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ZOROASTRIANISM & ANCIENT RELIGIONS

Zoroaster (Zarathushtra) the tradition’s priestly & prophetic teacher; created 17
psalms (Gathas); lived somewhere in Iran before Achaemenian dynasty
of the 6th century
Final judgment/Utopian Zoroastrians teach the expectation of a world to come, both for the
world individual and for the world as a whole, this life will be overhauled and
a utopian new age ushered in
Where did it originate from? Iran
Ahura Mazda the supreme divinity; name means “wise lord”; principal opponent is the
evil spirit, Angra Mainyu
Disposal of the dead Zoroastrian ritual includes the disposal of dead bodies by exposure to
birds of prey in dakhmas/tower of silence
Know Greek, Roman, See below, Roman/Greek/Norse pantheon
Egyptian and Norse gods and
goddesses
agiari Fire Temples, central symbol of divine presence is fire; typical
Zoroastrian sanctuary; square chamber enclosed by grillwork and with
vents in the roof that permit the smoke to escape; sacred fire burns
continuously, congregational worship is not regular, they come as they
please to fire temple for prayers; shrine

Aryans Indo-Iranians
Gathas 17 psalm like compositions writted by Zoroaster; conventionally treated
as 5 groups embedded in a larger collection of liturgical hymns called
the Yasna

Avestan Scriptures the holiest part of the Zoroastrian religion; corpus of literature
preserving the oldest Zoroastrian ritual texts
Angra Mainyu evil spirit; Ahura Mazda’s main opponent
farohar the winged disk sumounted by a human-like figure with royal robes and
royal inscriptions as early as the 6th century BCE and became adopted
as the principle Zoroastrian symbol

Etiologies how things came to be, why they are the way they are
pantheon collective term for all the gods of a people or religion
Locate the following on a map Israel, Iran, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Afghanistan, Pakistan. See
below.
• List gods & goddesses, their culture and their powers
o Greek
 Zeus - father of gods and men; god of sky
 Hera - goddess of women, marriage, earth, motherhood, feminity
 Aphrodite - goddess of love, beauty, & sexuality; doves, sparrows, horses, & swans are
sacred to her
 Hermes - great messenger of the gods; patron of boundaries
 Ares - god of war; god of bloodthirst
 Poseidon - god of sea & storms; associated with horses; very powerful
 Artemis - goddess of hunt, wild animals, childbirth, virginity; symbol is a bow; hates
marriage
 Dionysus - god of wine, theater, & fertility; inspires ritual madness, joyful worship,
ecstacy, carnivals
o Roman
 Jupiter - god of sky & thunder; protector of the Roman people
 Juno - patron goddess of Rome; goddess of mother/womenhood; queen of heaven
 Venus - associated with love, beauty, sexuality & fertility
 Mercury - god of trade & profit
 Mars - god of war; associated with spring
 Neptune - god of sea; smaller role/not very powerful
 Diana - goddess of nature, moon, fertility, & childbirth
 Bacchus - god of wine & intoxication; god of mysteries
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o Egyptian
 Re (Ra) - sun god; merged with god Horus
 Nut (“newt”) - goddess of sky; name means “night”
 Osiris - god of the afterlife; judge of the dead
 Isis - worshipped as ideal mother/wife; matron of nature & magic
o Norse
 Odin - main god; god of fury, excitation, mind; associated with wisdom, war, death,
magic, & poetry
 Thor - associated with thunder, lightning, storms, strength of mankind, rage, popular in
viking age; chariot is led my goats
 Frey - one of the most important gods, associated with farming, weather, sunshine, &
prosperity
 Freya - associated with love, beauty, fertility; rides a chariot led by cats
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JUDAISM
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Sabbath The holy day, Saturday, day for rest

