Islam
-Translates to: surrender or submission
-Ancient Monotheistic religion: Allah
-Basic Islamic Beliefs: Angels, Prophets, and Day of Judgment
Koran
-Muslim Holy Book
-Revelations given to Muhammad in the period 610- 632
-Eventually written down and converted into modern Arabic (with vowels)
Five Pillars
-Foundation of Islam, followed by all Muslims
-Faith: oneness of God and finality of Muhammad
-Daily Prayer
-Almsgiving to the needy
-Self-purification: fasting
-Pilgrimage to Mecca at least once in a lifetime
Hegira (622 AD= 1 AH)
-The departure of the prophet Muhammad from Mecca
-He was forced to flee from his enemies
-Muhammad went to Yathrib (Medina), where he became ruler.
-Every Muslim, at least once in his/her life, makes a pilgrimage to Mecca
Judaism
-Ancient monotheistic religion: God or Adonai (Yaweh)
-Abraham: father of Judaism
Ten Commandments
-God exists
-No other deity exists
-Do not take the Lord’s name in vain
-Observe Shabbat (day of rest)
-Respect elders
-Do not murder
-Do not commit adultery
-Do not steal
-Do not lie
-Do not covet others possessions
Torah
-Jewish holy book: generally considered the Five Books of Moses:
-Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy.
-Sometimes also considered to be the entire Old Testament:
-Nevi’im (The Prophets) and Kethuvim (The Writings)
-On scrolls (used in prayer): written entirely in Hebrew by hand
-Talmud: Oral Torah
Diaspora
-Started with Babylonian Exile (700 BCE)
-Also settled on the Arabian Peninsula and in Egypt.
- Jews banned from living in Jerusalem and Judea. (66-135 CE)
-Zionism (creation of a Jewish homeland) -> 1948, Israel is founded
Shintoism
-“The Way of the Gods”
-Ame-no-mi-naka-nushi: the Absolute Universal Self (their “God”)
-Two Sects:
-Sectarian Shinto
-The State Shinto Religion: national religion of Japan
-Emperor is regarded as direct descendant and representative of Ame-no-mi-naka-nushi
Bushido
-“Way of the Warrior”
- A code for Samurai warriors, not unlike the chivalry and codes of the European knights. -loyalty, self-sacrifice, justice, purity, frugality, martial spirit, honor and affection
- Influenced by: Buddhism, Zen, Confucianism, and Shintoism
