Islam was created in a world of constant turmoil between Bedouin tribes. There was a lack of unity caused by competition for water in the Sahara desert. In addition, there was a pantheon of gods that separate tribes worshipped that increased the divisions in Arabia. Muhammad grew up among the Bedouin and saw the civil unrest created by the separate tribes. He himself was often a moderator of the conflicts and so he most likely was focused and disturbed by the conflicts between clans. Islam provided the perfect solution to the lack of unity in Arabia. It is focused on one central being, Allah, who commands complete submission to him alone so that everyone is small before him. This central being in Islam was something all the tribes could unite under so that no matter their differences, they were all one before Allah. This emphasis on submission can be seen in Muslim prayers where together and five times a day, Muslims pray to their god together. This creates a sense of community and togetherness with something greater than oneself which was something that Arabia desperately needed. In this way, Islam was the perfect solution to Arabia’s conflicts and the many other tribal regions they would later conquer.
In addition, central beliefs in Islam can also trace their roots to the environment in which Islam was created. For example, heaven for Muslims is an oasis with water, flowers, shade and grass while hell is a fiery, dusty inferno. Lastly, the Quaran is at its core, poetry. This can also be traced back to its Bedouin roots since the Bedouins were great poets and storytellers. Islam was therefore greatly influenced by the place it was created in, yet despite this its appeal is universal which has caused it to gain the second most followers in the world.
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Islam RP 1
In today’s society people are often swayed one way or another by the media. It is not uncommon to see breaking news about negative events going on such as deaths and violent attacks over in the Middle East. And as we all know whatever we hear from the news we tend to strongly believe. This being the case, the media can often give us negative connotations. We also see a lot of images of the regulations that some groups have, for example the dress, and common everyday tasks. Being an outsider to the religion and someone who does not know a lot about it, makes it difficult to understand the roots of the religion and how it is not negative at all. In my opinion it has been one of the more inclusive religions that we have studied.
After learning about the roots of the religion and that it stemmed from Muhammad and the 5 Pillars of Faith. Already knowing a little bit about Islam, I knew that it was not negative or violent at all but I was interested to learn about its roots. I went into it with an open mind and came out intrigued at how Islam all came about. Also how the media portrays mainly the negative aspects of the Middle East when in fact there are many positive things going on as well. They look over that fact that that the 5 Pillars of Faith include fascinating aspects of the religion like charity and their pilgrimage that are overlooked. I think that if people were more educated on the fundamental aspects of Islam and understand that the religion was built to encompass a wide range of people they would be less likely to judge based on what they hear and see in the media like I have learned to do.
After learning about the roots of the religion and that it stemmed from Muhammad and the 5 Pillars of Faith. Already knowing a little bit about Islam, I knew that it was not negative or violent at all but I was interested to learn about its roots. I went into it with an open mind and came out intrigued at how Islam all came about. Also how the media portrays mainly the negative aspects of the Middle East when in fact there are many positive things going on as well. They look over that fact that that the 5 Pillars of Faith include fascinating aspects of the religion like charity and their pilgrimage that are overlooked. I think that if people were more educated on the fundamental aspects of Islam and understand that the religion was built to encompass a wide range of people they would be less likely to judge based on what they hear and see in the media like I have learned to do.
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Islam Response Paper
Before beginning this section on Islam I had a brief understanding of the religion but there were still a lot of question marks. I knew that the God they worshiped was the same God as Judaism and Christianity but the major misconception I had was Muhammad’s role in the Religion. I put Muhammad and Jesus on the same plane, figuring that Muhammad was kind of like Islam’s Jesus. I didn’t realize that the two are actually very different.
Not being very religious myself I thought of Christianity and Islam as more or less the same religion with women having less rights in Islam. This is obviously incorrect as there are many differences between the two religions. I thought that Muhammad and Jesus were similar to each other and I thought that the Quran and the bible were also similar. I didn’t realize that the teachings in the Quran are the direct words of Allah and not written down years later like the bible. I am glad that I have been able to clear up some of my misconceptions about women and violence in Islam. Before taking this class I had only really heard of women not being able to drive in Saudi Arabia and the Jihad meaning holy war. I didn’t realize that women were actually fairly important in the early days of Islam or that Jihad does not translate literally to holy war and that Muhammad actually encouraged peace. I am glad that I have been able to clear up these misconceptions that I had about Islam and become more educated on the subject.
