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What is the role of Religion?
Religion has played an important part in the history of
our world. Religious teachings have shaped the lives of
people since prehistoric times. Judaism, Islam, and
Christianity have been major influences in the
formation of Western culture. They have also played
an important role in the development of Middle
Eastern life.
 Religion has been a major source of inspiration for the arts.
Houses of worship are some of the world's most beautiful
buildings. A lot of great music is religious. Many paintings,
sculptures, books, dances, and motion pictures have been
created with religious themes.
 The five religions summarized in this story have a
combined membership of 3 1/2 to 4 billion people. This is
about 80 percent of the world's total population.
Spread of Major Religions:
5,000 yrs. over 90 seconds….let’s see this migration.
http://www.mapsofwar.com/ind/history-ofreligion.html
Judaism - 2000 BCE
 JUDAISM is one of the world's oldest, a religion of just
one people: the Jews. They were the first to teach belief
in only one God. Two other important religions
developed from Judaism: Christianity and Islam.
Jews think that God will send a Messiah (a deliverer) to
unite them and lead them in His way. Christians
believe that Jesus was the Messiah.
 The "Torah," the first five books of the Hebrew Bible, is
the most important Jewish scripture. It contains the
basic laws of Judaism. Another important book is the
"Talmud," serving primarily as a guide to the civil and
religious laws of Judaism.
 The Jewish house of worship is called a synagogue.
Rabbis (spiritual leaders) conduct services, act as
interpreters of Jewish laws, and deliver sermons.
Assisting with Jewish services is the cantor; he chants
the prayers and may also direct a choir.
 Today there are over 18 million followers of Judaism
scattered throughout the world. A large number of
those people live in the Jewish nation of Israel. Over
six million live in the United States.
Jewish TempleEvanston, Il.
“Green Synagogue”
Christianity - 30+ CE
 CHRISTIANITY is based on the life and teachings of
Jesus Christ. Followers are called "Christians." They
believe in one God who created the universe and
continues to care for it. Their God sent his son Jesus
(called the "Messiah") into the world to save humanity
from sin and to make eternal life possible for them.
That son died to accomplish this purpose. This is the
same God that followers of Judaism worship.
 Christians believe they can be delivered from sin
through their belief in Jesus. If they repent their sinful
ways, they will be forgiven; after death, they will be
judged and either rewarded or punished.
 Christianity is divided into a number of individual
denominations. The Roman Catholic Church is the
largest Christian denomination with over a billion
followers worldwide. Protestants number nearly 400
million; they include such churches as Methodist,
Baptist, Congregationalist, Episcopal, Lutheran, and
Presbyterian.
 The sacred book of Christianity is the "Bible." It
consists of two parts: (1) The Old Testament describes
life before the birth of Jesus; parts of this scripture is
identical to a sacred book of Judaism; (2) The New
Testament describes the life and teaching of Jesus,
how the early church developed, and explains what
faith in Jesus means.
 Christianity is the major religion in Europe and the
entire Western Hemisphere (all of the Americas).
Islam - 622 CE
 ISLAM is the name given to the religion preached by
the prophet Muhammad in the 600s A. D. He was an
Arab born in Mecca who believed he had been sent by
God (Allah) to guide his people and be their
messenger. People who believe these ideas are called
Muslims. Islam in Arabic means "submission," and
Muslim translates to "one who submits" (to God).
 There is only one religion which has more followers
worldwide than Islam: that religion is Christianity with
its many denominations.
 The holy book of Islam is the "Koran." Muslims believe
its words to be those of Allah himself, spoken to
Muhammad by an angel. Parts of the Koran resemble
the Christian Bible. It contains stories about the
prophets who appear in the Old Testament and stories
from the New Testament about Jesus.
 Muslims learn that life on earth is a period of testing
and preparation for the life to come. Angels record
good and bad deeds. People should behave themselves
and help others, trusting in Allah's justice and mercy
for their reward.
 All Muslims are required to make a pilgrimage (trip to
a sacred place) to Mecca at least once in their lifetime.
 Muslims pray five times daily in their mosques.While
praying, they face the holy city of Mecca (in SaudiArabia) and sometimes kneel with faces to the ground
Five Pillars of Islam
1. Recite the shahadah at least once.
2. Perform the salat (prayer) 5 times a day
while facing the Kaaba in Makkah.
3. Donate regularly to charity via the
zakat, a 2.5% charity tax, and through
additional donations to the needy.
4. Fast during the month of Ramadan, the
month that
5. Muhammad received the Qur'an from
Allah.
Hinduism - 4000 to 2500 BCE*
 HINDUISM is one of the world's oldest religions. It
was named for the Indus River in India where it began
over 4,000 years ago. Over 2/3's of the world's Hindus
live there; large numbers reside in Africa also. Hindus
believe in many gods, numbering into the thousands.
They recognize one supreme spirit called Brahman
("the Absolute.")
