Islam Webquest

Task 1: The World's Muslim Population:

1.) What is the highest estimate for the total number of Muslims that live in the world today?
The highest estimate for the total number of Muslims that live in the world today is 2.1 Billion (as of Aug. 2012).

2.) List 10 countries who have a Muslim population of 86% or greater.
- Indonesia
- Pakistan
- India
- Bangladesh
- Egypt
- Nigeria
- Iran
- Turkey
- Algeria
- Morocco

3.) What country has the largest Muslim population?
The country with the largest Muslim population is Pakistan.

4.) How many Muslims are there living in the United States?
There are approximately 2,454,000 Muslims living in the U.S. today.

Task 2: Key Beliefs of Islam:
1.) Summarize each of the key beliefs below in a complete sentence:
     1. Belief in God:
     2. Belief in the Angels:
     3. Belief in God's Revealed Books:
     4. Belief in the Prophets and Messengers of God:
     5. Belief in the Day of Judgement:
     6. Belief in Al- Qadar:

2.) Teachings of Muhammad: Put 3 of Muhammad's sayings in your own words:
     1.
     2.
     3.
Task 3: The Quran (Koran):

1.) What does the Quran provide?

2.) In what language(s) does the Quran exist? Why?
 The Quran exists in Arabic, as Arabic is the "language of God".

3.) During which month was the Quran sent down from Heaven?

4.) What did the angel Gabriel command Muhammad to do? What happened next?

Task 4: Five Pillars of Faith:
1.) List and explain the five pillars of faith:
     1. Shahada (Testimony of Faith):
     2. Salat (Prayer):
     3. Zakat (Almsgiving):
     4. Siyam/ Sawm (Fasting):
     5. Hajj (Pilgrimage):

2.) Why are they important?

3.) Why is cheating on the five pillars impossible?

4.) Compare the five pillars with similar activities in other religions.

Task 5: Ramadan:
1.) What is Ramadan?

2.) What restraints are placed on Muslims during Ramadan?

3.) What can destroy the good aquired during Ramadan?

4.) Why is the 27th day of Ramadan significant/

5.) What happens when Ramadan ends?

6.) What are the three reasons Ramadan is so important?

7.) Why is it easier to do good during Ramadan?








Task 6: Fun Facts:
Make a list of 10 different facts about Islam that you think are especially interesting:
1.)

2.)

3.)

4.)

5.)

6.)

7.)

8.)

9.)

10.)

Blog Post 22- Ancient Western Religions

Ancient Western Religions:

1.) When and where did Zoroastrianism begin to flourish?

The religion of Zoroastrianism began in Persia (ancient Iran) in the fifth and fourth centuries B.C.

2.) How did Zoroastrianism spread beyond its place of origin? 

Zoroastrianism spread beyond Persia (along with other aspects of Persian culture) after the area was conquered by Alexander the Great in 328 B.C.

3.) Briefly describe the religious experience Zarathustra had about the age of thirty.

When Zarathustra was about thirty years old, the Angle “Good Thought” appeared to him, and brought him before Ahura Mazda, (the “Great Lord”), in the form of a disembodied soul. He recognized Ahura Mazda as the one true god. After this revelation, he preached “the radical message of monotheism to his polytheistic society.”

4.) Name the sacred text of Zoroastrianism. What is the oldest material in this text and who wrote it?

The Avesta is the oldest text of Zoroastrianism. The oldest material is the Gathas. They are the first seventeen hymns that he wrote.

5.) Summarize the characteristics and actions associated with Ahura Mazda. 

Ahura Mazda means  the Wise Lord. The Ahura Mazda is “eternal and universal goodness, controlling the cosmos and the destiny of human beings”.

6.) What is ethical dualism?

Ethical dualism is “the belief in universal forces of good and evil”. It is Zoroastrianism’s most distinctive feature.

7.) What is the Lie and how does it relate to Ahura Mazda?

The Lie is an “evil, cosmic force”. The Lie opposes Ahura Mazda, the eternal and universal goodness in the universe.

8.) What must humans choose between in the Zoroastrian cosmic scheme?

Humans must choose between the Truth and the Lie. Just as Ahura Mazda’s two children had to choose between the truth and the lie, one chose Truth and one chose the Lie, all human beings must follow that same path of choices.

9.) Summarize Zarathustra’s understanding of human destiny.

Zarathustra believed that after death, an individual would undergo judgment. This judgment would mean for the individual to cross “the Bridge of the Separator” (a bridge that spans over an abyss of “horrible torment”(similar to the River Styx in Greek mythology) , but eventually leads to paradise), and are then the ethical records of that specific individual are read and judged. If you have lived a good life, you are allowed to enter papadise, however, if you led an evil life, you are cast into the abyss. They also believe in "a final bodily resurrection of everyone, good and evil alike".

10.) What are the general ethical demands of traditional Zoroastrian life?

The general ethical demands of traditional Zoroastrian life are "centered on agriculture", and include living a simple life, always telling the truth and doing what is right.

11.) Who are the Parsis, and where do most of them live today?

The Parasis are those who still practice Zoroastrianism today and "combine a wide variety of features from the Zoroastrian tradition". Today, most Zoroastrians live in India.

12.) What is commonly regarded as having been the Bible of the ancient Greeks?

The Illiad and the Odyssey, by Homer, are commonly regarded as having been the Bible of Ancient Greeks.

13.) Explain the meaning of this sentence: “The gods of the Olympic Pantheon are arihropomorphic.”:

As arihropomorthic is a greek word that means "of human form", this statement means that the Greek gods often behave more like humans, rather than like gods.  

