Islam

-Translates to: surrender or submission

-Ancient Monotheistic religion: Allah

- Basic Islamic Beliefs: Angels, Prophets, and Day of Judgment

Koran:

-Muslim Holy Book

- Revelations given to Muhammad in the period 610- 632

            -Eventually written down and converted into modern Arabic (with vowels)

Five Pillars:

-Foundation of Islam, followed by all Muslims

            -Faith: oneness of God and finality of Muhammad

            -Daily Prayer

            -Almsgiving to the needy

            -Self-purification: fasting

            -Pilgrimage to Mecca at least once in a lifetime

Hegira (622 AD= 1 AH):

-The departure of the prophet Muhammad from Mecca

            - He was forced to flee from his enemies

            -Muhammad went to Yathrib (Medina), where he became ruler.

-Every Muslim, at least once in his/her life, makes a pilgrimage to Mecca

Judaism

-Ancient monotheistic religion: God or Adonai (Yaweh)

-Abraham: father of Judaism

- Ten Commandments:

            -God exists

-No other deity exists

-Do not take the Lord’s name in vain

-Observe Shabbat (day of rest)

-Respect elders

-Do not murder

-Do not commit adultery

-Do not steal

-Do not lie

-Do not covet others possessions

Torah:

-Jewish holy book: generally considered the Five Books of Moses:

            -Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy.

            -Sometimes also considered to be the entire Old Testament:

                        - Nevi’im (The Prophets) and Kethuvim (The Writings)

            -On scrolls (used in prayer): written entirely in Hebrew by hand

-Talmud: Oral Torah

Diaspora:

-Started with Babylonian Exile (700 BCE)

-Also settled on the Arabian Peninsula and in Egypt.

- Jews banned from living in Jerusalem and Judea. (66-135 CE)

-Zionism (creation of a Jewish homeland) -> 1948, Israel is founded

Shintoism

-“The Way of the Gods”

- Ame-no-mi-naka-nushi: the Absolute Universal Self (their “God”)

- Two Sects:

            -Sectarian Shinto

            -The State Shinto Religion: national religion of Japan

- Emperor is regarded as direct descendant and representative of Ame-no-mi-naka-nushi

Bushido:

-“Way of the Warrior”

- A code for Samurai warriors, not unlike the chivalry and codes of the European knights. -loyalty, self-sacrifice, justice, purity, frugality, martial spirit, honor and affection

- Influenced by: Buddhism, Zen, Confucianism, and Shintoism