A Spectator's Guide to World Religions – Student Handbook

world religions A spectator’s guide to

An introduction to the big five

Student handbook | Written by Simon Smart

CONTENTS Getting started

3

World religions—Map

6

Hinduism

8

Buddhism

15

Judaism

22

Christianity

29

New Zealand PO Box 7073. Palmerston North 4443 P (+ 64 6) 357 0281 E sales@cepstore.co.nz

The big five—Table

36

Author: Simon Smart To be used with A Spectator’s Guide to World Religions by John Dickson

Islam

38

Editor: Rhonda Watson and Kirsten Birkett Cover design: Joy Lankshear Internal design: Online Advertising

Pluralism

45

Published 2004 by CEP. Revised 2009. Reprinted 2011. Revised 2015.

ISBN 978-1-920935-43-6 e-ISBN 978-1-922000-88-0 Copyright © Christian Education Publications 2004 This resource is copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purposes of private study, research, criticism or review as permitted under the Copyright Act, no part of this book may be copied without the written permission of the publisher.

Christian Education Publications PO Box A287, Sydney South NSW 1235 Australia P (+61 2) 8268 3344 E sales@ceptore.com.au W cepstore.com.au

Acknowledgement of works 51 SIMON SMART Simon is the author of a large number of Christian studies resources as well as books for the general market. He has had extensive secondary teaching experience in both Australia and the UK. His expertise lies in teaching history, english and Christian studies. Simon studied at Regent College, Vancouver, and is currently the head of research and communications at the Centre for Public Christianity.

KEY TO ICONS Knowledge

To be used with A Spectator’s Guide to World Religions by John Dickson

Analysis Create

+

Discuss Personal Response

Judaism TIMELINE

PERCEPTIONS EXERCISE

MANY JUDAISMS

1800 BC Call of Abraham 1600 BC – Slaves in Egypt 1300 BC

Foundational

1300 BC Exodus 1000 BC King David (1000 BC–962 BC)

Before reading the chapter on Judaism What would you say Judaism is about?

Read Chapter 12 When is a Jew a Jew? and Which Israel?

Define ‘Jew’ and ‘Israel’.

900 BC Divided kingdom 700 BC Mid to late 700s— Northern kingdom conquered 586 BC Destruction of first temple

What are Jewish people like?

Interim

538 BC Return to holy land Building of second temple 164 BC Judas Maccabeus— Jewish rebellion

How do Jewish people live?

63 BC Romans enter Palestine 70 AD Destruction of the temple

Classical

200 AD Mishnah codified under Rabbi Judah 400 AD Jerusalem Talmud completed 1096 Massacre of Rhineland Jews during First Crusade 1492 Expulsion of Jews from Spain

Term

Definition

Ultra-devout first century Jews

Israel’s constitution—instruction regarding legal, environmental, religious and social matters

1800 AD ‘Emancipation’ of minorities in European society

Jewish meeting place outside Jerusalem

Spoken Torah—second holy book of classical Judaism

1850s Reform / Orthodox / Conservative Judaism

Sacrifice of animal symbolising the shift of God’s judgement away from the sinner

1897 World Zionist Foundation established

Celebration of God’s rescue of Israel from Egypt

1933-45 Nazi persecution of the Jews— Genocide

Leader of victorious Jewish rebellion 164 BC

Violent opposition to Roman dominance

1948 Creation of the state of Israel —Arab/ Israeli war—state of Israel declared May 1948

Interpretation of Mishnah

The Jewish escape from Egyptian slavery

Awaited promised King from the line of King David

1967 6 day war Israel captures West Bank, East Jerusalem, Golan Heights, and Sinai

Weekly holy day

Ceremony marking transition from childhood to adulthood

Conservative first century Jews—cooperated with Romans

22 | A Spectators Guide to World Religions

Rabbis

GLOSSARY

Modern

1648-9 Massacre of Ukrainian Jews

Task: As you read about Judaism write the terms with the correct definitions below.

