Religions Summer Final

Final Integrated Interfaith Reflection Assignment Template
Please use this template for your Religious Studies Reflection Final. Write your answers into this word document. When
you are finished select “save as”. Save the document with your last name and final. Example: Tomlinson Final. Upload
this document and a jpeg or pdf file of your mandala into the discussion board. Reference your Final directions for
questions about specific aspects of the template and the Mandala assignment itself.
Review six World Religions we explored this semester (You may select up to 3 new religions that are in your Molloy text
for 15 points extra credit).
Part 1: Religious Studies Written Final
Religion #1: Islam
1. Identify 5 specific beliefs, values and /or practices that emerge from your study of this Religion. What is this
religions understanding or concept of god or the divine? (Based upon Molloy’s definitions of God).
1. Islam is a monotheistic tradition with belief in one ultimate God. In Islam the concept of complete surrender
or submission to God is central.
2. Belief that Muhammad is the final profit and messenger who spread the teachings of Islam.
3. The Qur’an is the holy book of Islam.
4. In Islam it is believed that Abraham was going to sacrifice Ishmael, not Isaac and God stopped him.
5. The five pillars of Islam are followed by Muslims. This includes the shahada, prayer, fasting, charity, and hajj.
2. Belief or Concept of the divine:
Islam is a monotheistic tradition believing in a singular ultimate God. He is the creator and all-knowing. God is
also beyond gender and human understanding. He is too great for humans to comprehend.
3. Identify 3 new ideas, beliefs or expressions of faith that you learned about this religion. Explain why these ideas
interested you.
1. Mohammad was the last messenger of God and he was someone that many Muslims looked up to. This
interested me because I read about how good of a human being he was and his life was really fascinating.
2. Jesus was one of God’s messengers, not his son. This interested me because other religions and people believe
that Jesus was his son and almost of equal status to God himself.
3. Muslims eat halal meat, no pork, and alcohol is prohibited. This interested me because I found out that halal
meat is when the animal is killed by cutting the throat and the name of God is said too.
4. What contribution do you believe this belief system offers our world that could increase peace, understanding
and compassion for one another? Explore in detail.
I believe this belief system can offer peace and one can learn the teachings of Islam through the Quran. The
people are kind, understanding, and accepting of other people and other religions. Their basic beliefs like giving
charity and fasting show that we can learn more from the religion. Islam emphasizes on good and evil. It teaches
others to be compassionate and giving to one another every day.
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Religion #2: Buddhism
1. 4 Noble Truths: The four noble truths are four concepts that Buddha brought forward. The Buddha saw the
world from a new viewpoint and upon his enlightenment discovered new truths about human existence. To live
is to suffer. Suffering comes from desire. To end suffering, one must end desire. Following the eight-fold path will
help to release from suffering.
2. Anatta: Anatta is the concept of no self, no permanence or identity. We are all just a sum of our parts.
Everything is made of constantly changing pieces There is no soul.
3. Dukkha: Dukkha is suffering, it is part of the experience of life. No one can escape suffering. We can only
change how we view and experiencing suffering.
4. Nirvana: Nirvana is the end of suffering; it is achieving inner peace. It is the end of the cycle of rebirth.
5. 8-Fold Path: The 8-fold path was the path Buddha had for living a correct life and attempting to reach nirvana.
It is this guide that Buddhists follow in trying to emulate Buddha.
In Buddhism, there is no belief in a God, but it is more of finding connection with human beings. There is a
realization of suffering and desires and how one leads to the other. If we want to have less suffering then we
have to decrease the amount of desires we have.
interested you.
1. Bohdisattva’s were also a new concept that I didn’t know existed in Buddhism. In Mahayana Buddhism exists
beings that are enlightened but have not yet reached nirvana. They instead choose to stay in this state and cycle
of rebirth to help others. This is a great example of karuna, or compassion for others.
2. The 8-fold path was something I learned, and it interested me. It is interesting that it is how you can reach
nirvana and somethings that it consists of is right intention, right action, right, speech, right contemplation, right
mindfulness, right work, and right effort, and right understanding. This was interesting because I did not know
that it was the way to reach nirvana.
3. I did not realize how Buddhist view suffering or the four noble truths. I found this most interesting because the
human experience is full of suffering and I do feel that it is inevitable. I also agree that suffering stems from
desire or attachment whether it be in relationships or to material objects. Choosing Buddha’s middle path is an
interesting and new concept to end suffering.
I think Buddhism has many ways to offer peace and understand. The 4 noble truths and 8-fold path are a few of
those things. I think a person who knows about these can become a better human being. There is belief in Karma
and Karuna, and emphasis on compassion. Buddhism encourages kindness and goodness. The idea of how
