RELIGION 212 - Charting

To: President Obama and family and all believers and non-believers in God.

I would like to dedicate all my time that I put into this class to my dear mother (Mary Alice Barnett who recently passed) and my dear father (Major Waddell Barnett who passed away too long ago) and grandmother (Lucille Miller who went back to school in an age of fall) and got her degree in college and my dearest aunt (Daisy Jackson who was like a second mother to me) and my other dearest aunt (Beatrice Hamilton who moved and relocated to Ohio who also acted like a second mother) and Uncle Willie L. Jackson (an Uncle who represented a father figure in our life and wonderful brother to my mother (Mary Alice) and lastly Mr. Nute Scott a dear family friend who taught me some of the aspects of the world and true reality. These beautiful people in my life helped forge me, encouraged me and made me dream and live this great American Dream. I won't stop. I encourage all young people to step up and defend your stance because the torch of America the Dream is yours and the nation will be defended to keep you strong, united to defend self and home. I love you people for saving me and mine. Thank you.

Felicia

HINDUISM
WEEK 2

Cosmogony - Origin of the Universe
Based under the Brahman belief of absolutism the origin of the universe is that which has no beginning or end. Also, that the physical universe has its own reality and within it the one of pure Absolute exists. He who is unknown is Him the eye does not see, nor the tongue express, nor the mind grasp and creator of the universe and all therein with his essence within.
Fisher, 2014, P. 77 & 78

Nature of God/Creator
Hindus as a religion is monotheism as well as polytheism. As such the diversity of religious worship encompasses many approaches and is a manifestation of bhakti which is affective to the three major groupings of deities: Shaktas, Shaivites and Vaishnavites with emphasis on one Supreme God.
Under these three major deities are sub Gods and Goddesses that facilitate and help in certain purposes.
Fisher, P. 84-89

View of Human Nature
Various views of human nature consist of the viewpoint “such as a man thinks so is he”, “every act we make and even every thought and every desire we have, shapes our future experiences, karmic interpretation “our life, our thoughts, our deeds become us one and all”.
Further as we sow so shall we reap from the deed of our self whether good or evil and because of this every act has a consequence.
Another view that humans as humans are frailty and susceptible to sin and as thus the cleansing and irradicating of karmic burden must be done to keep all senses balanced. Further the possible losing of values, altruism and willingness for self-denial and the lost of faith in saints and God is the reason why and attributor as to the reason of why faith is needed for without a guideline or anchor who is nothing now is those who stand and view self as an oasis.
Fisher, P. 77, 91

View of Good & Evil
Hindus views of good and evil are prevalently immersed in the ideology that performing or carrying out duties are attributed to the stage of good vs evil and as such helps maintain social and cosmic order. The negative karmic burden is seen as relational to evil and as such should be rid of to keep disciplined status of liberation.
Fisher, P. 101

View of Salvation
The view of salvation is ultimately a tribute to transcend the self to a higher level that withstands and denies the servitude to the impetuous demands of the senses, without thought of materialistic attachment to success or failure. As such the inner self is euphorically happy for it has reached a state of base in servitude to the creator the Supreme Being.
Fisher, P. 93

View of After Life
The view of after life is symbolically looked as a form of reincarnation. This purposeful step allows the rebirth and renewing of spirit by manifesting itself as a soul returned in human form. As such the view of death is not feared but rejoiced as a new coming and facilitator to achieve what the Supreme God has designated to be done.
As a karma routine this further support the attribution of our destiny and challenges whether the oppositional in nature or sheer steps of conquest.
Fisher, P. 77

Practices and Rituals
As a Hinduristic religion the diversity is relative to its religious foundation and diverse theistic paths with servitude to one (the Absolute, the Supreme Reality).
The Vedas are its foundational base in the Hinduism and acts as collective texts of sacred teaching with representational writings, practices and ritualistic steps.
Further practices and rituals are assistants to finding spiritual truth, inner harmony, realization and immortality.
Also, with the practices of meditative contemplation comes the state of riddance of ordinary thinking that is replaced by higher levels of conscious thought supported by illumination and clarity.
Fisher, P.75,76,80,83

Celebrations & Festivals
Hinduism being of such a multitude of religious diversity allows the celebration and tribute to God and sub deities numerous times of the year.
Because of the love and honor to tradition this allows the involvement of all to participate to facilitate group energy to attract God’s presence, foil off karmic burden and encourage happiness, joy and faith.
These celebrations and festivals serve in themselves to remind that protective forces exist and ensure comfort that good will triumph over evil.
Further this gathering also are used as social reforms, religious matters and proposed Hindu code of conduct.
Fisher, P. 108

JAINISM
WEEK 2

Cosmogony - Origin of the Universe
Jainism concept of the universe is that it is without beginning or end and passes through long cycles of progress and decline.
Further that the universe is without beginning and has no creator or destroyer.
Fisher, P. 122, 124

Nature of God
The nature of God/Creator exists but is not emphasized as a deity that is totally accountable for the self.
The accountability to God is only acknowledged when the state of happy, long life and threatened states of virtue become compromised.
Fisher, P. 122, 124

View of Human Nature
Jainism view human nature as a state of imperfection but still with the possibility to control senses, thought to obtain the level of perfection, freedom and happiness.
Further their conception of women include the ideology that a woman cannot achieve a state of pureness to allow the rise to a higher heaven.
Fisher, P. 121, 123

View of Good and Evil
The Jains view of good and evil are equitable to the level of applied purification, disciplining of minds, body and the embracing of strong strict ethical principles.
Based upon this the state of good and evil is approached indirectly and facilitates corrective actions and penance.
The “Jiva” which pertains to a person’s individualized higher conscious or soul helps also facilitate transcending of thought that support good and defeats evil.
Thereby becoming a “Jina” who has challenged the all and overcame the villainy of evil and become secure in the embrace of good.
Fisher, P.123, 124

View of “Salvation”
Jainism and Salvation is synonymous with correction, duty and purification to lead to upward consciousness, thought and thereby prevention of sin. Actively they believe that our actions influence our state of “is” and as such reveals our future, karma and lives to come.
Freedom of burdensome accumulation helps facilitate an upward rise to purification, liberated being and perfect bliss.
Fisher, P. 124, 125

View of After Life
Jainism view of the after life believe in the presence of karmic burdens that effectively change lives and affect after life.
Also, they believe in the state of reincarnation until freed from samsara (the wheel of birth and death).
As each life descends and renew the eradication of karma is facilitated until a stage of “Jiva” comes into existence.
Fisher, P. 123, 125

Practices and Rituals
The paths of Jainism consist of ascetism and is practiced fully by full monks and nuns. As a further supporter and practice of ascetism is the stage of devotional meditation, celibacy, physical penance, fasting and material simplicity. Also, as a practice they limit the harm to self, others and the environment.
Ritualistic praise of paying respect before images of the Tirthankaras with humble offerings and waving of lamps.
With the final ultimate practice and ritual of fasting until death.
Fisher, P. 128, 129

Celebrations and Festivals
Celebrations and festivals are dissimilar to the Hindus with a meditative approach, renunciation, fasting, scriptural study and hymns.
Divali is an occasion for a three day fast with an entire night of reciting hymns and meditation on Mahavira.
The last day is set aside for worship of pure knowledge.
Paryushan Mahaparva is an eight day fast that includes reading of scriptural readings and lectures about ethical living and virtue of forgiveness with the last day “Forgiveness Day”.
Fisher, P. 128-133

BUDDHISM
WEEK 3

Cosmogony - Origin of the Universe
Budda or Buddism does not focus on descriptions of an unseen reality, the nature of the soul, life after death or the origin of the universe.
Fisher, P. 143

Nature of God/Creator
Buddhism is described as a nontheistic religion with the thought of there is no personal God who created the world or to whom prayers can be directed.
Fisher, P. 143

View of Human Nature
Humans traverse their own life patterns and will be encumbered with grief, unfulfilled desires, sickness or illness, old age, physical and mental pain, mental anguish and death.
Further that states of emotional upheaval causes suffering (selfish, greedy, grasping, jealousy and enviousness).
A human being is an impermanent composite of interdependent physical, emotional and cognitive components.
Fisher, P. 144

View of Good & Evil
Buddha said that if our mind is defiled and uncontrolled suffering will follow…therefore comes the acts of sin and the battle between Good and Evil.
Also, if the mind is purified and well-trained it becomes a facilitator for Good and a combatant against Evil.
The Wheel of Birth and Death as it relates to rebirth reflectively supports levels of good that bring forth good and little or no karmic burdens and therefore a good life follows but those with significant karmic burdens relating to sin and acts of evil bring forth a life of expectancy (trouble, misery, unhappiness) a non-facilitator to itself.
Nirvana is equated to Good.
Fisher, P. 145, 146, 149

View of Salvation
As far as salvation, Nirvana is a facet that assist in the ability to acquire salvation…it is listed as a desired state of mind or heart.
All states of rebirth are imperfect and impermanent.
Fisher, P. 143, 148, 149

View of After Life
This viewpoint consist of the teaching that there is no rebirth (no eternal, independently existing soul to be reborn).
Cycle of Samsara (repeated birth, aging, suffering and death as result of their actions and mental defilement)
Karma concerns the action of body, speech and mind.
Based on the karmic burden when death occurs the actions of virtuous and non-virtuous affect the rebirth and consequence of new life.
Fisher, P. 146, 149

Practices and Rituals
Meditation techniques to cultivate the mind are Samatha & Vipassana.
Refuge formula recited to experience refuge (haven and connecting with the timeless presence of the Buddha.
Consecrating new images of the Buddha by closing eyes with beeswax and covering the heads with cloth until morning and offered milk and sweet rice.
Vajrayana practices (tantric practices or lamas entail using the subtle vital energies of the body to transform the mind.
Chanting of mantras.
Chanting and homage to the Lotus Sutra.
Zazen (sitting meditation).
Fisher, P. 153, 162, 168, 170, 171, 173

Celebrations & Festivals
Vesak is celebrated to honor Buddha’s birth, enlightenment, & death all which occurred on the same day. (Theravadins).
Vajrayana Buddhist celebrates Buddha’s conception, birth, enlightenment and death.
Hana Matsuri is celebrated in Japan with rituals of sweet tea over the little Buddha, parades with cherry blossoms flowing everywhere.
Magha aka Magha Puja Day is celebrated to honor Buddha’s early teaching and the joining of most of the recipients and the gift of a bamboo grove for his use.
Festival of the Tooth honoring Buddha’s tooth is paraded through the street on a decorated elephant.
Festival of Floating Bowls is celebrated on the full moon on the twelfth lunar month. Bowls of leaves and flowers with candles and incense are floated upon the water of rivers and canals.
Fisher, P. 173-175

DAOISM
WEEK 4

Cosmogony - Origin of the Universe
Although there is no mention referring to origin of the universe – cosmic forces is indicated that an outer universe exist and thereby indicates that it has a foundation and is referred to as “cosmos”.
Further that cosmos is affective to the state of qi (ch’i) and that it is all that is comprised and united in a state of yin and yang. Creative rhythm of the universe is called Dao (Tao) or “way”.
Heaven, earth and humanity all arise from the same, the Dao, first cause of the cosmos.
Fisher, P. 189, 191, 197

