Sacred Texts

• The Islam sacred text is the Qur'an, a series of revelations revealed to Muhammad by Angel Gabriel from God.
• The Qur'an is treated with great respect. E.g., elevated, covered, respectful attitude when listening, not touched unnecessarily.
• Qur'an worthy of respect as it transmits the will and word of God. It guides Muslims lives through sacred experience
• Important to learn Qur'an in original language (Arabic) as it is the original word of Allah. The rest are merely interpretations.
• Hebrew scriptures (Old Testament) are the Tanak- Torah (the law), Nevi'im (The Prophets), and Ketuvim (the writings).
• Torah contains 613 mitzvot that teaches Jews how to conduct themselves and respond to the world around them.
• Reform Jews can express their religion in their own way, but may be disconnected from orthodox jews.
• Islam has Hymns, Incantations, Rituals, Recitation.
• Islam Hadith: gives answers and guides behaviour. Had instructions for worship and forms the basis for Islamic theology, practice and law.
• Hinduism sacred texts are Shruti (Heard, divinely inspired) and Smriti (Remembered, written by sagas). Includes Vedas and Upanishads.
• Shruti: The Vedas, heard, certain people don't have access due to caste, authoritative to beliefs and practices.
• Smriti: Less authority and more representation, anyone has access, introduces core beliefs, includes Mahabharata and Ramayana.
• Vedas come from divine during 1500-1000BCE and help believers reach Moksha through recommended behaviours and consequences.
• Upanishads are collection of early texts that give insight to life and ultimate reality, and asceticism. They establish Brahman and Atman which outlines Moksha through yoga and meditation.
• Vedas contains hymns, prayers, incantations, rituals, dance, drama and art.
• Christianity sacred text is the Bible: Hebrew scriptures (Law, history, poetry & wisdom, prophets) and Christian scriptures (Gospels, acts of apostles, letters, revelation).
• The Bible teaches Christians on how they can live their life according to God's will. It has historical events and explains afterlife, prayer, commandments, and sacraments.
• Judaism has songs, book, scrolls, instructions (mitzvot)
• The Buddhist sacred text is the Tripitaka. Other texts include Tibetan book of dead and Lotus of Good law. They were the words of Buddha written down later (he originally spread his teachings orally).
• Buddhism has scrolls, flags, wheels, stone tablets. They have sermons with Buddha's teachings.
• Buddhist texts guide their life and responses and prayers. Mantras are spoken aloud, prayers are carved, spinning prayer wheels.
• First Nations Sacred texts are the oral dreaming stories which vary depending on environment.
• First Nations express beliefs through cave art, dance, rap, song, ceremonies. Their texts say how to survive, laws, spiritual guidelines for generations, responsibilities, and how the world was created.