Study Guide World Religions First Exam

You should know the definitions and contexts of the following terms:

Agnosticism Animism Atheism Dualism Immanent Monotheism Nontheistic Pantheism Polytheism Transcendent Divination “The Dreaming” Eternal Time Holistic Pilgrimage Sacred Shaman Libation Taboo Totem Uluru Vision quest Hinduism Ahimsa Atman Ashram Avatar Bhagavad Gita Bhakti Bhakti yoga Brahma Brahman Brahmin Brahmanas Caste Devi Guru Hatha yoga Jnana yoga Kali Karma Karma yoga Krishna Mantra Maya Moksha Puja Raja yoga Rama Sannyasin Sati Shiva Syncretistic Trimurti Upanishads Vedas Vishnu Yoga Buddhism Anatta(anatman) Anichcha Arhat Bodhi Bodhisattva Dharma Dhyana Dukkha Guanyin Karuna Koan Lama Maitreya Mandala Mudra Nirvana Samadhi Samsara Sangha Stupa Sutra Syncretistic Tathata Trikaya Tripitaka

You should know anything covered in class on the worksheets, but in particular know the following:

Multi-dimensional definition of religion Oral religions: Obstacles to study Three key patterns: Relationship to the natural world Sacred time and space Respect for origins, gods, ancestors, traditions, nature Rituals & ceremonies/Rites of Passage

Hinduism: Origins and Aryan influence Concepts in the Upanishads: Brahman, atman, maya, karma, moksha Caste system and stages and goals of life Yogas Trimurti (Brahma,Vishnu, Shiva) Code of Manu

Buddhism: Origins and the Life of Siddhartha Gautama Reactions against perceived perversions of Brahmanic Hinduism (six aspects, Smith p.92) Smith’s seven features of Buddhism (p. 98) Three marks of reality: Change, no permanent identity, suffering Four noble truths and the noble eightfold path Theravada: Elder’s Way, origin, arhat, tripitaka, sutra, stupa. Mahayana: Big Vehicle, karuna, bodhisattva, Maitreya, shunyata, tathata, Shingon, mandala, Tendai, Nichiren, Zen, koan Vajrayana: Diamond vehicle, origins, lama, prayer wheels, mudras, mandalas

From Anthology of World Scriptures

Definition of scripture (p. 6) Variation in literary form of scripture Hierarchy of scripture: they often include secondary authoritative writings or commentaries Canon: open or closed Uses of scripture (p. 9 -10) Advantages and Disadvantages (p. 11-14) Protestant bias (p. 15)