Religious Experience & Ethics and Moral Conduct

Gender and religious experience

Ordination of women in various denominations, and women mystics 

Ordination, according to Christianity, is the process by which a person becomes a religious authority, such as a priest or a bishop. The issue of whether women may be ordained is controversial because some sects of Christianity are reluctant to respond to the advances in gender equality for a variety of reasons. Certain verses of the Bible such as Timothy 2:11-15 allude to an all male leadership in the church, and the all male apostles suggests that the leadership of the church, which is meant to be apostolic, should also be all men. The following denominations allow women ordination: Anglican, Community of Christ, Jehovah's Witness*, The following denominations don't allow women ordination: Church of Later Day Saints, Catholic Church, Orthodox, *cannot baptize or any significant rituals, but may lead prayer with a head covering on. Protestant- about half of the subdenomintations ordain women.

Ethical practice and legal issues

Medical issues: euthanasia, embryo research, genetic engineering, abortion

Christianity is opposed to euthanasia because it is said that it invades God's territory to control life and death. Furthermore it is said that it is a violation of the fifth commandment that thou shalt not kill. The catholic church went on record to say "[euthanasia is a] violation of the divine law, an offense against the dignity of the human person, a crime against life, and an attack on humanity." 

Christianity is also opposed to embryo research for the reason of preserving the sanctity of life. All fertilized embryos are regarded as human beings, and the destruction of them is considered to be killing and therefore a grave sin. However, other options of acquiring stem cells such as from umbilical cords are condoned by the church as ethical. 

Abortion is considered in the same way as embryo research, but even worse because it does not advance science and is solely to kill/prevent life. 

Genetic engineering is a gray area, as humans were given dominion over all living things on the earth, including ourselves. However, the body is considered a temple of God, and therefore is not ours to be altered. The complete formation of the human body is still unknown and therefore the argument is made that we cannot understand God's workings and therefore shouldn't tamper with the finer elaborate things. 

Religion and its Subjectiveness to Violence

The Holocaust

The Holocaust started due to the passive and active perpetrators that held deep feelings of animosity toward Jews. Ingrained by almost 2000 years of antisemitism in Christian teachings‚ this made the Jews receptive to the message of the Nazis, and which made the idea of eliminating Jews, even through extermination, reasonable and indeed desirable. The Nazi party blamed Germany's troubles following WWI on the Jews. The Jews began losing their rights and ability to defend themselves legally. Eventually, the greater mistreatment began with the implementation of concentration camps and ghettos and the final moving to death camps and of course, mass genocide. Many Jews were not able to escape to the US either because of immigration laws, which blocked their entry. This resulted in the massive losses to the Jewish people. Losses that reached over seven million deaths. 

The most likely way to prevent a situation like the Holocaust is to become a more active society that is not afraid to come to the aid of another. 

1. Christianity was formed by Jewish traditions and with the new following of the leader Jesus Christ. The Graeco-Roman world that it was formed in was conducive to travel and the indoctrination of the Roman emperor was key to its spread.
2. Jesus failed to fulfill the role as Messiah by not bringing the end of the world and the judgement of all people for their sins.
3. Baptism and Communion.
4. The Gospels were written up to several decades after the death of Christ, the first section to be written of the new testament is the Galatians or Thessalonians.
5. Constantine was essential to Christianity's survival because it created a new headquarters during the fall of the Roman empire and the practitioners a safe place of haven.
6. Eastern Orthodox Christianity differs in belief from western Christianity in the area of original sin and ancestral sin and the immaculate conception of Mary.
7. Indulgences,
8. Baptism, Communion, Confirmation, Holy Orders, Matrimony, Last Rites, Reconciliation.
9. Vatican II was a great sequel to Vatican I, and had several difference that  I cannot remember.
10. Liberation theology is a concept that involves a different interpretation of Christianity to create a new set of beliefs and are both fundamentally different and also similar to Roman Catholicism.

Taoism Questions

1.For me, I find the oneness with nature to be the most beautiful aspect about Taoism. Also the way the religion didn’t need a huge push to spread Taoism, like that of Christianity. One thing I find difficult to understand is that some of the symbolism can be difficult to follow sometimes.

