Unit 2 Indigenous Religions (Yoruba & Lakota Sioux) This unit discusses indigenous traditions as ethical systems boasting an oral history dating back many thousands of years. The unit seeks to define indigenous religions as a recent category amongst scholars and proceeds with necessary caution, speaking in general rather than in concrete terms. The unit considers some general commonalities amongst indigenous traditions and looks specifically at two case studies, that of the Yoruba of West Africa and the Oglala Lokota (Sioux) of the mid-western United States. The unit analyzes the ethical teachings of the Yoruba and the Oglala Lakota as conduct, principles, and worldview, which are the principles that underlie their conception of balance and harmony with the universe. We discuss what these and other traditions consider virtues and vices, as well as what constitutes the moral community. Animism the notion that the entire cosmos is imbued with a spirit or soul Biocentric a worldview that encompasses all of nature as related, equal, one and the same Black Hills the land of the Oglala Lakota until it was stolen in 1874 Esu a trickster in the Yoruba tradition whose mischievous actions embody the notion of complementary dualism, which is common to indigenous religions Giveaway Ceremony an Oglala Lakota tradition where members of the community give up their possessions to those in need Indigenous can mean any of the following: pertaining to a region, pre-colonial, original, and oral Koyaanisqatsi a Hopi term meaning life out of balance Ogun in the Yoruba tradition he is the god of iron and war Orisa in the Yoruba tradition, orisa are projections of the ultimate god and serve as intermediaries on earth Wochangi literally meaning sacred influence, wochangi refers to the powers and influence inherent in all living beings Unit 3 - Hinduism After working through this unit, you should understand that Hinduism, like Buddhism and Jainism, the next two traditions we consider, is, at once, a religious and ethical tradition. More precisely, it is a tradition made up of many traditions: we have identified some of these according to the chronological and textual development of formative, or classical, Hinduism. While it is fair to say that a number of ethical traditions develop during the formative period, with
the transition from one historical and cultural context to another, all of Hinduism is informed by basically the same ethical framework, the framework we have outlined as including conduct, principles, and foundation (worldview). The key points in this unit are: the emergence of Hinduism around 1500 BCE; the development of Vedic Hinduism and of the texts of the four Vedas, with their concern for a ritual ethics; the transition to the Upanishads and to the ethical path of study and meditation; the transition to epic Hinduism; the ethics of the Bhagavad-Gita, including the path of bhakti; continuation of bhakti and of many of the elements of the epics in the literature and ethics of the Puranas; Hindu ethics as involving stage, paths, goals, and castes, many of these grouped in fours; analysis of Hindu ethics as conduct, principles, and foundations; and consideration of Hindu virtues, the moral self, and the moral community Arjuna the main character of the Bhagavad-Gita, a member of the warrior caste Aryan noble one, the name assumed by the people who moved into the Indus Valley and laid the foundations for the tradition we now call Hinduism Atman the self that is eternal and indistinguishable from Brahman Avatar incarnation, bodily form Bhakti devotion, love, one of Hinduism s moral paths Brahman the absolute, the One Brahmin spiritual leader, priest, officiator at Vedic sacrifices Brahmanas liturgical prose texts that supplement the four Vedas Dharma duty, moral law, moral responsibility Karma result of action
Karmayoga not-attached action Krishna avatar of Vishnu in the Bhagavad-Gita, disguised as his charioteer Laws of Manu a book of moral regulations applicable to caste, marriage, sacrifice, diet, including statements on various ethical matters Mahabharata a Hindu epic of great length, of which the Bhagavad-Gita is one section Moksha enlightenment, liberation Prakriti matter, material substance, nature Puranas collection of texts comprising edifying and devotional tales and mystical lore Purusha spirit, spiritual being Rama a Hindu god, hero of the Ramayana Ramayana a Hindu epic Rig-Veda the oldest of the four Vedas Rishi a seer, one to whom sacred teaching is revealed Rita cosmic law, moral order Samsara cycle of rebirth Shaivism the path of devotion to Shiva, god who rules over cosmic processes of destruction and renewal Shruti revelation, what has been revealed and heard Sita a goddess, consort of Rama in the Ramayana Smriti teachings that have been memorized Upanishad texts that developed after the four Vedas and that marked the transition to a more contemplative tradition Vaishnavism the largest of the Hindu sects, made up of followers or devotees to Vishnu Vishnu great god of Hinduism who has many avatars Unit 4 - Buddhism
