Blog Post 27: The Five Pillars of Islam

Megan
Mr. Sanchez
April 29, 2013

1) The shahadah is the Muslim declaration of faith the proclaims the belief of oneness. It central to the Muslim faith because it affirms the Muslim belief that there is only one God.
2) Salat is the performance of ritual prayers in the proper way five times a day. It mentally helps Muslims to live in obedience to the will of Allah because it gives them time to focus on their beliefs and how they will live them out. Physically, salat requires a person to bow down into a vulnerable position, signifying that Allah is mightier than humans.
3) Zakat is the paying of alms tax to benefit the poor and needy. It shows that Allah’s will is for all people to be taken care of and treated equally. Through their almsgiving, Muslims are committed to helping the less fortunate in their communities.
4) Sawm is the practice of fasting during Ramadan. It mentally allows a person to live in obedience to the will of Allah because it requires a person to fast all day; something that is hard for many to do without faith or a reason. It physically  allows a person to live in obedience to the will of Allah because it reinforces that suffering that the marginalized go through on a daily basis, thus reiterating the message of zakat.
5) The hajj is a pillar of Islamic faith because it allows believers from all over the world to come together to practice their faith as a global community. This is similar to the Catholics going to the mass when Pope Benedict came to America to profess our faith to the holy father; however, it differs because Muslims go to Mecca all at once while only a handful of the Catholics in America got to see the mass in person. Additionally, the hajj is required for Muslims; it was not required for Catholics to go and see this mass. However it would have been really awesome

6) Many of the possible challenges of living the Five Pillars stem from living in a non-Muslim country. When everyone has the same goal in mind, it is easier for a person to focus on what they need to do. However, when those practicing the Five Pillars, especially salat and sawm, are the minority, it may be difficult for one to focus on their faith. There are many obstacles that come with being Muslim and therefore it is important that these people remain close in their faith.

Blog post 26: 99 Names of God

Megan
Mr. Sanchez
April 29, 2013

The first name I choose was "The All-Knowing." I choose this because of the masculine personification it takes on. It is interesting to think of God as All knowing. He knows your every thought, action, purpose, future and everything. While God does not judge us based upon this information, it makes me want to be better. Have better thoughts and actions. This name applies to God because he is all knowing.

The second masculine name I chose was All Powerful. This has the same context as the first when it comes to how it applies to God. God has all the power. He has the ability to do whatever he chooses. It is interesting to think about this too, because with all the bad things that have happened in the world in the past few years, I keep saying that "God is smiting us" for all the bad things we have done. but he also has the ability to provide us with miracles and beautiful landscapes. He is all powerful.

The first feminine name I chose was the magnificent. I sang this song when i was younger about Mary, and it was about how magnificent she was. now when I see the word, I think of Mary. She played an important role in Jesus's life and how he developed into the savior of the World. I think that is a good cooralation between the female aspects of the word. and the word itself.

Finally, The glorious was a more fememine name in my opinion. I think glorious is reserved for more fememine terms because it is just more girly, I really don't know how to explain it...

All four names refer to God because god is all powerful and all knowing. He is magnificent and glorious in the most masculine way possible. These words are just some of a few ways to describe him and his wonderful being. Without him, we would be nothing. These words are simple terms for all that God is. He is more then just all knowing and all powerful and magnificent and glorious. He is perfection.

Blog Post 24: Islam Webquest

Megan
Mr. Sanchez
April 23, 2013

   1. What is the highest estimate for the total number of Muslims that live in the world today? At least 2.1 billion

2. List 10 countries who have a Muslim population of 86% or greater. China, India, France, Germany, UK, USA, Argentina, Cuba, Brazil and Bolivia.

3.     What country has the largest Muslim population? Indonesia

4.     How many Muslims are there in the United States? 6.58 million

5.     Summarize each key beliefs below in a complete sentence:

·      Belief in God:  Muslims believe in one unique God, who has no son or partner. No one shares his divinity.

·      Belief in Angels: Muslims believe in the existence of the angles and that they are honored creatures. The angles worship God alone.

·      Belief in God’s Revealed Books: Muslims believe that God revealed books to His messengers as proof for mankind as guidance for them.

