Download World Religions

World Religions
5 Categories of World Religions
• Monotheism
– Belief in one god
– Examples: Christianity, Judaism,
Islam
• Polytheism
– Belief in many gods
– Example: Hinduism
• Non-theism
– Belief in no gods
– Example: Buddhism
5 Categories
• Atheism
– Belief that there is no
supernatural forces
• Animism
– Belief in natural spirits
– Example: Native
Americans
5 Major World Religions
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Judaism
Christianity
Islam
Buddhism
Hinduism
Judaism
• JUDAISM is a religion of
just one people: the
Jews.
• JUDAISM was the first to
teach belief in only one
God. Two other
important religions
developed from Judaism:
Christianity and Islam.
Judaism
• 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 Jewish people do not
agree; they anticipate His
arrival in the future.
• Judaism teaches that
death is not the end and
that there is a world to
come.
Judaism
• 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.
Judaism
• The Jewish house of worship is
called a synagogue.
• Rabbis (spiritual leaders)
conduct services, act as
interpreters of Jewish laws, and
deliver sermons.
• 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 Philosophy
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God is one and unique
God is the creator
God is transcendent
God is immanent.
God is lawgiver
God is personal
We have the obligation to worship
The Torah is God's law
God is judge
The Messiah will come.
Christianity
• The early Hebrews who eventually
developed into the Jewish religion became
the foundation of Christianity.
• Jesus, or the Messiah, was a Jewish boy
who disagreed with some of the Jewish
principles of his day and began to profess
a new way of thinking.
• This eventually led to the beginning of the
Christian religion.
Christianity
• Christianity started about
2000 years ago about the
same time of Jesus.
• The central point of
Christian belief is that God,
the Father, entered into
human history as the Son,
Jesus of Nazereth, and
arose as the Holy Spirit.
Christian Philosophy
• God is the Creator of the
universe. There is one
God, Who is
Three PersonsFather, Son and Holy
Spirit.
• Jesus is both fully man
and fully God. He was
born of the Virgin Mary
Crucified, resurrected
from the dead, and
ascended to the Father.
Christian Philosophy
• Sin and Evil are realities in our
existence.
• The Bible is the Holy Book that
records God's revelation.
• All believers are promised life
everlasting.
• The leader of Christianity was
Jesus, and the followers were
his 12 disciples.
Islam
• ISLAM is the name given to
the religion preached by
the prophet Muhammad in
the 600s CE
• The Islamic religion started
in the area known as
Palestine in the year 600
CE.
• It has about 850 million
followers, most of them in
the region north and east of
the Mediterranean Sea.
Islam
• The holy book of Islam is
the "Koran." Muslims
believe its words to be
those of Allah himself,
spoken to Muhammad by
an angel.
• Allah, is the Islamic God.
• People who believe these
ideas are called Muslims.
Islamic Philosophy
• 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.
5 Pillars of Islam
• There is only one god, Allah
• Muslims pray five times daily
in their mosques and face the
holy city of Mecca
• All Muslims are required to
make a pilgrimage (trip to a
sacred place) to Mecca at
least once in their lifetime.
• Muslims must give alms
(money) to the poor
• Muslims must fast during the
holy month of Ramadan
Buddhism
• Founding person of Buddhism is
Guatama, the Buddha
• The Dalai Lama is a Buddhist monk who
remains the leader of the Tibetans.
• Buddhism is a major religion in China,
Japan, India, and Tibet.
Buddhism
• Buddhism states that
existence is a continuing
cycle of death and rebirth
called reincarnation.
• 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).
• Buddhism is the world's
oldest universal religion and
it is the second fastest
growing religion.
Buddhist Philosophy
• Love: without conditions
• Compassion: or feeling at one with the
person who is suffering
• Sympathetic Joy: Celebrate the happiness
of others, and do not resent their good
fortune.
• Impartiality: Treat everyone equally, and
do not use others for personal gain or to
win approval.
Hinduism
• HINDUISM is one of the world's oldest
religions.
• Over 2/3's of the world's Hindus live in
India; large numbers reside in Africa also.
• Hindus believe in many gods, numbering
into the thousands. They recognize one
supreme spirit called Brahman ("the
Absolute.“)
Hinduism
• 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."
Hindu Philosophy
• Hindus believe in many gods, numbering
into the thousands.
• They recognize one supreme spirit called
Brahman (the Absolute).
• 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."
Hindu Philosophy
• 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).
OTHER WORLD RELIGIONS &
PHILOSOPHIES
Shintoism
• 10 million Japanese participate in rituals
associated with Shintoism, however only a
third call themselves Shintoists
• Shinto ranks as the tenth major world
religion
• Shinto is growing, due to a large number
of sects blending Buddhism and Shintoism
together
Shintoism
• Shinto was formed in Japan around 500
BCE
• Shinto is practiced exclusively in Japan or
with people of Japanese heritage
• Due to its Japanese based heritage, the
religion has not spread dramatically to
other nations
Shinto Beliefs
• There is no all-powerful God
• The worship of Kami
– Kami are gods and spirits that govern over nature and human life
– They are believed to animate the world through geographical site
(Mount Fuji) and natural phenomenon (kamikaze)
• The individual is less than the group
• Wa (“benign harmony”) is ingrained in nature and
human relationships
– Anything that disturbs this condition is bad. To keep the balance
of harmony, there are rules to keep society and the natural world
from turning into chaos.
