The Mosque

1. Where was it, what did you see and do at the Mosque?
In Auburn (Sydney, Australia).

Upon entering the Mosque I observed Muslim men and women praying at the Mosque, when entering we had to take off our shoes and place them on shelves so we did no defile the inside of the Mosque. We then went inside and learnt about Islam rituals and beliefs from a woman who was a member of the Mosque. The inside of the Mosque was decorated with religious symbols and Arabic lettering.

2. What did you learn? Identify major items/facts.

·         From this experience I have learnt that Muslims pray five times a day,

·          males and females are usually segregated from each other so they are not distracted from the service

·          both sexes have to dress modestly which most women see as an advantage.

·         Muslims start to pray five times a day about the time they hit puberty

·         Prayer is conducted on the floor

3. What you gained from this experience?
I have gained a better understanding of Islamic practises and have gained a slight insight into a new and quite different religion that was quite unknown by me.  I enjoyed the architecture and the very different experience I have gained from visiting the Mosque.

Facts about Islam

What is Islam about?

Islam means "submission" or "submission to God". It derives from a word meaning "peace."

What were the origins of Islam?

Islam originated in the 6th Century (570 AD) in Saudi Arabia, Mecca. Muhammad received a revelation from God and Islam begins, aged 40.

How does someone become a Muslim?

To become a Muslim, one must simply repeat the phrase "there is no God apart from God, and Muhammad is the messenger of God." By saying this, one announces their faith in Islam, it's prophets and scripture.

How do Muslims practice their religion?

Muslims practice their religion by praying 5 times a day usually in a Mosque (also accepted at other locations) and also uphold the 5 Pillars of Islam "(faith, prayer, concern for the needy, self-purification, and the pilgrimage to Makkah)"

What is Ka’ba?

The Ka’ba is a place of worship built over 4 thousand years ago. God commanded Abraham and Ishmael to build it.

What were the highlights of Muhammad’s life?

·         Muhammad was born in Makah in the year 570

·         Muhammad received a revelation known as the Quran from God through Gabriel (the angel). He had Gabriel’s words written down.

·         Muhammad preached Gabriel’s words which eventually led to the Hijra (migration)

What is the Qur’an?

·         The Quran is the Islam holy book

·         114 chapters

·         It consists of all the words that Gabriel conveyed to Muhammad

·         The Quran is the source of the Muslim faith

   

Islam Core Beliefs

The words Islam and Muslim both mean ‘submission’

-          Muslims believe God/Allah made everything

-          The Muslim holy book is called the Qur’an

-          A star and crescent moon is the symbol of Islam

-          Muslims submit to Allah because they believe he is the one God and has made everything

-          Muslims believe Muhammad is a great prophet who  received messages from Allah from the angel Gabriel and collected these messages into the holy book, the Qur’an.

-      This symbol is used as the symbol of Islam because many Islamic people originally lived in the desert, where it is essential to rely on the moon and stars to guide the way at night- they believe their religion guides them into a holy life.

-          Two Islamic countries include Turkey and Afghanistan

Quick Questions:

-          The religion of Muslim people is called ‘Islam’

-          Submission means to yield and surrender to a person, object or idea and to let it have complete control over you.

-          The Muslim name for God is Allah

-          A symbol is “something that stands for something else”

-          The greatest and last prophet of Islam is Muhammad

The Gospels and the Life of Jesus

The New testament Gospels

·         All the Gospels were written sometime between 59-70 AD- the exact date is not known.

·         These gospels’ aim is to promote the Saviour of mankind and to promote the good word as to lead humans into Gods light and security

Matthew

·         Anonymous writer- pseudonym “Matthew”

Mark

·         The author is anonymous, but Early Christian tradition identifies the author as “Mark the Evangelist.”

