Download WORLD RELIGIONS

WORLD
RELIGIONS
Christianity, Judaism, Islam
Buddhism, Hinduism
Monotheistic Religions


Belief in one god
Originated in Middle East (Mesopotamia,
Israel and Saudi Arabia)
Judaism
Christianity
Islam
What is Judaism?



Oldest monotheistic religion
Religion of Ancient Israelites (Hebrews)
Today is primarily found in Israel, United
States, and Eastern Europe
Origins of Judaism
• Began in Ancient Israel
• Founded by Abraham
• Began nearly 4000 years ago
Beliefs of Judaism






One god called Yahweh (God)
God’s “chosen people”
Have a covenant (agreement) with God
Follow Jewish law - the Ten Commandments
One day a Messiah (messenger or savior) will
arrive
Can only eat kosher foods – no pork, shellfish,
or meat prepared with dairy products
Judaism



Holy Book – Torah
Place of Worship –
Synagogue
Sects/Branches –
 Orthodox
 Reformed
 Conservative
Holidays & Holy Days
Holidays:
 Yom Kippur –



Rosh Hashanah –


Day of Atonement
Fasting
Jewish New Year
Hanukkah –


Nine day festival
Lighting the menorah
Holy Day:
 Shabbat (Sabbath) –

Friday evening to Saturday
morning
Sacred Places


Jews consider
Jerusalem to be holy
Western Wall
(“Wailing Wall”)

Only remaining wall of
ancient Jewish temple
What is Christianity?



Monotheistic - Developed out of Judaism
Religion of followers (disciples) of Jesus
Today is primarily found in North America,
South America, Europe, Southern Africa,
Australia
Origins of Christianity
• Began in Ancient Israel
• Founded by Jesus
• Began nearly 2000 years ago
Beliefs of Christianity


One god (God)
Follow the teachings of Jesus of Nazareth





Was Son of God
Died on cross and rose again
Was the Messiah
Goal is to go to heaven
Follow Ten Commandments
Christianity

Holy Book – Bible



Place of Worship –



Old Testament
New Testament
Church
Cathedral
Sects/Branches –



Roman Catholic
Orthodox
Protestant
Holidays & Holy Days
Holidays:
 Christmas –


Birth of Jesus
Easter –

Death and Resurrection
Holy Day:
 Sunday
Rituals/Ceremonies:
 Baptism
 Communion
Sacred Places


Jerusalem
Vatican City




Holy Seat of Roman
Catholic Church
Home of the Pope
St. Peter’s Basilica
Sistine Chapel
What is Islam?



Monotheistic
religion
Followers are
called Muslims
Today is primarily
found in Middle
East, North
Africa, Central
Asia, Indonesia
Origins of Islam
• Began in Saudi Arabia
• Founded by
Muhammad
• Began in 610 CE
Beliefs of Islam



One god called Allah (‘God’ in Arabic)
Muhammad was the final prophet
(messenger)
Five Pillars
Five Pillars of Islam





Declare that there is only one God, Allah
Pray 5 times a day facing Mecca
Give to the poor
Fast during the month of Ramadan
Pilgrimage (“hajj”) to Mecca once during lifetime
Islam



Holy Book – Qur’an
Place of Worship –
Mosque
Sects/Branches –


Sunni
Shi’i
Holidays & Holy Days
Holidays:
 Ramadan
 Month long period of
fasting
 Eid al Fitr
 Feast at end of
Ramadan
Holy Day:
 Friday prayers at mosque
Sacred Places

Mecca



Great Mosque
Ka’aba
Jerusalem

Dome of the Rock
Eastern Religions


Hinduism

Polytheistic
Buddhism

Way of life, Philosophy
What is Hinduism?





Polytheistic religion
Followers are called Hindus
Today is primarily found in India
World’s oldest major religion
Philosophy and way of life
Origins of Hinduism
• Began in Indus Valley (Ancient India/Modern
Pakistan)
• No single founder
• Originated between 4000 and 2000 BC
Beliefs of Hinduism





Polytheistic
Every living thing is a part of one
soul – Atman
Reincarnation – eternal soul
reborn into different bodies till it
finds liberation
Karma – the result of good and
bad actions that determine the
soul’s next life
Ultimate goal in life – to release
the soul and return to Brahman
(the universal soul)
Who do Hindus worship? –
the major gods of the Hindu Pantheon
Brahma, the creator
Vishnu, the preserver
Shiva, god of constructive
destruction
(the transformer)
How does Hinduism direct
life in this world?




