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World Cultures
Unit 3: World
Religions
Atheist vs. Agnostic
Atheist: denial of the
existence of supreme beings,
supernatural forces, and a life
after death
Agnostic: belief that there
may be a supreme being,
supernatural forces, and an
afterlife, but that humans
cannot know or prove it
Cults
Definition: a series of beliefs & ritualized practices are taken
from outside of those accepted by the
predominant culture
Characteristics
Charismatic Leader who claims a new inspired knowledge
Group of people with unquestioning & total obedience to
the Leader & their teachings
Leader preaches isolation from those not in the group:
increases control
Destructive practices & personal well being is second
to the goals of the leader
Example:
Church of Scientology
L. Ron Hubbard creator
Basic Beliefs: all souls are actually trapped cosmic beings called
Thetans. These beings fell from power due to vices and have
lost the knowledge of their true identity over Billions of years.
They are reincarnated until they can reclaim their identity and
reclaim their cosmic powers to rule another world
Deadly Cults video
I. Definition of Religion
A. A belief in supernatural beings & supernatural powers
B. People perform rituals to influence the supernatural powers
C. Prophet: person who brings the will of God to the people
& brings people’s needs before God
II. Why do Cultures Create Religions?
A. Make life more meaningful
B. Give people values (priorities) in life
C. Release stress
D. Socialization & community
E. Religions answer many questions
Why do I exist?
What happens when I die?
Where do humans come from?
Who created/controls the Universe?
Why do certain things happen?
Judaism
III. Judaism
A. Founders
1. Abraham: Patriarch (father
of the faith)
a. Covenant with God
i. Family would be the
chosen people of God, if they Worshipped only
God
ii. Symbol: Circumcision
a. Legitimate Son: Issac
b. Illegitimate Son: Ishmael, born to his
wife’s Egyptian servant
Hagar
2. Moses: The Law-giver
a. Led the Israelites out of
captivity in Egypt
b. Given 10 Commandments
from God on Mt. Sinai
c. 40 years of wandering in the
desert
i. Teach the people & find
the promised homeland
Moses Maimonides's 13 Principles:
God exists
He is one in a unique and perfect sense
He is immaterial and not to be compared to anything else
He is eternal
Prayer must be addressed to him alone
God reveals himself to the prophets
The prophecy of Moses is unique and superior to everything else
Through Moses, god gave the Jews the torah
God will never revoke or change the torah
God’s providence observes people’s outer and inner actions
People are rewarded and punished as they deserve
The messiah will come, even if He is delayed
The dead are resurrected
B. Concept of God
1. Monotheistic: a single God
2. Personality:
a. Eternal, all-powerful, all knowing, all present, creator of
all things
3. Appearance: No form/ pure spirit
4. Name: JHWH (Jews believe that the name is too holy to
pronounce): Jahweh or Jehovah
C. Afterlife
1. Man has an immortal soul that lives on after death of the
body
2. Those who live good and righteous lives return to God
D. Holy Books
1. Torah
a. Five books of the law revealed to
Moses (First 5 books of the Christian
Bible)
2. Talmud
a. Written interpretation of the
Torah
3. Ten Commandments (Part of the Torah)
a. Worship no other God
b. Do not use God’s name for evil purposes
c. Observe the Sabbath and keep it holy
d. Respect your father & mother
e. Do not murder
f. Do not commit adultery (pre or extra marital sex)
g. Do not steal
h. Do not accuse others falsely
i. Do not desire another man’s house
j. Do not desire another man’s wife, slaves, cattle,
donkeys, or anything else he owns
E. Religious Symbols of Judaism
Symbol
Name
Meaning/significance
Star of David
Symbol of Judaism and the Jewish People
Ark of the
Covenant
Created by the Israelites during their exodus
and their 40 years of wandering the desert
Contained the religious items of the nation:
ten commandment tablets and mana from
God among others.