Not being very religious myself I thought of Christianity and Islam as more or less the same religion with women having less rights in Islam. This is obviously incorrect as there are many differences between the two religions. I thought that Muhammad and Jesus were similar to each other and I thought that the Quran and the bible were also similar. I didn’t realize that the teachings in the Quran are the direct words of Allah and not written down years later like the bible. I am glad that I have been able to clear up some of my misconceptions about women and violence in Islam. Before taking this class I had only really heard of women not being able to drive in Saudi Arabia and the Jihad meaning holy war. I didn’t realize that women were actually fairly important in the early days of Islam or that Jihad does not translate literally to holy war and that Muhammad actually encouraged peace. I am glad that I have been able to clear up these misconceptions that I had about Islam and become more educated on the subject.
Islam RP1
At times animistic aspects of Islam are often overlooked by Muslims who believe that any sort of ‘coincidences’ were developed only long after Mohammad’s death. Animism is the religious or spiritual idea that souls or spirits exist in both animate and inanimate entities of the natural environment such as plants, rocks or rivers. So, how can a religion that emphasizes on God’s oneness and strictly forbids any hint of shirq have animism in its roots? This misconception is most likely due to the emphasis given to Islam as a monotheistic belief and flaws in the Islamic education system.
If placed on a religious spectrum, theologically Islam is often portrayed as a religion that would be on the far end of the monotheistic side. From the very verse that if recited can make you a Muslim to the adhaan that is repeated five times a day before every prayer, “Lā ilāha illallāh” (There is no deity except God) is continuously repeated. With such repetition of God’s oneness, the idea of the Kaaba being close to a well named Zamzam is almost never viewed as animistic by Muslims. It is clear, however, why a place close to a well in a desert can be viewed as sacred.
Why that is overlooked might also be due to the Islamic education system or a lack thereof. Although most Muslim children are taught to read the Qur’an, not many of them understand all of it. Informal classes and stories read to Muslim children mostly deal with prophets and their companions. Even the one place where in depth Islamic education might be offered in the Muslim world—the madrassa—has now a bad reputation.
Hence, Islam is only rarely taught objectively in the Muslim world which contributes to the misconception that its roots have nothing to do with animism.
Yet Muslims circumnambulate the Kaaba in hajj and umrah, believe in jinhs and how the hajr-e-aswad will free them of their sins. Regardless of being animistic, Islam, like any other religion, needs to be taught and studied objectively by both Muslims and Non-Muslims.
If placed on a religious spectrum, theologically Islam is often portrayed as a religion that would be on the far end of the monotheistic side. From the very verse that if recited can make you a Muslim to the adhaan that is repeated five times a day before every prayer, “Lā ilāha illallāh” (There is no deity except God) is continuously repeated. With such repetition of God’s oneness, the idea of the Kaaba being close to a well named Zamzam is almost never viewed as animistic by Muslims. It is clear, however, why a place close to a well in a desert can be viewed as sacred.
Why that is overlooked might also be due to the Islamic education system or a lack thereof. Although most Muslim children are taught to read the Qur’an, not many of them understand all of it. Informal classes and stories read to Muslim children mostly deal with prophets and their companions. Even the one place where in depth Islamic education might be offered in the Muslim world—the madrassa—has now a bad reputation.
Hence, Islam is only rarely taught objectively in the Muslim world which contributes to the misconception that its roots have nothing to do with animism.
Yet Muslims circumnambulate the Kaaba in hajj and umrah, believe in jinhs and how the hajr-e-aswad will free them of their sins. Regardless of being animistic, Islam, like any other religion, needs to be taught and studied objectively by both Muslims and Non-Muslims.
Islam RP 1 (Q1)
Before I studied Islam I was not very aware of the religion, and what it was like to be a Muslim. I would say that the biggest misconception I had about Islam is that I though it was a strict and demanding religion that was specific to the Middle East and I would not be able to fully understand the religion. These false pretences about Islam came mainly from images I saw of Muslims. For example, picture of thousands of Muslims with their covered heads to the ground, praying towards the Ka’ba lead me to believe that this religion must be a very thorough one because of the fact that all these people have to get together to pray like that throughout the day, a strict one because of their dress and because of how serious every seemed to take their praying, it seemed so foreign because of the language and dress. This image, along with the knowledge that the Qur’an is not translated, leads me to believe that Islam is a very culturally different and intense religion.
