World Religions: Key Concepts and Beliefs
Key Concepts in World Religions
The Protestant Reformation: Martin Luther, excommunicated from the Roman Catholic Church, initiated the Protestant Reformation, a significant movement in Christian tradition.
Understanding Religion: Religions are often categorized as Eastern or Western. Western religions like Judaism, Christianity, and Islam are typically monotheistic, while Eastern religions such as Hinduism and Buddhism are often polytheistic. They also differ in their views of time, with one seeing it as cyclical and the other as linear.
Varanasi: This city is considered the holiest in Hinduism.
Mahatma Gandhi: A key figure in India’s independence movement, Gandhi emphasized non-violence and was influenced by Jainism.
Common Elements in Religions: Major world religions share elements like community, scriptures, rituals, places of worship, and traditions.
Communicating with God: Methods vary, including prayer, meditation, and silence.
Characteristics of Fundamentalism: These include exclusiveness, charismatic leadership, dualism, scriptural inerrancy, the concept of the elect, and a belief in the imminent end of the world.
Soteriology: This is the study of salvation, particularly as effected by Jesus Christ.
Doctrine of Jainism: This Eastern, non-violent religion emphasizes avoiding violence to prevent attracting karmic matter. Actions have consequences in present and future lives.
Hadiths: These sacred texts record the words and deeds of the Prophet Muhammad and are second in importance to the Quran in Islam.
Importance of Interreligious Dialogue: It fosters tolerance and builds positive relationships between religions, promoting social cohesion and mutual respect.
Satmar Group: Considered fundamentalist due to their rejection of liberalism as a denial of Christian doctrine.
Salvation in Eastern vs. Western Religions: Eastern views emphasize obedience and grace through a spiritual preceptor, while Western views often involve a messiah or prophet.
The Elect: Those chosen as sacred by God.
The Elephant in the Room: Jesus Christ.
New Testament and Jesus: Christianity views Jesus as both fully human and fully divine.
Karma: A concept in Buddhism and Hinduism, referring to actions that affect one’s fortunes in this and future lives.
Islam’s View of Mary: Islam venerates Mary as a holy figure.
The Problem of Suffering: The problem of suffering is evidence that we don’t know much about our god. God’s love and sacrifice through Jesus Christ offer a path to reconciliation, though suffering may still occur in this world.