Menorah
Used in the portable temple of Moses during
the Exodus
Symbolized universal enlightenment provided
by God’s knowledge and light
Burned without new oil for 8 days during the
desecration of the temple
Used in Chanukah celebrations
F. Religious Leader: Rabbi
1. Leader and interpreter of the Torah
2. Ministers to the community
3. Leader of synagogue worship
G. Place of Worship: Synagogue
1. Ark
2. Torah scrolls
3. Ner Tamid: Eternal Light
4. Menorah
5. Ten Commandments
6. Rabbi's and Cantor's seats
7. Rabbi's podium
8. Cantor's & Torah reading
table
9. Bimah: raised platform
10. Congregation seating
H. Holiest city: Jerusalem
1. Home of the first temple to God
built by King Solomon
2. Diaspora
a. Scattering of Jewish people
from the promised land:
punishment for not obeying God
What Holidays Are Practiced by the
Jewish Faith?
To answer this question, you will be using the
laptops to research the various holidays of the Jewish faith
and complete the chart located in your note packet.
I. Branches
1. Orthodox
a. Emphasize tradition & ritual
b. Strict observance of the Sabbath (not travel, work, or
business)
c. Strict dietary laws (Kosher): no meat & dairy mixture
d. Sin by breaking the laws & commandments
Kosher Rules
Prohibited animal flesh: horses, pork and non-kosher beef, lamb
and chicken.
Kosher animals have a completely split hoof and chew cud, e.g.
cows, goat and sheep.
Preparing Meat: Single knife cut across the throat, drain the
blood, soak meat in water and salted to remove all blood.
No meat and dairy can be prepared or eaten together.
Kosher fish must have fins and scales, therefore shellfish and eels
are excluded.
All plant foods are Kosher, unless damaged by rot or insects.
2. Conservative
a. Not as strict as Orthodox
b. Traditions can be changed
c. Women may sit with men in the synagogue
d. Sin by making poor moral & social decisions
3. Reform
a. Do not follow traditions
b. Prayers are not in Hebrew, but the local language
c. Do not keep Kosher
d. No afterlife: live on through the memories of others
e. Sin is based upon those things in society that are deemed
evil by the society
4. All believe: ethical and moral teachings, one God, need for
prayer & worship, & they are the chosen people
J. Messiah: “Anointed” or “Chosen One
1. Will gather the tribes of Israel
2. Usher in a kingdom of God on earth
3. Believe that he will arrive in the future
K. Zionism
1. Leader: Theodore Herzl (1897)
2. Establish a homeland for Jews (Got it after
WW II)
L. Numbers of Jews Today (Total: 13.5 Million)
1. US: 6 million
2. Israel: 3 million
3. Rest are scattered
Judaism in America Video Clip
Christianity
IV. Christianity (Total 2.18 Billion)
A. Founders
1. Jesus Christ (Son of God)
a. The messiah sent to earth to
redeem or save mankind
through his death on the cross & resurrection from
the dead
b. Brought a new covenant to the people
The Teachings of Jesus
Some of Jesus’ teachings were rooted in Judaism:
 Belief in one God
 Ten Commandments
 Mercy and sympathy for the poor and helpless
 Obedience to the laws of Moses
Jesus also preached new beliefs:
1) Called himself the Son of God
2) Proclaimed that he brought salvation and eternal
life to anyone who would believe in him
3) Jesus also emphasized God’s love and taught the
need for justice, morality, and service to others.
2. St. Peter
1. First Pope of the Catholic Church
a. The rock that the Church of Christ
would be built upon
b. Took over leadership of the church
after the death & resurrection of Christ
3. St. Paul
a. One of the earliest Missionaries of
the church
i. Helped to spread it
b. Author of many of the books in the
new Testament
Spread of Christianity
At first, the apostles and disciples
preached only in Judea.
Disciples began to preach in
Jewish communities
throughout the Roman world.
