5.1.7

The Divine Presence & Beliefs

Test yourself on The Divine Presence & Beliefs

Test your knowledge with free interactive questions on Seneca — used by over 10 million students.

Shekhinah

When Jews speak of experiencing God they might refer to the Shekhinah, which is also referred to as the Divine Presence.

The Temple in Jerusalem

The Temple in Jerusalem

  • The Temple in Jerusalem was the house of God and was where God could be experienced most powerfully.
  • The Temple was destroyed in 70CE and never rebuilt.
Torah

Torah

  • There are stories in the Torah where Jews had encounters with God, sometimes in open miracles and other times in the daily love and care they experienced.

Death

The Jewish customs related to death are about showing respect to the dying and dead and helping to support the grieving relatives.

The blessed acknowledgement

The blessed acknowledgement

  • When learning of a death, Jews say a blessing acknowledging that what happened is just.
  • This means that they do not blame God and are not angry with God.
  • Jews also tear their clothing as a sign of grief.
Helping the dead

Helping the dead

  • Helping the dead, by preparing the body for burial or by showing respect to the body, is seen as the ultimate kindness as the dead can never repay the favour.
  • If someone is there at the time of death they should make sure the dead person’s eyes are closed.

Beliefs About Life and the Afterlife

Some Jews believe that the afterlife is a spiritual concept and others believe that it is also physical.

Torah

Torah

  • The Torah focuses on living this life and making life holy and meaningful.
  • There is very little in Jewish scriptures about what happens after death.
  • Living according to the Torah is the most important Jewish idea and most Jews do not spend too much time thinking about death and what happens.
Judgement

Judgement

  • A person is judged after their death. Depending on the outcome of the judgement, 2 options are available:
    • The ‘good’ go to Gan Eden (garden of Eden/heaven) to receive rewards for good behaviour.
    • The 'bad' go to Gehenom, or Sheol, which isn’t hell as understood in the Christian sense. This is more like a ‘fixing zone’, where the soul is cleansed so that it can enter heaven.
Resurrection

Resurrection

  • The biblical Book of Daniel mentions a time of resurrection when the dead will come back to life to be rewarded and live again.
Jump to other topics
1

Buddhism

1.1

Key Beliefs

1.1.1The Dhamma1.1.2The Five Skandhas1.1.3Aspects of Human Life1.1.4The Buddha1.1.5The Ascetic & Enlightened Life1.1.6Dhukka1.1.7Samudaya1.1.8Nirodha1.1.9Magga1.1.10The Wheel of Life1.1.11End of Topic Test - Buddhism Key Beliefs
1.2

Practices

1.2.1Places of Worship1.2.2Objects of Worship1.2.3Puja1.2.4Meditation1.2.5Death1.2.6Festivals1.2.7End of Topic Test - Buddhism Practices
1.3

Ethics

1.3.1Kamma1.3.2Five Moral Precepts1.3.3End of Topic Test - Buddhism Ethics
2

Christianity

2.1

Key Beliefs

2.1.1The Nature of God2.1.2The Problem of Evil2.1.3Monotheism2.1.4Creation2.1.5Bible Accounts of Creation2.1.6The Trinity and Creation2.1.7Afterlife2.1.8Heaven and Hell2.1.9The Influence of Afterlife on Life2.1.10End of Topic Test - Christianity Key Beliefs2.1.11Exam-Style Questions - Christian Beliefs
2.2

Jesus Christ & Salvation

2.2.1The Incarnation2.2.2Jesus - Divine & Human2.2.3The Crucifixion2.2.4Jesus' Betrayal2.2.5Resurrection & Ascension2.2.6Sin2.2.7Original Sin2.2.8Punishment2.2.9The Means of Salvation2.2.10Achieving Salvation2.2.11Disagreements About Salvation2.2.12The Role of Christ in Salvation2.2.13Theories of Salvation2.2.14End of Topic Test - Jesus Christ & Salvation
2.3

Worship & Festivals

2.3.1Different Forms of Worship2.3.2Prayer2.3.3Sacrament2.3.4Baptism2.3.5Other Sacraments2.3.6Eucharist2.3.7Pilgrimage & Celebrations2.3.8Christmas & Easter2.3.9End of Topic Test - Worship and Festivals
2.4

