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Religion Terms
• Monotheistic- believing in 1 God
• Polytheistic- Believing in more than one God
• Deity- a god
Five
Major
World
Religions
Hinduism
Buddhism
Judaism Christianity
Islam
2500 – 250 BC
Hinduism
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Developed in India
One of the oldest religions of humanity.
3rd largest religion in the world.
Gave rise to Buddhism
Brahman
2500 – 250 BC
What do Hindus believe?
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1. Brahman -the eternal being - created and preserves
the world. Everything in the world is part of Brahman.
2. Atman - the soul – each person has one that is an
aspect of Brahman. Can’t ever be destroyed.
3. Devas– Parts of Brahman that are active in the world
and who help to maintain order.
– 3 of the most common—Brahma, Vishnu, & Siva
4. Reincarnation – being reborn into this world
lifetime after lifetime (Samsara)
5. Karma – the sum effect of a person’s actions, good
and bad, which helps shape future experiences
6. Moksha - goal of human existence, escape from the
cycle of reincarnation to join with the Brahman.
7. Dharma – set of spiritual duties and obligations that
must be fulfilled to achieve moksha.
2500 – 250 BC
Who do Hindus worship? –
3 Most Important Devas
Brahma, the creator
Siva, the Destroyer
Vishnu, the Preserver
What are the religious
practices of Hinduism?
2500 – 250 BC
• Vary greatly because worship can take place anywhere—usually a
temple or in the home.
• Spiritual leaders - gurus or sages.
• Yoga-integrated physical and mental exercises.
• Pilgrimage to Ganges River (thought it flows through 2 devas so its
water is holy. Bathing in it will purify them and remove bad
karma).
• Ultimate goal of life – to release Atman
and reunite with the divine, becoming as
one with Brahman (Moksha)
All these deities are but
Aspects of the
impersonal Brahman
2500 – 250 BC
Buddhism
•Message: people
can escape the
suffering of the
world.
•Developed - India
in 520 BCE and
spread to other
parts of Asia
•4th largest religion
in the world
Siddhartha Gautama (563-483 BCE)
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Founder: Siddhartha
Gautama.
Prince of a small
kingdom; he lived a
sheltered life and
sought the answer to
ending suffering.
After years of
meditation and
searching, he sat under
a Bodhi tree where he
became Enlightened.
He transformed into the
Buddha-the Enlightened
One.
2500 – 250 BC
The Teachings of Buddhism
What is the fundamental cause of all suffering?
Desire!
 Therefore, don’t focus on your own
problems or wants. Give up all
materials and possessions of the world.
2500 – 250 BC
Four Noble Truths
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There is suffering in the world. To
live is to suffer.
The cause of suffering is people’s
desires for pleasure and material
goods.
The solution is to eliminate desire
and attachments. This is called
achieving Nirvana. To get there, one
must follow the Eightfold Path.
Eightfold Path
2500 – 250 BC
Right Understanding
Right Speech
Right Intention
Right Action
Right Livelihood
Right Effort
Right Concentration
Right Mindfulness
2500 – 250 BC
Eightfold Path
Nirvana
Nirvana is a state of perfect peace in which the
soul would be free from suffering forever. It
would escape from the cycle of rebirth.
If nirvana is not achieved, then the soul would be
reborn to live through the cycle of suffering again.
Spiritual leaders are called monks or lamas.
Worship takes place in a temple or meditation
hall.
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Judaism, Christianity, & Islam
Abraham is the
connection
between
Judaism, Islam,
and Christianity
Brief History
Judaism• Founded by Abraham around 1300 B.C.
• Judaism is the oldest of the monotheistic
faiths (religions with one God).
Christianity - Founded by Jesus Christ, who
was crucified around A.D. 33 in Palestine in
the city of Jerusalem.
• Islam - Founded in Arabia by Muhammad
in A.D. 622.
Judaism Briefly
• Judaism is over 3000 years old and is the
oldest of the world's monotheistic religions
(religions with only one God). It's also the
smallest, with only about 14 million (7th)
followers around the world.
