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TEN FACTS YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT…
JUDAISM
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It is the worlds oldest monotheistic religion (Jehovah is the word for God)
It’s founder was Abraham
Their religious symbol is the Star of David
They can't eat pork, and their food must be 'Kosher'
They attend synagogues (rather than Christian churches or Muslim mosques)
Their holy text is the Torah
Their religious leaders (equivalent of priests or imams) are called Rabbis
Jewish men are meant to wear a Kippah (rounded brimless skullcap) while eating,
praying, reciting blessings or studying Jewish texts, although some wear them all the
time.
9. Their Sabbath day (called Shabbat) starts at sundown on Friday and finishes at
sundown on Saturday, every week, celebrating God's day of rest after Creation.
10.When a Jewish girl is twelve, or a Jewish boy thirteen, they have their Bat Mitzvah
(girls) or Bar Mitzvah (boys), which is a rite of passage into adulthood.
CHRISTIANITY
1. Founded by Jesus of Nazareth (or Jesus Christ) – Branched off from Judaism
2. Has many different denominations (types) but the largest is Roman Catholic
3. Is a monotheistic religion (Largest religion in the world)
4. Uses several symbols, but most common is a cross
5. The holy text is the Bible
6. Their religious leaders are called priests or ministers
7. Their observances are usually on Sundays
8. Christmas is a major holiday celebrating the birth of Jesus
9. Easter is another major holiday celebrating Jesus rising from the dead (resurrection)
10.Christians worship in churches
ISLAM
1. Monotheistic religion (Allah is the word for God)
2. Founded by the prophet Muhammad in the 7th Century (622 AD)
3. Is the second largest religion in the world
4. The holy text is the Qur’an
5. The word Islam means “submission” as in submitting to the will of God
6. Practices center on the Five Pillars of Islam (faith, prayer, fasting, pilgrimage, & alms)
7. The two main sects (denominations/types) are Shiite, and Sunni
8. Their religious leaders are called imam
9. Their place of worship is the mosque
10.One of their most holy observances is Ramadan, a holy month in which they abstain
from several things.
HINDUISM
1. World’s oldest major religion (at least 4,000 years ago)
2. It had no founder (or at least none that we know of)
3. Two of their most sacred texts (scriptures) are the Vedas and the Upanishads
4. Is a polytheistic religion (believe in more than one God)
5. They worship at shrines or temples.
6. Third largest religion in the world
7. Spiritual leaders are called gurus or sages
8. The three principal gods are Shiva, Vishnu, and Shakti (Brahman)
9. Believe in reincarnation (you are born, die, and are reborn as plant, animal, or human)
10.Believe Karma (the good and bad you do) affects you in this life and what you’ll be
reborn as.
11.The ultimate goal of Hinduism is to break the cycle of rebirth (reincarnation) and achieve
moksha.
BUDDHISM
1. Started about 2,500 years ago... Branched off from Hinduism
2. Founded by Siddhartha Gautama (“the Buddha”), an Indian prince
3. The most sacred text are the Tripitaka
4. This is a polytheistic religion… but it’s about enlightenment not gods.
5. Their place of worship is a temple or meditation hall (stupas also)
6. The three main types are Theravada, Mahayana, Tibetan… also Zen
7. Their spiritual leaders are monks (with a lama in Tibetan Buddhism)
8. Believe in Reincarnation
9. Ultimate goal is to break cycle of rebirth and achieve Nirvana
10.At the core of their beliefs are the Four Noble Truths (Suffering exists, There is a cause
for suffering, There is an end to suffering, In order to end suffering, you must follow the
Eightfold Path).
11.The Eight-Fold is Path broken up into three qualities: Wisdom (Right view
(understanding), Right thought), Morality (Right speech, Right action, Right livelihood),
and Meditation (Right effort, Right mindfulness, and Right contemplation
(concentration)).