RS Notes May 2016

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Christianity

At the time of Jesus

What did the Jews expect the Messiah to

be?

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He would

be a military leader to defeat all the enemies of the Israelites.

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He would

be a King of Israel, like the brave kings they had known in the past.

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He would

bring peace and harmony to all the earth.

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He would

inspire people to behave according to the Jewish laws and way of life.

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He would

be the Son of God, the ‘anointed one’.

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He would

restore the Temple in Jerusalem.

The Romans allowed the

Jews to practise their own religion and so the Jews had their own religious

authorities based in Jerusalem.

Their main council was called the Sanhedrin.

They decided religious matters and acted as a law court. They could punish

people but they could not kill as a punishment.

Groups

in the Sanhedrin

Sadducee-

This group believed the Torah should not be interpreted. They were a small, powerful and influential

group. Many of the Sadducees held powerful positions in the Sanhedrin. They

were friendly towards the Romans in order to keep their position, and so were

mistrusted by other Jews.

Pharisee-

This group were the strictest followers of the lawThey were the strictest in keepingthe Law. They

not only tried tokeep every part of the Torah, they

studied it and added new interpretations. They usually tooka leading part in

running the synagogues.

Scribe-This group were called the doctors of the lawThe Scribes became

teachers of

Judaism and interpreted the Law for people. Many of the Scribes were Pharisees.

Essenes- This group lived out in the desert and wrote the Dead Sea scrolls.

They believed they were only God’s true people so were not allowed in the

Sanhedrin.

Zealot- This group wanted a military leader for the messiah. They were seen

as terrorists by the Romans so were not allowed into the Sanhedrin.

Rabbi- Jewish teacher

Torah- The Holy Scrolls containing the

books of Moses

Sanhedrin- The main Jewish Council

Roman Governor- At the time of Jesus death

this was Pontius Pilot

Palestine- The Roman name for the country

where Jesus lived

Herod- The King at the time of Jesus’ birth

Parable-

A parable is a story

from the Bible with a meaning.

The main meaning of the story of the Lost Son

is forgiveness.

A man has two sons.

The youngest son comes and asks for his share of the inheritance. He goes to a

foreign country and squanders it all on fast living. He ends up with nothing

and has to work as a swineherd. This was the lowest job as pigs are considered

unclean in the Jewish religion.

Eventually he returns

home to beg his father for forgiveness. His father welcomes him with open arms.

A fatted calf is sacrificed in his honour. The eldest son is upset that his

faithfulness is ignored and his frivolous brother is rewarded. His father says not to be jealous, as he

loves them the same and his loyalty will be rewarded but they must celebrate

the return of the lost son.

Lent and Easter

Just as when people

grieve they have no interest in pleasures or luxuries, many Christians decide

to give something up for Lent and instead focus on prayer and their

relationship with God. They remember Jesus’ time in the desert and may want to

challenge themselves by giving something up.

The Last supper

The Eucharist, Mass

and Holy Communion all remember the last supper. Christians share in the bread

and wine to remember Jesus’ body and blood

Holy Week is the week

before Easter, commemorating events in the last days of Jesus' life on Earth.

It begins on Palm Sunday and ends on Easter Monday.

Special Days in Holy Week.

Palm Sunday the day

Jesus arrived in Jerusalem.

Holy Thursday (Maundy

Thursday), Last Supper and the betrayal by Judas.

Good Friday (Holy

Friday), the arrest, trial, crucifixion, death and burial of Jesus Christ.

Holy Saturday, the

Sabbath on which Jesus rested in the grave.

Palm Sunday is a time

of celebration as well as sadness because Jesus died on a cross less than a

week after he had entered Jerusalem.

What is Palm Sunday?

The Sunday before Easter is known as Palm

Sunday. It celebrates Jesus' arrival in Jerusalem for the Jewish festival of

Passover. Great crowds of people lined the streets waving palm branches to

welcome him. The people were very excited. They spread branches on the road –

and even laid down their clothes. They shouted 'Hosanna!' which means 'Save us

Now!'

We wave our UK flags

at parades. They waved palm branches.

Why is it called Palm Sunday?

The Sunday before

Easter is called Palm Sunday because the crowds waved palm branches as they

followed Jesus' procession into Jerusalem.

Why did Jesus go to Jerusalem?

It was the time of the

Jewish feast of Passover. Many Jews travelled to Jerusalem to celebrate this

feast together.

What happens on Palm Sunday in England?

On Palm Sunday,

children are given crosses made from single palm leaves. Traditionally, many

churches will have a procession in or around the church while people sing songs

of praise and wave palm leaves. This is to help them imagine what Jesus' entry

into Jerusalem might have been like.

What happens to any Palm crosses left over?

