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You will be writing a report that illustrates and promotes understanding of the fundamental beliefs and practices of a major world religion. You will be assigned one of the following religions to report on: • • • • • • • • • Buddhism Christianity Confucianism Hinduism Islam Judaism Shintoism Sikhism Taoism You will then begin your research by using the internet and books available in the classroom. Your report must answer the following questions about your religion: 1. Who was the founder of this religion? In what year? 2. Who are the religious leaders of this religion? 3. What is the place of worship of this religion? 4. Where did this religion begin? Where is it practiced today? 5. What are the main beliefs of this religion? 6. Does this religion have a god(s)? Describe the god(s). 7. What is(are) the sacred writing(s) of this religion? What do they contain? 8. Describe the religious practices of this religion. How do they worship? How do they practice their beliefs? 9. What are the religious festivals? How, when, and why do they celebrate these festivals? 10. What are the main symbols of this religion? What do they represent? Web Resources on the Major World Religions: Buddhism: "Ontario Consultants on Religious Tolerance: Buddhism" http://www.religioustolerance.org/buddhism.htm "Om Sakthi: The Major World Religions" www.omsakthi.org/religions.html “Religions of the World” http://www.mnsu.edu/emuseum/cultural/religion/buddhism/buddhism.html Christianity: "Ontario Consultants on Religious Tolerance: Christianity" http://www.religioustolerance.org/christ.htm "Om Sakthi: The Major World Religions" www.omsakthi.org/religions.html "Mr. Dowling's Electronic Passport: Christianity" http://www.mrdowling.com/605-christianity.html “Religions of the World” http://www.mnsu.edu/emuseum/cultural/religion/christianity/christianity.html Confucianism: "Ontario Consultants on Religious Tolerance: Confucianism" http://www.religioustolerance.org/confuciu.htm "Om Sakthi: The Major World Religions" www.omsakthi.org/religions.html Hinduism: "Ontario Consultants on Religious Tolerance: Hinduism" http://www.religioustolerance.org/hinduism.htm "Om Sakthi: The Major World Religions" www.omsakthi.org/religions.html “Religions of the World” http://www.mnsu.edu/emuseum/cultural/religion/hinduism/hinduism.html Islam: "Ontario Consultants on Religious Tolerance: Islam" http://www.religioustolerance.org/islam.htm "Om Sakthi: The Major World Religions" www.omsakthi.org/religions.html "Mr. Dowling's Electronic Passport: Islam" http://www.mrdowling.com/605-islam.html “Religions of the World” http://www.mnsu.edu/emuseum/cultural/religion/islam/islam.html Judaism: "Ontario Consultants on Religious Tolerance: Judaism" http://www.religioustolerance.org/judaism.htm "Om Sakthi: The Major World Religions" www.omsakthi.org/religions.html "Mr. Dowling's Electronic Passport: Judaism" http://www.mrdowling.com/605-judaism.html “Religions of the World” http://www.mnsu.edu/emuseum/cultural/religion/judaism/judaism.html Shintoism: "Ontario Consultants on Religious Tolerance: Shintoism" http://www.religioustolerance.org/shinto.htm "Om Sakthi: The Major World Religions" www.omsakthi.org/religions.html Sikhism: "Ontario Consultants on Religious Tolerance: Sikhism" http://www.religioustolerance.org/sikhism.htm "Om Sakthi: The Major World Religions" www.omsakthi.org/religions.html Taoism: "Ontario Consultants on Religious Tolerance: Taoism" http://www.religioustolerance.org/taoism.htm "Om Sakthi: The Major World Religions" www.omsakthi.org/religions.html BUDDHISM MENU: BUDDHISM ...based on the teachings of Siddhartha Gautama Click below to visit our sponsors. Quotation: "Buddhism has the characteristics of what would be expected in a cosmic religion for the future: it transcends a personal God, avoids dogmas and theology; it covers both the natural & spiritual, and it is based on a religious sense aspiring from the experience of all things, natural and spiritual, as a meaningful unity" Albert Einstein 1 Overview: Buddhism is the fourth largest religion in the world, being exceeded in numbers only by Christianity, Islam and Hinduism. It was founded in Northern India by the first known Buddha, Siddhartha Gautama. In 535 BCE, he attained enlightenment and assumed the title Lord Buddha (one who has awakened) As Buddhism expanded across Asia, it evolved into two main forms, which evolved largely independently from each other: Theravada Buddhism (sometimes called Southern Buddhism; occasionally spelled Therevada) "has been the dominant school of Buddhism in most of Southeast Asia since the thirteenth century, with the establishment of the monarchies in Thailand, Burma, Cambodia and Laos." Mahayana Buddhism (sometimes called Northern Buddhism) is largely found in China, Japan, Korea, Tibet and Mongolia. http://www.religioustolerance.org/buddhism.htm (1 of 4)2/20/2006 7:57:50 PM BUDDHISM To which might be added: Tibetan Buddhism, which developed in isolation from Theravada and Mahayana Buddhism because of the remoteness of Tibet. Since the late 19th century: Modern Buddhism has emerged as a truly international movement. It started as an attempt to produce a single form of Buddhism, without local accretions, that all Buddhists could embrace. Topics covered in this section: A brief overview of the Buddha's life Core Buddhist beliefs Comparison of Buddhism with Christianity Buddhist traditions in the East and West Mahayana tradition (Northern Buddhism) Theravada Buddhism (Southern Buddhism; being written) Tibetan Buddhism (being written) Zen Buddhism (Being written) Information sources Visit Our Advertisers' Websites. || The Church of God website has holiness articles, pictures and an internet radio station - Read the article of the month - Common Excuses for Sinning Refuted. || Air Force Ones on sale. BayAreaKicks.com offers great shoes at a very low price. || Find out how easy it is to get your website to rank higher in the Search Engines. The SEO Company website is information rich! || Over 100 high quality free internet based SEO Tools - Now with a RSS feed and a XML to XHTML convertion file. 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Includes five quick links to products and services. || Houndit.com -- Human edited directory that offeres pay submissions and five business http://www.religioustolerance.org/buddhism.htm (2 of 4)2/20/2006 7:57:50 PM A brief overview of the life of Buddha A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF THE LIFE OF BUDDHA Click below to visit our sponsors. Note: Little is known about the Buddha's early life. No biography was written during his lifetime. Only isolated events from his life before he attained enlightenment were preserved. Some of the following is probably mythical in nature. The birth of the Buddha: He was born a prince circa 563 BCE in Lumbin• in the Terai lowlands near the foothills of the Himalayas. At the time, this was part of northern India. It is now part of Nepal, a small country located between India and Tibet. He was a member of the •ãkyas clan. His father, Suddhodana, was king of the clan. His mother was named Maya. In common with many other great religious leaders, many miraculous stories were associated with his birth. He emerged from his mother's side without causing her any pain. The earth shook as he was born. As a newborn, he was miraculously showered with water. He stood up, took seven steps, announced that he would be the "chief of the world." He also stated that this would be his last reincarnation. He was given the name Siddhãrtha Gautama. Siddhãrtha means "one who has achieved his aim." Gautama was his clan name. He was sometimes referred to as •ãkyamuni which means "the sage of the •ãkyas." He may have been born into the second of the four Indian castes -- the aristocratic warrior caste called K•atriyas. His early life in the palace: •ãkyamuni was raised as a Hindu. His parents assumed that he would succeed his father later in his life. His parents were concerned about a prophecy that astrologers gave at the time of his birth. They predicted that he would become either a universal monarch or a monk who would be a great religious teacher. His parents raised him in a state of luxury in the hope that he would become attached to earthly things and to pleasure. This would make it less likely that he choose the religious life. At the age of 16, he was married to his wife Ya•odharã. When he was 29, his wife had a son, Rãhula. Shortly after his son's birth, some sources say that he took four journeys by chariot. Other sources say he had four visions. During the first trip/vision he was deeply disturbed by seeing an elderly, helpless, frail man. On the second, he http://www.religioustolerance.org/buddhism5.htm (1 of 4)2/20/2006 7:58:52 PM A brief overview of the life of Buddha saw an emaciated and depressed man suffering from an advanced disease. On the third, he spotted a grieving family carrying the corpse of one of their own to a cremation site. He reflected deeply upon the suffering brought about by old age, illness and death. On his fourth trip/vision, he saw a religious mendicant -- a •rama•a -- who led a reclusive life of meditation, and was calm and serene. The four encounters motivated him to follow the path of the mendicant and find a spiritual solution to the problems brought about by human suffering. He left his wife, child, luxurious lifestyle, and future role as a leader of his people in order to seek truth. It was an accepted practice at the time for some men to leave their family and lead the life of an ascetic. Seeking the solution to human suffering: He first tried meditation, which he learned from two teachers. He felt that these were valuable skills. However, meditation could not be extended forever, He eventually had to return to normal waking consciousness and face the unsolved problems relating to birth, sickness, old age and death. He then joined a group of similarly-minded students of Brahmanism in a forest where he practiced breath control and fasted intensely for six years. He is said to have brought himself to the brink of death by only eating a few grains of rice each day. Some sources say that he consumed only a spoonful of bean soup per day. This technique produced a series of physical discomforts. Ultimately, he rejected this path as well. He realized that neither the extremes of the mortification of the flesh or of hedonism would lead to enlightenment. He determined that a better path to achieve the state of Nirvana -- a state of liberation and freedom from suffering -- was to pursue a "Middle Way." This way was largely defined by moderation and meditation. Attaining enlightenment: One night In 535 BCE, at the age of 35, he was seated underneath a large tree -- later known as the Bodhi tree (species Pipal or ficus religiosus). He began to experience some major spiritual breakthroughs: During the first watch of the night, he developed the ability to recall the events of his previous reincarnations in detail. During the second watch, he was able to see how the good and bad deeds that many living entities performed during their lifetimes led to the nature of their subsequent reincarnation into their next life. During the third watch, he learned that he had progressed beyond "spiritual defilements," craving, desire, hatred, hunger, thirst, exhaustion, fear, doubt, and delusions. He had attained nirvana. He would never again be reincarnated into a future life. He had attained enlightenment! "He became a savior, deliverer, and redeemer." 1 The events under the Bodhi tree are often described in mythological terms in Buddhist literature and art. His experiences are portrayed as a battle with Mãra, the Buddhist equivalent of the Judeo-Christian-Islamic Satan. This essay continues below. Click below to visit one of our sponsors: http://www.religioustolerance.org/buddhism5.htm (2 of 4)2/20/2006 7:58:52 PM A brief overview of the life of Buddha After his enlightenment: He assumed the title Lord Buddha (one who has awakened; the one who has attained enlightenment by himself). For seven days, he puzzled over his future: whether to withdraw from the world and live a life of seclusion, or whether to reenter the world and teach his Middle Way. He decided on the latter course: to proclaim his Dharma (teachings) to other humans so that they could also attain enlightenment. He located five of his fellow seekers with whom he had earlier fasted, and rejoined them near Benares. They quickly became aware of the changes brought about by his enlightenment. It was to them that he preached his first sermon. It contained the essential teachings of Buddhism. All five accepted his teachings and were ordained as monks. After the Buddha's second sermon, all five achieved enlightenment. They are referred to as Arhants (saints). The Buddha's later life: He wandered around Northeast India for decades, teaching all who would listen. He covered a "territory some 150 miles long by 250 miles wide, an area somewhat smaller than Ireland or the state of Pennsylvania." He had tens 2 of thousands of disciples and accumulated a large public following. He later established an order of monks and a corresponding order of nuns. His wife Ya•odharã became the first nun. His health began to fail when he was in this late 70s. After forty-five years of teaching, he died in a small town named Ku•inagara, apparently of natural causes. His final words were: "Decay is inherent in all things. Be sure to strive with clarity of mind" for Nirvana. The traditional date of his death is 483 BCE. However, some recent research indicates that he actually died circa 405 BCE. He did not choose a successor. He felt that the Dharma -- his teachings -- plus the Vinaya -- his code of rules for the monks and nuns -- would be a sufficient guide. Two and a half centuries later, a council of Buddhist monks collected his teachings and the oral traditions of the faith into written form, called the Tripitaka. This included a very large collection of commentaries and traditions; most are called Sutras (discourses). Sponsored links: References used: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Sri Swami Sivananda, "Lord Buddha," (1996), at: http://www.sivanandadlshq.org/ Charles Prebish & Damien Keown, "Buddhism - the eBook. Chapter 2," at: http://www.jbeonlinebooks.org/ "Gandhara, Pakistan," Biblical Archeology Review, 2004-MAY/JUN, Page 64. André Vellino "About Buddhism," at: http://www.ncf.carleton.ca/ Joseph Tamney, "Buddhism," Encyclopedia of Religion and Society, at: http://www.hartfordinstitute.org/ http://www.religioustolerance.org/buddhism5.htm (3 of 4)2/20/2006 7:58:52 PM BUDDHISM BUDDHISM'S CORE BELIEFS Click below to visit our sponsors. Core beliefs of Buddhism: Buddhism, like most of the great religions of the world, is divided into a number of different traditions. However, most traditions share a common set of fundamental beliefs. One fundamental belief of Buddhism is often referred to as reincarnation -- the concept that people are reborn after dying. In fact, most individuals go through many cycles of birth, living, death and rebirth. A practicing Buddhist differentiates between the concepts of rebirth and reincarnation. In reincarnation, the individual may recur repeatedly. In rebirth, in a person does not necessarily return to Earth as the same entity ever again. He compares it to a leaf growing on a tree. When the withering leave falls off, a new leaf will eventually replace it. It is similar to the old leaf, but it is not identical to the original leaf. After many such cycles, if a person releases their attachment to desire and the self, they can attain Nirvana. This is a state of liberation and freedom from suffering. The Three Trainings or Practices: These three consist of: 1. Sila: Virtue, good conduct, morality. This is based on two fundamental principles: The principle of equality: that all living entities are equal. The principle of reciprocity: This is the "Golden Rule" in Christianity -- to do onto others as you would wish them do onto you. It is found in all major religions. 2. Samadhi: Concentration, meditation, mental development. Developing one's mind is the path to wisdom which in turn leads to personal freedom. Mental development also strengthens and controls our mind; this helps us maintain good conduct. 3. Prajna: Discernment, insight, wisdom, enlightenment. This is the real heart of Buddhism. Wisdom will emerge if your mind is pure and calm. The first two paths listed in the Eightfold Path, described below, refer to discernment; the last three belong to concentration; the middle three are related to virtue. http://www.religioustolerance.org/buddhism1.htm (1 of 3)2/20/2006 7:59:25 PM BUDDHISM The Four Noble Truths: The Buddha's Four Noble Truths explore human suffering. They may be described (somewhat simplistically) as: 1. Dukkha: Suffering exists: (Suffering is real and and almost universal. Suffering has many causes: loss, sickness, pain, failure, the impermanence of pleasure.) 2. Samudaya: There is a cause for suffering. (It is the desire to have and control things. It can take many forms: craving of sensual pleasures; the desire for fame; the desire to avoid unpleasant sensations, like fear, anger or jealousy.) 3. Nirodha: There is an end to suffering. (Suffering ceases with the final liberation of Nirvana (a.k.a. Nibbana). The mind experiences complete freedom, liberation and non-attachment. It lets go of any desire or craving.) 4. Magga: In order to end suffering, you must follow the Eightfold Path. Click below to visit one of our sponsors: The Five Precepts: These are rules to live by. They are somewhat analogous to the second half of the Ten Commandments in Judaism and Christianity -- that part of the Decalogue which describes behaviors to avoid. Do not kill. This is sometimes translated as "not harming" or an absence of violence. Do not steal. This is generally interpreted as including the avoidance of fraud and economic exploitation. Do not lie. This is sometimes interpreted as including name calling, gossip, etc. Do not misuse sex. For monks and nuns, this means any departure from complete celibacy. For the laity, adultery is forbidden, along with any sexual harassment or exploitation, including that within marriage. The Buddha did not discuss consensual premarital sex within a committed relationship; Buddhist traditions differ on this. 5. Do not consume alcohol or other drugs. The main concern here is that intoxicants cloud the mind. Some have included as a drug other methods of divorcing ourselves from reality -- e.g. movies, television, the Internet. 1. 2. 3. 4. 1 The Eightfold Path: The Buddha's Eightfold Path consists of: Panna: Discernment, wisdom: 1) Samma ditthi Right Understanding of the Four Noble Truths 2) Samma sankappa: Right thinking; following the right path in life Sila: Virtue, morality: 3) Samma vaca: Right speech: no lying, criticism, condemning, gossip, harsh language 4) Samma kammanta Right conduct by following the Five Precepts 5) Samma ajiva: Right livelihood; support yourself without harming others http://www.religioustolerance.org/buddhism1.htm (2 of 3)2/20/2006 7:59:25 PM BUDDHISM Samadhi: Concentration, meditation: 6) Samma vayama Right Effort: promote good thoughts; conquer evil thoughts 7) Samma sati Right Mindfulness: Become aware of your body, mind and feelings 8) Samma samadhi Right Concentration: Meditate to achieve a higher state of consciousness Sponsored links: Site navigation: Home page > World Religions > Buddhism > here References: 1. Guy Newland, Untitled essay at: http://www.chsbs.cmich.edu/ 2. Bhikkhu Bodhi, "The Noble Eightfold Path. The Way to the End of Suffering," Buddhist Information, at: http://www.buddhistinformation.com/ Sponsored links: Copyright © 1996 to 2006 by Ontario Consultants on Religious Tolerance Latest update: 2006-FEB-19 Author: B.A. Robinson Go back to the previous page, or go to the Buddhism menu, or choose: ReligiousTolerance. Web org Search http://www.religioustolerance.org/buddhism1.htm (3 of 3)2/20/2006 7:59:25 PM Comparison of Buddhism and Christianity BUDDHISM Comparison of Buddhism & Christianity Click below to visit our sponsors. Comparison of Buddhism with Christianity: Since about 75% of American adults identify themselves as Christian and only 0.5% view themselves as Buddhist, it may be useful to compare Buddhism with the U.S.'s dominant religion. We define as "Christian" any person or group who thoughtfully, sincerely, prayerfully regard themselves as Christian. This is the definition that pollsters and the census offices of many countries use. It includes as Christians the full range of faith groups who consider themselves to be Christians, including Assemblies of God members, Presbyterians, Roman Catholics, Southern Baptists, United Church members, Jehovah's Witnesses, Mormons, etc. Many Christians have a much less inclusive definition of the term "Christian." Beliefs not shared: Buddhists do not share most of the core beliefs of historical Christianity. These include: An original golden era in the Garden of Eden, and a subsequent fall of humanity. Original sin shared by all present-day humans, derived from Adam and Eve. A world-wide flood in the time of Adam, causing the greatest human genocide in history. The need for a personal savior whose death enabled individual salvation. A god-man savior who was born of a virgin, executed, resurrected and ascended to heaven. Salvation achieved through good works, specific beliefs and/or sacraments. Eternal life spent in either a heaven or hell after death. Return of the savior to earth at some time in the future. An end of the world as we know it in the near future. Some shared beliefs: Buddhism and Christianity share some features: Ethic of Reciprocity: Buddhism, Christianity and all of the other major world religions share a basic rule of behavior which governs how they are to treat others. Two quotations from Buddhist texts which reflect this Ethic are: "...a state that is not pleasing or delightful to me, how could I inflict that upon another?" Samyutta NIkaya v. 353. Hurt not others in ways that you yourself would find hurtful." Udana-Varga 5:18. This compares closely to Christianity's Golden Rule, which is seen in: "Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them." Matthew 7:12. "...and don't do what you hate...", Gospel of Thomas 6. http://www.religioustolerance.org/buddhism4.htm (1 of 2)2/20/2006 7:59:59 PM Comparison of Buddhism and Christianity Life after death: Almost all religions teach that a person's personality continues after death. In fact, many religious historians believe that this belief was the prime reason that motivated people to originally create religions. Christianity and Buddhism are no exception. However, they conceive of life after death in very different forms: Buddhism teaches that humans are trapped in a repetitive cycle of birth, life, death and rebirth. One's goal is to escape from this cycle and reach Nirvana. The mind experiences complete freedom, liberation and non-attachment. Suffering ends because desire and craving -- the causes of suffering -- are no more. Christianity has historically taught that everyone has only a single life on earth. After death, an eternal life awaits everyone: either in Heaven or Hell. There is no suffering in Heaven; only joy. Suffering is eternal without any hope of cessation for the inhabitants of Hell. Themes of morality, justice, love: These themes are found through both the Buddha's teaching and the Hebrew and Christian Bible. Beliefs shared by some Buddhist traditions and Christianity: In its original forms, Buddhism did not teach of the existence of transcendent, immanent, or any other type of God, Gods, Goddess, and/or Goddesses. However, many Buddhists -- particularly in Japan -- do believe in a pantheon of deities. Some traditions within Buddhism believe in the power of prayer; others do not. Some Buddhists believe in Miroku, the "future Buddha." They expect him to be reincarnated and spread Buddhism further. Site navigation: Home World Religions > Buddhism > here Home page > Comparisons of religions > here Copyright © 1996 to 2006 by Ontario Consultants on Religious Tolerance Latest update: 2006-JAN-08 Author: B.A. Robinson Go back to the previous page, or to the Buddhism menu, or to the Comparison of religions menu, or choose: ReligiousTolerance. Web org Search http://www.religioustolerance.org/buddhism4.htm (2 of 2)2/20/2006 7:59:59 PM BUDDHISM BUDDHISM Buddhist traditions: East & West Click below to visit our sponsors. Buddhist traditions in the East: Buddhism is not a single monolithic religion. Many of its adherents have combined the teachings of the Buddha with local religious rituals, beliefs and customs. Little conflict occurs, because Buddhism at its core is a philosophical system to which such additions can be easily grafted. After the Buddha's death, splits occurred. There are now three main systems of thought within Buddhism which are geographically and philosophically separate. Each tradition in turn has many sects. One source divides the religion into three main groups by their location: Theravada Buddhism (a.k.a. as Southern Buddhism) now has 100 million followers. Buddhist missionaries from India took the religion to a number of countries, but it initially only achieved a foothold in Sri Lanka. It later spread from Sri Lanka to Burma, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, and parts of Vietnam. They promoted the Vibhajjavada school (Separative Teaching). By the 15th century, this form of the religion reached almost its present geographical extent. Concepts and practices include: Dana - thoughtful, ceremonial giving Sila - accepting Buddhist teaching and following it in practice; refraining from killing, stealing, wrong behavior, use of drugs. On special days, three additional precepts may be added, restricting adornment, entertainment and comfort. Karma - the balance of accumulated sin and merit, which will determine one's future in the present life, and the nature of the next life to come. The Cosmos - consists of billions of worlds grouped into clusters; clusters are grouped into galaxies, which are themselves grouped into super-galaxies. The universe also has many levels: four underworlds and 21 heavenly realms. Paritta - ritual chanting. Worship - of relics of a Buddha, of items made by a Buddha, or of other symbolic relics. Festivals - days of the full moon, and three other days during the lunar cycle are celebrated. There is a new year's festival, and celebrations tied to the agricultural year. Pilgrimages - particularly to Buddhist sites in Sri Lanka and India. http://www.religioustolerance.org/buddhism2.htm (1 of 3)2/20/2006 8:00:30 PM BUDDHISM Mahayana Buddhism (a.k.a. Northern Buddhism) is the predominant religion in China, Japan, Korea and much of Vietnam. The tradition entered China during the Han dynasty (206 BCE to 220 CE). It found initial acceptance there among the workers; later, it gradually penetrated the ruling class. Buddhism reached Japan in the 6th century. It underwent severe repression during the 1960's in China during the Cultural Revolution. Eastern Buddhism contains many distinct schools: T'ein-t'ai, Hua-yen, Pure Land teachings, and the Meditation school. They celebrate the New Year, harvest festivals, and five anniversaries from the lives of Buddha and of the Bodhissattva Kuan-yin. They also engage in Dana, Sila, Chanting, Worship and Pilgrimage. Vajrayana Buddhism (a.k.a. Tantric Buddhism) has perhaps 10 million adherents in parts of China, Mongolia, Russia and Tibet. It entered Tibet circa 640 CE. Conflict with the native Tibetan religion of Bon caused it to go largely underground until its revival in the 11th century CE. The head of the Gelu school of Buddhist teaching became the Dalai Lama, and ruled Tibet. It has been, until recently, wrongly dismissed as a degenerate form of Buddhism. Ceremony and ritual are emphasized. They also engage in Dana, Sila, Chanting, Worship and Pilgrimage. They developed the practice of searching out a young child at the time of death of an important teacher. The child is believed to be the successor to the deceased teacher. They celebrate New Years, harvest festivals and anniversaries of five important events in the life of the Buddha. Buddhist and Tibetan culture suffered greatly during the Cultural Revolution when an attempt was made to destroy all religious belief. 1 Click below to visit one of our sponsors: Buddhism in the West: Southern Buddhism became established in Europe early in the 20th century. Buddhism came to the U.S. in the early 19th century, with the arrival of Chinese and Japanese immigrants to Hawaii and to the west coast of the U.S. mainland. The Zen Buddhist tradition of Eastern Buddhism has developed a large following, particularly after the "Beat" generation, which began in the 1950's. Today, there are racial and cultural divides in American Buddhism, between nationalities of new immigrants, and between Caucasians and Asians. They exist largely as two solitudes, with little interaction. For Asian-American Buddhists, the temple "has more congregational importance, playing a key religious, social and cultural role in the community." Many have come to America recently, escaping wars in the Far East. Caucasians Buddhists focus on meditation. Their groups tend to be "more lay orientated, with more women in positions of leadership. For some converts, Buddhism is more a philosophy than a religion." 