desires can lead to suffering can help people understand to not envy or get jealous. It also has to do with
material things and to be less materialistic.
Religion #3: Hinduism
1. Hinduism is a polytheistic religion that believes in the worship of a large pantheon of gods. People typically
worship one specific god.
2. Samsara is the constant cycle of rebirth. The cycle of reincarnation continues until one can reach freedom.
Beings move up and down a scale of higher and lower beings when they are reincarnated based on previous
Karma.
3. Brahman is the concept of the divine reality at the heart of all things. Brahman is something that can be
known and experienced, not just believed.
4. Moksha is the ultimate goal of Hinduism. It is attaining liberation. Finally, being released from the constant
cycle of rebirth. It comes from living a correct life, good karma, selflessness, ahimsa, and when only brahman
remains.
5. Karma is a force that is neither good nor evil. Living a good moral life creates good karma. There are moral
consequences of every action and decision.
Hindus believe in many gods, but also a belief in Brahman. Brahman being the divine spirit in one’s self and in
everything. Everything is connected by Brahman.
interested you.
1. The three main deities are Brahma, Shiva, and Vishnu. This interested me because they believe that God is
within these three. I have also heard of these gods when visiting a temple.
2. Moksha is the goal of achieving liberation. It ends the cycle of rebirth and can be attained by living a
good life as a good person. This interested me because I did not know about it before or how it could be done.
3. Samsara is when reincarnation continues until freedom can be attained. A person goes up and down a scale
based on their previous life and how they were, based on karma. This was interesting to me because I did not
know about the cycle going on and on until moksha could be achieved.
I believe there are many ways Hinduism can offer peace and increase understanding. I think that something like
moksha can teach others to try and always be a good person because if not then karma will make someone relive
their life as something they may not like. Also we want good karma and not a bad one. It is important to know
about how Brahman is something that connects everything and everyone and I think this idea is one that can
teach others to be kind. It is similar to the circle of life.
Religion #4: Christianity
1. The concept of the trinity is unique to Christianity. They believe in a monotheistic tradition with the worship
of one god, but that there is also the idea of the father, son and holy spirit.
2. Core to the Christian belief system is that Jesus is the Messiah. He was born by the virgin Mary sent by God
to save his people.
3. Jesus’ death on the cross was atonement for human sin. Jesus was sent by God and after his death was
resurrected.
4. Follow the teachings of Jesus. From Jesus came a new covenant with God. This was the two great
commandments, to love God and to love your neighbor.
5. Christianity has its own divine book, the Bible. This book contains the old testament, which is primarily the
Jewish bible, and the new testament.
Christianity believes in one ultimate God that is the creator, all-knowing, and judging just as the Jewish faith.
However, Christians believe in the holy trinity as well. They believe in God existing almost as 3 beings; as the
father, son and holy ghost.
interested you.
1. The use of religious images is affirmed by the church. This was interesting to me because in other religions like
Islam it is not okay.
2. It was also interesting to learn that Jesus is seen almost as a superhuman and that he was both divine and
human.
3. Something else that was interesting was the idea of original sin. In some forms of Christianity original sin is
something that was received from Adam’s descendants.
Christianity offers many things that can contribute with increasing peace, understanding, and compassion. One is
to love God and to love your neighbor. To me it means to really have love for everyone because we are all a
creation of God. Jesus also spread that message and it is an important one.
Religion #5: Judaism
1.Identify 5 specific beliefs, values and /or practices that emerge from your study of this Religion. What is this
1. The core of Judaism is the belief in God, one god, one ultimate creator. Judaism is a monotheistic tradition
believing in one ultimate divine being.
2. The ten commandments, a covenant between God and his people brought forth by Moses.
3. Recognizing the Sabbath, it is a day of rest in recognition of Gods day of rest after creating the world.
4. The Hebrew bible, Tanakh, contains the Torah, the Nevi’im, and the Ketuvim.
5. Studying the Talmud is also another important practice to Judaism. The Talmud is commentary on the Bible.
The Hebrew Bible is also handed down from God to his people with his instructions for laws and religious rituals.
Jewish people believe only in one God and no other spirits or deities. There is also the Hebrew Bible the Jews read
and it was sent down from God.
interested you.
1. Certain religious items like the yarmulke and the tefillin and tallit was interesting to learn about. They are
items used by traditionally practicing Jewish males.
2. I learned that when Jewish men pray in the morning during the week, they use a tefillin to signify that God’s
law is literally in the mind and heart of the person praying.
3. Keeping Kosher Jewish Dietary laws practices of eating Kosher foods, which is important for the
Jewish people is also something I found interesting.