Any leftover Palm

Crosses are kept and burned to make ashes for next years Ash Wednesday services

What is Maundy Thursday?

Maundy Thursday

commemorates the Last Supper of Jesus Christ with the Apostles.

The Last Supper

On this day,

Christians remember the Last Supper. During the meal Jesus took bread and wine

and shared them with his disciples. Christians continue to share bread and wine

as part of their worship in church.

The Last Supper was

probably a Passover meal – the meal which Jewish people share together to

celebrate the time when God delivered Moses and the people from slavery in

Egypt.

The night of Maundy

Thursday is the night on which Jesus was betrayed by Judas in the Garden of

Gethsemane.

Many Christians

commemorate the Last Supper in a special Eucharist. In some churches, they may

wash each other's feet. After the service the altar is stripped. Some

Christians may hold an all-night vigil in church, remembering Christ's time in

the Garden of Gethsemane.

What happened on Good Friday?

Jesus was arrested and

was tried, in a mock trial. He was handed over to the Roman soldiers to be

beaten and flogged with whips. A crown of long, sharp thorns was thrust upon

his head.

Jesus was forced to

carry his own cross outside the city to Skull Hill. He was so weak after the

beating that a man named Simon, who was from Cyrene, was pulled from the crowd

and forced to carry Jesus' cross the rest of the way.

Jesus was nailed to

the cross. Two other criminals were crucified with him, their crosses were on

either side of him. A sign above Jesus read "The King of the Jews."

Special Church Service

Many churches hold a

special service. This may be a communion service in the evening or a time of

prayer during the day, especially around 3 o'clock as that is about the time of

day when Jesus died.

Many Churches hold

services lasting three hours. They may celebrate the Stations of the Cross, or

take part in Passion plays and dramatic readings.

Churches are not

decorated on Good Friday. In some churches, pictures and statues are covered

over. It is seen as a time of mourning.

Easter Sunday

Christians gather

together on Easter Sunday for a Sunrise Service.

Some Christians take

part in an Easter vigil, lighting a new fire outside the church early on Sunday

morning. The Paschal candle, decorated with studs to celebrate Christ's wounds,

may be lit from the fire and carried into the church where it is used to light

the candles of the worshippers. The Easter Eucharist is a particularly joyful

service. It is a popular time for baptisms and renewal of baptism vows.

Some churches have an

Easter Garden. A stone is placed across the mouth of a tomb before Easter, then

rolled away on Easter morning.

The traditional Easter

gift is a chocolate egg.

Christian

celebrate the death of Jesus because...

•

He was

sent to earth by God to be a sacrifice.

•

His death

meant we can be forgiven for our sins.

•

Jesus died

for all people, past, present and future.

•

Christians

believe as long as we are sorry to God for any sins we commit God will forgive

us.

Sikhism

Khalsa initiation

The 5 Ks date from the creation of the KhalsaPanth by Guru Gobind Singh in 1699.

The Guru introduced them for several reasons:

·

Adopting these common symbols

would identify members of the Khalsa

·

Because all members of the

Khalsa wear the 5 Ks the members of the community are more strongly bound

together

·

Each K has a particular

significance

The meaning of the 5 Ks

The 5 Ks taken together symbolise that the Sikh who wears them

has dedicated themselves to a life of devotion and submission to the Guru.

The 5 Ks are 5 physical symbols worn by Sikhs who have been

initiated into the Khalsa.

The five Ks are:

·

Kesh (uncut hair)

·

Kara (a steel bracelet)

·

Kanga (a wooden comb)

·

Kaccha - also spelt, Kachh,

Kachera (cotton underwear)

·

Kirpan (steel sword)

Kesh - uncut hair

Various reasons and symbolisms have been put forward for the

Sikh practice of keeping hair uncut.

·

Throughout history hair

(kesh) has been regarded as a symbol both of holiness and strength.

·

One's hair is part of God's

creation. Keeping hair uncut indicates that one is willing to accept God's gift

as God intended it.

Kara - a steel bracelet

·

A symbol of restraint and

gentility.

·

A symbol that a Sikh is

linked to the Guru.

·

It acts as a reminder that a

Sikh should not do anything of which the Guru would not approve.

·

A symbol of God having no

beginning or end.

·

The Kara is made of steel,

rather than gold or silver, because it is not an ornament.

Kanga - a wooden comb

This symbolises a clean mind and body; since it keeps the uncut

hair neat and tidy.

It symbolises the importance of looking after the body which God

has created. This does not conflict with the Sikh's aim to move beyond bodily

concerns; since the body is one's vehicle for enlightenment one should care for

it appropriately.

Kachha - special underwear

This is a pair of breeches that must not come below the knee. It

was a particularly useful garment for Sikh warriors of the 18th and 19th

centuries, being very suitable for warfare when riding a horse.