Learning about Islam has opened my eyes to see how unaware I was of the beliefs of such a universal religion. Islam is a young, major world religion; this may be credited to its wide appeal. I have now learned that in the Islamic belief, “All people were created by God and all are accepted as Muslims.”(Hopfe 336) There is no discrimination by race or nation in Islam, and the main belief in Islam is a very universally understood concept “There is no God but God”. Though it may seem from an outsider’s view that Islam is a very extreme religion, in fact the “Five Pillars of Islam” are all that is needed to be a good Muslim. Profession of faith, daily prayer, pilgrimage to Mecca, fasting during the month of Ramadan, and charity are all the commitments needed to making one a Muslim. This religion does not require group worship; the main focus in Islam is just belief. The profession of faith is simply to say, and believe, “There is no God but God and Muhammad is his prophet”. Through my studies of Islam, learning about the Five Pillars and the profession of faith, I have learned that the basic belief system behind the religion is very straight forward and the demands to be considered a good practicing Muslim are not extremely extensive, it and focuses mainly on the belief in God.
Learning about Islam has opened my eyes to see how unaware I was of the beliefs of such a universal religion. Islam is a young, major world religion; this may be credited to its wide appeal. I have now learned that in the Islamic belief, “All people were created by God and all are accepted as Muslims.”(Hopfe 336) There is no discrimination by race or nation in Islam, and the main belief in Islam is a very universally understood concept “There is no God but God”. Though it may seem from an outsider’s view that Islam is a very extreme religion, in fact the “Five Pillars of Islam” are all that is needed to be a good Muslim. Profession of faith, daily prayer, pilgrimage to Mecca, fasting during the month of Ramadan, and charity are all the commitments needed to making one a Muslim. This religion does not require group worship; the main focus in Islam is just belief. The profession of faith is simply to say, and believe, “There is no God but God and Muhammad is his prophet”. Through my studies of Islam, learning about the Five Pillars and the profession of faith, I have learned that the basic belief system behind the religion is very straight forward and the demands to be considered a good practicing Muslim are not extremely extensive, it and focuses mainly on the belief in God.
Islam Response Paper (Opt. 3)
Between Muhammad and Jesus, as founders of two major world religions, there are many similarities. Both were prophets, said to have brought the word of God to their people. Their preaching was a response to existing religion and society, and the problems they saw within each. In promoting societal change, both figures had their primary support from the lower class, although the message each brought was appealing to all or Christianity and Islam would not be world religions today. Part of what made each of their messages so appealing was that both men came from the lower, working class themselves. There is enough historical evidence to say that both men did indeed exist, and they even came from the same part of the world, separated by several hundred years.
At the time of their deaths, each one left behind some problems for their followers. As a new religion, Muhammad left his followers without clear leadership and Jesus left his followers struggling to make sense of his death and how to live in the spirit of his preaching.
The biggest discrepancy between these two figures in how their followers viewed them, as one was believed to be divine while the other insisted upon his humanity. Jesus is thought to be the son of God, both fully divine and fully human. He rejected his Earthly family and did not have one of his own. Muhammad, however, claimed his role was merely to be the mouthpiece for God and nothing more. He had a family of his own, marrying multiple times and having several children. Muhammad lived a much longer life than Jesus, and this may have contributed much to this discrepancy as he actually had time after he began preaching to enjoy the earthly realm.
At the time of their deaths, each one left behind some problems for their followers. As a new religion, Muhammad left his followers without clear leadership and Jesus left his followers struggling to make sense of his death and how to live in the spirit of his preaching.
The biggest discrepancy between these two figures in how their followers viewed them, as one was believed to be divine while the other insisted upon his humanity. Jesus is thought to be the son of God, both fully divine and fully human. He rejected his Earthly family and did not have one of his own. Muhammad, however, claimed his role was merely to be the mouthpiece for God and nothing more. He had a family of his own, marrying multiple times and having several children. Muhammad lived a much longer life than Jesus, and this may have contributed much to this discrepancy as he actually had time after he began preaching to enjoy the earthly realm.
