With so many religions in the world it can be hard to keep up with  what everyone believes. Religiously Literate is here to help! Join Jay and Ryan on this episode as we learn about the last of the Abrahamic faiths, Christianity. In this episode we give a general overview of Christianity, including the history, beliefs, and practices shared by many Christians regardless of denomination. SHOW NOTES: Key Terms: Apostolic succession: the belief that bishops and priests represent an uninterrupted lineage dating back to the apostles of Jesus "The Word": This refers to a whole lot of different things that include, but are not always, readings directly from the Bible. Includes scriptural readings, hymns, prayers, and sermons/homilies given by clergy members and primarily serves as a mechanism for teaching about Jesus’ life and Christian beliefs. Baptism: This is the primary means through which someone becomes incorporated into the “Body of Christ” or Christian community and is meant to be a celebratory public recognition of belief in and commitment to Jesus Christ as the Son of God (can also be baptized in recognition of the whole Trinity). Communion: The sharing of bread and wine or grape juice among Christians. Meant to be a recognition of Jesus’ sacrifice through his death on the cross and resurrection. Christmas: Annual festival commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ. Typically celebrated on December 25th, but varies by tradition. Lent: 40-day period of Christian fasting preceding Easter. Commemorating Jesus' 40-day fast in the desert. Epiphany: Festival commemorating the arrival of the three Magi (wise men) after the birth of Jesus. Advent: Roughly month-long period preceding Christmas celebrated as a time of anticipation leading up to the birth of Christ. Fat (Shrove) Tuesday: Final day commemorating the period between Epiphany and Ash Wednesday. Palm Sunday: Festival commemorating the arrival of Jesus in Jerusalem before his death. Celebrated the Sunday before Easter. Easter: Holiday commemorating the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Ash Wednesday: Day of prayer and fasting commemorating the beginning of Lent. Maundy Thursday: The day during Holy Week commemorating the Washing of the Feet and the Last Supper of Jesus Christ. Good Friday: Holiday commemorating the crucifixion and death of Jesus Christ. Pentecost: Festival that commemorates the descent of the Holy Spirit on the apostles and followers of Jesus Christ. Ascension: Holiday commemorating the departure of Christ from earth after his resurrection. Glossolalia: Speaking in tongues Trinity Sunday: First Sunday after Pentecost celebrating the Christian belief in the Trinity Trinity: The Trinity is the belief in God the Father, Jesus the Son and the Holy Spirit Synoptic gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke (meaning they “see each other,” from the Greek synopsis) Timeline of Jesus' life: https://www.everlastingstrength.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Life-of-Jesus-Timeline-Tabloid-11x17.jpg?x57201  Sources: McGrath, Alister E. Christianity: an introduction. John Wiley & Sons, 2006. Vaughn, Lewis. Anthology of World Religions: Sacred Texts and Contemporary Perspectives. (2017)  Oxford University Press: New York.

With so many religions in the world it can be hard to keep up with  what everyone believes. Religiously Literate is here to help! Join Jay  and Ryan on this episode as we learn about one of Japan's major religious traditions. In this episode, we discuss Shinto, including an overview of history, general beliefs, practices, and its significance with Japanese nationalism. SHOW NOTES: Key terms: Kami: “divine powers of the cosmos in the form of deities, features of nature, and exceptional humans (emperors and ancestors, for example)” Kojiki: Record of Ancient Matters, central Shinto text Nihongi (Nihon shoki): Chronicles of Japan, central Shinto text Izanami and Izanagi: Male and female kami revered for the creation of the Japanese archipelago Amaterasu: sun goddess, associated with the imperial family and the Shrine at Ise Jinja: dwelling places of the kami, otherwise known as shrines Torri: red, arbor-like structures found at Shinto shrines Shimenawa: rope often made with rice straw, demarcating sacred spaces Shide: lightning bolt shaped paper often hung on shimenawa Shrine Shinto: The most prevalent kind, includes practices at shrines to demonstrate “faith” in kami Lived/Popular/Folk Shinto: Everyday practices of people that reflect faith/belief in kami; includes a lot of regional variation and overlap with bigger Shinto practices State Shinto: Started in the nineteenth century, declared Shinto as state religion; gave rise to some nationalistic beliefs; established the emperor as a “living kami” and direct descendent of Amaterasu Matsuri: Shinto festivals https://artsandculture.google.com/streetview/itsukushima-shinto-shrine/6QE34GxKVEkyTQ?sv_lng=132.3184711655607&sv_lat=34.29696387465894&sv_h=324.19&sv_p=5.060000000000002&sv_pid=0PDJMeu0ov36Joqinhu6KA&sv_z=1 Shinto by Helen Hardacre A new history of Shinto by John Breen and Mark Teeuwen. Shinto, a short history by Inoue Nobutaka (editor), Itō Satoshi, Endō Jun and Mori Mizue ; translated and adapted by Mark Teeuwen and John Breen. Vaughn, Lewis. Anthology of World Religions: Sacred Texts and Contemporary Perspectives. (2017)  Oxford University Press: New York. Music used in this episode includes “City of Jewels” by Destiny & Time as well as Ishikari Lore by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (https://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1100192)