·      Belief in the Prophets and Messengers of God: Muslims believe in messengers of God starting with Adam, including Noah, Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, Moses and Jesus.

·      Belief in the Day of Judgment: Muslims believe in the Day of Judgment when all people will be resurrected for God’s judgment according to their beliefs and deeds.

·      Belief in Al-Qadar: Muslims believe in Al-Qadar, which is Divine Predestination, but his belief in Divine Predestination does not mean that human beings do not have freewill.

 6. Go to the following websites and put 3 of Muhammads sayings in your own words:

- struggling means going against yourself, but submitting to allah at the same time

- stay honest and pure

- dont be angry, it goes against Allah

7. What does the Quran provide? 

7.     What does the Quran provide? It deals with the subjects that concern human beings: wisdom, doctrine, worship, transactions, law etc.

8.     In what language(s) does the Quran exist? Why? Only Arabic because it was revealed in that language. But in English translation as well.

9.     During which month was the Quran sent down from Heaven? 9^th month

10. What did the angel Gabriel command Muhammad to do? What happened next? Commanded Muhammad to read and then he taught Muhammad some verses from the Quran, which Muhammad memorized.

11.  List and explain the 5 pillars of Faith:

·      Shahada (Testimony of faith): Most important pillar. One is required to say with conviction at least once in his or her life.

·      Salat (Prayer): Muslims pray 5 times a day- dawn, noon, mid-afternoon, sunset and night. Prayer often occurs in a mosque, but Muslims may pray anywhere.

·      Zakat (almsgiving): Charitable giving is a requirement of faith for all Muslims. Used to benefit the poor.

·      Slyam (Fasting): literally means any ritual fasting, but is generally understood to refer to ritual fasting during the month of Ramadan. From dusk to dawn for the entire month, Muslims must refrain from eating, drinking and engaging in sexual relations.

·      Hajj (Pilgrimage): During the last month of the Islamic calendar, about two million Muslims ascend to the city of Mecca for the Hajj.  Every able-bodied Muslim is required- if finances permit to make it at least once in their life.

Why are they important?:  Helps to strengthen their faith in and service to Allah.

Why is cheating on the 5 pillars impossible?: Because all Muslims strive to perform, regardless of anything.

Compare the 5 pillars with similar activities in other religions: In Christianity, we have times of lent where we do not eat meat. Asking God for forgiveness. The Quran is similar to the Bible in Christianity.

12. What is Ramadan? 9^th month of Islamic calendar

13. What restraints are placed on Muslims during Ramadan? Not allowed to eat or drink during the daylight hours. Smoking and sexual relations are also forbidden during fasting.

14. What can destroy the good acquired during Ramadan? Telling a lie, slander, denouncing someone behind his back, a false oath and greed or covetousness.

15. Why is the 27^th day of Ramadan significant? Muslims celebrate the Night of Power. It is believed that on this night Muhammad first received the revelation of the Holy Quran.

16. What happens when Ramadan ends? It is celebrated with one of two Islamic festivals.

17. What are 3 reasons Ramadan is important? Constitutes a period of atonement. The gates of Heaven are open. And the gates of Hell are closed and the devils are chained up in Hell.

18. Why is easier to do good during Ramadan? Good actions keep the devil away since he is chained in Hell.

19.  List 5 interesting facts you learned from the websites above:

  1. Islamic divorce rules favor men.

  2. Muslims believe in one unique, uncompareable God.

  3. To become a muslim, one must  Simply say 'there is no god apart from God, and Muhammad is the Messenger of God.' By this declaration the believer announces his or her faith in all God's messengers, and the scriptures they brought. 

  4. Islam goes back to the time of Abraham just like Judiasm and Christianity

  5. The Quran is a record of the exact words revealed by God through the Angel Gabriel to the Prophet Muhammad  

Post 22-ancestors of the west

Religion. 

