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Five Major World Religions
And a few minor ones…
God or Gods?
 POLYTHEISM—belief
in MORE than one god
•Hinduism
 MONOTHEISM—belief
in ONE God
•Judaism
•Christianity
•Islam
 ATHEISM—belief
in NO god(s)
Important Note…
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ALL of the religions/philosophies listed are
c
STILL PRACTICED TODAY
Religious Prophets of Note
 PROPHET—a
messenger of God
 Examples:
•Abraham
•Moses
•Jesus
•Muhammad
Judaism
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Founder: Abraham
Type: Monotheistic (1st one)
Origin: Middle East (Israel)
Texts/Beliefs
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Important Places
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Ten Commandments: moral & religious laws from God (given
to prophet Moses)
Torah: holy scriptures (similar to Christian Old Testament)
Israel (Jewish Homeland)
Jerusalem (city in Israel)
Symbol: Star of David
IMAGES OF JUDAISM
Christianity
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Founder: Jesus
Type: Monotheistic (2nd one)
Origin: Middle East (Israel)
Texts/Beliefs
 Jesus is Son of God & “Messiah” (savior)
• Sent to die for sins of man
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Life after death in Heaven or Hell
Holy Trinity (Father/Son/Holy Spirit)
Holy Bible
• Old Testament—BEFORE Jesus (similar to Torah)
• New Testament—Life & teachings of Jesus
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Important Places
 Jerusalem (city in Israel)
Symbol: cross
“Christ” from
Greek for
“savior”—
“Christians” are
followers of the
“Christ”
IMAGES OF CHRISTIANITY
Islam
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Founder: Muhammad
Type: Monotheistic (3rd one)
Origin: Middle East (Saudi Arabia)
Texts/Beliefs
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Important Places
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Quran (holy book)
Five Pillars (faith, prayer, alms, fasting, pilgrimage)
Mecca (Makkah) is holiest city
Medina (Madinah) is 2nd holy city
Jerusalem (city in Israel) is 3rd holy city
Symbol: crescent moon & star
FIVE PILLARS OF ISLAM
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FAITH
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PRAYER
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Give charity
FASTING
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5 times per day (sunrise, noon, afternoon, evening, night)
ALMS
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Believe in God (Allah)
Believe Muhammad is Allah’s prophet
No eat/drink from sunrise/set during Ramadan (holy month)
PILGRIMAGE
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Spiritual journey to Mecca (holiest city)
Images of Islam
Hinduism
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Founder: no single person (OLDEST RELIGION)
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Type: Polytheistic (many forms of one deity—or god)
Origin: India (national religion)
Texts: Vedas (written in Sanskrit language)
Beliefs:
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Came from Aryan religion when they invaded India
Reincarnation—rebirth
Karma—actions now will affect you later (good or bad)
Dharma—must follow duties in life
Caste System—strict social levels called VARNAS
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Follow Dharma in this life, have good Karma in next life &
maybe move up
Hindu
Castes
BRAHMIN
Priest/Teacher
KSHATRIYA
King/Warrior
VARNAS
(groups)
VAISYA
Merchant, Farmer, Artisan
SUDRA
Peasant/Laborer
UNTOUCHABLE
So Far Below Other Groups They Are Not Even PART Of Caste System
IMAGES OF HINDUISM
Buddhism
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Founder: Siddhartha Gautama (The Buddha)
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Type: Atheism (no “god”)
Origin: India (2nd oldest religion in world)
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“Buddha” means
“Enlightened One”
Spread to China, Korea, Japan, & Southeast Asia
Beliefs: Four Noble Truths & Eightfold Path
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Respected as a TEACHER, not a god
Goal: NIRVANA (become one with universe)
Follow Eightfold Path to stop cycle of
reincarnation (rebirth)
“Philosophy” more than “religion”
Symbols: Buddha & Wheel of Life
Images of Buddhism
Sikhism - 1500 CE
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Sikh faith was founded by Shri Guru Nanak Dev Ji in the
Punjab area, now Pakistan. He began preaching the way
to enlightenment and God after receiving a vision.
Sikhs believe in a single formless God with many names,
who can be known through meditation.
Sikhs pray many times each day and are prohibited from
worshipping idols or icons. They believe in samsara,
karma, and reincarnation as Hindus do but reject the
caste system.
They believe that everyone has equal status in the eyes
of God.
Images of Sikhism
Animism – from the
beginning…
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The belief of animism is probably one of man's oldest
beliefs, with its origin most likely dating to the
Paleolithic age. From its earliest beginnings it was a
belief that a soul or spirit existed in every object, even if
it was inanimate. In a future state this soul or spirit
would exist as part of an immaterial soul.
The spirit, therefore, was thought to be universal.
Most often found in primitive cultures on the continent
of Africa.
Images of Animism