Blog Post 22- Ancient Western Religions

1. The Zoroastrianism began to flourish in ancient Iran in the 4^th and 5th centuries B.C.

2. Zoroastrianism spread beyond its place of origin after Persia was conquered by Alexander the Great in 328 BC.

3. An angel named Good Thought brought Zarathustra a disembodied soul in front of the one true God, Abura Mazda.

4. The sacred text of Zoroastranism is the Avesta. The oldest material is the Gathas and was written by Zarathustra.

5. The Ahura Mazda is eternal and universal goodness and controls the cosmos and destiny of humans.  

6. Ethical dualism is the belief in universal forces of good and evil.

 7. The Lie is the evil force. It is associated with Ahura Mazda because his child, the hostile spirit, chose the Lie.

8. In the Zoroastrianism cosmic scheme, humans must choose between good and evil.

9. Zarathustra’s understanding of human destiny is that humans will die and then be judge whether to go to heaven or hell based on the good and evil in their life.

10. The general ethical demands of traditional Zoroastrian life calls for followers to pray five times daily.

11. The Parsis are the followers of Zoroastrianism . They live in India.

12. The Iliad and the Odyssey are commonly regarded as the Bibles of the ancient Greeks.

13. The sentence means that the Greek gods who competed in the Olympics competed while in human form.

14. Aeschylus’s main contribution to the understanding of the Olympic gods was the idea of divine justice. For example, he believed that the gods’ actions were in response to the humans’ actions.

15. An oracle is a sanctuary favored by a god, who communicates with those who visit it. The most famous Greek oracle was Delphi. It was consulted  because it received her wisdom from Apollo.  

16. The three basic aspects of the mystery religious are an initiation ritual, members experience a personal encounter with the deity, and initiates gain spiritual renewal through participation and hope for a better life.  

17. Eleusinian honored Demeter and Persephone.  

18. The god Dionysus is associated with fertility, vegetation, and wine. He is often depicted with vines and grapes.  

19. The goal of the ascetic practices of the Orphics was to lead a pure life so the soul can escape the body.  

20. Plato’s theory of knowledge is that knowledge is recollection.  

21. Platonic dualism is that reality has eternal and perfect Forms, and the material, bodily world is a reflection of the world of Forms.

22. Jesus seemed to have much in common with the ancient Asclepius because both were called Savior and the worshipers’ relationship with Asclepius resembled the relationship Christ has with Christians.

23.  Numina supernatural beings that were the ancient Roman equivalent of deities. They controlled various things such as populating towns.

24.  The most powerful Roman deity was Jupiter.

25.  The six planets that are named after Roman deities are Jupiter, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Neptune and Saturn.

26. The Roman State thought that it was essential to maintain official worship practices because they did not want to anger the gods.  

27. Mithraism and the Cult of Isis were the two mystery religions that rivaled main Christianity in the late Roman empire.

28. The Egyptians believed that Osiris was killed by his brother. However, his wife, Isis, put him back together, which later turns him into a mummy.

29. Augustus encouraged the worship of the spirit of the emperor.

30. Christians and Roman rulers clashed over emperor worship because Romans believed the focus of worship should be the state and Christians believed that the focus should be God.

Judaism

1. The Synagogue is a meeting place, learning center, and a worship space in Judaism.

2. Layouts of most synagogues vary, but some aspects are usually true throughout synagogues.  The Ark, usually found on the eastern wall of the synagogue, is where the Torah is kept. The Torah scrolls are the holiest text in Judaism. The scrolls in the synagogue must be handwritten on parchment from a kosher animal. The scrolls are covered by cloth mantles (covers) and stored in the Ark. The Ten Commandments are also located on the wall of the synagogue.

3.  A rabbi is a Jewish teacher. He is not a clergyman because he does not have the authority to perform certain rituals. He determines and interprets religious laws. To become a rabbi, a man must complete college and a number of rabbi training classes, and learn Hebrew.

4. Shabbat, the most important ritual observance in Judaism, is a day of rest and spiritual enrichment. It is from Friday sundown to Saturday night.