2 Tricycle: The Buddhist review maintains a listing of 834 centers in the U.S., Canada and Europe at: http://208.2.76.27/tricycle/ http://www.religioustolerance.org/buddhism2.htm (2 of 3)2/20/2006 8:00:30 PM Mahayana Buddhism The Mahayana Tradition Its origin and spread Click below to visit our sponsors. Buddhism Continues to Grow: The original tradition within Buddhism, Theravadan, continues to flourish even today, but around the First Century BCE, a split began to develop. The Theravadans held fast to the ideas of monastic discipline, scholarly attainment, and strict adherence to the scriptures of the Buddha, while others saw this as being inflexible and difficult for anyone besides a monk to come to terms with. As a result, a movement to bring Buddhism to the "common people" began to gain popularity. This movement would eventually lead to the development of Mayahana Buddhism. "Theravada Buddhism focused primarily on meditation and concentration, the eighth of the Eightfold Noble Path; as a result, it centered on a monastic life a an extreme expenditure of time in meditating. This left little room for the bulk of humanity to join in, so a new schism erupted within the ranks of Buddhism in the first century AD, one that would attempt to reformulate the teachings of Buddha to accommodate a greater number of people. They called their new Buddhism, the "Greater Vehicle" (literally, "The Greater Ox-Cart") or Mahayana, since it could accommodate more people and more believers from all walks of life. They distinguished themselves from mainstream Theravada Buddhism by contemptuously referring to Theravada as Hinayana, or 'The Lesser Vehicle.' " 1 The story goes that at first, the abilities of Buddha’s followers to comprehend what he had attained was limited, thus his teachings had to focus on the most important concepts of enlightenment and Nirvana. It is often said that The Buddha foresaw a time when his disciples would be ready for more than these basic teachings. This slow evolution of Buddhist thought beyond the original teachings of the Buddha demonstrated the great flexibility and openness that was possible in Buddhism, thus as it moved out of India to other countries, it was rapidly integrated into the cultures it encountered. "Many Buddhists, especially Westerners, tend to see both the Theravada and Mahayana approaches as not being contradictory or in opposition but rather as complimentary to each other. The Mahayana is often seen as an expansion of or commentary on Theravadan teachings." 2 Bohdisattva Warriors: http://www.religioustolerance.org/budd_mah.htm (1 of 4)2/20/2006 8:01:00 PM Mahayana Buddhism Theravada or Hinayana Buddhism embraced the concept of the Bodhisattva, or "one who achieves perfect attainment." Theravadan Buddhists saw this as merely a guide or a model to the journey of individual enlightenment. Thus any adherent of the Theravadan Tradition who through strict discipline and devotion to scripture became enlightened had lived up to the ideal of the Bodhisattva. But Bodhisattva was seen merely as a teaching tool, only as a part of the individual’s path in reaching Nirvana. It would not reach beyond this until the formation of the Mahayana Tradition. The Mahayana determined that Bodhisattva was a mandate not for individual perfection, but to save all sentient beings from suffering. Mahayana Buddhists take a vow NOT to enter Nirvana, even though they too strive to reach enlightenment. Instead their vow is to return to the world of suffering and assist all others in reaching Nirvana first, thus casting the role of Buddhists as compassionate protectors and saviors. "The bodhisattva is translated literally as 'one whose essence is perfect wisdom' or 'one destined for enlightenment.' The essential characteristics of the bodhisattva in both sects are compassion, selflessness, wisdom, and servitude. The bodhisattva takes a vow: 'I must lead all beings to liberation, I will stay here until the end, even for the sake of one living mortal'. " 3 The Spread of Mahayana in Asia: Theravada Buddhism continued to be dominant in Southern India and Ceylon (Sri Lanka) and spread South and East through the Indo-Chinese Peninsula while Mahayana Buddhism grew and spread to the North and East. Mahayana broke into several sub-types: In China: Cha’an, (more popularly known by its Japanese name, Zen), and Pure Land. Both would later be transmitted to Japan. Zen migrated to Korea. Vajrayana, or Tantric Buddhism which moved North and West, finally taking root in Tibet. Over time, several schools of the Mahayana Buddhist philosophy evolved, but the main ones today are Pure Land and the Zen, both of which originally developed in China. A third school, the Nirchiren group developed in most recent times and is based on the White Lotus Sutra teaching of the Buddha. 4 "The dominant group today is the Mahayana following, and this is in part due to a Royal supporter. In the third century BC, Buddhism was boosted by the patronage of a powerful king, the Emperor Ashoka who converted after a particularly vicious victory in battle. He became a major supporter of the Mahayana Buddhism and funded its growth around many parts of India. In conjunction with the council, he also sent missionaries to regions outside India, beginning the spread of Buddhism around the world." 5 Click below to visit one of our sponsors: Common Roots Run Deep: While the various sects and followers of the Buddha’s teachings may vary, the core values established by The Buddha are still shared by all Buddhists. Their methods may differ, the ultimate goal of enlightenment through http://www.religioustolerance.org/budd_mah.htm (2 of 4)2/20/2006 8:01:00 PM Mahayana Buddhism patient discipline, meditation, right living, and compassion for all life is a common thread that runs deep through all Buddhist thought and tradition. It is proper to say that Mahayana Buddhism is an extension or continuation of Theravada Buddhism, but without there first being Theravada, there could be no Mahayana. Major Differences Between Theravadan & Mahayanan Traditions: Theravada Buddhism Intense, dedicated and time-consuming effort required to attain enlightenment. Reaching Nirvana is the ultimate goal of the Theravada Buddhist. Strives for wisdom first . Centers on meditation, and requires personal dedication such as being a monk or nun. Mahayana Buddhism Enlightenment is achieved through a normal life with varying degrees of spiritual involvement. Vow to be reborn in order to help all other sentient beings reach Nirvana first. Compassion is the highest virtue. Encourages practice in the world and among the general community. Followed with reference to higher beings, more like a Followed as a teaching or Philosophy. religion. Moved primarily South and West covering Indochina and Moved Primarily North and West, covering China, Korea, Ceylon (Sri-Lanka). Japan, and Tibet. Early work written in Pali (e.g. kamma, dhamma). Early texts are in Sanskrit (e.g. karma, dharma) References: "Mahayana Buddhism," at: http://www.wsu.edu/~dee/ Graeme Lyall "The Rise of Mahayana," at: http://www.zip.com.au/~lyallg/RiseMahyan.htm Molly C. King, "Bodhisattva," at: http://web.presby.edu/~gramsey/ Mary Hendriks, "The History, Philosophy and Practice of Buddhism -Buddhism in Japan" at: http://www. acay.com.au/~silkroad/ 5. Mary Hendriks, "The History, Philosophy and Practice of Buddhism -Mahayana Buddhism and Theravadan Buddhism," at: http://www.acay.com.au/~silkroad/buddha/h_early.htm 6. Stephen Evans, "Basic Points Unifying The Theravada and the Mahayana," at: http://www.serve.com/ cmtan/buddhism/Misc/unify.html 7. Mary Hendriks, "The History, Philosophy and Practice of Buddhism," at: http://www.acay.com.au/ ~silkroad/buddha/ 1. 2. 3. 4. Resources For Further Study: Foundation for the Preservation of The Mahayana Tradition “The Rise of Mahayana,” by Graeme Lyall About.Com Index on Mahayana Buddhism Religion 325: The Mahayana Buddhist Tradition in India, China and Japan Buddhism Today (with items of general interest to all traditions of Budhism) The Rise of Mahayana Buddhism Buddhist Village, an online Buddhist Community Godserver.Com: Mahayana Buddhism http://www.religioustolerance.org/budd_mah.htm (3 of 4)2/20/2006 8:01:00 PM The major world religions Om Sakthi! The Major World Religions Om Sakthi Home History Teachings The Goddesses Worship Festivals News & Events Photo Gallery Worship Centers FAQs Home : Major World Religions The information provided below is intended to provide a short introduction to the major world religions as defined classically. Each description has been kept very short so that it is easy to read straight through all of them and get a general impression of the diversity of spiritual paths humanity takes to live the kind of life God wants. As a result, a great many things have been omitted. No omissions are intentional and readers are encouraged to consult other resources on the web as well as books for more in-depth information. For an excellent introduction to Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam, Confucianism, Christianity, and Judaism, Huston Smith's "The World's Religions" is highly recommended. The Trust Main Page Free Hospital All souls are welcome at our Religion and Sprituality Discussion Boards. Bring your faith and your understanding. Resources World Religions Religion News Discussion Board Essays Religion Links Help Others Virtual Cards Other Linking Sites Support/Donations Contact Us New Newer Newest Site Updated On 8/7/04 Glossary Map & Pictures Hinduism - 4000 to 2500 BCE* The origins of Hinduism can be traced to the Indus Valley civilization sometime between 4000 and 2500 BCE. Though believed by many to be a polytheistic religion, the basis of Hinduism is the belief in the unity of everything. This totality is called Brahman. The purpose of life is to realize that we are part of God and by doing so we can leave this plane of existance and rejoin with God. This enlightenment can only be achieved by going through cycles of birth, life and death known as samsara. One's progress towards enlightenment is measured by his karma. This is the accumulation of all one's good and bad deeds and this determines the person's next reincarnation. Selfless acts and thoughts as well as devotion to God help one to be reborn at a higher level. Bad acts and thoughts will cause one to be born at a lower level, as a person or even an animal. Hindus follow a strict caste system which determines the standing of each person. The caste one is born into is the result of the karma from their previous life. Only members of the highest caste, the brahmins, may perform the Hindu religious rituals and hold positions of authority within the temples. If you are looking for information on "OM" you can find it here. More Resources on Hinduism Site maintained by Lansdale Mandram Hinduism Books - Check out the most popular books concerning Hinduism and Hindus. Sacred Texts of Hinduism - Hindu sacred texts available for free online viewing at sacred-texts.com. Hinduism at OCRT - Article on Hinduism at the web site of the Ontario Consultants for Religious Tolerance. http://www.omsakthi.org/religions.html (1 of 8)2/20/2006 8:02:16 PM The major world religions Judaism - 2000 BCE Judaism, Christianity, Islam and the Baha'i faith all originated with a divine covenant between the God of the ancient Israelites and Abraham around 2000 BCE. The next leader of the Israelites, Moses, led his people out of captivity in Egypt and received the Law from God. Joshua later led them into the promised land where Samuel established the Israelite kingdom with Saul as its first king. King David established Jerusalem and King Solomon built the first temple there. In 70 CE the temple was destroyed and the Jews were scattered throughout the world until 1948 when the state of Israel was formed. Jews believe in one creator who alone is to be worshipped as absolute ruler of the universe. He monitors peoples activities and rewards good deeds and punishes evil. The Torah was revealed to Moses by God and can not be changed though God does communicate with the Jewish people through prophets. Jews believe in the inherent goodness of the world and its inhabitants as creations of God and do not require a savior to save them from original sin. They believe they are God's chosen people and that the Messiah will arrive in the future, gather them into Israel, there will be a general resurrection of the dead, and the Jerusalem Temple destroyed in 70 CE will be rebuilt. More Resources on Judaism Judaism Books - Check out the most popular books concerning Judaism. Sacred Texts of Judaism - Jewish sacred texts available for free online viewing at sacred-texts.com. Judaism at OCRT - Article on Judaism at the web site of the Ontario Consultants for Religious Tolerance. Zoroastrianism - 1000 BCE Zoroastrianism was founded by Zarathushtra (Zoroaster) in Persia which followed an aboriginal polytheistic religion at the time. He preached what may have been the first monotheism with a single supreme god, Ahura Mazda. Zoroastrians belief in the dualism of good and evil as either a cosmic one between Ahura Mazda and an evil spirit of violence and death, Angra Mainyu, or as an ethical dualism within the human consciousness. The Zoroastrian holy book is called the Avesta which includes the teachings of Zarathushtra written in a series of five hymns called the Gathas. They are abstract sacred poetry directed towards the worship of the One God, understanding of righteousness and cosmic order, promotion of social justice, and individual choice between good and evil. The rest of the Avesta was written at a later date and deals with rituals, practice of worship, and other traditions of the faith. Zoroastrians worship through prayers and symbolic ceremonies that are conducted before a sacred fire which symbolizes their God. They dedicate their lives to a three-fold path represented by their motto: "Good thoughts, good words, good deeds." The faith does not generally accept converts but this is disputed by some members. More Resources on Zoroastrianism Zoroastrianism Books - Check out the most popular books concerning Zarathushtra and Zoroastrianism. Sacred Texts of Zoroastrianism - Zoroastrian sacred texts available for free online viewing at sacred-texts. com. Zoroastrianism at OCRT - Article on Zoroastrianism at the web site of the Ontario Consultants for Religious http://www.omsakthi.org/religions.html (2 of 8)2/20/2006 8:02:16 PM The major world religions Tolerance. Buddhism - 560 to 490 BCE Buddhism developed out of the teachings of Siddhartha Gautama who, in 535 BCE, reached enlightenment and assumed the title Buddha. He promoted 'The Middle Way' as the path to enlightenment rather than the extremes of mortification of the flesh or hedonism. Long after his death the Buddha's teachings were written down. This collection is called the Tripitaka. Buddhists believe in reincarnation and that one must go through cycles of birth, life, and death. After many such cycles, if a person releases their attachment to desire and the self, they can attain Nirvana. In general, Buddhists do not believe in any type of God, the need for a savior, prayer, or eternal life after death. However, since the time of the Buddha, Buddhism has integrated many regional religious rituals, beliefs and customs into it as it has spread throughout Asia, so that this generalization is no longer true for all Buddhists. This has occurred with little conflict due to the philosophical nature of Buddhism. More Resources on Buddhism Buddhism Books - Check out the most popular books concerning Buddha and Buddhism. Sacred Texts of Buddhism - Buddhist sacred texts available for free online viewing at sacred-texts.com. Buddhism at OCRT - Article on Buddhism at the web site of the Ontario Consultants for Religious Tolerance. Shinto - 500+ BCE Shinto is an ancient Japanese religion, closely tied to nature, which recognizes the existance of various "Kami", nature dieties. The first two deities, Izanagi and Izanami, gave birth to the Japanese islands and their children became the deities of the various Japanese clans. One of their daughters, Amaterasu (Sun Goddess), is the ancestress of the Imperial Family and is regarded as the chief deity. All the Kami are benign and serve only to sustain and protect. They are not seen as separate from humanity due to sin because humanity is "Kami's Child." Followers of Shinto desire peace and believe all human life is sacred. They revere "musuhi", the Kami's creative and harmonizing powers, and aspire to have "makoto", sincerity or true heart. Morality is based upon that which is of benefit to the group. There are "Four Affirmations" in Shinto: 1. 2. 3. 4. Tradition and family: the family is the main mechanism by which traditions are preserved. Love of nature: nature is sacred and natural objects are to be worshipped as sacred spirits. Physical cleanliness: they must take baths, wash their hands, and rinse their mouth often. "Matsuri": festival which honors the spirits. More Resources on Shinto Shinto Books - Check out the most popular books concerning Shinto. Sacred Texts of Shinto - Shinto sacred texts available for free online viewing at sacred-texts.com. Shinto at OCRT - Article on Shinto at the web site of the Ontario Consultants for Religious Tolerance. http://www.omsakthi.org/religions.html (3 of 8)2/20/2006 8:02:16 PM The major world religions Confucianism - 500 BCE K'ung Fu Tzu (Confucius) was born in 551 BCE in the state of Lu in China. He traveled throughout China giving advice to its rulers and teaching. His teachings and writings dealt with individual morality and ethics, and the proper exercise of political power. He stressed the following values: ● ● ● ● ● ● Li: ritual, propriety, etiquette, etc. Hsiao: love among family members Yi: righteousness Xin: honesty and trustworthiness Jen: benevolence towards others; the highest Confucian virtue Chung: loyalty to the state, etc. Unlike most religions, Confucianism is primarily an ethical system with rituals at important times during one's lifetime. The most important periods recognized in the Confucian tradition are birth, reaching maturity, marriage, and death. More Resources on Confucianism Confucianism Books - Check out the most popular books concerning Confucianism and Confucius. Sacred Texts of Confucianism - Confucian sacred texts available for free online viewing at sacred-texts.com. Confucianism at OCRT - Article on Confucianism at the web site of the Ontario Consultants for Religious Tolerance. Jainism - 420 BCE The founder of the Jain community was Vardhamana, the last Jina in a series of 24 who lived in East India. He attained enlightenment after 13 years of deprivation and committed the act of salekhana, fasting to death, in 420 BCE. Jainism has many similarities to Hinduism and Buddhism which developed in the same part of the world. They believe in karma and reincarnation as do Hindus but they believe that enlightenment and liberation from this cycle can only be achieved through asceticism. Jains follow fruititarianism. This is the practice of only eating that which will not kill the plant or animal from which it is taken. They also practice ahimsa, non-violence, because any act of violence against a living thing creates negative karma which will adversely affect one's next life. More Resources on Jainism Jainism Books - Check out the most popular books concerning Jainism. Sacred Texts of Jainism - Jain sacred texts available for free online viewing at sacred-texts.com. Jainism at OCRT - Article on Jainism at the web site of the Ontario Consultants for Religious Tolerance. Taoism - 440 CE Taoism was founded by Lao-Tse, a contemporary of Confucius in China. Taoism began as a combination of psychology and philosophy which Lao-Tse hoped would help end the constant feudal warfare and other http://www.omsakthi.org/religions.html (4 of 8)2/20/2006 8:02:16 PM The major world religions conflicts of his time. His writings, the Tao-te-Ching, describe the nature of life, the way to peace and how a ruler should lead his life. Taoism became a religion in 440 CE when it was adopted as a state religion. Tao, roughly translated as path, is a force which flows through all life and is the first cause of everything. The goal of everyone is to become one with the Tao. Tai Chi, a technique of exercise using slow deliberate movements, is used to balance the flow of energy or "chi" within the body. People should develop virtue and seek compassion, moderation and humility. One should plan any action in advance and achieve it through minimal action. Yin (dark side) and Yang (light side) symbolize pairs of opposites which are seen through the universe, such as good and evil, light and dark, male and female. The impact of human civilization upsets the balance of Yin and Yang. Taoists believe that people are by nature, good, and that one should be kind to others simply because such treatment will probably be reciprocated. More Resources on Taoism Taoism Books - Check out the most popular books concerning Taoism. Sacred Texts of Taoism - Taoist sacred texts available for free online viewing at sacred-texts.com. Taoism at OCRT - Article on Taoism at the web site of the Ontario Consultants for Religious Tolerance. Exploring Tao with Fun - Informative site written by Taoists for beginners and non-beginners. Images of Taoism from Lao Tzu's Tao Te Ching - Illustrated Tao Te Ching based on Jeff Rasmussen's "Spirit of Tao Te Ching", introduction to Taoism, literal pictograph-by-pictograph translation, annotated links. Christianity - 30+ CE Christianity started out as a breakaway sect of Judaism nearly 2000 years ago. Jesus, the son of the Virgin Mary and her husband Joseph, but conceived through the Holy Spirit, was bothered by some of the practices within his native Jewish faith and began preaching a different message of God and religion. During his travels he was joined by twelve disciples who followed him in his journeys and learned from him. He performed many miracles during this time and related many of his teachings in the form of parables. Among his best known sayings are to "love thy neighbor" and "turn the other cheek." At one point he revealed that he was the Son of God sent to Earth to save humanity from our sins. This he did by being crucified on the cross for his teachings. He then rose from the dead and appeared to his disciples and told them to go forth and spread his message. Since Christianity and Judaism share the same history up to the time of Jesus Christ, they are very similar in many of their core beliefs. There are two primary differences. One is that Christians believe in original sin and that Jesus died in our place to save us from that sin. The other is that Jesus was fully human and fully God and as the Son of God is part of the Holy Trinity: God the Father, His Son, and the Holy Spirit. All Christians believe in heaven and that those who sincerely repent their sins before God will be saved and join Him in heaven. Belief in hell and satan varies among groups and individuals. There are a multitude of forms of Christianity which have developed either because of disagreements on dogma, adaptation to different cultures, or simply personal taste. For this reason there can be a great difference between the various forms of Christianity they may seem like different religions to some people. More Resources on Christianity Christianity Books - Check out the most popular books concerning Christianity. Sacred Texts of Christianity - Christian sacred texts available for free online viewing at sacred-texts.com. Christianity at OCRT - Articles on Christianity at the web site of the Ontario Consultants for Religious http://www.omsakthi.org/religions.html (5 of 8)2/20/2006 8:02:16 PM The major world religions Tolerance. Islam - 622 CE Islam was founded in 622 CE by Muhammad the Prophet, in Makkah (also spelled Mecca). Though it is the youngest of the world's great religions, Muslims do not view it as a new religion. They belief that it is the same faith taught by the prophets, Abraham, David, Moses and Jesus. The role of Muhammad as the last prophet was to formalize and clarify the faith and purify it by removing ideas which were added in error. The two sacred texts of Islam are the Qur'an, which are the words of Allah 'the One True God' as given to Muhammad, and the Hadith, which is a collection of Muhammad's sayings. The duties of all Muslims are known as the Five Pillars of Islam and are: 1. Recite the shahadah at least once. 2. Perform the salat (prayer) 5 times a day while facing the Kaaba in Makkah. 3. Donate regularly to charity via the zakat, a 2.5% charity tax, and through additional donations to the needy. 4. Fast during the month of Ramadan, the month that Muhammad received the Qur'an from Allah. 5. Make pilgrimage to Makkah at least once in life, if economically and physically possible. Muslims follow a strict monotheism with one creator who is just, omnipotent and merciful. They also believe in Satan who drives people to sin, and that all unbelievers and sinners will spend eternity in Hell. Muslims who sincerely repent and submit to God will return to a state of sinlessness and go to Paradise after death. Alcohol, drugs, and gambling should be avoided and they reject racism. They respect the earlier prophets, Abraham, Moses, and Jesus, but regard the concept of the divinity of Jesus as blasphemous and do not believe that he was executed on the cross. More Resources on Islam Islam Books - Check out the most popular books concerning Islam. Sacred Texts of Islam - Muslim sacred texts available for free online viewing at sacred-texts.com. Islam at OCRT - Article on Islam at the web site of the Ontario Consultants for Religious Tolerance. www.jannah.org - Independent site on Islam with good information on the response of mainstream Muslims to terrorism. The Islam Page - One of the oldest Islam pages on the web. Many articles/books and resources. Islamic Circle of North America - Great resource with news, articles, family, youth pages, etc. Islaam.com - Tons of informative articles and information. Sikhism - 1500 CE The Sikh faith was founded by Shri Guru Nanak Dev Ji in the Punjab area, now Pakistan. He began preaching the way to enlightenment and God after receiving a vision. After his death a series of nine Gurus (regarded as reincarnations of Guru Nanak) led the movement until 1708. At this time these functions passed to the Panth and the holy text. This text, the Shri Guru Granth Sahib, was compiled by the tenth Guru, Gobind Singh. It consists of hymns and writings of the first 10 Gurus, along with texts from different Muslim and Hindu saints. The holy text is considered the 11th and final Guru. Sikhs believe in a single formless God with many names, who can be known through meditation. Sikhs pray http://www.omsakthi.org/religions.html (6 of 8)2/20/2006 8:02:16 PM The major world religions many times each day and are prohibited from worshipping idols or icons. They believe in samsara, karma, and reincarnation as Hindus do but reject the caste system. They believe that everyone has equal status in the eyes of God. During the 18th century, there were a number of attempts to prepare an accurate portrayal of Sikh customs. Sikh scholars and theologians started in 1931 to prepare the Reht Maryada -- the Sikh code of conduct and conventions. This has successfully achieved a high level of uniformity in the religious and social practices of Sikhism throughout the world. It contains 27 articles. Article 1 defines who is a Sikh: "Any human being who faithfully believes in: ● ● ● ● ● One Immortal Being, Ten Gurus, from Guru Nanak Dev to Guru Gobind Singh, The Guru Granth Sahib, The utterances and teachings of the ten Gurus and the baptism bequeathed by the tenth Guru, and who does not owe allegiance to any other religion, is a Sikh." More Resources on Sikhism Sikhism Books - Check out the most popular books concerning Sikhism. Sacred Texts of Sikhism - Sikh sacred texts available for free online viewing at sacred-texts.com. Sikhism at OCRT - Article on Sikhism at the web site of the Ontario Consultants for Religious Tolerance. A Sikh Youth Site - Excellent Sikh site with lots of information and resources for youths and others. Bahá'í - 1863 CE The Bahá'í Faith arose from Islam in the 1800s based on the teachings of Baha'u'llah and is now a distinct worldwide faith. The faith's followers believe that God has sent nine great prophets to mankind through whom the Holy Spirit has revealed the "Word of God." This has given rise to the major world religions. Although these religions arose from the teachings of the prophets of one God, Bahá'í's do not believe they are all the same. The differences in the teachings of each prophet are due to the needs of the society they came to help and what mankind was ready to have revealed to it. Bahá'í beliefs promote gender and race equality, freedom of expression and assembly, world peace and world government. They believe that a single world government led by Bahá'ís will be established at some point in the future. The faith does not attempt to preserve the past but does embrace the findings of science. Bahá'ís believe that every person has an immortal soul which can not die but is freed to travel through the spirit world after death. More Resources on Bahá'í Bahá'í Books - Check out the most popular books concerning Bahá'í. Sacred Texts of Bahá'í - Bahá'í sacred texts available for free online viewing at sacred-texts.com. Bahá'í at OCRT - Article on Bahá'í at the web site of the Ontario Consultants for Religious Tolerance. www.bahaifaith.com - Gateway to the official sites of the Bahá'í Faith. Religion Statistics and General Info GeoHive - Country by country listing detailing the religious makeup of each. Adherents.com - Major religions of the world ranked by the number of adherents. http://www.omsakthi.org/religions.html (7 of 8)2/20/2006 8:02:16 PM THE CHRISTIAN RELIGION MENU: CHRISTIANITY