Religion and Secularism in Quebec and Hinduism: A Study, Study notes of World Religions

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Religion 1 : Methodological Agnosticism - Uncertainty with god, whether there is god or there isn't Theology the study of the nature of God and religious belief. - Assumes one religion (or religious worldview) is correct - Usually only studied by religious “insiders” - Takes a religion on its own terms Study of Religion - Not concerned with “correctness” of religious claims - Can be studied by both “insiders” and “outsiders” - Takes a religion on terms - defined by academic disciplines (sociology, psychology, etc.) Religion as “internal”: - Personal, mental, psychological, etc. “Invisible Hand of the Free Market” - Creates laws that we must follow, punishes those that do not - Powerful entity that governs everyone’s life - Has worshippers and priests of its own - Unquestionable/infallible Pastafarianism - it doesn't solicit funds from its followers, having no hierarchy and no physical places of worship to maintain Satirical religion - A satirical religion is a type of religion that uses humor and satire to comment on and critique traditional religious beliefs and practices. Satirical religions often use absurd or exaggerated beliefs and practices to highlight the irrationality or hypocrisy of established religions. - Most adherents are atheists Obi Canuel’s case - Real religion must be “sincere” - Real religion must be “consistent” Secularism in Quebec before the quiet revolution (before 1960) - Roman Catholic Church responsible for Francophone education, medicine, and social services •High drop-out rates •Roman Catholic Church permeated social life, received preferential treatment •After WWII, anti-Catholic sentiments grew •Communists and Jehovah’s Witnesses Before the Quiet Revolution in Quebec (before 1960), secularism was not as prevalent as it is today. In fact, the Catholic Church had a significant influence on Quebec society and politics, and many aspects of daily life were intertwined with the Church. WHAT COUNTS AS A “RELIGIOUS” SYMBOL? - Before the Quiet Revolution in Quebec (before 1960), secularism was not as prevalent as it is today. In fact, the Catholic Church had a significant influence on Quebec society and politics, and many aspects of daily life were intertwined with the Church. SECULARISM IN QUEBEC THE QUIET REVOLUTION (1960-1970) - Roman Catholic Church responsible for Francophone education, medicine, and social services •High drop-out rates •Roman Catholic Church permeated social life, received preferential treatment •After WWII, anti-Catholic sentiments grew •Communists and Jehovah’s Witnesses Reasonable accommodations - Equality Rights - Equality before and under law and equal protection and benefit of law 15. (1) Every individual is equal before and under the law and has the right to the equal protection and equal benefit of the law without discrimination and, in particular, without discrimination based on race, national or ethnic origin, color,religion sex, age or mental or physical disability. Affirmative action programs - (2) Subsection (1) does not preclude any law, program or activity that has as its object the amelioration of conditions of disadvantaged individuals or groups including those that are disadvantaged because of race, national or ethnic origin, color,religion, sex, age or mental or physical disability. Indigenous Religion Hinduism - No founder figure - Beliefs and practice formed over time - Indus Valley Civilization( 2300-1500) - Indo European settlers enter Indus valley(1500 BCE) Vedic Period Vedic Period (1500-500 BCE) •Written Sanskrit texts (that we understand!) •The four Vedas composed (1500-1000 BCE) Rigveda,Yajurveda, Samaveda, Atharvaveda •Brahmanas composed (800-600 BCE) •Aranyakas composed (600 BCE) •Upanishads composed (700-500 BCE) Pre-Hindu Brahmanism •Polytheistic religion (mostly male deities) •Brahmin priests •Rituals did not require temples •Individual access to the gods Early ascetic reforms within Hinduism •Mahavira (549-477 BCE) - Gautama/Buddha (563-483 BCE) - Decline of Brahmanism - Vedic Sanskrit becomes a ritual language - •Competing religions in India - •Urbanization Emergence of Classical Hinduism (500 BCE-300 CE) •Influence of ascetic reform movements - Classical Sanskrit - Emergence of “orthodox” Hinduism, with clear parameters - Centrality of the Vedas established Golden Age (300-700 CE) •Construction of temples to Hindu Gods - Prominence of Brahmins •Increase in Literacy •Effort to Bring Hinduism to Rural Illiterate Indians •Emergence of Classical Hindu philosophical school Post-Classical Period (700-1200 CE) Cultural Fragmentation - Cultural fragmentation refers to the process of a society or a community becoming more divided or fragmented along cultural lines. Medieval Period (1200-1500 CE) The Medieval Period, also known as the Middle Ages, refers to a period of European history that lasted from the 5th century to the 15th century Reunification Reunification refers to the process of bringing together two or more entities that were previously separated or divided. - Conflict with Muslims - History of Hinduism - Colonial Period Christian Inquisition (1560-1774) The Christian Inquisition was a series of judicial institutions that were created by the Roman Catholic Church Portuguese Empire (1505-1961) The Portuguese Empire was a global empire that existed from the early 15th century to the mid- 20th century. It was one of the first global empires in history and had a significant impact on the world through its exploration, colonization, and trade British Empire (1612-1947) East India Company (until 1858) The East India Company was an English, and later British, joint-stock company founded in 1600 and dissolved in 1874 British Raj (1858-1947) was the rule of the British Crown on the Indian subcontinent French Empire (1674-1954) The First French Empire, officially the First French Republic, then the French Empire after 1809, also known as Napoleonic France, was the empire ruled by Napoleon Bonaparte, who established French hegemony over much of continental Europe at the beginning of the 19th century - Denmark-Norway (1620-1868) - “Hinduism” first used (1829) - Orientalist interest in Hindu mysticism Indian Independence Movement (1850-1960) - series of historic events with the ultimate aim of ending British rule in India. Indian Mutiny of 1857 The Indian Mutiny of 1857, also known as the Sepoy Mutiny, was a major uprising against British rule in India. It began in Meerut on May 10, 1857, when a group of sepoys (Indian soldiers serving in the British army) refused to use the new rifle cartridges that were rumored to be greased with cow and pig fat, which would have been against their religious beliefs. - British Indian Army in WW1 - Gandhi - Partitioning of Indian provinces - into India and Pakistan (1947) Influence of Hinduism on New Religious Movements Hinduism, as one of the world's oldest religions, has had a significant influence on new religious movements that emerged in the 19th and 20th centuries. Many of these new religious movements borrowed from Hinduism, either by incorporating Hindu practices and beliefs or by adapting Hindu concepts to their own teachings. •Hindu Nationalism (Hindutva) Postcolonial theory Postcolonial theory is an academic discipline that emerged in the late 20th century, primarily in response to the colonial legacy of European imperialism. It is a multidisciplinary field that seeks •Four Goals •Artha (worldly success) •Kama (pleasure) •Dharma (morality) • Moksha Vedas (“Knowledge”) • Oldest Hindu texts • Sanskrit • Authoritative to nearly all Hindus • Four Vedas • Rigveda • Yajurveda • Samaveda • Atharvaveda Rig Veda: Hymn to Agni (Fire) I call upon Agni, the one placed in front, the divine priest of the sacrifice, the invoker, the best bestower of gifts. Agni is worthy of being called upon by seers past and present: may he bring the gods here! Through Agni may one obtain wealth and prosperity day by day, splendid and abounding in heroic sons. O Agni, the sacrifice and work of the sacrifice, which you encompass on all sides--that alone goes to the gods. May Agni, the invoker who has the powers of a sage, true and most brilliant in glory, come here, a god with the gods! Whatsoever favor you wish to do for a worshipper, Agni, that favor of yours surely comes true, O Angiras [member of a priestly family].O Agni, you who gleam in the darkness, to you we come day by day, with devotion and bearing homage; to you, ruler of the sacrifices, keeper of the Rta [cosmic law], brightly shining, growing in your abode. So, be of easy access to us, Agni, as a father to his son. Abide with us for our well-being. Agni Upanishads Philosophical teachings of Hinduism Sanskrit - Over 100 Upanishads are known; 13 of significant importance Upanishads: Teachings “The doer of good becomes good; the doer of evil becomes evil. As in one's' desire, such is one’s resolve; As is the resolve, such is the action, which one attains for oneself.” “From