Download Unit 3: Religion - Taylor County Schools

Unit 3: Religion
History of Religion Part 3
Mr. Young
Sociology
Characteristics of United States
religious groups


About 65% of
Americans belong to
a church, mosque, or
synagogue
Before 1990, 87% of
Americans
considered
themselves to be
Christian, that has
fallen to 76% in 2008
1) Diversity

More than 300,000 congregations, the
United States has no dominant religions
2) Pluralism and Freedom


US Government ensures that you have the
freedom to worship as you please
Anyone can start a religion
3) Competition and Recruitment


Religious groups
compete for clients
Some groups will
modify their message
to reach a more
extensive audience
4) Commitment


Americans are a religious people, and
about 39% attend a religious service every
week
Americans donate about 85 billion to
religious causes
5) Toleration
1.
2.
3.
All religions have a right to exist—as long as
they don’t try to or hurt anyone
With all religions to choose from, how can
anyone tell which one—if any—is true?
Each of us may be convinced about the truth of
our religion—and that is the goal—but don’t be
obnoxious by trying to convince others that you
have the exclusive truth
6) Fundamentalist Revival


More mainstream
churches are losing
members
People are
evangelizing with the
people they associate
with
7) The Electronic Church

Just like everything
else church is also
becoming a big tv and
internet phenomenon
6 Major World Religions
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Confucianism (5.9 million)
Judaism (14 million)
Buddhism (360 million)
Hinduism (820 million)
Non-Religious (1.1 Billion)
Islam (1.2 billion)
Christianity (2 billion)
World Religions Video




http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bd5hvXg
I_bQ
Religions timeline
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_lFpsAz
5BPk
Start at 2:32
World Religions Video


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m6dCx
o7t_aE
Ted Ed (12 min)
Confucianism



Founder: K’ung FuTsu
Date: 500 B.C.E
Original Location:
China
Confucianism Cont.



Means “Family of Scholars”
Developed a system of moral principles
based on peace, justice, and universal
order
His teachings were incorporated into writing
called Analects
Cont



Believed that humans were by nature good
and learn best by a good role model, which
he called junzi
Main principle is to maintain jen, sympathy
or concern for other humans
Key to jen: sustain right relationships, being
loyal and placing morality above selfinterest
Cont




Established foundation for social hierarchy
“Confucius Golden Rule”- treat those who
are subordinate to you as you would like to
be treated by people superior to yourself
Due authority is not automatic: it must be
earned
Taught the “middle way”, avoid extremes
Cont


Five Constant Relationships: ruler-subject,
husband-wife, elder brother-younger
brother, elder friend-junior friend, father-son
Heaven and Earth are not separate places,
but death is a promotion to a more
honorable estate
Judaism Videos

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5W_PyV
hOJTs&feature=relmfu
Judaism



Founder: Abraham,
Isaac, and Jacob
Date: 2000 B.C.E
Original Location:
Israel
Cont




First religion based on monotheism
The Jews consider themselves God’s
chosen people
They reside in about 134 different
countries today
Based on the teachings of the Old
Testament and the Torah, first 5 books of
the Bible
Cont.



Abraham would leave the Middle East for
the promised land (modern day Israel)
Israelites would find themselves Egypt
where Moses would lead them out
Moses will get the 10 commandments from
God on Mount Sinai, laws that the people
should live by
Cont



Jews worship in a synagogue and are led
by a rabbi
Observe the Sabbath by not working from
sunset Friday to sunset Saturday
Believe the Messiah will appear in
Jerusalem and bring redemption to the
nation
Cont.
Two of the most important things to a Jew
1. Passover (Exodus) when God saved the
Israelite infants from dying
2. Keeping the Jewish laws (of which there
are 613)

Cont

1.
2.
3.
Judaism has three key components
God (deity)
Torah (God’s teachings)
Israel (community or holy nation)
Buddhism



Founder: Siddhartha
Gautama
Date: 500-600 BCE
Original Location:
India
Cont.


1.
2.
3.
4.
Buddha means Enlightened One
Based on Four Noble Truths
Existence is Suffering
The Origin of suffering is desire
Suffering ceases when desire ceases
The way to end desire is to follow the
Eightfold Path to Nirvana
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Right Belief (view)
Right Intent
Right Speech
Right Conduct (action)
Right livelihood (occupation)
Right Effort
Right mindfulness (contemplation
Right Concentration (ecstasy)
Hinduism Videos

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jesIqlDk
KdY
Hinduism



Founder: No Specific
Date: 1500 BCE
Original Location:
India
Cont.




One of the world’s
oldest current religions
Has no canonical
doctrine
Believe in many gods
Brahma created the
universe
Cont.



Central belief is
karma, spiritual
progress
No final judgment,
reincarnated based on
your moral progress in
previous life
When you reach
spiritual perfection,
you have attained
nirvana
Islam



Founder: Muhammad
Date: 600 CE
Original Location:
Saudi Arabia
Cont.



Started with Abraham’s son Ishmael
Prophet Muhammad Received revelation
from God that he wrote in the Qur’an
Split into two branches: Shi’ite (who believe
that the modern world is threatening the
original faith) and Sunni (generally more
liberal and accepting of social change)
Cont
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Believing that there is no god but Allah
Participating in five periods of prayer each
day
Paying taxes to help support the needy
Fasting during the daylight hours in the
month of Ramadan
Making at least one pilgrimage to the
Sacred House of Allah in Mecca
Cont.




Believe in jihad, meaning
struggle
Western world means
holy war
Greater Jihad is the
internal struggle against
sin within a person’s
heart
Lesser Jihad, external
struggle that takes place
in the world
Christianity Video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N1DWEi
gEe_c&feature=relmfu
Christianity



Founder: Jesus
Date: 1st Century BCE
Original Location: Israel
Cont.
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


Believe that Jesus is
the promised Messiah
from God
Was born of the virgin
Mary in Bethlehem
Started his ministry at
age 30
Had 12 apostles
Cont.



Died on a cross, and
is interpreted as a
blood sacrifice for the
sins of the world
Their doctrine is the
Holy Bible
Believe in a Trinity:
Father, Son, and Holy
Spirit
Cont.


Believe in baptism
by water and
baptism by the
Holy Spirit
Believe there is
only way to
Heaven, through
Jesus
Cont.

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Teachings were
opposite those of the
worlds
Taught that to be
greatest you must be
least
Humble yourself that
you may be exalted


Taught his disciples
to love everyone,
even your enemies
Only faith will get
you into Heaven,
not works