FROM ALL POINTS OF VIEW. (THERE ARE MANY!) Click below to visit our sponsors. Quotations: "Christianity started out in Palestine as a fellowship; it moved to Greece and became a philosophy; it moved to Italy and became an institution; it moved to Europe and became a culture; it came to America and became an enterprise." Sam Pascoe, American scholar. "Christianity is not a religion; it is a personal relationship with Jesus Christ." Anonymous posting to a Christian mailing list. "The world is equally shocked at hearing Christianity criticized and seeing it practiced." Elton Trueblood, (1900 - 1994), American author and theologian. Many people think that the Bible is the authentic word of God and they worship the Bible, making it an idol..." Alan Watts, from "The Essence of Alan Watts series - GOD. About Christianity: The contents of this section might not be what you expect. http://www.religioustolerance.org/christ.htm (1 of 6)2/20/2006 8:02:58 PM THE CHRISTIAN RELIGION There are over a million religious web sites on the Internet. Almost all promote a single viewpoint -- that of the webmaster. This web site is different. Our goal is to help religious people understand the diversity of beliefs and practices within Christianity. This web site has a lot more material on Christianity than on any other religion. That is because about 75% of American adults identify themselves as Christian. In comparison, the next largest religions are Islam and Judaism, whose memberships total only one or two percent of the U.S. population. There are probably thousands of different definitions of the word "Christian." We have chosen the same inclusive definition as is used by public opinion pollsters and government census offices: A "Christian" includes any group or individual who seriously, devoutly, prayerfully describes themselves as Christian. Under this definition, Christianity includes: Roman Catholics, Southern Baptists, Jehovah's Witnesses, Mormons, United Church members, even a small minority of Unitarian Universalists, etc. We try to explain the full diversity of Christian beliefs: from those held by very conservative to very liberal believers. Sometimes we also include the diversity of beliefs of the very early Christian movement from the 1st and 2nd century CE. Many of our visitors are distressed because they find the material on our site which describes beliefs by Christians from other denominations. They regard these beliefs to be in gross error, unacceptable, and even blasphemous and un-Christian or anti-Christian. If you are distressed by these beliefs, please do not write us angry Emails. Please take up your complaints with the people who hold those beliefs. We are religious reporters, not theologians. However, if you find that we have incorrectly explained the beliefs of a Christian group, please do inform us. Points of concern: It is our policy to compare and contrast the beliefs and practices of very conservative with very liberal Christians. Most North American Christians belong to either a mainline denomination or the Roman Catholic Church. Their own faith group may teach some beliefs similar to the conservative wing of Christianity. Some beliefs are similar to that of the liberal wing. Some beliefs are intermediate between the two. We feel that it is important for persons of all faith groups (Christian and non-Christian) to understand the great diversity of Christian beliefs -- both among denominations today and throughout history. Many Christians are aware of their own denomination's current beliefs, but are unfamiliar with the history of those beliefs, or of the teachings of other denominations. Whether you want to convert others or dialogue with them, it helps to know what they believe. People in the U.S. and Canada are going to need religious understanding and tolerance in the future. These two countries are the most religiously diverse countries in the world -- and we are becoming increasingly diverse. If current trends continue, Protestants will probably become a minority during 2006, Christians will become a minority in in Canada about 2023 and in the U.S. about the year 2042. A place to begin: Introduction: << We recommend that you read these essays first: Otherwise the remaining information may not make much sense. These essays describe: http://www.religioustolerance.org/christ.htm (2 of 6)2/20/2006 8:02:58 PM Mr. Dowling's Judaism Page Home | E-Mail | Download Lessons | Interactive Quiz Understanding Others | Judaism | Christianity | Islam Time and Space Prehistory Mesopotamia Ancient Egypt Western Religions The Middle East and North Africa Conflicts in the Middle East African History Africa Today India and the Himalayas China Japan Ancient Greece Rome The Middle Ages The Renaissance The World Wars Russia and Communism Christianity Christianity is based of the teachings of Jesus Christ, a Jew who lived about 2000 years ago in what we now call Israel. Jesus taught his followers to "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you." The followers of Jesus called him Christ. Christ is a Greek word that means, “chosen one.” They believed he was the son of God. In time followers of Jesus became known as Christians. Early Christians taught that the sins of the people would be forgiven if they became Christian. Some years after Jesus died, Christians combined the stories of the life and wisdom of Jesus into four books known as the Gospels. Gospel means “good news.” The holy book of Christianity is known as the Bible and has two parts. The Old Testament consists of the sacred writings of the Jewish people, and was written mostly in Hebrew long before Jesus. The New Testament of the Bible includes the Gospels, along with letters by Christian writers. The Bible has been translated into more than 1,500 languages and has been read by more people than any other book. Almost two billion Christians live on every continent. They comprise the majority of people living in the United States and Canada (86%), Latin America (92%), Europe (76%) and Australia (85%). Christianity is also the most prevalent faith in Africa (48%). Christianity is a dominant force on every continent but Asia (9%). Most of the world’s population is in Canada The Caribbean http://www.mrdowling.com/605-christianity.html (1 of 3)2/20/2006 8:07:52 PM Mr. Dowling's Judaism Page Asia, so only one-third of the world's population is Christian. Mexico and Central America South America Christianity is divided into many sects. About half of the world’s Christian population is Roman Catholic. Pope John Paul II is the leader of the Roman Catholic Church. Catholic is a Latin word that means “universal,” and at one time it was the faith of almost all Christians. Roman refers to the fact that the Pope has lived in Rome for over five hundred years. Most Christians in Eastern Europe belong to Eastern Orthodox Churches. The Orthodox churches split with the Roman church in the Middle Ages. Many European leaders, including Martin Luther and John Calvin, protested against the Pope in a period known as the Reformation. The churches they started became known as Protestant sects. Major Protestant sects in America today are the Baptists (34 million), Methodists (13 million), Lutherans (8 million), Presbyterians (4 million), Episcopalians (2.5 million), and Pentecostals (2.4 million). Christians worship in churches led by ministers and priests. Most Christians practice acts of religious significance called sacraments. The sacraments include baptism, when a Christian joins the church; confirmation, when a Christian confirms his or her faith; and matrimony. The Eucharist is the holiest of Christian sacraments in many Christian churches. During the service, members of a church will eat a small wafer of bread. Christian tradition states that at the Last Supper before his execution, Jesus asked his followers to think of the meal as the body and blood he would soon sacrifice. Christian holy days include Christmas (the birth of Jesus), Easter (when Christians believe Jesus rose from the dead and ascended to heaven), and Lent, a forty-day holy period of penitence and self-denial. Christianity Christians believe that Jesus Christ was both a man and the son of God. They believe God sent Jesus as a messiah, or messenger. The Roman governor of Palestine executed Jesus by nailing him to a cross. Today the cross is Christianity's most important icon. Most Christians have crosses in and on top of their churches. Some Christians wear a cross as a necklace. The cross symbolizes a Christian's connection with Jesus. NEXT: Islam http://www.mrdowling.com/605-christianity.html (2 of 3)2/20/2006 8:07:52 PM CONFUCIANISM CONFUCIANISM: Founded by K'ung Fu Tzu Click below to visit our sponsors. History: K'ung Fu Tzu (commonly pronounced Confucius in English) was born in 551 BCE in the state of Lu (modern day Shantung Province). He lived during the Chou dynasty, an era known for its moral laxity. Later in life, he wandered through many states of China, giving advice to their rulers. He accumulated a small band of students during this time. The last years of his life were spent back in Lu, where he devoted himself to teaching. His writings deal primarily with individual morality and ethics, and the proper exercise of political power by the rulers. In China, and some other areas in Asia, the social ethics and moral teachings of Confucius are blended with the Taoist communion with nature and Buddhist concepts of the afterlife, to form a set of complementary, peacefully co-existent and ecumenical religions. There are approximately 6 million Confucians in the world. About 26,000 live in North America; almost all of the remainder are found throughout China and the rest of Asia. Beliefs: Confucian ethical teachings include the following values: Li: includes ritual, propriety, etiquette, etc. Hsiao: love within the family: love of parents for their children and of children for their parents Yi: righteousness Xin: honesty and trustworthiness Jen: benevolence, humaneness towards others; the highest Confucian virtue Chung: loyalty to the state, etc. Practices: http://www.religioustolerance.org/confuciu.htm (1 of 4)2/20/2006 8:08:30 PM CONFUCIANISM Confucianism does not contain all of the elements of some other religions, like Christianity and Islam. It is primarily an ethical system to which rituals at important times during one's lifetime have been added. Since the time of the Han dynasty (206 CE) four life passages have been recognized and regulated by Confucian tradition: birth: The T'ai-shen (spirit of the fetus) protects the expectant woman and deals harshly with anyone who harasses the mother to be. A special procedure is followed when the placenta is disposed of. The mother is given a special diet and is allowed rest for a month after delivery. The mother's family of origin supplies all the items required by the baby on the first, fourth and twelfth monthly anniversary of the birth. reaching maturity: This life passage is no longer being celebrated, except in traditional families. It takes the form of a group meal in which the young adult is served chicken. marriage: This is performed in six stages: Proposal: the couple exchange the eight characters: the year, month, day and hour of each of their births. If any unpropitious event occurs within the bride-to-be's family during the next three days, then the woman is believed to have rejected the proposal. Engagement: after the wedding day is chosen, the bride announces the wedding with invitations and a gift of cookies made in the shape of the moon. Dowry: This is carried to the groom's home in a solemn procession. The bride-price is then sent to the bride by the groom's parents. Gifts by the groom to the bride, equal in value to the dowry, are sent to her. Procession: The groom visits the bride's home and brings her back to his place, with much fanfare. Marriage and Reception: The couple recite their vows, toast each other with wine, and then take center stage at a banquet. Morning after: The bride serves breakfast to the groom's parents, who then reciprocate. death: At death, the relatives cry out aloud to inform the neighbors. The family starts mourning and puts on clothes made of a coarse material. The corpse is washed and placed in a coffin. Mourners bring incense and money to offset the cost of the funeral. Food and significant objects of the deceased are placed into the coffin. A Buddhist or Taoist priest (or even a Christian minister) performs the burial ritual. Friends and family follow the coffin to the cemetery, along with a willow branch which symbolizes the soul of the person who has died. The latter is carried back to the family altar where it is used to "install" the spirit of the deceased. Liturgies are performed on the 7th, 9th, 49th day after the burial and on the first and third anniversaries of the death. Visit Our Advertisers' Websites. || The Church of God website has holiness articles, pictures and an internet radio station - Read the article of the month - Common Excuses for Sinning Refuted. || Air Force Ones on sale. BayAreaKicks.com offers great shoes at a very low price. || Find out how easy it is to get your website to rank higher in the Search Engines. The SEO Company website is information rich! || Over 100 high quality free internet based SEO Tools - Now with a RSS feed and a XML to XHTML convertion file. Put them on your Website for free! || Get more traffic to your Website and your new Websites indexed by Google, Yahoo and MSN quickly. Use SEO Company's Directory Submission Services. We can add you site to over 300 directories! || Over 175 Free Web Directories that don't require a reciprocal link. Add your site up and watch your Website Traffic go up! || DirectoryMarker.com -- General directory that provides deep links with keyword rich anchor text. Includes five quick links to products and services. || Houndit.com -- Human edited directory that offeres pay submissions and five business card links. || SeeDirectory.com -- Human-edited http://www.religioustolerance.org/confuciu.htm (2 of 4)2/20/2006 8:08:30 PM HINDUISM: The world's third largest religion MENU: HINDUISM The world's third largest religion Click below to visit our sponsors. Click on the following ad and enter religious tolerance in the Cafepress® search box for some neat products related to religious tolerance: Overview: Hinduism differs from Christianity and other Western religions in that it does not have a single founder, a specific theological system, a single system of morality, or a central religious organization. It consists of "thousands of different religious groups that have evolved in India since 1500 BCE." 1 Hinduism has grown to become the world's third largest religion, after Christianity and Islam. It claims about 837 million followers - 13% of the world's population. It is the dominant religion in India, Nepal, and among the Tamils 2 in Sri Lanka. According to the "Yearbook of American & Canadian Churches," there are about 1.1 million Hindus in the U.S. The "American Religious Identification Survey" is believed to be more accurate. They estimated smaller 3 4 number: 766,000 Hindus in 2001. Still, this is a very significant increase from 227,000 in 1990. Statistics Canada estimates that there are about 157,015 Hindus in Canada. 5 Hinduism is generally regarded as the world's oldest organized religion. Most forms of Hinduism are henotheistic religions. They recognize a single deity, and view other Gods and Goddesses as manifestations or aspects of that supreme God. Henotheistic and polytheistic religions have traditionally been among the world's most religiously tolerant faiths. However, until recently, a Hindu nationalistic political party controlled the government of India. The linkage of religion, the national government, and nationalism led to a degeneration of the separation of church and state in India. This, in turn, has decreased the level of religious tolerance in that country. The escalation of anti-Christian violence was one manifestation of this linkage. With the recent change in government, the level of violence will diminish. http://www.religioustolerance.org/hinduism.htm (1 of 4)2/20/2006 8:09:16 PM HINDUISM: The world's third largest religion Topics covered in this section: A general introduction to Hinduism: Name of the religion, early history, sacred texts, beliefs, practices. Additional information: The caste system, divisions within Hinduism, the forehead mark, Hindu web sites. Is there a Christ - Krishna linkage? Were details of Jesus' life copied from legends about Krishna? Similarities between Krishna and Christ Christian-Hindu conflicts: Controversy over a Hindu invocation in Congress The Southern Baptist prayer guides Visit Our Advertisers' Websites. || The Church of God website has holiness articles, pictures and an internet radio station - Read the article of the month - Common Excuses for Sinning Refuted. || Air Force Ones on sale. 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We ship all over Canada and have a shipping depot in the US also. || Dr. Andrew Klapper provides aesthetic & reconstructive New York Plastic Surgery. || Wrap With Us provides you with http://www.religioustolerance.org/hinduism.htm (2 of 4)2/20/2006 8:09:16 PM HINDUISM HINDUISM A general introduction Click Here to Visit our Sponsors. Name of the religion: This religion is called: Sanatana Dharma, "eternal religion," and Vaidika Dharma, "religion of the Vedas," and Hinduism -- the most commonly used name in North America. Various origins for the word "Hinduism" have been suggested: It may be derived from an ancient inscription translated as: "The country lying between the Himalayan mountain and Bindu Sarovara is known as Hindusthan by combination of the first letter 'hi' of 'Himalaya' and the last compound letter 'ndu' of the word `Bindu.'" Bindu Sarovara is called the Cape Comorin sea in modern times. 1 It may be derived from the Persian word for Indian. It may be a Persian corruption of the word Sindhu (the river Indus) It was a name invented by the British administration in India during colonial times. Early history of Hinduism: Beliefs about the early development of Hinduism are currently in a state of flux: http://www.religioustolerance.org/hinduism2.htm (1 of 6)2/20/2006 8:10:35 PM HINDUISM The classical theory of the origins of Hinduism traces the religion's roots to the Indus valley civilization circa 4000 to 2200 BCE. The development of Hinduism was influenced by many invasions over thousands of years. The major influences occurred when lightskinned, nomadic "Aryan" Indo-European tribes invaded Northern India (circa 1500 BCE) from the steppes of Russia and Central Asia. They brought with them their religion of Vedism. These beliefs mingled with the more advanced, indigenous Indian native beliefs, often called the "Indus valley culture.". This theory was initially proposed by Christian scholars in the 19th century. Their conclusions were biased by their preexisting belief in the Hebrew Scriptures (Old Testament). The Book of Genesis, which they interpreted literally, appears to place the creation of the earth at circa 4,000 BCE, and the Noahic flood at circa 2,500 BCE. These dates put severe constraints on the date of the "Aryan invasion," and the development of the four Veda and Upanishad Hindu religious texts. A second factor supporting this theory was their lack of appreciation of the sophisticated nature of Vedic culture; they had discounted it as primitive. 2 The classical theory is now being rejected by increasing numbers of archeologists and religious historians. The originators of the theory were obviously biased by their prior beliefs about the age of the earth and the biblical story of the flood of Noah. Emerging theory: The Aryan Invasion view of ancient Indian history has been challenged in recent years by new conclusions based on more recent findings in archaeology, cultural analysis, astronomical references, and literary analysis. Archeologists, including Jim Schaffer and David Frawley, have established convincing arguments for this new interpretation. Archeological digs have revealed that the Indus 3 Valley culture lasted from about 3500 to 1800 BCE. It was not "destroyed by outside invasion, but...[by] internal causes and, most likely, floods." The "dark age" that was believed to have followed the Aryan invasion may never have happened. A series of cities in India have been studied by archeologists and shown to have a level of civilization between that of the Indus culture and later more highly developed Indian culture, as visited by the Greeks. Finally, Indus Valley excavations have uncovered many remains of fire altars, animal bones, potsherds, shell jewelry and other evidences of Vedic rituals. "In other words there is no racial evidence of any such Indo-Aryan invasion of India but only of a continuity of the same group of people who traditionally considered themselves to be Aryans...The Indo-Aryan invasion as an academic concept in 18th and 19th century Europe reflected the cultural milieu of the period. Linguistic data were used to validate the concept that in turn was used to interpret archeological and anthropological data." "There was no invasion by anyone." 2 7 During the first few centuries CE, many sects were created, each dedicated to a specific deity. Typical among these were the Goddesses Shakti and Lakshmi, and the Gods Skanda and Surya. http://www.religioustolerance.org/hinduism2.htm (2 of 6)2/20/2006 8:10:35 PM HINDUISM Click below to visit one of our sponsors: Sacred texts: Hindu sacred texts are perhaps the most ancient religious texts still surviving today. Some appear to be millennia older than the Hebrew Scriptures (Old Testament) which conservative Christians date to circa 1500 BCE and liberal scholars date to circa 900 BCE. The primary sacred texts of Hinduism are the Vedas: the Rig Veda, Sama Veda, Yajur Veda and Atharva Veda. The Vedas contain hymns, incantations, and rituals from ancient India. The Rig Veda (a.k.a. Rigveda) may be the oldest of the four. Estimates 4 of its date of composition in oral form range from 1500 BCE to 4000 BCE. The Yajur and Atharva Vedas refer to the vernal equinox having occurred in the Pleiades constellation -- an event dating from about 2500 BCE. The date when the Vedas were placed in written form is unknown. Various dates from 600 to after 300 BCE have been suggested. The Upanishadas deal with Vedic philosophy and form the conclusions of each of the Vedas. "They elaborate on how the soul (Atman) can be united with the ultimate truth (Brahman) through contemplation and mediation, as well as the doctrine of Karma-- the cumulative effects of a persons' actions." 4 An important text is the Ramayana. Various sources have dated it to: The first century CE in written form, based on oral traditions dating back six or seven centuries earlier. 4 4th century BCE in written form, based on oral traditions dating back to 1500 BCE. 6 4000 BCE in oral form, based on astronomical constellations and other features mentioned. 6 It is "a moving love story with moral and spiritual themes that has deep appeal in India to this day" concerning the exploits of the hero Rama who is viewed as an avatar of 6 Vishnu, and as "...a principal deity in his own right." attributed to the poet Valmiki. http://www.religioustolerance.org/hinduism2.htm (3 of 6)2/20/2006 8:10:36 PM 7 The written form has been HINDUISM The Mahabharata is a group of books attributed to the sage Vyasa. They have been variously dated as having been composed between 540 and 300 BCE, between 200 BCE and 2000 CE, the to the 15th century BCE. They record "the legends of the Bharatas, one of the Aryan tribal groups." The Bhagavad Gita is the sixth book of the Mahabharata. It is a poem describing a conversation between a warrior Arjuna and the God Krishna. It is an ancient text that has become a main sacred text of Hinduism and other belief systems. Other texts include the Brahmanas, the Sutras, Puranas, and the Aranyakas. Many of these sacred texts are available online. 4 One web site has a search engine available. 5 Hindu beliefs and practices: Categorizing the religion of Hinduism is somewhat confusing: Hinduism has commonly been viewed in the west as a polytheistic religion - one which worships multiple deities: gods and goddesses. Although a widespread belief, this is not particularly accurate. Some have viewed it as a monotheistic religion, because it recognizes only one supreme God: the panentheistic principle of Brahman, that all reality is a unity. The entire universe is seen as one divine entity who is simultaneously at one with the universe and who transcends it as well. Some view Hinduism as Trinitarian because Brahman is simultaneously visualized as a triad -- one God with three persons: Brahma the Creator who is continuing to create new realities Vishnu, (Krishna) the Preserver, who preserves these new creations. Whenever dharma (eternal order, righteousness, religion, law and duty) is threatened, Vishnu travels from heaven to earth in one of ten incarnations. Shiva, the Destroyer, is at times compassionate, erotic and destructive. Strictly speaking, most forms of Hinduism are henotheistic; they recognize a single deity, and recognizes other gods and goddesses as facets, forms, manifestations, or aspects of that supreme God. Most urban Hindus follow one of two major divisions within Hinduism: Vaishnavaism: which generally regards Vishnu as the ultimate deity Shivaism: which generally regards Shiva as the ultimate deity. However, many rural Hindus worship their own village goddess or an earth goddess. She is believed to rule over fertility and disease -- and thus over life and death. The priesthood is less important in rural Hinduism: non-Brahmins and non-priests often carry out ritual and http://www.religioustolerance.org/hinduism2.htm (4 of 6)2/20/2006 8:10:36 PM HINDUISM prayer there. Hindus believe in the repetitious Transmigration of the Soul. This is the transfer of one's soul after death into another body. This produces a continuing cycle of birth, life, death and rebirth through their many lifetimes. It is called samsara. Karma is the accumulated sum of ones good and bad deeds. Karma determines how you will live your next life. Through pure acts, thoughts and devotion, one can be reborn at a higher level. Eventually, one can escape samsara and achieve enlightenment. Bad deeds can cause a person to be reborn as a lower level, or even as an animal. The unequal distribution of wealth, prestige, suffering are thus seen as natural consequences for one's previous acts, both in this life and in previous lives. Hindus organize their lives around certain activities or "purusharthas." These are called the "four aims of Hinduism," or "the doctrine of the fourfold end of life." They are: The three goals of the "pravritti," those who are in the world, are: dharma: righteousness in their religious life. This is the most important of the three. artha: success in their economic life; material prosperity. kama: gratification of the senses; pleasure; sensual, sexual, and mental enjoyment. The main goal for the "nivritti," those who renounce the world. is: moksa: Liberation from "samsara." This is considered the supreme goal of mankind. Meditation is often practiced, with Yoga being the most common. Other activities include daily devotions, public rituals, and puja, a ceremonial dinner for a God. Hinduism has a deserved reputation of being highly tolerant of other religions. Hindus have a saying: "Ekam Sataha Vipraha Bahudha Vadanti," which may be translated: "The truth is One, but different Sages call it by Different Names" Sponsored links: References: 1. "Origin of 'Hindu'," at: http://www.hindunet.org/ 2. David Frawley, "The myth of the Aryan invasion of India," at: http://www.hindunet. org/ http://www.religioustolerance.org/hinduism2.htm (5 of 6)2/20/2006 8:10:36 PM HINDUISM HINDUISM Additional information Click Here to Visit our Sponsors. The caste system: Although the caste system was abolished by law in 1949, it remains a significant force throughout India. Each follower of Hinduism belonged to one of the thousands of Jats (communities) that existed in India. The Jats were grouped into four Varna (social castes), plus a fifth group called the "untouchables." A person's Jat determined the range of jobs or professions from which they could choose. Marriages normally took place within the same Jat. There were rules that prohibited persons of different groups from eating, drinking or even smoking with each other. People were once able to move from one Varna to another. However, at some time in the past (estimates range from about 500 BCE to 500 CE), the system became rigid, so that a person was generally born into the Jat and Varna of their parents, and died in the same group. "The caste system splits up society into a multitude of little communities, for every caste, 1 and almost every local unit of a caste, has its own peculiar customs and internal regulations." 2 The Rigveda defined four castes. In decreasing status, they are normally: Brahmins (the priests and academics) Kshatriyas (rulers, military) Vaishyas (farmers, landlords, and merchants) Sudras (peasants, servants, and workers in non-polluting jobs). The Dalit were outcasts who did not belong to one of the castes. Until the late 1980's they were called Harijan (children of God). They worked in what are considered polluting jobs. They were untouchable by the four castes; in some areas of the country, even a contact with http://www.religioustolerance.org/hinduism3.htm (1 of 5)2/20/2006 8:12:18 PM HINDUISM their shadow by a member of the Varnas was considered polluting. Practicing untouchability or discriminating against a person because of their caste is now illegal. The caste system has lost much of its power in urban areas; however it tradition is largely unchanged in some rural districts. The government has instituted positive discrimination in order to help the Dalit and lower castes. Many Dalit have left Hinduism in recent years. This has sometimes been motivated by a desire to escape the caste system. On 2001-NOV-4, one million low-caste Dalits were scheduled to meet in Delhi, India, for a mass conversion to Buddhism. According to Gospel for Asia, Dalits feel that: "The only way for our people to find freedom from 3,000 years of slavery is to quit Hinduism and Castism and embrace another faith." Mass conversions to Christianity have also occurred. 