the unreal lead me to the real! From darkness leads me to light! From death led me to immortality!” Upanishads: Teachings The description of Brahman: “Not this, not this”; for there is no other and more appropriate description than this "Not this." Now the designation of Brahman: “The Truth of truth.” The vital breath is truth and It (Brahman) is the Truth of that. Bhagavad Gita (“The Song of God”) •Sanskrit •Dialogue between Krishna and Arjun •Takes place about 3000 BCE - Kurukshetra War Bhagavad Gita excerpts • Wise Karma-yogis, possessed with mental poise by renouncing the attachment to the fruits of work, are indeed freed from the bondage of rebirth and attain the blissful divine state. • The desire for sensual pleasures fades away if one abstains from sense enjoyment, but the craving (for sense enjoyment) remains. The craving also disappears from the one who has seen (or known) the Supreme. • Those who are devoid of attachment, whose mind is fixed in knowledge, who do work as Servants to the Lord, all Karma of such liberated persons dissolve away. Bhagavad Gita excerpts Afterlife • Just as the Atman acquires a childhood body, a youth body, and an old age body during this life, similarly Atman acquires another body after death. The wise are not deluded by this. • The one who thinks that Atman is a slayer, and the one who thinks that Atman is slain, both are ignorant, because Atman neither slays nor is slain. • The Atman is neither born nor does it die at any time, nor having been it will cease to exist again. It is unborn, eternal, permanent, and primeval. The Atman is not destroyed when the body is destroyed. Bhagavad Gita excerpts Path to God •If you are unable to work for Me then just surrender unto My will with subdued mind, and renounce (the attachment to, and the anxiety for) the fruits of all work (by learning to accept all results, as God-given, with equanimity). • Knowledge is better than mere ritualistic practice, meditation is better than mere knowledge, renunciation of the fruit of work is better than meditation, peace immediately follows the renunciation of (the attachment to) the fruit of work. Agamas • Vegetarianism • Fasting Social Class (Varna) • Brahmin (priestly class) • Vaishyas (farmers, merchants, traders, and craftsmen) • Kshatriyas (rulers and warriors) • Shudras (labourers) • Dalit (butchers, beggars) Hindu Leadership • Priests (Brahmin class) • Guru (teacher) • Rishi (sage) • Atikranta-bhavaniya (yoga) Buddhism Siddhartha Gautama (Buddha) - Born in the Kingdom of Kosala (Nepal) -Advised the King of Magadha (eastern India) - 6th century BCE Birth Maturity Renunciation Search Awakening and liberation Teaching Death HISTORY OF BUDDHISM AFTER BUDDHA’S DEATH First Buddhist Council (c. 400 BCE) Methodological agnoticsm - uncertainity with god, whether or not there is god 1. Revolution - catholic church, 2. Incientto revolution- alchol revolution, communists, jehovah witnesses bar offered bail 3. 1960 began ended 1970choir revolution 4. Ban mississauga haudineshone , ones were present in toronto 5. Metis are indigenous they were not in toronto, exist because of settler 6. Who was not ther ein settler metis 7. When was last residential 1996 8. Sanskrit -hindy texts 9. Bhavad gita arjuna krishna 10. Noble truths of bduhims suffering, desire , attachment, sensationof suffring 8 11. Sikhism how many gurus 11 12. Kesh, kurpads dagger,kanga comb hair, kara bracelet, kachera undergarment 5 Ks relate to body Taoism 3 pure- J pure,grand pure - Bible - whow as first jewish- abraham - Mergence of jewish denominations synagogues orthodox differences between reformed jeweish- orthodox- coninue to pray for a third temple Still in hebrew use of local languages gender equality , women can be rabbis Refirned jyeudism - european jewish, regular laws of germany When did jesus die -30 AD Ramdan - quran revealed 5 pillars Sunni New movemnts 1918 Athism - someone doesn't follow god but some gods, not participating in traditional gods Access to gods Unmediated access to divine Islam -sufism Mysticism - access to divine- prophet muhammad angels Syncretism Islam • Judaism – pertains to the religion of Jewish people • Jewishness – pertains to ethnicity or culture of Jewish people •Denomination and Sect Patriarchs Abraham (20 t hcentury BCE) •Isaac •Jacob/Israel (Jews and Christians) •Ishmael (Muslims) •Moses (16 th century BCE) •Exodus from Egypt •Ten Commandments •Law of Israel •Land of Canaan Kingdoms of Israel and Judah •United Monarchy (1000 BCE) •King Saul •King David •King Solomon