2.What is beautiful about the Tao is that it does not have to be associated with the idea of a god. It can be left as purely recognizing a higher force present in the universe. By noticing the patterns in nature and their seemingly perfect properties, Taoists believe that these are not mere coincidence, but rather the workings of a higher force.

3.In western culture, ch’i has become more spiritual. Are you at balance? Health wise? Yoga (although traditionally hinduism) has ch’i incorporated aspects. It is actually quite interesting to observe these concepts westernized after studying their original roots.

4.Unfortunately, as I have aged and matured (somewhat), magic has ceased to be an explanation for phenomena. I seek answers to things, real concrete answers, and magic just isn’t enough of an explanation.  

5.The literal translation of Wu Wei is “without action.” To me, this means that one cannot actively pursue the concept of Wu Wei, rather by not trying, one will stumble upon it’s true meaning.

6. Yin and Yang are the opposites in found in every living and nonliving thing that creates a balance within the world. To define masculine as the positive and feminine as the negative is, I think, simply a reflection of the time period which Taoism originated. Those who decided to follow Lao Tzu likely lived in a male dominated society and wanted to present themselves as a positive influence.

7. If you killed someone, you are probably considered evil. But if that person were to kill a lot of people in the future, are you justified? Evil actions can have a positive action buried within, just as a good action can have and evil action buried within. It is difficult to separate the two into intrinsically good and bad.

8. Life cannot be a straight line. Considering the life path as a maze more accurately frames and reflects the reality of most people's experience. A vector is a tempting metaphor because magnitude and movement are part of life's journey, but straight lined paths are rare. Being born and growing big, fast and directly hitting the end goal is an unrealistic expectation in this world. Such a vector-like standard can be a platform for regret and despair. A maze, full of choices, challenges and questioning at every turn, is an adventure, and adventure is how we learn.

9. Oh absolutely not, Taoism is unique in this aspect.

Religious Site Reflection

I went on a bus. It was fun. 10/10 would recommend to a friend.






































































Just kidding. The field trip was a very informative and awesome experience. Each religion is beautiful in their own unique ways. It was amazing to see the intricacy of the beliefs, yet the underlying simplistic nature of respect each religion has for any other religion. My favorite part was listening to the Rabbi make the connection to Tibetan Buddhism. Whether on purpose or not he did an excellent job speaking. This is the second year I've been on this trip, and just like last year, I was awed at the extreme differences in culture and faith that were so close in distance. Thank you for this experience.


First stop: Islamic Center
The implementation of a school into the center seems just like a Catholic school, in the fact that children are taught everything needed for school exams, just the added religious classes. All of the men and women we encountered were very nice and respectful. The presentations when we were in the mosque were very interesting (although seemed very advanced for their age) and the recitations were beautiful and equally impressive.

Second Stop: Buddhist center
When the bus pulled up to this tiny building in what seemed to be the middle of nowhere, I didn't give it much thought. However the decorative design inside was quite pleasing actually. To listen to the nuns that seemed very down to earth and very knowledgeable about their faith was interesting. Much focus was spent on the Dalai Lama, which was frustrating, but understandable.

Third Stop: Hindu Temple
Looking out of the window and seeing this elaborate white detailed building was a treat in itself. You KNEW that you had just pulled up to a Hindu temple because you could see it from a quarter mile away. Our tour guide was late, but it gave us an opportunity to explore the compound. We were escorted into the temple and treated to a ritual (which I cannot remember the name of) and given much information about the religion. However, what I remember most is just the detail of everything there.

Fourth Stop: Jewish Synagogue
Being asked to wear a yarmulke was somewhat strange to me personally, but it is understandable within the confines of Judaism. I mentioned it before, the rabbi was an excellent speaker and made the experience all the more enjoyable. Although tired from the day of activity, he held my attention especially when he showed us the torah scroll. He was very open to showing us everything which made it extremely interesting.