Respect for all living things – vegetarian
Caste System – rigid social class system based on
Hindu beliefs
 Four “castes” - priests & teachers, nobles &
warriors, merchant class, servant class
Practice Yoga
Guru – spiritual teacher
Holy Cow!


Hindus have always
had great respect for
Mother Nature and its
creatures
Cow is especially
significant because it
symbolizes gentleness

Holy Book –




Hinduism
Vedas
Written in Sanskrit
Place of Worship –
Temple
Sects/Branches –
many different
branches
Holidays & Holy Days
Holidays:
 Diwali
 Festival of Lights
 Holi
 Festival of Colors
Sacred Places


Varanasi
Ganges River



What is Buddhism?
Neither monotheistic or polytheistic
Followers are called Buddhists
Today is primarily found in East and
Southeast Asia (China, Japan, Koreas,
SE Asia
Origins of Buddhism
• Began in northern India
• Founded by Hindu prince
• Siddhartha Gautama
• Called “Buddha” – the
enlightened one
• Began almost 2,500 years ago
Beliefs of Buddhism






Buddha is NOT considered a god
Reincarnation
Karma
Four Noble Truths
Eightfold Path
Nirvana
Buddhism





Siddhartha Gautama was an Indian Prince
who lived in luxury and comfort inside the
palace.
One day he left the palace gardens and saw
an Old man, a sick man, and a dead man.
Left his home and went on a search to find
the reason people suffer and how to end it.
Meditated under a bodh tree.
Buddha realized: Life is full of suffering. He
became the Enlightened one.
Buddhism
He explained the FOUR NOBLE
TRUTHS:
1.
2.
3.
4.
All life is full of suffering, pain, and
sorrow.
The cause of suffering is desire for
things such as riches, power and long
life.
The only cure for suffering is to
overcome desire.
The way to overcome desire is to
follow the 8-fold path.
Cure for suffering
The only cure for suffering is to follow the
Eightfold Path, a middle road between a life
devoted to pleasure and a life of harsh selfdenial.
It is important to live a moral life.
Enlightenment is achieved through meditation.
The ultimate goal is nirvana, union with the
universe and release from the cycle of rebirth.
Buddhism

Sacred Writings –




No one holy book
Collection of
Buddha’s sayings in
Tripitaka
Place of Worship –
Temple (stupa)
Sects/Branches –




Mahayana
Theravada
Tibetan
Zen
Origins of Sikhism
• Began in northern India
in the Punjab
• Founded by a guru
named:
• Guru Nanak
• Spread by nine later
gurus
• Began and spread in the
16th and 17th centuries




What is Sikhism?
Monotheistic
Name of Supreme Being: God
Followers are called Sikhs
Today is primarily found in Northwestern
India (Punjab region), United Kingdom,
Canada, United States
Punjab region of India
Beliefs of Sikhism





Believe in one god
called God
All human beings are
equal
Meditation
Sikhs are to live
honestly and work hard
Share with others
Sikhism - Practices

Sikhs practice their faith by wearing the 5
articles of faith or 5 K’s:
Sikhism - Practices

Joining the Khalsa:



This is a committed group of Sikhs
Members of the Khalsa wear the Five K’s
There is a special ceremony for those that
choose to join the Khalsa
Sikhism

Sacred Writings –




Guru Granth Sahib
Collection of teachings
by Guru Nanak and
other Gurus along with
Sikh, Hindu and
Muslim saints
Place of Worship –
Gurdwara
Sects/Branches –

None
Sikhism

Major Holidays/Holy
Days



Vaisakhi – Celebrates the
founding of Sikhism and the
Khalsa
Diwali – Celebrates a guru’s
release from prison
Hola Mohalla – festival of
martial arts