1. Zoroastrianism

2. After Persia was conquered by the Greek general Alexander the Great in 328 BC aspects of Persian culture spread far and wide

3. He had an astonishing religious experience. An angle appeared to him and brought him before Ahura Mazda the wise lord. He recognized him as one true god. He went around preaching the message of monotheism to society

4. Gathas are the oldest part of the sacred text, the Avesta

5. He is eternal and a universal goodness, controlling the cosmos and the destiney of human beings 

6. The belief if universal forces of good and evil

7. Zoroastrianism theology the one god Ahura Mazda who is universal goodness is oppose by lie depicted by Zarathustra as an evil cosmic force 

8. The dualism of Zoroastrianism unites ethics with human destiny

9. Humans determine their own destiny by choosing either truth goodness and life or falsehood evil and not life. It's the basis of Zoroastrianism

10. It's most important and influential features

11. Most of the worlds Zoroastrianism now live in India where they are known as Parsis

12. The Iliad and the odyssey

13. Of human form characteristics of the dirties of ancient Greek and roman religion

14. He portrayed Zeus as ruling with order and justice 

15. A shrine or sanctuary which the revelations of a god are received; Delphi 

16. Choose to become initiates, experience a personal encounter with the dirty gained spiritual renewal. 

17. Demeter 

18. God of fertility depicted with vines and grapes. Turned water into wine. 

19. To lead a pure life the rough vegetarianism so that te soul might eventually escape the body and fully realize its divine. 

20. Reincarnation. 

21. Platos perspective that true reality consists of eternal an perfects forms or ideas and tht the material world is an imperfect reflection of the worlds forms. 

22. Bother were called savior. They both healed people. 

23. Supernatural powers that were ancient roman equilibrium of dirties 

24. Jupiter 

25. Venus, mars, Neptune, mercury, Saturn. 

26. Pax decorum was believed to help ensure the welfare of the roman state which this maintained official worship practices. 

27. Eleusinian. 

28. Osirs was killed and hacked into pieces by his brother, Isis searched far an wide and finally found his body parts she mummified which brought him back to life. 

29. He encouraged the worship of not himself but if his guardian spirit. 

30. The Christians had obvious reasons for refusing to worship in behalf of the emperor. But mostly because they only believed in 1 god. 

Post # 21 Judaism Questions

Megan
World Religion - 6
March 10, 2013

1. House of Study; House of Assembly; House of Prayer
2. Looking around the synagogue you will see the eastern wall, where the aron ha-kodesh  is located.
- The ark is the repository for the Torah scrolls when they are not in use. It also serves as the focus for one's prayers. Above the ark is located the ner tamid--the eternal light--recalling the eternal light in the Temple.
-  The scrolls themselves are covered by cloth mantles (covers) elabo­rately designed on the front. These mantles are open at the bottom and closed at the top except for the two openings that enclose the rollers. This and the other objects described below are considered holy and, once again, are never discarded when worn out. Often there are a number of other objects decorating the Torah.
- The 10 commandments come from Moses in the desert when the Israelites escaped Egypt.
3. A Jewish scholar or teacher, esp. one who studies or teaches Jewish law.
How to become a Rabbi:

  -There is some form of admission process that often includes testing, both psychological and subject competence
- One has to complete a minimum of 4 years of college
- The major differences between the institutions are the various emphases - Talmud, philosophy,Hebrew, history, Bible, etc. even though there are minimum requirements in each subject area plus a variety of practical Rabbinics, pastoral psychology, etc.
 - A minimum of 5-6 years and also one year in Israel, especially to develop a relationship with Israel and familiarity with Hebrew as a living language
 - Graduation or ordination is essentially the same kind of ceremony with various kinds of certification or diplomas. I chose to have all of my teachers sign my diploma, and while it took some time to receive, I am very glad as most are no longer living except in my heart and mind - and I miss them
 - Some Seminaries or yeshivot also require an internship to gain some practical experience
 - Some movements require a new graduate to start with a small congregation in order to learn all of the various elements of congregational or institutional life before moving up to a large congregation, UNLESS one takes an assistant position in a larger congregation which is much more narrow in function. 