14.) What was Aeschylus’s main contribution to the understanding of the gods of the Olympic Pantheon? Give an example.

15.) What is an oracle? What was the most famous oracle of Ancient Greece and why was it consulted?

An oracle is "a sancuary favored by a particular god, who communicated in some manner to those who visited the site. (The word oracle refers to the god's message itself, or the medium through which it is communicated.)". The most famous oracle of Ancient Greece was the Oracle at Delphi. It was consulted when Greeks "sought the wisdom of [the Greek god], Apollo."

16.) Briefly identify the three basic aspects of the mystery religions.
1. "Individuals had to choose to become initiates" (they went through a form of initiation ritual)
2. "Initiates experienced a personal encounter with the deity."
3. "Initiates gained spiritual renewal through participation in the religion, and (as with most mystery religions), hope for a better afterlife."

17.) What mystery religion honored Demeter and Persephone?
The myster religion par excellence honored Demeter, the goddess of grain and her daughter, Persephone.  

18.) What is the god Dionysus associated with and how is he depicted in Greek art?

The god Dionysus is associated with wine and grapes, and in greek art is depicted drinking wine, and "living prosperously".

19.) Name the goal of the ascetic practices of the orphics.

20.) What is Plato’s theory of knowledge?

21.) What is Platonic dualism?

22.) Why did Jesus seem to have much in common with the ancient Asclepius?

23.) What were “numina” and what sort of things were they thought to inhabit?

24.) Who was the most powerful roman deity?

Zeus was the most powerful roman deity (as similar in Greek mythology).

25.) Identify the six planets of our solar system that were named after Roman deities.

1.Mercury

2.Venus

3.Mars

4.Jupiter

5.Saturn

6.Neptune

 

26.) Why did the Roman state consider it essential to maintain official worship practices?

27.) Which mystery religions were the main rivals of Christianity in the later Roman Empire?

28.) Briefly summarize the Egyptian myth of Isis and Osiris.

29.) Briefly describe the sort of emperor worship encourages by Augustus.

30.) Why did Christians and Roman rulers clash over emperor worship?

Judaism Questions

Judaism:Holy Items:
1.) What are the three functions of a synagogue?
      1. Beit Knesset (House of Assembly): The synagogue is a place for Jews to meet and share in the community of their neighbors. (the "hub" of the Jewish community).
      2. Beit Midrash (House of Study): People gather in the synagogue to study the Torah, as study is a form of worship for Jews.
      3. Beit Tefilah (House of Prayer): It serves as a place to pray to God, and it brings the members of the Jewish community together.
2.) What does the layout of a synagogue look like? Check out the various items and then identify the purpose and location of the following:
- Ark: The Holy Ark is located along the Eastern wall of the Synogogue. The Ark holds the Torah scrolls (when they are not being used). It sits underneath the ner tamid, "the eternal light", and is covered with a parokhet (a special curtain that covers the ark. ). "The ark serves as the focus of [a Jew's] prayers."

- Torah Scrolls: The Torah Scrolls are located in the Ark (when they are not in use). They are covered by cloth "mantles", which are designed very elaborately. They are open at the bottom, and have two holes at the top for the two handles of the Torah.


- Ten Commandments:

3.) What is a rabbi/

- How does a Jew become a rabbi?

- How does a rabbi differ from a clergyman?

- What is the rabbi's role?

4.) What is the nature Shabbat (also aknown as Sabbath)? When does it occur?

5.) What is the Torah? What is the Talmud?
This is what a Torah Scroll looks like:

6.) There are different branches of Judiasm. Describe the following:
     1. Orthodox:

2. Reform:

3. Conservative:

4. Zionist:

Language:

7.) What is Hebrew?

8.) What is Yiddish?

9.) Define the following Yiddish terms:

10.) Rites of Passage- Define and describe the following:

1. Brit Milah (Bris):

2. Bar/ Bat Mitzva:

3. Jewish Marriage:

11.) Holidays:- define the following:

1. Rosh Hashanah:

2. Yom Kippur:

3. Hanukah:

4. Passover:

12. What is something you knew about Jewish traditions that this confirmed?

13. What is the most interesting (or surprising) information out of all of this?

14. What is one aspect of Jewish tradition that is similar to a tradition in your life?

15. What is one aspect of Jewish tradition that is different from a tradition in your life?

 

 

 

 

Buddhism Chapter Review

1.) What was the name of the man who later became the Buddha and founded the religion of Buddhism?
The founder of Buddhism was Siddhartha Gautama.

2.) What were the four passing sights? Explain their significance to the origins of Buddhism.
The Four Passing Sights:
       1. Age: Siddhartha, while on his first trip outside the palace, passed by a decrepit old man. As he had never seen old age before, he was greatly troubled when he realized that this fate in store for everyone, including himself.
       2. Sickness/ Disease: On his second trip outside the palace, he saw a diseased man, and again was greatly disturbed by this. He could not understand how people could enjoy life when disease posed a constant threat for them.
       3. Death: On his third trip, he saw a corpse for the first time. This devistated him more than the other two sights, as this showed him that death is inevitable for all things. These first three sights were lessons about the reality of suffering, and "the impertanent nature of life's pleasures".
       4. Asceticism: This fourth passing sight gave Siddhartha hope. The wandering ascetic that passed by him showed Siddhartha that there was a way to overcome the despair that the first three sights brought. It was this last sight that prompted him to leave his palace and begin a life of homelessness.