Contributions this belief system can do to promote peace in Judaism is that human beings have a special role to
play in the world, and that is why God created them in his image, and they can do so much like speak, see, care,
and they have the responsibility to show these characteristics in the world to increase and promote peace.
Religion #6: Indigenous
1. Have stories that are passed down and it is told most of the time through song and dance.
2. Daily lives are followed through sacred times, it can be called dreamtime or the time in eternity.
3. Belief in spirits in nature, everything is seen as part of reality.
4. Animism which is seeing the universe as alive, especially the outside world like nature and the environment. 5.
5. Kinship is a way of expression, humans and animals are in existence together.
Indigenous religions believe in a God that is above all and superior to any other deities, spirits, etc. In some
indigenous tribes, God gives an explanation for all humanly things.
interested you.
1. I found the concept of Animism interesting because it is to see everything as alive. Even the trees and the
plants and the rivers.
2. I also learned that they have the sacred times to tell them what to do at what time and they also the sun as a
sign for how the day have will run.
3. It really interests me to learn about how they are one with nature and they are aligned with nature as much
as nature is aligned with them.
I believe that the indigenous religion can offer our world peace and understanding and compassion for others
because of how much they believe in everything being alive. Nature is really entuned from within an individual
and there is emphasize on respecting everything on earth whether it is a person or a thing.
Religion #7: Sikhism
1. Believes in one God who is not human but has human qualities.
2. Does not have the caste system like Hinduism.
3. Believe in the scripture of Guru Granth Sahib.
4. The 5 K’s that are articles of faith that Sikhs wear.
5. Believe in karma and reincarnation.
Sikhs believe in one God. They believe in the fundamental divine called the True Name. They believe the divine is
beyond all human conception and knowledge, and when the True Name of God is known then there are no
distinctions.
interested you.
1. The 5 K’s are kesh, kangha, kara, kachera, and kirpan. It was interesting to find out that they consist of unshorn
long hair, a small wooden comb, an iron bangle, an undergarment, and a short dagger. Most Sikhs wear one or
more of these.
2. Nanak was the founder of Sikhism and it was interesting to learn that Nanak rejected both Hinduism
and Islam even though they have similarities with Sikhism. Nanak sees Sikhism as its own.
3. It was also interesting to me to learn that Sikhs care a lot about their hair and wear a turban.
I believe that Sikhism can offer our world more peace and understanding. Sikhism looks at war and peace at all
levels. Nanak emphasized on helping those less fortunate and there is a sense of social responsibility among the
people. I think in these ways the religion can offer compassion to one another.
Religion #8: Jainism
1. Jains practice strict ahimsa. They are concerned with hurting the smallest of beings. Jains try to refrain from
causing harm to anything. This dictates how they live and as lay people, what careers they pursue.
2. Jains do not believe in a god or creator. They do however believe that all beings have spirits that move through
cycles of rebirth until reaching liberation.
3. Jiva and Ajiva: The idea that everything is composed of two parts, a soul and non-soul or matter. Jiva is the
spirit or life in every object, it feels and is alive. Ajiva is the non-living or matter portion.
4. Jains practice a more extreme form of ascetism. Although it is recognized that many people can’t achieve this
but living in nakedness, subjecting oneself to the elements, or starving oneself are paths to recognition.
5. There is a cycle of rebirth. The goal is to reach liberation and end the cycle of rebirth.
While Jains don’t believe in any gods or a creator, they do believe in a spirit in everything. They believe in a
concept of hylozoism, everything is full of life and everything is capable of suffering, animals, insects, trees, even
rocks. They also believe in two opposing parts in beings, Jiva and Ajiva. Ajiva is the material side that seeks
pleasure, self-interests, and to escape pain. Jiva the soul or spirit portion seeks freedom, escape from bondage, a
liberated spirit.
interested you.
1. There are different realms or layers to the universe and when one reaches liberation, they exist in the highest
realm was new and different from many other religions I know about and that was interesting.
2. The asceticism practiced in Jainism is stricter. It shows, in a lot of ways, self-discipline. It was also
interesting that certain types of self-inflicted deaths are seen positively if one wishes to end karma.
3. Ahimsa is a core practice and takes a lot of time and concern to assure one does not harm other beings. It was
interesting to me that the religion shows a lot of care.
Jainism is a religion that offers a lot of contribution for increasing peace and understanding. As mentioned before
there is Ahima which is not harming anything, even the smallest of things. There is also Jiva and Ajiva. Ajiva is the
somewhat evil side that cares for pleasure, self-interests, and to escape pain. Jiva is the soul or spirit portion that
wants freedom and liberation.
Part II: Interfaith Mandala Assignment - 50 points
For your interfaith Mandala you will need to create a mandala that is at least 15” in diameter. Please use a
ruler next to the paper so that you are able to demonstrate size for your mandala.