5. The Torah contains the first five books of Moses. It also talks about Jewish values and rules of society. Talmud is the Oral Torah that explains the scriptures and how to interpret them. 6. Orthodox Jews follow the teachings of the Torah. Reform Jews believe that the Torah and their faith are constantly changing and evolving. Conservative Jews believe that Jewish laws should be able to adapt to the current time period. Zionist Jews believe that all Jews should return to the Holy Land.  

6. Orthodox Judaism strictly follow the laws in the Torah. Reform Judaism value the Torah, but believe that each individual is free to interpret it as he/she chooses. Conservative Judaism believe that Jewish laws should not be disobeyed, they can be adapted. The Zionist Jews believe there should be a national Jewish state in Palestine.

7. Hebrew is in the Canaanite group of Semitic languages. It is the historical language of the Jews.  

8.Yiddish is the language of European Jews.

9. Mazal Tov- Congratulations

Shalom- Hello/Peace/Goodbye

 Mitzvah- party

10. Brit Milah is when baby male Jews are circumcised. Bar/Bat Mitzvah is when a Jewish boy/girl is of the age to assume responsibility for observing the commandments and for his acitons. In Judaism, marriage is a natural and desirable part of life.

11. Rosh Hashanah, also known as “head of the year”, is considered New Years in Judaism. This is a time for Jews to reflect on their past and try to look to the future for changes.  Yom Kippur is the most valuable holiday for Jews where they take time to pray and fast. Passover also known as “Pesach” includes festivals and starts the upcoming months of growing crops. Hanukah lasts for 8 days and is a Jewish holiday commemorating the rededication of the Holy Temple.

12. I knew that Jewish boys and girls had Bar/Bat Mitzvahs when they came of age.  I also knew that Jews celebrated Hanukah and Yom Kippur. I knew that there was different branches of Judaism differentiating on how strictly they followed Torah.

13. I am surprised at all of the laws that Orthodox Jews follow.

14. Marriage is very similar to marriage in my family.

15.  One aspect of Jew tradition that is different is the Bar/Bat Mitzvahs.

Buddhism Questions

1. Siddhartha Gautama

2. An Old Man, A man with disease, a corpse, and an ascetic which filled him with elation and hope.

3.The Middle Way holds that a healthy spiritual life depends on a healthy physical life. It does not reject the body itself just the desires of the body. It also focuses on balance and not the extremes.

4. Gautama was meditating under a fig tree and demons were trying to distract him but he vowed on not moving until he under the purpose of life. He saw his own life on replay, how life was a cycle and discovered the Four Noble Truths.

5. Sangha is the first Buddhist monastic community with members of men and women from all walks of life

6. the Buddha, the Dharma, and the Sangha

7. Time in means of the universe is eternal. They both believe in the doctrine of samsara or the wheel of birth

8. His reaction was rejection of the caste system because it was bondage that he too once experience. He allowed women to be accepted in the Sangha
9. No-Self, Impermanence, Suffering. They are all changing natures of reality.
10. No ultimate reality within. Atman is the ultimate reality and it is to be found within and to be absorbed in.
11.It is the transference of a bundle of energy and it is determined according to one's karma. Based on the deeds done in the first life will decide if the rebirth will be more privilege because his or her karma continues
12. Do not take life, do not take what is not given, do not engage in sensuous misconduct, do not use false speech, do not drink intoxicants, do not eat after noon, no not watch dancing or shows, do not use garlands, perfumes or ornaments, do not use high or soft beds, and do not accept gold or silver

13. Suffering, Frustration, Dislocation or Discomfort. Dukkha to me means the "puppet master" saying that he who controls the strings controls the person. The person cannot drive themselve because something else is

14. Tanha is desire, thirst or craving and is relating because the cause of suffering is desire.

15. Right Views, Right intentions, right speech, right conduct, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, and right meditation

16. The difference is that the Buddha do not need a model to provide teachings leading to their awakening they accomplish their liberation on their own

17. "Worthy one" is enlightened and fully aware of the truth of the Buddha's teachings. They are free from desire.

18. "Blowing out" it can only be experience and being that it is so rare people are blown away when they experience it

19. Theravada, Mahayana, Vajrayana

20.The teachings

21. The Great Vehicle, Buddhism for large masses

22. Turns the energy of desire against itself

23. The spiritual leader of Vajrayana Buddhism found through supernatural ways and mundane

24. Asia