Hinduism Review

CLICK ME HAHAHAH

Independent Christian Study

Theme 1: Rituals

Objectives

ISLAM OBJECTIVES


click it

Huston Smith Pt.3

How do Muslims live according to their religion?

• Muslims attempt to follow "The straight path" that is free of corruption, and has very distinct standards. 
• Islam has set and defined ways to lead a righteous life, which Muslims see as an advantage because it is free of ambiguity. 
• Fasting in the month of Ramadan
•  it is meant to teach self-discipline, and to force us to be compassionate and understand how fragile we are. 
• The Five Pillars help to establish the religions core beliefs as well as to provide a code for daily conduct according to religious values that are associated with rituals. 

How does Islam guide its followers in decision making?

• The reliance on a feeling of family and brotherly love among followers to foster compassion.
• The Koran provides spiritual teaching and guides the actions of its followers.
• The idea that the world requires nourishment to create the sentiment of responsibility for others.
• Concepts like polygamy are allowed by not encouraged as the man is supposed to love each wife equally, a task that is near impossible.
• Islam creates a guide to decision making through the Koran and a sense of community 

Huston Smith Pt. 2

What is "The Standing Miracle"?

• The Koran's ability to convey its message without losing anything to its followers and that it was written as it is by an illiterate man are what and why it is the standing miracle.

What are the basic theological concepts of Islam?

• God: God is invisible, omnipresent, and the only god. This means that according to Muslims, Jesus was created divinely, but was only a prophet, not God incarnate. God is also much more merciful and compassionate than he is portrayed, but humanizing terms like father are rejected by Islam
• Creation: Creation is perfect as it is Allah's work. 
• Humanity: We often forget our divine origin or take it for granted
• Infidel is someone who lacks faithfulness to this. 
• We must surrender to God, but commitment describes surrendering better than surrender because of military connotations.
• Judgement Day: Individuality and freedom are emphasized on judgement day. 
• Our souls face reckoning for all of their good and bad actions throughout our life and our commitment to Allah in the end. The souls judge themselves.
• The basic concepts are the belief in one god, creation, our existence from divine origin and our upholding of our faith and morality. 

Check in

3/4/2015
1. Objective 1 is complete. I'm am the master. When I have the appropriate resources I will attain 2-9. I have a plan. It incorporates my genius intellect being used to propose a multitude of pedantic posts involving my mastery of the material.

2. I will continue to delve into the restrictive application of Qur'anic verses to Muslim Dress (obj 1)

3. Self score (6) 

Need to focus more, though I am finding this extremely difficult as my ability to pay attention drops as the temperature outside rises. Self discipline is a necessity for the complete mastery of any of the objectives. Thank you for the help Mr. Beller

03/08/15
1. 1.1-1.7 complete, Easily done, no problems encountered
2. Research Sharia law to have a solid background before our in class lesson
3. 9/10 - I was focused, not distracted, and easily able to get things done. 

Huston Smith Pt. 1

What is the significance of Islam in history?

• The Islamic empire was greater than the Roman is size and cultural diversity.
• Muslims were able to assimilate their subjects into their culture well because of their faith.
• Islam and religious zeal contributed greatly to the Arabic empire's spread. 
• Islam splits from the Torah/bible in saying that Ismael created the city of Mecca.
• Islam was a driving force behind the expansion of the Arab empire

How did Muhammad's become a prophet and spread God's word?

• Last of the prophets, no more will come after him.
• Morally superior to his contemporaries
• Was told in his retreat to proclaim several times.
• Faced harsh opposition in Mecca.
• His message began to spread despite the opposition.
• Muhammad is the last of the prophets and was called upon by God to proclaim His message because he was not deceived by the false idols of the time. He spread his word in his sermons and grew in popularity despite the leaders of Mecca's best efforts.

What happened during the height of Islam's expansion under Muhammad and why is it significant?

