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Church History I Midterm

Terms in this set (91)

Ahimsa
principle of non-violence that recognizes that to hurt yourself as everything is one, generating good karma, honor the bond between all living things
Atman
"soul", piece of Brahman inside of you that will either be reincarnated or reach moksha, true essence of life, cannot be destroyed
Avatar
an incarnation or living embodiment of a deity, sent to earth to accomplish a divine purpose
BhagavadGita
epic poem about the god Vishnu and what gods have done, most popular
Brahman
ultimate reality, the creator god, one all-encompassing divine spirit, one impersonal ultimate reality, beyond the reach of human perception and thought
Brahmin
top of the caste system, almost Brahman, priests
Caste System
the social/religious order of Hindu society, 1. Brahmin (priest and intellectual/spiritual leaders), 2. Kshatriyas (warriors and administrators), 3. Vaishya (producers, farmers, merchants and artisans), 4. Shudra (servants and laborers), 5. Outcasts and untouchables
Dharma (Hinduism)
one's moral responsibility or purpose, moral duty based on the divine order of reality, one of the four goals of life
Karma (Hinduism)
the idea that one shapes their own destiny, action or deeds, your actions determine your circumstances, moral law of cause and effect
Moksha
state of "enlightenment", true liberation and peace, ultimate goal of life= to release Atman and reunite with the divine, becoming as one with Brahman, release or liberation from samsara, atman dissolves back into Brahman
Monism
belief that everything is one divine reality
Rig Veda
hymns, earliest of the sacred Hindu texts
Samsara (Hinduism)
the wheel of rebirth, atman continually born into this world lifetime after lifetime, reincarnated based on karma from present life, can be reborn as plants or animals or people, death is not final
Shiva
one of the 3 avatars of God, the destroyer God
Upanishads
commentary on the Vedas, philosophical dissertations on practical applications of the Vedas
Anatta
the self/soul is impermanent, therefore there is no eternal, unchanging soul or atman, denying a permanent self, one of the three marks of existence
Anicca
everything is impermanent in this world, one of the three marks of existence
Arhat
ideal of Theradava Buddhism, one who has become enlightened
Bodhisattvas
"wise being", similar to Christian saints, Mahayana Buddhists seek guidance from them, Dalai Lama, future Buddha,
Buddha
"enlightened one", the teacher, all others who have by their own insight attained perfect enlightenment
Dharma (Buddhism)
the teaching, responsibility based on teachings of Buddha, not social position, one of the three jewels of Buddhism
Dukkha
life in this world is filled with suffering, one of the Four Noble Truths
Five Precepts
basic moral requirements that are binding for all Buddhists 1. Do not take a life, 2. Do not take what is not given, 3. Do not engage in sensuous misconduct, 4. Do not use false speech, 5. Do not drink intoxicants
Four Noble Truths
central teachings of Buddhism, 1. To live is to suffer (Dukkha), 2. Suffering is caused by desire (Tanba), 3. Suffering can be brought to cessation by eliminating desire and attachment, 4. The solution to suffering is the "8-fold path"
Karma (Buddhism)
moral law of cause and effect of actions, determines the nature of one's rebirth
Middle Way
the way to enlightenment, balance and harmony, makes a person a fit vessel for traveling a spiritual path, being aware of the body, rejects both the pleasures of sensual indulgence and the self-denial of asceticism, focus on a practical approach to spiritual attainment
Nirvana
the union with the ultimate spiritual reality, escape from the cycle of rebirth, ultimate goal of all Buddhists, extinction of desire and any sense of individual selfhood, liberation from samsara
Noble Eightfold Path
the fourth of the noble truths, defines the basic practices of Buddhism that lead to nirvana
Samsara (Buddhism)
the wheel of rebirth or reincarnation, the this-worldly realm in which rebirth occurs
Sangha
the community of monks and nuns, one of the three jewels
Siddhartha Gautama
grew up in luxury, rejected his luxurious life to seek enlightenment and the source of suffering, went on a religious journey, lived an ascetic life for 6 years, meditated and found nirvana, the enlightened one, extremes (asceticism and indulgences) were both wrong
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Three Jewels
Buddha, Dharma, sangha
Three Marks of Existence
characteristics that summarize the changing nature of reality, anatta (no self), anicca (impermanence), and dukkha (suffering)
Abraham
first of the Patriarchs, Judaism's founder
Covenant (Judaism)
the agreement established between God and the ancient Israelites, first through Abraham and later through Moses, that designates the Jews as God's Chosen People, with special rights and responsibilities, a bond (more than a contract), a binding of lives (God and Abraham)
Diaspora
the situation of Jews living away from their ancestral homeland, a circumstance that has been true for most Jews since the classical period, living away from Israel
Mezuzah
bits of Torah, usually in a decorative case which is hung at the door of a Jewish home to establish identity
Moses
the savior and deliverer not the messiah, led Israelites out of Egypt and brought them to God's commandments on Mt. Sinai
Passover
the eight-day festival celebrated in early spring that commemorates the Exodus of the Jews from Egypt
Patriarchs
biblical figures regarded as the fathers of the human race
Rabbi
a teacher of the Torah and leader of Jewish worship
Sabbath
the day from sunset on Friday until sunset on Saturday that is set aside for rest and religious celebration, as decreed by one of the Ten Commandments, holy day of the week
Seder
Passover meal recalling the events of the Exodus
Synagogue
Jewish place of worship and community
Talmud
the vast depository of the oral Torah, based on the Mishnah with extensive rabbinic commentary on each chapter, there are two versions: the Palestinian and the Babylonian, commentary on the Torah compiled from the oral traditions of ancient rabbis
