World Religions Exam Review 2019

Introduction:
Reasons to study world religions:
* To better understand people
* To help combat
* To better know ourselves
* To help understand world issues
* To realize Christians don’t have the only truth
10 Historical Responses for Mystery:
* Naturism - The forces of nature believed to be controlled by powers in nature or
powers in their own right. Early people worshipped the forces of nature.
* Animism - The belief that all living things had souls.
* Animatism - Contends there was one live force. A force capable of being good and
evil.
* Shamanism - Belief that Spirit world could be understood and controlled through a
shaman. (witch doctor)
* Totemism - Worship of an animal that is the sponsor of the tribe.
* Polytheism - Belief in many gods.
* Monotheism - Belief in one god, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Sikhism, Judaism.
* Agnosticism - Belief in God is suspended, but still a possibility of God
* Atheism - No belief of God
* Secularism - When God is removed as an answer in mystery and answered by science
and technology, based on the here and now.
Indigenous Spirituality:
Healing Lodge:
* Sometimes called Sweat Lodge
* Dome shaped 4-½ ft high and 9 ft in diameter.
* Made out of saplings - branches covered with layers of canvas, hides, tarps,
blankets.
* Pit inside 2.5 ft diameter, 10 inches deep.
* Conducted and constructed by elders.
* Outside lodge there is fire pit or sacred altar to heat rocks here and then
brought inside the healing lodge .
* Rocks heated for 3 hours prior to the start of the healing lodge
* Males and females attend different lodges, one takes a pinch of tobacco with your
left hand, makes a wish about healing yourself, others or the environment and place
it in the sacred altar.
* Males sit cross legged, Females sit legs to the side.
* Assistant brings in heated rocks (Grandfathers and Grandmothers).
* Stones are welcomed with medicines (Tobacco, etc.)
* Footwear and jewelry would not be worn, females usually covered from neck to toe,
today females dress like males do in the lodge.
* Cedar water is used to heat up the lodge, steam purifies the body.
* Only gets as hot as the weakest person in the lodge.
* Authentic lodges last 3-4 hours.
* Elder sings, drums, provides teachings with stories.
* Once eastern door is closed it is dark except for the glowing rocks.
* Participants are encouraged to use musical instruments.
* Time of spiritual healing, holistic healing.
* Very inclusive, in circle everyone is a part of the group.
Sundance:
* Completely open to anyone
* 100% optional, no one has ever died from this ritual
* Made illegal in United States for 80 years, U.S. government believed it to be
barbaric, savage and gruesome act of self mutilation
* Done in the beginning of the summer
* Legal now in North America.
* Cameras, video cameras, sketchbooks, diary entries, and spectators are not
permitted.
* Used to coincide with the preparation the for the annual buffalo hunt.
* Location preparation, a cottonwood tree, limbed (branches removed) cut off at 30
ft.
* An elder and medicine man supervise for the whole ritual. At least one to each
participant
* The species of tree used because it is very strong and grows very straight.
* Considered as the axis-mundi, because it is center of the universe.
* You can stop at anytime, optional
* Sundance is a 4 day ceremony there was are 4 doorways into the circle there are 4
teachings per doorway.
* On the first three days there is fasting, praying and healing lodge
* The 4th day the participant approaches the sundance leader and asks to be
“skewered” for males pierced at front of the pectoral muscle and for females
(trapezius muscle) it is pierced at the back of the neck.
* Dancer slowly dances away from the tree when it ends, the dancer throws him or
herself far back as possible so the leather strap breaks through the dancer’s
flesh, immediately the elder tends to the persons open wound right away.
* Why - everything in life is a gift from Great Spirit, your body is the only thing
that is truly yours, a way of giving back to Great Spirit.
* The wound is cauterized and sewn shut by the elder.
* To complete the teachings one must participate in Sundance 16 times, during 17th
time, the person becomes the axis-mundi and dancers dance away from you.
* Sundance is like the Sacrament of in that it affirms an adult response to your
faith.
Smudging:
* Smudging is always done first thing in the morning, or at the start of any major
ritual (healing lodge, sundance, vision quest)
* It is a cleansing ritual.
* When smudging, you burn 4 sacred medicines (sweetgrass, cedar, tobacco and sage)
in order in a shell.
* You direct the smoke over the area in need of cleansing, on occasion, an eagle
feather is used to direct the smoke.
* Smudging simply needs to be done from the heart for it to be done correctly.
Vision quest:
* Done because people believe: people believe it is essential to live a full life,
seeking solutions, seeking answers to tribal predicaments, seeking a guardian
spirit.
* Preparations can last from a week to a year
* Special tea is given, helps slow down body functions and help the person retain
water
* Done on an isolated place, mountain or hilltop. Lasts for 4 days and 4 nights.
* You bring a blanket, sacred pipe, contents of the medicine bundle
* When you receive your vision, share it with your spiritual advisor. Can be
received as natural or animal form. It is given back as a song, dance, story,
image.
Functions of Myth:
* To explain natural phenomena
* To control natural forces
* To bind a clan, tribe or nation together
* To record historical events
* To give a kind of verbal geography lesson
* To set examples for people’s behaviour
* To justify a social structure
* To control people
Teachings of Seven Grandfathers:
* Wisdom
* Bravery
* Love
* Respect
* Honesty
* Humility
* Truth
Names for God:
* Nanabush, Creator, Great Spirit, Wakantanka, oompa loompa
Medicine Wheel Chart:

