Humanities 215.02 Mid-Term Review February 6, 2013

Study Questions Phenomenology Formation of Judaism’s Belief & Practice Prothero’s Thesis Compare & Contrast (2 of following: Hinduism/Buddhism/Confucianism/Daoi sm)

What I Look For... Your Grasp of Material Your Imaginative Response to Material Your Clear Expression of Ideas, Religious Points of View

What’s Awkward Too many quotes from the books “In my opinion...” (Chit-Chat Tone) Generalized B.S.

Phenomenology Distinct from the Essentialist, the Functionalist and the Proponent of Family Resemblance Theory-- Phenomena! Descriptive of objects, rituals, teachings, behavior... Question of Ontological Truth is set aside

Friedrich Schleiermacher “The essence of religion consists in the feeling of an absolute dependence.”

Rudolf Otto “It is the emotion of a creature, submerged and overwhelmed by its own nothingness in contrast to that which is supreme, above all creatures...”

Morality Holy Numinous

So-Called Civilization

Oral Tradition This Not This

Activities of Ancients Hunting & Gathering Farming (Agriculture) Male & Female Calendar/Seasons More Leisure “Civilization” Writing (Scribal Tradition) For Posterity ~3,200 BCE in Mesopotamia ~2,200 BCE in Indus Valley ~ 600 BCE in MesoAmerica Orality Generation to Generation Face to Face

Geo-Political Perfect Storm Egypt... Babylon...Persia Jeremiah 1:14 14:11-16 29:4-7 Around 581 BCE, Jeremiah Writes About Invasion of Babylon Jeremiah Tells Exiles to Settle There Later he is taken to Egypt (contrary to G.) Writes to those in Exile in Babylon King Cyrus of Persia Liberates Jerusalem ~ 536 BCE Jeremiah 42 Jeremiah 50:9 Ezra 1:1

Assyrian/Babylonian Literature Enuma Elish: Creation Story ~2000 BCE The Epic of Gilgamesh: Flood Story ~2500 BCE

Polytheism

Imposition of Monotheism Pharoah Amenophis IV 1375--1350 BCE Aten, the Sun God

The Temples Give Way Become The Backdrop To Religious Conversation

Ancient Rome The communal religion was related to the basic agricultural economy, and so was dependent upon the Etruscans and others, for Rome developed too late to foster more than the mythology of her own creation. This religion was primarily that of the state, with the city personified as the chief deity. The Romans were aware of the need to accept some foreign gods, especially Greek, into their state-cult, and they modified these deities to fit their functional need (p. 84).

Late Antiquity “If we compare ourselves with other peoples, we appear equal or even inferior, except that of religion, meaning the worship of the gods, in which we are far superior” (Cicero, as quoted on p. 83).

Judaism Judaism Does Really Begin At The Beginning Defining Event is Historical “Exile” Covenant Relationship with Yahweh Formation of Distinct People Group Gift of the Law & Promise of Land

Event! Exile/Return Exodus Assyria/Babylon/Persia/Greece/Rome 581-539 BCE 2000 BCE 1000 BCE Exile/Return Abraham Isaac Jacob Joseph Exodus Creation Stories Nationhood Assyria/Babylon/Persia/Greece/Rome

Asking Why? Israel = One Who Wrestles with God Rich Oral Traditioning Tanakh (24 Texts) & Talmud (Commentary) Schools of Hillel & Shammai...

Sabbath & Holidays Sabbath Passover Sukkoth Purim Hanukkah Rosh Hashanah

What’s his point?

It is possible to climb life’s mountain from any side, but when the top is reached the trails converge... At the base, in the foothills of theology, ritual, and organizational structure, the religions are distinct. Differences in culture, history, geography, and collective temperament all make for diverse starting points... But...

Prothero’s Approach Problem Solution Technique Exemplar

The Ways of... Submission Salvation Propriety Devotion Awakening Connection Exile & Return Flourishing The Ways of...

Hinduism (With No Founder) Grows Out of the Indus River Valley

Hinduism Multiplicity of Gods & Goddesses Three Primary: Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva Assorted Avatars & Incarnations Escape Samsara (Cycle) By Achieving Moksha (Release)

Brahma creator Vishnu sustainer Shiva destroyer

Buddhism ~ Awakening 8 Fold Path Includes Right Understanding Thought, Action, Speech, Livelihood, Effort, Mindfulness, Concentration

Siddhartha Gautama Born in Southern Nepal 6th Century BCE Meditation in Bodhgaya, Northern India Four Noble Truths

4 Noble Truths Life is Suffering Suffering has an Origin Suffering can be eliminated The Path is the 8-fold Path

Confucius: 551-479 BCE

Confucianism Non-Theistic Wisdom Tradition Aphorisms, Etiquette and Ritual... The Honoring of Ancestors Maintenance of “Status Quo” Web of Social Relationships

Ren is Inward Li is Outward Which Comes First?

The Dao has created things to change spontaneously and without warning The Dao has created things to change spontaneously and without warning. But the stuff of society--etiquette and ritual, language and thought--molds us, constrains us, freezes us. We build barriers... that chop what was once a unified cosmos... restricting the free movement of the Dao... (p. 286-7)

Compare with Confucianism Ren: Human Heartedness Li: Ritual & Etiquette Qi or Chi (Energy) Jing (Sexual Essence) Shen (Spirit)

I am a natural rather than a social being.

Remember: You Are Responsible For Material In Books and In-Class Discussions.

For Friday Bring Exam Booklets (Blank) Textbooks Notes/Outlines You May Not Pre-Write Your Essay Responses