• Its holy city is Jerusalem.
Judaism Beliefs
• Jews believe that there is a single God
(Yahweh) who not only created the universe,
but with whom every Jew can have an
individual and personal relationship.
• They await the Messiah, who will be an
earthly king. They believe in heaven, but that
God determines where they go after life on
earth.
• Ten Commandments is the basic code of law.
Judaism Holy Book
• The most holy Jewish book =Torah (the first
five books of the Christian Bible).
• Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and
Deuteronomy
Judaism Place of Worship
• Jews worship in
Synagogues or temples.
Men and women
usually sit separately.
• Worship is led by a
Rabbi.
• Saturday (begins at
sundown on Friday) is
time for worship.
Stamford Hill, London
Christianity briefly
• Christianity is the world's largest religion, with
about 2.2 billion followers worldwide. It is
based on the teachings of Jesus Christ who
lived in the Holy Land 2,000 years ago.
Christianity Beliefs
• Christians believe that Jesus Christ was the Son of God.
• That He sent his Son to earth to save humanity from the
consequences of its sins.
• Jesus rose from the dead on the third day after his
Crucifixion (the Resurrection).
• Christians believe that Jesus was the Messiah (Savior)
promised in the Old Testament.
• Most Christians believe that there is only one God, but
that this one God consists of 3 “entities“-God the Father,
God the Son, God the Holy Ghost--Trinity
• Christians believe that God made the world.
Christianity Beliefs
Christians believe that they can have a
personal relationship with God, and that they
are saved by faith, and good works.
They believe in heaven and hell.
They believe that the Bible is the inspired
word of God.
Christians Holy Book
• The Bible is the Christian holy book. It is
divided into the Old and New Testaments.
Parts of the writing contained in the Old
Testament are also sacred to Jewish and
Muslim people.
Christian Place of Worship
• The Christian places of worship are
called a churches.
• Altars usually face east towards the
rising sun.
• Services are led by a priest, pastor,
minister, or reverend.
• Day of worship is normally Sunday.
Westminster Abbey London
Islam Briefly
• Islam is the second most popular religion in
the world with 1.3 billion followers. Islam
began in Arabia and was revealed to humanity
by the Prophet Muhammad. Those who follow
Islam are called Muslims. Muslims believe that
there is only one God, called Allah.
Islam Holy Book
• The Muslim scripture is the Holy Qur'an. It is
'the word of God'. Muslim beliefs and
practices are rooted in the Qur'an.
• Muslims treat the Qur'an with great respect
because they believe that the Qur'an is from
Allah, and every word and every letter is
sacred.
• Muslims regard the Qur'an as the unaltered
word of God.
Islam Place of Worship
• The Muslim building for communal worship is called a Mosque. The word comes
from the Arabic for "place of prostration".
• Worshippers are called to prayer 5 times a day
• They contain only designs, no people or animals or furniture.
• Normal day of worship is Friday.
• Religious leaders are called Imams.
Grand mosque in
Mecca
Five Pillars Belief system/law code
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Shahadah: declaration of faith
"I bear witness that there is no god, but God; I bear witness that Muhammad is
the prophet of God." By reciting this, one enters Islamic faith.
Salah: Pray 5 times a day facing Mecca
Muslims are required to pray five times a day, washing themselves before prayer
and facing in the direction of Mecca while praying.
Zakat: Give a fixed proportion to charity
Muslims are required to give away a percentage of their earnings to those less
fortunate, regardless of their religion.
Saum: Fast during the month of Ramadan
Muslims fast for one lunar month each year, a period called Ramadan. During this
time, Muslims reflect on their behavior and strive to purify their thoughts.
Hajj: Make a pilgrimage to Mecca
If it is financially possible, Muslims are required to travel to Mecca once in their
lifetime.
The Hajj-A journey to Mecca
• Hijja:
The month of
pilgrimage during
which all Muslims,
at least once in
their life, should
try to make the
pilgrimage to
Mecca and worship
at the Kaaba
The Ka’aba is now the holiest site in Islam, and is often called by
names such as the House of God or the House of Allah