The Vedic Traditions

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The Vedic Society

Indus Valley

The Vedic society existed a long time ago near the valley of the Indus river
- The Vedic period dates from about 1500 – 500 BCE.
- They lived where modern-day Northen India and Pakistan are.

Vedic society

As the Vedic tribes settled, they formed townships, principalities and kingdoms.
Social classes developed and became the basis of the caste system.
- The caste system indicated the social responsibilities of each group.
- For example: administrators and merchants.

Vedic culture

Vedic society relied on agriculture and trade.
- Rivers, especially the Ganges, were of vital importance.
Other economic activities included:
- Work with metals (gold and bronze).
- Production of jewellery.

Vedic Religion

The Vedic period also saw the development of the Vedic religion.
Vedic religion believed in a series of deities, including:
- Agni, who represented the fire of sacrifice.
- Surya, the Sun god.
- Vayu, the lord of the Wind.
Another characteristic of Vedic religion is the belief that rivers were goddesses. This is due to their importance for life and growth.

Vedic worship

Worship of Vedic gods took the form of sacrifice and chanting of verses from sacred texts.
- Vedic people prayed to the gods for many things, such as rain and children.
- They prayed to live full and happy lives.
Vedic people believed the universe had an order.
- Everything in it needed to follow that order.
These beliefs and practices are the Brahmanical Ideology, or Brahmanism.

Sacred texts

An important feature of Brahmanism was the writing of sacred texts. These texts are ‘The Vedas’.
- The Vedas include instructions about how to perform worship.
- They also include poetry and mantras.
The Brahmins (priests) led ceremonies and remembered the hymns by heart.
The Vedas also give instructions about social and moral behaviour.

Rig-Veda & Upanishads

The Vedas include the Rig-Veda. This has hymns and instructions on how to perform religious rituals.
- The Vedas also include the Upanishads. These speak about meditation and philosophy.

1Year 7

1.1Origins of Abrahamic Faith

1.2Judaism

1.2.1The Nature of God

1.2.2Creation

1.2.3What Do Jews Believe?

1.2.4Moses

1.2.5Abraham & Moses

1.2.6Tenakh & Talmud

1.2.7Rabbis & Rabbinic Literature

1.2.8The Jewish Scriptures - The Written Law

1.2.9The Jewish Scriptures - The Oral Law

1.2.10The Tradition of Discussion & Debate

1.2.11Orthodox Judaism

1.2.12Reform Judaism

1.2.13The Daily Practices of Orthodox & Reform Jews

1.2.14Morality & Living a Good Life

1.2.15Ethical Duties of Jews

1.2.16Prayer & Acts of Worship

1.2.17Written & Oral Jewish Law

1.2.18Afterlife

1.2.19The First Temple

1.2.20The Tabernacle's Journey & End

1.2.21Orthodox & Reform Synagogues

1.2.22The Daily Service

1.2.23What is Shabbat?

1.2.24Traditional Rituals for Shabbat

1.2.25What is Pesach?

1.2.26What is Yom Kippur?

1.2.27How Have Jews Been Persecuted?

1.2.28The Persecution of the Jews Throughout History

1.2.29The Black Death

1.2.30Antisemitism in Nazi Germany

1.2.31Antisemitism in Nazi Germany 2

1.2.32The Holocaust

1.2.33Genocide

1.2.34How the Holocaust has Impacted the Jewish Identity

1.2.35Holocaust Memorial

1.2.36Global Diversity of Jews

1.2.37Jewish Practices

1.2.38Jewish Celebrations & Rituals

1.3Christianity

1.4Disciplinary Knowledge

1.4.1Scripture and Religious Authority

1.4.2Interpreting Data

1.4.3Forms of Expression

1.4.4Shaping and Being Shaped by Wider Society

2Year 8

2.1Islam

2.1.1Pre-Islamic Arabia

2.1.2The Prophet Muhammad & The Qur'an

2.1.3The Hijrah & The Conquest of Mecca

2.1.4The Prophet Muhammad: The Final Sermon

2.1.5The Sunni/Shia Split

2.1.6Islamic Caliphates

2.1.7The Five Pillars of Islam

2.1.8Origins of Hajj

2.1.9Hajj Rituals

2.1.10Jihad

2.1.11Islam Today

2.2Hindu Dharma (Hinduism)