Exodus; Passover; Atonement; Judas Maccabeus; Sadducees; Essenes; Zealots; Pharisaic teachers; Synagogue; Mishnah; Talmud; Messiah; Sabbath (Shabbat); Bar/Bat Mitzvah; Torah

FOUNDATIONAL JUDAISM Read Chapter 13 Foundational Judaism.

Circumcision and the family of Abraham Explain why the Jews see themselves as ‘part of an ancient, irrepressible and unique world-wide community of brothers and sisters’. (see Chapter 13 Circumcision and the family of Abraham)

King David and the future Messiah Read Psalm 51:1–10, from the Old Testament.

For the director of music. A psalm of David. When the prophet Nathan came to him after David had committed adultery with Bathsheba.

1

Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions.

2 Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.

3 For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me.

9 Hide your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquity.

Exodus and the Passover In pairs discuss what is meant by ‘Even today Jews recall this exodus event as a microcosm of their entire history and as a symbol of their future’. (see Chapter 13 Exodus and the Passover) Briefly summarise your discussion.

10 Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.1 What does the psalm record about David’s failings?

The Torah and Jewish life Read Chapter 13 The Torah and Jewish life.

Explain how the constitution of the people of Israel was given to them. What categories of life were covered in this ‘law’ or constitution?

Explain the significance of Torah.

HENRY KISSINGER (1923– ) Refugee from Nazi Germany. Became teacher at Harvard University, US Secretary of State.

1972—organised President Nixon’s visits to Russia and China. 1973—awarded Nobel Peace Prize.

Judaism | 23

DID YOU KNOW? Today Israeli soldiers take an oath, ‘Masada shall not fall again’— recalling the lost battle for Masada of the Zealots fighting the Roman army.

Nearly 960 men, women and children committed suicide when faced with defeat at Masada.

Some people would say that there is no such thing as sin.

They would argue that when things go wrong or when people harm others, they are merely displaying different manifestations of environmental and genetic makeup.

In pairs, write a two-minute speech by a Jewish person to refute such a claim and to put forward the Jewish understanding of sin. Deliver the speech to the class.

How would your life be affected by belonging to people who felt they had a special relationship with God? Write a paragraph on the function of the temple in ancient Jewish life. Include information on: • sacrifice • learning • praise.

In pairs Explain why David came to occupy such an important place in the life of the Jewish people.

Destruction of the First Temple (586 BC)

What is significant about the reporting of David’s failings in the Jewish Scriptures?

Do you agree with the author’s description of the Tanak as ‘a bizarre document’? Explain your answer.

Messiah and the eternal kingdom What is your understanding of the term ‘Messiah’? (see Chapter 13 King David and the future Messiah)

Isaiah 1:4

Why did this concept come to mean so much in the life of the Jewish community?

Ah, sinful nation, a people loaded with guilt, a brood of evildoers, children given to corruption!

They have forsaken the Lord; they have spurned the Holy One of Israel and turned their backs on him.

Isaiah 13:11

Temple, forgiveness and worship Yom Kippur celebrates the removal of Israel’s sins on the ‘day of atonement’. What is ‘sin’, as understood by the Jewish faith?

I will punish the world for its evil, the wicked for their sins.

I will put an end to the arrogance of the haughty and will humble the pride of the ruthless.

Isaiah 41:10 So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.2

ELIEZER BEN-YEHUDA (1858–1922) Jewish settler in land of Israel. Revived language which evolved into modern-day Hebrew.

Published a six volume Hebrew dictionary.

24 | A Spectators Guide to World Religions

DID YOU KNOW?

Jews as people of hope What things remain as the key hopes of the Jewish people?

There were eight Jewish convicts on the first fleet.

Identify aspects of the prophet’s message (Isaiah passages) that reflect both warning of judgement and the promise of hope.

Read Chapter 14 Sadducees: aristocrats and priests to Zealots: fighters and patriots.

Write a three-minute speech by either a Sadducee, an Essene, or a Zealot. The speech should explain why this character follows his particular brand of Judaism.