#’s of Jews in the world 14 million
Jewish mysticism Kabbalah, see below.
Israel (statehood) was proclaimed as an independent state in May 1948.
Ancient view of the ultimate reward A long life and many descendants
from God
God’s names Yahweh, YHWH, Elohim, Adonai, haShem
Hanukkah celebrates the Maccabean Jews’ victory over their oppressors and the
purification and rededication of the Temple. It is celebrated by and 8 day
lighting of the menorah.
Passover Passover is a spring holiday that commemorates the Exodus. Jews have
seder dinner and they listen to the Haggadah.
Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement) is the most solemn day of the year. Jews consider
their deeds of the past year. It is the Final Judgement.
Pharisees See chart below.
Zealots See chart below.
Essenes See chart below.
Sadducees See chart below.
Moses led the migration from Mesopotamia/Egypt to Canaan. He freed his people
from Egypt (the Exodus).
Race/Ethnicity/Cultural Group Judaism is not a race or ethnicity. It is a religion and it is a cultural
heritage that can be passed down.
Tallith is the prayer shawl used during prayer. It is usually blue and white with
fringes.
Rabbi A rabbi is a teacher and legal specialist. They are the chief custodians for
Judaism. Rabbi means “great one,” “leader,” “master,” and “teacher.”
Mishnah attempts to explain the heritage of the law. It was composed in 200 CE. It
summarized the application of the traditional law as the Pharasaic-rabbinic
movement interpreted it.
Zionism is the belief that Israel has a right to exist as a democratic Jewish state. It
was founded by Theodore Herzl.
Synagogue is a place of assembly, study, and prayer.
Kabbalah is Jewish Mysticism. It literally means “received tradition.” It is a teaching
that grew from Mysticisim. Its central aspects incuted an interest in the
human figer of God, heavenly ascents, magical spells and motifs, and
apocalyptic/revelatory writings.
Diaspora is the dispersal of the Jews from Israel.
Seder is the ritual Passover dinner.
Bar mitzvah A Bar mitzvah is when a teenager reads a selection from 1 of the 5 books
of Moses and Prophets and the Bible and becomes a man.
Talmud is the next layer of interpretation after the Mishnah. It comments on the
Mishnah.
Bat mitzvah The term "bat mitzvah" is used to describe a 12-year-old girl when she
becomes a Jewish adult
Hasidism is under Jewish Mysticism founded by Bali Sheem. It is from 18th century
Poland.
Circumcision is the removal of the male’s foreskin on the 8th day of life. It is the most
characteristic ritual of Judaism.
Kaddish is the prayer recited by children, usually sons, for the dead. It is recited
daily for a year. The prayer itself praises God and His miracles.
Prophet Nevi’im of the T-N-K
Mezuzoth is the lipstick sized scroll on the door frame that contains the Shema and
similar passages.
Minyan Prayer group of 10 or so
Huppah is the marriage canopy held over a couple while they marry.
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CHRISTIANITY
Luther’s 95 Theses Criticized: selling indulgences; humans are justified by faith alone, works
not needed; confessing sins and doing certain penances to rid them of sins
Constantine Gave Christians the liberty to practice their religion, then gave them state
support and patronage; conversion because of a vision of a cross and he
conquered the empire and the vision came true
St. Francis of Assisi Son of a wealthy merchant; rethought priorities; emphasizing poverty
Aquinas Dominican; scholar; wrote Summa Theologiae, distinction between reason
and faith
Augustine Scholar; questioned good and evil, spirit and matter
Great Schism 1378-1414; disputed papal election produced at the first 2, then 3 claimants
at a time to the papal office;
Split in 1054 between east and Divides Christianity into Eastern and Western branches (Eastern Orthodox
west and Roman Catholic);
Differences between the Catholic Catholics have 7 sacraments and Protestants only practice baptism and the
and Protestant Churches Eucharist; no saints in Protestant churches, Protestants heavily rely on
Scripture for everything word; they also differ in justification before God
Saints
Sacraments (Protestants vs. Catholics have 7 sacraments, Protestants only have 2 (Baptism and
Catholics) Eucharist) because they were inaugurated by Jesus
Eucharist Means thanksgiving
How many books in the New 27
Testament?
Mark Simple and straightforward; earliest of the 4 gospels; starts with Jesus’
mature ministry
Matthew Addressing Jewish audience, claims Jesus’ messiahship; constant
references to Hebrew biblical passages; gives a genealogy of Jesus
Luke Has 2 chapters of material not in Mark, before adult baptism and ministry
of Jesus; biography of Jesus; no mention of wise men; Greek audience in
mind because savior was important to the Gentile world
John Contrasts with Matthew, Mark, and Luke (synoptic) gospels; major
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theological essay that presents the narrative’s cosmic significance;
declaration of Jesus’ identity as messiah and savior
Paul Principle figure to shape the direction fo the early Church; educated and
sophisticated convert; was a Pharisee; preached and wrote letters to far
away communities
Mary Not considered much by Protestants; idolatry if they pray to her.
Protestants reject the 3 teachings below
Ever-Virgin Mary remained a virgin for the rest of her life after marriage.
Assumption Mary was assumed into heaven
Immaculate Conception Mary was conceived without sin
Christian Scientists Central concern is spiritual healing; founded in Boston by Mary Baker
Eddy; optimism and wishful thinking; refused medical treatment for
themselves and children
Mormons Founded by Joseph Smith Jr., had vision to start new denomination to
restore the true church of Christ; baptism for dead, secret polygamy,
abstinence from stimulants, 2 years of missionary service for young adults
Presbyetrians Stemmed from Calvinist thoughts; called Presbyterians because elders were
called presbyters; no bishop, just an assembly of elders, in England
Baptists Practiced baptism of mature believers instead of infants; believed that
people should choose their religion rather than be born into it; largest
American protestant denomination
Jehovah’s Witnesses Forecasts the end of the world & return of Christ; many wrong predictions;
reject the trinity and authority of secular states; founded by Charles Taze
Russell
Holiness Churches Emphasized the feeling intensely on the achievement or gift of holiness,
speaking in exotic prayer, speaking in tongues, holy rollers - rolls into
aisles for meetings
Pentecostalism Recalls the Pentecost of the early church; practiced speaking tongues;
emphasized immediate personal experience; fastest growing segment of
Christianity today
ISLAM
Islam Arabic word meaning submission or surrender, a person’s total submission to
the will of God, original home was in Arabia
Muslim A person who professes Islam
Muhammad The prophet of the end of time, receives the Qur’an directly from God, his
life example provides the prophetic model that guides history, could not
make errors