It's a symbol of chastity.

Kirpan - a ceremonial sword

There is no fixed style of Kirpan and it can be anything from a

few inches to three feet long. It is kept in a sheath and can be worn over or

under clothing.

The Kirpan can symbolise:

·

Spirituality

·

The soldier part of the

Soldier-Saints

·

Defence of good

·

Defence of the weak

·

The struggle against

injustice

·

A metaphor for God

In the

17th Century the Guru was

speaking to a large group of Sikhs who

had

gathered for a special festival (Baisakhi).

He asked for a volunteer

who

would be willing to give up everything, even his life, for his Sikh

faith

and trust in the Guru’s teachings. Eventually, one brave man came

forward,

and the Guru led him into the tent. After a short time the Guru

returned

with a blood covered sword, and once again asked for a volunteer.

He

asked for a volunteer five times and each time another man went

forward.

After the Guru had taken the fifth man into the tent he returned with all five

men, still alive! He declared them to be the ‘Khalsa’ a group ofmen whose faith was so pure that they must be an

example to all other Sikhs.

To mark

them as Khalsa Sikhs, the Guru baptised them with amrit and gave them special things to wear (the 5 Ks).

Modern Sikhs can still choose to become

members of the Khalsa. To do so they have to go through an initiation

ceremony which involves using some of the same symbols that the Guru used

to mark the first Khalsa Sikhs.

5 Khalsa Sikhs prepare the amrit in a steel bowl during

the amrit ceremony.

Sewa means service. Belonging to a gurdwara is an opportunity for sewa. Here

are some examples:

cleaning

the gurdwara

preparing

food in the langar

visiting

the sick and needy

giving

money to charity.

Islam

Pillar

Description

How often (minimum)

SHAHADAH (declaration of

faith)

The

Shahadah is the statement:

“There

is no god except Allah and Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah.”

Every

time a Muslim prays

SALAH (prayer)

A

way of worshipping Allah by communicating with Him. Muslims perform salah and

prepare themselves for it in the way taught by Muhammad.

Five

times each day

ZAKAH (giving to

charity)

Giving

a percentage of wealth, if you can afford it, to benefit the poor, worship

Allah and purify the giver.

Annually

SAWM (fasting)

From

just before dawn until sunset everyday during the month of Ramadan, Muslims

are required to go without food or drink (including water).

Annually

HAJJ (pilgrimage)

Each

Muslim must complete the Hajj if he or she is healthy and can afford it.

Hajj

takes place annually, but Muslims are expected to go at least once in a

lifetime.

Praying in the mosque

Muslims can pray anywhere, but it is especially good to pray

with others in a mosque.

Praying together in a congregation helps Muslims to realise that

all humanity is one, and all are equal in the sight of Allah.

A universal Muslim ritual

The prayer ritual, which is over 1400 years old, is repeated

five times a day by hundreds of millions of people all round the world. They

pray towards quibla, the direction of Mecca.

Carrying it out is not only highly spiritual, but connects each

Muslim to all others around the world, and to all those who have uttered the

same words and made the same movements at different times in Islamic history.

Prayers of body, mind and soul

The set prayers are not just phrases to be spoken.

Prayer for a Muslim involves uniting mind, soul, and body in

worship; so a Muslim carrying out these prayers will perform a whole series of set movements that go with the words of the prayer.

Muslims make sure that they are in the right frame of mind

before they pray; they put aside all everyday cares and thoughts so that they

can concentrate exclusively on God.

Ritual washing

Muslims must be clean before they pray. They make sure of this

by performing ritual washing, called wudhu. Mosques have washing facilities.

Religion and the

environment

Stewardship

is an important concept within Christianity. Christians believe that God made

the world and he gave people a leadership role. Christians believe that they

have an important responsibility towards God’s creation and they need to look

after it on behalf of God. Christians also see God’s creation as a very

precious gift and therefore want to look after the environment to the best of

their ability.

The

cartoon below shows the Biblical story the ‘Parable of the Talents’ (remember a

Parable is a story with a meaning!). This is a good illustration of what is

meant by ‘stewardship’. This story shows that good stewards use what they have

and make the most of it and make sure that people who come after them have the

resources to use just as they did.

Stewardship:

God gave humans the responsibility for

looking after

the world and everything in it

The Bible explains

the principles of stewardship (responsibility)

for God’s creation:

•

‘rest the land once every 50 years so that it

would produce more in the future ‘ Leviticus

•

‘When

you lay siege to a city for a long time, fighting against it to capture it, do

not destroy its trees by putting an axe to them, because you can eat their fruit.

Do not cut them down. Are the trees of the field people, that you should

besiege them?’ Deuteronomy