Luke

·         An associate of the apostle Paul, and the author of Acts

John

·         Anonymous/not completely known, but identified with “John the Apostle”

Belief Like of Jesus

Miracle:

·         When Jesus was at Capernaum, men brought in a paralytic on a stretch/bed through a hole in the roof as the room was so crowded

·         Jesus told the man that his sins were forgiven, and so the man stood and walked

Crucifixion:

·         Judas was the betrayer- he was a disciple and betrayed Jesus for gold

·         Kissed Jesus on the cheek to show he was the one the Roman guards would seize

·         Crucifixion was an ancient method of execution in which the victim's hands and feet were bound and nailed to a cross. (http://christianity.about.com/od/goodfriday/p/crucifixionhub.htm)

·         They say him as a threat to society and to the restrictions and rules they had set down for the Jews

·         He was forced to carry the cross through Jerusalem, and was nailed from approximately 9am-3 pm

·         Christ’s death was the atonement for mankind- took their sins to his death

Resurrection:

·         Mary Magdalene found the stone of Jesus’ tomb opened after three days- angels told her that Jesus had risen

·         She found Jesus and mistook him for the gardener at first

·         Jesus told her he was now going to heaven

·         Jesus’ spirit spent three days in Hell in penance for mankind’s sin

·         Mary went to spread the Good News to the world

Parents:

·         Mary of Nazareth was a virgin; she conceived Jesus through Immaculate Conception, making him Gods son

·         She married Joseph

Christian Celebrations

Pentecost:

·         Pentecost is the celebration that marks the origin or beginning of the Catholic Church by the power of the Holy Spirit.

·         Its historical context is that the Holy Spirit or Ghost descended upon the apostles.

·         It commemorates the Holy Spirits descent, which was the origin of the Christian church and has kept it persevering for two thousand years

·         While the disciples were praying, wind filled the house and they felt fire (the Holy Spirit) above their heads

·         They went out onto the street and began preaching and a crowd formed, the Apostles being able to talk in each person’s language.

·         Peter preached about Jesus, the son of God, and as a result, three thousand people were baptised that day.

·         The Spirit gave seven gifts:

o   Wisdom

o   Understanding

o   Counsel

o   Inward Strength

o   Knowledge

o   True Godliness

o   Holy Fear (Reverence & True Religion) 

·         Pentecost takes place fifty days after Easter Sunday (which varies year to year)

·         The main people involved: The Eleven Disciples

·         Symbols include:

o   The colour red (fire of the Holy Ghost)

o   Tongues of fire

o   The dove (the holy spirit)

o   A sailing ship (representing the church)

o   The seven lamps (gifts of the Spirit)

Holy Thursday:

·         Maundy Thursday is the Christian feast or holy day on the Thursdays before Thursday that commemorate the last supper of Jesus Christ when he shared a Passover meal with his disciples on the night before he was crucified, before the Passover meal, Jesus washed the feet of his disciples and during the meal.
 Jesus took bread and wine and asked his Father to bless it, this is why many churches hold communion services as part of their holy Thursday celebrations. It is the 5^th day of Holy Week, proceeded by Holy Wednesday and followed by Good Friday. 

·         The disciples of Jesus were originally involved in this act. Now today, any Christian can be involved in this celebration.

Good Friday:

•       Good Friday is a Christian holiday held on the Friday before Easter. It commemorates the crucifixion of Jesus Christ and his death at Calvary.

•        It is traditionally a day of mourning and is a very important day in church calendars, as the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus are central events in Christian beliefs

•       Good Friday is traditionally a time of fasting and penance.

Corpus Christi:

•       Takes place on Thursday the 7^th June every year.

•       It is a time when Catholics worship Christ publically and in every way they can.

•       In commemoration many Christians receive communion on this day.

•       There are processions through streets, masses for the Eucharist, 6 or 4 candles burn on the altar.

•       In some countries the bread (or host) is paraded throughout the streets. Priests carry the bread in a monstrance, which is a type of vessel. In Spain and Provence the processions can be elaborate, featuring saints and characters from the Bible, following a path decorated with wreaths and flowers.

•       The most important part of the ceremony is when the bishop raises the silver monstrance and exposes the Blessed Sacrament, the “body of Christ.”

Background:

•       Corpus Christi has been in honour of the Catholic Church since 1246. The term is latin that means the body of Christ. The date changes every year and is celebrated on the Thursday after Trinity Sunday or on the Sunday after Holy Trinity in some countries.

•       The feast was introduced from Belgium to England at some stage between 1318 and 1325, according to various sources.