Download Belief Systems 1

BELIEF SYSTEMS
POLYTHESITIC RELIGIONS: belief in many gods (Polly-O String Cheese )
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Animism—belief that every living and nonliving thing in nature has a spirit
o Belief system of many early people
o Shown in cave paintings
o Some early civilizations (Shang Dynasty & African tribes) combined animism with
worship of dead ancestors (could affect life in positive or negative way)
 People offered food and other necessities to spirits

Shintoism—“the way of the gods”
o Traditional Japanese religion (originated in Japan
o Kami, or "divine spirits," can be found in nature--in the mountains, rivers, rocks, etc.
o Rituals often honor ancestors and forces of nature
o No sacred scripture
o Worship takes place at simple sanctuary
o Helped unite all of Japan

Taoism (Daoism)—sought to help people live in harmony with nature
o Founder: Laozi
o Originated: Zhou Dynasty, China (time of many wars and changes)
o Important Writings: The Way of Virtue, Zhuang-zi
o Important Virtues: Yielding (submitting) and independence
o Followers rejected the human government
o Balance between yin (Earth, darkness, female forces) and yang (Heaven, light, and male
forces)
 Peace and well-being depends on harmony between yin and yang

Confucianism
o Founder: Confucius
o Originated: Zhou Dynasty, China (time of many wars
and changes)
o Important Writings: The Analects—taught people to
accept their given places in society
o 5 Key Relationships—none of these relationships is equal
(except for friendships)
 Every person had certain duties & responsibilities
o Other Ideas:
 People are naturally good
 Education is road to advancement (civil service
tests)
 Needs of group are more important than needs
of the individual
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Hinduism
o Founder: No single founder (developed out of Indus Valley and Aryan cultures)
o Originated: India, 1500 B.C.E. (3,500 years ago!)
o Important Writings: The Vedas—collections of prayers and sacred verses
o Major Beliefs: one unifying spirit, Brahman (too complicated for humans to understand)
 GOAL OF LIFE IS TO ACHIEVE MOKSHA—UNION WITH BRAHMAN
 Hindus worship a variety of gods to help understand Brahman
 Brahma the Creator
 Vishnu the Preserver
 Shiva the Destroyer
 Because most people cannot achieve moksha in one life,
Hindus believe in reincarnation—rebirth of the soul in
another bodily form
 Karma consists of all the actions of a person’s life that affect his/her fate in the next
life
 Dharma is the religious and moral duties of an individual (varies according to age,
gender, class)
CASTE SYSTEM = LIMITED SOCIAL MOBILITY

BUDDHISM
o Founder: Prince Siddhartha Gautama (became Buddha, or “Enlightened One,” after finding
the meaning of the causes and cures of human suffering and sorrow)
o Originated: India, 500s B.C.E. (later spreads to China)
o Important Writings: Tripitaka, “Three Baskets of Wisdom”—collection of rules, sermons, and
beliefs
o Major Beliefs:
 Four Noble Truths:
 All life is suffering
 Suffering is caused by negative acts and mindsets (i.e. hatred/desire)
 The way to eliminate suffering is to eliminate desire
 The way to overcome desire is to follow the Eightfold Path
 Eightfold Path: Consists of eight “rights”, or correct ways to behave
 Ultimate goal is nirvana, union with the universe and release from cycle of
death and rebirth
o Comparison with Hinduism: Accepts...karma, dharma, reincarnation as well as priests and
nuns. Rejects…many Hindu gods & caste system
MONOTHEISM: belief in one god (mono y mono )
JUDAISM

The Hebrews were a nomadic group who lived in the Fertile Crescent. They became enslaved
in Egypt, and God helped them escape this slavery (Moses parts the Red Sea). By 1,000 B.C.E.,
the Hebrews had set up the kingdom of Israel with Jerusalem as its capital. They believed that
God had promised them this land. The Romans expelled the Jews from Palestine in A.D. 135—
an event which became known as the diaspora, or scattering of people.
(agreement)
(father of the Hebrew people)
CHRISTIANITY