3 Click below to visit one of our sponsors: Hindu sects and denominations: About 80% of Hindus are Vaishnavites, who worship Lord Vishnu. Others follow various reform movements or neo-Hindu sects. Various sects of Hinduism have evolved into separate religious movements, including Hare Krishna, Sikhism and Theosophy. Transcendental Meditation was derived from a Hindu technique of meditation. The New Age movement has borrowed many of its concepts from Hinduism. What does the mark on the forehead mean? The colored dot is variously referred to as a "tilaka," "bottu," "bindiya," "kumkum," or "bindi." It is a sign of piety, and a reveals to other people that the wearer is a Hindu. It symbolizes the third eye -- the one focused inwards toward God. Both men and women wear it, although the practice among men is gradually going out of style. In the past, many unmarried women wore black marks, whereas many married women wore red. But in recent times, women often wear dots that match the color of their saris. 4 http://www.religioustolerance.org/hinduism3.htm (2 of 5)2/20/2006 8:12:18 PM The religion of Islam MENU: ISLAM The second largest world religion...and growing. Click below to visit our sponsors. Quotations: "The messenger of Allah said: "Islam is to testify that there is no god but Allah and Muhammad is the messenger of Allah, to perform the prayers, to pay the zakat, to fast in Ramadhan, and to make the pilgrimage to the House if you are able to do so." He said: " You have spoken rightly", Jebreel (Gabriel) from Number 2 of "Al-Nawawi's Forty Hadiths." 1 "If anyone harms (others), God will harm him, and if anyone shows hostility to others, God will show hostility to him." Sunan of Abu-Dawood, Hadith 1625. "Jim Jones, David Koresh and Meir Kahane do not typify Christianity and Judaism in the eyes of the civilized West, but those same eyes are prone to see Osama bin Laden and Mullah Muhammad Omar as typifying Islam," Richard Bulliet 2 About Islam: Estimates of the total number of Muslims range from 0.7 to 1.2 billion worldwide and 1.1 to 7 million in the U.S. http://www.religioustolerance.org/islam.htm (1 of 5)2/20/2006 8:13:02 PM 3 The religion of Islam About 21% of all people on earth follow Islam. The religion is currently in a period of rapid growth. Christianity is currently the largest religion in the world. It is followed by about 33% of all people -- a percentage that has remained stable for decades. If current trends continue, Islam will become the most popular world religion sometime in the mid-21st century. Topics included in this section: About Islam: "The Truth About Islam": A description in about 600 words Introduction to Islam: Part 1: Its origin, Muhammad, texts, beliefs, etc. Part 2: Its practices, schools, holy days, etc. Comparing the beliefs of Islam and Christianity Comparing their growth rates How many Muslims are there in the U.S. and in the rest of the world? Books, web sites, and web rings Links to web sites featuring clothing, cards, etc. Quotations: Quotations from the Qur'an Hadiths: sayings of Muhammad Comparison of Qur'an verses with the Hebrew Scriptures' Ten Commandments Beliefs and Practices: Apostasy (Irtidãd) -- abandoning Islam Status of women: Female genital mutilation among Animists, Christians, and Muslims The role of women in predominately Muslim countries The Hajj -- pilgrimage to Mecca The significance of Eid-Ul-Adha Holy days of Islam -- seasonal days of observance and celebration Homosexuality The concept of Jihad Paradise: life after death When is killing innocent humans permitted? Terrorist attacks and the principle of tattarrus Punishment for non-marital sex The fast of Ramadan Tolerance items: Accommodating Islamic prayers in public schools Senate/House resolutions promoting religious tolerance towards Muslims. A prayer for peace and unity Why do "they" hate the West? "Terror has no faith" An essay by Ibraham Hooper of CAIR http://www.religioustolerance.org/islam.htm (2 of 5)2/20/2006 8:13:02 PM The religion of Islam Conflicts: Verbal attacks on Muslims by Fundamentalist and other conservative Christian leaders Beliefs about Islam by the American public Is Islam a religion of violence or peace? Hate crimes against Muslims and mosques Sharia law as practiced in Ontario A joint Senate/House resolution promoting religious tolerance towards Muslims. A book about Islam on the University of Northern California reading list Terrorist attacks in America 2001-SEP-11, not by typical Muslims, but by extremist, radical, fundamentalist, Muslim terrorists. The Washington-area sniper Al Qaeda's beheading of Paul Johnson in Saudi Arabia An excerpt about Iran from a book by Reza Aslan titled "No god but God" A sampling of fatwas and other statements during 2005 condemning terrorist acts Radical Muslim group(s) in U.S. Prisons Religious terms: "Fundamentalism" within Christianity and Islam Names given to the "Holy Land" Religious terms used to refer to Islam and Muslims In addition to the above, we have short passages on: Virgin birth of Jesus (pbuh) Jesus' (pbuh) sinlessness Visit Our Advertisers' Websites. || The Church of God website has holiness articles, pictures and an internet radio station - Read the article of the month - Common Excuses for Sinning Refuted. || Air Force Ones on sale. BayAreaKicks.com offers great shoes at a very low price. || Find out how easy it is to get your website to rank higher in the Search Engines. The SEO Company website is information rich! || Over 100 high quality free internet based SEO Tools - Now with a RSS feed and a XML to XHTML convertion file. Put them on your Website for free! || Get more traffic to your Website and your new Websites indexed by Google, Yahoo and MSN quickly. Use SEO Company's Directory Submission Services. We can add you site to over 300 directories! || Over 175 Free Web Directories that don't require a reciprocal link. Add your site up and watch your Website Traffic go up! || DirectoryMarker.com -General directory that provides deep links with keyword rich anchor text. Includes five quick links to products and services. || Houndit.com -- Human edited directory that offeres pay submissions and five business card links. || SeeDirectory.com -- Humanedited directory with permanent listings. Provides six keyword rich title quick links. || WizDirectory -- Human edited general directory with visitor rating system and a business card showing five produce or service links. || Sports Forum forums will help you answer all your sports related questions! || Wrap With Us provides you with quick access to over 2500 Wedding Favors and wedding favor accessories. || Submit your site to OnlySeek Directory and more people will find it. || Join BetterSeeker Directory and be seen by more people. || Add your site to Alive Directory and get more traffic. http://www.religioustolerance.org/islam.htm (3 of 5)2/20/2006 8:13:02 PM Introduction to Islam INTRODUCTION TO ISLAM PART 1 Click Here to Visit our Sponsors. Quotations: "The best jihad [struggle] is (by) the one who strives against his own self for Allah, The Mighty and Majestic," by the Prophet Muhammad. More info on "jihad." 1 "It is a declaration of the truth and light to show the right path. It is the wise, the complete exhortation and a clear message...it is the embodiment of the fairest statements and Divine words of wisdom." Islamic scholar Abdur Rahman I. Doi, referring to the Qur'an 2 "[T]his is nothing but a manifestation of injustice, oppression and tyranny...and it is amongst the greatest of sins." Sheik Abdul-Azeez Aal ash-Sheik, grand mufti of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and head of the Council of Senior Scholars, speaking about the 9-11 terrorist attack. 3 Topics discussed in this essay: Origin of Islam About Muhammad (pbuh) About Islam Important Texts Beliefs Origin of Islam: The name of this religion, Islam, is derived from the Arabic word "salam," which is often interpreted as meaning "peace." However "submission" would be a better translation. A Muslim is a follower of Islam. "Muslim" is an Arabic word that refers to a person who submits themselves to the will of God. Many Muslims are offended by the phrases "Islamic terrorist" or "Muslim terrorist," which have been observed so often in the media; they are viewed as oxymorons. Most religious historians view Islam as having been founded in 622 CE by Muhammad the Prophet (peace be upon http://www.religioustolerance.org/isl_intr.htm (1 of 5)2/20/2006 8:15:50 PM Introduction to Islam him).* He lived from about 570 to 632 CE). The religion started in Mecca, when the angel Jibril (a.k.a. Jibreel; Gabriel in English) read the first revelation to Muhammad (pbuh). (Mohammed and Muhammed (pbuh) are alternate spellings for his name.) Islam is the youngest of the world's very large religions -- those with over 300 million members -- which include Christianity, Islam, Hinduism and Buddhism. * Muslims traditionally acknowledge respect for Muhammad, Jesus and other prophets (peace be upon them) by adding this phrase or an abbreviation "(pbuh)" after their names. However, many if not most of the followers of Islam believe that: Islam existed before Muhammad (pbuh) was born, The origins of Islam date back to the creation of the world, and Muhammad (pbuh) was the last and by far the greatest of a series of Prophets. Followers of Islam are called Muslims. "Allah" is an Arabic word which means "the One True God." An alternate spelling for "Muslim" that is occasionally used is "Moslim"; it is not recommended because it is often pronounced "mawzlem": which sounds like an Arabic word for "oppressor". Some Western writers in the past have referred to Islam as "Mohammedism"; this is deeply offensive to many Muslims, as its usage can lead some to the concept that Muhammad the Prophet (pbuh) was in some way divine. About Muhammad (pbuh) : Unlike other great religious leaders, like the Buddha, Moses, and Yeshua of Nazareth (Jesus Christ), Muhammad was born relatively recently, in the late 7th century CE. Omid Safi, assistant professor of religion and philosophy at Colgate University, commented that Muhammad was probably the first religious leader to rise up in the full glare of history. 6 Many unusual events have been recorded about Muhammad's (pbuh) birth and childhood: His mother said "When he was born, there was a light that issued out of my pudendum and lit the places of Syria." Also at the time of his birth, "...fourteen galleries of Kisra's palace cracked and rolled down, the Magians' sacred fire died down and some churches on Lake Sawa sank down and collapsed." His foster family had many experiences of amazingly good luck while he was in their care. As a young child, the angel Jibril visited the boy, ripped his chest open, removed his heart, extracted a blood clot from it, and returned him to normalcy. 4 While still young, he was sent into the desert to be raised by a foster family. This was a common practice at the time. He was orphaned at the age of 6 and brought up by his uncle. As a child, he worked as a shepherd. He was taken on a caravan to Syria by his uncle at the age of 9 (or perhaps 12). Later, as a youth, he was employed as a camel driver on the trade routes between Syria and Arabia. Muhammad (pbuh) later managed caravans on behalf of merchants. He met people of different religious beliefs on his travels, and was able to observe and learn about Judaism, Christianity and the indigenous Pagan religions. After marriage, he was able to spend more time in meditation. At the age of 40, (610 CE), he was visited in Mecca by the angel Gabriel. He developed the conviction that he had been ordained a Prophet and given the task of converting his countrymen from their pagan, polytheistic beliefs and what he regarded as moral decadence, idolatry, hedonism and materialism. http://www.religioustolerance.org/isl_intr.htm (2 of 5)2/20/2006 8:15:50 PM Introduction to Islam He met considerable opposition to his teachings. In 622 CE he moved north to Medina due to increasing persecution. The trek is known as the hegira. Here he was disappointed by the rejection of his message by the Jews. Through religious discussion, persuasion, military activity and political negotiation, Muhammad (pbuh) became the most powerful leader in Arabia, and Islam was firmly established throughout the area. About Islam: By 750 CE, Islam had expanded to China, India, along the Southern shore of the Mediterranean and into Spain. By 1550 they had reached Vienna. Wars resulted, expelling Muslims from Spain and Europe. Since their trading routes were mostly over land, they did not an develop extensive sea trade (as for example the English and Spaniards). As a result, the old world occupation of North America was left to Christians. Believers are currently concentrated from the West coast of Africa to the Philippines. In Africa, in particular, they are increasing in numbers, largely at the expense of Christianity. Many do not look upon Islam as a new religion. They feel that it is in reality the faith taught by the ancient Prophets, Abraham, David, Moses and Jesus (Peace be upon them). Muhammad's (pbuh) role as the last of the Prophets was to formalize and clarify the faith and to purify it by removing foreign ideas that had been added in error. Click below to visit one of our sponsors: Important texts: There are two main texts consulted by Muslims: the Qur'an (Recitation) are the words of God. Muslims believe that it was revealed to Muhammad by the archangel Jibril. This was originally in oral and written form; they were later assembled together into a single book, the Qur'an. Its name is often spelled "Koran" in English. This is not recommended, as some Muslims find it offensive. The Hadith, which are collections of the sayings of Muhammad (pbuh). They are regarded as the Sunnah (lived example) of Muhammad. The Quran gives legitimacy to the Hadith. It states: "Nor does he say aught of his own desire. It is no less than inspiration sent down to him" (53:3-4). However, the writings are not regarded as having the same status as the Holy Qur'an; the latter is considered to be God's word. The great Islamic scholar Yahya bin Sharaf Ul-Deen An-Nawawi compiled a collection of 43 sayings of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). It is is now known as "Al-Nawawi's Forty Hadiths" 5 Islamic beliefs: Islam considers six fundamental beliefs to be the foundation of their faith: 1. A single, indivisible God. (God, the creator, is just, omnipotent and merciful. "Allah" is often used to refer to God; it is the Arabic word for God.) http://www.religioustolerance.org/isl_intr.htm (3 of 5)2/20/2006 8:15:50 PM Introduction to Islam 2. The angels. 3. The divine scriptures, which include the Torah, the Psalms, the rest of the Bible, (as they were originally revealed) and the Qur'an (which is composed of God's words, dictated by the Archangel Gabriel to Muhammad). 4. The Messengers of God, including Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, David, Jesus and Muhammad -- the last prophet; (peace be upon them). Muhammad's message is considered the final, universal message for all of humanity. 5. The Day of Judgment when people will be judged on the basis of their deeds while on earth, and will either attain reward of Heaven or punishment in Hell. They do not believe that Jesus or any other individual can atone for another person's sin. Hell is where unbelievers and sinners spend eternity. One translation of the Qur'an, 98:1-8, states: "The unbelievers among the People of the Book and the pagans shall burn for ever in the fire of Hell. They are the vilest of all creatures." ("People of the Book" refers to Christians, Jews and Muslims). Paradise is a place of physical and spiritual pleasure where the sinless go after death 6. The supremacy of God's will. Other beliefs include: God did not have a son. Jesus (pbuh) is a prophet, born of the Virgin Mary. They regard the Christian concept of the deity of Jesus (pbuh) to be blasphemous; it is seen as a form of polytheism. Jesus (pbuh) was not executed on the cross. He escaped crucifixion and was taken up into Paradise. The existence of Satan drives people to sin. Muslims who sincerely repent and submit to God return to a state of sinlessness. All people are considered children of Adam. Islam officially rejects racism. All children are born on Al-Fitra (a pure, natural state of submission to Islam). His parents sometimes make him Christian, Jewish, etc. When a child reaches puberty an account of their deeds is opened in Paradise. When the person dies, their eventual destination (Paradise or Hell) depends on the balance of their good deeds (helping others, testifying to the truth of God, leading a virtuous life) and their bad deeds. Alcohol, illegal drugs, eating of pork, etc. are to be avoided. Gambling is to be avoided. Please continue to Part 2 of this topic Sponsored links: References used: 1. "Jihad explained," by the Institute of Islamic Information and Education at: http://www.irshad.org/ 2. Abdur Rahman I. Doi. Sharia, "The Islamic Law," Ta Ha Publishers, (1984), Page 21. 3. "Shaykh 'Abdul-'Azeez Aal ash-Shaykh says attacks are an 'oppression, injustice and tyranny...' ," 2001-SEP17, at: http://www.fatwa-online.com/news/ 4. "His birth," at: http://www.geocities.com/ No longer online. 5. Yahya bin Sharaf Ul-Deen An-Nawawi , "Al-Nawawi's Forty Hadiths" at: http://www.dartmouth.edu/ No longer online. http://www.religioustolerance.org/isl_intr.htm (4 of 5)2/20/2006 8:15:50 PM Introduction to Islam INTRODUCTION TO ISLAM PART 2 Click Here to Visit our Sponsors. Continued from Part 1 of this topic Topics discussed in this essay: Practices Holy days Beliefs about Jesus Schools within Islam The Egypt Air tragedy Deviations from Islam Criticisms of Islam References Practices: A Muslim's duties as described in the Five Pillars of Islam are: 1. To recite at least once during their lifetime the shahadah (the creed: "There is no God but God and Muhammad is his Prophet"). Most Muslims repeat it at least daily. 2. To perform the salat (prayer) 5 times a day, if possible. This is recited while orienting one's body with qibia (the shorter of the two great circle routes towards the Kaaba at Mecca) This is generally North East in the U.S. The five prayers are: 4 http://www.religioustolerance.org/isl_intr1.htm (1 of 7)2/20/2006 8:16:40 PM Introduction to Islam Fajr (Morning Prayer) which is performed some time between the break of dawn and just before sunrise. Zuhr (Noon Prayer) offered from just after midday to afternoon. 'Asr (Afternoon Prayer) offered from late afternoon until just before sunset Maghrib (Sunset Prayer) offered between sunset and darkness Isha (Night Prayer) offered at night time, often just before sleeping. 1 3. To donate regularly to charity through zakat. This is a 2.5% charity tax on the income and property of middle and upper class Muslims. Believers are urged to make additional donations to the needy as they feel moved. 4. to fast during the lunar month of Ramadan. This is believed to be the month that Muhammad (pbuh) received the first revelation of the Qur'an from God. 5. if economically and physically able, to make at least one hajj (pilgrimage) to Mecca. Jihad (struggle) is probably the most misunderstood religious word in existence. It often mentioned on Western TV and radio during news about the Middle East, where it is implied to be a synonym of "holy war" - a call to fight against non-Muslims in the defense of Islam. The vast majority of Muslims have an entirely different definition of Jihad. It is seen as a personal, internal struggle with one's self. The goal may be achievement in a profession, self-purification, the conquering of primitive instincts or the attainment of some other noble goal. 2 More details. Calendar: Muslims follow a lunar calendar which started with the hegira, a 300 mile trek in 622 CE when Muhammad (pbuh) relocated from Mecca to Medina. Al-Hijra/Muharram is the Muslim New Year, the beginning of the first lunar month. The beginning of the year 1434H occurred on 2002-MAR-15 of the Gregorian calendar. Separation of church and state: Originally, in Islamic countries, there was no separation between religious and civil law, between Islam and the state. Muhammad and his successors were both religious and political leaders. Turkey became a secular state during the 20th century. This is a controversial move in conservative Islamic circles. Proselytizing: Muslims are not required to actively recruit others to Islam. In the Qur'an, Allah told Muhammad that "You certainly cannot guide whomever you please; It is Allah who guides whom He will. He best knows those who accept guidance." (28:56). Muslims are expected to explain Islam to followers of other faiths, but it is up to Allah to guide those whom he wishes to. Suicide: This is forbidden. The Qur'an clearly states: "Do not kill yourselves as God has been to you very merciful" (4:29). Only Allah is to take a life. Since death must be left up to Allah, physician assisted suicide is not allowed. On the other hand, Muslim physicians are not "encouraged to artificially prolong the misery [of a person who is] in a vegetative state." 5 Islamic holy days: The main holy days are listed below. They are scheduled according to a lunar calendar and thus happen about eleven days earlier each month. Al-Hijra/Muharram is the Muslim New Year, the beginning of the first lunar month. http://www.religioustolerance.org/isl_intr1.htm (2 of 7)2/20/2006 8:16:40 PM Introduction to Islam 'Ashura recalls an event circa 680-OCT-20 CE in Iraq when an army of the Umayyad regime martyred a group of 70 individuals who refused to submit to the Caliph. One of the martyrs was Imam Husain, the youngest grandson of Prophet Muhammad. Mawlid al-Nabi is a celebration of the birthday of the Prophet Muhammad, the founder of Islam in 570 CE. "The Mawlid al-Nabi was first observed around the thirteenth century and was preceded by a month of celebration. The actual day of Muhammad's birthday included a sermon, recitation of litanies, honoring of religious dignitaries, gift giving, and a feast. The festival spread throughout the Muslim world and is celebrated in many countries today. However, some conservative sects (e.g., the Wahhabiyah) consider the celebration to be idolatrous." Ramadan is the holiest period in the Islamic year; it is held during the entire 9th lunar month of the year. This was the month in which the Qura'n was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad. The first day of Ramadan is listed above. It is a time at which almost all Muslims over the age of 12 are expected to fast from sunup to sundown. Id al-Fitr (a.k.a. "'Id") is the first day of the 10th month -- i.e. the day after the end of Ramadan. It is a time of rejoicing. Houses are decorated; Muslims buy gifts for relatives. Id al-Adha (a.k.a. the Feast of Sacrifice or Day of Sacrifice) occurs during the 12th month of the Islamic year. This is the season of the Haj (pilgrimage to Mecca). It recalls the day when Abraham intended to follow the instructions of God, and sacrifice his son Ishmael. (This is not a typo; Muslims believe that Abraham was prepared to sacrifice his elder son Ishmael; Judeo-Christians believe that Isaac was involved in the near sacrifice). The dates for the past, current, and future years are listed elsewhere on this web site. Beliefs about Jesus (pbuh), within Islam and Christianity: Traditional Christians and Muslims have certain beliefs in common concerning Jesus (pbuh). They both accept that: His birth was miraculous. He was the Messiah. He cured people of illness. He restored dead people to life. However, they differ from Christians in a number of major areas. Muslims do not believe: In original sin (that everyone inherits a sinful nature because of Adam and Eve's transgression) That Jesus (pbuh) was killed during a crucifixion. Muslims believe that he escaped being executed, and later reappeared to his disciples without having first died. That Jesus (pbuh) was resurrected (or resurrected himself) circa 30 CE. Salvation is dependent either upon belief in the resurrection of Jesus (pbuh) (as in Paul's writings) or belief that Jesus (pbuh) is the Son of God (as in the Gospel of John). Click below to visit one of our sponsors: Schools within Islam: http://www.religioustolerance.org/isl_intr1.htm (3 of 7)2/20/2006 8:16:40 PM Introduction to Islam There are different schools of jurisprudence within Islam. The main divisions are: Sunni Muslims: These are followers of the Hanifa, Shafi, Hanibal and Malik schools. They constitute a 90% majority of the believers, and are considered to be main stream traditionalists. Because they are comfortable pursuing their faith within secular societies, they have been able to adapt to a variety of national cultures, while following their three sources of law: the Qur'an, Hadith and consensus of Muslims. Shi'ite Muslims: These are followers of the Jafri school who constitute a small minority of Islam. They split from the Sunnis over a dispute about the successor to Muhammad (pbuh). Their leaders promote a strict interpretation of the Qur'an and close adherence to its teachings. They believe in 12 heavenly Imams (perfect teachers) who led the Shi'ites in succession. Shi'ites believe that the 12th Imam, the Mahdi (guided one), never died but went into hiding waiting for the optimum time to reappear and guide humans towards justice and peace. Sufism: This is a mystic tradition in which followers seek inner knowledge directly from God through meditation and ritual and dancing. They developed late in the 10th century CE as an ascetic reaction to the formalism and laws of the Qur'an. There are Sufis from both the Sunni and Shi'ite groups. However, some Sunni followers to not consider Sufiism as a valid Islamic practice. They incorporated ideas from Neoplatonism, Buddhism, and Christianity. They emphasize personal union with the divine. In the Middle East, some Sufi traditions are considered to be a separate school of Islam. In North and sub-Saharan Africa, Sufism is more a style and an approach rather than a separate school. Islam does not have denominational mosques. Members are welcome to attend any mosque in any land. The Egypt Air tragedy: An Egypt Air airliner crashed of the east coast of New England, with the loss of all of the lives on board. The cause of the crash is unknown; some people suggested that an officer on the plane had committed suicide, thus murdering all of the occupants. The co-pilot allegedly recited the "Shahada" shortly before the plane descended. Shahada means "testimony." It states: "There is no god but God, and Muhammad is his messenger." This was described by some uninformed media writers as "a Muslim death prayer." It is not. The Shahada is a prayer recited by many Muslims every day. It affirms the unity of God, and that Muhammad (pbuh) is His Prophet. It is no more a death prayer than is the Christian Lord's prayer. Deviations from Islam: There are over 70 other groups which originated within Islam and broke away from the Sunni or Shi'ite faith communities. Some are: Baha'i World Faith: This religion attempts to integrate all of the world religions. It was originally a breakaway sect from Islam but has since grown to become a separate religion. Members are heavily persecuted in some Muslim countries because they are regarded as apostates to the true Muslim faith. Oppression is particularly heavy in Iran. http://www.religioustolerance.org/isl_intr1.htm (4 of 7)2/20/2006 8:16:40 PM Introduction to Islam Ahmadis: Followers of the Ahmadiyya Movement believe that God sent Ahmad as a Messiah, "a messenger of His in this age who has claimed to have come in the spirit and power of Jesus Christ. He has come to call all people around one Faith, i.e. Islam..." The movement's founder was Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (1835-1908). He was born in Qadian, India. He felt that he had a mandate from God to correct a serious error within Christianity. Most Christians believe that Jesus (pbuh) is a member of the Godhead. "...because Jesus, whom God sent as a Messiah to the Israelites was taken for a God, Divine jealousy ordained that another man [Ahmad] should be sent as Messiah so that the world may know that the first Messiah was nothing more than a weak mortal." After his death, the community elected a series of Khalifas (successors). The current and "Fourth Successor (Khalifatul Masih IV), to the Promised Messiah was chosen in the person of Hazrat Mirza Tahir Ahmad" on 1982-JUN-10. The Ahmadiyya Community currently has more than 10 million members worldwide. They prefer to call themselves "Muslims of the Amadiyya sect." They are very heavily persecuted in Pakistan. They regard themselves as a reform movement within Islam. 