Academic Study of Religion RELI Test I Devotional approach used by religious institutions More emotional goal to become more in touch with your religion Academic approach used in this department More objective no bias goal to be well informed Method we use in class academic Moses as author of the first 5 books many scholars find this assertion problematic because 1 Moses dies in last book Deuteronomy wrote his own death 2 Says Moses was the most humble man that ever lived what 3 Stories of Moses are written in third person wouldn t he be writing in first 4 There are anachronisms indicating that this story was recorded at a much later date 5 The bible itself does not say that Moses wrote the first 5 books Anachronism things that are out of sync with time 4 virtues of religious studies 1 Epoche Bracketing our first reaction will always be emotional must look past and try to understand the reasoning Warren Jeffs FLDS beliefs on the proper role of women and how he feels about non white people Informed Empathy to have some compassion try to understand why they believe something and empathy for how this person must feel Prophet Yaweh believes god sends UFOs 2 3 Historical Imperative study the context in order to unravel the true story The Good Samaritan avoid generalities 4 Symbolic Sensitivity making sure you understand the symbols in order to understand the religious traditions The swastika is a Hindu symbol meaning peace while also used by the Nazis Dumbed Down Article 90 of congress consults their religious beliefs before voting on legislation Ninan Smart Dimensions of Religion know 5 of 7 1 Mythic stories that provide meaning 2 Ritual 3 Experiential 4 Philosophical 5 Ethical 6 Social 7 Material Intro to Judaism The word bible comes from the Greek word biblia meaning books What is the TaNaKh Torah first five books Nevi im the prophets Ketuvim the writings Often referred to this by the Jews Christians call this text the Hebrew Bible or Old Testament Abraham the great patriarch of Judaism Christianity Islam He enters into covenant with YHWH Sarah Abraham s wife barren for many years but later has child Isaac Christians and Jews see themselves as spiritual descendents of Isaac Hagar Abraham s other wife when Sarah is barren Together they have Ishmael Muslims see themselves as spiritual descendents of Ishamel Mark of the Covenant circumcision The Hebrew God promises Abram land and descendents if he follows Him Ancient history writing is not like modern journalism not a police report but contextual biography For something to be deemed ancient history writing must have 1 History of ancient Israel not accidental accumulation a specific form of tradition 2 Reason for recalling the past not primarily to give an accurate report of the past 3 Examines moral causes in the past as connected to present day conditions 4 National and corporate in nature 5 Literary an important part of people s identity Enuma Elish and Hymn to Aton Enuma Elish Before heaven and earth were formed there were two vast bodies of water The male freshwater ocean Apsu and the female saltwater ocean Tiamat Through the fusion of their waters successive generations of gods came into being These younger noisy gods annoyed Apsu so Apsu devised a plan to kill them The wisest younger god Ea found out about the plan and killed Apsu To avenge her husband Tiamat decided to do away with the younger gods with the help of her boyfriend Kingu Younger gods found out and got Marduk to help Marduk killed Tiamat and made the heavens out of her body They were tired of laboring to meet their daily needs so he created humanity out of the blood of Kingu to be the servants of the gods o From Babylonian culture 2000 BCE o Humans created to be servants of the gods o Relationship between humans and deity servant human deity master Hymn to Aton Aton is the son god described with the word beauty a lot sounds both male and female nursing even in the womb peaceful depiction of life single creator who gives nourishment and care to humans King Akenhenaten attempted to make polytheistic culture into monotheistic culture o From Egyptian culture 1300s BCE o Relationship between humans and deity positive connection between humans deity Biblical Judaism is mostly ritual temple focused on religion with a priesthood based primarily on sacrifice focused but Rabbinic Judaism is more focused on Judaism developed by rabbis learned teachers of the law could be practiced all over the world synagogue or home United Monarchy of Israel Samuel appoints Saul as king A king who lost the support of his prophets and priest was in trouble and that s what happened to Saul After Saul dies kingdom is split into north Ishbaal Saul s son and south Judah David Ishbaal is assassinated and David becomes king over north and south David established a reigning line of kings that descended from him David had many wives and children oldest son Adonijah and Solomon favorite wife Bathsheba and chose Solomon First king Saul Most beloved king David Built first temple in Jerusalem Solomon Creation 1 2 3 Creation 2 4 3 24 Creation 1 2 3 Nature of God How God Creates Omnipotent all powerful distant figure Speaks things into being Literary Structures Patterned and repetitive Order of Creation It says man was created on the 6th day More like a parent more personal interaction Creates with His hands molding breath More like an allegory ritual creation 1 Specific man 2 animals 3 women The Documentary Hypothesis JEDP first 5 books of the bible a composite of 4 sources J source Yahwist refers to the Hebrew God as Yahweh YHWH Southern source Judah E source Eolhist refers to the Hebrew God as Elohim Northern source J E Ancient Hebrew Epic created Garden of Eden story P source priestly source created first story Deuteronomy most of the book of Deuteronomy Genesis 4 22 Exodus Enoch walked with God and was sent up to heaven no one really knows what happened to him Ham was cursed because Noah was drinking and naked and Ham walked in and saw him Even though he asked his brothers to find a cloth to clothe him he was cursed by Noah Sarah is Abraham s wife who is barren therefore she gives Hagar to Abraham so they can have a child After leaving the ark Noah builds and altar and worships God Lot and his two daughters were living in cave Lot was getting old and the two daughters didn t have any men around to mate with so they got their dad really drunk and both slept with him and became pregnant YHWH Elohim 10