-These four sights prompted Siddhartha to put an end to old age and death, which brought suffering and saddness to all who experienced it. These four sights created the basis for the religion of Buddhism.

3.) Explain the doctrine of the Middle Way.
The Middle Way:
After Siddhartha left the palace, he joined a group of ascetics that practiced fasting. Siddhartha practiced with them for six years, and pushed himself to the brink of starvation. Then one day, he came across a man teaching his son to restring a mandolin. The man told his son that he could not tie the strings too loose, or else it would not play, however if they were too tight then they would break. The key to creating the best sound was to find a balance between the two. It was this that made Siddhartha realize the key to a successful life, was balance. The teaching that he instilled rejected both the pleasures of sensual indulgence and the self- denial of asceticism, and "focused instead on a practical approach to spiritual attainment".

4.)  Describe the event of Gautama's attainment of enlightenment.
The Buddha's Enlightenment:
Siddhartha Gautama meditated under several different teachers. He then took up ascetic practices, which were based on te belief that one could free the spirit by "denying the flesh". He practiced this so determinedly, that he almost starved to death. After these practices failed to enlighten him (on the meaning of life), "he abandoned this way, and looked instead into his own heart and mind." "He decided to trust his intuition and learn from direct experience." He sat underneath a pipal tree and vowed to remain there until he gained enlightenment. He stayed there forty days and finally on the full moon in May, Siddhartha (the Buddha), attained "Ultimate Freedom". For the remainder of his life, the Buddha traveled through Northern India, and spread his understanding and teachings.                                                                                                               

5.) What is the Sangha? Who are it's members?
The Sangha is the Buddhist community of monks and nuns. It is one of the three jewels of Buddhism.

6.) What are the three jewels of Buddhism?
 The Three Jewels of Buddhism:
          1. The Buddha (the yellow jewel)
          2. The Dharma (the Blue Jewel)
          3. The Sangha (the Red Jewel)
"The ideals at the heart of Buddhism are collectively known as the "Three Jewels", (also known as "the Three Treasures".). By having these central principles in your life, you become a Buddhist.

7.) What features of Buddhist cosmology are shared with Hinduism?

8.) Describe the Buddha's reaction to early Hinduism.

9.) Identify the Three Marks of Existence. How are the interrelated?
The Three Marks of Existence:
       1. Anatta (no- self)
       2. Anicca (impermanence)
       3. Dukkha (suffering)
These three marks are all characteristics that summarize the "changing nature of reality".

10.) What is the doctrine of anatta? How does it relate to the concept of Hinduism?
The doctrine of anatta states that there is no permanent self. It is one of the three marks of existence in Buddhism.

11.) According to the Buddhist doctrine of samsara, what is actually reborn? Explain the role of karma in the Buddhist understanding of samsara.
In Buddhism, samsara is the rebirth of a person's soul after one of their lives on earth is at an end. This doctrine means that although the body of the person is gone, the soul of the person is able to come back to life in a different form (as an animal, etc.).

12.) List the Five Precepts, which apply to all Buddhists. Then list the fice additional precepts that apply to monks and nuns.
The Five Precepts:
    1. They cannot steal.
    2. They cannot harm living things.
    3. They cannot lie.
    4. They cannot take part in sexual conduct.
    5. They cannot drink intoxicating drinks.

    
13.) What are some possible English transitions of the term dukkha? Explain it's meaning in your own words.
Dukkha means "suffering", "fustration", "dislocation", or "discomfort". It is the first of the Four Noble truths as well as one of the three marks of existence in Buddhism.

14.) What is tanha? How is it related to dukkha?
Tanha is the second of the Four Noble Truths. It means "desire", "thirst" or "craving". Tanha is selfish desire, and it is the cause of dukkha, ultimate suffering.

15.) List the steps of the Eightfold Path.
The Noble Eightfold Path:
1.) Right Understanding or Perfect Vision
2.) Right Judgement or Perfect Emotion
3.) Right Speech or Perfect Speech
4.) Right Action or Perfect Action
5.) Right Livelihood or Perfect Livelihood
6.) Right Effort or Perfect Effort
7.) Right Mindfulness or Perfect Awareness
8.) Right Meditation or Perfect Samadhi.
The Noble Eightfold Path is a "further unpacking" of (an expansion of ) the Threefold Way. This path is the most widely known of the Buddha's teachings.

16.) What is the difference between the Buddha and the other humans who attain enlightenment?

17.) Define and briefly describe the character of an arhat.
An arhat is "one who has become enlightened". It is the ideal type for Theravada Buddhism. An arhat is someone who has achieved enlightment and will achieve nirvana at the end of their life on Earth, rather than being reborn into samsara.

18.) What is the literal meaning of the word nirvana? How does this help explain the concept of nirvana?

19.) What are the three divisions of Buddhism?
The Three Divisions of Buddhism:
    1. Theravada (Way of the Elders)
    2. Mahayana (Greater Vehicle)
    3. Vajrayana (Tibetan Buddhism)

20.) What is the main focus of Theravada Buddhism?

21.) What is the literal meaning of the name Mahayana, and what are the implications of this meaning?

22.) How does Vajrayana Buddhism "fight fire with fire"?

23.) Who is the Dalai Lama? How is each Dalai Lama chosen?
The Dalai Lama is the leader of Tibetian Buddhism, in the Vajrayana sect.

24.) What are the primary geographical regions of the three divisions of Buddhism?