Nature of God/Creator
That the almighty creator is innate in the cosmic balance and interplay of yin and yang as it facilitates interpenetration of each other.
Also, that the Dao (Tao) as it relates to the universe gives indication and acknowledgement of a higher entity because it states that the idea of the presence is called the “unnamable”, the “eternally real” as supportive of the teachings and religious practice.
As with other religions the deferment to a higher entity is referred to in this same manner.
Fisher, P. 191, 195

View of Human Nature
All with nature must have a balance and that within itself must be harmonious. That humans must be as flow and change and adapt without force as change prevails.
That man who facilitates acceptance overcomes the acts of good and evil. Also, that Dao is our original nature and as such is as one with all things.
Fisher, P. 195, 196

View of Good & Evil
In Daoism the philosophy of this religion is to be accepting and cooperate with things as they are and not attribute states of Good or Evil.
That nothing is evil but seen as a state out of balance.
Fisher, P. 195, 196

View of Salvation
That the purpose of preparing for life after death is to obtain a position of harmony. Also, that we stay as we are and await the true.
Fisher, P. 200

View of After Life
The older Han religion that is one of Daoist sects that believe in the After Life with good fortune or bad fortune based upon heavenly records that are recorded and reflects good and bad deeds.
Also, included in some Daoist scriptures is indifference regarding birth and death with others teaching ways of attaining physical immortality. Based on the state of physical immortality the state of being that is flesh is cleansed and graced with good fortune to achieve a harmonious life that reoccurs.
Fisher, P. 193, 199,200, 201, 203

Practices and Rituals
Traditions of the Chinese requires respect to ancestors – family’s founding ancestors and recently deceased with funerals, mourning rites (rituals) and continuing sacrifices (sacred sacrifices called “li”).
Chinese people of early times worshiped a great amount of invisible spirits.
The use of oracle bones to divine and answer questions by the king.
Yijeng (I Ching) or Book of Changes in this book are examples of using yin or yang to answer questions by providing symbolistic numbers that correspond and give interpretation. As such because of studying to vary and change behavior to keep on a correct path.
Zhang Daoling advocated practices of healing by faith and advocated and created quasi-military organization to continue.
Highest Purity Daoism practices consisted of revealing discovered deities, meditation methods, alchemy and rituals. These meditations focused on purification with divine energies.
Highest Purity: Numinous Treasure School – created new meditation practices, divine beings, rituals, scriptures, heavens, rebirth, and hells.
Complete Perfection – unites Daoist inner alchemy with Chan Buddhist meditation and Confucian social morality – blending all three to a level of harmony. Focusing on meditation and nonattachment to the world.
Practicing Daoist nuns and monks are of equal standing or status – training in classical arts, chanting, music and practices to develop qi.
Practice of Acupuncture Therapy that utilize the concept of qi is facilitated if activated and thereby healing.
Practice of Taiji quan as a supportive to martial arts, flexibility and dexterity. Also, is physically beneficial to controlling blood pressure, muscular coordination, balance and is very useful to elderly people.
qi gong is widely used in China as a self-cultivation system to use qi throughout the body to combat illnesses, cure diseases, increase levels of physical vitality and improve concentration.
Falun Gong – a hybrid – mixture of Daoist energy and Buddhism to use levels of spirituality in the version as a Dharma Wheel within the stomach (abdomen) to allow advanced energy practices.
Falun Dafa a practice classified as a movement that is severely curtailed since 1999 by the government and is portrayed as an evil cult using pretence as a religion to practice political and criminal activities.
Fisher, P. 189, 190, 201, 202, 203, 204, 206, 207

Celebrations & Festivals
Seven-Day-and-Night Rituals for Accumulating Merits.
Fisher, P. 205

CONFUCIANISM
WEEK 4

Cosmogony - Origin of the Universe
Confucianism does not make emphasis on origin of the universe or the ever-changing nature of things in the cosmos but focus on ways of developing a just and orderly society. Thereby focusing on the improvement of humans to levels of transcendency (immanent) and moral will of human.
Fisher, P. 207

Nature of God/Creator
Confucianism models itself on the view of Heaven and as such feels the link between cosmos and self is supportive to the obtaining of peace within and without and with the moral cultivation of the individual and family. Heaven is equivalent to God because he is all and empowers the righteous and there is a direct connection between the goodness of human nature and nature of Heaven.
Fisher, P. 210, 211, 213

View of Human Nature
Confucian’s view of human nature looks upon all as a benevolent parent to help instill the virtues of ren (jen). This term translated reflects that innate goodness, love, benevolence, perfect virtue, humanness and human-heartedness are inner qualities that become as flesh, bone and blood. Therefore, the quest for peace is initiated and continue to help the continuous facilitation of instilling, retainership and high levels of moralistic values.
Further that man is inherently good and governed by principles of humanity and need to do good for the people.
Also, that human nature tendency is to be envious, competitive, have desire for personal gain and sensual pleasure.
Fisher, P. 209, 210, 211, 212

View of Good & Evil
Based on the maxim of doing good unto others as you would have done to self is taught in Confucious and falls under the category of good. Further that good is an internal trait and part of human nature.
Goal of Confucian learning is to cultivate inner virtues and always acting in accordance with the way of Heaven with the view of good and evil stressed & with emphasis.
Fisher, P. 211, 212

View of Salvation
Based on the Chinese belief in Heaven the way to salvation includes the way to cultivate moral virtues and interaction between human rulers and Heaven. Also, that to be free of chaos is synonymous with salvation and peace is part of the steps towards moral cultivation and being saved.
Fisher, P. 207, 208, 210

View of After Life
One of the ideas that affect the After Life is that consistent study and upholding of moralistic thoughts and value help facilitate a life of inspiration and preparedness for the next life.
Fisher, P. 212

Practices and Rituals
Practice of virtue, pursuit of self-cultivation, study of and emulation of the ancient sages. The teaching of Confucius as a practice with rituals help in the formation of social morality, personal improvements and an ethical member of family and society.
Quietude (meditation) helps to find balance and way of Heaven.
Fisher, P. 216, 217, 219

Celebrations & Festivals
Although no celebrations or festivals are listed the Chinese authorities have reintroduced the teaching of Confucius and reviving aspects of the religious cult as well as celebration of Confucius’s Birthday. The Confucian in Qufu, the home of Confucius was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site…with millions of tourists visiting for gala celebration of Master Kong’s birthday.
Fisher, P. 217

WEEK 5
SHINTO

Cosmogony - Origin of the Universe
There is no mention of origin of the universe but referral is made to “Kami” as the harmonizer of heaven or earth and guider of the solar system and cosmos.
Revered light of brightness and purity considered the natural order of the universe.
But according to Nihongi’s account “that in primeval ages before the earth was formed amorphous matter floated freely about like oil upon water” and in conclusion one can surmise that the earth and universe was formed from such matter.
Fisher, P. 224, 226, & 229, 230

Nature of God/Creator
The name of Shinto is indication that a higher entity exists by its interpretation “divine being” and “way” and as in all religions this is the hierarchy and claim that a God exists.
Kami is translated as “God” or “Spirit” and indicative of singular or plural interpretation of a single essence existing and manifesting in many places.
That an unknown “quality” exists above and which evokes belief, wonder and awe. Also, this unknown “quality” resides in beautiful places, power places, mountains, certain trees,
unusual rocks, waterfalls, whirlpools and animals.
Fisher, P. 222, 224

View of Human Nature
Due to the need to perform rites of purification to rid the person of negative vibes this substantiates and helps prove that human nature is full of challenges of good and bad, have a hostile nature, be overly sensitive to negative karma or vibrations, have wicked mindsets and a sinful nature.
Fisher, P. 232

View of Good & Evil
Although, there is no clear cut expression of good and evil there is indication that evil exists due to statues of guardian animals exhibited to protect areas from evil intrusions. Also, that good is represented as sacred places where reverence and prayer is con-ducted. These places are holy precincts of the Kami and as such is treated most respectfully. Also, that sexuality per se is not evil.
Fisher, P. 229, 232

View of Salvation
As a step to salvation is the purification rites to help connect to Kami and by doing so rid the nature of tsumi or kegare. As such it allows the progression to a state of clean, brightness, righteousness and straightness. Further that lack of purity is called tsumi or kegare which is a state of undesirability that brings forth negative.
Fisher, P. 232

View of After Life
As Buddhism is practiced alongside Shinto it helps to prepare all for the afterlife by helping rid or remove the karma from the dead by performing rituals. Whereas Shinto prepares the body and soul with life affirming rituals to bless with good and light – conception, birth and marriage.
Fisher, P. 234, 235

Practices and Rituals
The preparation of worship in shrines to encourage the Kami to dwell within takes years for priests to learn. Neither priests or priestesses are not required to live in the state of ascetic.
Daily offerings are made by the Japanese people in their homes of rice, water, and salt.
Drawing of paper lots to tell fortune and tying them to tree branches and engaging of a shrine priest to purify new cars or building plots.
Feb. 3 the end of winter people throw out beans to signify tossing out bad luck and acceptance of good luck and at shrines priests shoot arrows to break the power of misfortunes.
June is devoted to rites to protect crops from insects, blights and bad weather.
Fall brings Thankgiving rites for harvest with first fruits to the Kami with celebration in the streets.
Fisher, P. 230, 231, 232

Celebrations & Festivals
Festivals are used to celebrate a person’s life throughout the years starting at four months before birth, 32 or 33 days after birth, age of 13, age of 16 hair upswept female, marriage, turning 61, 67, or 88.
Seasonal festivals celebrating agriculture and wish for good crops.
The local shrines celebrate with their own Kami with a festival with the Kami exhibited throughout the streets.
The biggest festival celebrates New year and at the Meji Shrine in Tokyo three million people visit to pray for good luck in the next year.
Celebration of reaching the age of twenty on Jan. 15 and on Nov. 15 – Children who are 3, 5, or 7 for protection of the Kami.
From March to April a spring festival is held to purify rites and prayers for a successful planting season.
Fisher, P. 231, 232

WEEK 5
Zoroastrianism
Cosmogony - Origin of the Universe
According to this religion and Zarathushtra’s mystical visions that there is only one divine being (Ahura Mazda) who creates and orders the universe.
Fisher, P. 244

Nature of God/Creator
Ahura Mazda, the Creator God surrounded by six angelic presences of divinity. Monotheistic in nature, but associative with forces of nature – earth, the arch of the sky, water, plants, cattle and fire. The Wise Lord from which all good comes forth. The Eternal Being whom bring the help of divine: The Good Mind, Righteousness, Absolute Power, Devotion, Perfection and Immortality. As written the utterance of these Holy Ones names are reputed to bring forth succor, protection, rest, peace, salvation, grace, life, truth, abundance, mercy, love and all.
Mirthra, Guardian of Light, Beauty, Mercy and Grace, Protector of Truth and Justice, bestower of all and wealth.
Fisher, P. 242, 244