Jews who accepted the
beliefs of Jesus became the
first Christians.
Paul spread Christianity
beyond the Jewish
communities, to non-Jews.
OwlTeacher.com
B. Concept of God: Monotheism
1. Supreme being: all powerful, eternal, all present, all
knowing
a. No physical form
b. Loving & caring
2. Trinity
a. God the Father
b. God the Son
c. God the Holy Spirit
C. Concept of the after life
1. Immortal soul of man that lives on after the death of the
body
2. Only in life can they determine where their soul will rest for
eternity
a. Accept the salvation of Jesus Christ, & live a good life =
eternal life in heaven
b. Reject the salvation of Christ or the existence of God =
eternal torture in Hell
D. Holy Books
1. Old and New Testament of the Holy Bible
Apostle’s Creed
I believe in God, the father almighty
And in Jesus Christ, his only begotten son,
Who was born of the Holy Ghost and Mary, the virgin,
Who was crucified under Pontius Pilate and buried;
On the third day, He rose again from the dead,
Ascended into heaven,
And sits are the right hand of the Father,
From where he shall come to judge the living and the dead;
And in the Holy Ghost; the Holy church; the forgiveness of sins;
And the resurrection of the dead.
E. Religious Symbols of Christianity
Symbol
Name
Meaning/Significance
Crucifix
Represents the crucifixion and sacrifice
of Jesus Christ to save the world from its
sin
Cross
Icthus (Fish)
Represents the death and resurrection
of Jesus Christ to save the world from its
sin
Greek word for Fish, contained the first
letters of Jesus’ name
Used by the early church as a secret
symbol of membership
Linked Circles
Unity of God
God the Father, God the Son, God the
Holy Spirit
Dove of Peace
Symbolizes the spirit of God during the
baptism of Jesus Christ by John the
Baptist
Lamb of God
Symbolic of the sacrificial lamb in the
Passover celebrations. Jesus was the
sacrifice for all the world
Palm Leaves
Symbolic of Palm Sunday
Crown of Thorns
Symbolizes the suffering of Jesus on the
Cross
Cross Keys
Symbolizes the Keys to Heaven of St.
Peter
Alpha and Omega
Represent the Beginning and the end
F. Religious Leaders
1. Most common: Priest, minister, reverend,
preacher, pope, bishop
G. Houses of Worship
1. Church, cathedral, temple, tabernacle, chapel, meeting
house, basilica, citadel (salvation army)
H. Branches
1. Roman Catholic
a. Very Centralized: Pope in Rome
is the highest earthly authority
b. Clergy cannot marry
c. Worship with statues
d. Emphasize the
Crucifixion of Christ
2. Eastern Orthodox
a. Reject the authority of the Pope in Rome
b. Clergy cannot marry
c. Worship with Icons (Paintings) not statues
d. Reject the Roman Catholic additions to the Nicean Creed
e. Emphasis on the Resurrection of Christ
Eastern Orthodox in America Video
3. Protestants
a. Created during the reformation
i. Revolt against the corruption &
centralization of the Catholic Church
b. Reject the Authority of the Pope in Rome
Martin Luther
c. Clergy can marry
d. Reject the use of both statues & icons as idolatry
e. Reject confessional practices
f. Emphasis on direct study of the bible & the personal
connection & salvation of Christ & God
I. Initiation Rites
1. Baptism
a. symbolic cleaning of the body
& soul of sins & the rebirth as
a new person in Christ
2. Eucharist (Communion)
a. Commemoration of the last
supper, & a rededication to Christ
i. Bread represents the
body of Christ: broken to
save man of the
punishment of sin
ii. Wine/juice represents the
blood of Christ: spilled to
cleans the world
What Holidays Are Practiced by the
Christian Faith?
To answer this question, you will be using the
laptops to research the various holidays of the Christian
faith and complete the chart located in your note packet.