Seal of the Prophets Muhammad

Night of Power and Excellence
Abraham, Ishmael, Hagar
Shari’a
Summer month of Ramadan, secluded in a cave on Mount Hira, reieces the
call to prophethood, Angel Gabriel appears to him and tells him to ‘Recite
the name of the Lord who created’, runs home frightened, tries to understand
meaning of encounter
Linked to the Arabs and to Islam, physically linked to Muhammad
(Muhammad is a descendent), his faith was in One God long before the
Torah and Christian Gospel and that is the true Islam, did not believe in
idols, he is to convert his people to God from idol worship
Sacred law

Current stats on Muslims in the About 1.57 billion in the world, approx. 6 million in U.S. 40% African
world, in the U.S., etc. American, 20% of Muslims live in Arabia
Nation of Islam 20th century, no officially recognized by many Muslims in the ummah; Elijah
Muhammad, Malcolm X, Louis Farrakhan
Sufism Mystical tradition; (tasawwuf) derived from the Arabic word suf, meaning
wool; used by Sufis to emulate Jesus by wearing a garment of coarse wool as
a sign of poverty;
5 Pillars See below.
Shahadah Profession of faith to become a Muslim, ‘I bear witness that there is no god
except God, and I bear witness that Muhammad is the messenger of God.’

Salat Obligatory prayers, pray 5 times a day at night, dawn, noon, mid afternoon,
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sunset, after dark
Zakat Paying alms, 2.5% of all accumulated wealth to poor
Ramadan Fasting month, fast from daybreak until sundown
Hajj Pilgrimage to Mecca
Mecca Makkah; The city where Muhammad was born in, a caravan station on the
trade routes
Kaba The chief haram (sacred place), believed to have been built by Abraham, an
ancient square building that contained a large number of idols or images of
gods and goddesses, contains at one corner an unusual black stone
Dietary laws No pork, no alcohol, no drinking blood
Umma Means community, Prophet established an ummah to be a religious
community
Qur’an Islamic scripture, presents Islam as the universal and primordial faith of all
the prophets and of all those who believe I God

Hijra Muhammad’s migration to Medina/Yathrib

Imam Chief religious/prayer leader (Sunnis)
Mosque Place of worship
Minarets A tower from which the voice of the mu’adhdhin delivers the call to prayer
five times a day
Surahs Chapters of the Qur’an
Sunnah Prophet’s legacy was a broad source for the sacred law in the Qur’an and his
own life example

Shirk Sin of associating something/someone with God

Ali 1st caliph for the Shi’ites, Muhammad’s son in law
Abu Bakr 1st caliph for the Sunnis, Muhammad’s father in law
Shi’ites Group that believes that Ali is the rightful caliph, “Partisans of Ali”, mostly
in Iraq, Iran, Kuwait, Afghanistan, Pakistan