3 Black Muslim Movement (BMM): This is largely a black urban movement in the US. One driving force was a rejection of Christianity as the religion of the historically oppressing white race. It was started by Wallace Fard who built the first temple in Detroit. Elijah Muhammad (born Elijah Poole) established a second temple in Chicago and later supervised the creation of temples in most large cities with significant black populations. They taught that blacks were racially superior to whites and that a racial war is inevitable. The charismatic Malcolm X was perhaps their most famous spokesperson; he played an important role in reversing the BMM's anti-white beliefs. In its earlier years, the movement deviated significantly from traditional Islamic beliefs (particularly over matters of racial tolerance the status of the BMM leaders as prophets). This deviation is being reversed. Criticisms of Islam: Islam is growing rapidly and is now followed by more than 20% of the world's population. Christianity is not growing; its popularity has been stuck at about 33% of the worlds population for many decades. It is in decline in the United States (in terms of "market share"). Christian attacks on Islam are inevitable. Most criticisms are not well grounded in reality: Islam is often blamed for female genital mutilation. But it is obvious that FGM is grounded in cultural tradition, not religious belief, in those countries where it is practiced. In some countries, the mutilation is practiced by Animists, Christians, and Muslims. A number of anti-Islamic books have been written recently, criticizing some Islamic countries for lack of religious tolerance, equality for women, lack of democracy, etc. One of the most famous of these books is "Why I am Not a Muslim" by Ibn Warraq, an ex-Muslim. Many reviews by readers of this controversial book are available on-line from the Amazon.com web site. An excellent rebuttal of the book by Jeremiah D. McAuliffe, Jr., titled "Trends and Flaws in Some Anti-Muslim Writing as Exemplified by Ibn Warraq" is at: http://idt.net/~balboa19/warraq/warraq1a.html http://www.religioustolerance.org/isl_intr1.htm (5 of 7)2/20/2006 8:16:40 PM Introduction to Islam Some conservative Christian web sites include attacks on Islam. They base their position on the inerrancy of the Bible, and their belief that Christianity is the only valid religion. An essay by Ric Llewellyn at http:// www.seafox.com/islam.html is typical. He makes heavy use of emotionally loaded, judgmental terms, such as: false religion, false doctrines, dubious beginnings, fanaticism, irrational, accursed, religious bondage, cults, wicked doctrines, etc. It is our belief that these attacks are counter-productive. The main result of these web pages is to demonstrate the degree of intolerance and hatred held by their Webmasters; this does not reflect well on Christianity. The media has historically disseminated a very negative image of Islam. It overwhelmingly reports on the beliefs and practices of the most conservative wing of the religion. Many non-Muslims are unaware that a moderate wing even exists in Islam. A number of anti-defamation groups have been organized to combat these negative portrayals. CAIR, The Council on American-Islamic Relations is a leader in this field. References: 1. "Correctional Institution's Guide to Islamic Religious Practices," by the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR). Excerpts are available at: http://www.cair-net.org/downloads/correctionalguide.pdf 2. 3. 4. 5. You need software to read this file. It can be obtained free from: "His birth," at: http://www.geocities.com/our_purpose/ Louis Hammann, "Ahmadiyyat: An introduction," at: http://www.alislam.org/introduction/ahmadiyyat. html "Calculating Qibla Direction," at: http://www.geocities.com/SiliconValley/ Shadid Athar, "Euthanasia and Physician Assisted Suicide," at: http://islam-usa.com/e2.html Site navigation: Home page > World Religions > Islam > here Copyright © 1995 to 2005 by Ontario Consultants on Religious Tolerance Last update: 2005-DEC-01 Author: B. A. Robinson Hyperlinks checked: 2001-OCT-15 Go back to the previous page, or return to the Islamic menu, or choose: http://www.religioustolerance.org/isl_intr1.htm (6 of 7)2/20/2006 8:16:40 PM Comparing and contrasting Christianity and Islam COMPARING CHRISTIANITY & ISLAM THE WORLD'S TWO LARGEST RELIGIONS: Click Here to Visit our Sponsors. Overview: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam are three closely related religions. Because they all revere Abraham and certain other patriarchs mentioned in the Bible as their spiritual ancestors, they are called Abrahamic religions. (The Baha'i world faith is sometimes also included in this grouping.) However, their many points of similarity are no guarantee that their followers can get along. Most of the serious religiously motivated conflicts, mass crimes against humanity and genocides in the 20th century have been between Muslims and Christians. This has included genocides Bosnia Herzegovina, East Timor, and the Sudan, as well as serious conflicts in Cyprus, Kosovo, Macedonia, and the Philippines. As of mid-2001, two of these conflicts (Sudan and Philippines) are still active, and three others are inert only because of peacekeepers on the ground. It is difficult to compare Christianity to any other religion, because there is such a wide range of beliefs and practices among various wings of Christianity: Roman Catholicism, Eastern Orthodox churches, the Anglican communion and the tens of thousands of Protestant faith groups. Some commentators have suggested that Christianity consists of a number of different religions which share little more than the Bible and the name of their religion. Protestant Christianity is obviously divided into a least liberal and conservative wings -- divisions which hold few beliefs in common. Some of the descriptions below will thus necessarily be somewhat simplistic and lacking in precision. About the religions themselves: Name of the religion: Christianity Islam Meaning of the name: Believer in Christ (a Greek word meaning Messiah). Submission to the will of God. Christian. Muslim. Name of a believer: Date of founding: http://www.religioustolerance.org/comp_isl_chr.htm (1 of 6)2/20/2006 8:17:24 PM circa 30 CE. 1 622 CE. 2 Comparing and contrasting Christianity and Islam Name of founder(s): Yeshua of Nazareth (aka Jesus Christ, (pbuh) & Paul. 3 % of world's population as followers: Worldwide growth rate in numbers of members 4 Growth rate: % of world's population: Estimated year when Islam will become the most popular world religion: Most religious historians credit Muhammad (pbuh) as the founder. However, Muslims generally regard Islam as dating back to the time of creation 33%. 20%. 2.3%/year. 2.9%/yr. About 0.0%/year. Numbers have been steady for decades. 3 Increase of about 0.6%/yr. 2023 CE (if above numbers are valid) to beyond 2200 CE (as estimated by some religious futurists) 2001 ARIS study estimates 76%, declining about 0.8% a year. 2001 ARIS study estimates 0.5%; some Muslim groups estimate 6 million (2%). Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Anglican, Protestant, and others. Shi'ite, Sunni, Sufi. Sufi is a mystical tradition. Christianity Islam Most believe in the Trinity; three persons in one Godhead: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. God (Allah) is one and indivisible. They believe in a strict monotheism. "Allah" means God in Arabic. Status of Yeshua of Nazareth (Jesus Christ): Generally considered the Son of God, worshiped as God; part of the Trinity. Very highly respected as the secondlast prophet. Birth of Yeshua: Conservatives: virgin birth; liberals: normal birth. Virgin birth. Death of Yeshua: Executed by Roman Army circa 30 CE. Was neither killed nor crucified, nor suffer death. Muslims believe that he ascended alive into heaven. Ascended into Heaven Ascended into Heaven Conservatives: expect in near future. Liberals: varied. Anticipate the second coming in the future. Disobeyed God in the Garden of Eden. Free from all major sins and faults. Some regard him as a prophet. Bible. Qur'an. Hebrew, Aramaic, Greek. Arabic. Conservatives: the inerrant Word of God. Liberals: a historical spiritual document. God's word and final revelation, dictated by angel Gabriel. % of U.S. population as followers: Internal divisions: Beliefs: Name of the religion: Concept of deity: Yeshua's location Second coming of Jesus Status of Adam: Holy book: Original languages: Status of the holy book: http://www.religioustolerance.org/comp_isl_chr.htm (2 of 6)2/20/2006 8:17:24 PM 2 Comparing and contrasting Christianity and Islam Additional guidance: Writings of the leaders of the early Church. For Roman Catholics: church tradition. Ethic of reciprocity (Golden rule): "Therefore all things whatsoever ye "Not one of you is a believer until he would that men should do to you, loves for his brother what he loves do ye even so to them." Matthew for himself." Fourth Hadith of an7:12 Nawawi 13 A baby's status at birth Conservatives: A baby is born with a sin nature, separated from God. God needs to give him grace so that he may be saved. All babies are a born in a pure state of submission to Islam. However, as they mature they are often taught other beliefs. Life after death: Either Heaven or Hell. Catholics believe in Purgatory as a third state. Heaven or Hell. There is no consensus in Christianity. Different faith groups hold Various diverse beliefs: trusting Jesus as Lord and Savior, good works, church sacraments, baptism, avoiding certain actions. Once they reach puberty, his/her account of deeds is opened in Paradise. To attain paradise, at death, their good deeds (helping others, testifying to the truth of God, leading a virtuous life) must outweigh their evil deeds. Confessing sins: Roman Catholic: to a priest; Others: to God or Jesus To Allah Probably the most misunderstood term: Immaculate Conception: Roman Catholics believe that the conception of the Virgin Mary, circa 20 BCE, was without sin. Many incorrectly relate it to Yeshua's' conception. Jihad: internal, personal struggle towards the attainment of a noble goal. Many incorrectly equate it to "holy war." Basis of determining destination after death: The Hadith -- sayings of Muhammad (pbuh). This essay continues below Click below to visit one of our sponsors: Practices: Christianity Islam Ranges from statements of the Pope in Roman Catholicism to resolutions at conventions among Protestants. Learned scholars in various countries. There is no single spokesperson or authoritative group. Church, cathedral. Mosque. Sunday; Saturday for some. Friday. Largely considered separate. Most Christian countries are democracies Integrated. Most Muslim countries are dictatorships. Name of the religion: Current interpretation of the Holy Book: Name of worship center: Main worship: Church and state: http://www.religioustolerance.org/comp_isl_chr.htm (3 of 6)2/20/2006 8:17:24 PM Comparing and contrasting Christianity and Islam Notes: 1. The Christian church is normally considered to have begun at Pentecost, 50 days after Christians believe that Jesus was executed. Unfortunately, the year of his death is unknown. 2. Most religious historians view Islam as having been founded in 622 CE. However, many if not most of the followers of Islam believe that: Islam existed before Muhammad (pbuh) was born. The origins of Islam date back to the creation of the world. 3. Muslims traditionally acknowledge respect for Muhammad, Jesus and other prophets (peace be upon them) by adding this phrase or an abbreviation "(pbuh)" after their names. 4. Greg H. Parsons, Executive Director, "U.S. Center for World Mission," Pasadena, CA; quoted in Zondervan News Service, 1997-FEB-21. 5. One exception is the Nation of Islam which promotes a black supremacist ideology. For example, leader Louis Farrakhan stated that "White people are potential humans…they haven’t evolved yet." (Philadelphia Inquirer, 2000-MAR-18). However, most Muslims do not consider the Nation of Islam to be part of Islam, because of its unique beliefs about God, humanity and the rest of the universe. Related menus on this web site: Religions of the world Christianity Islam Related essays on this web site: Growth rates of Christianity and Islam Religious calendars Useful sources of information: "The Wisdom Fund's" purpose is to promote truth about Islam. See: http://www.twf.org "Death of Jesus in Quran 'reasonable and valid," Light & Islamic Review, Vol. 70 #3, 1993-MAY/JUN, Pages 9 & 10. See: http://www.muslim.org/light/93-3.htm Arif Shamim Khan, "Muslim woman and non-Muslim man," at: http://www.nikahsearch.com/marriage/ Copyright © 2001 to 2005 by Ontario Consultants on Religious Tolerance Originally written: 2001-AUG-4 Latest update: 2005-DEC-14 Author: B.A. Robinson http://www.religioustolerance.org/comp_isl_chr.htm (5 of 6)2/20/2006 8:17:24 PM Mr. Dowling's Islam Page Home | E-Mail | Download Lessons | Interactive Quiz Understanding Others | Judaism | Christianity | Islam Time and Space Prehistory Mesopotamia Ancient Egypt Western Religions The Middle East and North Africa Conflicts in the Middle East African History Africa Today India and the Himalayas China Japan Ancient Greece Rome The Middle Ages The Renaissance The World Wars Russia and Communism Canada The Caribbean Mexico and Central America South America Islam Islam is an Arabic word that means “surrender to God.” Believers in Islam are called Muslims, or “those who surrender." Muslims believe that Muhammad was the last of a series of holy prophets that included Abraham, Moses, and Jesus. A prophet is a holy messenger. Christians believe that Jesus is God, while Muslims believe Allah is the only God and that Muhammad was his messenger. Allah is an Arabic term that means "the God" (alEl). Muhammad lived about 600 years after Jesus in what we http://www.mrdowling.com/605-islam.html (1 of 5)2/20/2006 8:18:00 PM Mr. Dowling's Islam Page now call Saudi Arabia. Muslims believe that Muhammad was visited in a cave by an angel. Muhammad repeated the words of the angel to others who learned them by heart. Eventually, Mohammad's followers collected these messages and gathered them into a book known as the Quran. The Quran is the holy book of Islam. It has been translated into many languages, but many Muslims believe that the only true version of the Quran is written in Arabic. This is why Arabic spread throughout the Middle East and North Africa. Often Muslims will learn Arabic as a second language, as a Jew would learn Hebrew. The Islamic house of worship is a mosque. Unlike Jews and Christians, Muslims do not have a http://www.mrdowling.com/605-islam.html (2 of 5)2/20/2006 8:18:00 PM Mr. Dowling's Islam Page holy day, but many Muslims gather in mosques on Friday afternoon for prayers. Muhammad taught that believers should pray five times every day. Faithful Muslims will stop whatever they are doing and bow down to pray. Mecca is a holy city to Muslims because it is the site of the Kaaba, a small shrine that Muslims believe to be the most sacred spot on earth. Muslims orient themselves toward the Kaaba during their daily prayers. Every Muslim who makes the pilgrimage to Mecca walks around the Kaaba seven times. Islamic tradition states that the stone was originally white, but it had become black by absorbing the sins of the millions of pilgrims who have kissed and touched it. http://www.mrdowling.com/605-islam.html (3 of 5)2/20/2006 8:18:00 PM Icons of Islam The crescent, star, and the color green are symbols often associated with Islam. The star represents knowledge and light, and the crescent represents progress. You will find these symbols on the flags of many Muslim nations. Islamic art includes calligraphy, or decorative penmanship, but no images of people. The Quran forbids recreating any living thing because no one should copy what Allah has made. This is why you will not find a picture of Muhammad in Islamic literature. Mr. Dowling's Islam Page Ramadan is a sacred month to Muslims, and faithful Muslims fast between dawn and dusk during Ramadan. To fast means to abstain from eating. Ramadan is sacred because it is the month in which the Quran was revealed to Muhammad. Muslims use a lunar calendar, so Ramadan falls at different times each year. Ramadan will begin November 17, 2001. There are more than one billion Muslims, but only five million live in the United States. Nations with large Muslim populations include Indonesia (180 million), Pakistan (125 million), Bangladesh (109 million), India (84 million), Iran (66 million), Egypt (60 million), Turkey (60 million), Nigeria (52 million), Algeria (29 million), Morocco http://www.mrdowling.com/605-islam.html (4 of 5)2/20/2006 8:18:00 PM How Do You Spell That? The Quran is spelled many different ways because it is an Arabic word. Arabic is written in a different script than English. The generally accepted spelling for the Quran is with a 'Q' to represent the glottal 'K' sound. You will often see the holy book of Islam spelled Qur'ran or Koran. Many words associated with Islam have more than one accepted spelling. Muslim is more common than Moslem, and Mohammad is more common than Muhammad. Mr. Dowling's Islam Page (29 million), Ethiopia (24 million), Sudan (22 million), Afghanistan (22 million), Iraq (20 million) and Saudi Arabia (19 million). Russia also has a large Muslim population, but estimates on its size vary. NEXT: The Middle East and North Africa To cite this page: Dowling, Mike, "Mr. Dowling's Islam Page," available from http://www.mrdowling.com/605-iWednesday, January 5, 2005 --> --> --> --> --> --> --> --> -->. ©2005, Mike Dowling. All rights reserved. http://www.mrdowling.com/605-islam.html (5 of 5)2/20/2006 8:18:00 PM Description of Judaism DESCRIPTION OF JUDAISM Click Here to Visit our Sponsors. The term "G-d" is used in this essay to respect the Jewish prohibition against spelling the name or title of the deity in full. Dates listed which are prior to the 4th century BCE are approximate. Early History of Judaism, according to the Hebrew Scriptures: Circa 2000 BCE, the G-d of the ancient Israelites established a divine covenant with Abraham, making him the patriarch of many nations. The term Abrahamic Religions is derived from his name. These are the three or four major religions which trace their roots back to Abraham: Judaism, Christianity, Islam and the Baha'i World Faith. The Baha'i faith is often not included among the Abramic religions. Also, smaller non-Jewish groups such as Falashas, Karaits, Mandaeanism, Rastafarians, Samaritans, etc. trace their spiritual roots back to Abraham. The book of Genesis describes the events surrounding the lives of the three patriarchs: Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. (Joseph, who is recognized as a fourth patriarch by Christians is not considered one by Jews). Moses was the next major leader of the ancient Israelites. He led his people out of captivity in Egypt, and received the Mosaic Law from G-d. After decades of wandering through wilderness, Joshua led the tribes into the promised land, driving out the Canaanites through a series of military battles. The original tribal organization was converted into a kingdom by Samuel; its first king was Saul. The second king, David, established Jerusalem as the religious and political center. The third king, Solomon built the first temple there. Division into the Northern kingdom of Israel and the Southern kingdom of Judah occurred shortly after the death of Solomon in 922 BCE. Israel fell to Assyria in 722 BCE; Judah fell to the Babylonians in 587 BCE. The temple was destroyed. Some Jews returned from captivity under the Babylonians and started to restore the temple in 536 BCE. (Orthodox Jews date the Babylonian exile from 422 to 352 BCE). Alexander the Great invaded the area in 332 BCE. From circa 300 to 63 BCE, Greek became the language of commerce, and Greek culture had a major influence on Judaism. In 63 BCE, the Roman Empire took control of Judea and Israel. http://www.religioustolerance.org/jud_desc.htm (1 of 8)2/20/2006 8:19:58 PM Description of Judaism Jewish developments during the 1st century CE: About 24 religious sects had formed by the 1st century CE of which the largest were the Basusim, Essenes, Pharisees, Sadducees and Zealots. Many anticipated the arrival of the Messiah, a religious-political-military leader who was expected to drive out the Roman invaders and restore independence. Christianity was established initially as a Jewish sect, centered in Jerusalem. The group followed the teachings of Yeshua of Nazareth, who is now commonly referred to as Jesus Christ. The group was led by James, one of Jesus' four brothers. They are generally referred to as Jewish Christians. Paul broke with this tradition, created an alternative belief system of Pauline Christianity and spread the religion to the Gentiles (non-Jews) in much of the Roman Empire. A third religion, Gnosticism, emerged in a number of forms, such as Christian and Jewish Gnosticism. Many mini-revolts led to the destruction of Jerusalem and its temple in 70 CE. The Jewish Christians were wiped out or scattered at this time. The movement started by Paul flourished and quickly evolved into the religion of Christianity. Jews were scattered throughout the known world. Their religion was no longer centered in Jerusalem; Jews were prohibited from setting foot there. Judaism became decentralized and stopped seeking converts. The local synagogue became the new center of Jewish life. Animal sacrifice was abandoned. Authority shifted from the centralized priesthood to local scholars and teachers, giving rise to Rabbinic Judaism. The period from the destruction of the temple onward give rise to heavy persecution by Christians throughout Europe and Russia. Many groundless stories were spread, accusing Jews of ritual murder, the desecration of the Catholic host and continuing responsibility for the execution of Jesus . Unsubstantiated rumors continue to be circulated today. In the 1930s and 1940s, Adolph Hitler and the German Nazi party drew on centuries of Christianbased anti-Semitism, and upon their own psychotic beliefs in racial purity. They organized the Holocaust, the attempted extermination of all Jews in Europe. About 6 million were killed in one of the world's greatest examples of religious and racial intolerance. The Zionist movement was a response within all Jewish traditions to centuries of Christian persecution. Their initial goal was create a Jewish homeland in Palestine. The state of Israel was formed on 1948-MAY-18. There are currently about 18 million Jews throughout the world. They are mainly concentrated in North America (about 7 million) and Israel (about 4.5 million). Jewish Texts The Tanakh corresponds to the Jewish Scriptures, (often referred to as the Old Testament by Christians). It is composed of three groups of books: the Torah (aka Pentateuch): Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy. the Nevi'im: Joshua, Judges, Samuel (2), Kings (2), Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zachariah, and MalachiIsaiah. the Ketuvim, the "Writings" including Psalms, Proverbs, Job, Song of Songs, Ecclesiastes, Ruth, Esther, Lamentations, Daniel, Ezra, Nehemiah, Chronicles (2). The Talmud contains stories, laws, medical knowledge, debates about moral choices, etc. It is composed of material which comes mainly from two sources: http://www.religioustolerance.org/jud_desc.htm (2 of 8)2/20/2006 8:19:58 PM Description of Judaism the Mishnah's, 6 "orders" containing hundreds of chapters, including series of laws from the Hebrew Scriptures. It was compiled about 200 CE. the Gemara (one Babylonian and one Palestinian) is encyclopedic in scope. It includes comments from hundreds of Rabbis from 200 - 500 CE, explaining the Mishnah with additional historical, religious, legal, sociological, etc. material. It often records many different opinions on a topic without giving a definitive answer. Click below to visit one of our sponsors: Basic Jewish Beliefs: There is a story in wide circulation about a question asked of Rabbi Hillel -- a notable rabbi from the 1st century BCE. A non-Jew asked the rabbi to teach him everything about the Torah while standing on one foot. Rabbi Hillel responded: "What is hateful to you, don't do unto your neighbor. The rest is commentary. Now, go and study." Rabbi Moshe ben Maimon, (a.k.a. Maimonides) is generally accepted as one of the most important Jewish scholars from Medieval times. He wrote a list of thirteen principles of faith. This list has been generally accepted by Jews for centuries as a brief summary of the Jewish faith. However, the liberal wings of Judaism dispute some of the 13 today. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. G-d exists. G-d is one and unique. G-d is incorporeal. G-d is eternal. Prayer is to be directed to G-d alone and to no other. The words of the prophets are true. Moses was the greatest of the prophets, and his prophecies are true. The Written Torah (first 5 books of the Bible) and Oral Torah (teachings now contained in the Talmud and other writings) were given to Moses. There will be no other Torah. G-d knows the thoughts and deeds of men. G-d will reward the good and punish the wicked. The Messiah will come. The dead will be resurrected. 9 Additional Jewish beliefs: Some additional beliefs found commonly among Jews are: Some Jews view Jesus as a great moral teacher. Others see him as a false prophet or as an idol of Christianity. Some sects of Judaism will not even say his name due to the prohibition against saying an idol's name. http://www.religioustolerance.org/jud_desc.htm (3 of 8)2/20/2006 8:19:58 PM Description of Judaism The Jews are often referred to as G-d's chosen people. This does not mean that they are in any way to be considered superior to other groups. Biblical verses such as Exodus 19:5 simply imply that G-d has selected Israel to receive and study the Torah, to worship G-d only, to rest on the weekly Sabbath, and to celebrate the festivals. Jews were not chosen to be better that others; they were simply selected to receive more difficult responsibilities, and more onerous punishment if they fail. The 613 commandments found in Leviticus and other books regulate all aspects of Jewish life The Ten commandments, as delineated in Exodus 20:1-17 and Deuteronomy 5:6-21, form a brief synopsis of the Law The Messiah (the anointed one of G-d) will arrive in the future and gather Jews once more into the land of Israel. There will be a general resurrection of the dead at that time. The Jerusalem Temple, destroyed in 70 CE, will be rebuilt. A fetus gains full personhood when it is half-emerged from its mother's body. Boys reach the status of Bar Mitzvah on their 13th birthday; girls reach Bat Mitzvah on their 12th birthday. This means that they are recognized as adults and are personally responsible to follow the Jewish commandments and laws. Males are allowed to lead a religious service; they are counted in a "minyan" (a quota of men necessary to perform certain parts of religious services). Following their Bar Mitzvah or Bat Mitzvah they can sign contracts; they can testify in religious courts; theoretically, they can marry, although the Talmud recommends 18 to 24 as the proper age for marriage. The more liberal movements within Judaism differ from some of the above beliefs concerning the source of the Torah, the concept of direct reward and punishment according to one's behavior, etc. Judaism and Christianity compared: Although Christians base much of their faith on the same Hebrew Scriptures as Jews, there are major differences in belief: Jews are strict monotheists: they view G-d as a single, indivisible entity. Most Christians view God as a Trinity: a single entity with three personalities -- the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Jews generally consider actions and behavior to be of primary importance; beliefs come out of actions. This conflicts with conservative Christians for whom belief is of primary importance and actions tend to be derivative from beliefs. Jewish belief does not accept the Christian concept of original sin (the belief that all people have inherited Adam and Eve's sin when they disobeyed G-d's instructions in the Garden of Eden). Judaism affirms the inherent goodness of the world and its people as creations of G-d. Jewish believers are able to sanctify their lives and draw closer to G-d by performing fulfilling mitzvot (divine commandments). Jews do not recognize the need for a savior as an intermediary with G-d. Jewish Practices They include: Observation of the weekly Sabbath as a day of rest, starting at sundown on Friday evening. Strict discipline, according to the Law, which governs all areas of life Regular attendance by Jewish males at Synagogue http://www.religioustolerance.org/jud_desc.htm (4 of 8)2/20/2006 8:19:58 PM Description of Judaism Celebration of the annual festivals including: Passover, or Pesach is held each Spring to recall the Jews' deliverance out of slavery in Egypt circa 1300 BCE. A ritual Seder meal is eaten in each observant Jewish home at this time. Six different foods are placed on the seder plate in the order in which they area eaten: Karpas (vegetables dipped in salt water) recalls the bitter tears shed during slavery Maror (bitter herbs) to symbolize the bitterness of slavery. Chazeret (bitter vegetables) also to symbolize the bitterness of slavery. Choroset (apple, nuts & spices with wine) represents the mortar used by Hebrew slaves. Also placed on the seder plate, but uneaten during the Seder meal: Zeroa (lamb shankbone) to recall the Passover sacrifice in the ancient temple. Beitzah (roasted egg) symbolizes mourning, sacrifice, spring, and renewal. Not placed on the Seder plate, but often eaten, is a boiled egg. After women were first allowed to become Rabbim, some Jews commented: "A woman belongs as a Rabbi like an orange belongs on a seder plate." As such, many Reform Jews now include an orange with their