After working through this unit, you should understand that Buddhism is, through and through, a moral or ethical teaching. From the legends of the life of Siddhartha Gotama and of his discovery and enlightenment, through to his teachings of the Four Holy Truths, the tradition addresses the question of how to live a good life. In Buddhism, the good life starts with observance of the Five Precepts. But this is only a start. To fully understand and follow the precepts, one must develop certain attitudes; one must internalize principles or virtues that the precepts presuppose. Finally, to realize these attitudes fully, to reach the ultimate good of nibbana, one must let go of self-seeking altogether, breaking the chain of causation by breaking through ignorance. The key points in this unit: the emergence of Buddhism in the 6thcentury BCE; the legends of Buddha, with their account of the circumstances from which his teachings arose; the scriptural texts that are the sources for Buddhist ethics; the teaching of the Four Holy Truths, with the Eightfold Path as outlining an ethical journey that all must take; the Five Precepts; the Vinaya ethics that applies to monks and nuns; adoption of the Buddha as himself an ethical model; Mahyana ethics and the emergence of the bodhisattva figure; Buddhist ethics as not only conduct rules, but also principles and a worldview; Buddhist understandings of virtue and the good ; and Buddhist understanding of moral self and moral community. Anatta the Buddhist teaching of no-self, which, in the context of ethics, is a proscription against selfishness Arhant a worthy one or holy one who has achieved enlightenment Ascetic one who has withdrawn from the world to a life of austerity Bodhisattva in the Mahayana tradition, a person who foregoes salvation to minister to others; an all-compassionate being
Dana generosity or giving, one of the important Buddhist virtues, and one that is practiced by monks and nuns who give up all material possession on entering the order Dhamma (dharma a word that means both ultimate reality and the teaching or moral law of the Buddha Dukkha suffering, which, as Buddha says in the First Holy Truth, is the fate of all who live Jataka stories from the Buddha s previous lives Kamma (karma) actions which have good or bad results; which lead to merit or punishment Kandhas (skandhas) the five constituents of personality Karuna the virtue of compassion, the defining virtue of a bodhisattva Moha delusion or ignorance Nibbana (nirvana) enlightenment Prajna wisdom, insight Precepts the five commandments that forbid the taking of life, etc., and to which additional rules are added for monks and nuns Samadhi meditation, transic concentration Samsara the cycle of woe, the world of suffering into which one continues to be reborn Sangha monastic community Sutta books Buddhist scripture, said to contain the teachings of Buddha himself Tanha craving, which is the cause of suffering Tripitika the three baskets of Buddhist scriptures Vinaya books of Buddhist scripture that prescribe rules for members of the monastic order Unit 5 Jainism This unit discusses Jainism as an ethical and religious tradition that was founded in the sixth century BCE by Mahavira. The unit considers the traditional account of Mahavira s life and his
differences with Hinduism. It introduces you to the two main sects into which Jainism divided the tradition s scriptures, and its ethics of non-injury. The unit analyzes this ethics as conduct, principles, and worldview, giving particular attention to the five commandments of the tradition, the principles that underlie these, and the dualistic worldview that grounds the Jain ascetic path. We discuss what the tradition considers virtues and vices and what constitutes its moral community Agamas canon, teaching, the tradition handed down through the Jain scriptures Ahimsa non-injury Ajiva matter Digambaras meaning sky clad, refers to the Jain sect that required monastic nudity Jina conquerer, spiritual leader or enlightened one Jiva soul Mahavira founder of the Jains, his name means Great Hero Shvetambaras white clad, referring to the Jain sect in which monks were allowed to wear a white garment Siddhanta doctrine or teaching, a name used for Jain scriptures Tirthankara one who crosses a river, who finds a path through which to pass beyond rebirth Unit 6 Taoism & Confucianism This unit introduces two great East Asian ethical traditions, Taoism and Confucianism. The two traditions stem from the common ground of Chinese indigenous folk religion. In ancient folk religion, as in the Confucian and Taoist traditions that later developed in China, harmony, as reflected in the balance of the two cosmic forces of yin and yang, is a paramount ethical ideal. This ideal informs all conduct and links to a number of respected virtues. Taoism teaches the need to internalize these virtues, as well as to actualize them in one s actions and through one s relationships. Confucianism seeks harmony not by way of withdrawal from the world, but by living in it, in conformance with the duties that attach to one s role. The unit introduces you to some of the scriptures of the two traditions, where these ethical teachings are set forth. Analects collected sayings of Confucius Ching Classics, books of the Confucian canon Chuang-tzu name of a Taoist, also part of the scriptural canon