Sunnis Group that believes that Abu Bakr is the rightful caliph, majority in the
world (87%)
Hadith Tradition that reports the words of the Prophet
Al-fana State of annihilation in/absolute union with God; God speaks through him;
Whirling dirvishes Dance that Sufis (Islamic mysticism) do
Hijab the veiling of women (not referred to in the Qur’an); Muslim community
adopted the hijab under the influence of the eastern Christian and ancient
Greek usage; an extreme has been the seclusion of women; today it is a
symbol of a women’s affirmation of their Islamic identity and limitation of
their rights
Madrasahs religious school
Jihad Holy war

Shahadah
“I bear witness that there is no god except God, and I bear witness that Muhammad is the messenger [rasul] of God.”
Two declarations, affirming the oneness of God, “Every child is born in this original state of faith [fitrah]; then his
parents turn him into a Jew, Christian or Zoroastrian, and if they are Muslims, into a Muslim.” Second affirming the
apostleship of Muhammad; legally safeguards a person’s rights as a member of the Muslim community

Salat
Obligatory prayers; distinguished from other devotional acts such as meditations and person supplicatory prayers;
must be performed 5 times in a day and night, at dawn, noon, mid-afternoon, sunset, and after dark; must always be
preceded by ritual washings [wudu] (making pure or radiant) washing face, rinsing mouth and nostrils, washing
hands and forearms to elbows, and feet up to heels; ghusel (washing entire body); 5 times a day a mu’adhdhin chants
to call to prayer [adhan] through minarets (towers that flank mosques); begins with proclaimation of consecration,
“God is most great.” Consist of cycles or units [rak’ahs]; largely passages of the Qur’an; surah (opening/first);
jum’ah (assembly); masjid (place of prostration in prayer); jami (gatherer); nawafil (extra devotional prayers

Zakat
Paying alms; root meaning is to purify or increase; offering alms purifies a person from greed and attachment to
material possessions; assures the giver of blessing and increase in this world and rich rewards in the hereafter; an
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obligatory welfare tax paid annually by all adult Muslims on all surplus earnings, 2.5% of the value of all
accumulated wealth; before it wsa collected in a central treasury then distributed for public education and civic
projects, orphans and needy, now it is largely voluntary; voluntary almsgiving [sadaqah] a loan given to God

Ramadan
Fast month; universal form of worship; instituted in the second year of hijrah after the battle of Badr, fasting during
Ramadan is mandated in a passage of the Qur’an; month is in honor of when the revelation of the Qur’an took place
and psalms [zabur], gospel [injil]; month long fast extending each day from daybreak til sundown; complete
abstinence from food, drink, smoking, and sexual relations; light meal eaten at the end of the night; the sick,
travelers, children, and pregnant and menstruating women are exempt from the fast; all work activities are sharply
curtailed, and they sleep and fast, eat and drink at night; ends with a happy festival called Id al-Fitr, a 3 day
celebration of breaking the fast, exchange gifts, visit graves of loved ones, sweet dishes to the poor; alms for
breaking the fast [zakat al-fitr]; a true act of worship; abstaining from slandering others and idle talk

Hajj
Pilgrimage; Abraham institues a pilgrimage to the Ka’bah at God’s command after he and his son Ishmael are
ordered to build it; was an ancient pagan rite observed by polytheistic Arabs, modified and interpreted rite fro Islam;
exchange regular clothes for 2 pieces of white linen, enter state of consecration [ihram]; once in Makkah, begin with
lesser hajj [umrah] performed in precincts of the Great Mosque and includes the ritual of counterclockwise
circumambulation [tawaf[ of the Ka’bah; water of Zamzam is holy water; hajj pilgrimage proper begins on the 8th of
hu al-Hijjah/12th month of Islamic calaendar; set out for Arafat, plain about 20km east of Makkah;10th of Dhu al-
Hijjah is the final day of hajj season, first o fthe 4 day festival of sacrifice [Id al-Adha], stoning, blood sacrifice; visit
Prophet’s tomb in Madinah; hajj marks new stage in Muslim’s life, form of resurrection and rebirth; Jihad is
disciplined reform, striving in the way of God, greatest jihad is for every person to strive against his or her own
carnal soul