2.3Buddhism

2.3.1Roots in Hindu Dharma

2.3.2Siddhartha Gautama

2.3.3Siddhartha's Four Sights

2.3.4Asceticism, Enlightenment & The Middle Way

2.3.5Buddha's Authority & Personal Experience

2.3.6Core Belief

2.3.7The Three Marks of Existence

2.3.8Cyclical Time

2.3.9The Four Noble Truths - Dukkha and Samudaya

2.3.10The Four Noble Truths - Nirhoda and Magga

2.3.11The Buddha’s Noble Eightfold Path to Enlightenment

2.3.12Karma, Samsara & Nirvana

2.3.13The Three Jewels

2.3.14The Five Precepts

2.3.15Meditation

2.3.16Theravada & Mahayana Buddhisms

2.3.17Puja

2.3.18Buddhism in the UK and Across the World

2.4Sikhi

2.4.1Origins of Sikhi

2.4.2The Ten Sikh Gurus

2.4.3The Guru Granth Sahib

2.4.4Waheguru

2.4.5The Sikh Concept of God

2.4.6Creation of the Universe

2.4.7The Khalsa

2.4.8Sewa

2.4.9Samsara & Mukti

2.4.10The Gurdwara & the Langar

2.4.11Different Interpretations

2.4.12Sikhi Across the World

2.5Atheism

2.5.1Where Did Atheism Come From?

2.5.2The Impact of Scientific Developments

2.5.3Plato's Cave

2.5.4Challenging the Bible

2.5.5The Enlightenment

2.5.6Evolution

2.5.7Evolution & Religion

2.5.8Morality & God

2.5.9Morality Without God

2.5.10Frederick Nietzsche - How to Live Without Religion

2.5.11Militant Atheism

2.5.12Humanism

2.5.13The Future of Atheism

2.6Philosophy of Religion

2.6.1Who is God?

2.6.2Theists, Atheists & Agnostics

2.6.3Faith & Empiricism

2.6.4The Design Argument

2.6.5Is The Design Argument Convincing?

2.6.6The Cosmological Argument

2.6.7Criticisms of The Cosmological Argument

2.6.8The Problem of Evil

2.6.9Free Will Theodicy

2.6.10Soul-Making Theodicy

2.6.11Religious Experience

2.6.12Types of Religious Experience

2.6.13Criticisms of Religious Experience

2.7Disciplinary Knowledge

2.7.1Theology

2.7.2Social Sciences

2.7.3Changing Roles of Men & Women

2.7.4Divorce & Remarriage in the Church of England

3Year 9

3.1Life & Death

3.1.1What is the Right Thing To Do?

3.1.2Thomas Aquinas - Natural Law

3.1.3Building a Moral Code

3.1.4Criticisms of Natural Law

3.1.5Joseph Fletcher - Situation Ethics

3.1.6Understanding Situation Ethics

3.1.7Criticisms of Situation Ethics

3.1.8Sanctity of Life

3.1.9Quality of Life

3.1.10Abortion

3.1.11Moral Questions About Abortion

3.1.12Euthanasia

3.1.13Moral Questions About Euthanasia

3.1.14Capital Punishment

3.1.15Arguments Against Captial Punishment

3.1.16Animal Rights

3.1.17Alternative Views on Animal Rights

3.2Extremism

3.3Equality

3.3.1Introduction to Equality

3.3.2Is the UK an Equal Society?

3.3.3Religion & Equality

3.3.4Interpreting the Scripture

3.3.5Racism & Scripture

3.3.6Scripture Against Racism

3.3.7The Fight for Racial Equality

3.3.8Gender Equality & Scripture

3.3.9Gender Equality; Women in Worship

3.3.10LGBTQ+ Matters

3.3.11The Fight for LGBTQ+ Equality

3.3.12Disability Matters

3.3.13The Fight for Disability Equality

4Additional Concepts

4.1Non-Religious People in the UK

4.1.1Statistics & Reasons

4.1.2Main Tenets on Non-Religious People

4.1.3Allegations Against Religious People

4.2Believing in God Oustide of Religion

4.2.1Non-Religious Believers & New Age

4.2.2Stay-At-Home Christians

4.2.3Agnosticism

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