• Muhammad left Mecca in secret for Medina/Yathrib, where he was welcomed and became magistrate.
• Muhammad continued to live his life in a virtuous way even 
• After years in Medina, he returned to conquer Mecca but forgave his enemies and focused on the spread of Islam. 
• No other Arab leader has unified as great of an area geographically and culturally as Muhammad, making him rank of the most influential man of history according to Michael Hart.
• Muhammad's tact and skill as a leader helped to spread Islam and bring all of the tribes of Arabia together, and this is significant because it has never been repeated.

What is "The Standing Miracle"?

• The Koran is considered a miracle because it is written as great poetry by an almost illiterate man, Muhammad.
• Its name means a recitation and it is the most memorized book in the world.
• The created Koran contains the divine reality of the uncreated Koran.
• The Koran considers each sentence to be a revelation because it is said to be from God without any muddling from being passed down.
• The Koran's ability to convey its message without losing anything to its followers and that it was written as it is by an illiterate man are what and why it is the standing miracle. 

Shahada: Confession of Faith

What are the purposes of specific rituals?

Defined as a religious or solemn ceremony consisting of a series of actions performed according to a prescribed order, rituals, specifically   in Islam that take place and they are all connected to each other in some way and serve a specific purpose. 


Tawhid- This is the concept in Islam meaning the "oneness of God" saying that there is one and only one God. There is no God but God and Muhammad is his prophet. It further refers to God that he is a unity, not composed, and no extra parts. He is simple and uncompounded. Tawhid is a very simple, yet important concept to understand. In order to be engaged with Islam, you must be one with God or else there is no purpose to being a follower.
Risalah- "Risalah" means message in the Arabic language. It holds the Islamic message from God that is told through the prophet Muhammad. It is also known as the book written by an Islamic scholar that describes all of the detailed rules of life according to Islam. It is an obligation by Islams to follow this guide.
Hadith- a collection of traditions containing sayings from the prophet Muhammad with accounts of his daily practices called the Sunna. 
Ibadah- The obedience, submission, and devotion to Allah along with the ultimate love for Him. Muslims believe that is the reason of existence for all humanity.
Iman- Denotes an Islamic believer's faith in the Six Pillars of Islam. It is a concept that every Muslim must follow.
Jihad- a struggle within oneself against sin.'
Shirk- Avoiding a duty or responsibility; a serious sin against God.


Rituals, customs and traditions serve the purpose of honoring God (Allah) by fulfilling all duties and responsibilities.  There is value in the rituals. The rituals serve a need within us to have regular, expected responses to pain and suffering. The rituals give us a way to express joy and appreciation. These are very important human needs. Every religion and culture has these features.

How are specific rituals and doctrines linked? 

A doctrine is a belief or set of beliefs held and taught by a church, political party, or other group. Doctrines and rituals are very similar in a way that a religion has to follow a specific set of rules in order to achieve an end goal, or salvation. There are three specific groups in Islam that are different in meaning but similar in the terms of being driven by specific doctrines:

Sunni- The orthodox branch of Islam and differs from Shia because of its understanding of the Sunna and its acceptance of the first four Caliphs. It is based on the belief that the Prophet Muhammad died without appointing a successor to lead the Muslim community. 

Shi'a- Rejects the first three Sunni caliphs and regards Ali, the fourth caliph, as Muhammad's first successor. 

Sufi- a member of a Muslim group of people who try to experience God directly by meditating or praying,

Sunni's believe in all four caliphs of Islam however only the Shi'a only believe in one. The Sufi do not follow any of what was proposed as they are mainly an independent sect of  Islam that only pray and meditate to feel closer to God. One important theory to point out is that many Muslim groups believe differently that Muhammad did or did not have a successor when he died. It's all based off the beliefs of specific groups and there is no clear answer as to what is the "truth." 

How are specific rituals linked to a foundational figure? 

In Islam, meditation is one of the main forms of prayer and the practical and simple way to gain closeness with Allah. Interestingly, Islam has three different groups of followers, each which believe something different about Islam. The Sunni branch of Islam believes that Muhammad did not have a successor after his death, but the Shi'a branch believes he did. The Islamic religion is unique because they are all based off of the same rituals, but different beliefs within certain groups. They all have a commonality briding them together; they all believe in one and only God and that is Allah.