Torah
the revelation of God's will to the people, the divine law, first five books of the Bible, the Penteteuch
Zionism
the movement arising in the late nineteenth century that sought the re-establish a Jewish homeland, support of the State of Israel, political nationalist movement which seeks to resotre the state of Israel as a homeland to the Jewish people, NOT EVERY JEW IS A ZIONIST
Covenant (Christianity)
a personal solemn promise of faithful love that involves mutual commitments and creates a sacred relationship, God called Abraham into a new land and promised him descendants "I am your god you are my chosen people I love you and you shall follow my way and worship and love me"
Providence of God
God's loving care throughout salvation history and in each individual life, bringing what is needed into every situation and even bringing good out of evil, helped the Israelites return to Israel
Redemption
Yahweh's deliverance of Israel and Christ's deliverance of all Christians from the forces of sin, God's plan
New Covenant
covenant established by God in Jesus Christ to fulfill and perfect the Old Covenant, perfection on earth of the Divine Law, law of love grace and freedom, will never end or diminish, nothing new will be revealed until Christ comes again, began Kingdom of Heaven on earth, "I am your God you are all my chosen people"
Apostle
"one who is sent", any missionary of the church during the new testament period, "the twelve": those special witnesses of Jesus on whose ministry the early church was built and whose successors are the bishops
Charism
a special gift or grace of the holy spirit given to an individual Christian or community commonly for the benefit and building up of the entire church, how the holy spirit aids the church in fulfilling its mission
Ascension
Jesus ascending into heaven 40 days after his death and resurrection
Resurrection
Jesus rising from the dead 3 days after his death
Messiah
"anointed one", Jesus is the Christ and the messiah because he is the anointed one, saves us from our sins
Apostolic Succession
uninterrupted passing on of apostolic preaching and authority from the Apostles directly to all bishops, accomplished by laying of hands, mark of indelible sacred character
The Way
name for Christianity when it was a sect in Judaism
Pentecost
appearance of the Holy Spirit and commission of the Apostles 50 days after Jesus' death
Sacraments
outward signs of God's continued, faithful love for us
Disciples
one who is taught
Grace
the free and undeserved gift of God's loving and active presence in our lives empowering us to respond to his call and live as his adopted sons and daughters, restores our loving communion with the holy trinity lost through sin
Council of Jerusalem
church leader met to discuss welcoming Gentiles into the church, decided Gentiles need not to be Jewish to become Christian
Sacred Tradition
"to hand on", process of passing on the Gospel message, oral communication of the Gospel by the Apostles written in sacred scripture interpreted by the Magisterium under the guidance of the Holy Spirit
Magisterium
church's living teaching office, all bishops in communion with the pope (the bishop of Rome!)
Deposit of Faith
the heritage of faith contained in Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition, passed on from the time of the apostles, Magisterium take from it all that it teaches as revealed truth
3 Stages of New Testament Development
1. Life and teaching of Jesus 2. Oral tradition (apostles handed on in preaching and writing what Jesus had said and done) 3. The written books (inspired authors wrote it down, became out new testament)
Peter
allowed Gentiles to be baptized, people realized Christ had come for all people
Paul
originally Saul, persecutor of Christians, experienced Christ and converted, Apostle to the Gentiles, letters and teaching to entire Roman Empire, taught gentiles the Good News
Mary Magdalene
first witness to the resurrection, considered a prostitute once but now shown to be an early church leader
Gentiles
non-Jews
Episcope
leader of the early Church, decided what writing to include in the New Testament, teaching authority in the church, preserved the teaching of the Apostles
Edict of Milan
a decree signed by emperors Constantine and Licinius in AD 313 proclaiming religious toleration in the Roman Empire, ended the persecutions of Christians
Fathers of the Church
teachers whose writing extended the Tradition of the Apostles and who continue to be important for the church's teachings
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Doctor of the Church
a title officially bestowed by the Church on those saints who are highly esteemed for their theological writings as well as their personal holiness
Arianism
a heresy developed in the late third century that denied Christ's full divinity stating that Christ was a created being who was superior to human beings but inferior to God
Vulgate
the version of the Bible translated from Hebrew and Greek into Latin by Saint Gerome and which became the definitive version and officially promulgated the church, official translation of the bible
Nicene Creed
council of Nicaea, professes Jesus' divinity recited at mass today, denounced Arianism
Ecumenical Council
a gathering of the Church's bishops from around the world convened by the Pope or approved by him to address pressing issues in the church
Consubstantial
having the same nature or essence
Theotokos
Greek title for Mary meaning "God bearer"
Logos
title of Jesus found in the Gospel of John that illuminates the relationship between the three divine persons of the holy trinity
Hypostatic Union
union of Jesus Christ's divine and human natures in one person
Diocletian
worst of the persecutions, confiscated properties
Nero
blamed fire of Rome on Christians, persecuted Christians, killed Paul
Constantine
accepted Christianity in the Roman empire, edict of Milan
Canon
published account of the books of the Bible
Gospel
tells the stories of Jesus' life and teachings, Matthew Mark Luke and John
Acts of the Apostles
tells the stories of the apostles continuing to spread Christianity
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