 







    

Teachings of Buddhism

Buddism began with the birth of the Buddha. Siddhartha Gautama was born about 2500 years ago. He was born into a royal family and was sheltered throughout his childhood (and into his early adult life) from pain, death, sickness, and suffering. When he saw these painful things present in the world, he began to wonder about the "true meaning of life." In order to more fully understand these things, he left the palace and his family (his wife and newborn son) behind. He chose to follow the traditional Indian path of the wandering holy man, a seeker of the truth, "the meaning of life."

He meditated under several different teachers. He then took up ascetic practices, which were based on te belief that one could free the spirit by "denying the flesh". He practiced this so determinedly, that he almost starved to death. After these practices failed to  enlighten him (on the meaning of life), "he abandoned this way, and looked instead into his own heart and mind." "He decided to trust his intuition and learn from direct experience." He sat underneath a pipal tree and vowed to remain there until he gained enlightenment. He stayed there forty days and finally on the full moon in May, Siddhartha (the Buddha), attained "Ultimate Freedom". For the remainder of his life, the Buddha traveled through Northern India, and spread his understanding and teachings.                                                                                                               
Teachings:
-3 Jewels:
Buddhists see life as "a constant change". They believe that "one can change for the better". "The ideals at the heart of Buddhism are collectively known as the "Three Jewels", (also known as "the Three Treasures".). The three jewels are:
1.) The Buddha (the yellow jewel)
2.) The Dharma (the Blue Jewel)
3.) The Sangha (the Red Jewel)
By having these central principles in your life, you become a Buddhist.



- The Threefold Way:
The threefold way  is another formulation of the path, and it is comprised of:
1.) Ethics
2.) Meditation
3.) Wisdom
This path provides "an indispensible basis for meditation". In the Buddhist religion,  meditation is "the ground on whcih wisdom can develop". Meditation is necessary in order for a person to grow in their faith, and in th religion of Buddhism.

- Four Noble Truths:
1.) All existence is Dukkha:
The word Dukkha means "suffering", "anguish", "pain", or "unsatisfactoriness". The Buddha saw that "our lives are a struggle, and we do not find ultimate happiness or satisfaction in anything we experience". He stated that this was the  problem with existence.
2.) The cause of Dukkha is craving:
It is our "natural human tendency" to blame our difficulties on outside influences. Th Buddha teaches that "our actual root is to be found in the mind itself".
3.) The cessation of Dukkha comes with the cessation of craving:
While we are the cause of our suffering, we are also the solution. We cannot change the things that happen to us, but we can change our responses (We cannot control the situations in our lives, but rather we can choose how we respond to those situations when we meet them.).
4.) There is a path that leads from Dukkha:
Although responsibility is placed on the individual, the Buddha taught certain methods "through which we can change ourselves". One example is the Noble Eightfold Path.

-Noble Eightfold Path:
The Noble Eightfold Path is a "further unpacking" of (an expansion of ) the Threefold Way. This path is the most widely known of the Buddha's teachings. It is ancient, and highly vallues as a "treasury of wisdom and practical guideance on how to live our lives". They are also in a "mutual relationship" with one another, and are each "essential elements" in the intigrated approach to Dharma.  The components of the path are:
1.) Right Understanding or Perfect Vision
2.) Right Judgement or Perfect Emotion
3.) Right Speech or Perfect Speech
4.) Right Action or Perfect Action
5.) Right Livelihood or Perfect Livelihood
6.) Right Effort or Perfect Effort
7.) Right Mindfulness or Perfect Awareness
8.) Right Meditation or Perfect Samadhi.




         

Hinduism Chapter Review

Hinduism:
1.) Explain the meaning of the term Moksha.
Moksha means "liberation". A Hindu can achieve moksha through good karma. You strengthen your karma through darma (your "ethical duty".).

2.) What doctrine says that all reality is ultimately one? Give an analogy that describes it.
Monism is the doctrine that states that all reality is ultimately one. One analogy of monism is that rivers, lakes, ponds, and oceans appear quite different, however they are all made up of water.

3.) Define Brahman and Atman. How are the two related?
Brahman is the "essence of all things". Brahman is the ground of a Hindu's existence, and the "source of the universe". Similarly, Atman is the "eternal self". It is the "ultimate reality" within a Hindu.
4.) What is the general function of Hinduism's many deities?
Hindu's believe that all 330 million deities are extensions of one ultimate reality. ("many names for one ocean, many "masks for one God".).

5.) Give a brief explanation of the doctrine of Samsara.
Samsara means "wheel of rebirth". It is the doctrine that states that the individual is reincarnated from one life- form to another.

6.) What is the name of Hinduism's most popular, sacred text?
The most popular, sacred text in Hinduism is the Rig- Veda. It is over 4,000 years old (it is from about 1500 B.C.).

7.) According to Hinduism, what are the two principles that connect the divine to this world? Briefly explain each.
The two divine principles that connect the divine to this world are karma and dharma. Karma means "action" or "deeds". It determines all the particular circumstances and situations of one's life. Dharma is a Hindu's "ethical duty", based on the divine order of reality. Dharma is "the complete rule of life".

8.) Name the four classes of the caste system, and describe the people who belong to each:
        1.) Brahmins: made up of the wealthy/ Priests
        2.) Kshatryias: made up of knights/ soldiers and administrators
        3.)Vaishyas: made up of producers, such as farmers, merchants, and artisans.
        4.) Shudras: composed of servants and laborers.

9.) In the Bhagavad- Gita, why does Krishna encourage Arjuna to engage in war?
Krishna encourages Arjuna by telling him that noen of the people that he will fight actually  exist. He tells Arjuna that although he fears fo the lives of his family members and friends on the opposing side, no harm will actually come to them, as their souls are unbreakable. Even if their physical beign falls in this life, their soul remains intact, and is able to return to Earth in a different form.