– Wa is reflected in everyday actions. (ex. Removal of one’s
shoes before entering a home and taking daily baths)
Shinto Beliefs
• Renewal and purification
– “Man is kami’s child;” Life was given to people by kami and has
sacred nature.
– But because divine nature is rarely seen purification is necessary
– A shrine dedicated to kami has a trough of pure water used for the
rituals of rinsing the hands and mouth, required before approaching
the image of kami. This process is called oharai.
– Shinto has little care for death and the afterlife. Shinto is mainly a
“life religion” concerned with the her and now.
– They believe that the soul, or tama, of the dead continues to have
influence on the living before finally becoming a part of the kami
ancestors from the family it belongs to.
– If a person were to pass away, Shintoisms would use the Buddhist
idea of afterlife.
Confucianism
• Primary followers are located in mainland
China and Taiwan
• Korea was the largest population of
Confucian followers outside of China
• Influential in Japan and Vietnam
• Over 6 million followers world wide
– 99.4% are located in Asia
Confucianism
• Books by Confucius were required texts for
admission to Chinese administration for the
last 1500 years
• Scholars put emphasis on popularizing
Confucian values
• The Yi Dynasty, lasting from 1392-1910,
established Confucianism as the state
ideology
• Diffused into the culture through folk songs,
popular drama, literature, and the arts
Confucianism - Origins
• Began about 2,500 years ago in the
Chinese province of Lu
• Founded by Supreme Sage K’ung-fu-tsu
(Confucius) and Second Sage Meng-tsu
(Mencius)
• Confucius was a philosopher and teacher
whose pupils recorded his sayings
• Emphasized the importance of Li,
propriety and virtue, in order to become
the Superior Man
Confucian System of Beliefs
• Major scriptures: The Analects, Doctrine of the
Mean, Mencius, and Great Learning
• Primary Goal: To create a true nobility through
proper education and the indoctrination of all
the virtues
• Belief in the presence of the Supreme Ruler
and Heaven
• The purpose of life is to follow an orderly and
reverent existence in accord with Li
• Golden Rule
Confucian Organization
• Confucius believed in a system called
“ruling by rites”
• In order to maintain order and peace, the
people needed to respect and follow their
superiors, but mutual respect was
necessary at all times
• There are no denominations or sects
• Confucianism is considered an ideology
and is taught in schools
Taoism
• Taoism officially has no founder or
founding date
• It grew out of various religious and
philosophical traditions in ancient China
• Taoism is often also depicted as Daoism
to more accurately reflect the correct
pronunciation of the Chinese sound
Origins of Taoism
The origins are ancient, dating back to the time of
Confucius: 551-479.
Taoism’s beginnings are shrouded in mystery.
It is not certain whether the founder of Taoism,
Lao Tzu, ever actually existed.
There are accounts, however legendary, about
Lao Tzu
Lao Tzu
Born in 604 BCE., his name means “old master.”
He was conceived by a shooting star.
When his mother gave birth to him, he was already eighty two
years old, a wise man with flowing white hair.
He worked as a government archivist.
Eventually, he became disenchanted with the corruption of
government.
He left his town after taking three days to write down his
words of wisdom, The Tao Te Ching.
The Tao Te Ching
Authored by Lao Tzu, it is Taoism’s foundational
text.
It is 81 short chapters, dating back to the 3rd.
century, BCE
It contains many paradoxes and profound teachings
on living in harmony with nature.
Chapter 56 = Echoes of such mystery are heard
repeatedly.
Those who know do not speak; Those who speak do
not know.
Chuang Tzu
Taoism’s second founder seems to have lived from 369 to
286 BCE
The Chuang Tzu, his text, is as important as the Tao Te
Ching but not as well known.
He is known for his humor, profound lessons and stories.
The central theme of his work is the relativity of things:
“Who is to say, it asks, exactly what is good, what ought to be
done, or even who we are, when answers to such questions
are so dependent on particular circumstances?
The Philosophy of Tao
Tao is both the ultimate source and principle of order in the
universe.
Tao has two components, yin and yang.
Taoism regards moral values as relative and avoids
absolute moral judgments.
Taoism literature says nothing about the afterlife and
depicts death as one of nature’s transformations from one
state to another.
Humans are part of the grand harmony of nature and to
live in accord with the Tao is the only way to thrive.
Yin and Yang
Traits of Yin and Yang
Yin
Negative
Passive
Feminine
Earthly
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Yang
Positive
Active
Masculine
Heavenly
Virtues in Taoism
Wu-wei = primary virtue and means “nonaction.” To practice wu-wei is to be so
perfectly in harmony with nature that its
energy infuses and empowers the individual.
Humility and noncompetition
Naturalness and naturalism
Nonaggression and passive rule