Download Polytheism

Bellringer
• Sit at the six tables with no more than
FOUR at a table
• In your bellringer, answer the following
questions:
– What book do Muslims read?
– What do you call religions that believe in only
one god?
– What do Christians think about Jesus?
• Get out your note packets. If you don’t
have it, do the best you can to take notes
Buddhism
Buddhism: the
teachings of the
awakened one
(Gautama Buddha).
Age
Buddhism is one of the oldest
religions in practice today.
It was founded in 500 BC.
People who follow Buddhism
are called Buddhist.
Where are Buddhist?
There are about 708 million
Expansion of Buddhism
between 1st-10th century CE
Core Beliefs:
• Strive to put an end to the stress
of existence
• A Buddha is any person who
discovers the true nature of reality
• Want to have an understanding of
the true nature of all things
Central Figure:
Gautama
Buddha
Rebirth and Karma
Lives can be in any of a large
number of states of being,
including those of humans,
any kind of animal, and
several types of supernatural
beings.
Your type of rebirth is
dependent on your
Karma: actions of the
body, speech and
mind.
Six realms:
includes rebirth
as a deva, an
asura, a human
being, an
animal, a
hungry ghost,
or a being in
Naraka (hell).
Four Noble Truths:
• Birth, aging, illness, death, ect. Are
all suffering
• Suffering is caused by a craving for
existence and things.
• Suffering ends when a person stops
wanting an existence and things.
• You can end suffering by following
the noble eight fold path.
Noble
Eightfold
Path
Nirvana:
The extinguishment of all desires
The Middle Way:
Avoiding all
extremes;
Practicing
moderation
this is the path to
Nirvana
Bhikku: a Buddhist monk
People who follow Hinduism are
called Hindus.
Where are Hindus?
Hinduism is a set of religious
traditions and not a single welldefined religion.
Hinduism is one of the oldest
religions in the world.
Hinduism is the third largest religion
in the world with over
1 billion followers.
Some Hindus practice polytheism: a
belief in or worship of more than
one god.
Other Hindus practice henotheism:
a devotion to one god while
accepting the existence of others.
Brahman
Brahman: is the supreme god of
all gods. An eternal supreme
spirit which can take many
forms or manifestations of the
thousands of gods.
Reveals himself in three ways:
#1 Brahma: the creator of the world
#2 Vishnu: preserver of the world
#3 Shiva: destroyer of the world
Hindus also
believe in
many smaller
gods called
Devas.
Basic Beliefs:
#1 Dharma: natural law or
reality; the way of the higher
truths. This is an ideal
“way of life”.
Basic Beliefs:
#2 Samsara: a
great revolving
door between
life and death
(reincarnation)
Basic Beliefs:
#3 Karma: a sum of all that an
individual has done, is
currently doing and will do
(actions)
Basic Beliefs:
#4 Moksha: release from
reincarnation (salvation) by
following one of four paths
(yogas)
Four Pursuits of life:
• Moksha: liberation from
reincarnation
• Dharma: righteousness
• Artha: wealth
• Kama: pleasure and love
Religious Text: called the Vedas
Yoga: integration of body, mind a
spirit; union with the divine
Aum: represents
Brahman
Swastika: purity
Tilaka: a mark
symbolizing faith
also worn by
married Hindu
women; may be
used to identify
which tradition is
followed
Hindus worship in Temples
Hindus worship in Temples
Denominations (divisions)
Hinduism is divided into four
major divisions:
Vaishnavism, Shaivism,
Shaktism, and Smartism.
Conversion
Hindus do not actively recruit
new members
(also called evangelizing).
Hindus believe that the goals of
spiritual life can be attained
through any religion, so long as
the religion is practiced
sincerely.