RE PAPER 2

• The Nature of God: God as One
• Monotheistic


  a religion that believes there is only one God
• Shema


  a Jewish prayer affirming belief in one God, found in the Torah
• What type of religion is Judaism?


  Monotheistic - belief in one God
• What does the Shema contain?


  the Jewish declaration of faith- oneness of G-d
• Key quote


  'Hear O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord alone.' Deuteronomy
• The nature of God: God as creator
• Torah


  the five Books of Moses which form the first section of the Tenakh/ Tanach
• Orthodox Jews


  Jews who emphasise the importance of following the laws and guidance in the Torah

  - they believe the Torah was given directly by God to Moses so should be followed as closely as possible
• Shabbat


  the jewish holy day of the week

  - a day of spiritual renewal starting shortly before sunset on Friday and continuing to night time on Saturday
• Ultra-Orthodox Jews


  Jews who are even more committed than Orthodox Jews to strictly following the laws and guidance in the Torah
• Why do Jews observe the weekly Sabbath?


  G-d is seen as creator of the universe- on the seventh day he rested so Jews are regularly reminded of God's importance and role in the creation of everything
• What do Orthodox and ultra-orthodox Jews believe about creation?

  they believe that the book of Genesis, which tells how god took six days to create the universe and everything in it, is the literal truth and that it happened around 6000 years ago
• What do other Jews believe about creation?


  they accept that the evolutionary theory may be correct and that the universe is much older but that God made everything happen

  - they still believe that God is the creator but do not take the creation story in Genesis literally
• What is the belief that G-d is sustainer?


  - G-d not only created the universe but also sustains it

  - G-d provided sufficient resources on the planet to feed and provide for all species

  - we have to share resources
• What are 3 qualities of G-d?


  omnipotent- all powerful

  omnipresent- everywhere

  omniscient- all knowing
• What does it mean that G-d gave people free will?


  he gave the ability to choose between doing good or bad

  - in order for there to be free will there also has to be the possibility of evil

  - being able to choose to do good makes the act of doing good more significant
• Key quote


  'When God began to create heaven and earth' Genesis
• The nature of God: God as lawgiver and judge; the divine presence
• Ten Commandments


  ten laws given by God to Moses over 3000 years ago
• Merciful


  the quality of god that shows compassion or forgiveness to humans, even though he has the power to punish them
• Shekhinah


  the divine presence of God
• Temple


  the centre of Jewish worship at the time of Jesus

  - the meeting place between God and the priest
• What does belief in G-d as Law giver mean?

  that one will follow his rules
• How many laws of the Torah have Jews been given?

  613
• What does belief in G-d as judge mean?

  that a person will be careful to behave morally as their actions are being watched
• When does G-d judge people?


  - after death

  - on Yom kippur

  - once the Messiah arrives
• What does the belief that G-d is redeemer (saviour) mean?


  - in the past G-d has saved the Jews from persecution e.g. in the Peach events

  - G-d will redeem the Jews permanently by sending the Messiah

  - we pray for this 3 times a day
• What's G-d's presence called?


  the Shekhinah- in times of the temple it was clearly seen in the daily miracles that took place there
• Key quote


  'Blessed are You, Lord our G-d, King of the universe, the True Judge
• Life after death, judgment and resurrection
• Judgment


  the belief that G-d judges a person based on their actions and either rewards or punishes them as a result
• Resurrection


  the belief that after death the body remains in the grave until the end of the world, before rising again when G-d will come to judge
• Rabbi


  a religious leader and a teacher
• What do Jews believe about the soul?

  that it is immortal

  - after death the soul continues to exist
• Why are there differences between Jews in their ideas about what happens after death?

  the Torah itself does not mention life after death although it is mentioned in some of the books of the prophets
• What's the place of purification that some souls go to called?

  Sheol or Gehinom
• What's the place of paradise that eventually all souls go to called?

  Gan Eden or Olam Haba
• What does the prophet Daniel speak about?


  how the souls of the righteous will be resurrected- brought back to life when Messiah comes
• What's reincarnation?


  the belief that some souls may return to the world again if they have not fulfilled their purpose