Muhammad vs. Jesus
Muhammad and Jesus are both major figures in the religion they belong to. Their prophecy not only include similar concept- God and morals, they also underwent some struggles throughout their life devoting to spreading God’s words. While they were similar, they processed different experience and believe in God in different ways. Jesus’ life had been a miracle since he was born because his mother was a virgin. He started missionary at young age and performed many miracles throughout his life. Muhammad was different because he had always been a common man who was given mission to recite Allah’s words. Jesus was considered son of God and savior of all human beings who are sinful; Muhammad was thought to be the final prophet of God. As stated in the Profession of Faith in the Five Pillars, “there is no God but God, and Muhammad is the prophet.” People did not worship Muhammad but admired him, since he had undergone some dreadful experience to be able to recite God’s words directly. Both Muhammad’s and Jesus’ words were recorded and collected into books. Muhammad’s words were recorded at the time and it later became Qur’an. In contrast, Jesus’ words were recorded a lot after Jesus’ death by the four Gospels and collected into Bible. Although Islam and Christianity are fundamentally derived from the same origin and they both pray to the same God, the differences in between Muhammad and Jesus have had great influence on the development of the two religions.
Islam RP 1- prompt #3
Muhammad and Jesus are central figures in Islam and Christianity respectively. Both men were successful religious reformers who sought to spread their news of God/Allah to the people. Early on, Muhammad and Jesus acquired the same type of follower—young and poor or working class. However, these early circumstances did not stop Islam and Christianity from becoming the two most widely practiced religions in the world.
The fundamental difference between Jesus and Muhammad is that, while Jesus is considered by Christians to be both human and divine, Muslims regard Muhammad as a strictly human prophet. Christians believe that Jesus of Nazareth, a Jewish revolutionary, is the Messiah. Jesus is part of the Trinity which includes God the Father, Son (Jesus), and the Holy Spirit. The Trinity has historically raised issues about Christian monotheism. The Council of Nicaea (325 AD) met in part for the purpose of clarifying the relationship between God the Father and Jesus and ultimately declared that Jesus was of the same divine essence of the God the Father and was God’s son, not His creation. However, one could make a valid case today, even after the above assertion by the Nicene Creed, the Christianity is not an absolutely monotheistic religion. Islam, on the other hand, demands strict monotheism. Muslims respect Muhammad and believe him to be the outlet through which God revealed his final message to humanity. Muhammad is not divine, but rather “a stenographer or loudspeaker for Allah” (Hopfe, 326). Everyday, the followers of Islam recite the phrase, “There is no God but God; Muhammad is the messenger of God.” In contrast to Christianity, Islam is unequivocally monotheistic. The Qur’an depicts Allah as “the one sovereign God over the entire universe” (Hopfe, 327). Another significant difference between Jesus and Muhammad is that Muhammad led his followers militarily in his efforts to conquer Mecca, whereas Jesus never took on the role of military leader. Jesus did however sacrifice himself for his followers with the promise that he would one day return to earth. Perhaps the Christian notion of Jesus as a divine figure prevents Jesus from taking on what can be argued as an earthly or overly-violent role and allows instead for his promise to return.
It is important to consider Muhammad and Jesus as historical figures within the context of their respective time periods. Jesus was born around 6/7 CE and executed sometime around 36 CE and Muhammad lived from 570-632. The huge advances in technology between 6 CE and 632 allowed for thorough documentation of the life of Muhammad whereas record of Jesus’ life is less reliable having been compiled from a huge number of sources after a significant amount of time following his death.