Christianity began in Palestine with the teachings of a Jew named Jesus in about A.D. 30.
Beginning with a small group of followers, Christianity grew and spread to become the official
religion of the Roman Empire by A.D. 392.
Branches of Christianity
Roman Catholic
Protestant
Lutheran
Calvinist
Anglican
Eastern Orthodox
Russian Orthodox
ISLAM
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Founder: Muhammad, an Arab merchant (told to spread Islam by angel Gabriel)
Originated: Arabian Peninsula, A.D. 622
o After becoming the messenger of Allah (God), angry merchants in Mecca tried to kill him.
Muhammad and his followers left for Medina—turning point because Muslim converts
welcomed Muhammad and religion grew
Important Writings: Qur’an (Koran)—direct word of god; guide to life and Sharia—body of
laws that unites Muslims of different backgrounds
Major Beliefs: “The Five Pillars of Islam”
Known as the hajj- pilgrimage to Mecca
1. The animist religions, which are widespread throughout Africa, share a belief in
1.
2.
3.
4.
monotheism
the importance of the spirits of nature
the writings of Mohammed
making a pilgrimage to Jerusalem
2. A belief of animism is that
1.
2.
3.
4.
after death the soul is reborn in another human form
holy wars must be fought to gain entry into heaven
meditation leads followers to nirvana
spirits of nature inhabit all living and nonliving objects
3. One similarity between animism and Shinto is that people who follow these belief systems
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2.
3.
4.
practice filial piety
worship spirits in nature
are monotheistic
are required to make pilgrimages
4. Which fact relating to early Japan was a result of the other three?
1.
2.
3.
4.
Japan experienced earthquakes and volcanic eruptions
The Japanese developed a nature-based belief called Shinto
Tsunamis and typhoons sometimes destroyed coastal Japanese villages
Mountains are found throughout the islands of Japan
5. Taoism and Shintoism are similar in that both religions stress
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2.
3.
4.
adhering to the five Confucian relationships
following the Eightfold Path
developing harmony between humans and nature
believing in one God
6. A goal common to Confucianism, Taoism, and Buddhism is to
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2.
3.
4.
establish peace and harmony
provide the basis for democratic government
return the power of the emperors
promote individual artistic creativity
7. Confucianism emphasizes the idea that
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2.
3.
4.
government should own the means of production
economic success is more desirable than knowledge and learning
each person has an important responsibility to family and society
an individual’s personal goals are more important than the goals of the group
8. In China, the development of civil service examinations and a belief in filial piety reflect the influence of
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2.
3.
4.
Shinto
Jainism
Confucianism
Buddhism
9. Which Chinese philosophy best completes this graphic organizer?
1.
2.
3.
4.
Maoism
Daoism
legalism
Confucianism
10. The five relationships taught by Confucius (K'ung-fu-tzu) encouraged people to
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2.
3.
4.
improve their position in life
maintain social and political order
respect and worship nature
serve the needs of religious leaders
11. Confucianism in traditional China and communism in modern-day China are similar because both
emphasize that
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2.
3.
4.
the needs of the group are more important than those of the individual
the pursuit of individual wealth is a necessary and desirable goal
a nation must give up its old traditions if it wants to be strong
there is wisdom in adopting foreign ways to meet the needs of the nation
12. The terms Brahma, dharma, and moksha are most closely associated with which religion?
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2.
3.
4.
Judaism
Islam
Hinduism
animism
13. Which statement would most likely be spoken by a Hindu and not by a Muslim?
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2.
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“I am planning to go to Mecca next year to participate in the hajj.”
“My belief in the teachings of the Koran are very important to me.”
“I always enjoy the feast that follows the end of Ramadan.”
“My good deeds today will serve me well in my next reincarnation.”
14. In traditional India, the caste system and the Hindi beliefs in karma and dharma most directly resulted in
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2.
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the establishment of a set of rules for each individual in the society
the rapid industrialization of the economy
a strong emphasis on the acquisition of wealth
a strong belief in the importance of education
15. Which is a valid statement about the role of religion in modern India?
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2.
3.
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Buddhism has replaced Hinduism as the major religion.
Religion has lost most of its influence and importance.
Religion and politics are rigidly separated.
Religious beliefs and social structure are closely related.
16. Which belief is shared by Hindus and Buddhists?
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2.
3.
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Everyone should have the same social status.
People should pray five times a day.
The soul can be reincarnated.
Material wealth is a sign of the blessing of the gods.
17. The diagram illustrates the key concepts of which religion?
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2.
3.
4.
Islam
Christianity
Hinduism
Buddhism
18. Which belief is most closely associated with the teachings of Siddhartha Gautama (Buddha)?
(1) People are born into a specific caste.
(2) Believers must follow the Ten Commandments.
(3) Followers must fast during Ramadan.
(4) People can overcome their desires by following the Eight-Fold Path.
19. According to Buddhist principles, believers can end personal suffering by
(1) doing good deeds
(2) eliminating selfish desires
(3) making pilgrimages to Mecca
(4) relying on divine help
20. One way in which the Five Relationships, the Ten Commandments, and the Eightfold Path are similar is
that they
(1) promote polytheism
(2) establish gender equality
(3) provide codes of behavior
(4) describe secularism
21. One way in which Eastern Orthodoxy, Roman Catholicism, and Protestantism are similar is that each
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2.
3.
4.
accepts the supreme authority of the Pope
rejects the Old Testament as part of the Bible
is a branch of Christianity
was once the official religion of the Byzantine Empire
22. The Hejira, Mohammed’s journey from Mecca to Medina in AD 622, it important to Muslims because
the journey
(1) resulted in Mohammed’s early death
(2) ended Mohammed’s attempts to spread Islam throughout Arabia
(3) established Byzantine rule throughout the region
(4) signified the establishment of the Islamic faith
23. After the death of Mohammed, Islam spread rapidly mainly because
(1) Mecca became the capital of the Islamic empire
(2) Christians invaded the Holy Land
(3) Arab women were encouraged to join Muslim armies
(4) the Arab people developed a strong sense of purpose
24. Which practice is most closely associated with a person of the Islamic faith?
(1) refraining from eating meat on Fridays
(2) praying five times a day
(3) following the Eightfold Path
(4) worshipping many gods
25. Which text is essential to the practice of Islam?
(1) New Testament
(2) Analects
(3) Torah
(4) Qur’an (Koran)
26. The Five Pillars of Faith of Islam, the Ten Commandments of Judaism and Christianity, and the
Eightfold Path of Buddhism are similar in that they all
(1) 1.were set forth by the founder of the particular religion
(2) 2.offer a happy and easy life for those who follow their teachings
(3) 3.serve as guidelines to follow in personal conduct
(4) 4.indicate exactly how to achieve salvation
27. Christianity and Islam are similar in that both
(1) are polytheistic religions
(2) have practiced a strict code of nonviolence
(3) have the same religious holidays
(4) have roots in Judaism
28. Christianity, Islam, and Judaism are similar in that they all ask their followers to
(1) believe in reincarnation
(2) strive for nirvana
(3) follow a code of behavior
(4) practice polytheism
29. Judaism, Islam, and Christianity share a belief in
(1) papal supremacy
(2) teachings of the Koran (Quran)
(3) reincarnation and the Four Noble Truths
(4) an ethical code of conduct and monotheism