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Monotheistics
Islam, Judaism, Christianity, Zoroastrianism; and Primal Religions
Question | Answer |
---|---|
Islam | submission to the will of God |
Allah | God |
Muhammad | 570-632 AD prophet who received revelations from Allah |
Muslims | followers of Islam |
Shahadah | first pillar of Islam. "There is no god but Allah, and Mohammad is His Prophet" |
Ramadan | fourth pillar of Islam. holy month of fasting from sunrise to sunset. commemorates the gift of the Koran and the Hegira |
Hegira | Muhammad's flight |
Hajj | pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudi Arabia |
Qur'an (Koran) | sacred scriptures of Islam. "recitation" |
Sunnah or Hadith | the sacred traditions of Islam. the Koran in action |
Shariah | Islamic law |
Imam | leader of a mosque |
Eesa (Jesus) | a human prophet |
Shi'a (Shi'ite) | about 20% of all Muslims, believe that Muslim leadership should be on a hereditary principle. "partisans" of the descendents of Muhammad's son-in-law Ali |
Twelvers | largest Shia group, believe that the 12 Imam of the line of Ali will come again as al-Mahdi (the chosen one). big in Iran |
Seveners | Shia group who believe that the line of Ali died out after the seveth Imam, Isma'il |
Druze | Shia group that arose in Syria and Lebanon in 1021 |
Alawites | Shia group who incorporate elements of Christianity into their faith. "upholders of Ali" in Syria |
Zaydis | most conservative Shia group, in Yemen. named for the deposed 5th Shia Imam |
Sunni | about 80% of all Muslims, believe that caliphs should continue to be chosen democratically. "majority" |
Maliki | Sunni group founded in Mecca. most dominant in Muslim Africa |
Shafi | Sunni group founded in Baghdad. liberalized form of Maliki tradition |
Hanifi | Sunni group founded in Baghdad. System favored by Muslim empires |
Hanbali | most strict Sunni group, in Saudi Arabia |
Jihad | "exertion" or "striving"; often translated "holy war" |
Greater/Lesser Jihad | distinction made by moderate or liberal muslims |
Genghis Khan | ca. 1162-1227 AD Mongol invader of Islamic territory. most Mongols converted to Islam |
Ottoman Turks | 1453-1924 AD presided over the Muslim world for 450 years |
Yahweh | sacred personal name of God (Judaism) |
Torah | the Law, teaching, instruction (aka Pentateuch). 4 levels of meaning: literal, allegorical, homiletical (teaching, preaching), mystical |
Shema | at the heart of Jewish belief. Deuteronomy 6:4-7 (love the Lord your God with all your heart...soul...might) |
Ten Commandments (Decalogue) | moral law, central code of conduct (given to Moses at Mt. Sinai) |
Exodus | the exit out of slavery in Egypt to freedom in the Promised Land |
Mosus | lead the Jews in the Exodus |
Messiah | "anointed one". some expect to establish rule of God on earth |
Messianic Age | some expect a time of peace and harmony created by joint human efforts |
Ark (of the Covenant) | where Torah scrolls (Ten Commandments) are kept in the synagogue |
Menorah | seven-branched candelabra of Judaism |
Tallit | prayer shawl |
Kippa or Yarmulke | small caps worn by Jews to show submission to God |
Mezuzah | small boxes which contain words of the Shema nailed to doorposts in the house |
Sabbath (Shabbat) | day of rest and worship from sundown Friday to sundown Saturday. connected to Lord's day of rest |
Passover | festival that commemorates the Exodus, the escape of the Jews from Egypt |
Seder | meal eaten at the beginning of the Passover festival |
Haggadah | "narration". the set ritual for the recitation of the Exodus event during the Seder meal |
Kashrut | Jewish food laws |
Hasidic Jews | among the most Orthodox of the Orthodox Jews. Dress and lifestyle of 18th century Easter Europe Jews |
Kosher | permitted (food) |
Terefah | forbidden (food) |
Universal Creeds (Christian) | Apostles', Nicene, and Athanasian |
Sacraments | "sacred acts". Roman Catholics and Orthodox hold to seven sacraments |
Confirmation | renewal of baptismal vows spokern for them by godparents or sponsors |
Advent Season | 4 week period leading up to Christmas |
Lent | 40 day period leading up to Easter |
Good Friday | day Christ was crucified |
Easter | celebrates Christ's resurrection |
St. Augustine (354-430) | theologian of early church. stressed grace of God in salvation and depravity of humans in 'original sin' |