (circa 621) where he speaks to
God, who gives him instructions to take back to the faithful on earth about the number of times to pray each day
18. Muhammad moves to Medina (622) (Hijira) where he becomes a well-respected community leader, establishes 1 st planned community of Islam
19. There follows a long war when Muhammad’s army finally conquers Mecca (630)
20.Muhammad spares the conquered army, re-dedicates the Ka’ba and Islam is finally accepted
21. Muhammad dies on June 8, 632 aged 62, buried Mecca LEGACY OF A PROPHET
❏ → worlds fastest growing faith ❏ → region where Muhammed lived engaged in regular warfare and
retribution ❏ → Born 570 CE in Mecca ( Saudi Arabia) ❏ → Tribe an essential social construct - needed for survival ❏ → no central form of government ❏ → born into powerful tribe, raised by uncle ❏ → Qa’ba, site of pagan worship in Mecca, which was an important
trading post ❏ → met and engaged with Jewish and Christian people ❏ → married 40 year old at 25 , had 4 daughters, 2 sons ❏ → Nearing 40 he became more spiritual following
concerns/interests with how the poor is his tribe were being treated. society was becoming too material
❏ → meditated in the cave (not uncommon for him ) encounter with angel
❏ → stared to recite new scripture → birth of Islam
THE DEVELOPMENT OF ISLAM AFTER THE DEATH OF MUHAMMED SYLLABUS: the development of Islam under the Caliphs → RIGHTLY GUIDED CALIPHS ( SUCCESSORS ) The four leaders after the death of Muhammed → ABU BAKR
● Father in law of Muhammed after death of Khadija ● Collated Islamic writings ● Brought peace to tribal unrest ● He was a close friend of the Prophet Muhammed
→ OMAR ● Father in law of another wife of Muhammed
● Expanded Muslim rule to Syria, Egypt and modern Iraq ( persia ) → UTHMAN
● Contributed to lslam with preaching through his philanthropy. ● Son in law of the Prophet ● Murdered → ongoing ramifications ● From a prominent family in Mecca
→ ALI ● Closest relative to the prophet ( his cousin ) ● Married to Muhammad’s daughter ● Moved Islam capital to Iraq ● Challenged by Aisha → had a battle, Ali won ● Lost a battle with another group, lead by nephew of Uthman. Ali is
assassinated. SUNNI AND SHI'A → the two main groups of Islam. The Sunni group is about 90% of Muslims The Shi’a group makes up the 10% → they are many political differences centred around who should be recognised as the leader of the Muslim community → SHI’A
● Believe that those who are are a leader must be a descendent of the Prophet Muhammed
● Their position derives from the group of supporters of Ali, the fourth rightly guided caliphs
→ SUNNI ● The sunni group believe that the leader should be chosen from
among all the descendents of the tribe of Muhammed, not necessarily from the family of Muhammed.
● Tensions continue to exist between the Sunni and Shi’a groups today
● Sunni are recognised by the Shi’a to be less than sincere in their devotion and too accustomed to the comforts of the world CHOSEN LEADER → the Shi’i group claim that there have been 12 or 7 imams. The group claims that the last Imam vanished from history without dying and now acts as a hidden force, appearing to faithful Muslims in times of need.
THE EXPANSION OF MUSLIM WORLD
❏ Within 120 years of Muhammad’s death, Islam had spread as far west as Spain in Europe and throughout North Africa
❏ Muslims were challenging the Eastern parts of the Roman Empire ( Constantinople) and moves eastwards towards India
❏ As Islam expanded, garrison towans (nearby major cities) were established in lieu of destroying the major cities themselves. In these smaller towns, places of worship were established (mosques)
❏ In the expanding community, there was no centralised religious hierarchy. The caliph of the community had political and legal authority.
❏ Sharia law (law based on the Prophet and sunna) was developed
❏ Umma (international community of Muslims) was developed where fundamental principal beliefs united Muslims, despite theological differences.
SUMMARY OF SUNNI AND SHI’A ISLAM → the major divisions within the Islam community began after Muhammad’s death and the reasons for their appearance were largely POLITICAL → The Sunni claim to follow the ‘right path’ of Islam. This is based off the Qur’an and the sunna of the Prophet
● All direct revelation from Allah was complete with Muhammad’s death and is represented by the Qur’an
→ The Shi'a believe that only a descendant of the Prophet can be invested as the leader ( imam)
● Although the twelfth imam disappeared, divine guidance is still available through the descendants of Muhammed and qualified scholars.
→ Imam's reveal the inner meaning of the Qur’an or could add to the understanding of the revelation of Allah → the DIFFERENCE between the two major variants is not one of beliefs, but rather of the expression of those beliefs in the fields of theology law and religious organisation ( how islamic history is perceived) THE PRINCIPLE BELIEFS - ARTICLES OF FAITH SYLLABUS: Principal Beliefs • the articles of faith explained in the Aqida as: – Tawhid – Angels – Books of Allah – Rusul – Akhira – Fate/predestination
TAWHID – THE ONENESS OF ALLAH • The belief in – and the declaration of – the oneness and unity of
God. This is recited as part of the five daily prayers: “He, Allah, is One. Allah is he on whom all depend . He begets not, nor is he begotten. And none is like him.”
