Cheat sheet 2.0

Foundation – sacred text Worship, ritual, community Main beliefs – sum up Leadership, heroes, scholars Ethical beliefs and principles Connection with Human Rights Likely issues to consider Judaism TaNaK. Delivery of decalogue to Moses (3 rd Covenant). Genesis 1;27; Abrahamic covenant. Talmud. Mishnah Yom Kippur (Atonement); Pesach – Passover – importance of memory The Shema (Deuteronomy). Jews are chosen people looking forward to a Messiah and bodily resurrection. Rabbi Hillel – principle of “Do unto Others’ (all the rest is commentary) Rabbi Gamaliel Love of neighbour (Leviticus 19); Tikkun olam – repair the world Welcome to the stranger (Leviticus) Mosaic Law is seen is a gift to humanity and links to human rights. Rene Cassin was on the UDHR drafting team The nation-state; has the Jewish loyalty to the State of Israel compromised more important ethical principles Christianity Jesus Christ – claim to be son of God, 6 BCE – 30 CE. Claim to have risen from the dead. (Incarnation, Resurrection). 4 Gospels. Many letters and accounts of his public life = New Testament. Jesus partly affirms the Abrahamic and Mosaic covenant, but offers a new mission for all the world. Baptism. (John The Baptist), sacraments which point to access of the Holy Spirit (Pentecost as birth of the “Church”). Leaders appointed – for Roman Catholics, the Pope is Peter’s successor. Eucharist – Last Supper. Christmas. Easter triduum. Jesus came to call sinners and to show a path of forgiveness (free grace) rather than obedience to the Law. Therefore, Christianity is for everyone. Some Jewish people see him as the Messiah: the Christ & are first to spread the Good News. Rising from the dead, Jesus points the way to eternal life, with the free gift of love – even and especially for the outsider – being the power to transform the world Jesus appoints 12, and Peter as the “rock.” (Seen by RCs as the first Pope). Women are amongst his 1 st followers and 1 st witnesses to the Resurrection. Mary is the first to say “yes’ to the decisive intervention in the world by God. Saints – eg St Oscar Romero. Popes John 23 and Francis - CSTs Love of neighbour Agape love – love one another as I have loved you. God is love God’s love and grace is prior to any salvation – it is a free gift (Paul) Sermon on the Mount – Beatitudes. Nicene Creed. The CSTs have provided a rich vein of conversion with human rights, eg the notions of human dignity and the Common Good. Charles Malik had the key role in formation of the UDHR, a Lebanese Christian. And Catholic theologian Jacques Maritain also exerted a key influence. Natural Law is also important as it proposes that truths which may be revealed are accessible to and assented to by dint of human reason. Finally, a strong connection between Protestantism and the Enlightenment in developing individual human rights How far does the UDHR impose a Western and individual notion of freedom? Is Christianity – in some sects – continuing to align with cultural imperialism, eg some American Evangelical churches. Islam The revelation (recitation) of the Qu’ran to the Prophet; the Hadith, the Sunnah Ramadan; 5 prayer times - Salat Recitation of the Shahada. Pilgrimage (hajj). 5 plllars of Islam, eg Zakat, sawm, Free will – each person is judged re the after-life. Must submit to the will of Allah. Sharia Law covers a whole way of life ordained and overseen by Allah Shamsia Hassani Malala Yousafzai 5 pillars of faith: belief in Allah, his angels, his books, the last day, destiny (pre- destination) Saving a life Importance of the umma Very strong in defending the right to religious observance against the state. Cairo Declaration for Islamic countries regards why some countries Salafi Islamism – extreme form of Islamism which interprets “jihad” in a defensive way against Western culture and seeks to restore a “pure” religion belonging to the culture of the time of the Prophet

Hinduism Vedas (Four groups of texts) Upanishads (myths and legends) Samskayas – Life rituals Cremation at death – Agni (God of fire) the soul (Atman) is released Brahman (main God) – lots of manifestations of this one God Samsara (cycle of life) Karma Ahimsa – Non-harm Dharma – cosmic law of the universe holding everything in place Varnas – caste system Mohandas Gandhi Karma Dharma Ahimsa  These ultimately lead to moksha (escape from cycle of rebirth) Dharma and karma connect to human rights: cosmic and divine order to everything which is expressed in the UDHR, and persevering others leads to good Karma and some of the rights support other teachings like Ahimsa. There are difficulties with the caste system as the untouchables are not treated with the same human-given rights as people higher up in the cast system due to belief in bad karma. Caste system/untouchables  With regard to beliefs on looking down on those who have been reborn into bad circumstances due to bad karma – violation of UDHR Buddhism Pali Canon + Tripitaka (3 baskets) – collections of sayings and actions of the Buddha Tibetan book of the dead Buddha – high cast person in India but searching for a good way to live life devoid from suffering – achieves enlightenment under the Bodhi tree Meditation: Mantras (Chanting) and Mala (strings of beads for meditation) and self- training  Buddhist temples Mahayana Buddhists – Any ordinary person can reach enlightenment  receive guidance from Bodhisattvas to get there i.e Dalai Lama Theravada Buddhists – The monks/ you must train yourself to reach enlightenment 4 Nobel truths: All life is suffering (dukkha), the cause of suffering is desire, Escape Samsara (cycle of suffering) and reach Nirvana by moving beyond desire 8 fold path: right  thought, action, mind, intention etc Karma 3 Jewels of Buddhism: dharma (the teaching), sangha (community) The five precepts: Do not harm, do not kill Dalai Lama Buddha 8 Fold path Five precepts 3 Jewels of Buddhism Karma Dharma Ahimsa Dharma – teaching of the Buddha – doing right action, including the five precepts, assisting others who are poor and weak. Also principle of building good karma and Ahimsa. Not clear from the religion on why Buddhists come together to care about human rights and social justice.