Download World Religions

World Religions
Influence of World Religions in the
Contemporary World
Five World Religions
• Five world religions have had a profound
impact on culture and civilization.
• What are some characteristics of the five
major world religions?
Monotheism
• Began in Palestine
with the Jews
• Abraham is the
founder of:
– Judaism
– Islam
Monotheism
• Begun by Abraham about 2000 BCE
• Common Beliefs:
– God created the universe
– God continues to govern the universe
– The Ten Commandments were given to
Moses by God on Mt. Sinai and must be
followed
Judaism
• Monotheism
• Ten Commandments of moral and religious
conduct
• Torah: Written records and beliefs of the Jews
• Founder: Abraham
JUDAISM
• Followers are called Jews
• Believe that God made a covenant with
Abraham and his people (Israelites)
• Adherents are worldwide, but most are in
Israel
• Holy book is the Torah (= the first five books of
the Old Testament of Christian Bible)
• Worship in a Synagogue
Christianity
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Monotheism
Jesus as Son of God
Life after death
New Testament: Life and teachings of Jesus
Establishment of Christian doctrines by early
church councils
• Worship in a church
• Holy Book: Bible
Islam
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Monotheism
Muslim name for their God is Allah
Muhammad, the prophet
Holy Book: Qur’an (Koran)
Mecca and Medina
Started his religion in Mecca, Saudi Arabia.
This is the holiest city in Islam.
ISLAM
• Muslims worship in a mosque
• Muslims must follow the Five Pillars of Islam:
– Stating the Faith
– Prayer 5 times/day facing Mecca
– Charity to poor
– Pilgrimage (Hajj)
– Fast during Ramadan
Buddhism
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Founder: Siddhartha Gautama (Buddha)
Four Noble Truths
Eightfold Path to Enlightenment
Spread of Buddhism from India to China and
other parts of Asia, resulting from Asoka’s
missionaries and their writings
Buddhism
• Basic Tenets of Buddhism
–The world is full of suffering
–Meditation is our only escape
–Nirvana is the ultimate goal
–Follow the Eightfold Path
Eightfold Path
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Right Understanding
Right Thought
Right Speech
Right Action
Right Livelihood
Right Effort
Right Mindfulness
Right Concentration
Images of Buddha
Polytheism
• Polytheism is the worship of more than one
god.
• May accept gods from other religions
• Choose your favorite god!
Hinduism
• Many forms of one god
• Reincarnation: Rebirth based upon karma
• Karma: Knowledge that all thoughts and
actions result in future consequences
Polytheism
• Hinduism
– From India around 1700 BCE
– No single founder
– 3rd largest religion
– Holy Book: Rig Veda
– Brahman is the source of all divinity (holiness)
– Believe in reincarnation (soul is reborn many
times based on Karma).
Caste System
Good Karma
OK Karma
Bad Karma
Untouchables
Hindu Gods
VISHNU
SHIVA
BRAHMA
Essential Understanding and Question
• Five world religions have had a profound
impact on culture and civilization. These
religions are found worldwide, but their
followers tend to be concentrated in certain
geographic areas. (pp. 700-714)
• Where are the followers of the five world
religions concentrated?
Geographic Distribution of World’s
Major Religions
• Judaism: Concentrated in Israel and North
America
• Christianity: Concentrated in Europe and North
and South America
• Islam: Concentrated in the Middle East, Africa,
and Asia
• Hinduism: Concentrated in India
• Buddhism: Concentrated in East and Southeast
Asia
Contemporary Political
issues…ethic/religious conflicts
• Developed and developing nations face many
challenges. These include migrations, ethnic
and religious conflicts…
• What are some challenges faced by the
contemporary world?
Ethnic and Religious Conflicts
• Middle East –
• Muslim infighting (Sunni vs. Shi’a), Muslims
(Arabs) vs. Jews (Israel), Strict vs. moderate,
Muslims vs. Christians (United States)
• Northern Ireland –
• Protestants vs. Catholics
• Balkans –
• Serbs, Bosnians, and Croats fight one another for
land (their own nation) 1990s
Ethnic and Religious Conflicts
• Horn of Africa –
• Consists of Somalia, Ethiopia, Eritrea, and
Djibouti. Drought, disease, and piracy has been a
problem in this region.
• South Asia –
• Consists of India, Pakistan, Afghanistan,
Bangladesh, Nepal, et al… India and Pakistan
have a history of disputes and with the war on
terror Afghanistan and Pakistan are in the news.