RELG 402 - World's Living Religions
Module 3 - Zoroastrianism, Samaritans, Messianic Judaism
Module Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this module, you will be able to :
- Identify the people and events associated with Zoroastrianism, Samaritans, and Messianic Judaism.
- Discuss the literature associated with Zoroastrianism, Samaritans, and Messianic Judaism.
- Describe the teachings and ethical standards of Zoroastrianism, Samaritans, and Messianic Judaism.
- Describe the world-view associated with Zoroastrianism, Samaritans, and Messianic Judaism.
- Describe the varieties of worship associated with Zoroastrianism, Samaritans, and Messianic Judaism.
Readings
- Textbook - Chapter 10, Zoroastrianism
- Documents relating to the Samaritans
- Educational Guide - The Samaritan-Israelites and their Religion - from the Samaritans' own WebSite
- Documents relating to Messianic Judaism
- Messianic Judaism / Jewish Christianity (Philtar site)
Optional InterNet Resources
- Go here for Links to optional extra resources for Zoroastrianism.
- Go here for Links to optional extra resources for Samaritans.
- Go here for Links to optional extra resources for Messianic Judaism.
- Useful articles can be found by using the Topics as search words in Search Engines such as GoodSearch
- Remember - always cite your sources
Study Questions
Before taking the Test, prepare an answer sheet for yourself by answering the following questions. Then you may use it, along with the textbook and the course notes, to answer the questions on the Test and to formulate a thread for the Discussion Board.
To answer questions on the Samaritans, you may need to download and print out the
Educational Guide - The Samaritan-Israelites and their Religion - from their own WebSite or on
the documents page of this website.
Answers to the questions on Messianic Judaism can be found at
Messianic Judaism / Jewish Christianity
- According to the textbook, what is the most significant Zoroastrian teaching? How might a Zoroastrian reply to this view?
- Who are the Amesha Spentas and the yazatas, and who are their adversaries?
- What does Zoroastrianism teach about the Judgment of the Soul and the fate of the dead at the Final Judgment?
- Which three languages were used for Zoroastrian religious texts, what is the earliest Zoroastrian text, and when were later texts written down?
- According to Zoroastrian legends, what did Zarathustra teach about Ahura Mazda, Angra Mainu, the judgment of human beings, and the requirements for human ethical behavior?
- Describe the five parts of the Avesta.
- When did the Arabs conquer Persia (Iran), and what were the consequences for the Zoroastrians?
- Where is the largest community of Zoroastrians today, why did they go there, and what are they called?
- Discuss the significance of fire in Zoroastrianism.
- Describe the Zoroastrian rite of Navjote (Sudre-Pooshi). You will find more information for this in the InterNet resources
- According to Zoroastrianism, what happens at death, and how should a corpse be treated? How does this impact modern Zoroastrians?
- What motto is used to describe the ethical outlook of Zoroastrianism?
- What are the four basic elements of the Samaritan Creed, where is the one Holy Place for the Samaritans, and what constitutes the one Holy Book of the Samaritans?
- Describe the annual Feasts/Festivals celebrated by the Samaritans
- Describe how Samaritans keep the Sabbath
- Describe how Samaritans keep the Passover
- Discuss the differences between the Samaritan Passover and the Jewish Passover
- How do Messianic Jews refer to Jesus, and how do they refer to the New Testament?
- When did Jewish-Christian congregations begin to re-emerge, which was the first one, and where was it formed?
- How do Hebrew Christians and Messianic Jews differ from one another?
Prepare a set of answers for yourself, then use it to help you answer the Test and post your Thread to the Discussion Board.
Discussion Board 3
Thread :
Discuss the problems faced either by Zoroastrians or by Samaritans in living and practicing their religion in their homelands.
Replies to 2 of your classmates' Threads :
If possible, choose Threads which deal with different topics.
Do you have any particular insights and/or experiences which might be helpful to the poster or to your classmates as a whole?
Test 3
Go to the Test Section of the course, and take the test at least once before 12 noon of the Monday following the Module.
You will have 1 hour to complete the test.
You may take the test three times before the cut-off time.
Questions will vary each time you take the test.
Your highest score will count towards your course grade.
Copyright © 1999 Shirley J. Rollinson, all Rights Reserved