Islam
V. Islam: Means submission to the will of Allah
A. Muslim: Means one who submits (Total: 1.6 Billion)
B. Founder: According to Muslims, there is not founder
1. Muhammad was the last in a
line of prophets to bring the
word of God to the people
2. Six Great Prophets
a. Their words and lives are the basis of the Muslim
faith (Correspond to Judaism and Christianity)
b. The six Prophets
Adam
Noah
Abraham
Moses
Jesus
Mohammad
C. Concept of God
1. Monotheistic: Allah
a. God is merciful, eternal, all-powerful, all-knowing, and allpresent
b. Creator of all things
c. Pure spirit, not physical form
D. Concept of an afterlife
1. Man has an eternal soul that lives on after the death of the
body
2. Upon death the soul goes to Barzakh to await the day of
judgment
a. Good go to paradise, bad go to hell: all souls
will experience death
E. Holy books of Islam
1. Qur’an (Koran): the literal word of God
a. Given to Mohammad through the
angel Gabriel
b. Transmitted in Arabic: most hate
translations as defilement of the word
2. Hadith: collections of the words of Mohammad
a. His examples and teachings to help
explain the Qur’an
3. Sharia: Religious law (Canon)
a. Based on the principles of the Qur’an
Six Articles of Belief
 God is one and this one is Allah
 God’s Angels are his messengers and aids & there are no evil spirits to
oppose them
 The Qur’an is Allah’s truly inspired book along with the bible and the Psalms
 God sent his prophets to earth at stated times and for stated purposes
 Mohammad was the last and his instructions are final
 The day of judgment will weigh the good and good and evils deeds and
souls will pass to either heaven or hell based on this
 The lives and acts of men are ordained by an all-knowing God, but this does
not eliminate free will
F. 5 pillars of Islam
1. Shahada
a. Recite: “There is not god, but Allah,
& Mohammad is his prophet”
2. Salat
a. five daily prayers facing toward Mecca
When do Muslims pray?
Each period for prayer has a special name and each time is separated by two hours.
These essential times are:
1. After first light and before sunrise ( Fajr )
2. Between the sun reaching its height and mid-afternoon (Dhuhr)
3. Between mid-afternoon and sunset ( Asr )
4. After the sun has finished setting ( Maghrib )
5. In the dark of the night ( Isha )
3. Zakat
a. Alms (Tithe) to the poor =
gateway to heaven
4. Ramadan
a. Fast during the 9th lunar month
5. Hajj
a. Pilgrimage to Mecca once in a
life time
Pilgrimage to Mecca Video
G. Religious Symbols of Islam
Symbol
Name
Meaning/Significance
Crescent Moon
and Star
The solace and understanding of
Islam and the Our’an
Will guide the faithful toward Allah
The Ka’bah
Sacred shrine of the Hajj
Believed to be the house of worship
built by Abraham and his son
Ishmael
The Shahada
The physical representation of the
prayer of belief proclaiming oneness
of Allah and faith in Islam
H. Houses of worship
1. Mosques or Masjid in Arabic
a. Contain a fountain, minaret, and a dome
I. Religious leaders
1. Shi’ites: Imams
2. Sunnis: Caliphs
3. Sufis: highest holy men (saints)
J. Holy cities
1. Mecca: most holy
2. Medina
3. Jerusalem
K. Branches
1. Shi’ite
a. Believe that only the direct son of Ali (4th Caliph) should
lead the nation of Islam
i. 12 imams: direct descendants of Ali
ii. 12th Imam (Madhi) was never revealed
a. He will appear on the day of
judgment
2. Sunni (Largest)
a. Follow the traditional path shown to Mohammad by Allah
b. Leader of Muslims does not have to be a direct heir of
Mohammad
i. Elected by merit & ability to lead
L. Holy days
1. Friday
a. Men attend the mosque for group prayer (Not a
day of rest or Sabbath)
2. Ramadan
a. 9th month of the Muslim calendar
b. Fast from sunrise to sunset every day for the month
c. Remembers the revelation of the Qur’an to Mohammad
3. Eid al-Fitr
a. Feast on the first day of Ramadan: offer prayers, gifts to the
poor, sermons
4. Eid al:kadir: “The Great Feast”
a. Remembers the willingness of Abraham to sacrifice Ishmael
M. Jihad
1. War against infidels to convert to Islam
2. War can be either physical or a verbal war for conversion
3. Views toward Jews & Christians
a. Jews
i. Do not accept Mohammad as the final prophet
ii. Broke the first covenant with Abraham through the
worship of the golden calf (Exodus)
iii. Bragged about killing Jesus & slandered the virgin Mary
b. Christians
i. Do not accept Mohammad as the final prophet
ii. Raise Jesus to the level of God
Food Restrictions in Islam
Prohibited animal flesh: pork.