Judaism in Australia3

INTERIM JUDAISMS FOCUS QUESTION In chapter 14 the author writes of ‘interim Judaisms’ prior to the dominance of classical Judaism. As you read the chapter consider the significance of historical developments in this period that contributed to the different expressions of the same faith.

The dramas of the second temple (70 AD) The Greeks Write a paragraph on the influence of the Greeks on Jewish life. Include in the paragraph: • what Antiochus IV Epiphanes is remembered for • what Judas Maccabeus was renowned for.

Year

Numbers

Percentage of Population

1996

79,800

0.4

2001

83,993

0.44

2006

88,837

0.45

2011

97,336

0.45

Birthplace of Jews in Australia3 Australia

49,175

South Africa

13,035

Israel

6,079

England

4,120

Ukraine

3,353

United States of America

2,345

Russian Federation

2,325

Poland

2,303

Local Government areas by—Religious Affiliation3 LGA

Judaism

Percent

Total

Glen Eira (VIC)

24,771

18.9

131,014

The Romans

Waverley (NSW)

10,876

17.1

63,486

What does the author suggest was the lasting significance of Roman rule?

Woollahra (NSW)

7,382

14.2

52,160

Randwick (NSW)

5,376

5.8

93,144

Stonnington (VIC)

4,573

5.0

91,371

DID YOU KNOW? Jews were almost solely responsible for setting up the early Hollywood film studios including Twentieth Century Fox, MGM and Warner brothers.

Melbourne’s first Synagogue was opened in 1847.

Between 1881–1920 following massacres and pogroms in Russia, around 10,000 Jews came to Australia. The largest immigration came after World War Two. Since the 1960s there have been three main groups of immigrants— Russians, Israelis and South Africans.

Judaism | 25

Interview with Simona Barukh

A recent summer spent in Israel for 20-year-old Simona Barukh confirmed her appreciation of the Jewish religion. ‘I learnt more there in six weeks than in the whole of high school,’ she says. The grounding in the Jewish religion that she had received at school and at home was made even more real by her experiences in the Holy Land. ‘I guess I was looking for more—trying to understand why we do the things we do. I want to be able to share the things I learned with others younger than me, and hopefully my [own children] one day,’ she adds with the enthusiasm of a committed believer. Having grown up in a strongly Orthodox Jewish family, Simona certainly has taken on the faith for herself.

Being Jewish is the key to who Simona is. ‘It sort of is me,’ she says of her faith. ‘All the things that I think, all the things that I do are centred around the fact that I am Jewish,’ she explains. This means that for Simona, a strict code of dress, eating and behaviour is part of her everyday existence. ‘I get up early every morning to pray; the foods I eat are different—we have special foods,’ she says brightly, as she explains the supervision of Kosher foods. All food has to be checked by a Rabbi, and meat has to be cut in a particular way. The way she dresses is regulated as well. ‘For ladies you always have to have your elbows covered, we always have to have our knees covered, and we have to wear skirts. Ladies have to have their collarbones covered, and for men they have to have a head covering,’ she says.

All of this provides something of a challenge, especially when mixing with non-Jewish friends at Uni, but for Simona, it is not such a big deal. ‘I think when you have grown up with it, you don’t think of it as a restriction’—although she admits her friends do not always understand the reasons for her decisions.

Simona aims to be guided in her life by her Jewish teachings, and finds such a guide gives her an advantage in life that she feels not everyone has.

‘Nowadays everything is so materialistic—everything is about possessions and money,’ she says. This, believes Simona, breeds jealousy and bitterness, and competitive and complex relationships. She feels that the wisdom of Jewish teaching, drawn from a time when life was much simpler, continues to be a good guide to living now.

Looking around her at the society at large, Simona is grateful for her faith. ‘Perhaps I feel that I have a bit more direction than others. I know that I want to raise my kids and have my home a certain way—I think for some people who don’t have any religion—they are just open to anything that comes to them,’ she says. One of the best things about being Jewish, according to Simona,

is the strong sense of family and community and togetherness.

Having gone through a small school from Kindergarten to Year 12 with the same group of girls provided a special bond. ‘Everyone is still very close—that is very nice,’ she says. ‘In the Jewish community we have a lot of festivals that promote family time.