The Spread of Hinduism
 The goal of Hindus is to someday join with Brahman.
Until that union takes place, believers are in a
continuous process of rebirth called "reincarnation."
At death, the Hindu's deeds (karma) determine what
the next life will be. Followers work to break this cycle-birth, death, re-birth-- (referred to by writers as the
"Wheel of Life") and gain release. The Hindu's soul
then merges with Brahman in a condition of spiritual
perfection (moksha).
 Hinduism has many sacred books, the oldest being a series called the
"Vedas."
 Traditional Hindu society was divided into groups of four classes (or
varnas). This was known as the "caste system." People were generally
grouped by occupations. As children were born, they became members
of their parents' caste and remained there for life. After death a person's
karma determined whether he or she was reborn into a higher caste or
moved downward to a lower caste.
 Included in the caste system was a category called
"untouchables." People in this group were considered
impure, shunned by the other varnas, and given jobs that
no one else would do. This category was outlawed in 1950,
and everyone in it was awarded full citizenship.
 The entire caste system has weakened through the years,
and today some members intermix and work with one
another. This is more prominate in the rural areas and less
noticeable in the cities.
Traditional Caste System
Buddhism - 560 to 490 BCE
 BUDDHISM was founded in India about 2,500 years
ago by a teacher whose name was Prince Siddhartha
Gautama. To his followers he was the Buddha
("Enlightened One"). At various times in the past, it
has been a dominant religious, cultural, and social
force in most of Asia. Today there are about 300
million Buddhists in the world; most live in Sri Lanka,
southern Asia, and Japan.
 Buddhism states that existence is a continuing cycle of
death and rebirth. (In this, it agrees with Hinduism; both
religions use the term "Wheel of Life.") Each person's
position in life is determined by his or her behavior in the
previous life. This is known as their "karma" (also a Hindu
belief ). As long as a person remains in this cycle of birth
and death, he or she cannot be completely free from pain
and suffering. To break out of the cycle, it is necessary to
lose all desire for worldly things. Once that has been done,
people are ready to pass into a place of eternal bliss, perfect
peace, and happiness. They call it "nirvana," a state of mind
rather than a place. (This is similar to Hinduism's moksha.)
 Buddhists do not believe in a god or gods, nor in the
existence of a human soul. Instead, they have faith in
Buddha, his teachings (called "dharma"), and the
religious community he founded ("sangha"--an order
of monks). These are known as the "Three Jewels."
Buddhists rejected the Hindu caste system.
Eightfold Path
 The Eightfold Paths are:
1. The true understanding of the Four Noble Truths;
2. The true thought-having friendly thoughts about people and
all forms of life;
3. The true speech- speak nicely and honestly and avoid harsh
words against anyone or anything;
4. The true action- act from your heart and do not be vain and
avoid \ violence;
5. The true work-work in a profession that will not hurt another;
6. The true effort- work to improve yourself;
7. The true mindfulness- be compassionate and think before you
act, and;
8. The right concentration- Focus and concentrate on religious
meditation.
Religion Overview
 These five religions have many obvious differences, of
course; but they share certain elements. Those are: (1)
belief in a power beyond the individual; (2) accepted
teaching of salvation (goal of a life after death); (3) a
code of conduct; (4) use of sacred stories; and (5)
religious acts and ceremonies.
Take out a sheet of paper.
This is a review content we have
covered in the past few weeks:
Which religions believe that a
Messiah will come to redeem
followers of each religion?
a. Buddhism and Islam
b. Christianity and Buddhism
c. Christianity and Hinduism
d. Judaism and Christianity
e. Answer: D
Which is an example of a century?
 A. 10 yrs.
 B. 1,000 yrs.
 C. 100 yrs.
 D. 1,000 yrs.
 Answer C
Which is an example of an
millennium?
 A. 1980C.E.-1990 C.E.
 B. 1001 C.E.-2001 C.E.
 C. 10-100 yrs
 D. 1020 C.E.- 2010 C.E.
 Answer B
Which statement represents an
opinion from the passage:
 The religion of Buddhism was founded in Asia. It was
known as the most superior religion to have existed.
Buddhism followers believe in rebirth and being born
again. Many believe in following the Eightfold Path as
part of their daily life.
Confucianism - 500 BCE
 K'ung Fu Tzu (Confucius) was born in 551 BCE in the state of Lu in
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China. He traveled throughout China giving advice to its rulers and
teaching. His teachings and writings dealt with individual morality and
ethics, and the proper exercise of political power. He stressed the
following values:
Li: ritual, propriety, etiquette, etc.
Hsiao: love among family members
Yi: righteousness
Xin: honesty and trustworthiness
Jen: benevolence towards others; the highest Confucian virtue
Chung: loyalty to the state, etc.
Unlike most religions, Confucianism is primarily an ethical system with
rituals at important times during one's lifetime. The most important
periods recognized in the Confucian tradition are birth, reaching
maturity, marriage, and death.