10.) Identify and briefly explain the four stages of life:
        1.) The Student- studies the Veda (intense study of the Vedas).
        2.) The Housekeeper- assigned the tasks of pursuing a career, and raising a family.
        3.) The Forest Dweller-  marked by the birth of the first grandchild, the individual retreats from worldly bonds in order to engage fully in a soiritual quest.
        4.) Sannyasin- the individual becomes a "wandering ascetic", and (if he chooses) returns to society after being apart for the "Forest Dweler" stage.


11.) Name and briefly describe the four goals of life:
        1.) Sensual Pleasure- Karma
        2.) Material Wealth- Artha
        3.) Doing your Duty- Dharma
        4.) Bliss- Moksha

12.) Identify the three paths to liberation. Which person is best suited for each path?
        1.) Karma- Those who do work. Thoser who actively do good.
        2.) Bhakti Marga- Those who are devoted.  People who devote themselves to a particular god.
        3.) Jhana Marga- Knowledge. Those who pursue Hindi philosophy.

13.) What are the three most important schools of Hindu philosophy? What is the basic task that concers all three?
        1.) Vedanta
        2.) Sankhya
        3.) Yoga

The basic task that contains all three is Maya ("cosmic illusion").

14.) Identify three important gods or goddesses of Hinduism:
        1.) Vishnu
        2.) Shiva
        3.) Kali


15.) What is an avitar? Name two important Hindu figures identified as avitars.
An avitar is an incarnation of a diety. Two important Hindu avitars are:
        1.) Krishna
        2.) Rama

16.) What Hindu text is most closely associated with bhakti- marga?
The jnana marga is the most closely associated text witht the bhakti- marga.

17.) Identify three aspects of Hindu devotional life:
        1.) Household and Villiage rituals
        2.) Holy places
        3.) Veneration of the ever present and much adored sacred cows.

18.) How did Mahatma Gandi influence Hinduism?
Gandi served as a social and political reformer fo the Hindu people. He is also well known for his prominent role as a relligious reformer. He mae many efforts to stand up to oppression through non- violence and civil disobedience.


19.) What significant changes in the caste system took place in the twentieth century?
In 1948, the Indian government "officially forbade discrimination against outcastes" (untouchables).

20.) What  is sati? What is it's status today?
Sati is the Indian practice of burning a widoe, after her husband dies. Sati does still occur, although (luckly) it is a very rare occurance.

21.)  What significant development occured in relations between Hindu and Muslims in 1947?
In 1947, the partition of India separated Hindu's and Muslims into two separate nations. Hindu's were allowed to remain in India, while Muslims were forced to move into Pakistan, separating the Indian people into two separate nations.

Religious Tradition of the Yoruba

1.  Location:
The Yoruba people are located in Western Africa, specifically the present- day countries of Nigeria and the Republic of Benin (and certain sections of Togo.). Currently, they are located in the modern day range of West Africa that extends from the Savanna, in the north, to a region of tropical rainforest in the south.The Yoruba make up one of the largest ethnic groups of Sub-Saharan Africa, with more than 5.5 million people currently living there.They are also among "the oldest and most influential of all African cultures".

The traditional religion of the Yrouba people is Orisa, which is based on "play" (which in Yoruba tems means spontaneity) and transformation. They originated from a people called the Oyo, who were a popular trading partner with the Portuguese people. The majority of the Yoruba people live in Nigeria, in a region that is formerly known as the "Slave Coast.".




2. Beliefs:
In the Yoruba tradition, The Yoruba people believe in a Supreme Being, Olodumare, who they do not worship directly (similar to the supreme being of Hinduism, Brahma). They also believe in a being that is "the counterpart to the physical world", the god Orun. The Yoruban people also believe that they are all related through the same ancestor, 'Oduduwa". There are several different stories concerning his coming to Earth. In one version, he was sent by God from Heaven to create the Earth and the human race. It is said that he "descended from Heaven with his lieutenants", and landed at Ile- Ife, "the cradle of the Yoruba people and mankind", and there his mission continued. He "descended with a handful of sand and a cock", and the cock spread the sand over the Earth, which was covered by water, creating the land. Yoruba tradition states that he is the creator of the Yoruba people, and of all humans . Also, as with other African religions, the Yoruba believe that the ancient ancestors are still present on Earth.
Image: Olodumare creating the earth from sand and a cock.
3. Sacred Symbols:

The Akoko Tree is regarded as one of the Yoruba's most sacred symbols. It serves as a symbolic marker for important sacred and religious spots, and plays a very important role in certain versions of the Yoruban creation story. Also, there are many other symbols that are just as important to Yoruban society. For example, Yams are considered important symbols of Thanksgiving, due to the fact that the Yoruba people's main occupation is farming. They would also use the symbols as a way to honor the gods of their religion. For example, Yoruba fishing communities would offer new yams to the divinities before they would eat them themselves, and give them to others in Yoruban society.

Both the Akoko tree and the yam are considered very important and sacred symbols in the Yoruba tradition. Another sacred symbol for the Yoruba people is the Kola nut. It is a very important aspect for the Yorba people in Nigeria. The Kola nut is given as a symbol of hospitality, friendship and respect, and is given out to guests at social gathering, such as weddings, funerals, and "infant- naming ceremonies.” It is grown on Yoruba land in the western part of Nigeria.

Also, women in Yoruba society are forbidden to perform and sort of ritual (this includes prayers). In most Yoruba communities, the male head of the family, or the oldest male present during that time, must lead the prayers for the entire family.