Master K ung Confucius ren (jen) the virtue of benevolence or humaneness tao way, also conduct or behavior Tao Te Ching most important collection of the Taoist canon wu-wei effortless action yin-yang opposing cosmic forces that exist in reciprocal balance Unit 7 Shinto This unit discusses Shinto as a syncretistic tradition that has a long prehistory in the folk religions of Japan. There is no single founder of this tradition and no single moment when we can say that the formative tradition took over from folk Shinto. The unit considers the meaning of Shinto and the stages in its early development. The unit introduces the two main sacred books of Shinto, and with particular reference to the creation myth from the Kojiki, it overviews some basic Shinto teachings. The tradition s ethical teachings are discussed on the levels of conduct, principles, and foundation. Shinto virtues and vices are considered, along with the tradition s understanding of moral self and moral community. Izanagi male principle in Shinto creation myth Izanani female principle in Shinto creation myth kami spirits, gods kami-no-michi the way of the kami Kojiki a Shinto sacred text comprised of three books makoto sincerity miko female shaman belonging largely to folk Shinto Nihongi a Shinto sacred text comprising thirty books Shinto the way of the spirits or gods Unit 8 Judaism
This unit discusses Judaism as an ethical tradition that boasts a written record from around 1100 BCE. The unit considers the patriarchs of the tradition along with the prophets, whose collective body of writings constitute a framework for Jewish ethics. This unit also introduces you to ethical monotheism, which determines a unique relationship between God and human beings and stresses the free will of all people to choose or reject God s law. The unit analyzes the ethical teachings of Judaism as conduct, principles, and worldview, the principles that underlie the belief in one God and adherence to His law. We discuss what the tradition considers virtues and vices, as well as what constitutes its moral community. Abraham ancestral father of the monotheistic traditions Anthropocentric placing human beings at the centre of creation Kethuvi im portion of the Bible that focuses on the wisdom writings Moses Jewish patriarch and bearer of the Ten Commandments Nevi im portion of the Bible that focuses on the writings of the prophets Noah ancestral father and maker of the first covenant with God Oral Torah Post-biblical commentaries, including the Mishnah, Midrash, and Talmud Prophets figures who challenged injustice and renewed God s law Torah Also known as the Pentateuch or Five Books of Moses Unit 9 Christianity This unit discusses Christianity as an ethical tradition that can claim a written record starting around the middle of the first century CE. The unit considers the four gospels, Acts, the various Letters, and Revelation, which, in addition to the Old Testament, constitute a framework for Christian ethics. This unit also pays attention to the teachings of Jesus Christ, and the later interpretation of those teachings by the apostle Paul. The unit analyzes the ethical teachings of Christianity as conduct, principles, and worldview, the principles that underlie the belief in Jesus Christ and faith in his divine word. We discuss what the tradition considers virtues and vices and what constitutes its moral community. Apostolic succession the connection that the church leaders claim to the apostles Faith emphasized in Christianity over the letter of the law Gospel literally meaning good news the gospels were first oral and then written accounts of the life and teachings of Jesus Gnostic a sect in early Christianity
Grace God s freely given, unmerited love and forgiveness Letters writings of the apostle Paul and others concern instruction to the various churches in decades following Christ s death Original Sin idea that humans are tainted with the original sin of Adam and Eve Paul famous missionary and composer of numerous Christian Letters Sacraments rites and ceremonies, such as baptism and marriage Second Coming belief that Jesus will return to earth Trinity Christian idea of the unity of God in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit Unit 10 Islam This unit discusses Islam as an ethical tradition that claims an oral and written tradition for over fourteen hundred years. The unit considers the patriarchs of the tradition along with the prophets, and the hadith tradition and its relation to the prophet Muhammad. This unit also discusses the similarities and differences between Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, and attempts to highlight where Islam parts company with its ancient progenitors. This unit analyzes the ethical teachings of Islam as conduct, principles, and worldview, the principles that underpin the belief in Allah and His word. We discuss what the tradition considers virtues and vices and what constitutes its moral community. Fiqh jurisprudence, or the theoretical principle that outlines the laws contained in shari ah Hadith a commentary on the Prophet s sayings or actions Hajj the holy pilgrimage to Mecca, taken at least once in a lifetime if feasible Ijtihad applying one s reason to legal opinions Jihad the Muslim word for struggle or striving (both an inner struggle against temptation and an outward struggle for a Muslim social order) Mecca the most sacred city in Islam, and site of the Kabah and the hajj pilgrimage Salat one of the five pillars of Isalm salat indicates the Muslim obligation to pray five times per day Shahadah The profession of faith that God is the only God and Muhammad is His messenger
Shari ah the divine law as it is interpreted by judges, based on the Qur an and hadith tradition Shi ite the smaller branch of Islam that trace the Prophets succession through the imams in the lineage of Ali, Muhammad s brother-in-law Sunni the larger branch of Islam that trace the Prophet s succession through the caliphate Ummah The Muslim community as a whole