Seder Plate to commemorate female Rabbim. Rosh Hashanah is the Jewish New Year, and is the anniversary of the completion of creation, about 5760 years ago. It is held in the fall. The 10 days from Rosh Hashanah to Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, are days of penitence. Yom Kippur is a day of fasting until sundown. Sukkoth or the Feast of Booths is an 8 day harvest festival; a time of thanksgiving. Hanukkah or the Feast of Lights is an 8 day feast of dedication. It recalls the war fought by the Maccabees in the cause of religious freedom. It also commemorates a miracle in the Temple, when one-day's worth of oil lasted eight days. It is typically observed in December. Originally a minor Jewish holy day, it has become more important in recent years. Purim, the Feast of Lots recalls the defeat by Queen Esther of the plan to slaughter all of the Persian Jews, circa 400 BCE. Shavout, the Feast of Weeks recalls G-d's revelation of the Torah to the Jewish people. It is held in late May or early June. Rules for calculating Rosh Hashanah and Passover are available online at: http://quasar.as.utexas.edu/ The local synagogue is governed by the congregation and is normally led by a rabbi who has been chosen by the congregation. A rabbi is a teacher who has been well educated in Jewish law and tradition. Any adult male with sufficient knowledge can lead religious services. In reform and some conservative congregations, a woman can also preside. This is often done in those Jewish communities who lack a rabbi. The Chief Rabbis in France and Great Britain have authority only by the agreement of those who accept it. Two Chief Rabbis in Israel have civil authority in areas of family law. Jewish Movements: There are five main forms of Judaism in the world today. However, the most conservative traditions do not necessarily recognize the most liberal as being part of Judaism. This is a common problem among many of the world's great religions. In alphabetic order, the main traditions active in North America are: http://www.religioustolerance.org/jud_desc.htm (5 of 8)2/20/2006 8:19:58 PM Description of Judaism Conservative* Judaism: This began in the mid-nineteenth century as a reaction against the Reform movement. It is a main-line movement midway between Reform and Orthodox. Humanistic Judaism: This is a very small group, mainly composed of atheists and agnostics, who regard mankind as the measure of all things. Orthodox* Judaism: This the oldest, most conservative, and most diverse form of Judaism. Modern Orthodox, Chasidim and Ultra Orthodox share a basic belief in the derivation of Jewish law, even as they hold very different outlooks on life. They attempt to follow the original form of Judaism as they view it to be. They look upon every word in their sacred texts as being divinely inspired. Reconstructionist Judaism: This is a new, small, liberal movement started by Mordecai Kaplan as an attempt to unify and revitalize the religion. They reject the concept that Jews are a uniquely favored and chosen people. They have no connection at all with Christian Reconstructionism, which is an ultraconservative form of Christianity. Reform* Judaism: They are a liberal group, followed by many North American Jews. The movement started in the 1790's in Germany. They follow the ethical laws of Judaism, but leave up to the individual the decision whether to follow or ignore the dietary and other traditional laws. They use modern forms of worship. There are many female rabbis in reform congregations. * These are the largest forms of Judaism. A survey conducted in 2001 for the 2002 edition of the American Jewish Year Book indicated that fewer that 10% of American Jews are estimated to be Orthodox. However, Orthodox synagogues represent 40% of all U.S. synagogues. Reform Judaism has 26 percent of all synagogues; Conservatives have 23 percent. "Every other denomination or group representing synagogues –- Reconstructionist, Sephardi, Traditional, Humanistic, Gay/ Lesbian –- accounts for 3 percent or less of synagogue affiliations..." The total number of U.S. synagogues has 8 increased from 2,851 in 1936 to 3,727 in 2001. Sponsored links: Jewish-Christian Relations: The faith of Israel, as described in the Hebrew Scriptures, had divided into a number of Jewish Sects (the Basusim, Pharisees, Essenes, Saducees, Zealots and others) by the early first century CE. Subsequently, a number of events of momentous importance occurred: 30 CE: Some Jews, following the teachings of Jeshua of Nazareth (known by Christians as Jesus Christ), formed a Jewish Christian reform movement within Judaism. It was led by James, an apostle of Jeshua of Nazareth who is referred to in the Bible as the brother of Jesus. Christian denominations are divided on whether he is a true brother, or just a cousin, or a step-brother, or simply a friend of Jesus. circa 55 CE: Paul, a Jewish persecutor of Christians, created an alternative religion involving the teachings and person of Yeshua. He started to organize Pauline Christian churches throughout much of the Roman empire in conflict with the Jewish Christians. 70 CE: The Roman army destroyed the Temple and the rest of Jerusalem. The Jewish Christian movement was scattered and went into gradual decline. 132 CE: Many Jews accepted Bar Kochba as the Messiah. This led to a hopeless three-year revolt against the Roman Empire. About a half-million Jews were killed; thousands were sold into slavery or taken into captivity. The rest were exiled from Palestine and scattered throughout the known world." http://www.religioustolerance.org/jud_desc.htm (6 of 8)2/20/2006 8:19:58 PM SHINTO SHINTO Click below to visit our sponsors. Brief history of Shinto: Shinto is an ancient Japanese religion. Starting about 500 BCE (or earlier) it was originally "an amorphous mix of nature worship, fertility cults, divination techniques, hero worship, and shamanism." Its name was derived 4 from the Chinese words "shin tao" ("The Way of the Gods") in the 8th Century CE. At that time: The Yamato dynasty consolidated its rule over most of Japan. Divine origins were ascribed to the imperial family. Shinto established itself as an official religion of Japan, along with Buddhism. The complete separation of Japanese religion from politics did not occur until just after World War II. The Emperor was forced by the American army to renounce his divinity at that time. Unlike most other religions, Shinto has no real founder, no written scriptures, no body of religious law, and only a very loosely-organized priesthood. Shinto beliefs: Shinto creation stories tell of the history and lives of the "Kami" (deities). Among them was a divine couple, Izanagi-no-mikoto and Izanami-no-mikoto, who gave birth to the Japanese islands. Their children became the deities of the various Japanese clans. Amaterasu Omikami (Sun Goddess) was one of their daughters. She is the ancestress of the Imperial Family and is regarded as the chief deity. Her shrine is at Ise. Her descendants unified the country. Her brother, Susano came down from heaven and roamed throughout the earth. He is famous for killing a great evil serpent. http://www.religioustolerance.org/shinto.htm (1 of 6)2/20/2006 8:21:22 PM SHINTO The Kami are the Shinto deities. The word "Kami" is generally translated "god" or "gods." However, the Kami bear little resemblance to the gods of monotheistic religions. There are no concepts which compare to the Christian beliefs in the wrath of God, his omnipotence and omni-presence, or the separation of God from humanity due to sin. There are numerous other deities who are conceptualized in many forms: Those related to natural objects and creatures, from "food to rivers to rocks." 2 Guardian Kami of particular areas and clans Exceptional people, including all but the last of the emperors. Abstract creative forces They are seen as generally benign; they sustain and protect the people. 9 About 84% of the population of Japan follow two religions: both Shinto and Buddhism. (As in much of Asia, Fewer than 1% of adults are Christians.) Buddhism first arrived in Japan from Christianity is quite rarely. 12 Korea and China during the 6th through 8th centuries CE. The two religions share a basic optimism about human nature, and for the world. Within Shinto, the Buddha was viewed as another "Kami". Meanwhile, Buddhism in Japan regarded the Kami as being manifestations of various Buddhas and Bodhisattvas. Most weddings are performed by Shinto priests; funerals are performed by Buddhist priests. Shinto does not have as fully developed a theology as do most other religions. It does not have its own moral code. Shintoists generally follow the code of Confucianism. Their religious texts discuss the "High Plain of Heaven" and the "Dark Land" which is an unclean land of the dead, but give few details of the afterlife. Ancestors are deeply revered and worshipped. All of humanity is regarded as "Kami's child." Thus all human life and human nature is sacred. Believers revere "musuhi", the Kamis' creative and harmonizing powers. They aspire to have "makoto", sincerity or true heart. This is regarded as the way or will of Kami. Morality is based upon that which is of benefit to the group. "Shinto emphasizes right practice, sensibility, and attitude." 2 There are "Four Affirmations"in Shinto: 1. Tradition and the family: The family is seen as the main mechanism by which traditions are preserved. Their main celebrations relate to birth and marriage. 2. Love of nature: Nature is sacred; to be in contact with nature is to be close to the Gods. Natural objects are worshipped as sacred spirits. 3. Physical cleanliness: Followers of Shinto take baths, wash their hands, and rinse out their mouth often. 4. "Matsuri": The worship and honor given to the Kami and ancestral spirits. The desire for peace, which was suppressed during World War II, has been restored. Shinto practices: Shinto recognizes many sacred places: mountains, springs, etc. Each shrine is dedicated to a specific Kami who has a divine personality and responds to sincere prayers of the faithful. When entering a shrine, one passes through a Tori a special gateway for the Gods. It marks the demarcation between the finite world and the infinite world of the Gods. http://www.religioustolerance.org/shinto.htm (2 of 6)2/20/2006 8:21:22 PM SHINTO In the past, believers practiced "misogi,", the washing of their bodies in a river near the shrine. In recent years they only wash their hands and wash out their mouths in a wash basin provided within the shrine grounds. Believers respect animals as messengers of the Gods. A pair of statues of "Koma-inu" (guard dogs) face each other within the temple grounds. Shrine ceremonies, which include cleansing, offerings, prayers, and dances are directed to the Kami. Kagura are ritual dances accompanied by ancient musical instruments. The dances are performed by skilled and trained dancers. They consist of young virgin girls, a group of men, or a single man. Mamori are charms worn as an aid in healing and protection. They come in many different forms for various purposes. An altar, the "Kami-dana" (Shelf of Gods), is given a central place in many homes. Seasonal celebrations are held at spring planting, fall harvest, and special anniversaries of the history of a shrine or of a local patron spirit. A secular, country-wide National Founding Day is held on FEB-11 to commemorate the founding of Japan; this is the traditional date on which the first (mythical) emperor Jinmu ascended the throne in 660 BCE. Some shrines are believed to hold festivities on that day. Other festivals include: JAN 1-3 Shogatsu (New Year); MAR-3 Hinamatsuri (Girls' festival); MAY-5 Tango no Sekku (Boys' festival); JUL-7 Hoshi Matsuri (Star festival). Followers are expected to visit Shinto shrines at the times of various life passages. For example, the Shichigosan Matsuri involves a blessing by the shrine Priest of girls aged three and seven and boys aged five. It is held on NOV-15. Many followers are involved in the "offer a meal movement," in which each individual bypasses a breakfast (or another meal) once per month and donates the money saved to their religious organization for international relief and similar activity. Origami ("Paper of the spirits"): This is a Japanese folk art in which paper is folded into beautiful shapes. They are often seen around Shinto shrines. Out of respect for the tree spirit that gave its life to make the paper, origami paper is never cut. Forms of Shinto: Shinto exists in four main forms or traditions: Koshitsu Shinto (The Shinto of the Imperial House): This involves rituals performed by the emperor, who the Japanese Constitution defines to be the "symbol of the state and of the unity of the people." The most important ritual is Niinamesai, which makes an offering to the deities of the first fruits of each year's grain harvest. Male and female clergy (Shoten and Nai-Shoten) assist the emperor in the performance of these rites. Jinja (Shrine) Shinto: This is the largest Shinto group. It was the original form of the religion; its roots date back into pre-history. Until the end of World War II, it was closely aligned with State Shinto. The Emperor of Japan was worshipped as a living God. Almost all shrines in Japan are members of Jinja Honcho, the Association of Shinto Shrines. It currently includes about 80,000 shrines as members. The association urges followers of Shinto 1. "To be grateful for the blessings of Kami and the benefits of the ancestors, and to be diligent in the observance of the Shinto rites, applying oneself to them with sincerity. brightness, and purity of heart." 2. "To be helpful to others and in the world at large through deeds of service without thought of rewards, and to seek the advancement of the world as one whose life mediates the will of Kami." 3. "To bind oneself with others in harmonious acknowledgment of the will of the emperor, praying that the country may flourish and that other peoples too may live in peace and prosperity." 5 http://www.religioustolerance.org/shinto.htm (3 of 6)2/20/2006 8:21:22 PM SHINTO Kyoha (Sectarian) Shinto (aka Shuha Shinto): This consists of 13 sects which were founded by individuals since the start of the 19th century. Each sect has its own beliefs and doctrines. Most emphasize worship of their own central deity; some follow a near-monotheistic religion. Minzoku (Folk) Shinto This is not a separate Shinto group; it has no formal central organization or creed. It is seen in local rural practices and rituals, e.g. small images by the side of the road, agriculture rituals practiced by individual families, etc. A rural community will often select a layman annually, who will be responsible for worshiping the local deity. These four forms are closely linked. Shinto is a tolerant religion which accepts the validity of other religions. It is common for a believer to pay respects to other religions, their practices and objects of worship. Shinto texts: Many texts are valued in the Shinto religion. Most date from the 8th century CE: The The The The Kojiki (Record of Ancient Matters) Rokkokushi (Six National Histories) Shoku Nihongi and its Nihon Shoki (Continuing Chronicles of Japan) Jinno Shotoki (a study of Shinto and Japanese politics and history) written in the 14th century Click below to visit one of our sponsors: Number of adherents: Estimates of the number of adherents are hopelessly unreliable. Some sources give numbers in the range of 2.8 to 3.2 million. One states that 40% of Japanese adults follow Shinto; that would account for about 50 million adherents. Others state that about 86% of Japanese adults follow a combination of Shinto and Buddhism; that would put the number of followers of Shinto at 107 million. One source estimates 1000 followers of Shinto in North America. The Canadian Census (1991) recorded only 445 in Canada. Essentially all followers of Shinto are Japanese. It is difficult for a foreigner to embrace Shintoism. Unlike most other religions, there is no book to help a person learn about the religion. It is transmitted from generation to generation by experiencing the rituals together as a group. Some Internet References: 1. "Shinto: A Portrait" is at: http://www.silcom.com/~origin/sbcr/sbcr131 2. "Shinto, the Way of the Gods" is at: http://www.trincoll.edu/~tj/tj4.4.96/articles/cover.html 3. "Shinto and Buddhism: the Wellsprings of Japanese Spirituality" is at: http://www.askasia.org/frclasrm/ readings/r000009.htm 4. "The Fountainhead of Miracles," is at: http://www.shinreikyo.or.jp 5. "The Jinja Shinto (The Shrine Shinto)," is at: http://www.jinja.or.jp/ http://www.religioustolerance.org/shinto.htm (4 of 6)2/20/2006 8:21:22 PM SIKHISM Sikhism History, beliefs, practices, etc. Click Here to Visit our Sponsors. Sikh Origins: No consensus exists on the origins of this religion. Historians and specialists in Eastern religions generally believe that Sikhism is a syncretistic religion, originally related to the Bhakti movement within Hinduism and the Sufi branch of Islam, to which many independent beliefs and practices were added. Some Sikhs believe that their religion is a re-purification of Hinduism; they view Sikhism as part of the Hindu religious tradition. Many Sikhs disagree; they believe that their religion is a direct revelation from God - a religion that was not derived from either Hinduism or Islam. Sikhism does contain many unique postulates and principles that are quite different from both Hinduism and Islam. Joseph D. Cunningham (1812-1851), the author of "A History of the Sikhs" (1848), observed: "It has been usual to regard the Sikhs as essentially Hindu... yet in religious faith and worldly aspiration, they are wholly different from other Indians, and they are bound together by an objective unknown elsewhere." Sikh History: The name of the religion means learner. It is often mispronounced 'seek' It should be pronounced 'se-ikh', with the final 'kh' sound like the 'kh' in Mikhail Gorbachev. http://www.religioustolerance.org/sikhism.htm (1 of 8)2/20/2006 8:22:29 PM SIKHISM Its founder was Shri Guru Nanak Dev Ji, (1469-1538) who was born in the Punjab area of what is now Pakistan. At Sultanpur, he received a vision to preach the way to enlightenment and God. He is responsible for the saying "There is no Hindu, there is no Muslim" which has since become one of the pillars of Sikhism. He taught a strict monotheism, the brotherhood of humanity. He rejected idol worship, and the Hindu concept of caste. Guru Nanak and Panth (his followers) later built the first Sikh temple at Katarpur. A succession of nine Gurus (regarded as reincarnations of Guru Nanak) led the movement during the period from Guru Nanak's death until 1708. At that time, the functions of the Guru passed to the Panth and to the holy text, considered the 11th Guru. Mogul emperors ruled a large area of South Asia from the 16th century until the end of the 18th century. They attempted to convert the Sikhs to Islam, but were unsuccessful. It has been said of one of the Sikh Gurus (considered by many Sikhs to have been the last guru) that "Had there been no Guru Gobind Singh, the entire country would have gotten circumcised" i.e. been converted to Islam. In 1801, the Sikh state of Punjab was founded in Northern India by Maharaja Ranjit Singh. According to a historian Vincent Smith, "The Punjab State was neither a traditional Indian territorial State and monarchy, nor merely a dictatorship of one community over another. There was an element of partnership with other communities." An invasion by Great Britain triggered the Sikh Wars (1845-1849). The British successfully gained control over all of India. After independence in 1947, occupied India was partitioned on religious grounds into a mostly Muslim Pakistan and mostly Hindu India. A mass migration of Sikhs from Pakistan to India and a reverse migration of Muslims resulted, with immense loss of life. Some Sikhs have been seeking an independent homeland since the late 1940's. Sikhs number about 22.5 million worldwide. 1 Most live in the Punjab. Close to 500,000 live in North America, 1 of whom about 150,000 live in Canada. 2 Sikh Holy Texts: The holy granth, the Shri Guru Granth, was initially compiled by the fifth guru, Shri Arjan Dev Ji. Subsequently, it was updated to include the writings of the sixth to ninth gurus. The tenth guru, Gobind Singh Ji assembled his writings separately into a number of books, including "Dasam Granth" The holy granth consists of hymns and writings by the first nine Gurus, along with religious text from different Muslim and Hindu saints like: Kabir Ji, Baba Sheik Farid Ji, Bhagat Namdev, Bhagat Rav Dass Ji, etc. The Shri Guru Granth itself is considered the 11th and final Guru, and the Sikh's holiest religious text. It was made so by Shri Guru Gobind Singh Ji. At least two English translations are available online: "The Khalsa Consensus Translation [of the Guru Granth Sahib]...is regarded by some Sikh scholars as being among the finest and most accurate English translation currently available." It is available online at http://www.sikhs.org/english/frame.html Srigranth.org allows people to search the Sikh scriptures in English, Punjabi, Hindi and Transliteration. http://www.religioustolerance.org/sikhism.htm (2 of 8)2/20/2006 8:22:29 PM SIKHISM Visit Our Advertisers' Websites. || The Church of God website has holiness articles, pictures and an internet radio station - Read the article of the month - Common Excuses for Sinning Refuted. || Air Force Ones on sale. BayAreaKicks.com offers great shoes at a very low price. || Find out how easy it is to get your website to rank higher in the Search Engines. The SEO Company website is information rich! || Over 100 high quality free internet based SEO Tools - Now with a RSS feed and a XML to XHTML convertion file. Put them on your Website for free! || Get more traffic to your Website and your new Websites indexed by Google, Yahoo and MSN quickly. Use SEO Company's Directory Submission Services. 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Sikh Beliefs: Beliefs include: Goal: The goal of Sikhs is to build a close, loving relationship with God. Deity: Sikhs believe in a single, Formless God, with many names, who can be known through meditation. This concept is similar to Islam whose followers believe in a single God who has 99 names. Only he can be worshiped. Rahras, a Sikh evening prayer states: "[O God] since I have fallen at your feet, I do not care for anybody else. I do not follow the religious ways preached by various religions believing in Ram, Mohammed, Puran or Qur'an. The Simritis, Shastras and the Vedas lay down different doctrines. But I do not recognize any of these. O God, I have written these hymns with your grace and kindness. All that has been said is in fact spoken by you." 7 Reincarnation: They believe in samsara (the repetitive cycle of birth, life and death), karma (the accumulated sum of one's good and bad deeds, and reincarnation the belief of a rebirth following death. These beliefs are similar to Hinduism. "Each individual has many reincarnations, but being born a human means the soul is nearing the end of rebirth. God judges each soul at death and may either reincarnate the soul or, if pure enough, allow it to rest with him." 8 Caste system: Sikhs have rejected the caste system of the Hindu religion. They believe that everyone has equal status in the eyes of God. This is a very important principle that permeates all Sikh beliefs, behaviors, and rituals. http://www.religioustolerance.org/sikhism.htm (3 of 8)2/20/2006 8:22:29 PM SIKHISM Code of Conduct: During the 18th century, there were a number of attempts to prepare an accurate portrayal of Sikh customs. None received the support of most Sikhs. Sikh scholars and theologians started in 1931 to prepare the Reht Maryada -- the Sikh code of conduct and conventions. It is "the only version authorized by the Akal Takht, the seat of supreme temporal authority for Sikhs. It's implementation has successfully achieved a high level of uniformity in the religious and social practices of Sikhism" 4 throughout the world. It contains 27 articles. Article 1 defines who is a Sikh: "Any human being who faithfully believes in (i) One Immortal Being, (ii) Ten Gurus, from Guru Nanak Dev to Guru Gobind Singh, (iii) The Guru Granth Sahib, (iv) The utterances and teachings of the ten Gurus and (v) the baptism bequeathed by the tenth Guru, and who does not owe allegiance to any other religion, is a Sikh." There are a number of traditions within Sikhism. Thousands of Sikhs, both in India and worldwide, follow living gurus who have lineages traceable back to Guru Gobind Singh. In Canada and elsewhere, major strains are becoming evident between liberal and conservative wings of the religion, as some Sikhs accommodate to the surrounding culture. Sikh Practices: Prayers: repeated multiple times each day. Worship: Sikhs are prohibited from worshipping idols, images, or icons. Temples: There are over 200 Gurdwaras (temples, shrines or holy places) in India alone. The most sacred is at Amritsar. The Five K's: These are clothing practices followed by stricter Sikhs, called Khalsa saints: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Kesa (long hair, which is never cut) Kangah (comb) Kacha (short pants) Kara (metal bracelet) Kirpan (a ceremonial dagger) The Khanda -- the Sikh symbol The Khanda is the main Sikh symbol. It is seen at the top of this essay, used by permission of www.hatisoft.com 5 It is composed of four items, all traditional Sikh weapons: A vertical double edged sword with a broad blade, also called a Khanda. Two curved swords, called kirpans. They are called miri and piri, after the names given to his personal kirpans by Guru Hargobind. A ring called a chakker (aka chakram). It is a very effective weapon, with a range of up to 50 meters (165 feet). This has been popularized in North America by the television series Xena the Warrior Princess. The Khanda has been interpreted symbolically in many ways. one is: http://www.religioustolerance.org/sikhism.htm (4 of 8)2/20/2006 8:22:29 PM SIKHISM "The Sikh emblem, Khanda, contains a ring of steel representing the Unity of God, a two edged sword symbolizing God's concern for truth and justice, and two crossed swords curved around the outside to signify God's spiritual power." 