View of Human Nature
As per the world there is good and evil in all and as such the choice is there to walk the path of God or not. Further no person is perfect and as such they have free will and mental ability to choose between the two powers.
Fisher, P. 244

View of Good & Evil
According to Zarathushtra the problem of the existence of evil is conceptualized by if evil exist then so does good. As such there is cosmic dualism that reflects a battle between the two and that irregardless Ahura Mazda is Supreme.
Spenta Mainyu represents the good spirit (life, order, perfection, health, happiness, increase) and Angra Mainyu represents the evil spirit (not-life, chaos, imperfection, disease, sorrow and destruction). Further that evil is not all powerful or eternal but to assure the victory of good over evil human must become spiritual warriors and choose the side of Spenta Mainyu.
That non-loving acts in the name of religion contribute to the cause of evil.
Fisher, P. 244

View of Salvation
That the path is wider when journeying to be saved if there is no accumulation of sin in over abundance. That a time of “refreshment” will occur and all will be resurrected into perfected immortality. For all to be saved the good of many must be enlisted.
Fisher, P. 244

View of After Life
That there is no eternal hell for good will ultimately triumph and as such a state of immortality will come as well as a state of perfection.
Fisher, P. 244

Practices and Rituals
The act of tying a sacred cord (Kusti) around the waist or mid-section five times a day. The purpose is to gird themselves (male or female) against temptation and become soldiers for Ahura Mazda to allow themselves to be strengthened and enlightened when they follow the spiritual path.
Rituals of purification are also done using water as its most symbolic form.
Fire is used for it transformative purifying power in rituals and in a fire temple only Zoroastrians can enter.
Lay Zoroastrians also worship in their homes or in a pen area facing a light source.
When a person dies the physical remains – Zoroastrians carry it to the Tower of Silence to allow vultures to pick the bones clean.
Survivors of the dead or departed observe anniversaries of the deceased by invoking of the fravashi.
Fisher, P. 245

Celebrations & Festivals
There appears to be no celebrations or festivals held.
Fisher, P. 242-245

WEEK 6
JUDAISM

Cosmogony - Origin of the Universe
Biblical history relays the beginning with creation of the world by a Supreme Deity or God.
According to Hebrew scriptures the creation of heaven and earth was created by God in six days by breathing his life breath until all became reality with living creatures and then Adam and Eve.
Listed in Genesis 1, Glorifying our Father God as the Creator of the Universe.
Isaac Luria explained Creation as the beaming of Divine light into ten special vessels which exploded and from these spewed good and evil.
Fisher, P. 246, 249, 258, 268

Nature of God/Creator
God is portrayed as a transcendent creator without origins, gender, or form, a being utterly different from what we created. Also called “Yahweh” for the supreme deity. That God is referred to or described in male singular terms. That he is a fair God but stern and if his commandments are not followed then comes the punishment, but if followed then comes the life of Harmony. That he is protective, loving, forgiving and allows a second chance.
The Canaanites view of God is polytheistic and as such there were many that represented worship for different things a high male god called El, Great Mother Goddess named Asherah and possibly others.
God is also referred to as “Ehyeh (I Am), The Lord, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you”.
“LORD” is considered too sacred to be pronounced. In the Hebrew scriptures it is relayed in consonants as YHWH or YHVH.
Also, referred to as the “Divine” and God of the Jews. God in the form, the order, structure, heights and at the head of the great chain of hierarchical being, God is premise.
God’s presence in the world in relationship to the people is called Shekhinah (feminine noun that represents his nurturing spirit). Also, referred to as Holy One. An omnipotent and caring God. The Jewish belief is that they are monotheism. Creator God “the cause of all existent things”. God is everywhere, even in the darkness.
God’s oneness with all the universe, past, future and forever. Torah is God’s Will, God’s Wisdom.
God is perceived as a loving Father who is infinitely majestic and patient with his children when dealing with the need to chastise them.
All powerful personal God who rewards the righteous and punishes the wicked. For I the Lord am He who brought you up from the Land of Egypt to be your God: You shall be holy, for I am Holy. God is referred to as the “Loved One”. God is my light, is a silent whisper and a shadow beneath the wings. God is like Father, Mother, King and womb of succor.
Fisher, P. 249, 250, 251, 252, 254, 255, 257, 263, 264, 272, 278, 279, 282, 283, 286, 296

View of Human Nature
That all have to be good citizens to correct an imperfect world to a state of perfection.
That the people have a tendency to be unfaithful and serve another God and would not obey and was sent into exile from the promised land.
The essential commandment to humans is to love God. Humans are the pinnacle of creation, created in his (God) own image and as such mirror his good qualities – justice, wisdom, righteousness and love. Also, that all are potentially equal and perfectible and capable of evolving themselves to an upper level of purity through God. That they all have free will and have involvement and responsibility for their own condition and the world.
That all value life and view it as sacred. Also, in order to treat each other fairly – you must love yourself first then find contentment because you can love others the same as yourself.
Also, that humans are susceptible to sin and as such the forbidding and correcting of this behavior is rendered through the Noahide Code of Seven Universal Principles.
That the act of charity is encouraged to facilitate justice. That all are flawed in their thinking, actions and need to change inwardly and ask forgiveness of those they have wronged during the ten Days of Awe.
That the tradition of worship exists for the people as their bread, meat, drink and substance.
Fisher, P. 250, 274, 279, 280, 281, 287, 294

View of Good & Evil
The view of Good and Evil is personified with the true knowledge that held the key and God has. Because of the partaking of its fruits they became knowledge and was removed from the garden of immortality.
That with the acts of evil they risk their Father’s displeasure but with acts of good they gain their Father’s favor.
As with acceptance of Torah, the commitment is to teach the way of justice and righteousness and remain aloof from worldly temptations, sin and doing the work of evil or allowing the culpability to dwell within.
Serving of false gods is considered a service of evil and a perpetrator to aid sin.
Loyalty and faithfulness is seen as good and as such a continuance to prevent evil (sin). To further facilitate acts of good the “Teacher of Righteousness” (priest) helped instill the corrective and stabilized knowledge to not sin but live in God’s glory.
That the “Sons of Light” (good) and “Sons of Darkness” (evil) would wage a battle to rein over all.
That God will prevail over evil and reward good people and punish evil people and urge people to live lives of righteousness.
That the messianic end of the age, or end of the world would be heralded by great oppression and wickedness.
That good and evil existed when the Universe was created. (Isaac Luria).
Also, that the levels of chaos and evil have to be fought with Holiness to clean the people and the earth.
That every act of good and evil has a consequence and because of this God is in the plan to help them accede to righteous levels and instill good within.
Hasidism is the path of ecstatic piety – a level of supreme good and glory in the Lord. As such, the joy and contentment in his lot prevents the acts of spiraling evil and acts of such.
Holocaustic murder was not seen as evil but it is a crime against God and his. No level of good came from these actions just sin and evilness.
Adultery is strictly forbidden and considered one of the worst sins against God and purity of lineage.
That righteous will triumph while all wickedness vanishes like smoke.
That the bitter herbs eaten with unleavened bread (matzah) were indicated and associated with slavery and as such an act of evil, oppression and abuse of a race.
Fisher, P. 249, 250, 251, 255, 256, 257, 259, 260, 261, 268, 270, 283, 286, 290

View of Salvation
By following the commandments this will lead them to a life of harmony with God and salvation.
That the Messiah would come to save all, end evil times and restore peace.
By continuing to search and add to their laws, liturgy, worship, midrash and continual belief this will strengthen them and help keep them safe until the final day.
That everyone is capable of the highest enlightenment and that God is everywhere and that there is no need to wait for salvation because it is
here already. (Baal Shem Tov)
Fisher, P. 250, 260,268, 293

View of After Life
That rewards or punishment will be administered based on a person’s deeds and life. Further, that the final resurrection of the body on the Day of Judgment will be the uptmost of Joy for clean I will be of all sin and perfect in my Father’s eye.
It is said that in the afterlife one can see the Jewish sages still bent over their books studying. This is paradise.
Fisher, P. 258, 262

Practices and Rituals
The Essenes (male) members of this group dress in white, share properly communally, avoid luxury and place great emphasis on ritual purity.
Meeting of people in synagogues to read the Torah, worship communally, pray simply and directly to God. A Minyan – quorum of ten adult males – have to be present for community worship.
Women were excluded from Formal Torah study due to their family responsibilities. Strict dietary laws, preparing for the Sabbath, home-centered aspects of Jewish religious life, lighting the Sabbath candles, teaching their daughters the commandments for adult life, regulating sexual expression in marriage to maintain ritual purity in their homes. Responsa Literature – a book of questions and answers ranging from simple to complexity.
A practice that is continued is esoteric teaching known as the Kabbalah.
Zionism (Jewish movement) was initiated to establish a politically viable, internationally recognized Jewish state in the biblical land of Israel. (To protect themselves against anti-Semitism.)
Daily scriptural reading, study, remember God always in all aspects of life through prayer and observance of commandments.
Boys are ritually circumcised in the brit milah ceremony when they are eight years old. Sexual intercourse is forbidden during menstrual periods and seven days after with immersion in the Mikva (deep bathing structure) symbolizing their altered state.
Marital sex is sacred with the Sabbath night the holiest time for making love.
Morning begins with a prayer before they open their eyes to thank God for restoring the soul. Washing of hands before reciting blessings (males) and putting a special fringed rectangle of cloth around the neck.
For weekday morning prayers men put t’fillin or phylacterics (small leather boxes) con-taining biblical verses about the covenant with God, on the forehead and upper arm, held against the heart in fulfillment of the Shema Commandment.
Prayers recited on waking and at bedtime, three prayer services are chanted daily in a synagogue by men if there is a minyan (quoram of ten).
Jews are expected to give thanks continually and should recite a hundred benedictions to God everyday.
The Jewish Sabbath is observed as an eternal sign of the covenant between Jews and God.
The Saturday morning service incorporates public and private prayers, singing, and the reading of passages from the Torah scrolls.
In davening or with the intensity of prayers the swaying of their bodies induces a self-forgetful state of estatic communion with the loved one. When welcoming the Sabbath, observant families begin the Sabbath eve with a special Friday night dinner. (The mother lights the candles and the Father recites a blessing over the wine.) Special braided bread, Challah is shared as a symbol of the double portions of manna in the dessert.
Bar Mitzvah – coming of age at thirteen, boys, is called up to read a portion from the Torah scroll and recite a passage from one of the books of the prophets, the reading. Personal inner cleansing.
In conservative Judaism women have long served as cantors and have been ordained as rabbis since 1985.
Fisher, P. 259, 262, 265, 268, 273, 274, 283, 284, 285, 286, 287, 293

