1. Journal 9/12
In complete sentences, describe what you can see in this portrayal of the Hindu god Shiva.

2. Hinduism’s major phases:
Vedas: Brahmin sacrifices and rituals are central
Upanishads: More philosophical
Brahman and atman
Moksha – union with Brahman
Reincarnation – rebirth process of achieving moksha
Karma – reincarnation depends on one’s pure actions.
Legitimized the caste system

3. Popular Hinduism – possibly a response to Buddhism
Performance of caste duties could = moksha
Bhakti cults – intense identification with certain gods

4. Partly a reaction to Vedic beliefs
All can reach nirvana
Challenged Brahmins and caste system
Challenged some patriarchal ideas (nuns)
Important to know:
Nirvana
Four Noble Truths
Eightfold path

5. Theravada vs. Mahayana More psychological than religious
(teaching of the elders) (Great vehicle)
More psychological than religious
Buddha is not a god
No help reaching nirvana
A popular religion
Buddha is a god
Help reaching nirvana (bodhisattvas)

7. How might women from a patriarchal society feel about Buddhism?

8. “I am free from the three crooked things: mortar, pestle and my crooked husband. I am free from birth and death and all that dragged me back.”

9. Some Era 2 historical pointers on Buddhism
Ashoka (Mauryan Indian king) advocated Buddhism, but popular Hinduism took over
Spread slowly through the stable Han empire, but more quickly after it collapsed

11. Confucianism Daoism Focus on relationships Education is key
Focus on nature
Answer to disorder is to act naturally
Superior person should be moral, then others will too
Filial piety & unequal relationships
All about social harmony and good government
Non-religious
Effort to improve is useless
Dao = way of nature
Became popular religion
Ideology for peasant uprisings (Yellow Turban)

14. Liu Ling was an inveterate drinker and indulged himself to the full
Liu Ling was an inveterate drinker and indulged himself to the full. Sometimes he stripped off his clothes and sat in his room stark naked. Some men saw him and rebuked him. Liu Ling said, "I see the earth and skies as my home, and this room as my pants. What are you, gentlemen, doing in my pants?”

15. And now a magical lesson from Disney

16. Ancestor Veneration
Mulan
1998

17. Ancestor Veneration:
Thai spirithouses

18. Shamanism
The Lion King
1994

19. Shamanism

20. Animism
Pocahontas
1995

21. Animism

22. Story of the Jewish People
Abraham leaves Sumeria because God tells him to, and promises to make him “father of many nations”
Moves to Canaan, which God has promised him

23. 3. His descendants move to Egypt due to a famine
4. Jewish people enslaved in Egypt
5. Jewish people led out of Egypt to Canaan by Moses (writes the first 5 books of the Old Testament, the Torah)

24. 6. Jewish people split into 2 kingdoms
(Books of Judges, Kings I & II:
back and forth between
monotheism
and polytheism)

25. 722 BCE = Assyrians (from Mesopotamia) conquered Israel

28. 586 BCE = Babylonians (from Mesopotamia) gained control of Judah
Both had a policy of deportation = diasporic Jewish communities

29. At this time, the major books of the prophets are written, with increasing references to a coming Messiah.

30. Jews return during the time of the Persian empire and rebuild Jersualem

31. Rome destroys Jerusalem, Jews spread throughout empre (diaspora)

33. 1948

34. Christianity
Believe that Jesus was the Jewish Messiah, and the answer to the human problem of sin/separation from God

35. Why were the Christians persecuted? Weren’t the
Romans religiously tolerant?

36. Christianity was not an officially recognized religion (such as Judaism of the Jews)
Christians were secretive = baby eatin’ and orgies
Christians were viewed as “atheists”
So when something went wrong in the empire…

37. Constantine’s conversion: “In this sign, you shall conquer.”