Download Religious Connections

Taoism
-Refers to a variety of related philosophical and religious traditions
that have influenced Eastern Asia for more than two millennia,[1]
and have had a notable influence on the western world particularly
since the 19th century.[2] The word 道, Tao (or Dao, depending on
the romanization scheme), roughly translates as, "path" or "way"
(of life), although in Chinese folk religion and philosophy it carries
more abstract meanings.
Confucianism
-Refers to a Chinese ethical and philosophical system developed
from the teachings of the Chinese philosopher Confucius (Kǒng
Fūzǐ, or K'ung-fu-tzu, lit. "Master Kong", 551–478 BC). It is a
complex system of moral, social, political, philosophical, and quasireligious thought that has had tremendous influence on the culture
and history of East Asia.
Secular Humanism
-Refers to a secular philosophy that espouses reason, ethics, and
the search for human fulfillment, and specifically rejects
supernatural and religious dogma as the basis of morality and
decision-making. Secular Humanism is a life stance that focuses
on the way human beings can lead happy and functional lives.
Shintoism
-Shinto (神道 Shintō) or kami-no-michi is the indigenous
spirituality of Japan and the Japanese people. It is a set of
practices, to be carried out diligently, to establish a connection
between present day Japan and its ancient past. The earliest
Japanese writings do not refer to a unified "Shinto religion", but
rather to disorganized folklore, history, and mythology
Paganism
-Is a blanket term, typically used to refer to polytheistic religious
traditions, although from a Christian perspective, the term can
encompass all non–Abrahamic religions. More narrow definitions
will not include any of the world religions and restrict the term to
local or rural currents not organized as civil religions. Characteristic
of pagan traditions is the absence of proselytism and the presence
of a living mythology, which explains religious practice.
Pantheism
- Refers to the view that the Universe (Nature) and God are
identical. Pantheists thus do not believe in a personal,
anthropomorphic or creator god. The word derives from the
Ancient Greek: πᾶν (pan) meaning ‘all’ and θεός (theos) meaning
‘God’. As such, Pantheism denotes the idea that “God” is best
seen as a way of relating to the Universe.
Greek/Roman
-Refers to the body of myths and legends belonging to the ancient
Greeks concerning their gods and heroes, the nature of the world,
and the origins and significance of their own cult and ritual
practices. They were a part of religion in ancient Greece. Modern
scholars refer to the myths and study them in an attempt to throw
light on the religious and political institutions of Ancient Greece, its
civilization, and to gain understanding of the
nature of myth-making itself.
Egyptian
-Refers to a complex system of beliefs and rituals which was
integral to ancient Egyptian society. It centered on the Egyptians'
interaction with a multitude of deities who were believed to be
present in, and in control of, the forces and elements of nature.
The myths about these gods were meant to explain the origins and
behavior of the forces they represented, and the practices
of Egyptian religion were efforts to provide
for the gods and gain their favor.
Buddhism
-Refers to a religion and philosophy encompassing a variety of
traditions, beliefs and practices, largely based on teachings
attributed to Siddhartha Gautama, commonly known as the
Buddha (Pāli/Sanskrit "the awakened one"). He was a teacher who
shared his insights to help sentient beings end suffering (or
dukkha), achieve nirvana, and escape what is seen
as a cycle of suffering and rebirth.
Hinduism
-Refers to the predominant and indigenous religious tradition[1] of
the Indian subcontinent. Hinduism is often referred to as Sanātana
Dharma (a Sanskrit phrase meaning "the eternal law") by its
adherents. Generic "types" of Hinduism that attempt to
accommodate a variety of complex views span folk and Vedic
Hinduism. Hinduism also includes yogic traditions and a wide
spectrum of "daily morality" based on the
notion of karma and societal norms such as
Hindu marriage customs.
Jainism
-Is an Indian religion that prescribes a path of non-violence towards
all living beings. Its philosophy and practice emphasize the
necessity of self-effort to move the soul towards divine
consciousness and liberation. Any soul that has conquered its own
inner enemies and achieved the state of supreme being is called
Jina (Conqueror or Victor)
Bahaí Faith
-Refers to a monotheistic religion founded by Bahá'u'lláh in nineteenthcentury Persia, emphasizing the spiritual unity of all humankind. There
are an estimated five to six million Bahá'ís around the world in more
than 200 countries and territories. In the Bahá'í Faith, religious history is
seen to have unfolded through a series of divine messengers, each of
whom established a religion that was suited to the needs of the time and
the capacity of the people.
Zoroastrianism
-Refers to a religion where the Creator Ahura Mazda is all good,
and no evil originates from Him. Thus, in Zoroastrianism good and
evil have distinct sources, with evil (druj) trying to destroy the
creation of Mazda (asha), and good trying to sustain it. Mazda is
not immanent in the world, and His creation is represented by the
Amesha Spentas and the host of other
Yazatas, through whom the works of
God are evident to humanity, and
through whom worship of Mazda is
ultimately directed.
Hebrew/Judaism
-Is is the "religion, philosophy, and way of life" of the Jewish
people. Originating in the Hebrew Bible (also known as the
Tanakh) and explored in later texts such as the Talmud, it is
considered by Jews to be the expression of the covenantal
relationship God developed with the Children of Israel. According
to traditional Rabbinic Judaism, God
revealed his laws and commandments
to Moses on Mount Sinai in the form of
both the Written and Oral Torah.
MONOTHEISM
ATHEISM
ANIMISM
POLYTHEISM
Sikhism
-The principal belief of Sikhism is faith in Waheguru, meaning one
God. Sikhism advocates the pursuit of salvation through
disciplined, personal meditation on the name and message of God.
The followers of Sikhism are ordained to follow the teachings of the
ten Sikh gurus, or enlightened leaders, as well as the holy scripture
entitled the Gurū Granth Sāhib Ji, which, along with the writings of
six of the ten Sikh Gurus, includes selected
works of many devotees from diverse
socio-economic and religious backgrounds.
Islam
-Refers to the monotheistic religion articulated by the Qur’an, a text
considered by its adherents to be the verbatim word of God
(Arabic: ‫ هللا‬, Allāh), and by the teachings and normative example
of Muhammad, the Prophet of Islam. The Arabic root of the word
'Islam'; salaam (‫ ) س الم‬means 'Peace'. The word
'Islam' means 'Submission (to God), and an
adherent of Islam is called Muslim.
Christianity
-Refers to a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings
of Jesus of Nazareth as presented in the New Testament.
Christianity comprises three major branches: Roman Catholicism,
Eastern Orthodoxy and Protestantism Most Christians believe
Jesus is the Son of God, God having become human and the
savior of humanity. Christians, therefore, commonly
refer to Jesus as Christ or Messiah.