Celebrations & Festivals
High Holy Days of Rosh Hashanah (New Year’s Day) and Yom Kippur is a time of spiritual renewal in remembrance of the original creation of the world. 30 days prior each morning synagogue service brings the blowing of the shofar (a ram’s horn that produces an eerie, unearthly blast) to remind the people that they stand before God.
Eve of Rosh Hashanah – a prayer is recited asking that all humanity will remember what God has done, that there will be honor and joy for God’s people and that righteousness will triumph while “all wickedness vanishes like smoke”.
Ten Days of Awe follow Rosh Hashanah to encourage people to change inwardly by looking at their mistakes of the past year.
Sukkot is a full festival, a simple outdoor booth (a sukkah) is built for seven days and decorated as a dwelling place for seven days. This is a ritual act that helps solidify faith that his purpose and love is strong in comparison to the fragile home (sukkah) they have built to celebrate and renew their faith within.
Simhat Torah (Joy in Torah) ends with the yearly cycle of Torah reading, from creation to the death of Moses, & beginning again.
Hanukkah, the. Feast of Dedication, each night for eight nights, another candle is lit on a special candle holder.
Tu B’shvat the reawakening of nature by lavishing appreciation on a variety of fruits and plants – in Israel this time is for the planting of trees to help restore life to the desert.
Purim is a bawdy time of dressing in costumes and mocking life’s seriousness with jokes that poke fun at sacred Jewish practices.
Purim is also celebrated with gifts of money to the poor and gifts of food to friends and family.
Pesach or Pass-over celebrates the liberation from bondage in Egypt and springtime of new life. Beginning of Pesach is marked by a Seder dinner with the eating of unleavened bread (matzah) to remember the urgency of the departure and bitter herbs as a reminder of slavery, so that they would never impose it on other people.
Holocaust Memorial Day is observed with a countrywide minute of silence, in which all traffic, speaking, and movement stop entirely.
Shavuot, traditionally identified with the giving of the Torah to Moses on Mt. Sinai and people hearing the voice of God. In Israeli Kibbutzim, the old practice of bringing first fruits to God has been continued.
Three weeks of mourning for the temple of Jerusalem both of which were destroyed on the ninth day of the month of Av (July or August), Tisha Be-av. During this time is fasting and avoidance of joyous activities.
Fisher, P. 286, 287, 288,290

WEEK 7
CHRISTIANITY

Cosmogony - Origin of the Universe
God the Father, the almighty, maker of heaven and earth of all that is seen and unseen.
Fisher, P. 326

Nature of God/Creator
That God sent Jesus (the Christ) to express his love, protection and way. The Holy Spirit is referred to as a Godly entity. God is referred to as Abba. God, the “Protector”, God as the provider of all as a generous parent. That fish were a symbol of Christ and as such he fed them of himself. When Jesus healed pure and unpure, diseased and undiseased he taught the love of humility, goodness and humbleness. For he – my Father is here amongst those of poor and rich and therefore I am too. All that is God is good and as such return good and love for evil. Love your enemies and pray for those who spitefully misuse you. All things are possible with God. Love your neighbor as self.
God and Jesus promising blessings for the poor in spirit, mourners, meek, seekers of right, the pure of and in heart, the merciful, peacemakers and those heralding his word and salvation. God addressed as Abinu she-Bashamayim (Our Father Who are in Heaven). Jesus asked “Who do they say I am?”.
God gave his son power to transfigure personify himself and Father. God as their sole ruler.
Jesus saying that his teaching are not his but his Father and he is the light of the world and he is from above. That he was the good shepherd who came and was willing to lay down his life for his sheep. That he would give his own flesh and blood as sacrifice for the sake of humanity. God personally known as “Abba”. The Father of Jesus is not the immovable, unchangeable God. A gracious God who hears prayers, intercessions and is capable in his mercy of rescinding his own holy will. Messiah, the Son of God (Jesus). Jesus returned and encouraged his disciples to honor his Father and continue to carry the gospel and teach them all. Spirit of God. Saul new name became Paul when God revealed his Holy Presence to him. Jesus the Son of God became known as the cosmic Christ. Forgiving of sin and grace to those who repented and trust in God. Holy Spirit or Holy Ghost is the power and presence of God actively guiding and sustaining the faithful. God the Father, the almighty, maker of heaven and earth of all that is seen and unseen. That the Holy Spirit came from the Father and from the Son. Jesus is of two natures – one divine and one human. That Jesus was the incarnation of God, and saw spirit as good but matter as bad.
God cannot be known through ideas or physical images: “a naked intent toward God, a desire for him alone, is enough.”
God, through Jesus, offered salvation to sinners in spite of their sins. This salvation was offered by God’s grace alone and received solely by repentant faith. That the destiny of all has been decided by God. One whom Christians call God. God so loved the world so much that he gave his only Son, that everyone who has faith in him may not die but have eternal life.
The light of the divine. Jesus is seen as the liberator of the people from political and social oppression, from dehumanization and from sin.
The divine is commonly referred to as “He” or “Father”.
See the mind of God in the perfect, intricate balances of chemistry, biology, and physics that allow life as we know it to exist.
Fisher, P. 305, 306,307,308. 309,310,312, 314,316,317,320,321,322,325,326,329,331,333,335,341,346,352,367,371,372

View of Human Nature
Jesus coming to save us from our sinful nature (sinful humanity). That we should share, give of the Holy Spirit was immersed in the fish and food fed he to the people. That those of learning is held more in account than those of lack. That the self-righteous heeds their own calling and not Gods. That whoever kills shall be liable to the judgment. That to go out of the marriage is adultery and even to look upon a woman with lust is thus too. To love is of God. Love thy neighbor as self. Placing God first is to Love him. Skeptical and suspicious of Jesus as the Messiah. What goes into the mouth does not make a man unclean it is what comes out that does this. Jealousy and hate of Jesus – demands of torture and death.
Non-forgiving state towards the Jews for the killing of Jesus by Christians (animosity). To want knowledge of God and his love and know that the way is hard and has consequences.
To have faith and feelings of justification (being found righteous in God’s sight) which flowers as unselfish good works characterize the true Christian. Also, that faith allows the flowing of love and joy in the Lord. Belief that there are three signs which signify a person is saved: profession of faith, an upright life, & participation in the sacraments. That they should fear no one but God.
That there is always conflict between science and faith. We choose to be disobedient. That temptation is innate. An attitude of withdrawing from negative influence. Peace and joy when you feel God’s power.
The main thing is that the person should be filled with God’s Power.
Humans are thought to have been given dominion over all the things of the earth.
Fisher, P.307, 309,310,312,313,314,318,322,325,335,340,346,348,361,364,371

View of Good & Evil
Dualistic distinction between light and dark. Sinful nature is evil.
The enslaved people of Israel. The crucifixion of Jesus was an act of evil but in his death God allowed a new covenant in which is blood is the forgiveness of all sins.
To continue the teaching of Jesus even with the fear for their life and that he is with them always to the close of Age. The killing of Jesus and his Father who raised him from the dead without flaw. For it says none in God’s kingdom is flawed especially his son. Jesus is the victor as well as ourselves. To worship the old gods by Gentiles. That to suffer for the love of God conquers evil and provides a union with a compassionate God.
Inquisition as an evil to suppress right to worship as you please.
Purgatory (the intermediate place of purifying suffering for those who died in a state of grace but who were not sufficiently stainless to enter heaven).
The understanding of God is the understanding of beauty. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.
African Instituted Churches oriented towards healing and protection from evil.
It is not a question of idealizing poverty, but rather of taking it on as it is – an evil – to protest against it and to struggle to abolish it.
Sometimes “dominion” was interpreted as the right to exploit, rather than the duty to care for, the earth.
Fisher, P. 304, 306,313,316, 320,322,323,325,330,335,344,362, 365,368, 371

View of Salvation
“That God saves” refers to Jesus being sent to save us all.
Kingdom of God as a point of being saved. Repent from sinning. Spiritual purified and sanctified by immersion by baptism in water.
Jesus as Messiah consecration to God when baptized. His disciples following him to be saved and save others. “Only the man who is dead to his own will can follow Christ.”. Pray in private for those who love God and follow the path of righteousness. Ask, it will be given you, seek, you will find, knock and it will be opened to you. All ate and were satisfied (spiritually and physically). Jesus preached God is forgiving to those who repent. The door is more opened to those of sin than those too high to acknowledge God. Loving God is the salvation. Last Judgment is the chance for salvation. One must be like a child to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Love the Lord thy God with all of your strength, and with all your mind and neighbor as self and you will live.
The freeing of the enslaved people of Israel. Hosanna! Blessed be he who comes in the name of Lord! (Jesus).
That Jesus is the stone and cornerstone and God is the building. Faith in eternity is the trust that his love will never die or stop. For in him we live and move and have our being. Salvation came by repentant faith in the Grace of
Christ, rather than by observance of a traditional law. They sought to be living sacrifices giving up the pleasures of the material world for the sake of loving and serving God. To leave home to preach, baptize, prophesy, and die as martyrs. It is not only prayer that gives God glory but work…He is so great that all things give Him glory if you mean they should.
In the silence of wordless prayer, the light of God may pierce the cloud of human unknowing that obscures the divine from the seeker.
Salvation from sin comes from faith in God, which itself comes from God, by grace. Repentence frequently means an inward change, a change of mind from sin to holiness.
Salvation only by God’s grace, through repentence and faith. Salvation requires “good works”.
For the soul longing to be filled with God is to surrender all vestiges of the self. We cannot save ourselves from our fallen condition.
Fisher, P. 306,307,308,309,310, 312,313,316,320,321,323, 324,327,331, 333,335,336,339,340,346

View of After Life
Kingdom of God is desired state of afterlife salvation. Last Judgment is when the Son of Man judges the people of all time, granting or denying eternal life in the Kingdom of God. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. A sign will appear when the Son of man in heaven returns again to gather all who can be saved. As with Jesus resurrection and ascension to heaven and his Heavenly Father kingdom is the promise to all of his return and our salvation. Expectation of the coming of God’s kingdom and final judgment of who would go to heaven and who to hell. Looking to the resurrection of the dead, and the life of world to come. Participating in the partaking of sacraments to gain entrance to heaven in the afterlife.
Rapture – a time when Christians will be transported up to heaven to live with Jesus in immortal bodies.
Fisher, P. 306, 310, 313, 319,325,326, 329,361