With so many religions in the world it can be hard to keep up with  what everyone believes. Religiously Literate is here to help! Join Jay  and Ryan on this episode as we learn about one of the most influential regions in world history. In the final to our first season, we'll travel around Israel talking about 10 religious sites important to many traditions that originate in the Middle East, including some we've covered this season and some that will be covered in seasons to come! Ten Religious Sites to Visit in Israel 1. The Dome of the Rock 2. The Church of the Holy Sepulchre 3. The Wailing Wall 4. The Church of the Nativity 5. The Dead Sea 6. Masada 7.  Cave of the Patriarchs 8. Bahji 9. Capernaum 10. Jericho Map of Religious Sites in Jerusalem https://www.planetware.com/i/map/ISR/old-city-jerusalem-map.jpg Map of Religious Sites in Israel https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/915kkTT7QEL.jpg 

With so many religions in the world it can be hard to keep up with  what everyone believes. Religiously Literate is here to help! Join Jay  and Ryan on this episode as we learn about one of the most influential religions in world history. In this episode, we discuss Judaism, including an overview of history, general beliefs, rituals, and holidays. SHOW NOTES:  Key terms: Rabbi: Jewish clerical leader Mohel: Jew trained to carry out circumcision of Jewish boys Tanakh: Hebrew Bible composed of three parts (Torah, Ketuvim, and Nevi'im) Torah: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy Ketuvim (The Prophets): Joshua, Judges, I Samuel, II Samuel, I Kings, II Kings, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi Nevi'im (The Writings): Psalms, Job, Proverbs, Ruth, Song of Songs, Ecclesiastes, Lamentations, Esther, Daniel, Ezra, Nehemiah, I Chronicles, II Chronicles Mishnah: interpretations and applications of the laws Talmud: authoritative writings that consist of the Mishnah and the Gemara Mitzvot: Commandments followed by Jews Bar/Bat Mitzvah: coming of age ceremony for Jewish boys/girls Chuppah: wedding canopy Ketubah: Jewish wedding contract Shiva: week long mourning period for Jewish first-degree relatives Rosh Hashanah: Jewish New Year Yom Kippur: Day of Atonement Hanukah: Festival of Lights Passover: Jewish holiday commemorating the exodus from Egypt Seder: ritualized meal on Passover that helps explain the Exodus story Aggadah: text recited with the seder to explain the Exodus story Kosher: "fit to eat," also refers to Jewish dietary laws Bar Mitzvah video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BsS0K8FjKLA Temple that may have held he Ark of the Covenant discovered: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-7810225/Biblical-home-Ark-Covenant-discovered-Israel.html Cohn-Sherbok, Lavinia, and Dan Cohn-Sherbok. Judaism: A Short History. Reissued. Oxford: Oneworld, 1999. Vaughn, Lewis. Anthology of World Religions: Sacred Texts and Contemporary Perspectives. (2017)  Oxford University Press: New York. Music used in this episode includes “City of Jewels” by Destiny & Time as well as from https://filmmusic.io, "Lachaim" by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com) License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