 The Koran outlines the foods which can be eaten (halal) and those forbidden
(haram).
 Beef, lamb and chicken can only be eaten if the animal has been slaughtered by
the halal method. This means that the animal must be killed by slitting its
throat. The animal will then have all the blood drained from its body.
 Muslims will only eat meat slaughtered by Muslims, Christians or Jews.
 Haram are foods which are forbidden. Examples include pork, blood, alcohol
and meat sacrificed to idols.
During the month of Ramadan, Muslims need to refrain from eating, drinking
and smoking from sunrise to sunset. Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic
calendar.
Islam in America Video Clip
• The burqa is a garment
that covers Middle Eastern
women from head-to-toe
• The
Quran states that
women should be covered
Many women do not
view it as a sign of
oppression
http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&
feature=fvwp&v=bMP4Rb3GyuM&safe=a
ctive
• The
burqa has been
banned in many European
countries
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hp7Yn
0WVVaw
Hinduism
VI. Hinduism (750 million Hindus world wide)
A. Founder: No Single Founder
1. Origins trace to the Indus river valley
about 5, 000 years ago
2. Aryans invaded 3,000 years ago & merged their beliefs
into the religion already there
B. Concept of god
1. Polytheism: many different gods & goddesses
a. 330 million: some are just different aspects or faces of
the Supreme one
b. Most important gods
i. Brahman: the supreme
god of the Hindu faith
a. Part of him in every
person: called Atman
Hindu Trinity
ii. Brahma the creator
iii. Vishnu the preserver
iv. Shiva the destroyer
c. Avatars
i. A human or animal
incarnation of a god or
goddess
ii. Most commonly
associated with Vishnu: 10
total (only 9 have appear
to this point)
C. Concept of the Afterlife
1. Reincarnation (Moksha): every living creature has a
soul and upon death the soul moves into a new body
that is just born
a. Good Karma = a promotion to a higher status than old life
b. Bad Karma = a demotion to a lower status than old life
2. Nirvana: goal of all Hindus
a. Build up enough good Karma = break free of reincarnation
b. Soul becomes one with Brahman the supreme Hindu god
3. Hindus are all cremated after death: frees the soul
How do Hindus Advance Moksha?
4 Different methods: use one or all of them to do better.
1 The path of knowledge - Jnana-yoga
Spiritual knowledge -leading to the knowledge of the relationship
between the soul (atman) and God (Brahman)
2 The path of meditation - Dhyana-yoga
The idea is to concentrate so you can reach the real self
within you and become one with Brahman
3 The Path of Devotion - Bhakti-yoga
Choosing a particular god or goddess and worshipping them
throughout your life in actions, words and deeds.
4 The path of good works - Karma-yoga
This involves doing all your duties correctly throughout your life.
D. Holy books
1. Rig Veda
a. Songs, prayers, & praise for the powers of nature
What is Hinduism's Holy book?
The most ancient sacred texts of the Hindu religion are written in Sanskrit and called the Vedas.
