Download Comparing World Religions

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Comparing World Religions
Religion
Country of Origin
India
Buddhism
around 500
B.C.
Founder(s)
Siddharta
Gautama
around the
year 37
Practices
avoid suffering
meditation
hope to be released from cycle of
rebirth and attain Nirvana
follow The Eightfold Path
all living things are equal
read and listen to the teachings of
great philosophers
The Four Noble Truths: selfish
desires lead to suffering
mantras (repetition of words or
sounds)
everyone has sinned, but can
be saved by faith in Christ
prayer
Holy Text(s)
Tripitaka;
Mahayana
sutras
baptism (cleansed of sins)
Jerusalem
Christianity
Main Beliefs
Jesus
belief in one God
eternal heaven or hell
Communion (bread and wine are
taken in memory of Christ’s death)
Bible
church on Sundays
Ten Commandments
China
Confucianism
around 500
B.C.
Confucius
each person has a place in society which
they should accept with honor and loyalty
honesty
society will be in harmony of everyone
fills their roles
politeness
government officials should be educated
each relationship has a person in charge
and a person who obeys
"Do not do to others, what you would not
want them to do to you.”
perform correct role in
society
loyalty to family and nation
Analects
Religion
Country of Origin
Founder(s)
people are reborn into different
castes based on their behavior in
life
India
Hinduism
developed
over many
years
Islam
Mecca
622
Main Beliefs
none
goal is to gain release from rebirth
based on
teachings of
prophet
Muhammad
yoga (mental and physical
exercise)
meditation
prayer to gods
many gods/goddesses
live according to your dharma
(moral duty)
one God (Allah)
follow the Five Pillars
humans must submit to the will of
God to gain paradise after death
mosque service on Friday
there is paradise or Hell
no alcohol or pork
strong belief in angels
Vedas
Qur'an
fasting
synagogue service on
Saturday
Ten Commandments
Middle East
about 2000
B.C.
Holy Text(s)
ahisma: nonviolence
one God (Yahweh)
Judaism
Practices
bar/bat mitzvah at adulthood
Abraham
have little to say about what
happens after death
Thirteen Principles of Jewish Faith
(what they should live by)
no pork or other non-kosher
foods
celebrate festivals
Torah