Transcript Document
Why Study World Religions? We in the GTA live in the most Culturally/Religiously diverse place on the Planet!!!!!!!!!!!!! As Humans we are inquisitive (who we are, where we come from, where do we go?) Early Humanity demonstrated an understanding of Supernatural Forces Religion: An organized expression of a communities belief in the Sacred. What are some basic elements of Religion? Theism: Belief in one personal God Polytheism: Belief in many personal Gods Pantheism: God is Nature/Nature is God Agnosticism: God can neither be proved/disproved Atheism: Denial of Theism Sacred Stories (Oral Stories of Primal/Native) Veda (Hinduism) Tanak (Judaism) Tripitaka (Buddhism) Qur'an (Islam) Bible (Christianity) Adi Granth (Sikhism) Sacred Dance (Native Spirituality) Sacraments (Christianity) Mantras (Buddhism) Thread Ceremony (Hinduism) Bar/Bat Mitzvah (Judaism) 5 Pillars (Islam) All the different religions have a story that explains the origins of creation/humanity Hierarchical/Communal Tribal Elder Priest Rabbi Guru Monk Imam Torah/Talmud (Judaism) Canon Law (Christianity) Sharia (Islam) Precepts (Buddhism) Credo (creed: statement of belief) Nicene Creed (Christianity) Shahada (Islam) Shema (Judaism) Re-incarnation/Heaven/Hell/Heavens. World was created during the “Dreaming” Ancestors left behind their power “Totems” Totems were natural formations (rocks etc) Taught people language, laws, customs. People could connect to power “Rituals” Taboo: participating in a forbidden Ritual. Rituals: Scarring Back, Circumcision, Knocked out Teeth West Central Africa Olurun: Creator (no involvement with us) Orisa-nla: Created the earth (rules/customs) Ogun: God of war Orisa: God Esu: Trickster Figure, mediates between heaven and earth Divination: A ritual to determine your path 40,000-60,000 years ago Lakota as a Model Sioux: Snake Wakantanka: Great Mysterious is actually 16 different deities. 4 is perfection Inktomi (Spider): Trickster Figure Afterlife: Old Women, Milky Way, 4 Souls Sun Dance: Axis Mundi Vision Quest: Sweat Lodge Test question: Pick 3 religions from the Videos and express your thoughts/opinions on how they express their belief in the sacred 15T 10C