Briefly discuss at least five fundamental or important sources of authority of the Muslim religion.

Religion by Geoffrey

FINAL ESSAY EXAM

Answer two (2) questions in essay form.  Each essay must be a minimum of two (2) pages.  The two essays must be submitted as one submission (not separately).  DUE DATE:  MONDAY, APRIL 24, BEFORE 11:30 P.M.  NO LATE SUBMISSIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED.  ALSO, IF YOU DON’T SUBMIT TWO ESSAYS YOU WILL NOT GET FULL CREDIT FOR THE EXAM.  SUBMIT BOTH ESSAYS AS ONE SUBMISSION.

 

  1. In this course Judaism, Christianity and Islam were taught as arising from and grounded in the religion of Israel. Which concepts, institutions, ideals, or models from the religion of Israel) most strongly or significantly shaped or influenced Islam?  Which elements from the religion of Israel (as well as from Judaism and Christianity) did Islam challenge and even repudiate as it sought to restore the purity of the one religion revealed by , Christians, and Muslims?  That is, what are the central aspects, institutions, or concepts of Islam these be traced back to or originate in the religion of Israel?

 

 

  1. In this course Luther, Jesus, and Muhammed have been discussed in the lectures as “prophetic” figures. Explain why they should be considered “prophets”? Most people think of a prophet as someone who “predicts” the future, but the Hebrew/Israelite prophets, who influenced Jesus, Muhammed, and Luther, were mostly interested in other things (such as justice, mercy for the poor, challenging the political and religious establishment). For example, what do each have in common?  Think about what the earliest prophets, the Hebrew prophets, did when dealing with the institutions (priestly, kingship) of their times.

 

 

  1. Briefly discuss at least five fundamental or important sources of authority of the Muslim religion. (The “Five Pillars” of Islam count as one concept only.)

 

 

  1. Christianity starts out as a Jewish sect, with its leadership based in Jerusalem, led by James, the brother of Jesus, and expecting Jesus (the Messiah and descendant of King David) to return to restore the Davidic dynasty. But after the phase the professor called “Early Catholicism” Christianity takes a decidedly different course. Why?  That is, how did Christianity become different from the earliest Jewish interpretation of Christianity?  What might have precipitated the change of direction that we see in the development of Christianity from the second century (100s) onward?

 

 

  1. Discuss the central concepts and institutions of Judaism in distinction or contrast with the dominant concepts and institutions of the religion of Israel (as found in the Hebrew Bible, or the Old Testament). That is, what are the new elements that characterize Judaism that are absent in the religion of Israel?  What does Judaism have in common with the religion of ancient Israel, from which it arose?