• Only Allah must be worshipped and no other being should be associated with Allah
• The sin of idolatry – shirk – is the worst of all sins • Allah is all knowing and all powerful and the creator of all things-
transcendent • Yet Allah is also immanent- close to the heat of all, • Tawhid does not allow pride or arrogance, possessions to be
regarded as anything than transitory, and sees all things as purposeful – Allah has allowed them to happen
• As Allah is all knowing to act out of impure motives, or be hypocritical is wrong
• Ignorance is wrong as to submit to Allah requires you know his ways.
• Belief in tawhid creates meaning for Muslims ANGELS
● They are created by God from light to serve and worship him – especially the Angel Gabriel (Jibril)
● Two guardian angels are assigned to each person ● Every thought and action will be recorded by these two angels (so
that the life of a Muslim may be assessed after death)
SACRED BOOKS - QUR’AN • Islam has two sacred texts – the Qur’an and the Hadith • The Qur’an is the (last) book revealed by his (last) Prophet
Muhammad – that is, it is the direct word of God • The Qur’an contains all the essential teachings of Allah – the
stories of the prophets and the consequences of good and evil deeds
• Thus, it covers how to live your life and also provides all the answers to the important questions; e.g. who we are and why we are here.
• It was told directly to Muhammad who committed it to memory. • It was finally written down by scribes exactly as it was received. • Hence it is the complete and reliable source of Revelation. • The Qur’an contains 114 sura – chapters – subdivided into 6000
verses. • It is written in Arabic – which is the language of Allah • Many Muslims memorise and recite the Qur’an • When translated, it provides only an approximate interpretation
of the original words of God – and therefore, when the true meanings are required, one must go the original Arabic.
SACRED BOOKS – HADITH • The second of the Sacred Texts is the Hadith • This book records the traditions words and practices of
Muhammad – i.e. The Sunnah. • It is these traditions and practices upon which Muslims model
their lives • To most Muslims, there are 6 collections of Hadith which are all to
be treated as true teachings of Muhammad • These were written during the first three centuries of Islam
RUSUL – PROPHETS
• A prophet is a messenger from God • God speaks to us through the prophets • Islam believes that there were many prophets – 25 are named in
the Qur’an including Abraham, Moses, David and Jesus – but that Muhammad was the last.
• Yes – it believes that Jesus was a prophet – not God.
DAY OF JUDGEMENT – YAWMUDDIN & LIFE AFTER DEATH – AKHIRA • Allah will determine whether a person will spend their afterlife in
Jahannam (hell) or Jannah (heaven) • Every thought and action of a Muslim’s life on earth will be
recorded – and revealed on the day of judgement • This record is kept by the two guardian angels who are assigned
to each person so that– on the day of judgement –the person will then see themselves as they really are THE ROLE PROPHECY IN ISLAM- RUSSEL → Muhammed is regarded as the last greatest messenger → He is the seal of the prophets → The Qur’an refers to twenty four messages → Adam is considered one of the first messengers, rusul is used to describe a messenger who has been given a particular mission → The term rusul is given to famous biblical figures → The Quran gives special attention to the figures who were responsible for the handing down of significant books. → The five prophets are considered the most important in Islam are:
- Noah - Abraham - Moses - Jesus - Muhammad
PREDESTINATION- FATE- “ Al-Qadr” ❏ Allah is all knowing ❏ Nothing happens by chance or randomly ❏ Happens by design, Allah determines what will happen ❏ Our destiny known to Allah, free will, our choice determines it ❏ Allah respects this free will ❏ Fate is not compatible with free will → rejected by Muslim belief ❏ Person can be placed in any circumstance - the way they deal with
it rather the situation matters
❏ Muslims believe - futile to complain in all the things that happen according to the will of allah - nothing happens by chance
❏ Inshallah- if god wills FREE WILL → hadith - give account of themselves in four areas → areas → free act according to their own choices And realise the reality of their responsibility → Shia muslims do not have the same belief in predestination as Sunnah (incompatible with God’s justice) they believe people have some options presented before them, however its not endless - allah sets the boundaries in which an adherent behaves) → DAY OF JUDGEMENT:
- His body and how he used it - His life and how he spent it - His wealth and how he earned it - His knowledge and what he did with it ( HADITH)
LIFE AFTER DEATH- AKHIRA
❏ Human life on earth is a test and the outcome of this test determines the fate of the person for eternity
❏ Life after death - ‘akhira’ ❏ Everything takes place in the will of Allah ❏ Given free will to respond ❏ The first part of life us mortal and temporary ❏ The second part is the eternal life which follows death ❏ The mortal human life is believed to be a test of character ❏ Each person is responsible for their own actions ❏ Every action, every thought is recorded and will be revealed at the
time of judgement ❏ Evil actions or intentions can be forgiven by asking Allah for
forgiveness ❏ The reward - paradise is described to be of oasis in the desert ❏ Punishment - jahannam; fire and hot winds, of torture and
torement; Iblis- satan ❏ Human mind is not capable to comprehend life after death ❏ Do not believe that descriptions are taken literally ❏ QURAN- symbolic representations