6 This essay continues below. Click below to visit one of our sponsors: Sikh Dispute Concerning Furniture: A serious dispute has broken out among Sikhs in Canada. This has been described in the media as a conflict between fundamentalists and moderates - terms that the media appears to have adapted from Christian terminology. Sikhs do not use these terms. For example, conservative Sikhs recognize: Sikhs: those who accept and follow all Sikh beliefs and practices, and Non-practicing Sikhs: those who follow only some Sikh beliefs and practices. For example, "third and fourth generation Sikhs in England and Canada are more likely to be into drinking beer, smoking, cutting their hair, and living a non-Sikh way of life than being a practicing Sikh." 3 Many persons considered by observant Sikhs as "non-practicing" believe that they have full status as Sikhs even though they have deviated from some of their faith's traditional practices. We will use the terms "conservative" and "liberal" in this essay to describe the two divisions within the Sikh faith group. For 500 years, Sikhs had always sat on the floor, while eating after religious services. This practice emphasizes the teachings of the Guru that every person is of equal value. The Sikh religion strongly rejects elitism. A few decades ago, some Sikh Temples in Canada deviated from this practice, and introduced tables and chairs. The tables and chairs are made identical in order to preserve the concept of equality. Still, the practice of eating at tables is considered elitism in India, and by many conservative Sikhs. In 1996, some Sikhs began calling for the removal of the tables and chairs, and a return to floor sitting during meals. Some claim that the dispute over the furniture is largely symbolic, and that the real reason for the dispute is that many Sikhs are weakening their faith by accommodating to modern practices. A riot broke out at the temple on 1997-JAN-11. Several Sikhs have been charged with various crimes, from mischief to attempted murder. Many were injured, but none died. The Jathedar of the Akal Takhat Sahib is the individual who was elected to guide the modern affairs of the collective world-wide Sikh community. He is the final authority in any religious disputes within the faith. In 1998APR, he issued a hukamnama (edict) against the use of furniture in Sikh Temples. They ruled that the furniture must be removed by 1998-MAY-29. This ruling was appealed. Those opposing the ruling cited a number of reasons why they prefer to not sit on the floor: the colder temperature in North America makes this uncomfortable, elderly people find the arrangement difficult, and younger members may refuse to be married in the temple if they had to sit on the floor. Some Sikh societies in the United States and England agreed to write to the Jathedar in support of the appeal. The Ontario Gurudawaras Committee, which represents all 25 of the province's temples, sent a letter to Bahai Ranjit Singh, Sikh's highest priest, calling his original ruling "praiseworthy." Sikh leaders asked members to remain calm until the matter is resolved. The Akal Takhat reaffirmed the original edict. Thousands of Sikhs in the Greater Vancouver area risked excommunication from their religion if they sat at tables to have the ceremonial meal after prayers on 1998-MAYhttp://www.religioustolerance.org/sikhism.htm (5 of 8)2/20/2006 8:22:29 PM SIKHISM 30. Leaders of 21 Sikh societies in British Columbia and Alberta vowed to keep the furniture. By 1998-JUN-8, three reform priests had been suspended for defying the ban on tables and chairs. They have complained to the British Columbia Human Rights Commission, stating that they have been discriminated against on religious grounds. Meanwhile, most Sikh priests in the Vancouver area started a strike as of JUN-2 in order to persuade temple executives to remove temple furniture. In mid 1998-JUL, five or six prominent liberal Sikhs were summoned to Amristar, India by JUL-25 to explain why they oppose a ban on tables and chairs. The group included a newspaper editor, a priest and three temple executives. They did not appear and were excommunicated. On JUL-26, a disturbance broke out at North America's oldest Sikh temple: the Ross Street Temple, established by the Khalsa Diwan Society in 1905. Conservative Sikhs tried to prevent a liberal, excommunicated executive member from addressing the congregation. On AUG-2, the police shut down the temple. It remained closed until the police chief, Bruce Chambers, was able to broker an agreement between conservative and liberal Sikhs. On 1998-NOV-18, Tara Hayer was killed by an unknown assassin. He was an outspoken supporter of the liberal side, the publisher of a Sikh newspaper, and one of the 6 who had been excommunicated. During 1998-NOV and DEC, members voted in favor of liberal slates of candidates for management positions within a number of Sikh temples in British Columbia. Jarnail Singh Bhandal now heads the Ross Street temple in Vancouver. He has called for a peacemaking conference of all Sikh factions - the first community-wide meeting in several years. The current Sikh Jathedar (senior elected official) is Ranjit Singh. He had planned a visit to the United States in 1999-JAN. Liberal Sikhs appear concerned that his visit might inflame religious tensions in North America. They intervened with the U.S. authorities, pointing out that the Jathedar had served a lengthy jail term in 1980 for murdering the leader of a rival religious sect, and that he has never renounced the use of violence against religious opponents. His visa was canceled at the last moment. A large ad in the Washington Post called on the U. S. president to overrule the immigration authorities, comparing Mr. Singh's status among Sikhs as comparable to the pope among Roman Catholics. Actually, he cannot really be compared to the pope. He was elected to represent the Sikh community, but was granted no higher spiritual authority than any other Sihk. The present Jathedar is Joginder Singh Vedanti. A hoax related to a Sikh holy day: Dozens of Internet listings of seasonal days of celebration and observance include Khamapana as a Sikh holy day. On 2001-AUG-22, Sikhs are said to celebrate a day of forgiveness. This is apparently a hoax, initiated by someone and replicated through the Internet. Sikhs continually seek forgiveness; they don't save it up until an annual holy day. On 2001-JUL-25, we found over three dozen references to Khamapana on www.google.com Amazon.com's online bookstore lists the following books on Sikhism: If you see a generic Amazon ad here, please click on your browser's refresh key Sponsored links: http://www.religioustolerance.org/sikhism.htm (6 of 8)2/20/2006 8:22:29 PM TAOISM TAOISM (a.k.a. Daoism) Western traditions Click Here to Visit our Sponsors. Quotations: ● ● ● "Be still like a mountain and flow like a great river." Lao Tse "Different Chinese philosophers, writing probably in 5-4 centuries B.C., presented some major ideas and a way of life that are nowadays known under the name of Taoism, the way of correspondence between man and the tendency or the course of natural world." Alan Watts, from his book: "Tao: The Watercourse Way." "We believe in the formless and eternal Tao, and we recognize all personified deities as being mere human constructs. We reject hatred, intolerance, and unnecessary violence, and embrace harmony, love and learning, as we are taught by Nature. We place our trust and our lives in the Tao, that we may live in peace and balance with the Universe, both in this mortal life and beyond." Creed of the Western Reform Taoist Congregation 1 History of Taoism: Tao (pronounced "Dow") can be roughly translated into English as path, or the way. It is basically indefinable. It has to be experienced. It "refers to a power which envelops, surrounds and flows through all things, living and non-living. The Tao regulates natural processes and nourishes balance in the Universe. It embodies the harmony of opposites (i.e. there would be no love without hate, no light without dark, no male without female.)" 2 http://www.religioustolerance.org/taoism.htm (1 of 7)2/20/2006 8:23:32 PM TAOISM The founder of Taoism is believed by many to be Lao-Tse (604-531 BCE), a contemporary of Confucius. (Alternate spellings: Lao Tze, Lao Tsu, Lao Tzu, Laozi, Laotze, etc.). He was searching for a way that would avoid the constant feudal warfare and other conflicts that disrupted society during his lifetime. The result was his book: Tao-te-Ching (a.k.a. Daodejing). Others believe that he is a mythical character. Taoism started as a combination of psychology and philosophy but evolved into a religious faith in 440 CE when it was adopted as a state religion. At that time Lao-Tse became popularly venerated as a deity. Taoism, along with Buddhism and Confucianism, became one of the three great religions of China. With the end of the Ch'ing Dynasty in 1911, state support for Taoism ended. Much of the Taoist heritage was destroyed during the next period of warlordism. After the Communist victory in 1949, religious freedom was severely restricted. "The new government put monks to manual labor, confiscated temples, and plundered treasures. Several million monks were reduced to fewer than 50,000" by 1960. 3 During the cultural revolution in China from 1966 to 1976, much of the remaining Taoist heritage was destroyed. Some religious tolerance has been restored under Deng Xiao-ping from 1982 to the present time. Taoism currently has about 20 million followers, and is primarily centered in Taiwan. About 30,000 Taoists live in North America; 1,720 in Canada (1991 census). Taoism has had a significant impact on North American culture in areas of "acupuncture, herbalism, holistic medicine, meditation and martial arts..." 3 Visit Our Advertisers' Websites. || The Church of God website has holiness articles, pictures and an internet radio station - Read the article of the month - Common Excuses for Sinning Refuted. || Air Force Ones on sale. BayAreaKicks.com offers great shoes at a very low price. || Find out how easy it is to get your website to rank higher in the Search Engines. The SEO Company website is information rich! || Over 100 high quality free internet based SEO Tools - Now with a RSS feed and a XML to XHTML convertion file. Put them on your Website for free! || Get more traffic to your Website and your new Websites indexed by Google, Yahoo and MSN quickly. Use SEO Company's Directory Submission Services. We can add you site to over 300 directories! || Over 175 Free Web Directories that don't require a reciprocal link. Add your site up and watch your Website Traffic go up! || Wholesale Toys has the best bargain for wholesale children toys - Check out these case deals! || Need to loose weight - pure Hoodia Gordoni makes you loose your appetite. || MCSE, CCNA & CCNP Bootcamp - Gain knowledge and certification and do it in just 1 to 2 weeks! || Is your well water system conditioning your water properly? - Check out this information site! || TenSpot is the hottest new sweepstakes in America. It doesn't cost anything to enter - check it out! || DirectoryMarker.com -- General directory that provides deep links with keyword rich anchor text. Includes five quick links to products and services. || Houndit.com -- Human edited directory that offeres pay submissions and five business card links. || SeeDirectory.com -- Human-edited directory with permanent listings. Provides six keyword rich title quick links. || WizDirectory -- Human edited general directory with visitor rating system and a business card showing five produce or service links. || European City Guide is the essential directory for introducing your company to prospective business partners in Europe. || European City Guide helps you to make smarter purchasing decisions with consumer information, tools and resources. || European City Guide includes businesses of all types and sizes in Europe. || Raise your company’s profile in every country throughout Europe with an ad in European City Guide. || Make your business visible with European City Guide. http://www.religioustolerance.org/taoism.htm (2 of 7)2/20/2006 8:23:32 PM TAOISM || Computer Liquidators London of Ontario have one of the largest inventory of used montiors, computers, laptops and computer peripherals in Ontario. We ship all over Canada and have a shipping depot in the US also. || Dr. Andrew Klapper provides aesthetic & reconstructive New York Plastic Surgery. || Wrap With Us provides you with quick access to over 2500 Wedding Favors and wedding favor accessories. || Submit your site to Launch Directory and more people will find it. || Add your site to Alive Directory and get more traffic. Taoist concepts, beliefs and practices: ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● Tao is the first-cause of the universe. It is a force that flows through all life. "The Tao surrounds everyone and therefore everyone must listen to find enlightenment." 4 Each believer's goal is to become one with the Tao. Taoism has provided an alternative to the Confucian tradition in China. The two traditions have coexisted in the country, region, and generally within the same individual. The priesthood views the many gods as manifestations of the one Dao, "which could not be represented as an image or a particular thing." The concept of a personified deity is foreign to them, as is the concept of the creation of the universe. Thus, they do not pray as Christians do; there is no God to hear the prayers or to act upon them. They seek answers to life's problems through inner meditation and outer observation. In contrast with the beliefs and practices of the priesthood, most of the laity have "believed that spirits pervaded nature...The gods in heaven acted like and were treated like the officials in the world of men; worshipping the gods was a kind of rehearsal of attitudes toward secular authorities. On the other hand, the demons and ghosts of hell acted like and were treated like the bullies, outlaws, and threatening strangers in the real world; they were bribed by the people and were ritually arrested by the martial forces of the spirit officials." 3 Time is cyclical, not linear as in Western thinking. Taoists strongly promote health and vitality. Five main organs and orifices of the body correspond to the five parts of the sky: water, fire, wood, metal and earth. Each person must nurture the Ch'i (air, breath) that has been given to them. Development of virtue is one's chief task. The Three Jewels to be sought are compassion, moderation and humility. Taoists follow the art of "wu wei," which is to let nature take its course. For example, one should allow a river to flow towards the sea unimpeded; do not erect a dam which would interfere with its natural flow. One should plan in advance and consider carefully each action before making it. A Taoists is kind to other individuals, in part because such an action tends to be reciprocated. Taoists believe that "people are compassionate by nature...left to their own devices [they] will show this compassion without expecting a reward." 5 The Yin Yang symbol: This is a well known Taoist symbol. "It represents the balance of opposites in the universe. When they are equally present, all is calm. When one is outweighed by the other, there is confusion and disarray." 4 One source explains that it was derived from astronomical observations which recorded the shadow of the sun throughout a http://www.religioustolerance.org/taoism.htm (3 of 7)2/20/2006 8:23:32 PM TAOISM full year. 5 The two swirling shapes inside the symbol give the impression of change -- the only constant factor in the universe. One tradition states that Yin (or Ying; the dark side) represents the breath that formed the earth. Yang (the light side) symbolizes the breath that formed the heavens. One source states: "The most traditional view is that 'yin' represents aspects of the feminine: being soft, cool, calm, introspective, and healing... and "yang" the masculine: being hard, hot, energetic, moving, and sometimes aggressive. Another view has the 'yin' representing night and 'yang' day. 5 Another source offers a different definition: A common misconception in the west is that "...yin is soft and passive and yang is hard and energetic. Really it is yang that is soft and yin that is hard, this is because yang is energetic and yin is passive. Yin is like a rock and yang is like water or air, rock is heavy and hard and air is soft and energetic." 8 Allan Watts, describes the yin and yang as negative and positive energy poles: "The ideograms indicate the sunny and shady sides of a hill....They are associated with the masculine and the feminine, the firm and the yielding, the strong and the weak, the light and the dark, the rising and the falling, heaven and earth, and they are even recognized in such everyday matters as cooking as the spicy and the bland." 9,10 However, since nothing in nature is purely black or purely white, the symbol includes a small black spot in the white swirl, and a corresponding white spot in the black swirl. Ultimately, the 'yin' and 'yang' can symbolize any two polarized forces in nature. Taosts believe that humans often intervene in nature and upset the balance of Yin and Yang. Tai Chi: There is a long history of involvement by Taoists in various exercise and movement techniques. 6 Tai chi in particular works on all parts of the body. It "stimulates the central nervous system, lowers blood pressure, relieves stress and gently tones muscles without strain. It also enhances digestion, elimination of wastes and the circulation of blood. Moreover, tai chi's rhythmic movements massage the internal organs and improve their functionality." Traditional Chinese medicine teaches that illness is caused by blockages or lack of balance in the body's "chi" (intrinsic energy). Tai Chi is believed to balance this energy flow. Taoist Texts: These include: ● ● Tao-te-Ching ("The Way of Power," or "The Book of the Way") is believed to have been written by Lao-Tse. It describes the nature of life, the way to peace and how a ruler should lead his life. Chuang-tzu (named after its author) contains additional teachings. http://www.religioustolerance.org/taoism.htm (4 of 7)2/20/2006 8:23:32 PM Mr. Dowling's Judaism Page Home | E-Mail | Download Lessons | Interactive Quiz Understanding Others | Judaism | Christianity | Islam Time and Space Prehistory Mesopotamia Ancient Egypt Western Religions The Middle East and North Africa Conflicts in the Middle East African History Africa Today India and the Himalayas China Japan Ancient Greece Rome The Middle Ages The Renaissance The World Wars Russia and Communism Canada The Caribbean Mexico and Central America Judaism Judaism is the oldest religion of the western world and has influenced Christianity and Islam. There are approximately fifteen million Jews throughout the world. The Hebrews were the ancestors of the Jewish people and trace their ancestry to Abraham, who left his home in the Mesopotamian city of Ur about 2200BC. The Hebrews were different from others of their time because they were monotheistic; they believed in only one God. The Hebrews believed they had a special relationship with their God and that they were his chosen people. The Hebrews established a nation they called Israel on the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea. About 1300BCE, many Hebrews moved to Egypt to escape a famine. A famine is a great hunger. At first, the Hebrews were treated well in Egypt, but in time they were enslaved by the Egyptians. According to Hebrew tradition, God sent ten deadly plagues to Egypt when the Egyptians would not release the Hebrew slaves. When the Hebrews did escape, tradition states that Moses, the leader of the Hebrews, parted the Red Sea for just enough time to allow the Hebrews to pass. Once the Hebrews reached the other side, tradition states that the waters returned and the Egyptian army drowned. After their escape across the Red Sea 1250BCE, God revealed Ten Commandments to Moses. The Ten Commandments formed the basis of Mosaic Law and are the model for both Jewish and Christian moral thought. The Hebrews returned to Israel, but they were conquered by several other cultures. In time, most of the Hebrews were forced to leave Israel, beginning a period known as the Diaspora. The Hebrews were forced to live as minorities in many different lands until the creation of the Jewish nation of Israel in 1948. Jewish people have often faced severe mistreatment. European Jews were ordered to leave Spain by Ferdinand and Isabella, and faced organized massacres called pogroms in many nations, particularly in Eastern Europe. In this century, as many as six million Jews were murdered in what we now call the Holocaust, where the Nazi party in Germany attempted genocide, or the planned killing of a whole group of people because of their religion or nationality. http://www.mrdowling.com/605-judaism.html (1 of 2)2/20/2006 9:39:06 PM Mr. Dowling's Judaism Page South America Jews worship in synagogues led by a rabbi. Rabbi is a Hebrew word that means "master." Their holiest period is the weekly Shabbat, which lasts from sunset Friday to sunset Saturday. Other important Jewish holidays include Rosh Hashanah (the Jewish New Year), Yom Kippur (a Day of Atonement or confession), Simchat Torah (celebrating receiving the Torah on Mount Sinai), Chanukah (a celebration of a military victory), and Passover (a remembrance of the time the Hebrews lived in Egypt). The Torah is the most holy book of Judaism. The Torah is also holy to Christians, who include it as the Old Testament of their Bible. The Talmud is another holy book in Judaism. The Talmud is a collection of the laws and customs of the Jewish people. Most Jews live in the United States (5.8 million) and Israel (4.8 million). Europe was once home to millions of Jewish people, but most of the survivors of the Holocaust immigrated to other nations. Today only 2.3 million Jews remain in Europe. The Star of David The most recognized symbol of Judaism is the six pointed Star of David. Jewish legend says that a Hebrew king named David went into battle with the hexagram on his shield. Later, when Jews were minorities in Christian and Muslim nations, they were forced to wear the star on their clothing to identify themselves. Today you will see the hexagram used to identify synagogues and Jewish organizations. The symbol that was once used to separate Jews from the rest of society is now flown on the flag of Judaism’s homeland, Israel. NEXT: Christianity To cite this page: Dowling, Mike, "Mr. Dowling's Judiasm Page," available from http://www.mrdowling.com/605-judiasm. html; Internet; updated Wednesday, January 5, 2005 . ©2005, Mike Dowling. All rights reserved. http://www.mrdowling.com/605-judaism.html (2 of 2)2/20/2006 9:39:06 PM Buddhism Written by Sara Wenner, 2001 Buddhism History of Buddhism Basic Beliefs Buddhism Terms Geographic Concentration Links to More Buddhism Sites BOROBUDUR - BEYOND THE REACH OF TIME: restoring Indonesia's great Buddhist shrine. Video from the Roland Collection. To play this video you will need Real Audio. Get it free here. Thai Buddha statue http://www.mnsu.edu/emuseum/cultural/religion/buddhism/buddhism.html3/1/2006 8:03:14 PM Basic Beliefs of Buddhism Basic Beliefs of Buddhism The basic beliefs of Buddhism can be demonstrated in the following concepts and doctrines: The Four Noble Truths The First Noble Truthis the existence of suffering. Birth is painful and death is painful; disease and old age are painful. Not having what we desire is painful and having what we do not desire is also painful. The Second Noble Truth is the cause of suffering. It is the craving desire for the pleasures of the senses, which seeks satisfaction now here, now there; the craving for happiness and prosperity in this life and in future lives. The Third Noble Truth is the ending of suffering. To be free of suffering one must give up, get rid of, extinguish this very craving, so that no passion and no desire remain. The Fourth Noble Truth leads to the ending of all pain by way of the Eightfold Path. The Eightfold Path The first step on that path is Right Views: You must accept the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path. The second is Right Resolve: You must renounce the pleasures of the senses; you must harbor no ill will toward anyone and harm no living creature. The third is Right Speech: Do not lie; do not slander or abuse anyone. Do not indulge in idle talk. The fourth is Right Behavior: Do not destroy any living creature; take only what is given to you; do not commit any unlawful sexual act. The fifth is Right Occupation: You must earn your livelihood in a way that will harm no one. http://www.mnsu.edu/emuseum/cultural/religion/buddhism/beliefs.html (1 of 3)3/1/2006 8:03:27 PM Basic Beliefs of Buddhism The sixth is Right Effort: You must resolve and strive heroically to prevent any evil qualities from arising in you and to abandon any evil qualities that you may possess. Strive to acquire good qualities and encourage those you do possess to grow, increase, and be perfected. The seventh is Right Contemplation: Be observant, strenuous, alert, contemplative, and free of desire and of sorrow. The eighth is Right Meditation: When you have abandoned all sensuous pleasures, all evil qualities, both joy and sorrow, you must then enter the four degrees of meditation, which are produced by concentration. Buddhist Precepts There are five precepts taught by Buddhism that all Buddhists should follow: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Kill no living thing. Do not steal. Do not commit adultery. Tell no lies. Do not drink intoxicants or take drugs. Other precepts apply only to monks and nuns: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Eat moderately and only at the appointed time. Avoid that which excites the senses. Do not wear adornments. Do not sleep in luxurious beds. Accept no silver or gold. Sacred Scriptures In Theravada (Southeast Asian) Buddhism, there are three groups of writings considered to be holy scripture, known as the "Three Baskets" (Tripitaka). The Vinaya Pitaka (discipline basket) contains rules for the higher class of Buddhists; the Sutta Pitaka (teaching basket) contains the discourses of Buddha; and the Abidhamma Pitaka (metaphysical basket) contains Buddhist theology. http://www.mnsu.edu/emuseum/cultural/religion/buddhism/beliefs.html (2 of 3)3/1/2006 8:03:27 PM Basic Beliefs of Buddhism Mahayana (Chinese, Japanese, Vietnamese, etc.) Buddhism contains an incredibly large amount of holy writings, over five thousand volumes. The oldest scriptures are based on Sanskrit, while others have been written in Nepalese, Tibetan, and Chinese. There are no clear limits as to what should be admitted as scripture, so thousands of writings on the topic have been admitted. References McDowell, Josh and Don Stewart, Handbook of Today's Religions. Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1983. Twelfth printing, June 1992. Shelley, Fred M. and Audrey E. Clarke, eds. Human and Cultural Geography. Dubuque, Iowa: Wm. C. Brown Publishers, 1994. Images 'Wheel of Samsara' courtesy of World Religions in Images Written by Sara Wenner, 2001 http://www.mnsu.edu/emuseum/cultural/religion/buddhism/beliefs.html (3 of 3)3/1/2006 8:03:27 PM History of Buddhism History of Buddhism Buddhism is a religion which is based on the teachings of Siddhartha Gautama, the son of a wealthy landowner born in northern India around 560 B.C. In order to achieve spiritual peace, Gautma renounced his worldly advantages and became known as Buddha, or "the enlightened one". He preached his religious views his entire life throughout South Asia. The story of Gautma's path to enlightenment has mythological quality. The son of a ruler, a prophecy at the time of his birth said that he would be a great king if he stayed at home, but would become a savior for mankind if he were to leave home. Therefore, his father kept him at home and surrounded him with all the worldly pleasures a boy could want, and kept all painful and ugly things out of his sight. Gautma eventually married and fathered a son, but still had not left his father's palace. One day, he told his father that he wished to see the world. This excursion would change his life, for during this journey, he saw the "four passing sights". Even though his father had ordered the streets to be cleaned and decorated and all elderly or infirmed people hidden, some people did not listen. Gautma saw a decrepit old man, and learned for the first time that everyone someday becomes old. Next, he met a sick man, who taught him that people are liable to sickness and suffering. He saw a funeral procession which taught him that people die. Lastly, he saw a monk begging for food. He longed for the tranquility which he saw on the monk's face and decided this was the lifestyle for him. He left his father, wife, and son to live on the streets and meditate. While in meditation, he reached the highest degree of God-consciousness, nirvana. He stayed under a fig tree which was later called the bodhi or bo tree (the tree of wisdom) for seven days. During this time, he learned truths which he, Buddha, would impart to the world until his death at age 80. Buddhism became a strong force in India before Buddha's death. The diffusion of Buddhism, however, was limited until the Indian emperor Asoka became a convert and supported missionary activities. Soon, Buddhism became established in China, Japan, Korea, and Southeast Asia, where it is most practiced today. Hinduism is now the predominant Indian religion. http://www.mnsu.edu/emuseum/cultural/religion/buddhism/history.html (1 of 2)3/1/2006 8:03:38 PM History of Buddhism References McDowell, Josh and Don Stewart, Handbook of Today's Religions. Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1983. Twelfth printing, June 1992. Shelley, Fred M. and Audrey E. Clarke, eds. Human and Cultural Geography. Dubuque, Iowa: Wm. C. Brown Publishers, 1994. Images 'Buddha' courtesy of World Religions In Images Written by Sara Wenner, 2001 http://www.mnsu.edu/emuseum/cultural/religion/buddhism/history.html (2 of 2)3/1/2006 8:03:38 PM Buddhism Terms Buddhism Terms Bhikkhu A Buddhist monk who wanders about depending upon others for his basic necessities . Bodhi A Buddhist term for the wisdom by which one attains enlightenment. Bodhisattva In Mahayana Buddhism, one who postpones attaining nirvana in order to help others achieve this goal. In Theravada Buddhism, it is one who is on the way to becoming a Buddha. Gautama was called a Bodhisattva before he attained enlightenment. Buddha"enlightened one"- This title was given to Siddhartha Gautama, the founder of Buddhism, upon his enlightenment. Likewise, a person can gain this position through following the fourfold path to enlightenment. BuddhismThe religion based upon the teachings of the Buddha (Siddhartha Gautama). The Buddha's main teaching revolved around the causes for human suffering and the way to salvation from this suffering could be achieved. The two main branches of Buddhism are called Mahayana and Theravada or Hinayana. Dhamma The teachings of the Buddha. Dukkha Suffering, which is rooted in desire and attachment. Mahayana The form of Buddhism prevalent in China, Japan, Korea and Vietnam. Literally translated, means "the great vehicle." Nirvana In Buddhism, it is basically a blissful spiritual condition where the heart extinguishes passion, hatred and delusion. It is the highest spiritual plane one person can attain. Pitaka Literally, "basket." Refers to the "three baskets" (Tripitaka) of sacred Buddhist writings. Samsara The cycle of birth, suffering, death and rebirth. Sangha The Buddhist monastic order literally translated as "group" or "community." http://www.mnsu.edu/emuseum/cultural/religion/buddhism/terms.html (1 of 2)3/1/2006 8:04:01 PM Concentration Map Original Geographical Locations of World Religions Animism Judaism Christianity Islam Buddhism Hinduism Written by Sara Wenner, 2001 http://www.mnsu.edu/emuseum/cultural/religion/geographicmap.html3/1/2006 8:04:12 PM Christianity Christianity History of Christianity Christian Terms Basic Beliefs Geographic Concentration Links to More Christianity Sites Nativity Written by Sara Wenner, 2001 http://www.mnsu.edu/emuseum/cultural/religion/christianity/christianity.html3/1/2006 8:18:38 PM Basic Beliefs of Christianity Basic Beliefs of Christianity The central figure in Christianity is Jesus (or Christ), a Jew who came into this world by immaculate conception to a virgin named Mary. His birth is celebrated at Christmas with hymns and gift giving. This man was not only man, but also the son of God and lived his life without sin. During his lifetime, Jesus performed many miracles and spoke to many people about his father in heaven. He was arrested for claiming to be God's son and was hung on the cross by the Romans at age 33. Christians believe that the suffering and death upon the cross which this sinless man endured paid for the sins of all mankind, and because of Jesus' actions, salvation can be achieved by anyone who believes in him. This act of sacrifice is remembered during Lent. Following his death, Christians believe that he rose from the grave (celebrated at Easter) and returned to the earth, appearing to his followers and telling them of the kingdom of God to which he was going. He also promised his disciples that he would return one day to bring all believers with him to that kingdom, to enjoy eternal life in the presence of God. Christians can read of the life of Jesus, as well as his ancestors in the only Christian holy text, the Bible. It consists of the Old Testament (which is also considered sacred to 'Christ taken off cross' © Judaism and Islam) and the New Testament. MIT Orthodox Christian Fellowship The Old Testament chronicles the lives of Jews and others who lived before Jesus, who had been promised a savior by God, and were waiting for him. This text contains many stories about people demonstrating faith in God and also provides historical information about the era. The New Testament is unique to http://www.mnsu.edu/emuseum/cultural/religion/christianity/beliefs.html (1 of 3)3/1/2006 8:18:52 PM Basic Beliefs of Christianity Christianity, for it centers around the figure of Jesus and his effect on the world. Christians believe that Jesus is the one that the Old Testament foretold, so instead of looking for a savior, they await the return of Jesus so that he can take them to his kingdom, or heaven. The beliefs of Christianity can be seen in the words of the Apostles' Creed, a document which was written to distinguish Christianity from other religions and show basic Christian doctrine in a concise manner. The Apostle's Creed I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth. And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord; Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, Born of the Virgin Mary, Suffered under Pontius Pilate, Was crucified, died and was buried. He descended into hell; The third day He rose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of God the Father Almighty; From there He shall come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, The holy Christian Church, The Communion of Saints, the Forgiveness of sins, The Resurrection of the body, And the Life everlasting. Amen. References The Holy Bible. Evangelical Lutheran Synod, Evangelical Lutheran Hymnary, St. Louis, Mo: http://www.mnsu.edu/emuseum/cultural/religion/christianity/beliefs.html (2 of 3)3/1/2006 8:18:52 PM History of Christianity History of Christianity Christianity is based upon the teachings of Jesus, a Jew who lived his life in the Roman province of Palestine. Roman communications networks enabled Christianity to spread quickly throughout the Roman empire and eventually to the rest of Europe, and finally the entire globe. As time progressed, Christianity divided into three major branches. The Roman Catholic branch of Christianity is the successor of the church established in Rome soon after Christ's death. It traces its spiritual history to the early disciples of Jesus. The Pope, or spiritual leader, traces his office's lineage back to St. Peter, the first Pope, one of Jesus' disciples. Roman Catholicism was originally predominately practiced in Ireland, Poland, France and Spain. During the fourth century, the Roman Catholic church split and the Eastern Orthodox branch was formed. The split was primarily a political one due to the division of the Roman Empire into western and eastern components. The two churches became officially separate in 1054. Orthodox churches are largely national, each associated with a particular country. Orthodoxy is common in Russia, Greece, Romania, Bulgaria, the Ukraine, and Armenia. The Protestant branch split from Roman Catholicism during the Reformation, a sixteenth and seventeenth century series of church 'Romanian Church' © reforms in doctrine and practice. This movement challenged the MIT Orthodox authority of the Pope, and became popular in Scandinavia, England, Christian Fellowship and the Netherlands. Protestantism eventually divided into many denominations which arose in response to disputes over doctrine, theology, or religious practice. Some of the large denominations today are Lutherans, Methodists and Baptists. http://www.mnsu.edu/emuseum/cultural/religion/christianity/history.html (1 of 2)3/1/2006 8:19:46 PM Christianity Terms Christianity Terms Bible The sacred text which records the lives of major figures in Christianity, including Jesus. Contains Old and New Testaments. Christianity The belief in Jesus Christ as Savior of the world. Christmas The celebration of the birth of Jesus held on December 25th. Cross Roman method of execution which took the life of Jesus. Now a symbol of Jesus' suffering and resurrection. Easter The celebration of Jesus' triumphant return to life after dying on the cross. Eastern Orthodoxy A branch of Christianity with national ties. Jesus The central figure of Christianity, believed to be true God, who saved mankind from the torture of hell by dying on the cross to grant them salvation. Lent The remembrance of the period of time leading up to and including Christ's death on the cross. Mary Jesus' mother, who conceived him by the intervention of the Holy Spirit. Pope The spiritual leader of the Roman Catholic church. Protestantism The branch of Christianity which broke off from the Roman Catholic church at the time of the Reformation. Reformation A movement which resulted in the formation of the Protestant branch of Christianity. A reforming of Christianity which eliminated certain doctrines and practices of Catholicism which were deemed incorrect. Roman Catholicism The original Christian religion which descended from the original Christians in Rome at the time of Christ. http://www.mnsu.edu/emuseum/cultural/religion/christianity/terms.html (1 of 2)3/1/2006 8:20:10 PM Hinduism Hinduism History of Hinduism Hindu Terms Basic Beliefs Geographic Concentration Links to More Hinduism Sites Hindu deities http://www.mnsu.edu/emuseum/cultural/religion/hinduism/hinduism.html (1 of 2)3/1/2006 8:23:18 PM Basic Beliefs of Hinduism Basic Beliefs of Hinduism Hinduism is based on the concept that human and animal spirits reincarnate, or come back to earth to live many times in different forms. The belief that souls move up and down an infinite hierarchy depending on the behaviors they practiced in their life is visible in many of the Hindu societal policies. The caste system survives and charity towards others is unheard of because each individual deserves to be in the social class they were born in. A person is born into the highest class because they behaved well in a past life, and a person is born into poverty and shame because of misbehaviors in a past life. Today, a Hindu can be polytheistic (more than one god), monotheistic (one god), pantheistic (god and the universe are one), agnostic (unsure if god exists), or atheistic (no god) and still claim to be Hindu. This open theology makes it difficult to discuss basic beliefs since there are many ideas about what Hinduism means. However, these universal ideas must be mentioned. Central to Hinduism are the concepts of reincarnation, the caste system, merging with brahman (or the ultimate reality), finding morality, and reaching Nirvana (the peaceful escape from the cycle of reincarnation). Religious documents include Sruti, (what is heard) and Smriti, (what is remembered). The Sruti include deeply religious things communicated to a seer and recorded. The Vedas, the religious writings, include mantras (hymns of praise), brahmanas (sacrificial rituals) and upanishads (108 sacred teachings). The Smriti include the law (books of laws), puranas (myths, stories, legends) and epics (sets of holy myths including Ramayana and Mahabharata). The Hindu paths to salvation include the way http://www.mnsu.edu/emuseum/cultural/religion/hinduism/beliefs.html (1 of 2)3/1/2006 8:23:32 PM Basic Beliefs of Hinduism of works (rituals), the way of knowledge (realization of reality and selfreflection), and the way of devotion (devotion to the god that you choose to follow). If the practitioner follows the paths of these ways, salvation can be achieved. References McDowell, Josh and Don Stewart, Handbook of Today's Religions. Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1983. Twelfth printing, June 1992. Shelley, Fred M. and Audrey E. Clarke, eds. Human and Cultural Geography. Dubuque, Iowa: Wm. C. Brown Publishers, 1994. Images 'Krishna' courtesy of About Rajasthan- http://www.rajasthanweb.com/about/religion/index. htm 'Ganesh' and 'Shiva' courtesy of World Religions in Images 'Gsarawt' courtesy of Presja http://members.nbci.com/_XMCM/ekprem/hinduism.htm Written by Sara Wenner, 2001 http://www.mnsu.edu/emuseum/cultural/religion/hinduism/beliefs.html (2 of 2)3/1/2006 8:23:32 PM The History of Hinduism The History of Hinduism Hinduism is the oldest and most complex of all religious systems. Providing an adequate history for the development of Hinduism is difficult, since it has no specific founder or theology and originated in the religious practices of Aryan tribes who moved to India from central Asia more than three thousand years ago. The Aryans attacked the Harappan people who lived in modern day India around 1500 BC. Eventually, through adaptation to the religious beliefs of the other, both groups developed similar religious belief systems, founded on the polytheism of the Aryans and the sanctity of fertility of the Harappans. Soon, the predominantly Aryan society developed the caste system, which ranked society according to occupational class. The caste system is as follows: Brahmins priests Kshatriyas soldiers, king-warrior class Vaishyas merchants, farmers, Sutras laborers, craftspeople Harijahns "untouchables"- those thought to be descended from the Harappan aboriginal people-extremely poor and discriminated against The higher a person's caste, the more that person is blessed with the benefits and luxuries life has to offer. Although the caste system was outlawed in 1948, it is still important to the Hindu people of India and is still recognized as the proper way to stratify society. Since the early days of Hinduism, it has branched and now encompasses a wide variety of religious beliefs and religious organizations. Not only is it the primary religion of the region around India, but portions of Hindu beliefs have found their way across oceans to other countries and have been influential in the foundations of other religions, such as Transcendental Meditation and Buddhism. http://www.mnsu.edu/emuseum/cultural/religion/hinduism/history.html (1 of 2)3/1/2006 8:23:57 PM Hindu Terms Hindu Terms Atman The real self, the eternal life principle. Brama The creator god Brahman Ultimate Reality Brahmin A member of the priestly caste, the highest class. Dharma The teachings of virtue and principle Karma The culminating value of all of one's life actions, good and bad, which together determine one's next rebirth and death. Mahabharta One of the national epics of India. Maya The power that produces the phenomena of physical existence. Moksha The term for liberation from the bondage of finite existence. Puranas Part of the Hindu scriptures consisting of myths and legends mixed with historical events. Samsara The rebirth of souls passing on from one existence to another until release can be achieved, reincarnation. Upanishads Part of the Hindu sacred texts containing treatises on the nature of ultimate reality and the way to achieve union with the absolute. Veda The oldest of the Hindu scriptures, consisting of four collections of sacred writings. Yoga The Hindu path of union with the divine. Any sort of exercise (physical, mental or spiritual) which promotes one's journey to union with Brahma. References http://www.mnsu.edu/emuseum/cultural/religion/hinduism/terms.html (1 of 2)3/1/2006 8:24:23 PM Islam Islam History of Islam Islamic Terms Basic Beliefs Geographic Concentration Links to More Islam Sites Traditional Islamic mosque http://www.mnsu.edu/emuseum/cultural/religion/islam/islam.html3/1/2006 8:25:44 PM Basic Beliefs of Islam Basic Beliefs of Islam The teachings of Islam are comprised of both faith and duty (din). One branch of Muslim learning, "Tawhid", defines all that a man should believe, while the other branch, "Shari'a," prescribes everything that he should do. There is no priesthood and no sacraments. Except among the Sufis, Muslims receive instruction only from those who consider themselves adequately learned in theology or law. The basis for Islamic doctrine is found in the Qur'an (Koran). It is the scripture of Islam, written by Muhammad and his disciples as dictated by the Angel Gabriel. It alone is infallible and without error. The Qur'an is comprised of 114 surahs, or chapters, arranged from longest to shortest. For Muslims, the Qur'an is the word of God, and he carrier of the revelation of Muhammad, the last and most perfect of God's messengers to mankind. In addition to the Qur'an, other documents are also referred to by followers of Islam. A number of additional sayings of Muhammad were complied in the Hadith ("tradition"). The Torat (of Moses), Suhuf (books of the prophets), Zabur (psalms of David), and the Injil (gospel of Jesus) are also studied and considered to be revelations, although they are believed to have been corrupted through time. Five Articles of Faith The five articles of faith are the main doctrines of Islam. All Muslims are expected to believe the following: 1. God. There is one true God and his name is Allah. 2. Angels. Angels exist and interact with human lives. They are comprised of light, and each have different purposes or messages to bring to earth. Each man or woman has two angels who record his actions; one records good deeds, the other bad deeds. http://www.mnsu.edu/emuseum/cultural/religion/islam/beliefs.html (1 of 3)3/1/2006 8:25:51 PM Basic Beliefs of Islam 3. Scripture. There are four inspired books, the Torah of Moses, the Psalms (Zabin) of David, the Gospel of Jesus Christ (Injil) and the Qur'an. All but the Qur'an have been corrupted by Jews and Christians. 4. Prophets. God has spoken through numerous prophets throughout time. The six greatest are: Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jesus, and Muhammad. Muhammad is the last and greatest of Allah's messengers. 5. Last Days. On the last day there will be a time of resurrection and judgment. Those who follow Allah and Muhammad will go to Islamic heaven, or Paradise. Those who do not will go to hell. The Five Pillars of Faith The five pillars of faith are observances in Islam which are duties each Muslim must perform. 1. Creed (Kalima)- One must state, "There is no God but Allah, and Muhammad is 2. 3. 4. 5. the Prophet of Allah." publicly to become a Muslim. Prayer (Salat)- Prayer must be done five times a day (upon rising, at noon, in midafternoon, after sunset, and before going to sleep) towards the direction of Mecca. The call to prayer is sounded by the muezzin (Muslim crier) from a tower (minaret) within the mosque. Almsgiving (Zakat)- Muslims are legally required to give one-fortieth of their income to the needy. Since those whom alms are given are helping the giver achieve salvation, there is no sense of shame in receiving charity. Fasting (Ramadan)- During the holy month of Ramadan, faithful Muslims fast from sunup to sundown each day. This develops self-control, devotion to God, and identity with the needy. Pilgrimage (Hajj)- Each Muslim is expected to make the pilgrimage to Mecca at least once in their lifetime if they have the means to do it and are physically capable of the trip. It is an essential part of gaining salvation, so the old or infirm may send someone in their place. It involves a set of rituals and ceremonies. A sixth religious duty associated with the five pillars is Jihad, or Holy War. This duty requires that if the situation warrants, men are required to go to war to defend or spread Islam. If they are killed, they are guaranteed eternal life in Paradise. References http://www.mnsu.edu/emuseum/cultural/religion/islam/beliefs.html (2 of 3)3/1/2006 8:25:51 PM History of Islam History of Islam The history of Islam centers around one person, Muhammad (also spelled Muhammed or Mohammed). He was born around 570 A.D. and was raised by his extended family after the death of his parents. As he grew, he became dissatisfied with polytheism and came to believe in one God, Allah. He began to have religious visions around age 40. During these visions, Muhammad would receive "messages" or "revelations" from Allah. He would memorize them and teach them to his followers. These visions are now recorded in the Qur'an (or Koran). Muhammad continued to receive these visions and messages until his death in 632 A.D. The Expansion of Islam Muhammad's new faith was not widely accepted in his hometown of Mecca. Therefore, he and his followers moved to Medina which means "City of the Prophet". This movement is known as the Hijirat or "the flight". It marks the turning point in Islam and serves as the beginning date on Islamic calendars. At first, Muhammad was sympathetic to both Christians and Jews, but after their rejection of his teaching, he turned from Jerusalem as the center of worship for Islam to Mecca. He realized he must return to Mecca, and he did, conquering the city. Islam quickly spread throughout the area. When Muhammad died, he left no document appointing a successor. Some people thought that one of the original converts who had taught with Muhammad, some wanted a member of a powerful political family in the area, and others felt that 'Ali, the cousin and son-in-law of Muhammad had been divinely designated as successor. An early believer, Abu Bakr was appointed, but died within two years. Eventually, a power struggle developed as different groups of Muslims believed their method of establishing a successor were the best. The largest argument was over whether the successor should be elected or chosen through http://www.mnsu.edu/emuseum/cultural/religion/islam/history.html (1 of 2)3/1/2006 8:26:13 PM History of Islam heredity. This controversy produced the main body of Islam known as the Sunnis (followers of the prophet's way) and other numerous sects including the Shi'a and the Sufis. The Sunnis are the majority in Islam today. The Shi'a are the group of Muslims who believe that the successorship should remain within Muhammad's family, and that leaders are spiritually chosen, not politically chosen. They carry with them the pain of Muhammad's son-inlaw, 'Ali, who was murdered by Mu'awiya in order to obtain power. Today, the Shi'a dominate Iran. The Sufis are a group who believes that orthodox Islam is too mechanical and impersonal. This group of Islamic mystics seek for direct personal experience of the Divine. Nationalism in the Arab world since the rise of Israel as a political power has kept Islam strong. It is a rapidly spreading religion because of its cultural and political appeal and its universal message of peace, temperance and the brotherhood of man. References McDowell, Josh and Don Stewart, Handbook of Today's Religions. Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1983. Twelfth printing, June 1992. Shelley, Fred M. and Audrey E. Clarke, eds. Human and Cultural Geography. Dubuque, Iowa: Wm. C. Brown Publishers, 1994. Images 'The Expansion of Islam' courtesy of The Expansion of Islam 'Muhammad' courtesy of World Religions in Images Written by Sara Wenner, 2001 http://www.mnsu.edu/emuseum/cultural/religion/islam/history.html (2 of 2)3/1/2006 8:26:13 PM Islam Terms Islamic Terms Allah The Supreme Being. The name of God. Hadith The sacred sayings of Muhammad, handed down by oral tradition and finally written down. Hajj Pilgrimage to Mecca. One of the five pillars of the Islamic faith. Hegira Muhammad's flight from Mecca to Medina in 622 A.D. Islam "submission to the will of Allah" Koran (Qur'an) The inspired word of God given to Muhammad by the angel Gabriel. Mecca The birthplace of Muhammad, and the holy city of Islam. Medina Holy city named for Muhammad after he fled there in 622 A.D. Muhammad Prophet and founder of Islam. Born around 570 A.D., died 632 A.D. Moslem (Muslim) Follower of Muhammad. "one who submits" Mosque Islamic place of worship. Muezzlin Moslem crier who announces the hour of prayer. Ramadan The ninth month of the Moslem year, when Muhammad received the Qur'an from heaven, now a month of fasting. Salat Moslem daily prayer ritual. One of the five pillars of Islam. Shi'ites Moslem sect which insists that Muhammad's son-in-law 'Ali was Muhammad's rightful successor. Sufis Iranian philosophical mystics who have interpreted Islam for themselves. http://www.mnsu.edu/emuseum/cultural/religion/islam/terms.html (1 of 2)3/1/2006 8:26:49 PM Islam Terms Sunnites Largest Moslem sect which acknowledges all of Muhammad's successors. Surahs What the chapters of the Qur'an are called. The Dargah- one of the most important pilgrimage sites for Muslims References McDowell, Josh and Don Stewart, Handbook of Today's Religions. Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1983. Twelfth printing, June 1992. Shelley, Fred M. and Audrey E. Clarke, eds. Human and Cultural Geography. Dubuque, Iowa: Wm. C. Brown Publishers, 1994. Images 'The Dargah' courtesy of About Rajasthanhttp://www.rajasthanweb.com/about/religion/ index.htm Written by Sara Wenner, 2001 http://www.mnsu.edu/emuseum/cultural/religion/islam/terms.html (2 of 2)3/1/2006 8:26:49 PM Judaism Judaism History of Judaism Jewish Terms Basic Beliefs Geographic Concentration Links to More Judaism Sites Jewish man praying at the Wailing Wall in Jerusalem. Written by Sara Wenner, 2001 http://www.mnsu.edu/emuseum/cultural/religion/judaism/judaism.html3/1/2006 8:28:13 PM Basic Beliefs of Judaism Basic Beliefs of Judaism Judaism is a monotheistic religion which believes that the world was created by a single, all-knowing divinity, and that all things within that world were designed to have meaning and purpose as part of a divine order. According to the teachings of Judaism, God's will for human behavior was revealed to Moses and the Israelites at Mount Saini. The Torah, or commandments, which regulate how humans are to live their lives, were a gift from God so that they might live in according to His will. Statement of Faith Moses Maimonides, a Spanish Jew who lived in the 12th century, tried to condense the basic beliefs of Judaism into the form of a creed. It is still followed by the traditional forms of Judaism. 1. I believe with perfect faith that the Creator, blessed be His Name, is the Creator and Guide of everything that has been created; He alone has made, does make, and will make all things. 2. I believe with perfect faith that the Creator, blessed be His Name, is One, and that there is no unity in any manner like unto His, and that He alone is our God, who was, and is, and will be. 3. I believe with perfect faith that the Creator, blessed be His Name, is not a body, and that He is free from all the properties of matter, and that He has not any form whatever. 4. I believe with perfect faith that the Creator, blessed be His Name, is the first and the last. 5. I believe with perfect faith that to the Creator, blessed be His Name, and to Him alone, it is right to pray, and that it is not right to pray to any being besides Him. 6. I believe with perfect faith that all the works of the prophets are true. http://www.mnsu.edu/emuseum/cultural/religion/judaism/beliefs.html (1 of 3)3/1/2006 8:28:19 PM Basic Beliefs of Judaism 7. I believe with perfect faith that the prophecy of Moses, our teacher, peace be unto him, was true, and that he was the chief of the prophets, both of those who preceded and of those who followed him. 8. I believe with perfect faith that the whole Torah, now in our possession, is the same that was given to Moses, our teacher, peace be unto him. 9. I believe with perfect faith that this Torah will not be changed, and that there will never be any other Law from the Creator, blessed be His name. 10. I believe with perfect faith that the Creator, blessed be His name, knows very deed of the children of men, and all their thoughts, as it is said. It is He that fashioned the hearts of them all, that gives heed to all their works. 11. I believe with perfect faith that the Creator, blessed be His Name, rewards those that keep His commandments and punishes those that transgress them. 12. I believe with perfect faith in the coming of the Messiah; and, though he tarry, I will wait daily for his coming. 13. I believe with perfect faith that there will be a revival of the dead at the time when it shall please the Creator, blessed be His name, and exalted be His Fame for ever and ever. For Thy salvation I hope, O Lord. Three Branches of Judaism These are the three branches of Judaism which form the framework for the type of lifestyle and beliefs of Jewish individuals: OrthodoxTraditionalists who observe most of the traditional dietary and ceremonial laws of Judaism ConservativeDo not hold to the importance of a Jewish political state, but put more emphasis on the historic and religious aspects of Judaism, doctrinally somewhere between Orthodox and Reform Reformhttp://www.mnsu.edu/emuseum/cultural/religion/judaism/beliefs.html (2 of 3)3/1/2006 8:28:19 PM Basic Beliefs of Judaism The liberal wing of Judaism, culture and race oriented with little consensus on doctrinal or religious belief References McDowell, Josh and Don Stewart, Handbook of Today's Religions. Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1983. Twelfth printing, June 1992. Shelley, Fred M. and Audrey E. Clarke, eds. Human and Cultural Geography. Dubuque, Iowa: Wm. C. Brown Publishers, 1994. Images COLOR="#330099" FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="4">'Moses' and 'Menorah' courtesy of World Religions in Images < Written by Sara Wenner, 2001 http://www.mnsu.edu/emuseum/cultural/religion/judaism/beliefs.html (3 of 3)3/1/2006 8:28:19 PM History of Judaism History of Judaism The Old Testament books of the Bible describe numerous struggles of the Jewish people. After their triumphant Exodus from Egyptian captivity following Moses, they wandered around in the desert for forty years before entering the Promised Land. They had many conflicts with neighboring societies, yet for several centuries were able to maintain a unified state centered in Jerusalem. This occupation of the Promised Land was not to last, however. In 722 BC, the northern part of the Hebrew state fell to Assyrian raiders. By 586 BC, Jerusalem was conquered by Babylonians. The land of Israel was successively ruled by Persians, Macedonians, Greeks, Syrians, and Romans in the time that followed. As a result of the Syrian King Antiochus IV Epiphanes' attempt to suppress the Jewish religion, a rebellion led by Judas Maccabaeus in 167 BC resulted in the independence of the Jewish nation. This is celebrated today by the festival Hanukkah. In 70 AD, the Roman army destroyed Jerusalem, and the Jews were forced out of the area and settled in Mediterranean countries and in other areas in southwest Asia. This migration of the Jewish population is known as Diaspora. Many of these Jews settled in Europe and became victims of persecution and poverty. Ghettoes and slums became their homes and massacres were common. Because of these living conditions, many fled to the United States in the late 19th century. Migration to the States especially climbed during the aftermath of the Holocaust, the organized murder of Jews during and after World War II. Today the United States has the largest population of Jewish people with high concentration areas in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Boston, Miami, and Washington D.C. In 1917, an attempt to reestablish Palestine as the Jewish homeland began. By 1948, the State of Israel became an independent country. They have regained their Hebrew language, which involved inventing words for modern inventions and concepts unheard of centuries ago and writing a Hebrew dictionary to unify the language. http://www.mnsu.edu/emuseum/cultural/religion/judaism/history.html (1 of 2)3/1/2006 8:28:41 PM Jewish Terms Jewish Terms Diaspora The dispersion of the Jews. Hanukkah The feast of dedication celebrating the Maccabean victory in 167 B.C. Passover Annual feast commemorating the deliverance of the firstborn in Egypt when the angel of death took all those who did not have blood on the doorpost. Pentateuch The first five books in the Old Testament. Also called Torah. Rosh Hashanah The Jewish New Year. Sabbath The holy day of rest which commemorates God's completed work of creation and His liberation of the Israelites from their bondage in Egypt. Seder The festival held in Jewish homes on the first night of Passover. Shabuot The feast of weeks, seven weeks after Passover, which commemorates the giving of the Ten Commandments. Also called Pentecost. Sukkoth The feast of tabernacles celebrating the harvest. Talmud The Jewish library of oral law and tradition. Torah The Pentateuch, or the entire body of Jewish religious literature, law and teaching as contained chiefly in the Old Testament and Talmud. Yom Kippur The day of atonement, devoted to confession of sins and reconciliation with God, ten days after Rosh Hashanah. http://www.mnsu.edu/emuseum/cultural/religion/judaism/terms.html (1 of 2)3/1/2006 8:29:01 PM Jewish Terms Wailing Wall References McDowell, Josh and Don Stewart, Handbook of Today's Religions. Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1983. Twelfth printing, June 1992. Shelley, Fred M. and Audrey E. Clarke, eds. Human and Cultural Geography. Dubuque, Iowa: Wm. C. Brown Publishers, 1994. Written by Sara Wenner, 2001 http://www.mnsu.edu/emuseum/cultural/religion/judaism/terms.html (2 of 2)3/1/2006 8:29:01 PM