Hinduism does not just have one sacred book but several scriptures. The Vedas scriptures guide Hindus
in their daily life. They also help to preserve the religious dimensions of family and society. Hindus have
developed their system of worship and beliefs from the scriptures.
There are two main categories of the Hindu scriptures:
Shruti ("that which is heard") consists of the four Vedas and Upanishads scriptures.
Smriti ("that which is remembered") composed of traditional texts, including the Dharma Shastras
(legal and ethical texts), the Puranas, and the folk/historical legends known as the Mahabharata and
Ramayana.
What are the Vedas?
The Vedas are the oldest religious texts in Hinduism. The word Veda means knowledge. It is believed that the Vedas were orally
revealed by Brahma to certain sages, who heard them and passed them down in an oral tradition. They were not written down; in
fact this was prohibited. Because of this earliest oral tradition continuing even now when the Vedas are available in the written
form, the Vedas are still known to be Sruti or shruti - ' that which is heard '.
The Vedas are mainly comprised of of hymns or mantras written in the Sanskrit language. They cover various subjects, from nature
to everyday life and behaviour, and form the basis of all other religious writings. The books are so special that they are often kept in
glass cases.
The four Vedas are:
Rg-Veda (Rigveda) - The oldest and holiest Veda.
Yajur-Veda
Sama-Veda
Atharva-Veda
Each Veda is divided into four sections:
The Samhitas - The oldest portion - Contains the mantras and hymns The Brahmanas - The ritualistic teachings - They are written
in prose and explain the hymns. The Aranyakas - The meditational section
The Upanishads - The mystic and philosophical. They consider the nature of the individual soul (Atman) and the universal soul
(Brahman.) One of the Upanishads contains the earliest reference to the reincarnation of the soul in different bodies
(transmigration) of the soul.
The Vedas are the law. Most beliefs, concepts, and ceremonies are based on information contained in the Vedas.
2. Upanishads
a. Propose Brahman as the supreme God
b. Bring a philosophy of unity & harmony of the universe
3. Bhagavad Gita
a. manual of devotion & faith
4. Ramayana
a. epic stories of the life and deeds of Rama & other gods
Ravana Takes Sita
Rama and Sita
E. Religious Symbols of Hinduism
Symbol
Name
Meaning/Significance
Om or Aum
Visual and oral representation of Brahmin
Sri Yantra
Visual focal point for meditation
Represents spiritual evolution
Swastika
Symbol of auspiciousness, good fortune, and
protection
Represents the eternal wheel of life that
rotates on Brahmin at the center
Lotus
Symbolizes the birth of the universe and
its manifestation into all its beauty
Cow
Symbol of the offspring of the celestial
cow created from the body of Lord Krishna
F. Religious leaders
1. Priests, Yogi, Guru, Swami
a. Yoga: Form of Hindu philosophy
b. Used for meditation, liberation,
becoming one with a god, escape
Yogi
Guru
Swami
G. House of Worship
1. Temple or Mandir
a. Statues of the god or goddess (Murti), decorations,
offerings
b. Outside has carvings of the stories of the material &
spiritual world
2. Home Shrines to
personal god or
goddess
H. Sacred Places
1. Ganges River: Holiest place in
India
a. Bad Karma will be washed
away in the waters
2. City of Benares
a. Sacred city of the god Vishnu
3. City of Hardwar
a. Sacred city of the god Shiva
I. Caste System
1. Code of Manu
a. Sets up the system (Legal system created around 300 BC)
b. Current Indian law does not discriminate, but the social
system still exists
i. Predominant in small rural areas
c. Castes are not allowed to intermingle
2. 5 levels
a. Brahmin Caste: priests & professionals
b. Kshatriya Caste: Warriors, rulers, or
administrators
c. Vaisya Caste: merchants, business
people, farmers
d. Sudra Caste: manual laborers, servants
e. Pariahs: untouchables, outcastes (Hide
tanners, janitors, butchers
3. Dharma
a. Your specific duty in life according to your caste (way of
living)
4. Karma
a. Energy that builds up from doing good things & following
your dharma
5. Marriage Rules
a. Marry only within your own caste
b. Arranged marriages, but kids have to be happy with choice
c. 3 day wedding feast, ceremony, & celebration
What Holidays Are Practiced by the
Hindu Faith?