4. Shabbat is primarily a day of rest and spiritual enrichment. The word "Shabbat" comes from the root Shin-Bet-Tav, meaning to cease, to end, or to rest; Every 7th day?
5.  First five books of the bible, no old testament in Judaism, but if there was this would be it....
6.
Orthodox: Believe God gave them the Whole Torah; 5 million people
Reform: Promotion of moral law and monotheism. Services done in English;
Conservative: Services vary considerably; Some Conservative synagogues are similar to Reform, while others are close to Orthodox. There are some 800 Conservative synagogues, with some 1.5 million members, in North America. The 1990 National Jewish Population Survey found 38% of American Jews are Conservative. The Conservative movement in Great Britain and Israel calls itself Masoreti, meaning "traditional" in Hebrew.
Zionist: Theodore Hertzl, anti-sentiment; Historically, some Orthodox Jews had opposed Zionism because the Messiah had not appeared. But there were many religious Zionists as well. At the turn of the century, early waves of Zionists began settling in Palestine. The British Balfour Declaration of 1917 gave their cause international legitimacy. Zionists helped rescue Jews from the Nazis. The Holocaust increased support for a Jewish homeland, which was declared in 1948.
7. Hebrew: Hebrew is a member of the Canaanite group of Semitic languages. It was the language of the early Jews, but from 586 BC it started to be replaced by Aramaic.
8. Yiddish was the primary language of Ashkenazic Jews in the shtetl, found throughout eastern and central Europe. One of the Germanic languages, Yiddish is written in Hebrew characters.
9.
a) Congratulations
b) Hello
c)  ?
10.
a) Ceremony of circumcision
b) "Age of responsibility to the commandments"
c) Marriage is considered a natural and desirable state of adult life because it provides companionship and security
11.
a) "first of the year." jewish new year
b) Yom Kippur is probably the most important holiday of the Jewish year. Many Jews who do not observe any other Jewish custom will refrain from work, fast and/or attend synagogue services on this day. Yom Kippur occurs on the 10th day of Tishri.
c)
d)
12. The idea of the Torah
13. I think it was the requirements of a Rabbi
14. Having holidays like the ones above are kinda like the ones we have.
15. The Idea of Rabbi's lol

Blog post #20 Buddhism Questions

Buddhism Questions;

1. Siddhartha Gautama was the man who would later become the Buddha.

2. The four passing sights were an old man, a sick man, a corpse and a wondering ascetic. The first three sights were significant and showed the Buddha about reality of suffering and the impermanent nature of life's pleasures. The fourth sight filled Siddhartha with elation and hope: here was a means of over coming his despair.

3.The middle way is a basic Buddhist doctrine and teaching that rejects both the pleasures of sensual indulgence and the self denial of asceticism, focusing instead on a particular approach to spiritual attainment.

4. Gautama had overcome the distractions of fear and passion, represented in legends by Mara and his daughters. He ascended through levels of ever deepening awareness, until he could perceive with perfect clarity the true nature of the human condition.

5. Sangha is the Buddhist community of monks and nuns; it is also one of the three jewels of Buddhism.

6. The Buddha, the Dharma, and and the Sangha.

7. Buddhism and Hinduism both see time as cyclical. They both believe the universe is eternal. They both have this idea of samsara or the wheel of rebirth. 

8. Siddhartha hate the idea of the caste system and the brahman. Buddhists were accepting of women, as the Hindus did.

9. Anatta- "no-self"

Anicca- "impermanence"

Dukkha- "suufering"

10. Anatta means there is no reality within, no essence underlying existence  no eternal substratum that is truly real, enduring beyond the present moment. "the essences of Buddhism is that there is no essence"

11. Karma is actually reborn. The nature of rebirth depends on the status of one's karma.

12.

- Do not take life

- Do not take what is not given

- Do not engage in sensous misconduct

- Do not use false speech

- Do not drink intoxicants

Monks:

- Do not eat after noon.

- Do not watch dancing or shows.

- Do not use garlands, perfumes or ordaments

- Do not use a high or soft bed

-Do not accept gold or silver.

13."suffering" "frustration" "dislocation" "discomfort". Not being comfortable with life.

14. It is the second of the 4 Nobel truths, meaning selfish desire, which causes dukkha

15.  