The fundamental difference between Jesus and Muhammad is that, while Jesus is considered by Christians to be both human and divine, Muslims regard Muhammad as a strictly human prophet. Christians believe that Jesus of Nazareth, a Jewish revolutionary, is the Messiah. Jesus is part of the Trinity which includes God the Father, Son (Jesus), and the Holy Spirit. The Trinity has historically raised issues about Christian monotheism. The Council of Nicaea (325 AD) met in part for the purpose of clarifying the relationship between God the Father and Jesus and ultimately declared that Jesus was of the same divine essence of the God the Father and was God’s son, not His creation. However, one could make a valid case today, even after the above assertion by the Nicene Creed, the Christianity is not an absolutely monotheistic religion. Islam, on the other hand, demands strict monotheism. Muslims respect Muhammad and believe him to be the outlet through which God revealed his final message to humanity. Muhammad is not divine, but rather “a stenographer or loudspeaker for Allah” (Hopfe, 326). Everyday, the followers of Islam recite the phrase, “There is no God but God; Muhammad is the messenger of God.” In contrast to Christianity, Islam is unequivocally monotheistic. The Qur’an depicts Allah as “the one sovereign God over the entire universe” (Hopfe, 327). Another significant difference between Jesus and Muhammad is that Muhammad led his followers militarily in his efforts to conquer Mecca, whereas Jesus never took on the role of military leader. Jesus did however sacrifice himself for his followers with the promise that he would one day return to earth. Perhaps the Christian notion of Jesus as a divine figure prevents Jesus from taking on what can be argued as an earthly or overly-violent role and allows instead for his promise to return.
It is important to consider Muhammad and Jesus as historical figures within the context of their respective time periods. Jesus was born around 6/7 CE and executed sometime around 36 CE and Muhammad lived from 570-632. The huge advances in technology between 6 CE and 632 allowed for thorough documentation of the life of Muhammad whereas record of Jesus’ life is less reliable having been compiled from a huge number of sources after a significant amount of time following his death.
Islam RP1
Before learning about the origins of Islam I didn’t realize how connected it was to Judaism and Christianity. I understood that it was a monotheistic religion and a few other facts about it, but other than that, that was all I really knew. There are two main components that contributed to my lack of knowledge.
Although I’d like to think of myself as a person who knows a diverse group of people, there was a lack of Islam in my life. I don’t know very many Muslims, and I don’t really compare and contrast the origins of Christianity and Islam with the ones that I do know. Not to say that I compare the origins of Christianity and Judaism with my Jewish friends, but I hear the phrase, “Jesus was Jewish,” all the time. I’ve never heard anyone say, “Muhammad was Christian,” or, “Muhammad was Jewish.” Because Islam wasn’t really a regular topic of discussion in my life I just didn’t know about it as much.
The attacks on 9/11 contributed to my ignorance as well. I did not hate Muslims after the attacks or anything drastic, but the government and the media were constantly talking about Islam. They presented the terrorists and Islam in such a way that they became very distant from Christianity and Judaism.
Because of current events (and life in general) I’m glad that I was able to study Islam. After learning so much more about it, it is interesting and easier to see the parallels between the three most popular religions in the world.
Although I’d like to think of myself as a person who knows a diverse group of people, there was a lack of Islam in my life. I don’t know very many Muslims, and I don’t really compare and contrast the origins of Christianity and Islam with the ones that I do know. Not to say that I compare the origins of Christianity and Judaism with my Jewish friends, but I hear the phrase, “Jesus was Jewish,” all the time. I’ve never heard anyone say, “Muhammad was Christian,” or, “Muhammad was Jewish.” Because Islam wasn’t really a regular topic of discussion in my life I just didn’t know about it as much.
The attacks on 9/11 contributed to my ignorance as well. I did not hate Muslims after the attacks or anything drastic, but the government and the media were constantly talking about Islam. They presented the terrorists and Islam in such a way that they became very distant from Christianity and Judaism.
Because of current events (and life in general) I’m glad that I was able to study Islam. After learning so much more about it, it is interesting and easier to see the parallels between the three most popular religions in the world.
Islam Response Paper
The biggest misconception I had about Islam was that I thought it had its roots in Hinduism. I believed that Islam was polytheistic like Hinduism. I had no idea that Islam is very close to Judaism and Christianity. Judaism and Christianity sound much more conservative and reserved, where as the Middle East appears too revolutionary and unrest to practice these religions. I was prejudiced, and it was difficult for me to connect the Middle East with Jesus.
