Tuesday, October 16th, 2018
Introduction to World Religions
-The French Revolution took place in 1791. Haiti (rich in sugar, source of $ for French empire)
was a French colony.
-The French revolution put a lot of importance on liberty
-Slaves in Haiti encouraged to do something by the notion of liberty
-Vodou is the legitimate religion
-Voodoo = name given by the West
-Voodoo = pact with the devil
-Vodou becomes a symbol of resistance in Haiti
-anthropomorphic = having a human form
-When a spirit borrows someone’s body, it only does it for a short period of time
-Friendly possessions
-Not everyone can offer their body because preparation is needed
-Only people who offer become possessed (spirit will not go in a body that is not willing)
-Legba is the guardian of the crossroads
-Eshu is the deity of Yeruba
-Erzulie Dantor is seen as a mother (lion protecting her cubs)
-Erzulie Freda helps in love and babies
, Thursday, October 18th, 2018
Introduction to World Religions
-The Arabian Peninsula is the birthplace of Islam
-Allah = God
-Arabs believe that they are descendants of Ishmael (the son of Abraham)
-Ibrahim = Abraham
-Mecca = birthplace of Muhammad, the prophet
Arabian Peninsula until 6th century
-One linguistic group which was the Arabs
-Numerous tribes
-Tribes did not always get along
-Each tribe had their own god (s)
Qaba (black cube)
-The altar to God
-Black stone in one of the walls
-At one point during history, the people of Mecca had to renovate the Qaba. When it came to
placing the black stone, there was conflict because the leader of each tribe wanted to do this
important task. Luckily, Muhammad was there to find a solution. He took a carpet and put the
black stone in the middle of it. Afterwards, he told each leader to hold the carpet by one end.
Muhammad
-Revelations started at the age of 40
-Jabal al Noor is the mountain where he received his first revelation
-Quran is the religious text, believed to be the actual word of God (revealed by the angel Jibrail
to the prophet)
Aspects of Muhammad’s message that people did not approve of
1. One God (It sounded like the prophet’s God was better and the non believers did not like
that)
2. After life with judgement
● Paradise and hell
● You are accountable for your actions
3. Effect on economic welfare
4. Social justice
● You have to take care of everyone, no selfishness
-The migration to Medina is the year 0 of the Islamic calendar
-Medina became known as the city of the prophet
-With Islam, a community united by common beliefs emerged
Introduction to World Religions
-The French Revolution took place in 1791. Haiti (rich in sugar, source of $ for French empire)
was a French colony.
-The French revolution put a lot of importance on liberty
-Slaves in Haiti encouraged to do something by the notion of liberty
-Vodou is the legitimate religion
-Voodoo = name given by the West
-Voodoo = pact with the devil
-Vodou becomes a symbol of resistance in Haiti
-anthropomorphic = having a human form
-When a spirit borrows someone’s body, it only does it for a short period of time
-Friendly possessions
-Not everyone can offer their body because preparation is needed
-Only people who offer become possessed (spirit will not go in a body that is not willing)
-Legba is the guardian of the crossroads
-Eshu is the deity of Yeruba
-Erzulie Dantor is seen as a mother (lion protecting her cubs)
-Erzulie Freda helps in love and babies
, Thursday, October 18th, 2018
Introduction to World Religions
-The Arabian Peninsula is the birthplace of Islam
-Allah = God
-Arabs believe that they are descendants of Ishmael (the son of Abraham)
-Ibrahim = Abraham
-Mecca = birthplace of Muhammad, the prophet
Arabian Peninsula until 6th century
-One linguistic group which was the Arabs
-Numerous tribes
-Tribes did not always get along
-Each tribe had their own god (s)
Qaba (black cube)
-The altar to God
-Black stone in one of the walls
-At one point during history, the people of Mecca had to renovate the Qaba. When it came to
placing the black stone, there was conflict because the leader of each tribe wanted to do this
important task. Luckily, Muhammad was there to find a solution. He took a carpet and put the
black stone in the middle of it. Afterwards, he told each leader to hold the carpet by one end.
Muhammad
-Revelations started at the age of 40
-Jabal al Noor is the mountain where he received his first revelation
-Quran is the religious text, believed to be the actual word of God (revealed by the angel Jibrail
to the prophet)
Aspects of Muhammad’s message that people did not approve of
1. One God (It sounded like the prophet’s God was better and the non believers did not like
that)
2. After life with judgement
● Paradise and hell
● You are accountable for your actions
3. Effect on economic welfare
4. Social justice
● You have to take care of everyone, no selfishness
-The migration to Medina is the year 0 of the Islamic calendar
-Medina became known as the city of the prophet
-With Islam, a community united by common beliefs emerged