-Right views

-Right intentions

-Right Speech

-Right conduct

-Right livelyhood

-Right effort

-Right mindfulness

-Right meditation

16. Buddha does not have a model for nirvana. Buddhists do.

17. One has become enlightened; the ideal type for Theravada Buddhists. 

18. "worthy one"

19. Theravada, Mahayana, Vajrayana.

20. It is the prevalent form of Buddhism in Cambodia; focus on the earliest texts and emphasize monastic lifestyles.

21."The great vehicle"

22. They are fire benders and love music. no Im kidding, lol they harness energy and turn it against self.

23. He is the leader of Buddhism, chosen by destiny!

24. Mostly east asia. china, cambodia, china, china, lol.

Maya and Aztec

Megan
World Religion

17 Jan 2013







1. Locations: Many Maya and Aztec cultures are still alive and flourishing today, located in territories like:  "Honduras and El Salvador through to Guatemala and Belize and north to Yucatán and southern Mexico. Maya regions are ecologically divided into three types of areas.  These are the southern lowlands, the northern lowlands, and the highlands/Pacific slope region. " Maya inhabit 2 different parts of Mexico, the lowlands and the high lands.
2.Cosmology of Maya:  "Mother Earth was created and destroyed three times before this world was made. It contains the mythological version of the creation of the world intertwined with historical facts, creation stories, cosmology, and the adventures of Hunahpu' and X'balanque, the Maya hero twins. According to the Popol Vuh, man was created with the help of Ixpiyakok and Ixmukane. Human beings were created and destroyed several times until, finally, the Creator made them from maize. After consulting with each other, the creator gods, decided to limit the vision and scope of human creatures." So I guess the Cosmology is the fact that the earth was created and destroyed three times and the Popol Vuh basically talks about what happened with this creation story.

3. Symbols: 
<--- earth (according to Maya); symbolized that there are larger forces at work and the transition involves patience.

<--- Rabbit (according to Aztec); Tochtli was a symbol for fertility. It was meant  to represent the goddess of fertility: Mayahuel

<--- storytelling and dance (According to Aztec); This image was a representation of Huehuecoyotl, who is the god of story telling and dance.











4. Aztec: "Coatepec, or Serpent Mountain, was one of the most sacred places of Aztec mythology and religion. Coatepec was the birthplace of the god Huitzilopochtli, and the place where the newly born god, fully armed, managed to kill his sister Coyolxauhqui when she attempted to kill their mother Coatlicue, with the help of her brothers, the Four Hundred Southerners" (Maestri).

Maya: Sacred Cenotes and the Chicxulub meteorite; (----->) 
5.Maya gods: 
good: Hunab Ku is the supreme diety or the creator god. The words actually mean "Only God," or "One God" which goes against the idea of polytheism because they do have more then one god, this one just seems to be of a superior stance. 
Ah Punh- Maya god Of death
Trickster- the Maya trickster was the figure of a rabbit who bagged gravel and sold it as hard yellow maize
Aztec gods:
Trickster: Tezcatlicopa who tried to convince people that canabalism was right I think?
Good: the sun god was most important, and its name was Huitzilopochtli. He was also the god of war.
Bad: Xolotl had backwards feetand caused man to fall into the underworld.
6.
7.Shaman are held very highly in both the Mayan and Aztec culture; they are healers by using the plant life that surrounded them, but also they were the only people who could communicate with the divine.
8. Ritual feasts were given in honor of the gods in Mayan culture. Aztec sacrifices were an important aspect of the Aztec religion. At the root of these Aztec rituals was the belief that the gods needed to be nourished by human beings. This was accomplished throughhuman blood. A part of the Aztec religion, therefore, was to participate in bloodletting, which is intentionally harming and drawing blood from the body.
9. Aztec Calender

Aztec people

Mayan Calender

Mayan People










Works Cited:

Aztec Symbols." Aztec Symbols. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Jan. 2013.

 Maestri, Nicoletta. "Coatepec." About.com Archaeology. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Jan. 2013.

"Maya Sacred Sites." Maya Sacred Sites. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Jan. 2013.

 "Mayan Symbols." Mayan Symbols. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Jan. 2013.

 "Overview of Maya and Aztec Civilizations." Overview of Maya and Aztec Civilizations. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Jan. 2013.