1. For your mandala include various symbols, image, aspect of a story, or something that depicts your learning, for
each of the religions we’ve studied this semester and the religious experiences that you have undertaken. These
symbols should be things that personally represent aspects of your learning. You must include at least 10
symbols/images that represent key elements of your learning throughout this semester. You also need to also
identify a symbol for yourself that you include within your mandala.
Here is a list of symbols that you may NOT use: The lotus flower, the YIN/YANG symbol, the Cross,
the Star of David, the Crescent Moon and Star. DO NOT USE the typical religious symbols that
identity the religion. Dig DEEPER. Find something that will be meaningful for you.
You need to include colors in this mandala, and you need to integrate the symbols that you have
chosen so your mandala looks like a completed work, not a few images thrown together at the last
minute. Your mandala is worth 50 points, do not complete a black and white pencil drawing that you
have thrown together in 10 minutes. You will not receive an acceptable grade.
Copy and Past a copy of your Mandala here:
Address the following questions in a one page reflection paper. -25 points
a. Introduce your mandala. Discuss each of the symbols you chose and their significance. Identify
in particular, what these symbols represent to you about the religion they represent.
b. What was the symbol that you selected for yourself? Why did you select this image or symbol.
How have some of your thoughts or ideas changed through this exploration of world religions?
c. What are the three most important things that you learned in this class this summer?
My mandala consists of eight religions. For Islam, I have the Kaaba drawn and the little dots represent the
people who walk around it. The pilgrimage is one of the five pillars of Islam. In Islam, it is one of the beliefs to
go to Hajj at least once in your lifetime. For Hinduism, I drew a spiral circle to represent the cycle of life Hindus
believe in. They believe in reincarnation, so I drew that to show the many rebirths a person can possibly have.
For Buddhism, I drew eight little paths to represent the 8-fold path. This is the way the Buddha has suggested
for a person to find nirvana or inner peace. To me this means to be a better human being and to follow these
paths can make someone realize the more important things in life. For Christianity, I drew a dove to show the
holy spirit. The dove also represents Jesus. It can relate to how Jesus had some followers but was alone in
many of his ideas and teachings. The dove can also represent how he was kind and gentle towards others. For
Jainism, I drew a tree because to me it represents the self-discipline the Jains have. It can show that people can
bare themselves and have a path of recognition. For Judaism, I drew a candle to show that candles are lit
before every Shabbat. The lit candle and fire represent the first day of work week. A candle to me is like a new
beginning similar to candles on a birthday cake. When we blow the candle it is like a new day for us. For
Sikhism I drew a comb to show that the men have a lot of care for their hair and they carry a wooden comb
with them. I think a comb is good for some cleanliness and tidiness. For Indigenous I drew a feather to
represent how animals and people co-exist. It can also represent nature and how it is all around us. The
religion emphasizes on nature, animals, trees, plants, etc. I have changed through this exploration of world
religions by learning more about people and the surroundings. I think learning about religions has made me a
more informed person and I can relate to more people. I enjoy meeting new people all the time and now since
I have been more informed about more religions then I can try and connect with them on that kind of level as
well. The three most important things I have learned this semester is that all religions have similarities, to be
open to learn new things about new religions, and there are religions that I did not know were religions. I have
learned that all religions have things in common. For example, Sikhism can be described as a combination of
both Hinduism and Islam even though it can be its own religion too. I have learned to be more open-minded to
new religions because, for example, I did not know Indigenous could also be a religion. It was interesting to
learn about their deep connection with nature. Ultimately, I learned that all religions have so many wonderful
things to learn from and sharing it with one another is a nice experience.
2. Post your written final and Interfaith Mandala in the Discussion Board. Comment upon at least 4 of
your peers final projects and Mandalas.
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Final Integrated Interfaith Reflection Assignment Template

Part 1: Religious Studies Written Final

Religion #1: Islam

3. The Qur’an is the holy book of Islam.

2. Belief or Concept of the divine:

1. Belief or Concept of the divine:

2. Belief or Concept of the divine:

2. Belief or Concept of the divine:

Religion #5: Judaism

Religion #6: Indigenous

2. Belief or Concept of the divine:

Religion #7: Sikhism

2. Does not have the caste system like Hinduism.

3. Believe in the scripture of Guru Granth Sahib.

4. The 5 K’s that are articles of faith that Sikhs wear.

5. Believe in karma and reincarnation.

2. Belief or Concept of the divine:

Religion #8: Jainism

2. Belief or Concept of the divine:

Part II: Interfaith Mandala Assignment - 50 points

Copy and Past a copy of your Mandala here:

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