Monday- no school
Tuesday-
- Buddhism
- Siddhartha Gautama (Buddha) was the founder of Buddhism in 560 BC
- Buddha means "the awakened one"
- He grew up in a wealthy family but decided to follow a path of self denial
- He did not find truth until he sat down under a tree, now known as the Bo tree
- There he was "enlightened" and obtained the knowledge he had been looking for
- He discovered the four noble truths and the Eightfold Path to Nirvana, or ultimate bliss
- The Four Noble Truths of Buddhism
- 1. Existence is suffering
- 2. The cause of suffering is craving and attachment
- 3. Suffering ceases at some point and turns to Nirvana
- 4. There is a path to Nirvana which is made up of 8 steps called the Eightfold path
- The Eightfold Path
- Right view
- Right intentions
- Right speech
- Right action
- Right livelihood
- Right effort
- Right concentration
- Right mindfulness
- Buddhists believe in reincarnation
- One must stop the cycle of rebirth as a suffering, selfish individual, and must attain Nirvana
- About 1% of Americans are Buddhist
- Buddhism has much in common with Hinduism with some differences
- Same: Reincarnation, Karma, Dharma
- Different: Caste system, Hindu gods, Hindu priesthood
- Worship Practices
- Meditation- deep thought and reflection
- Importance of the Lotus Flower
- Believer can blossom while rooted in the impurity of the world
- Major Buddhist Sects
- Theravada
- As close as possible to Buddha's teachings
- Mahayana
- More accepting of the changing world
- Theravada
- The Dalai Lama
- The present spiritual leader of Buddhism
- The 14th Dalai Lama has been the Dalai Lama since 1950 and has been in exile in India since 1959
- Islam
- In the middle East, North Africa, and Indonesia
- The Islamic crescent and star is the international symbol for Islam
- Islam means "submission (to Allah)" in Arabic
- "Allah" is an Arabic word which means "the One True God"
- Muslims believe that the Quran is God's word as revealed to the prophet Muhammad (570-632 AD) through the angel Gabriel
- Muslims do not believe that Jesus was the Messiah, although they do believe he was a prophet
- Islam is very family-oriented
- The primary means of transmitting the religion are through the family
- Muslims are people that practice Islam
- 0.6% of US adults follow Islam
Wednesday-
Islam (continued)
- There are two main sects of Islam: Sunni and Shiite
- One of their main differences is in their beliefs about who were the leaders following the death of Prophet Muhammad
- Sunni, from the Arabic word for "tradition," accepted the succession of Muhammad's elected successors
- The majority of Muslims in the world today are Sunnis
- Shiite, from the Arabic word for "faction," believe that leaders must be descendants of Muhammad through his daughter Fatima and her husband Ali
- They rule Iran and also have a sizable presence in Iraq and Syria
- History of Islam
- Founded in 622 AD
- Founded by Muhammad in Saudi Arabia
- Muhammad is considered to be a prophet, a messenger of Allah (God)
- Two Major Sects (split c. 650CE)
- Sunni
- Shi'a (or Shiite)
- 5 Pillars of Islam
- 1. Shahada (witness) is the Muslim profession of faith
- "I witness that there is no god but Allah, and that Muhammad is the messenger of Allah"
- Muslims say this when they wake up in the morning and just before they go to sleep at night
- 2. Salat (daily prayer) is a prayer ritual performed 5 times a day by all Muslims over the age of 10
- 1) Between first light and sunrise
- 2) After the sun has passed the middle of the sky
- 3) Between mid-afternoon and sunset
- 4) Between sunset and the last light of the day
- 5) Between darkness and dawn
- Face the Kaaba in Mecca, Saudi Arabia
- 3. Sawm (fasting) is abstaining each day during Ramadan
- Ramadan is the holiest day for Islam. It marks when Muhammad had the Quran revealed to him
- Sawm helps Muslims develop self-control, gain a better understanding of God's fights and greater compassion towards the deprived
- Not only is food forbidden between dawn and sunset, but also things like smoking, chewing gum, negative thoughts, and sexual activity
- Ramadan lasts for 29 to 30 days
- 4. Zakat (almsgiving) is giving money to the poor
- This is a compulsory gift of 2.5% of one's savings each year
- Giving in this way is intended to free Muslims from the love of money
- It reminds them that everything they have really belongs to God
- 5. Hajj is the pilgrimage to Mecca that all physically/financially able Muslims should make at least once in their life
- Mecca is the most holy place for Muslims
- Takes place during days 8-13 of the 12th month of the Islamic Lunar calendar
- They circle the Kaaba seven times, say prayers, drink from a holy spring, walk to Mount Arafat to pray, feast, cast stones at three pillar (to fight Satan's temptations), shave their hair, and run between some hills
- 1. Shahada (witness) is the Muslim profession of faith
- Islamic Law
- Sharia Law outlines laws for Muslims and is based from the Quran
- Many African and Middle Eastern countries have laws that are based on Sharia Law
- 5 Major Crimes:
- Theft, highway robbery, intoxication, adultery, and falsely accusing another of adultery
- Food Laws
- Very similar to the Jewish kosher foods
- No alcohol, pork, blood, no pork fat products, scavenger animals
- Food must be prepared similarly to the Jews
- Slice to the jugular
- Drain blood
- Issues Facing Islam Today
- Radical Islamic Terrorists
- ISIS
- Al-Qaeda
- Racial profiling in US
- Women's rights
- Radical Islamic Terrorists
Thursday-
Islam (continued)
- Issues Facing Islam Today
- Radical Islamic Terrorists
- ISIS
- Al-Qaeda
- Racial profiling in US
- Women's rights
- Honor killings and acid throwing
- In Saudi Arabia, women cannot:
- Drive a car
- Wear clothes or makeup that “show off their beauty”
- Interact with men
- Go for a swim
- Compete freely in sports
- Try on clothes when shopping
- Pakistani men beat their wives "lightly"
- Women's dress includes:
- Niqab
- Hijab
- Burka
- Chador
- Dupatta
- Why Do Muslim Women Wear Burkas?
- The Quran calls for both men and women to "cover and be modest"
- The Quran does not explicitly say you have to cover yourself in burkas (etc.)
- Dress is open to interpretation and has been shaped by centuries of cultures in different nations
- Some scholars argue that it is a religious obligation, particularly the more conservative factions within the Muslim world
- There are many variations and interpretations of dress
- Radical Islamic Terrorists
- Issues Facing Islam Today
Friday- Major Religions of the World test
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