To what extent do rituals shape community?

Ummah is the Muslim community which is bound together by the ties of religion. Having these connections and tights bonds are important since Islam is a worldwide community of believers from different ethnic backgrounds, races and cultures. This term brings all Muslims together despite age, sex, color, culture, or ethnicity. Having a worldwide community sharing the same beliefs reflects the oneness of Allah. Ummah also gives strength to individuals. 

How does ritual shape daily life?

Islam has many type of rituals that they all must fulfill to ultimately achieve enlightenment. In Islam, Muslims must pray at least five times a day. The Muslim prayer is a combination of physical actions, verbal sayings, and an internal feeling in the heart. Muslims are required to be in a state of calmness, serenity and humbleness while performing their prayers. Once the prayer is started, a series of sayings and actions are performed. The sayings include reciting parts of the holy Qur'an, the holy book of Islam, as well as other sayings glorifying God and thanking Him for all of His blessings upon us. It also gives Muslims the opportunity to ask God for anything they desire. This could include asking for help in getting a job, passing an exam, having a child, asking God for forgiveness of sins or anything else. Fasting is also a main ritual of Islam where Muslims refrain from having different kinds of food, drink and having sexual intercourse from sunset to dawn. Ramadan is a whole month of practicing this ritual. It is viewed as a way to cleanse the soul of all worldly desires and devout oneself completely to the obedience of God. It is also an opportunity for wealthy Muslims to experience life without food and drink for a day, which is meant to remind them of the poor and encourage them to have sympathy and to be generous in donating to help the poor and the needy. A very important aspect of Islam is giving charity to the poor. Muslims are required to give certain percentages of any type of wealth that they have accumulated.

Koran by Heart

 Nabiollah's Perspective


I feel I did well. I got to meet the main judge, but he was crying and muttering in Arabic, so I didn't understand him. I was escorted by him and then surrounded by a large crowd. i was scared, but i recited a few verses because the elder judge i believe told me too. So many people were around me and closing in on me, i couldn't help but cry, i was scared... But I made it back to the hotel safely. I was proud i had made it to the finals, but that was a few days away, we had time to play. I got to see the pyramids, and ride a camel, and practice of course. The finals went well, however, i did not win first place. 3rd is fine, and it was understandable that an Egypt native won the competition. I did, however, get to recite to the president, what an experience. But honestly, I have no idea what the Tajweed is.

Islam for Idiots Chapter 4

Jesus is considered to have been born like Adam, not part God
Taqwa is to be conscious of God in your heart
God has no form that we can understand
Allah is neither male or female, and we can understand him through his 99 names instead of picturesWe may not depict God, as we have never seen him and cannot understand Him.
Movies are wrong and blasphemous as they try to depict God in a human way
We should not depict prophets either, as their appearance can detract from their message (link to Je suis charlie)
There is only one God. there is not a little bit of God in each of us this is shaytan spreading deceit to keep us away from Him.
No one has ever seen Allah (Moses was close)
Allah is one, no divisions and also no chosen people
Early Islam challenged pagan beliefs
On judgement day idol-worshipers will be confronted by their idols for their foolishness

Islam for Idiots Chapter 3

This chapter covers the ideas of growing spiritually, sin and repentance, and the afterlife.
Muslims believe that there are three stages of spiritual development: seeking pleasure, seeking answers, and following God.
Muslims believe that people are not born with sin, but their animal desires and Shaytan's empty promises may lead them away from following their Fitrah.
They must believe in God and ask his forgiveness for sins and be sincere.
"On Judgement Day we will all be judged for the sins in our lives and how we lived, and if need be our souls are purged of evil in Hell for a period of time."

Islam for Idiots chapt 2

Food for the Soul

1. What is the purpose of the Ayatul Kursi: "Verse of the Throne"?
   The Ayatul Kursi, or Verse of the Throne, is one of the most memorized passages of the Qur’an and provides an introduction to the way in which Muslims view God.
2. What, according to Muslims what are the four areas that prove the existence of God / Allah?
   - The natural world with all its complexity and beauty, as a sign of an intelligence in the universe because only a designing mind could have constructed it.
   -  Human abilities for thought, belief, invention, creativity, and moral choices.
   - The revelation of God’s guidance and the existence of religion. They show that there is a right way and a wrong way to live life.
   