4. Sacred Locations:
One of the most sacred sites in Yoruba tradition is Ile- Ife. In Yoruba tradition, it is known as "the land of the most ancient days (the dawn); where the work of creation too place; where the dawn of day was first experienced; the head or nucleus of the whole universe."



5. Major gods (Good, Bad and Trickster):
In the Yoruba tradition, there are more than 401 known gods. (Due to the number of gods, the Yoruba have been compaired to the ancient Greeks, as there are many similarites between the structures of the gods of those two religions.). Some of those other gods include Sango (the god of thunder and lightning), Ogun (god of Iron), Shokpona (god of smallpox), Iya- Nla (Great Mother- "Guardian of Life"), Ifa (who imposes order on the world -to build civilization), and Eshhu (messenger of the gods). Out of those, they believe in a "Supreme Being".
In the Yoruba religion, there is only one major trickster- god. He is know by two different names: Eshu and Legba. Although he is not considered a "bad" or "evil" god by the Yoruba people, he has been "dubbed" by Europeans as the Devil, or the "evil" force in the Yoruba tradition. However, his job is instead to "try man's faith". He does no intentionally harm or tempt other people, but he tests how strong in faith a Yoruba is at the different points throughout their life.

6. Totems, Fetishes, and Taboos:
The Yoruba people have many taboos amongst their ancient traditions. Some of these effect certain families, while others apply to all that practice the Yoruba religion. There are also many taboos realted to death, marriage, and birth, and they are all applicable to all the indigene of Ile- Ife. One example of this is the restrictions that the Yoruba have on keeping dogs as pets (in the home), due to and ancient story passed down from the ancestors. In this story, a king's child, after being beileved to be dead, is abandoned by the king and his wife. The child is found five days later with a dog, who has offspring of her own. The child is alive, and is raised by the dogs, living off of the milk that the dog produced. The king believed that the fact the the child was raised by dogs would greatly offend the gods. Due to this, Yoruban society forbids people from keeping dogs as pets.

Another taboo is if a woman dies as she is still mourning her husbans's death. The woman will not be buried by her family members, she will she will instead be buried by Ohisoro. Ohisoro are members of Lokore family, and they are responsible for maintaining all  the shrines in Ile- Ife. (they offer sacrifices, etc.). Ohisoro will perform a ritual before carrying her to the forest to be buried.
In Yoruba society, there is also a taboo on death by hanging. The only one that can unite the victim is the Ohisoro. Family members are not allowed to see the corpse, or else death by hanging becomes hereditary in that family. Similarly, if a woman dies during a pregnancy, a special ritual must be performed. It is considered an abomination in the Yoruba tradition to bury a pregnant woman with the baby. The special ritual serves for a way to avoid reoccurances of this tragedy in the family's future.

7. Role of the Shamans/ How they view magic:
Shamans play an important role in Yoruban society. The Shaman is a "spirit worker.". He is someone who "has access to and influence in the world of benevolent and malevolent spirits". They perform rituals and practice the arts of divination and healing.
 


7. Rituals: Among other rituals and art forms, the Yoruba practice the art of Divination. For the Yoruba people, Divination is the traditional method of telling fortunes. The Yourba would  "cast bones), throwing small objects auch as shells, stones, strips of leather, and flat pieces of wood. Many of the rituals associated with the Yoruba people include others as well. For example, in Yoruba society, the marriage of two peole are arranged by only the parents.
Although there are several different rituals, all of them have a deeper meaning to the Yoruba people, Many reflect on the "rites of passage", which symbolize a "rebirth' for the Yoruban people. One example of this is the fact that marrages are always arranged by the parents of the bride/ groom. Another very important rite, is a boy's passage into adulthood (sent into the wilderness for 3 days, etc.)
They also have several different "naming" ceremonies. When a newborn is given a name, he/ she becomes a part of the Yoruba society.

Dance in honor of the god "Shango".




Traditional Yoruba Art: Images that reflect the art of their people:
The Yoruba people had a wide variety of artistic forms. These included pottery, weaving, beadwork, metalwork, and maskmaking. Usually, most of their artwork is made to honor the gods and ancestors.
Yoruba Cap Mask: 1930-60     Yoruba Female Figure: Late 1800's

Yoruba Mask: 1922         

 

Yoruba Ceremonial Robe (Weaving/ Beadwork)

Yoruba Gelede Mask                                                                                         

 

Sources:
http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/653789/Yoruba
http://www.tigweb.org/youth-media/panorama/article.html?ContentID=1088
http://www.africaguide.com/culture/tribes/yoruba.htm
http://www.yorubareligion.org/_con/_rubric/detail.php?nr=1393&rubric=News
http://www.philtar.ac.uk/encyclopedia/sub/yoruba.html
http://www.postcolonialweb.org/nigeria/yorubarel.html
http://people.stthomasu.ca/~belyea/2009/InterriteI/Yoruba.html

Image Sources (for artwork and pictures not included in previous sources):
http://www.library.uco.edu
http://www.britannica.com

Primal Religious Traditions: Chapter Review

1. Why are some forms of religion called Primal? Describe some of the characteristics of primal religions.
 Certain forms of religion are known as Primal, because they were "the traditions of non-literate people." They do not depend on scriptures or written teachings, as many modern religions do (ex: Christianity: The Bible, Islam: The Quran, etc.). Primal religions are passed down orally, from generation to generation through myths and stories. Primal religions are most often the traditions of tribal peoples. 