Practices and Rituals
The act of baptism to show repentence for sins. Healing, miracles, water into wine, restoring the dead to life, walking on water, casting out devils, feeding the multitudes.
The using of parables by Jesus to teach his Father’s word and law.
The Last Supper - the celebration of his Father’s mercy and agreement to Jesus sacrifice for us.
Many Christians embraced a life of ascetic self-denial by fasting, wearing coarse clothes, renouncing sexuality, spending hours in prayer and contemplation, and serving others. Creeds or professions of faith composed for use in religious instruction and baptism. One baptism for the forgiveness of sins. Turning away from the world to live in solitary communion with God, as ascetics. The monastic life shifted from solitary, unguided practice to formal spiritual supervision. Gregorian chanting. Cathari (the pure) a sect lived ascetically emphasizing poverty and mutual aid. Theology was considered the greatest of the sciences with church ideals permeating the study of all areas of life. Monks specialized in liturgical elaborations and prayer.
Carthusians lived cloistered lives as hermits, meeting each other only for worship and business matters.
Franciscans wondered about without personal property or established buildings telling people about God’s love and accepting charity for their meager needs. Grassroots movement to take private vows of chastity and simplicity and lived frugally.
Christianity then and now follows what is called the affirmative way, with art, liturgy, scriptures, and imagery to aid devotion.
Kenotic pattern of loving and world-directed monastic work to imitate the poverty and self-sacrificing humility of Jesus, eating only dry bread and herbs, praying nights and his days working.
collection of relics.
Sacred rites or sacraments of the church are ways of nourishing faith instituted by Jesus and include baptism and the Eucharist (Lord’s Supper, Holy Communion, or Mass).
Abstaining of eating meat during Lent, veneration of relics and saints, religious pilgrimages, and celibacy for monks and priests. Lord’s Supper to be celebrated as a memorial of Jesus’ sacrifice.
Masses for the dead and confession of one’s sin to a priest.
Methodism – personal holiness and methodical devotions.
Lutheranism-emphasis on liturgy and sacraments.
Protestants – personal faith in Jesus, personal conversion, Bible importance, preaching.
Spiritual Exercises – guide to meditation and spiritual discernment.
Philokalia – Christian guide for monks and laypeople.
A central practice – unceasing prayer. Imitation of Jesus.
Sharing of the peace. Sacraments, confirmation, fasting.
Christmas, Epiphany, Advent, Easter, Lent, Ascension, Pentecost.
Lent – during this time wiping of ash on forehead. Trans-figuration and Assumption. Prayer to angels. Requirement that priest be celibate. Holiness/Pentecostal movement brought spiritual women to the foreground even in times when women were otherwise excluded from church leadership.
Pentecostal-Charismatic movement – social work, run relief services, feeding the poor, building hospitals and schools.
In Africa, indigenous traditions of drumming, dancing, and singing into community worship of a Jesus who is seen as the greatest of ancestors – a mediator carrying prayers and offerings between humans and the divine, and watchful caretaker of the people.
Black Church – building shelters, arranging jobs to treatment for addition, campaigns against police brutality, voter registration drives, leadership training.
Fisher, P. 306, 308, 309,312,316,324,325,326,327,328,330,331,332,333, 334,335,336,337,338,344,348,350,351,357,359,361,364,367,368

Celebrations & Festivals
Lord’s Supper to be celebrated as a memorial of Jesus’ sacrifice.
Christmas, Epiphany, Advent, Easter, Lent, Ascension, Pentecost.
Lent. Trans-figuration and Assumption.
Fisher, P. 351,352,353

WEEK 8
ISLAM

Cosmogony - Origin of the Universe
The sevens to the far limits of the cosmos and thence Divine Proximity. Creation itself is a sign of God’s compassion, as well as of God’s omnipotent will.
I am God. I am the Absolute Truth.
Fisher, P.382,389,403

Nature of God/Creator
That our benevolent God sent a new Prophet Muhammad to teach God’s will and save the people. There is no god but God, and Muhammad is his Messenger.
Worship of many deities controlled by an impersonal force called Fate or Time. Before Islam the Ka’bah is thought to have contained 360 idols of Arabian deities and the Daughters of God and Hubal. Statues of Jesus and Mary enshrined there also. A merciful God that provided Hagar and Isma’il the well of Zum-Zum in the desert. God sent Gabriel to teach him the Qur’an. Thy Lord and Cherisher, Is most bountiful and taught man that he knew not. One God.
Divine Presence. Silent remembrance of God. God guides those whom He will. Word of God are the revelations which are the Qur’an received by Muhammad.
Unity of God. God’s sadness at waywardness of the people. God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful, Lord of the Worlds, Master of Day of Judgment.
That God sent all (Belief that Jewish prophets and Jesus all brought the same messages from God). That God would send another after Jesus to assist humanity (the Paraclete (advocate). Allah (The God).
Allah is our Lord. Him. Oneness of God and of humanity.
Your God is One God. There is no god but He.
God, while One.
One Being – The Most High, The Watchful. Unity applies not only to the conceptualization of God, but also to every aspect of life.
That God sent prophets to correct the stage of religions that decayed into polytheism. God is all-knowing and has intelligently created everything for a divine purpose, governed by fixed laws that assure the harmonious and wondrous working of all creation. That God will send signs of his work – bestowing mercy and protection to believers. God’s compassion, as well as of God’s omnipotent will.
God has mercifully sent us revelations as reminders.
God is the omnipresence, omniscience, and omnipotence of the divine.
God knows everything and is all powerful.
Angels of God nonphysical beings of light who serve and praise God day and night.
God’s impartial judgment of one’s action, and of one’s responsibility to remind others of the fate that may
await them.
God is great. God is the greatest.
Allah listens to him who praises Him.
If ye had trust in God as ye ought He would feed you even as He feeds the birds.
Beloved.
The Beloved is all, the lover just a veil. The Beloved is living, the lover a dead thing.
Muslims cite the power of the divine will to establish a peaceful, God conscious society.
The Lesser Jihad is an external effort to protect the Way of god against the force of evil- safeguarding of one’s life, faith, livelihood, honor, and integrity of the Muslim Community.
Muhammad is considered the prototype of the true mujahid, or fighter in the Path of God, one who values the Path of God more than life, wealth, or family.
Same Voice.
Sovereignty of God is supreme.
For our God and your God is one and the same and it is unto Him that we all surrender ourselves.
Fisher, P. 377,379,380,381,382,383,384, 385,386,387,388,389,390,393,402,403,404,407,417,423,424,429,430

View of Human Nature
Drinking, gambling, prostitution indicate prone to sin.
Entire clan held responsible for its members’ misdoing – life for a life. The age of ignorance. Sympathetic with the poor and under-privileged. Muhammad life is considered a model, thoughtful and trustworthy character. Fear of the responsibilities and ridicule.
Complete, trusting surrender to God. To mock and ridicule.
Willing to persecute for differing belief.
Muhammad was not racist or had social class distinctions.
Banished for his belief with his followers, despised by the Qurayshites. Hostility and suspicion. Muhammad forgave his opponents (gentleness).Acceptance of multicultural, multiracial embrace of Islam. Global family of God. Muslim is the brother of a Muslin and the Muslims are one brotherhood.
Affectionate compassion toward animals, children, women, widows and orphans. To endure in devotion to God. Slave of God. Perfect model for humanity and purest vehicle for God’s message. Weep (Sadness) for the disobedient children of God. Dross of human imperfection.
Surrender to God. Belief that Jewish prophets and Jesus all brought the same messages from God. Distortion of God’s words by humans. Belief in one God and in our personal moral accountability before God on the Day of Judgment.
A Muslim is one who freely accepts the supreme power of God and strives to organize his life in total accord with the teachings of God. In the life of the individual, every thought and action should spring from a heart and mind intimately integrated with the divine. All humans are a global family: there are no “chosen people” for all are invited into direct relationship with God. And we bow to God in surrender. Humans tend to forget God. That we worship none but Allah. Islam’s pure monotheism one is enjoined not to worship anything but God. Seek God by acknowledging the omnipresence, omniscience, and omnipotence of the divine. Cult of saints (tombs of mystics known to have special spiritual powers.).
People are asleep, but when they die they wake up. Respect all prophets and all revealed scriptures.
Remembrance of God is an everyday obligation.
Concentrate on the inner prayer of the heart.
I have come empty-handed into this world and I shall leave empty-handed.
Drunkeness, gambling prior to Islam. Dying for his belief.
Complete trust in and surrender to God became an essential step in the journey.
I have served Him only for the love of Him and desire for Him.
Under my garment there is nothing but God. The God intoxicated cared little for their physical safety and exposed themselves and Sufism to opposition.
Trying to open hearts to God.
Die before ye die. Imagine this (short time here) in your heart every day and impose upon yourself patience in obeying God daily. We humans have descended from the angels and realms of light.
The aim is to become so purified of self that one is a perfect mirror for the divine attributes.
Nothing in this ephemeral world is real except the Creator; nothing else will last. Muslims invite others to the Way by their wisdom, beautiful teaching, and personal example. Demoralized by border fighting and grievances against their rulers until Islam. Fairness in not forcing a servitude to a
different faith – considered a protected people. Fear and loathing of Muhammad and Muslims. Ignorance and negative stereotyping of Muslims continues today. Borrow the Beloved’s eyes. Look through them and you’ll see the Beloved’s face everywhere.
Muslims embrace their religion as a bulwark of discipline and faith against the degradations of materialism. Increase in literacy, urbanization and communication helped to spread revived
interest in
Islam. Hope that Islam would provide the blueprint for enlightened rule, bringing spiritual values into community and politics.
Each Muslim is responsible for his fellow human beings, in which no one should be hungry or unfairly treated and the leader is a just and religious person.
Qur’an is potentially a world altering force that offers universal moral guidelines for all believers be they male or female.
Today everyone wants peace but it cannot exist if all has forgotten God.
A sign of resurgence is the increasing attention being given to developing educational systems modeled on Islamic thought.
Using of Muslim idealism to rally opposition to ruling elites who are perceived as corrupt or oppressive.
Greater Jihad is the internal fight between wrong and right, error and truth, selfishness and selflessness,
hardness of heart and all-embracing love.
The Lesser Jihad is an external effort to protect the Way of god against the force of evil- safeguarding of one’s life, faith, livelihood, honor, and integrity of the Muslim community.
It is believed that a true mujahid who dies in defense of the faith goes straight to paradise for he has already fought the Greater Jihad killing his ego.
The Qur’an asserts that believers have the responsibility to defend their own faith as well as to remind unbelievers of the truth of God and of the necessity of moral behavior.
Fight for the sake of Allah those that fight against you but do not be aggressive.
Allah does not love the aggressors.
For our God and your God is one and the same and it is unto Him that we all surrender ourselves.
Muslims perceive themselves as the advocates of human beings all over the world who through no fault of their own live in situations of poverty, pollutions, oppression, and marginalization.
Fisher, P. 379,380,381,382,383,384, 386,387,388,389, 391,392, 393,401,402,403,404,405,406,407,413,415,417,419,421,423,424,429,430,431