Category
North
South
East
West
Colour
White
-snow further north, skin pigmentation represents hair colour of elders
Red
-further south it is hotter
Yellow
-(Sun rise)
Black
-(Sun set)
Medicine
Sweetgrass
-always braided, 3 strands represent body, mind, spirit
Symbol of strength
Tall,wildish reddish grass
Burn sweetgrass to welcome great spirit
Cedar
Shape of land
Burning cedar
Sound of Great Spirit knocking on wood
Tobacco
-offer great spirit a gift to open communication
Sage
-sometimes called the “women's medicine”, the healing medicine, Latin “salvia” = to
heal
Animal
Buffalo
Mouse
Eagle
Bear
Virtue
Wisdom
Love and Passion
Love + Passion
Rest + Rejuvenation
Personality Traits
Path of success, direct action, now time swift reactions, cool, powerful,
concern for caution, unemotional, likes control, rejects inaction
Path of duty, analytical, concern for security, rejects involvement, focus on
tasks, slow reaction, cautious, organized, historical time frame
Path of pleasure
-Rapid reaction
-Impulsive action
-Rejects inaction, isolation
-Low concern routine
-Energetic, expressive
-Excitable, likes being loved
 Path of service
-relates to others
-rejects strife
-unhurried
-supportive
-people conscious, approachable
-warm
-lives in present

* The importance of living your life according to the Medicine Wheel is that you
become a balanced and holistic. The goal is to be a balanced mix of all directions
so that you become well-rounded.
Parallels between Christianity and Native Spirituality
* Both monotheistic
* Christians worship God when called upon on the Sabbath it’s a routine, The
Indigenous do this by regular rituals of dance and festivals.
* *
*
*
Parallels between Healing Lodge and birth:
* Drum beat = Heart beat (Child and mother)
* Saplings = Rib cage
* Imaginary line (Line of power) between the fire and entrance = Umbilical cord
* Crawling out of the lodge = Rebirth
* Breath taken in when lodge is opened back up = First breath of air
* Entering the lodge = the way the creator made “us” in our mother’s wombs
*

Significance of the Medicine pouch and Eagle feather:

Medicine pouch - worn as a necklace, stores medicine. Stores tobacco and
sweet grass. Distributed in small portions after receiving a gift from great spirit
(water, food, etc.).
Eagle Feather - Given only from an elder or a chief to a native person,
someone who is not native can not receive one. Given only for a major
accomplishment (graduating, beating cancer).

Sikhism:

K word
English translation of K word
Symbolism of article of faith

Kesh
Uncut hair
Spirituality
Kangha
Wooden comb
Hygiene and discipline
Kara
Steel bracelet
Strength needed when fighting for something right
Kaccha
Drawer shorts
 Self - control and chastity
Kirpan
Ceremonial knife/sword
Dignity and struggle against evil and injustice
Daastar
Turban
Royalty and dignity

Khanda’s teachings:
* Two sided sword: cuts falsehood from truth
* Chakar: circle that represents one eternal, everlasting good
* Kirpan: symbol of grace and dignity