To answer this question, you will be using the
laptops to research the various holidays of the Hindu faith
and complete the chart located in your note packet.
Food Restrictions in Hinduism
 Prohibited animal flesh: all, except lamb, chicken, and fish.
 Strict Hindus are vegetarian. The cow is held in high regard and
a symbol of abundance, therefore Hindus do not eat beef.
 Some Hindus may also avoid certain foods, such as domestic
fowl, salted pork, milk, ghee, onions, garlic, eggs, and coconut.
 It is particularly important to check food products like bread,
biscuits, cheese, and jam to ensure that the forbidden
ingredients are not present.
 Some devout Hindus observe fasting on special occasions as a
mark of respect to personal Gods or as part of their penance.
Hinduism in America Video Clip
Buddhism
VII. Buddhism (350 Million)
A. Founder
1. Siddharta Gautama: later known as Buddha (Born
about 560 BC)
a. Was a prince of a small village in India
b. Educated in the arts and sciences (sheltered from the
outside world)
c. Married at age 16 & had a harem of dancers
d. Dissatisfied with luxury: became homeless and wandered
searching for answers
e. Opposed to the Hindu caste system & the ideas of Hinduism
i. Animal sacrifice of Brahmins
ii. No authority in the Vedas
iii. No reunion with Brahman in nirvana
iv. Opposed the Caste system
v. Sought to reform Hinduism
f. The Bodhi Tree (Tree of Enlightenment)
i. Saw all his previous life pass before him
ii. Gained insight into birth & death
iii. Realized why there is suffering, & how to remove suffering
g. After enlightenment
i. Traveled around India for about 44 years living as a beggar
monk
ii. Died at the age of 80
B. Concept of God
1. Existence of a god is not important
2. Buddha himself is not a god
3. More important for a person to seek & find enlightenment
than to worship a god
4. Buddha: the name for human who has reached enlightenment
C. Concept of the Afterlife
1. Reincarnation : every living creature has a karma (life
force) & upon death the Karma moves into a new body
that is just born
a. Good life = a promotion to a higher status than old life
b. Bad life = a demotion to a lower status than old life
2. Enlightenment (Bodhi): realization of the truth of all existence
a. Not an intellectual understanding, but a spiritual one
b. Also refers to passing into Nirvana: breaking free of
Reincarnation & entering nothingness
3. Bodhisattva
a. Someone who obtained enlightenment, but denies it to help
others obtain it (Saint)
4. Buddhist Concept of Dharma
a. Ultimate law taught by the Buddha in the 4 noble truths &
the 8 fold path
What are the 5 Precepts (morals)?
These are rules to live by. The main five are:
Do not take the life of anything living. (Do not kill)
Do not take anything not freely given. (Do not steal)
Abstain from sexual misconduct and sensual overindulgence.
Refrain from untrue speech, (Do not lie)
Do not consume alcohol or other drugs. The main concern here is
that intoxicants cloud the mind.