View of Good & Evil
Muhammad received revelations from God, and was ridiculed and defamed by the Qurayshites. Saw paradise and hell. Transfer of his spiritual light to Fatima. To call people back to faith but also create just moral order. Woe of those who did not heed God’s message. Distortion of God’s words by humans. Science, art, politics are not separate from religion in Islam. Remembrance of God is like breathing deeply in the solitude of high mountains.
To believe is to surrender totally to God. That nonbelievers and evildoers ultimately experience great misfortune in this life or the afterlife. None is punished without first being warned by a messenger of God to mend his or her ways. Two major human sins involve one’s relationship to God. One is shirk (associating anything else with divinity except the one God.).The other major sin is kufr (ungratefulness to God, unbelief, atheism). Humans tend to forget God.
That we worship none but Allah. Islam’s pure monotheism one is enjoined not to worship anything but God. Aware that God knows everything and is all-powerful, one wants to do everything one can to please God out of love and fear.
If God declared on the Day of Judgment that all people would go to paradise except one unfortunate person, out of His fear I would think that I am that person. Certain angels are always with each of us recording our good and bad deeds.
There is a nonsubmissive being called Satan originally one of the jinn...immaterial beings of fire, whose nature is between that of humans and angels – who refused to bow to Adam and was cursed to tempt Adam’s descendents , all of humanity to follow him instead of God. Those who follow Satan will go to Hell. Hell is the grievous destiny of unrepentent nonbelievers those who have rejected faith and obedience to God and His Messenger who are unjust and who do not forbid evil. Hell also awaits the hypocrites who even after making a covenant with God have turned away from their promise to give in charity and to pray regularly. Sinners and nonbelievers will experience the torments of hell, fire fueled by humans, boiling water, pus, chains, searing winds, food that chokes and so forth. Clear from Error: whoever. Rejects Evil and believes. Encourage the good and suppress the evil in the person.
Awaken the innate sense of higher mortality and higher aspirations. Allah listens to him who praises Him.
Our Lord! All praise is due to Thee. Peace be on you and the mercy of Allah.
The martyrdom of Husayn at Karbala in his protest against the alleged tyranny, oppression, and injustice of the Umayyad caliphs is held up as a symbol of the struggle against human oppression.
Under my garment there is nothing but God. The God intoxicated cared little for their physical safety and exposed themselves and Sufism to opposition. We humans have descended from the angels and realms of lights. We are in exile here on earth longing for our true home searching for radiant purity in this dark world of matter. To let go of some aspects of Muslim heritage.
Muslims embrace their religion as a headscarves, sex education classes at an early
age and are offensive.
Increase in literacy, urbanization and communication helped to spread revived interest in Islam.
Hope that Islam would provide the blueprint for enlightened rule, bringing spiritual values into community and politics.
Each Muslim is responsible for his fellow human bulwark of discipline and faith against the degradations of materialism. Young Muslims are taunted about their headscarves, sex education classes at an early
age and are offensive.
Increase in literacy, urbanization and communication helped to spread revived interest in Islam.
Hope that Islam would provide the blueprint for enlightened rule, bringing spiritual values into community and politics.
Each Muslim is responsible for his fellow human beings, in which no one should be hungry or unfairly
treated and the leader is a just and religious person.

Qur’an is potentially a world altering force that offers universal moral guidelines for all believers be they male or female.
Today everyone wants peace but it cannot exist if all has forgotten God
A sign of resurgence is the increasing attention being given to developing educational systems modeled on Islamic thought.
Using of Muslim idealism to rally opposition to ruling elites who are perceived as corrupt or oppressive.
Greater Jihad – is the internal fight between wrong and right, error and truth, selfishness and selflessness, hardness of heart and all-embracing love. The Lesser Jihad is an external effort to protect the Way of god against the force of evil- safeguarding of one’s life, faith, livelihood, honor, and integrity of the Muslim community.
It is believed that a true mujahid who dies in defense of the faith goes straight to paradise for he has already fought the Greater Jihad killing his ego.
Jihad derives from the recognition of the vast disparity between evil and spiritual ideal both in oneself and in society.
The Qur’an asserts that believers have the responsibility to defend their own faith as
well as to remind unbelievers of the truth of God and of the necessity of moral behavior.
Fight for the sake of Allah those that fight against you but do not be aggressive.
Allah does not love the aggressors. For our God and your God is one and the same and it is unto Him that we all surrender ourselves.
Fisher, P. 381,382,383,384,386,387,388,389,390,391,392,393,401,403,405,414,415,417,421,423,424,429,430

View of Salvation
The Ka’bah is the holiest sanctuary for praise and worship and continued path for salvation built by Abraham and Isma’il.
The Holy Qur’an sacred book of Islam is to be studied to keep faithful and straightforward. Solitary retreats to for spirituality.
Ka’bah polytheistic pilgrimage operated by the Qurayshites. Night of Ascension. Pilgrims to Mecca – oasis. Ka’bah purged of its idol center of Muslim piety. Qur’an the mission of Islam is to reform society, actively combat oppression and corruption, inviting all that is good, enjoining what is right and forbidding all that is wrong.
To call people back to faith but also create just moral order. Recitation of the Qur’an is thought to have healing, soothing effect, bring protection, guidance, knowledge.
(Three layers: (1) a reference to a particular person or situation; (2) a spiritual lesson; (3) a deeper mystical significance.)
Show us the straight way.
Belief in one God and in our personal moral accountability before God on the Day of Judgment. For us is the responsibility for our deeds, and for you for your deeds.
Remembrance of God is like breathing deeply in the solitude of high mountains. We believe in God and the revelation. The Qur’an is considered fully authentic, because it is the direct, unchanged, untranslated word of God.
To believe is to surrender totally to God. None is punished without first being warned by a messen-ger of God to mend his or her ways. That we worship none but Allah. Islam’s pure monotheism one is enjoined not to worship anything but God. Seek God by acknowledging the omnipresence, omniscience, and omnipotence of the divine.
God has mercifully sent us revelations as reminders to heed his word. Aware that God knows everything and is all-powerful, one wants to do everything one can to please God out of love and fear. If God declared on the Day of Judgment that all people would go to paradise except one unfortunate person, out of His fear I would think that I am that person. Tombs of mystics known to have special spiritual powers have become places of pilgrimage for devotion and desire for blessing of the spirit. People are asleep, but when they die they wake up. The Qur’an requires the faithful to tell others of Islam so that they will have information they need to make an intelligent choice.
Prayer is thought to strengthen one’s belief in God’s existence and goodness and to carry this belief into every aspect of external life. Purify the heart, develop the mind and the conscience, comfort the soul. Glory to my Lord, the Great. Allah listens to him who praises Him. Our Lord! All praise is due to Thee. Peace be on you and the mercy of Allah.
The Book of Allah and my Household if you keep hold of both of them you will never go astray after me. A path to God is motivated by longing for the One.
I have served Him only for the love of Him and desire for Him. Total annihilation in the Beloved.
Under my garment there is nothing but God.
The God intoxicated cared little for their physical safety and exposed themselves and Sufism to opposition.
Trying to open hearts to God.
Die before ye die. The aim is to become so purified of self that one is a perfect mirror for the divine attributes.
Nothing in this ephemeral world is real except the Creator; nothing else will last.
Muslims invite others to the Way by their wisdom, beautiful teaching, and personal example.
Borrow the Beloved’s eyes look through them and you’ll see the Beloved’s Face
everywhere.
Qur’an is potentially a world altering force that offers universal moral guidelines for all believers be they male or female.
Today everyone wants peace but it cannot exist if all has forgotten God.
A sign of resurgence is the increasing attention being given to developing educational systems modeled on Islamic thought.
Using of Muslim idealism to rally opposition to ruling elites who are perceived as corrupt or oppressive.
Greater Jihad – is the internal fight between wrong and right, error and truth, selfishness and selflessness, hardness of heart and all-embracing love.
The Lesser Jihad is an external effort to protect the Way of god against the force of evil- safeguarding of one’s life, faith, livelihood, honor, and integrity of the Muslim community.
It is believed that a true mujahid who dies in defense of the faith goes straight to paradise for he has already fought the Greater Jihad killing his ego.
The Qur’an asserts that believers have the responsibility to defend their own faith as
well as to remind unbelievers of the truth of God and of the necessity of moral behavior.
Fight for the sake of Allah those that fight against you but do not be aggressive.
Allah does not love the aggressors.
For our God and your God is one and the same and it is unto Him that we all surrender ourselves.
Fisher, P.377,380,381,382,383,384,386,387,388,389,390,391,393,402,403,406,413,423,424,429,430

View of After Life
The Fountain in paradise. Paradise lies under the feet of the mother.
Belief in one God and in our personal moral accountability before God on the Day of Judgment.
There is only one thing to be gained in life, and that is to remember God with each breath; there is only one loss in life, and that is the breath drawn without the remembrance of God. No mortal knows what bliss is in store for these as a reward for their labors.
That nonbelievers and evildoers ultimately experience great misfortune in this life or the afterlife. . If God declared on the Day of Judgment that all people would go to paradise except one unfortunate person, out of His fear I would think that I am that person.
Those who follow Satan will go to Hell. The afterlife was only a shadow without re-wards or punishments. The Qur’an emphasizes that after a period of repose in the grave, all humans will be bodily resurrected and assembled for a final accounting of their deeds.
The Final Judgment.
Those who follow Satan will go to Hell. Hell is the grievous destiny of unrepentent nonbelievers those who have rejected faith and obedience
to God and His Messenger who are unjust and who do not forbid evil. Hell also awaits the hypocrites who even after making a covenant with God have turned away from their promise to give in charity and to pray regularly.
What we experience in the afterlife is a revealing of our tendencies in this life. We awaken to our true nature, for it is displayed before us. For the just and merciful the state after death is a Garden of Bliss. The desire of the purified souls will be for closeness to God and their spirits will live in different levels of this closeness. Human nature will be transformed in the next life to such an extent that the disturbing factors of this physical existence will no longer have any effect.
People are asleep, but when they die they wake up.
Sinners and nonbelievers will experience the torments of hell, fire fueled by humans, boiling water, pus, chains, searing winds, food that chokes and so forth.
On the Day their tongues, their hands and feet will bear witness against them as to their actions, agony of being separated from worldly pleasures, burning shame, terrible regret at being barred from the vision of God. Day of Resurrection. It is believed that a true mujahid who dies in defense of the faith goes straight to paradise for he has already fought the Greater Jihad killing his ego.
Fisher, P.383,386,387,388,389,390,391,402,424