2. What elements of the natural and human world did the Ancestors create or establish in the period of the Dreaming?
During the period of "the Dreaming", the Ancestors createsd the first human beings. They established certain tribes and the customs, social rules, and language of those tribes. They left symbols, found in the forms of rock paintings, rock formations, natural landmarks, etc.

3. What survives in the symbols left behind by the Ancestors?
The spiritual essence of the Ancestors lives on through the symbols that they left behind. The sites in which these symbols are located are considered sacred, and only certain individuals are allowed to visit them. These particular sites must be approached in a special way, as they are thought by the Aboriginies to be "charged with sacred power.".

4. Explain the terms totem and taboo.
The term totem, refers to an animal or natural object considered as being ancestrally related to a given kin or descent group taken as it's symbol (a symbol, especially one held in high regard). Taboo is a system of social ordering that dictates that specific objects and activities, owing to their sacred nature, are set aside for specific groups and are strictly forbidden to others; common to many primal peoples, including the Australian Aborigines; a Polynesian language (among some Polynesian peoples, a sacred prohibition put opon certain people, things or acts which makes them untouchable, unmentionable, etc.).

5. Why is ritual essential if Aboriginal life is to have meaning?
To Aboriginies, it is only through ritual that the sacred power of the Dreaming can be accessed and experienced. Also, the Aboriginal religion is "the process of recreating the mythic past of the Dreaming in order to tap it's sacred power.".

6. How did Aboriginal rituals originate?
Aboriginal rituals are based on a particular myth that 'tells of certain actions of the Ancestors during the Dreaming.". The rituals originated during the Dreaming, when the Ancestors created certain aspects of the world that we live in today.

7. What purposes are served by Aboriginal initiation rituals?
Aboriginal initiation rituals "awaken young people to this spiritual identity, and redefine their social identity within the tribe.". The initiation rituals also symbolize the death of childhood, and prepares the way for the spiritual rebirth, which is a necessary step toward adulthood.

8. Identify two acts of Dieri initiation rituals that symbolize death.
The first initiation ritual, (intended as a symbolic death), the initiate's two lower middle teeth were knocked out and buried in the ground. The main initiation ritual, the Wilyaru, consisted of men taking turns in cutting the forearms of the boy to be initiated (the initiate), until the booy's arms were caked with dried blood.

9. In what part of Africa do the Yoruba live?
The Yoruba live in the western regions of central Africa (Nigeria, Benin and Togo). ("The Yoruba people are not a unified nation, but a group of people with a common language and culture.").

10. Why has the city of Ife always been the center of Yoruba religion?
Ife has always been the center of the Yoruba religion, due to the fact that (the Yoruba believe) the city was there when the god orisha-nla first began to create the world.

11. Briefly describe the Yoruba understanding of the cosmos.
The Yoruba believe that reality is divided into two separate worlds: heaven and earth. They believe that Heaven is the "invisible home of the gods and ancestors". Earth, however, is the world of normal experience, "the visible home of human beings", (who are descended from the gods.).

12. Who is Olorun, and what is his role in Yoruba religion?
Olorun, according to the Yoruba, is "the primary, original source of power in the universe." All  life forms owe their existence to him. However, he is hardly involved in human affairs, and there are no major shrines or sacrifices made to Olorun. Instead, the Orishas function as mediators between Olorun and human beings.

13. What are the orishas? Explain their significance in the religious life of the Yoruba.
The Orishas are lesser deities (compared to the god Olorun), however, they are very significant to the religious life of the Yoruba people. All are sources of sacred power, and can both help or harm humans (depending on how well their particular appeasment rituals are carried out).   

14. Name and briefly describe at least two of the orishas.
 One of the Orishas is Orisha-nla, who (most Yoruba believe) created the earth. The most complex Orisha is Esu, who containd both good and evil properties. Esu mediates between heaven and earth, and is therefore included in the worship of any other orishna, and has a place in every shrine.

15. What is a trickster figure?
A trickster figure is a type of supernatural being who tends to disrupt the normal course of life, found among many primal peoples.
Ex: Esu (among Yoruba), and Inktomi (among the Lakota.).

16. Describe the two types of Yoruba ancestors.
 The two types of Yoruba ancestors are the Family Ancestors and the Deified Ancestors. The Family Ancestors earned a good reputation and lived to a ripe old age, and are worshipped only by their own families. Deified Ancestors were important human figures known throughout Yoruba society, and are worshipped by large numbers of people.

17. Describe the role of Yoruba ritual practitioners.
 Ritual practitioneers mediate between the gods and ancestors in heaven and the human beings on earth. The ritual practitioneers adressed the needs of worshippers attempting to fulfill certain needs, or communicate with the appropriate deity or ancestor.

18. What is divination, and why do the Yoruba regard it as essential?
 Divination is the art or practice that seeks to forsee or fortell future events or discover hidden knowledge usually by the interpretation of omens or by the aid of supernatural powers; unusual insight: intuitive perception. It is essential, due to the fact that it is essential for the Yoruba people to know their own future, in order to determine how to proceed with one's life.
19. According to the interpretation of the latest evidence, when and how do scholars think human beings first came to North America?
 Scholars believe that humans first came to North America about 20,000 to 30,000 years ago. They crossed the Bering Strait (from Asia), and eventually spread out and inhabited large regions of both North and South America.  

20. Why is the religion of the Plains Indians of vital interest among native peoples throughout North America?
 The religion of the Plains Indians are of vital interest among native peoples, due to the fact that it comprised of more than thirty tribes speaking seven distinct languages.