Instead of relating to Judaism or Christianity, I combined Hinduism and Islam together because they exist around the same area, especially in India. India has very big chunk of its land in the middle occupied by many Muslims and the rest by Hindus. Vague geographic distinction between the two religions contributed to this misperception. Also, I knew that Hindus believe in Samsara. To me, the words Samsara and Islam sounded so similar and drew similar pictures in my head. Several absurd remarks like this automatically made me associate Islam and Hinduism; however, since I learned about the beginnings and the progress of Islam, I should correct more misconceptions I have about Islam and even other religions.
Instead of relating to Judaism or Christianity, I combined Hinduism and Islam together because they exist around the same area, especially in India. India has very big chunk of its land in the middle occupied by many Muslims and the rest by Hindus. Vague geographic distinction between the two religions contributed to this misperception. Also, I knew that Hindus believe in Samsara. To me, the words Samsara and Islam sounded so similar and drew similar pictures in my head. Several absurd remarks like this automatically made me associate Islam and Hinduism; however, since I learned about the beginnings and the progress of Islam, I should correct more misconceptions I have about Islam and even other religions.
Islam Response Paper
Muhammad was able to accomplish the impossible by uniting the Arabian Peninsula under his new religion called Islam, but other factors contributed to its success. From a very early age Muhammad lived with his uncle, a leader of the Quraysh tribe which was powerful in the area. This allowed Muhammad to belong and learn from a tribe of come influence in the area.
Muhammad grew up in and around Mecca. Because Mecca was a hotspot for trade in the Arabian Peninsula many different groups of people with different religious traditions including Christians, Jews, and Zoroastrians were around and practicing, so Mecca was a relatively tolerant area. Muhammad was able to use this diversity t build up his new religion. Also in Mecca was the Kaaba, a religious center for tribal religions that housed deities of the local traditions. Muhammad was able to incorporate some of these local traditions, like the black stone in the Kaaba which still has a central role in the hajj. While luck may have played a role in Islam’s rapid spread Muhammad was able to make Islam successful by incorporating pre-Islamic traditions, his charisma and political skills, taking advantage of the accepting climate and the appeal of his teachings.
Muhammad grew up in and around Mecca. Because Mecca was a hotspot for trade in the Arabian Peninsula many different groups of people with different religious traditions including Christians, Jews, and Zoroastrians were around and practicing, so Mecca was a relatively tolerant area. Muhammad was able to use this diversity t build up his new religion. Also in Mecca was the Kaaba, a religious center for tribal religions that housed deities of the local traditions. Muhammad was able to incorporate some of these local traditions, like the black stone in the Kaaba which still has a central role in the hajj. While luck may have played a role in Islam’s rapid spread Muhammad was able to make Islam successful by incorporating pre-Islamic traditions, his charisma and political skills, taking advantage of the accepting climate and the appeal of his teachings.
Monday, April 27, 2009
Islam RP 1
My biggest misconception about Islam was the concept of jihad. The American media has construed it in a way that is confusing and misleading. When 9/11 happened the media blamed Osama bin Laden and his quest for a jihad. The way the media portrayed jihad in general and hostel way caused the public to think that many Muslims were working for the same jihad as Osama bin Laden. In the following years there was a significant amount of discrimination against Muslims. The media then proceeded to portray many of the suicide bombings at the same attempt at a jihad. The media portrayed it as one continuous war. The media failed to talk about the actual jihad, and how it can mean a conflict but usually is not. The media also emphasized the idea that if a Muslim fought in a jihad that they would go to heaven, and used that to explain the reasoning of the 9/11 terrorists.
The way the idea of jihad was presented to me confused me more than anything else. I knew it was not the way the media portrayed it, but until this course I had left it as an ambiguous concept in Islam. It is interesting that some Muslim scholars say jihad is only a defensive war. The way the Muslim scholars teach is completely opposite of how the American public views jihad. The most interesting thing about jihad is that it does not necessarily mean a war. It can be any struggle either physical or emotional. The American media manipulates jihad to mean what they want it to, much like Osama bin Laden did. Jihad has become a tool to Muslim leaders and reporters alike to help them explain or justify an event.
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Islam Reponse Paper
Respond in a 2-3 paragraph essay to one of the following prompts:
1. Knowing what you know now about the origins and fundamentals of Islam, what was the biggest misconception you had about Islam before you studied it and what do you think contributed to that misperception?
2.Discuss how 'the power of place' contributed to the development of Islam. In other words, how did the location, environment, and pre-Islamic traditions of the Arabian peninsula influence Muhammad's ideas?