Practices and Rituals
Muhammad taught his friend the secret practice of the silent remembrance of God.
Recitation of the Qur’an is thought to have healing, soothing effect, bring protection, guidance, knowledge.
To recite the Qur’an only in a purified state, for the words are so powerful that the one who recites it takes on a great responsibility.
Oral tradition in writing (114 suras (chapters)).
Islam (peace, purity, acceptance, commitment) calls for complete acceptance of the teachings and guidance of God.
Tombs of mystics known to have special spiritual powers have become places of pilgrimage.
The faithful are to perform ablutions with water, sand or dirt if there is no water face Mecca recite prayers from Qur’an bowing and kneeling. On Friday noon there is usually a special prayer service in the mosque.
Obligatory prayers five times a day, one may do additional supererogatory prayers with the most valuable offered during the night.
Salaat (formal prayers) varies between men and women and by local custom follow standard patterns around the world (early morning, early afternoon, late afternoon and immediately after sunset). Zakat – charity or almsgiving and sharing and teaching to help non-Muslims. Fasting – obligatory fast is during Ramadan. Hajj – pilgrimage to Mecca, another sacred site on the pilgrimage is the field of Arafat.
Pilgrims walk around the ancient Ka’bah seven times.
Hajj also perform symbolic acts at the holy well of Zum-Zum.
The Shari’ah specifies patterns for worship, social conduct, remembrance of God into every aspect of daily life and practical ethics into the fabric of society, injunctions against drinking intoxicating beverages, eating certain meats, gambling and vain sports, sexual relations outside of marriage, sexually provocative dress, talk or actions. Positive measures, commanding justice, kindness and charity. Women are given many legal rights, right to own property, to divorce, to inherit, and make a will. Polygyny.
Ulama, scholars who devote their lifetimes to developing the knowledge of legal opinion after careful study of the Qur’an and Sunnah.
Participants in mourning processions cry and beat their chests or in some
areas offer cooling drinks to the populace in memory of the martyred Husayn.
Asceticism is based more on inner detachment than on withdrawal from the world; the ideal is to live with feet on the ground, head in the heavens; fervent, selfless love.
Advanced practices taught to higher initiates.
It was through the shaykh that the barakah (blessing, sacred power) was passed down, from the shaykh of shaykh and so on.
Poetry has been used by Sufis as a vehicle for expressing the pro-
fundities and perplexities of relationship with the divine. Dhikr or remembrance consists of stirring the heart and piercing the solar plexus, seat of the ego, by movements of the head, while repeating la ilaha illa Allah. Soon after birth, children are placed with their mothers on their prayer rugs and gradually learn to recite portions of the Qur’an, carefully trained in politeness to elders, modest dress, and proper behavior.
Muslim women have adopted the hijab (veiling) for physical modesty and protection from being molested in honor of the Qur’an.
Women are allowed to join the workforce as long as they are veiled.
The Qur’an encourages equal participation of women in religion and society.
Fasting and prayer exerts oneself to the One in the Greater Jihad.
Muslims are trying to explain that Islam does equal violence and is permitted only under very specific conditions. For our God and your God is one and the same and it is unto Him that we all surrender ourselves.
Fisher, P.382,384,385,387,389,392, 393,394,395,396,400,401,402,403,405,406,415,418,419,424,429,430

Celebrations & Festivals
Pilgrimage to Mecca.
Ashura, a memorial on the tenth day of the month of Muharram.
Fisher, P.395,401

WEEK 9
SIKHISM

Cosmogony - Origin of the Universe
The Holy Word of God is in all of creation. God pervades the cosmos and can be found everywhere.
Nam is the essence of
creation, the sound and vibration of which the cosmos is a material manifestation.
Fisher, P.444,445

Nature of God/Creator
The Almighty merciful and giving gave nectar that would open the power of prayer, love of worship truth and contentment to Nanak his servant.
God as the Doer. Lord of Wealth. Your will is sweet. Merciful, merciful is the Lord. Merciful is my master. He bless all beings with his bounties. The Creator Himself shall protect you. Name of God. God is like sugar scattered in the sand. Same One. God is formless, beyond time and space, the only truth, the only reality. There is One God Whose Name is Truth. The Creator without fear, without hate. Eternal Being, beyond birth and death, self-existent. God as Sat (truth) or as Ik Onkar (the One Supreme Being). God is pure being, without form. Boundless, formless One, Immortal, Omnipotent, Beyond Time and Space, Invisible, beyond name, caste, or creed, beyond form or figure, the ruthless destroyer of all pride and evil, Salvation of all beings, The eternal light. The sweetest breeze. The wondrous figure. The Most Splendid. The light of God is thought to shine fully through the Guru. Nam the Holy Name of God. God pervades the cosmos and can be found everywhere. God is not separate from this world. He dwells in you as fragrance resides in a flower. God abides in everything. See him, therefore in your heart. Nam (Name of God) carries intense spiritual power, capable of making a person fearless, steady, inwardly calm and strong in the face of adversity, willing to serve without any reward, and extending love in all directions without any effort. Nam is the essence of creation, the sound and vibration of which the cosmos is a material manifestation.
Reference to God by many Names of God, such as Murari, Narain (the One present in water), Allah, and Ram, Wahe Guru (God wondrous beyond words), Ik Onkar Sat nam Siri Wahe Guru (God is One, the Truth Itself, Most Respectful, Wondrous beyond words. Fragrance of God. The Name of God is light, the Light which never extinguishes day or night. God as having no form, no country, no religion but yet as the seed of seeds, song of songs, sun of suns, the life force pervading everywhere, ever merciful, ever giving, indestructible. God is the cause of conflict as well as peace, of destruction as well as creation. God pervades in darkness as well as light.
There is nothing outside of God’s presence, nothing outside of God’s control.
Victory is God’s.
Supreme boon of the Name of God. All victory is the victory of God.
Fisher, P. 435,436,438,439,442,443,444,445,446,447,452

View of Human Nature
Universality of spirituality and the relevance of spirituality in everyday life. Drown in love and devotion, die towards the world. That we as humans have an inclination to be ego-oriented and self-nourishing. I shall follow God’s path.
Work hard in society to earn one’s own honest living, sharing from one’s earnings with those who are needy and remembering God as the Doer. A model of humility and service to the poor and needy. Oh mortal, meditate on the Lord as long as there is breath in your body. Man is only an instrument of service: the giver of goods is God, the Guru of us all. Loving devotion to one God. Sikhism does not claim to have the only path to God-they invite people from all traditions to come to worship. One should look upon all with the same eye, whether friend or foe. Gurus accorded considerable respect to women.
Sikh women are noted for their courage and steadfast faith.
The Sikh path requires that one’s mind and heart be joined with God, work hard in the world, earn an honest living and help those in need. Renounce anger, not criticize anybody, fights injustice and vanquish the five evils (lust, anger, greed, attachment and ego) in self. Faces difficulties in his joy, attacks evil and always help the poor.
Questioning God. It is necessary to love him.
To believe in Buddha is to love him.
Always remember God. All prophets, messiahs, and nabis have come in love, and all have in common the same thing: Love.
Firm faith, divine wisdom, unshakable belief, code of conduct.
The human soul is a tiny spark of God’s light which must reunite with God.
As long as the individual has a clean, pure soul, that is what is important.
That we should not forget God even for one breath.
Fisher, P. 434,435,436,439,443,444,445,446,448,452,454,455

View of Good & Evil
Oppression and corruption. Sikh sant-siphahis are pledged to protect the freedom of all religions.
All people are to be treated equally because God dwells in all. The purpose of life is to realize God within the world. Sikhism refuses to acknowledge the traditional Indian caste system.
One should look upon all with the same eye, whether friend or foe. Gurus accorded considerable respect to women.
Sikh women are noted for their courage and steadfast faith. To leave behind attachment, greed, ego and desires, to walk a path sharper than the edge of a sword and thinner than a hair.
Faces difficulties in his joy, attacks evil and always help the poor.
God pervades in darkness as well as light. Truth is always tested. Who tests it? Evil – evil attacks the truth. But truth never stops shining, and evil keeps falling back. Truth’s journey is very powerful, with a strong base. It never wavers.
That we should not forget God even for one breath.
Fisher, P. 444,445,446,447,448,455

View of Salvation
Universality of spirituality and the relevance of spirituality in everyday life. Drown in love and devotion, die towards the world. To save others.
Work hard in society to earn one’s own honest living, sharing from one’s earnings with those who are needy and remembering God as the Doer. Oh mortal, meditate on the Lord as long as there is breath in your body.
One should look upon all with the same eye, whether friend or foe The Sikh path requires, that one’s mind and heart be joined with God, work hard in the world, earn an honest living and help those in need. Recitation of the Name of God (Nam) as the best way of approaching the Divine.
Blessing of Nam.
Hearkening to the Nam bestows truth, divine wisdom, contentment. The Lord is stitched into my heart and never goes out of it even for a moment.
Intense yearning for communion.
Questioning God. It is necessary to love him. One must love. Dharma is very powerful. It transforms their lives, and transforms their inner habits. It is only spirituality that changes people.
Always remember God. As one advances in this practice and abides in egoless love for God, one is said to receive guidance from the inner Guru, the living word of God within each person.
It has been recommended in the Sikh Code of Discipline that 10 percent of our time should be spent in contemplation of God and his service.
The human soul is a tiny spark of God’s light which must reunite with God.
As long as the individual has a clean, pure soul, that is what is important.
True lovers of God shines with pristine purity in its originality, authenticity irregardless of their religion, caste, color creed and status.
That we should not forget God even for one breath.
Fisher, P. 434,435,436,439,444,446,447,448,449,454,455

View of After Life
Sikhism conceives a series of lives, with karma (the effects of past actions on one’s present life) governing transmigration of the soul into new bodies be they human or animal. The ultimate goal of life is mystical union with the Divine, reflected in one’s way of living.
Fisher, P. 445

Practices and Rituals
By mandating the same symbolic dress for people of all castes, both women and men, Sikhs gave both genders and all caste equal importance, contrary to Indian cultural traditions. The 5 Ks of Sikhism, Kesh – uncut hair, Kangha – a wooden brush for the hair, Kara – a metal bracelet, Kachera – a specific style of cotton undergarments,
Kirpan – a strapped straight sword. Practice of work, worship, charity of sacrificing love. A preference for sons nonetheless persist due to heavy dowry burdens for females.
To be a true Sikh is to live a very disciplined life of surrender and devotion to God, hours of daily prayers, continual inner repetition of the name of God (Nam), detachment from negative worldly mind-states. During the community worship as. well as langar, all strata of people sit together, though men and women separately
People of all ethnic origins, ideologies, and castes, including untouchables, may bathe in the tank of water at Sikh holy places. At least one-tenth of one’s income is to be contributed toward the welfare of the community. Glorifying the lowliest forms of manual labor, such as sweeping the floor and cleaning shoes and dirty pots, especially when these are done as voluntary service to God. Morning and evening prayers take about two hours a day. Hymns and recitations every day. Worshipers humble themselves before the sacred scriptures ((Guru Granth Sahib). Gobind Sadan (The House of God) volunteers work hard to raise record crops on previously barren land. Harvest are shared communally and also provide the basis for continual free kitchens for people of all classes, free medical services and celebrations of the holy days of all religions.
An officiant reads from the sacred book (Guru Granth Sahib) every morning and evening by random selection a passage that is the spiritual focus of the day. Practice of men only to read from the Guru Granth Sahib).
In 1996 the central body setting policies for Sikh gurdwaras ruled that women should be allowed to perform sacred services. Group chanting, singing, and listening to collective guidance from the Guru Granth Sahib, devout are encouraged to begin that day with private meditations on the name of God. The Sixth Guru started a tradition of sitting on a high platform or takht (throne) in Amritsar opposite the Golden Temple and issuing edicts to Sikhs.
Many children are sent to Sikh camps to learn Punjabi, sacred music traditions, and scriptural readings.
The turban (wearing of) has sacred meaning.
It has been recommended in the Sikh Code of Discipline that 10 percent of our time should be spent in contemplation of God and his service.
Practice of universality, democratic nature, and spirit of religious tolerance.
That we should not forget God even for one breath. Fisher, P.440,441,445,447,448,449,451,453,454,455