   - Our inner feelings.
3. What does it mean to "surrender to Allah"?
   “Surrendering to Allah” refers to obeying and abiding by God’s way
4. What is the role of free will in Islam and following God's will?
    The Qur’an states, long before God made people, God offered the gift of free will to everything. That leaves one the ability to choose having right and wrong. The Qur’an declares that every object in the universe declined this “gift” out of fear of the consequences.
5. Fitrah: Why is it important to have this in addition to free will? According to Islam, how is it that all of us have Fitrah, even if we are not Muslim?
      Humans would have free will, intelligence, reason, and a moral compass called a fitrah. This Fitrah helps to  guide people through life. Islam points out that all people have weaknesses and people all desire personal pleasure and the fulfillment of urges.
6. In your own words explain Fitrah
   Fitrah can be defined as the tendency to do good by God's rules. 

Timeline of Islam and Muhammad 

• 570 C.E. Muhammad is born in Mecca. He comes from a noble family and is well-known for his honesty and upright character.
• 610 C.E. According to Muslim belief, at the age of 40, Muhammad is visited by the angel Gabriel while on retreat in a cave near Mecca. The angel recites to him the first revelations of the Quran and informs him that he is God's prophet. Later, Muhammad is told to call his people to the worship of the one God, but they react with hostility and begin to persecute him and his followers.
• 622 C.E. After enduring persecution in Mecca, Muhammad and his followers migrate to the nearby town of Yathrib (later to be known as Medina), where the people there accepted Islam. This marks the "hijrah" or "emigration," and the beginning of the Islamic calendar. In Medina, Muhammad establishes an Islamic state based on the laws revealed in the Quran and the inspired guidance coming to him from God. Eventually he begins to invite other tribes and nations to Islam.
• 630 C.E. Muhammad returns to Mecca with a large number of his followers. He enters the city peacefully, and eventually all its citizens accept Islam. The prophet clears the idols and images out of the Kaaba and rededicates it to the worship of God alone.
• 633 C.E. Muhammad dies after a prolonged illness. The Muslim community elects his father-in-law and close associate, Abu Bakr, as caliph, or successor.
• 638 C.E. Muslims enter the area north of Arabia, known as "Sham," including Syria, Palestine, Lebanon and Iraq.
• 641 C.E. Muslims enter Egypt and rout the Byzantine army. Muslims consider their conquest as the liberation of subjugated people, since in most instances they were under oppressive rule.
• 655 C.E. Islam begins to spread throughout North Africa.
• 661 C.E. Imam Ali is killed, bringing to an end the rule of the four "righteous caliphs": Abu Bakr, Umar, Uthman, and Ali. This also marks the beginning of the Umayyad rule.
• 711 C.E. Muslims enter Spain in the west and India in the east. Eventually almost the entire Iberian Peninsula is under Islamic control.
• 732 C.E. Muslims are defeated at Poitiers in France by Charles Martel.
• 750 C.E. The Abbasids take over rule from the Umayyads, shifting the seat of power to Baghdad.
• 1000 C.E. Islam continues to spread through the continent of Africa, including Nigeria, which served as a trading liaison between the northern and central regions of Africa.
• 1099 C.E. European Crusaders take Jerusalem from the Muslims. Eventually Muslims defeat the Crusaders and regain control of the holy land.
• 1120 C.E. Islam continues to spread throughout Asia. Malaysian traders interact with Muslims who teach them about Islam.

Muhammad's "Great  revelations of the Quran" serves as one of the defining moments of the religion, and therefore is one of, if not the most important even in the development of Islam and Muhammad. In 630, Muhammad returns to Mecca a with a large number of his followers. He enters the city peacefully, and eventually all its citizens accept Islam, which this group of followers continued to spread the religion, even after their prophet's death in 633.