World Religion

• Worldviews


  • Theocentric (Monotheism, Polytheism)
  • Atheist
  • Agnostic
  • Secular
• Paganism


  A religious belief system that worships multiple gods
• Cults


  A small, exclusive group that has beliefs or practices regarded by others as strange or sinister
• Religious Impulse


  The innate human tendency to seek spiritual meaning and connection
• Religious Pluralism


  The belief that no single religion has a monopoly on the truth, and that all religions have value and validity
• Ecumenism


  The movement or tendency towards worldwide Christian unity or cooperation
• Ninian Smart - 6 Traits Model

  • Describes the 6 key dimensions of religion: Ritual, Narrative, Experiential, Social, Ethical, Material
• Patriarchs of Judaism


  • Abraham
  • Isaac
  • Jacob
  • Joseph
  • Moses
  • Saul
  • David
  • Solomon
• Judaism is the first major, monotheistic religion to teach belief in one God
• Judaism developed in the Middle East
• Judaism was founded 4000 years ago by Abram
• Abram


  Also known as "Father of Faith"
• Abram's story


  1. Abram settles in Canaan + known as Hebrews

  2. Conceives a son, "Ishmael" with Sarai's maid, "Hagar"

  3. 99 years, God appeared to him again + changed his name to Abraham (meaning, father of multitude)

  4. God changed Sarai's name to Sarah (princess) + that she will bear a child

  5. Abraham laughs @ news, thus naming the child Isaac (he laughs)

  6. Circumcision became the external sign of God's covenant with Abraham

  7. God tests his faith by asking him to sacrifice either Ishmael/Isaac

  8. Abraham was about to do this, but was stopped by an angel, who then sacrificed a ram instead
• Moses + Exodus


  1. Born a Hebrew/Israelite, but raised in the Pharaoh's Palace

  2. Forced to flee Egypt because he committed murder

  3. 80 years, Moses saw a burning bush, God said that he is the God of your ancestors

  4. He asked Moses to go back to Egypt + ask Pharaoh to set Hebrews free

  5. Pharaoh refuses, so God sends 10 plagues, ex. Locusts, blood, death of first-born sons, etc.

  6. Pharaoh finally lets the Israelites go + escapes into desert (Exodus)

  7. Israelites wander the desert for 40 years, trying to return to Canaan

  8. God appeared to Moses again + gave him the 10 commandments

  9. These established the law/rules of the Sinai Covenant
• The events of the Exodus were told/ retold throughout the generations
• Jewish Holy Books


  • The Law (Torah)
  • The Prophets (Nevi'im)
  • The Writings (Ketuvim)
  • Talmud
• The Law (Torah)


  Central text of Judaism (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy), contains laws, commandments, narratives of patriarchs and matriarchs, Exodus from Egypt + covenant at Mount Sinai
• The Prophets (Nevi'im)


  Second major section of Hebrew Bible, including historical narratives, poetry, + prophetic writings, covers Israel's history, messages from prophets + God's relationship with Israelites
• The Writings (Ketuvim)


  Third section of Hebrew Bible, containing Psalms, Proverbs, - Job, and Chronicles, ex. poetry, wisdom literature, historical accounts
• Talmud


  Central to Rabbinic Judaism, Mishnah: Codified Jewish oral tradition (covering ethics, rituals + civil law), Gemara: Commentary + analysis expanding upon Mishnah, forming the primary source of Jewish law and tradition
• Shema (Jewish creed of faith): '"Here, O Israel, The Lord is our God, the Lord is one"'
• Five Fundamental Concepts of Judaism

  • There is a God
  • There is only one God
  • God created the world, but the world will NOT last forever
  • There is only one universe
  • God cares for the world + all of its creatures
• Thirteen Articles of Faith

  • There is only 1 God
  • Prophecy - God communicates with humans
  • Moses was the greatest of the prophets
  • God is aware of all our deeds
  • There is a God
  • Only God may be worshiped
  • The Torah comes from God
  • God rewards the righteous + punishes the wicked
  • God has no physical body
  • God is eternal
  • The Torah is the authentic word of God + may not be changed
  • The Messiah will come
  • The dead will be resurrected
• Mitzvah/ Mitzvot


  Act of performing a good deed; how to live ethically while honoring God
• The Tanakh contains 613 mitzvot (248 positive, 365 negative)
• YHWH


  The name of God, meaning "I am who I am"
• How God shows commitment to Covenant

  • Chosen people; Chose descendants of Abraham
  • Promised Land; Promised land to his people
  • Messiah; Jews: Believe God will send a great leader to the world + bring peace
  • World to come; God will provide a future time of peace + prosperity for the Jews
• Role of Men in Jewish Faith

  • Supports the family
  • Studies the Torah + makes sure his children study Torah
• Role of Women in Jewish Faith

  • Feeds family according to Torah + prepares home for shabbat + festivals
  • Proper clothes for sons/ husbands, teaches daughters what's expected of them
• Kosher


  Food prepared according to the laws, fit to eat
• Treyf


  Food that is NOT considered kosher
• Jewish Dress


  • Kippa; skull cap
  • Tefflin; small box containing words from the Shema tied to arm/forehead
  • Tallit; prayer shawl w/ fringes (reminder of 10 commandments)
• Shabbat


  Jewish day of rest, from Friday evening to Saturday morning
• Shabbat Observance


  1. Share a meal after synagogue

  2. House is cleaned, food is prepared, table set in advance

  3. Meal includes bread + wine

  4. Father makes Kiddish; blessing over wine

  5. Blesses children, Sabbath + loaves of egg bread, "Challah"
• During Synagogue Service


  • Say a prayer of thanks, men wear Yarmulke
  • Read from Torah, wear tallit @ morning services
  • Psalms are sung, lead by Rabbi; Jewish teacher/ trained scholar
• Torah Scroll


  First 5 books of Moses written on parchment, cannot be touched, thus using Yad, "pointer"
• Holy Ark


  Cabinet-like structure that sits on a raised platform (bimah), mimics Ark of the Covenant, where 10 Commandments were placed, Torah Scroll is taken from the Holy Ark + placed on a special table, where it can be unrolled + read
• Jewish Festivals


  • Rosh Hashanah
  • Yom Kippur
  • Shavuot
  • Sukkot
  • Hanukkah
  • Purim
  • Pesach
• Rosh Hashanah


  1. Jewish New Year (September- early October)

  2. Forgiveness service is held @ synagogue + ask forgiveness from God/ others

  3. Cards may include message, "May you be written in the Book of Life"

  4. 2 days of Rosh Hashanah w/ 8 days of reflection, ending with Yom Kippur
• Yom Kippur


  1. The Day of Atonement + most solemn religious day in Judaism

  2. 25 hours of fasting + prayers of repentance

  3. Regular activities are avoided; demonstrates that the day is better spent praying + you are truly repentant

  4. Confessions are written down + burned, w/ new candles lit from flames