20 things on Gurdwara’s:
* Used to be called dharamshala’s (Dharam = religion, Shalas = sanctuary)
* They were a place where Sikhs could gather to hear the Guru speak or sing hymns.
* Any place where the Guru Granth Sahib is kept and treated with respect is
considered a Gurdwara
* As the Sikh population grew, Guru Hargobind (6th Guru) introduced the word
Gurudwara, meaning the gateway through which the Guru could be reached, or “The
door to the Guru”.
* 3 main functions: 1. Kirtan - the singing of hymns from the Guru Granth Sahib. 2.
Katha - the reading of the Guru Granth Sahib and explanations. 3. Langar - a free
community kitchen.
* Along with these these main functions, Gurdwara’s around the world also serve the
Sikh community as a multi-function and multi-purpose facilities.
* Gurdwara’s typically include libraries of Sikh literature, schools to teach
children Gurmukhi and the Sikh scriptures, and charitable work in the community or
behalf of Sikhs.
* When entering the Gurdwara one is expected to remove their shoes and cover their
head as signs of respect towards the Guru Granth Sahib.
* Offerings of food and cash are made to run the Gurdwara.
* Hand are washed upon entering and in some Gurdwara’s there are also stations for
washing your feets.
* Approaches the Guru Granth Sahib one is expected to bow down and touch sign of
further respect toward the sacred scripture.
* All people are expected to stand during the ardas prayer (common prayer)
* Men and Women sit on opposite sides of the room
* All people, irrespective of their status, sit on the floor as a sign of equality
as opposed to chairs and the Guru Granth Sahib is always installed on a higher
level. However, accommodations are made for the elderly and those disabilities.
* In the langar hall everyone sits on the floor and food is cooked and served by
volunteers. This food is available at all times.
* Only vegetarian food is served so that no person may be offended and all people
of all religions sit together to share a common meal irrespective of any dietary
restrictions.
* Worship ends with the sharing of parshad.
* Gurdwara’s are open to all people of all religions and are generally open 24
hours a day.
* Worship is lead by a Granthi, who is trained in religious matters and is
respected for their wisdom, also takes care of the Guru Granth Sahib
* Some Gurdwara’s also provide shelter or temporary accommodations for visitors or
pilgrims.
* All people are expected to stand facing the Guru Granth Sahib when the ardas
(common prayer) is read out.

Five Thieves of Sikhism:

* Lust
* Greed
* Rage
* Attachment
* Conceit

Sikh Code of Behaviour:

* Meditation
* Honest living
* Sharing w/ others
* Worshipping the lord of eternity
* Concern for others
* Maintaining good moral behaviour
Khalsa Code of Conduct:
* Khalsa means “pure”.
* A sikh will only worship god, they will not set up any other idols, gods,
goddesses or statues for humors.
* Drugs, alcohol, smoking are forbidden. Khalsa men and women will not make holes
in their ears or nose.
* They shall have no connection to those who kill their daughters.
* Sikh women will not wear a veil.
* A sikh must live by the earnings of their honest labour.
* A sikh must never gamble or steal.
* They must never remove any hair from any parts of their bodies.
Why we are so fortunate to have Sikhs living in Brampton:
*
*
*
Islam:
Key points of Muhammad's life:
* Born in Mecca, Saudi Arabia (571 A.D)
* Mother, Father, Grandfather die before age of 10
* Full ministry did not start until 15 years after marriage
* He also wandered into a cave to seek solitude and meditation
* 610 A.D he heard a divine voice which said “recite” overwhelmed by this voice and
appearance of the Archangel Gabriel
* Khadijah was his first convert
* He preached strongly on 3 issues: The oneness of Allah, The moral responsibility
of man towards Allah, The judgment awaiting mankind on the day of resurrection
*
*
*
* Seven Accomplishments of Muhammad’s Life:
* Mohammed formed a people formerly divided into classes and ridden with polytheism
and superstition into a proud monotheistic people. All persons became theoretically
equal.
* Mohammed infused his society with an overwhelming awareness of the majesty,
power, and transcendence of God.
* Mohammed gave them a list of sayings that were later codified and standardized to
form the Koran. The Koran or Islamic Scriptures are believed to be directly
revealed by God.
* Mohammed improved the status of women. Women were no longer considered property
or chattel. Women became respected.
* He forbade the killing of baby girls
* He insisted that women have rights to inheritance
* He forbade licentiousness (sexual immorality)
* He discouraged divorce
* He limited practice of polygamy (harems)
* He encouraged education for women
* Mohammed insisted on absolute racial equality. Everybody is a creature of God.
There is no longer such a thing as the superiority of one rare over another.
* Mohammed challenged economic inequality. In a world full of human misery and
exploitation of the poor. Mohammed injected the principle that each person is
everyone’s concern and that social welfare called for serious effort by all
(charity, brotherly love, 3rd pillar).
* He insisted on religious tolerance.