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Major Belief Systems Flashcards

Includes: Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism, Confucianism, Daoism, and Polytheism.

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204900666Polytheismbelief in or worship of more than one god or deity0
204900669Hebrew BibleA collection of sacred books containing diverse materials concerning the origins, experiences, beliefs, and practices of the early Hebrew people. Most of the extant text was compiled by members of the priestly class in the fifth century B.C.E.1
204900670AbrahamFounder of Judaism who, according to the Bible, led his family from Ur to Canaan in obedience to God's command.2
204900671DiasporaA Greek word meaning 'dispersal,' used to describe the communities of a given ethnic group living outside their homeland. Jews, for example, spread from Israel to western Asia and Mediterranean lands in antiquity and today can be found in other places.3
204900672Jesus of Nazaretha teacher and prophet born in Bethlehem and active in Nazareth; his life and sermons form the basis for Christianity (Jesus = Messiah)4
204900673MonotheismBelief in a single divine entity. The Israelite worship of Yahweh developed into an exclusive belief in one god, and this concept passed into Christianity and Islam.5
204900674atmanthe individual self (soul), known after enlightenment to be identical with Brahman.6
204900675karma(Hinduism and Buddhism) the effects of a person's actions that determine his destiny in his next incarnation7
204900676darmadoing one's moral duty in this life so that the soul can advance in the next life8
204900677moshkaThe Hindu concept of the spirit's 'liberation' from the endless cycle of rebirths. (One-ness with the Ultimate Reality)9
204900678VishnuVishnu is a Hindu god who, in the trinity of gods, is the Preserver10
204900679Shivaan important Hindu deity who in the trinity of gods was the Destroyer11
204900680mudrasChoreographed hand movements used in the rituals of Vajrayana Buddhism.12
204900681Vedassacred texts in the Hindu religion, they are a set of four collections of hymns and religious ceremonies transmitted by memory through the centuries by Aryan priests13
204900682Rig VedaA collection of 1,017 Sanskrit hymns composed about 1500 BC or earlier; Hinduism's oldest sacred text.14
204900683nirvana(Hinduism and Buddhism) the beatitude that transcends the cycle of reincarnation Ex. characterized by the extinction of desire and suffering and individual consciousness15
204900684BuddhaAn Indian prince named Siddhartha Gautama, who renounced his wealth and social position. After becoming 'enlightened' (the meaning of Buddha) he enunciated the principles of Buddhism.16
204900685Eight Fold PathEight steps to end suffering according to Buddhist tradition., 1- Right Conduct, 2- Right Speech, 3- Right means of livelihood, 4- Right knowledge, 5- Right intention, 6- Right effort, 7- Right mindfulness, 8- Right concentration17
204900686Four Noble Truths1) All life is full of suffering, pain, and sorrow. 2) The cause of suffering is nonvirtue, or negative deeds and mindsets such as hated and desire. 3) The only cure for suffering is to overcome nonvirture. 4) The way to overcome nonvirtue is to follow the Eightfold Path18
204900687ConfuciusChinese philosopher, administrator, and moralist. His social and moral teachings, collected in the Analects , tried to replace former religious observances19
204900688The AnalectsWritten by Confucius, or "The Master." Lists Confucius' great ideas on moral behavior.20
204900689yin-yangOpposite forces in harmony.21
204900690reciprocitypeople give and take equally within the context of five basic relationships; parent and child, sovereign and minister, husband and wife, older and younger brother, friend and friend22
204900691Xiaofilial piety, the virtue of reverence and respect for family (CONFUCIANISM)23
204900692RenThe Confucian virtue of ____ ("benevolence" or "humaneness") means that a person will always do what is right, regardless of the consequences.24
204900693LiOrderly rituals, demonstrates respect and reciprocity25
204900694Laozithe "Old Master" who encouraged people to give up worldly desires in favor of nature; he founded Taoism (Daoism)26
204900695DaoismChina's second most influential system after Confucianism. (More spiritual)27
204900696Tao"The Way"; indefinable but like nature, naturalness28
204900697JudaismFirst monotheistic religion that greatly influenced Christianity and Islam.29
204900698IslamOriginated from Muhammad in the Arabian Peninsula and gradually spread to the Middle East, Western India, Western China, Saharan Africa, and Moorish Spain. (Lack of hierarchical structure)30
204900699AllahIslamic God (one god)31
204900700Muhammad"Seal of the Prophets" (Jewish Abraham, Moses; Christian Jesus, Muhammad)32
204900701Five Basic PillarsFaith, charity, fasting, pilgrimage, prayer33
204900702ChristianityTeachings of Jesus / One God34
204900703GospelsMain sources of Jesus early teachings (Sacred Text = Bible)35

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