There is lots of food and fun times. Every Saturday everyone has to stop everything,’ she explains in reference to the Jewish practice of Sabbath. ‘It forces you to have time together as a family—I don’t know how people survive who don’t have that enforced rest. You can look forward to it each week,’ says Simona.

So what are the motivating forces in Simona’s life? ‘I guess I want to be the best person I can be. We believe that each person is created for a specific purpose and I aim to fulfil that,’ says Simona. Simona says that since Adam and Eve in the garden, God’s presence is not as obvious, and that the role of people is to create a place where the presence of God will return to earth in a much more tangible and direct way. ‘If I am being the best person I can be, then maybe I am doing my part … in the big picture,’ she suggests.

The history of the Jewish people remains an important aspect of Simona’s consciousness. She views the Jewish Bible as history and feels that it provides insight as to how to live in the present.

Regular reading of the Hebrew Scriptures on Sabbath and at special classes during the week, are part of ‘taking the history of our people seriously,’ explains Simona.

And what about other faiths? Does Simona see room for other expressions of religion? ‘I definitely don’t think that everybody has to be Jewish. We don’t think that if you don’t follow the same path that you are doomed to hell or something like that. I think at the end of the day we all believe in God and whether people believe in a different pathway to God, I don’t know why it has to be who’s right and who’s wrong, if ultimately we all believe in the one creator,’ she says.

1. What are the practical ways in which Simona’s faith impacts her life?

2. What do you think are the most valuable things that Simona’s faith gives her?

3. How much of a burden do you think creating a ‘place where the presence of God will return to earth’, places on the life of a Jewish believer?

DID YOU KNOW?

The daughter of a Conservative Jewish family is living in a western country. She has been raised as a Jew and the family is devout in following the practices of the Jewish faith. She is turning 18, and leaving home to attend university. Many of her friends are not Jewish and she is questioning the value of continuing to practice her Jewish faith.

When the Black Death struck Europe in 1348, Jews were accused of causing it. They were largely unaffected by the plague as they lived in ghettos and maintained higher standards of hygiene.

She goes to her parents for advice. What could they tell her to convince her of the value of maintaining her Jewishness, and continuing in the faith?

Write down the things the parents could focus on.

26 | A Spectators Guide to World Religions

‘Hear, O Israel the Lord our God, the Lord is one.’

CLASSICAL JUDAISM The Pharisees, the temple and the synagogues Briefly describe the context of the emergence of the Pharisees as a dominant force in Jewish life. Include the significance of the fall of the Jerusalem temple in 70 AD.

Five annual festivals of classical Judaism Choose one of the five festivals and write the diary entry of a young Jewish person as he or she participates in the festival. Include information on what the festival means to the young person and the Jewish people.

Why do you think the festival of Hanukkah has become important to modern Jews? (see Chapter 15 Other Holy Days).

The rise of the dual Torah Read Chapter 15 The rise of the ‘dual-Torah’ to Midrash and the Talmud.

Complete the table below to distinguish between written and spoken Torah.

Torah written—Tanak

MODERN JUDAISMS Read Chapter 16 Modern Judaisms.

How did the Jewish mindset of ‘separation’ help them to cope with persecution over centuries of exclusion and mistreatment?

Torah spoken—Mishnah

How did emancipation change things for the Jews?

DID YOU KNOW?

Add symbols to the table to illustrate the relationship between Midrash and the Tanak; and between the Talmud and the Mishnah.

SIGMUND FREUD (1856–1939) Developed the science of the mind called psychoanalysis.

In the middle ages in Europe Jews faced religious hostility, hatred and expulsion from Christian countries. England was the first to expel Jews, followed by France. Jews in Spain and Portugal in the fifteenth century were badly mistreated. Where Jews lived they had to pay higher taxes, were made to wear distinctive clothing and were frequently forced to live in segregated areas. Jews were not granted citizenship in England until 1829, after being readmitted to the country in 1656.

Judaism | 27