WR-Jas

=Sacred Texts= This semester we have discussed many different religions and cults, and throughout the semester there was a common thread of a Sacred Text of some sort in many of the religions. As defined by wikipedia, **Religious texts**, also known as **scripture**, are the texts which various religious traditions consider to be [|sacred], or of central importance to their religious tradition. Many [|religions] and [|spiritual] movements believe that their sacred texts are [|divinely] or [|supernaturally] [|inspired]. Another common threat in religion is that if a religion does not have a sacred text, their stories and believes are passed down orally known as an oral tradition.

Christianity
The Bible contains two major parts, the Old Testament and the New Testament. The Old Testament The New Testament
 * It is believed the Old Testament was composed and compiled between the 12th and the 2nd century BC.
 * Correspond to the Hebrew Bible with some variations and additions.
 * Written by various authors after c. AD 45
 * Consists of the four narratives of the life and death of Jesus (Gospels), a narrative of the Apostles ' ministries in the early church ( epistles ), and an Apocalyptic prophecy.

=Islam= There are two main **sacred texts** in Islam: the **Qur'an** (or Koran) and the **Hadith** (or Hadeeth). Qur'an Hadith
 * Most sacred text
 * Believed to be the literal word of God as revealed to Muhammad.
 * Name means "**recitation**" in Arabic.
 * Roughly the length of the Christian New Testament.
 * Divided into 114 surahs (chapters) of widely varying length, which, with the exception of the opening surah (//fatihah//), are generally arranged from longest to shortest.
 * Arabic for "narrative" or "report"
 * Important source of doctrine, law, and practice
 * Each Hadith consists of two parts: the tradition itself, or **//matn//** (for instance, the words of the Prophet) and the **//isnad//** (chain of authorities).

=Hinduism= The Vedas Upanishads Bhagavad Gita The Ramayana
 * Four Vedas, the Rig Veda, Sama Veda, Yajur Veda and Atharva Veda.
 * Contain hymns, incantations, and rituals from ancient India.
 * Four compositions that make up the Vedas.
 * Samhitas, the Brahmanas, the Aranyakas, and the Upanishads.
 * Primary texts of Hinduism.
 * Reshaped Hinduism by providing believers with philosophical knowledge.
 * "The song of the lord"
 * Takes the form of a dialogue between prince Arjuna and Krishna.
 * Arjuna is a warrior, about to join his brothers in a war between two brances of a royal family which would involve killing many of his friends and relatives. He wants to withdraw from the battle but Krishna teaches him that he must do his duty in accordance with his class and he argues that death does not destroy the soul. Krishna says that knowledge, work and devotion are all paths to salvation.
 * One of India's best known tales
 * Story of Prince Rama who was sent into exile in the forest
 * One of the most improtant Hindu myths.

=Judaism= Tanakh
 * Consists of the same books as the Christian Old Testament
 * Known as Jewish Bible or Hebrew Scriptures
 * Contains 39 books in all
 * Torah is referred to as the entire Tanakh; technically its the first 5 books of the Tanakh, also known as Five Books of Moses
 * account of the creation of the world
 * Talmud- rabbinical writings that explain the Torah scriptures, also known as the Oral Torah
 * Midrash- large body of rabbinical materials derived primarily from sermons, contains legal and explanatory matter
 * Responsa- thousands of volumes of answers to specific questions on Jewish law

=Temple of the Vampire= The Vampire Bible
 * Primary text
 * Discusses higher powers of Vampires
 * Required for membership
 * Discusses the past and future of the Vampire
 * By obtaining an authorized copy of The Vampire Bible, you open the door to contact and communications with members.

=Mormanism= Also believe in the Bible. The Book of Mormon is their main text.
 * First published in March 1830 by [|Joseph Smith, Jr.]
 * Earliest of the defining publications of the Latter Day Saint movement.
 * Divided into smaller books.
 * Primarily chronological based on the narrative content of the book

= = =Hare Krishna= Based on Hinduism. See Hindu Sacred Texts.

=Amish= See Christian Sacred Texts.

=Quakers= Believe the Bible is inspirational, however do not have a real sacred text.

Websites Used
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sacred_text http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_Testament http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Book_of_Mormon

[|Christianity]

[|Bible Answers]