SHOW NOTES: Key terms: Bahá’í: follower of the Bahá’í faith, a follower of the teachings of Bahá’u’lláh Bahá’u’lláh: founder of the Bahá’í faith Kitab i Aqdas (The Most Holy Book): scripture written by Bahá’u’lláh The Tablet of Carmel: scripture written by Bahá’u’lláh Kitab i ‘Ahd (The Book of the Covenant): Last Will and Testament of Bahá’u’lláh World Religions and Spirituality Project: The Baha’i Faith https://wrldrels.org/2016/10/08/bahai-faith/ Baha’i history map: https://external-preview.redd.it/QPApxEl2MqTcvbgyPQVuACn4qrKVHyvkGVqdfjCMHvg.jpg?width=960&crop=smart&auto=webp&s=5bb991d79d027a8a87fd1dd25e32a8cc6eb67ba7 Baha’i Obligatory Prayers: https://www.bahai.org/documents/bahaullah/obligatory-prayers Baha’i Obligatory prayers: https://www.bahai.org/documents/bahaullah/obligatory-prayers Baha’i World Centre and Garden video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vxesOz6rRlw Roots of the Baha’i Faith (two parts): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RmAC7PYiK_k&vl=en https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tHrBlTL5tf8 Administrative structure diagram: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/d/df/Present-bahai-administration.jpg Calligraphy of the Greatest Name: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/76/Greatest_Name.svg/150px-Greatest_Name.svg.png Baha’i Ringstone symbol: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d8/Bahai_Ringstone_Symbol.pdf/page1-220px-Bahai_Ringstone_Symbol.pdf.jpg Keene, James J. "Baha'i World Faith: Redefinition of Religion." Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion 6, no. 2 (1967): 221-35. doi:10.2307/1384048. Smith, Peter. An Introduction to the Bahai Faith. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2008. Warburg, Margit. Bahaʼi. Salt Lake City, UT: Signature Books, 2003. Worthington, Frances. 2012. Bahá'í Basics : A Guide to the Beliefs, Practices, and History of the Bahá'í Faith. Wilmette, IL: Baha'i Publishing. Music used in this episode includes “City of Jewels” by Destiny & Time 

With so many religions in the world it can be hard to keep up with what everyone believes. Religiously Literate is here to help! Join Jay and Ryan on this episode as they discuss a topic that some consider a religion and other do not. In this episode, we discuss Buddhism, including an overview of the Buddha's life, the Buddhist creation story, and beliefs, as well as Buddhism's connections to Hinduism  Connect with us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/ReigiousLitPod and Twitter: @ReligiousLitPod SHOW NOTES: A Day in a Buddhist Temple vid: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CRdrTOaMP3w Top Ten Buddhist Temples: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-mPjLi3zCuY Goonasekera, Sunil. “Buddhism in South Asia: Practicing Tradition Today.” In South Asian Religions: Tradition and Today, edited by Karen Pechilis and Selva J. Raj, 143–60. London ; New York: Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group, 2013. Keown, Damien. Buddhism: A Very Short Introduction. Fully updated new edition. Very Short Introductions 3. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2013. Music used in this episode includes “City of Jewels” by Destiny & Time as well as Zen Temple Bell, recorded by Mike Koenig and obtained from http://soundbible.com/1477-Zen-Temple-Bell.html

With so many religions in the world it can be hard to keep up with what everyone believes. Religiously Literate is here to help! Join Jay and Ryan on this episode as they discuss a religious movement started in Arabia In this episode, we discuss Islam, including an overview of history and basic practices, dispel popular misconceptions, and discuss how Islam sees itself as related to other traditions in the world Connect with us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/ReigiousLitPod and Twitter: @ReligiousLitPod  SHOW NOTES: Terminology Shahadah - declaration of faith Salat - daily prayer Zakat - alsmgiving Sawm  - fasting Hajj - pilgrimage to Mecca jihad - inner struggle of good Muslim to strive to be a better person or to serve the Muslim community* Quran - Muslim holy scripture revealed to Muhammad* hadith - reports of the "words, deeds, or silent approval" of Muhammad* Allah - God caliph - supreme Muslim leader who has both religious and secular authority who governs the caliphate* Shi'a - the minority of Muslims who favor hereditary succession of the caliph* Sunni - the majority of Muslims who favor caliph succession by community consensus* shari'a - Islamic law sura - a chapter, or division of the Quran* *definitions taken from Vaughn, Lewis. Anthology of World Religions: Sacred Texts and Contemporary Perspectives. (2017)  Oxford University Press: New York. Muslim World map Islam (World Religions and Spirituality Project) Hajj through Snapchat video Ruthven, Malise. 2012. Islam: a very short introduction. New York, NY: Oxford University Press. Music used in this episode includes “City of Jewels” by Destiny & Time as well as a version of the Islamic call to prayer entitled "Adhan Egypt" sourced from praytimes.org