D. Main Religious Books
1. Tripitaka (Pali Canon)
a. Based on the teachings of Buddha
b. Passed on by word of mouth at first
i. English Translation: 40 volumes = 12,000 pages
c. Three Sections
i. Vinaya Pitaka: Rule book for monks and nuns (227 rules)
ii. Sutta Pitaka: Actual experiences/teachings
iii. Abhidhamma Pitaka: Explaination of Buddha’s teachings
2. Four Noble Truths
a. All earthly existence is filled with suffering
b. The cause of suffering is wanting things we cannot have
c. It is possible to end the suffering
d. The eightfold path is the way to end suffering
3. The Eightfold Path
a. Right Understanding: the 4 noble truths
b. Right attitude: Think kindly thoughts about other
people & other forms of life
c. Right speech: Speak truth & kindness
d. Right Action: Act peacefully & help others
e. Right Living: Occupation must not harm others
f. Right Effort: Improve your mind, get rid of unwholesome ideas
g. Right Mindfulness: Maintain a good state of mind
h. Right Concentration: Seek to awaken the mind by intense
focus
E. Religious Symbols of Buddhism
Symbol
Name
Meaning/Significance
Visual representation of the Eightfold Path
Wheel of Law
Mandalas
Focal point in Tibetan meditation.
Lotus
Symbol of the Buddha’s life rising above the
mud of life and blooming into enlightenment
White Elephant
Symbolizes the birth status of the Buddha as
a prince
The Bodhi Tree
Symbolizes the place that the Buddha
reached enlightenment
Images of the
Buddha
Different poses and forms represent
different aspects of the Buddha’s life,
teachings, and traits
F. Religious Leaders: Buddhist Monk
1. Life as a Buddhist Monk
a. Ten Precepts (vows taken by all Buddhist Monks)
Do not harm any living thing
Do not take anything unless it is freely given
Do not misuse the senses
Do not use wrong speech
Do not use drugs or alcohol
Do not eat after the midday meal
Do not dance, sing, or make music
Do not use perfumes or personal adornments
Do not use chairs or beds
Do not accept money
b. What can a Buddhist monk own?
3 pieces of cloth for robes
One piece of rope
One bowl with a lid
One water strainer
One razor
In cold climates: shoes & a coat/cloak
G. Houses of Worship
1. Stupa: represents death
a. Dome shaped building to resembling
the mound of mud bricks that covered
the Buddha’s ashes
b. Round shape represents the 8
spoke wheel
2. Temples: Modified Stupas
a. Common in South East Asia, China, & Japan
H. Two Branches of Buddhism
1. Theravada Buddhism
a. Keep Original teachings of Buddhism: very strict
b. Emphasis on salvation as an individual effort &
very few can be saved (only 28 ever)
c. Rejects: all images, even statues of the Buddha
d. Found in: Burma, Thailand, Laos, Sri Lanka, Cambodia
2. Mahayana Buddhism
a. Salvation is intended for all mankind
b. Doctrine of Bodhisattva
i. One higher than a Buddha, who gives up enlightenment to
help others reach it
c. Use of Buddha statues & shrines
d. Accommodates many different beliefs: Japanese sects &
Tibetan Buddhism
e. Found in: China, Korea, Japan, Taiwan, Vietnam, Nepal
I. Holidays
1. New Year (April)
a. 3 day celebration is a rededication to the Buddhist way of life
2. Buddha’s birthday (April or May)
3. Festival of Souls (July)
a. Provide food & gifts to the dead who wander the earth
4. The Robe Offering (November)
a. Monks get new yellow robes to celebrate the sending of
the first missionaries
J. Buddhism Today
1. Experiencing a great growth
a. World Fellowship of Buddhists (founded in 1950)
i. Focused on the spread of Buddhism
b. Makes conscious efforts to adapt to the times & regions
2. In America: Mostly Mahayana Buddhism
a. Great wave of immigration from China & Japan (end of 19th
century)
b. Nature of Buddhism is attractive to modern American
Tolerant: does not dominate people
Justice: people reap what they sow
High quality of Ethics: 8 fold path
Final goal is Nirvana: nothingness
Food Restrictions in Buddhism
 Prohibited animal flesh: all.
 Buddhists believe they should not be responsible for the
death of any other living organism.
 Therefore, most Buddhists follow a strict vegetarian, if not
vegan diet.
 They also avoid the consumption of alcohol.
Buddhism in America Video Clip