Exam # 2 Study Guide Lectures: 12-26Lecture 12 (October 9)What are some monotheistic traditions and what are their popula-tions?First there is Christianity with 2.5 billion, Islam with 1.7 Billion, Sikhism with 30 million and Judaism with 15 million. The total population is about 4.5 bil-lion making it the largest population of adherents in the world. 55% of self-identified people in the world. What does non-theistic mean?Non-theistic is a belief system that does no equate the “divine” with God or Gods. An example of this would by confucianism.What does polytheistic mean?Polytheistic is the belief in more than one god/goddess.What does monotheistic mean?Monotheistic is the belief in only one god.What does Henotheistic mean?Henotheistic is the belief in multiple gods/goddesses unified under one divinebeing.What is pantheism?Pantheism is the belief that the divine is identical with the natural or materialworld.What does fluid boundaries mean?PHIL 1101st EditionThis means that categories are no exclusive of one another. For example, Hinduism has polytheistic and monotheistic strains. Buddhism is “Non-theis-tic” but also recognizes many divine beings. That being said monotheism can blur into other categories.How does monotheism blur into other categories?Monotheism can blur into both Pantheism and Non-Theism. It identifies with Pantheism because some monotheistic traditions identify God with the “all” Itblends into non-theism because mystic practices in Christianity, Judaism, andIslam avoid labeling God as “existing” -- what we worship as God is part of a projection of our own wishes. What does Via Negativa mean?Via Negativa means that language can only describe what God is Not.In what ways can Monotheism be identified beyond the “Big 3?”In Egypt during the Atenist Revolution, in Sikhism, Mul Mantra, and the BahaiMovement.How is monotheism found in Egypt during the Atenist Revolution?During Akhenaton before the rise of Israel. Here was the consolidation of reli-gious cults and the worship of the sun god, Aten. He established himself asthe sole intermediary to Aten eliminating priesthood. This was the earliest known monotheistic religious community. How is monotheism found in Sikhism?Guru Nanak developed Punjab from monistic strains of Hindu practice. The social dimension of this is the unification of peoples through elimination of religious boundaries. “There is no difference between a temple and mosque, nor between prayers of a Hindu and a Muslim.” This aspect reduces empha-sis on distinctive ritual.How is monotheism found in Mul Mantra?Mul Mantra is one supreme being, the eternal reality, the creator, without fear and devoid of enmity.What is the Bahai Movement, and how is monotheism found in it?The Bahai movement originates in Iran during the 19th century. It developed as an independent monotheistic religion. It may be the fastest growing reli-gious movement in the world. The social dimension of the Bahai movement is that oneness of God underlies oneness of humanity. Oneness of humanity an ethical imperative in response to GodWhat could be a preliminary summary of monotheism?There are more than 3 monotheistic religions. However, the 3 most promi-nent religions originated in the North East. The other monotheistic prac-tices originated in South Asia. Monotheism could also be described a reli-gious impulse-- it has caused diverse expressions across time, place, and cul-ture, continues to emerge in new religious forms, and often marked by aspi-rations for religious social reforms.What is the hypothesis of Monotheism in the Judaism, Christianity, and Islam?All three traditions label God as a “person” and this conception has an im-pact on other dimensions of religion including ethical and socialWhat makes a person, a person?Will, intention, and values all make a person, a person. A person is a moral agent who makes choices, strives to realize purposes, and engages with other persons to these ends.How do all 3 religions identify God as a person?All three religions identify God as a Person as Creatio ex Nihilo meaning the “the creation from nothing” Meaning, God is the origin of the natural world under this act.However, there are a few overlapping claims from this idea:God is the sole source for everything that exists-- nothing is is co-eternal withGod. The physical universe is a product of God’s will-- it results from God’s decisions. The physical universe reflects God’s intention and design which is shaped by God’s purpose. The physical universe depends on God for its exis-tence, its nature, and its purposeWhat is the ethical dimension of Monotheism regarding the 3 main religions?JCI all say that the divine realm and the physical universe are sharply distinctand hierarchically related. God is transcendent over creation meaning that god is sovereign over creation and god has a moral claim on creation as the author of its existence. The human purpose is to fulfill God’s purpose.How do sin, evil, and the moral imperative come about in Monothe-ism?God designed creation with a purpose and humans have that purpose, then humans have a moral responsibility to bring that purpose to fulfillment. Therefore the failure to fulfill that purpose is sin. Evil is a result of human sin.Evil results in the distortion of God’s purpose for creation. Evil is the primary religious problem.How does one know God’s purpose in Monotheism?If you remember, in the Asian traditions, observing natural phenomena is themeans to learning about the human place, and what humans should do. Karma implies that moral consequences are the natural result of fulfilling or transgressing moral duty. In JCI, natural order points to divine will, but doesn’t embody it. The problem of moral reasoning is how can one know God’s Intention?How does one know God’s intention?In general, moral knowledge of a person comes from that other telling you. InJCI, a believer needs God to reveal God’s self. Observation of nature is in-sufficient.What are some forms of revelation in monotheism and what is the most important?Oracles, visions, and dreams. The most important is scripture. Meaning reve-lation is that the believing community has approved and that revelation that is publicly held by the community.What is the scripture in Judaism? Tanakh is the scripture in Judism. It contains the Torah (law), the Nevi’im (prophets) and Khetuvim (writings) In general, it is a collection of collections