3. Compare and contrast Muhammad and Jesus, being sure to stick closely to their historical roles and identities.
Please label your posts "Islam RP 1"
1. Knowing what you know now about the origins and fundamentals of Islam, what was the biggest misconception you had about Islam before you studied it and what do you think contributed to that misperception?
2.Discuss how 'the power of place' contributed to the development of Islam. In other words, how did the location, environment, and pre-Islamic traditions of the Arabian peninsula influence Muhammad's ideas?
3. Compare and contrast Muhammad and Jesus, being sure to stick closely to their historical roles and identities.
Please label your posts "Islam RP 1"
Friday, April 17, 2009
Monday, April 13, 2009
Saturday, April 11, 2009
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Christianity Response Paper
The most important factor in the success of early Christianity is the growth of the church in the Roman Empire under Constantine.
Previous to the reign of Constantine, Christians faced 300 years of sporadic persecution in the Roman Empire. Christians were in the minority and their unfamiliar practices led them to be accused of cannibalism and sexual deviance. Further, the refusal by early Christians to conform to the Imperial Cult (which calls for sacrifice to the emperor, and is thereby in direct opposition to the third commandment: “Thou shalt have no other gods before me”) resulted in their being accused of treason and anti-patriotism. Naturally, Christians became the scape goats for problems within the empire. For example, in 64 CE, Nero’s palace burned to the ground and the Christians were targeted as arsonists. Christianity threatened religious and social orders and seemed to contradict the traditional Roman values of strength, pride, and prowess as military leaders.
This persecution of the Christians reached its peak under Diocletian (284-305) but would subside and end officially under the reign of Constantine (312-337), the first Roman emperor to support Christianity. Though Constantine himself was not a Christian for the majority of his life, his wife and mother were, and the two proved to have strong influence over him. In 313 CE, Constantine issued the Edict of Milan, which allowed Christianity the same privileges as other religions, officially ending the persecution of Christians. Constantine followed the Edict of Milan in 325 CE with the Church Council of Nicaea, whose goal it was to reach a consensus as to the three-fold nature of God and thus stop warring between the Christian factions to unite the church. Under the reign of Constantine the Christian church saw tax breaks and support by imperial funds for the building of churches, including the first St. Peter’s basilica.
Several emperors who followed Constantine, such as Julian the Apostate, attempted to reinstate paganism as the foremost religion of the empire but ultimately failed. In 379 CE Theodosius declared Christianity the official religion of the Roman Empire and all other religions were suppressed.
Previous to the reign of Constantine, Christians faced 300 years of sporadic persecution in the Roman Empire. Christians were in the minority and their unfamiliar practices led them to be accused of cannibalism and sexual deviance. Further, the refusal by early Christians to conform to the Imperial Cult (which calls for sacrifice to the emperor, and is thereby in direct opposition to the third commandment: “Thou shalt have no other gods before me”) resulted in their being accused of treason and anti-patriotism. Naturally, Christians became the scape goats for problems within the empire. For example, in 64 CE, Nero’s palace burned to the ground and the Christians were targeted as arsonists. Christianity threatened religious and social orders and seemed to contradict the traditional Roman values of strength, pride, and prowess as military leaders.
This persecution of the Christians reached its peak under Diocletian (284-305) but would subside and end officially under the reign of Constantine (312-337), the first Roman emperor to support Christianity. Though Constantine himself was not a Christian for the majority of his life, his wife and mother were, and the two proved to have strong influence over him. In 313 CE, Constantine issued the Edict of Milan, which allowed Christianity the same privileges as other religions, officially ending the persecution of Christians. Constantine followed the Edict of Milan in 325 CE with the Church Council of Nicaea, whose goal it was to reach a consensus as to the three-fold nature of God and thus stop warring between the Christian factions to unite the church. Under the reign of Constantine the Christian church saw tax breaks and support by imperial funds for the building of churches, including the first St. Peter’s basilica.
Several emperors who followed Constantine, such as Julian the Apostate, attempted to reinstate paganism as the foremost religion of the empire but ultimately failed. In 379 CE Theodosius declared Christianity the official religion of the Roman Empire and all other religions were suppressed.
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