Celebrations & Festivals
Punjabis bursts forth every spring in the festival of Baisakhi as well as initiation of new Khalsa members via the Amrit ceremony.
The bhangra dance – a jubilant, athletic dance by men wearing colorful long wrapped skirts and costume jewelry, stamping their feet to the strong backbeat of drums, raising theirs arms overhead, and shaking their shoulders independently of their torso.
The Amrit ceremony ends as it began, with the central prayer of Sikh.
Fisher, P. 452

WEEK 10
NEW RELIGIOUS MOVEMENTS
Cosmogony - Origin of the Universe
Raelains believe that wise extraterrestrial beings collectively called Elohijm (an ancient plural name for the supreme deity as “mighty ones:”) came here and created life on earth.
Moon developed the “Unification Principle” according to which God created the universe in order to manifest true love. Radhasoami – Radha and Soami are said to have mingled at the beginning of creation.
Supreme Creator. Caodaism – belief that before God there was Dao. God born in the Big Bang and then created yin and yang aspects of the cosmos.
Fisher, P. 461,471,472

Nature of God/Creator
Raelains believe that wise extraterrestrial beings collectively called Elohijm (an ancient plural name for the supreme deity as “mighty ones:”) came here and created life on earth. God has been grieving ever since the Fall of his children. God is Almighty. Divine. Mormons – belief that the Heavenly Father was a man but rose to exaltation. Word of God. God is a Trinity.
Jehovah’s Witness –God will not let anyone ruin the earth. God’s Kingdom.
Caodaism – belief that before God there was Dao. God born in the Big Bang and then created yin and yang aspects of the cosmos.
Santeria – Blends some of the deities and beliefs of slaves from Dahomey, baKonga, Yoruban cultures with images of Catholic saints.
Baha’i – Attempts to unite all of humanity in the belief that there is only one God.
God is unknowable. God’s infinite nature with their limited minds. God has become known through divine messengers, founders of the great religions. All are manifestations of God, pure channels for helping humanity to
understand God’s will.
Rastafari – Living God.
Storm God residing on a mountain and bringing light (good) into the darkness (bad).
Only God is real.
Fisher, P. 461,462,464,467,468,472,476,477,480,483,486

View of Human Nature
To move into a new religious movement –may signal a deep change in one’s life.
Accepting of social scorn and trying to share their prophecies with others.
Human family is considered the primary institution for the growth of love.
Humans do not live according to God’s design.
Selfishness prevails in human relationships and in relationships between ethnic groups and nations.
Preach the simple universal message of truth, righteousness, non-violence, love and peace. Mormons - We believe in the progression of the human soul. Mormons – belief that humans are innately sinful.
Jehovah’s Witness - To warn the populace about what is in store. The poor response that they receive on the doorstep confirms their view that the world is corrupt and heading for disaster.
Radhasoami – Initiates aspire to ascend to pure spirit, home of the Supreme Creator, where sound and spirit currents intermingle. Syncretism – Those alienated and felt like nobodies feel recognized as important individuals.
Agon Shu - Liberation from karma is the greatest miracle in the universe.
Universalism – teach that all prophets have brought essentially the same messages to humanity, though in different times and places.
Baha’i – Attempts to unite all of humanity in the belief that there is only one God. Open to all, nine doors and a central dome symbolizing the diversity and oneness of humanity. All nations will become one, all religions will be unified.
Ethnic Religions – Freedom of religion, returning to the traditional agrarian rites for earth’s fertility and human links with the cosmic rhythms and energies.
Deep ecology – many people in non-traditional societies are now seeking new ways of connecting themselves with the cosmos. Love of the earth, the love of creation.
Perennial human search for happiness, meaning, and salvation. It is the rising up of our true divine nature, a reassertion of God in the consciousness of modern man. Hatred, fear, selfishness, envy obscure one relationship with God’s love. I am renewed in mind, body and spirit.
Trying to obey what is understood to be God’s will, preparing for the end of the world.
Fisher, P. 458,460,462,465,467,468,469,471,474,475,476,477,478,483,484,485,486,487,490

View of Good & Evil
Sect – rejects its social environment as worldly and unbelieving.
Client cults offer some kind of service, some kind of therapy.
Human family is considered the primary institution for the growth of love.
People are to live for the sake of others. Humans do not live ac-cording to God’s de-sign. Selfishness prevails in human relationships and in relationships between ethnic groups and nations.
Misuse of love led to the human Fall. Preach the simple universal message of truth, righteousness, non-violence, love and peace.
Mormons – belief that baptism is essential to enter the Kingdom of God, since humans are innately sinful. Word of God.
Jehovah’s Witness -The unrepentant wicked endure eternal torment. Humanity is destroyed for not obeying the bible.
To warn the populace about what is in store.
The poor response that they receive on the doorstep confirms their view that the world is corrupt and heading for disaster. Radhasoami – Initiates aspire to ascend to pure spirit, home of the Supreme Creator, where sound and spirit currents intermingle.
Syncretism – Those alienated and felt like nobodies feel recognized as important individuals.
Agon Shu - Liberation from karma is the greatest miracle in the universe.
Talisman (guardian deity) to avoid evil and to invite good luck.
Theosophical Society – karma, reincarnation and subtle energies. The light of heavenly love will
shine and the darkness of enmity and hatred will be dispelled from the world.
Neo Paganism – also known as witchcraft – were said they were in league with the devil against God.
Storm God residing on a mountain and bringing light (good) into the darkness (bad). Hatred, fear, selfishness, envy obscure one relationship with God’s love. Poverty, war, racism, despair would give way to a new feeling of global human community, with peace, harmony, and happiness.
Light of their own true Inner Self and therefore reconnect to own True Divine Nature.
Fisher, P. 458,459,462,465,467,468,471,474,475,479,482,483,487,489

View of Salvation
Questioning for a spiritual person and their faith.
Thetan (self) is trapped in the material world but that its freedom can be obtained through a gradual process of detachment.
To establish God’s kingdom on earth. People are to live for the sake of others. Preach the simple universal message of truth, righteousness, non-violence, love and peace.
Jesus appeared as a man descending out of heaven and he was clothed in a white robe and he came and stood in the midst of them. Practice baptism by immersion and not quarrel.
Mormons - children trained in preaching from a young age, no outside sexual relations. Mormons – belief that baptism is essential to enter the Kingdom of God, since humans are innately sinful. Word of God.
Jehovah’s Witness – Those who are of the true religion will be saved from general destruction. reunited with their loved ones in a paradise on earth (no pain, no food shortages, no sickness, no death).
To warn the populace about what is in store.
Radhasoami – Initiates aspire to ascend to pure spirit, home of the Supreme Creator, where sound and spirit currents intermingle.
Agon Shu - Liberation from karma is the greatest miracle in the universe.
The Buddhist path has the power to destroy all negative attachments, delusions, and illusions and can bring both living and dead beings to liberation.
The light of heavenly love will shine and the darkness of enmity and hatred will be dispelled from the world.
Perennial human search for happiness, meaning, and salvation.
The light of a transcendent force at the center of things, present in our lives in a corrective and even miraculous manner.
When they are surrended, healing occurs naturally as one’s true spiritual being emerges. Divine energy flows in and through God’s creation, renewing, restoring, uplifting.
I am renewed in mind, body and spirit. Trying to obey what is understood to be God’s will, preparing for the end of the world.
Fisher, P. 458,459,461,465,466,467,468,474,475,479,486,487,490

View of After Life
Mormons – belief in eternity and the infinity of the human soul.
Jehovah’s Witnesses -That the soul is resurrected after death and that the unrepentant wicked
endure eternal torment.
Theosophical Society – karma, reincarnation and subtle energies.
Trying to obey what is understood to be God’s will, preparing for the end of the world.
Fisher, P. 467,468,475,490

Practices and Rituals
Scientology – therapeutic “auditing” in order to clear the mind of he negative effects of past experiences and past lives.
Sea Org – a disciplined program of work and study and attempt to abide by a strict code of conduct to help get ethics in on this planet and universe.
To maintain their faith they may isolate themselves from mainstream society and try to prepare for the coming changes.
Sai organization – study circles around the world, value based free schools, medical institutions, digital networks and large scale projects to provide drinking water.
Selfess service in communities – food banks, feeding of the homeless, tree planting, park cleanups, medical camps, blood donations, collecting of old spectacles to be donated to the poor.
Practice baptism by immersion and not quarrel.
Father can baptize his child when the child reaches the age of accountability.
Mormons – eschew alcohol, tobacco, coffee, tea, eat meat sparingly focusing on a healthy diet of vegetables, fruits, grains. Strong welfare system, volunteer labor, children trained in preaching from a young age, no outside sexual relations.
Mormons – belief that baptism is essential to enter the Kingdom of God, since humans are innately sinful.
Jehovah’s Witness – Place their faith squarely and decisively in the Bible alone. Their belief structure and religious life refer constantly to biblical passages, missionaries traverse the globe, going door to door to invite people to study the Bible.
Radhasoami – an esoteric path, without ceremonies. Initiates are taught a secret yoga practice of concentrating on the third eye with attention to inner sound and inner light.
Radhasoami – Initiates aspire to ascend to pure spirit, home of the Supreme Creator, where sound and spirit currents intermingle.
Caodaism – Medium goes into trance and writes messages received from the spirits. Séances could
only be held in the Holy See at Tay Ninh.
Santeria – Prevailing interest in contacting and cooperating with spirits.
Santeria – Techniques for magical intervention in people’s lives to solve problems that cannot be fixed by ordinary means.
Syncretism – Take seriously problems with the spirit world such retaliations from spirits who have not been treated
respectfully, mix Christian prayers and incense with fetishes, talisman, divining, chanting, drumming
(mixture gives a sense of power against evil spirits and contemporary, this worldly problems).
They operate their own schools, food shops, industries healthcare centers, transportation services.
Esoteric Buddhist practice is capable of engendering ordinary and advanced supernormal powers.
Theosophical Society – secret esoteric teachings of each religion. Baha’i – Devotional services include readings from the scriptures of all religions, meditations, unaccompanied singing, prayers.
Rastafari – Use of marijuana (ganja) as a religious sacrament, distinctive music, reggae, evolved as expression of Black pride, social protest, dreadlocks.
Neo Paganism – also known as witchcraft takes its teaching from nature, and reads inspiration in the movements of the sun, moon, and stars, the flight of birds, the slow growth of trees, and the cycles of the seasons.
Goddess spirituality – linked with water, serpents, birds, eggs, spirals, the moon, the womb, the vulva, the magnetic currents of the earth, psychic powers and eternal creation and renewal of life.
Ethnic Religions – Freedom of religion, returning to the traditional agrarian rites for earth’s fertility and human links with the cosmic rhythms and energies.
Native American sacred ways are highly valued as guides to worship for the natural world, vision quests, sweat lodges medicine wheels.
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Celebrations & Festivals
Agon Shu – combines Buddhist, Shinto, and Daoist beliefs and practices in dramatic ceremonies at its central community on a mountain top in Kyoto.
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