With so many religions in the world it can be hard to keep up with what everyone believes. Religiously Literate is here to help! Join Jay and Ryan on this episode as they discuss a religious movement started in Jamaica In this episode, we discuss Rastafarianism, including an overview of history, general beliefs, if there is a black Jesus and Reggae’s connection to the movement. Connect with us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/ReigiousLitPod and Twitter: @ReligiousLitPod  SHOW NOTES: The Story of Jamaican Music: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wv1Iy26qlLk  Nyabinghi video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aYP_hfjrGf8  Edmonds, Ennis Barrington. Rastafari : A Very Short Introduction, Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2012. Music used in this episode includes “City of Jewels” by Destiny & Time as well as “Palms” by Text Me Records

With so many religions in the world it can be hard to keep up with what everyone believes.  Religiously Literate is here to help!  Join Jay and Ryan on this episode as we discuss the wold's oldest religion, Hinduism.  In this episode, we discuss what Hinduism which is actually an umbrella term for various religious, cultural, and artistic expressions mostly practiced in South Asia. We also discuss yoga, Hindu gods, and a few rituals and celebrations. Connect with us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/ReigiousLitPod and Twitter: @ReligiousLitPod  SHOW NOTES: Terminology pancha mahabhuta - five elements in Hinduism (also Ayurvedic medicine); ether/space, air, fire, water, earth atman - soul or self* Brahman - the impersonal, all pervading spirit that is the universe yet transcends all space and time* dharma - religious and moral duty or teaching* karma - the universal principal that governs the characteristics and quality of each rebirth, or future life* moksha - ultimate liberation from samsara* samsara - one's cycle of repeated deaths and rebirths* Bhagavad Gita - the most highly venerated and influential scriptures in Hinduism* Vedas - foundational scriptures of Hinduism; Rig, Sama, Yajur, and Atharva caste system - the idealized social hierarchy of Indian society* puja  - most central, widely-practiced for of Hindu devotion *definitions taken from Vaughn, Lewis. Anthology of World Religions: Sacred Texts and Contemporary Perspectives. (2017)  Oxford University Press: New York. Types of yoga: Bhakti: yoga of devotion (singing, dancing, praises of divine) Karma: yoga of service (selfless service, acknowledge divinity in everyone) Jnana: yoga of knowledge (meditation on scriptural teachings) Raja: yoga of cultivation of the mind (must train the mind before meditation) Map of South Asia History of Hinduism video Indus River Valley Civilization video Intro to Hinduism video Caste System graphic Hinduism (World Religions and Spirituality Project) Map of Hindu Religious Sites Ganges Pilgrimage (Kumbh Mela) video Story of God: Hindu Creation video Hindu Auspicious Days Calendar What is Yoga? video Yoga in America video Music used in this episode is City of Jewels by Destiny & Time as well as from https://filmmusic.io, "Jalandhar" by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com) License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

With so many religions in the world it can be hard to keep up with  what everyone believes. Religiously Literate is here to help! Join Jay  and Ryan on this episode as Jay shares some of his experiences in India  while visiting the holiest site in Sikhism.  In this episode, we discuss Sikhism, including an overview of history, general beliefs, rituals, and Jay's visits to gurdwaras in India and the United States.  SHOW NOTES: Adi Granth (also known as Guru Granth Sahib) - The most sacred text of Sikh faith. Initially complied by Guru Arjan in 1604. Five Ks - Markers of Sikh identity that include:  Kesh - Uncut hair  Kanga - Wooden comb for top knot  Kirpan - Sword  Kara - Iron bracelet  Kaccha - Underwear Gurdwara - The Sikh house of worship Langar - The community kitchen and meal that is served to the community Singh, Pashaura. “Sikhism: Practicing Tradition Today.” In South Asian Religions: Tradition and Today, edited by Karen Pechilis and Selva J. Raj. London ; New York: Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group, 2013. The 10 human Gurus with birth and death dates Guru Nanak (1469-1539) Guru Angad (1504-1552) Guru Amar Das (1497-1574) Guru Ram Das (1534-1581) Guru Arjan (1563-1606) Guru Hargobind (1595-1644) Guru Har Rai (1630-1631) Guru Harkrishan (1655-1664) Guru Tegh Bahadur (1621-1675) Guru Gobind Singh (1666-1708) Sikh drivers are transforming U.S. trucking. Take a ride along the Punjabi American highway LA Times, 2019. Punjab Region Map Sikh Distribution Map Things Not to Say to Sikh People video Who Are the Sikhs video Sikhism (World Religions and Spirituality Project) Music used in this episode is City of Jewels by Destiny & Time