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Unit 4
Belief Systems
Belief Systems
1.
2.
3.
4.
Definitions:
- Religion
- Social Philosophy
Beliefs of….
- Animism, Shintoism, Taosim,
Confucianism, Buddhism, Hinduism,
Judaism, Islam, & Christianity
Expansion of…
- Judaism, Christianity, Buddhism, & Islam
Map and Timeline
Map of World Belief Systems
Christianity
Islam
Animism
Confucianism
Judaism
Hinduism
&
Buddhism
Taoism
Shintoism
Timeline of Belief Systems
2
1
0
0
1
8
0
0
1
5
0
0
1
2
0
0
9
0
0
6
0
0
3
0
0
1
3
0
0
6
0
0
Animism
Hinduism
Judaism
Christianity
Islam
Buddhism, Confucianism, Taoism
Shintoism
9
0
0
Important Terms
1.
Religion:
- Organized set of
beliefs and rituals of a
culture
- Usually associated
with a “god” (diety) or
“spiritual force”
(worship)
2.
Social Philosophy:
- A set of guiding
principles that a
community follows
- They have a great
influence on how the
community behaves
System
Origin
Holy Text
Main Beliefs
Culture Affect
Animism
Africa
------------
Ancestor Worship;
Worship spirits of
nature (trees, animals)
Great respect
for nature
Shintoism
Japan
------------
The Spirits of “Kami”
exist in all things
including their emperor
Great respect for natural
world (especially the
ruler)
Hinduism
India
Vedas
Reincarnation
Lead a good life
Buddhism
India
(moved to
China)
------------
4 Noble Truths
Learn to accept what life
brings you
Taoism
China
Tao Te Ching
Follow nature: accept
things you cant change
Don’t challenge the
natural process
Confucianism
China
Analects
All need to accept their
role in society
Respect for elders,
parents, and country
Judaism
Middle East
Torah (Old
Testament)
1 God – Monotheism
God will send a messiah
to save them
Follow the 10
Commandments so the
messiah will come
Christianity
Middle East
Bible (Old/New
Testament)
1 God; Jesus is the son
of God and the messiah
Simple rules won many
converts to Christianity
Islam
Middle East
Koran
(Qur’an)
1 God; Follow Allah;
Mohammed is the
messiah who spread his
word
The religion laws of
Islam are so important
that they become
political laws of nations
Animism
Shintoism
Taoism
Confucianism
Hinduism
Buddhism
Judaism
Christianity
Islam
Expansion of Religion

Missionaries

Trade

Military Conquest

Exploration
Buddhism


Began in India but
was not accepted
there (the Hindu
social order was too
strong)
Missionaries: people
who spread religion
by teaching others
about the beliefs
Judaism

Kicked out of Palestine
by the Romans

Removed from
Palestine during the
Diaspora – the
scattering of the Jewish
people during the 1st
century CE

Most Jews went to the
cities of Europe where
they lived in ghettos,
there was much
persecution and
oppression
Christianity


After the death of
Jesus, missionaries
(disciples) spread
his world
Roman Empire:
◦ Persecuted Christians
◦ Slowly accepted
Christian ideas
◦ Eventually became
the official religion
◦ Romans spread
Christianity
throughout the
empire
Islam

Out of Mecca, east
to India, went
across North Africa
and on into Spain

Islam spread by
military conquest

Arab (Muslims –
followers of Islam)
were also great
traders
Essential Elements of Selected Belief Systems
HINDUISM: Important Terms
1. Reincarnation: The belief that the soul comes back
in another form after the body’s death
2. Karma: Behavior of a Hindu (Thoughts & Actions)
3. Dharma: The overall values and rules of Hinduism
4. Caste System: The social order of separate castes
(classes of people) through Karma – people move up
or down the caste system which organized Indian
society by the type of job a person held
BUDDHISM: “Four Noble Truths”
1. Everyone Suffers
2. Suffering is caused by Desire
3. To end suffering, End your desires
4. To end your desires – follow Eightfold Path
to reach Nirvana (State of supreme bliss)
CONFUCIANISM: “5 Relationships”
1. Father to Son
2. Older Brother to Younger Brother
3. Husband to Wife
4. Ruler to Subjects
5. Friends = Friends
ISLAM: “5 Pillars of Faith”
1. Recite: Say each day “there is no God but
Allah and Mohammed is his prophet”
2. Pray: 5 times a day, facing Mecca
3. Charity: Give regularly to the poor
4. Fast: Go without food or drink from sunrise to
sunset during the Holy Month of Ramadan
5. Pilgrimage: Try to make a journey (hajj) to
Mecca at least once in your life
Essential Questions
1.
What concept – important to Buddhism, Taoism,
and Confucianism – has become an important
element of Chinese culture?
a. They accept what life brings them
b. They accept their role in society
c. They don’t look for change
2.
What do the religions of Judaism, Christianity,
and Islam all have in common?
a. All started in the Middle East
b. Jerusalem is a sacred city for all three
c. Monotheism (belief in one God–same God)
d. All follow ethical (morally good) set of
rules for behavior
Questions continued…..
3. What are the various methods that were used to spread
religions to other lands?
a. Missionaries
b. Military conquest
c. Trade
d. Migration
- Diaspora – forced (Ex. Jews by the Romans)
- Willing – (ex. Buddhism, Pilgrims to
America)
4. What are 4 of the main principles of Confucianism?
a. Education is important for a well run society
b. Government officials should be good role
models for society
c. Everyone should know and accept their role in
society
d. Respect your elders (Filial Piety)