Community

2.4.1Local Community2.4.2Mission, Evangelism & Church Growth2.4.3Worldwide Church2.4.4Reconciliation2.4.5Persecution2.4.6Caring for Those in Need2.4.7End of Topic Test - Community2.4.8Exam-Style Questions - Christian Practices
3

Catholicism (Christianity)

3.1

Key Beliefs

3.1.1The Trinity3.1.2Creation3.1.3Incarnation3.1.4Redemption3.1.5Life After Death3.1.6Heaven and Hell3.1.7End of Topic Test - Catholic Key Beliefs
3.2

The Seven Sacraments

3.2.1Meaning & Significance3.2.2Baptism3.2.3Confirmation3.2.4Reconciliation3.2.5Anointing of the Sick3.2.6Marriage3.2.7Holy Orders3.2.8The Eucharist3.2.9End of Topic Test - The Seven Sacraments
3.3

Practices

3.3.1Prayer3.3.2Popular Piety3.3.3Pilgrimage3.3.4Pilgrimages HyperLearning3.3.5Funeral Rites3.3.6The Duty to Love Our Neighbour3.3.7Catholic Agencies3.3.8Catholic Social Teaching3.3.9Justice3.3.10War3.3.11Mission & Evangelism3.3.12End of Topic Test - Catholic Practices
4

Islam

4.1

Key Beliefs

4.1.1Oneness of God4.1.2Six Articles of Faith4.1.3Five Roots of Usul4.1.4The Nature of God4.1.5Angels4.1.6Freedom4.1.7Life After Death4.1.8Human Responsibility4.1.9End of Topic Test - Muslim Key Beliefs
4.2

Authority

4.2.1Prophethood4.2.2The Holy Books4.2.3The Imamate4.2.4End of Topic Test - Muslim Authority
4.3

Practices

4.3.1Worship4.3.2Ten Obligatory Acts4.3.3Shahadah4.3.4Salah & Its Significance4.3.5Mosques4.3.6Rak'ahs4.3.7Sawm4.3.8Zakah4.3.9Hajj4.3.10Jihad4.3.11Festivals & Commemorations4.3.12End of Topic Test - Muslim Practices4.3.13Exam-Style Questions - Muslim Practices
5

Judaism

5.1

Key Beliefs

5.1.1The Nature of God5.1.2God as One5.1.3God's Name5.1.4God as Creator5.1.5Free Will5.1.6God as Law Giver and Judge5.1.7The Divine Presence & Beliefs5.1.8Role of the Messiah5.1.9End of Topic Test - Jewish Key Beliefs5.1.10Exam-Style Questions - Jewish Beliefs
5.2

Covenant & The Mitzvot

5.2.1The Promised Land5.2.2Abraham5.2.3The Covenant5.2.4The Covenant at Sinai5.2.5The Covenant at Sinai 25.2.6Key Moral Principles5.2.7End of Topic Test - Covenant & The Mitzvot
5.3

The Synagogue & Worship

5.3.1The Synagogue & Its Importance5.3.2Public Acts of Worship5.3.3Shabbat5.3.4Worship & Law5.3.5End of Topic Test - Synagogue & Worship

Practice questions on The Divine Presence & Beliefs

Can you answer these? Test yourself with free interactive practice on Seneca — used by over 10 million students.

  1. 1
    What is Shekhinah?Multiple choice
  2. 2
    What happened to the Temple in Jerusalem in 70CE?Multiple choice
  3. 3
    Features of the Divine Presence:True / false
  4. 4
    What is the name of the prayer said by Jews on hearing about a death?Multiple choice
  5. 5
    What is the blessed acknowledgement?True / false
Answer all questions on The Divine Presence & Beliefs

Unlock your full potential with Seneca Premium

  • Unlimited access to 10,000+ open-ended exam questions

  • Mini-mock exams based on your study history

  • Unlock 800+ premium courses & e-books

Get started with Seneca Premium

God as Law Giver and Judge

Role of the Messiah