Download Rubenstein Ch. 6

Rubenstein Ch. 6
• Hinduism originated around the Indus Valley near the River Indus in modern day
Pakistan.
• About 80% of the Indian population regard themselves as Hindu.
• Most Hindus believe in a Supreme God, whose qualities and forms are represented
by the multitude of deities which emanate from him.
• Hindus believe that existence is a cycle of birth, death, and rebirth, governed
by Karma.
Use this website to complete your religion chart: BBC Religions: Hinduism
CASTE SYSTEM developed by Aryans thousands of years ago based on heredity and occupation. Abolished in 1960s by Indian
constitution However, still exists - particularly in villages.
Brahmins- priests, teachers, and
intellectuals (only literate class)
Kshatriyas - warrior class
Brahmin Woman
Vaisyas - merchants or traders
Sudras - farmers and laborers
Dalits- “the oppressed” below the caste system
and not considered a caste; worked the unclean
jobs; forbidden to make contact with other
castes
Dalits
Ritual Bathing in the Ganges River
Ganges River – the “Holy River”
Hindu pilgrims achieve purification
by bathing in the Ganges.
God
• There is only one God
• God is without form, or gender
• Everyone has direct access to God
• Everyone is equal before God
• A good life is lived as part of a community, by living honestly and caring for others
• Empty religious rituals and superstitions have no value
Use this website to complete your religion chart: BBC Religions: Sikhism
Sikhism
The Golden Temple in Amritsar
The Golden Temple (Darbar Sahib) in Amritsar, India is the holiest structure for Sikhism.
Jainism and the divine
Jains do not believe in a God or gods in the way that many other religions do, but they
do believe in divine (or at least perfect) beings who are worthy of devotion.
Use this website to complete your religion chart: BBC Religions: Jainism
Jainism
Similarities/differences with Hinduism
- originated as opposition to caste system
- maintains belief in karma, reincarnation, release
- Hindus believe in a pantheon (multiple gods) but Jains do not
Bahá'í beliefs about God
• Bahá'ís believe there is one God and that all the universe and creation belong to
him
• God is omnipotent, perfect and has complete knowledge of life
• Bahá'ís believe that there has only ever been one God, who is called by different
names in different religions
• God is too great to be ever understood by the finite human mind
• Knowledge of God means knowledge of the attributes of God
• The only thing we can actually know about God is that God exists
Use this website to complete your religion chart: BBC Religions: Baha’i
Baha’i
Baha’i Temple in Uganda
World Distribution of Religions
Fig. 6-1: World religions by continent.
World Population by Religion
Fig. 6-1a: Over two thirds of the world’s population adhere to Christianity, Islam,
Hinduism, or Buddhism. Christianity is the single largest world religion.