Religion

- What are the world religions? What makes them world religions?

Christianity, Buddhism, Islam. Many people profess them.

- When did Christianity come into being? When did the Church split into two brunches? How many main brunches are there now? When did Protestantism take shape? What are the sects of Protestantism?

1^st A.D. in the provinces of the Roman Empire: Judea, Galilee, Bethlehem. It came into being as a religion of the oppressed, who were seeking deliverance from the inhumane conditions of their existence in the coming of a Messiah or Saviour.

The Church split – 1054 A.D. The East–West Schism of 1054, sometimes known as the Great Schism, formally divided the State church of the Roman Empire into Eastern (Greek) and Western (Latin) branches, which later became known as the Eastern Orthodox Church and the Roman Catholic Church

Now – 3 brunches – Orthodox Church, Roman Catholicism, Protestantism.

Protestantism took shape in 16 century in Germany. It embraces a large number of separate and independent Churches and sects linked by the fact that they originated in connection with the Reformation —the broad anti-Catholic movement in 16th-century Europe. In 1526 the Diet of Speyer, on instructions from the Lutheran princes of Germany, adopted a resolution to the effect that every German prince had the right to choose for himself and his subjects the religion he thought fit. However, the Second Diet of Speyer in 1529 reversed this decision, and in response to this a "protest" was made by five princes and a number of cities, hence the origin of the term "Protestant".

The sects of Protestantism are Baptism, Methodism, Jehovah’s witnesses, Mormons etc.

- What are the distinctive features of Roman Catholicism?

· Double procession (of the Holy spirit from the God-father and God-son)

· Pope is the representative of Jesus Christ on Earth, infallible in matters of faith and morality

· With Apostolic tradition also go decrees of Pope (the same level of document authority)

· Immaculate conception of Virgin Mary

· The idea of Purgatory

· It’s strictly centralized –the Vatican and the Pope

· Supported by secular organisations

- What’s the Creed?

Either (Wikipedia) it’s a formal statement of smb’s beliefs – Apostles’ Creed for example. Or (from our texts)it’s the muslim formula “There’s no God but Allah, and Muhammad is the Prophet of Allah”.

- When did Islam come into being? Why Mecca and Medina are the holiest places of pilgrimage? What are the five pillars of Islam?

The beginning of 7^th century, Western Arabia. Why – In Mecca Mohammed preached, in Medina he died and was buried. In 622 there took place a journey of the prophet and his followers from Mecca to Medina, because pagans wanted to kill him, so he went away.

"Five Pillars" of Islam provide guidelines for every sphere of life.

1. Repetition of the creed. "There is no God but Allah, and Muhammad is the Prophet of Allah." These words are heard everywhere in the Muslim world.

2. Prayer, which is a central ritual. Muslims pray five times a day — upon rising, at noon, in the mid-afternoon, after sunset, and before retiring. The prayer ritual is very structured: One must face Mecca, recite a prescribed prayer, and be prostrate with the head to the ground.

3. Almsgiving, which began as a voluntary activity and has become codified into Islamic society. All Muslims are legally required to give part of their income to the destitute. This amounts to about two and one-half percent of their incomes.

4. Fasting, a tradition observed during a holy month. Muslims are required to fast between sunup and sundown.

5. Pilgrimage. Once in a lifetime every Muslim is expected to make a pilgrimage to Mecca.

- When and where did Buddhism come into being? Who was Buddha?

Took shape in India in the 6^th century B.C. and later spread to the countries of South-east and Central Asia, also to the Far East. Buddha was a man, a prince, his name was Siddharta Gautama. In 6^th century B.C. in India achieved enlightenment.

At the age of 29 Siddhartha left his palace. Despite his father's efforts to hide from him the sick, aged and suffering, Siddhartha was said to have seen an old man. When his charioteer Channa explained to him that all people grew old, the prince went on further trips beyond the palace. On these he encountered a diseased man, a decaying corpse, and an ascetic. These depressed him, and he initially strove to overcome ageing, sickness, and death by living the life of an ascetic.

4) JULIA SWEENEY: LETTING GO OF GOD

- What is the age of reason?

7. when you’re able to commit any and all sins against God and man.

- The message of her talk

Everything is relative. We’re used to what seems conventional to us, but we forget to be in the place of smb else – form their point of view that would be different.

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Дата добавления: 2015-10-21