21. What is Wakan Tanka?
 Wakan Tanka is the Lakota name for "the supreme reality" ("most sacred"). It also means "Great Spirit", or "Great Mysterious". It refers to sixteen separate deities.

22. Who is Inktomi?
 Inktomi is one of the first human beings, and the Lakota trickster figure. He taught the first humans their ways and customs, however, he is used as a moral lesson about mistakes and errors of judgement.

23. Briefly describe Lakota beliefs regarding death and the afterlife.
 The Lakota people believe that when a person reaches death, four souls depart that person. One of those souls journeys along the "spirit path" of the Milky Way, and waits to be judged by an old woman, who will either allow it to pass on, or return as a ghost to earth.

24. What do individuals try to gain access to by going on a vision quest?
 Individuals on a vision quest gain access to spiritual power, that will "ensure greater sucess in activities such as hunting, warfare, and curing the ill." It is supervised by a medicine man or woman, or a spiritual leader who gives the individual specific instructions beforehand, and interprets the content of the vision after the individual returns.

25. Briefly describe the structure and function of the sweat lodge.
 The sweat lodge is intended to represent the universe. It is a "dark and airtight hut made of saplings and covered with animal skins". Heated stones are placed in the center and water is sprinkled over them by the medicine man or woman of the tribe. The hot steam that pours from the rocks causes the participants to sweat profusely, symbolizing physical and spiritual purification.

26. Describe a typical vision experienced by a person who undertakes a vision quest.
 On a vision quest, a typical vision comes to the participant near the end of the quest. It is seen to arrive in the form of an animal, and object or a force of nature, and most often there is a specific message that is communicated to the participant, along with the initial vision.  

27. Among the Blackfeet tribe, who presides over the Sun Dance?
A sacred leader, specifically a medicine woman of "outstanding moral character".

28. What is the axis mundi in general? What is the axis mundi in the Sun Dance?
 The Axis Mundi is the "world center" (the connection between Heaven and Earth); Travel correspondence is made between higher and lower realms. Communication from lower realms may ascend to higher ones, and blessings from higher realms may descend to lower ones and be disseminated to all. In the Sun Dance, the axis mundi  would be a cottonwood tree, in which Native Americans would place in the center of a ring of twenty- eight poles (representing the 28 days of the lunar calendar).
29. Why do some participants in the Sun Dance skewer their chests and dance until their flesh tears?
They believe that the only thing that htey truly own is hteir own bodies, so they believe that the only suitable sacrifice to the "supreme being", is  bodily mutilation.

30. In what two ways does the Aztec tradition defy the description of a primal religious tradition? In what ways is the Aztec tradition like other primal religious traditions?
 Unlike other civilizations, the Aztecs were a highly developed civilation (they had a population of 15 million). However, Aztec tradition is still closely realted to primal religious tradition, through the fact that Aztec religion emphasized the interrealtionship between myth and ritual, like other primal religions.

31. What geographical area did Mesoamerica include?
Mesoamerica included most of present- day Mexico, Honduras, Nicaragua and Costa Rica.

32. According to Aztec cosmology, what god created and ordered the world? What ancient city is the origin of the cosmos?
 According to Aztec cosmology, Teotihuacan created the sun, which is the source for all life. The ancient city of Teotihuacan is considered by Aztecs to be "the origin of the cosmos.". A cave inside the city was considered the true "center of the Universe", due to the way that the city was designed and layed- out.   

33. Who was Topiltzin Quetzalcoatl? What was his significance for the Aztecs?
 Topiltzin Quetzalcoatl was the long- lost priest- king of the Toltecs.

34. What did the Aztecs call their present age? What did they anticipate it's fate to be?
 The Aztecs called their present age "The Age of the Fifth Sun". They believed that four previous suns had already been destroyed and that the fifth would meet a similar fate. They believed that they only way to prevent this from happening was to nourish the sun continually through human sacrifice.

35. How did the Aztecs understand the spatial world?
The Aztecs understood the spatial world as having four quadrants that extended outward from the center of the universe (the axis mundi). They believed that the axis mundi connected the earthly realm to the "many- layered heavenly realm" above, and the "many- layered underworld" below. 

36. Why did the Aztecs regard each human being as sort of axis mundi?
 The Aztecs regarded each human as an axis mundi, due to the fact that they offered up certain sacrifices to specific forces. For example, the heart would be offered up to the sun, as a way to "sustain the fragile cosmos."

37. What were the special religious capabilities of the Aztec knowers of things?
 The Aztec "knowers of things" were able to communicate with the gods and make offerings through language, versus through sacrifice. They also favored wit and commonly employed riddles.

38. What historical coincidence contributed to the fall of Tenochtitlan to the Spaniards?
 The fall of Tenochtitlan was partially due to the Aztec's religion. When Cortes and his Spanis army arrived in 1521, the Aztec king, Moctezuma II (Montezuma) believed Cortes to be the long- lost priest- king, Topiltzin Quetzalcoatl, which eventually led to the fall of the city, and eventually, the collapse of the Aztec Empire.

39. How does the popular Day of the Dead show the survival of Aztec religious culture?
 The celebration (which takes place at the end of October, and beginning of November), joins both the living and the dead through festive and spiritually meaningful rituals. They also perform other rituals of a similar nature/form throughout the course of the year, devoted to the showing and displaying of Aztec religious culture.

40. What three themes are shared by the primal religions studied in this chapter?
One theme that is shared by the four primal religions, is that the boundaries between the supernatural and the human worlds are easily crossed. Another theme is the "all-encomapssing" nature of religion.