Download Major World Religions

Major World Religions
Judaism
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Who – Abraham, Moses
When – circa 3000 BC
Where – Israel
Holy Books - Torah, and
Talmud
 Major Divisions –
Orthodox, Conservative,
Reform
Basic Beliefs
 Monotheistic – one God
 Jews are the chosen
people of God, must
follow his laws.
 Jerusalem/Israel are
holy lands.
• Who – Jesus of Nazareth
Christianity
• When – circa 30AD
• Where – Israel
• Holy Books – Old and New
Testaments
• Major Divisions – Catholic,
Protestant, Orthodox
Basic Beliefs
• Jesus Christ is the son of God
• Death and resurrection
• Came to redeem mankind from
sin.
Who – Mohammed
When – circa 620AD
Where – Arabian Peninsula
Holy Books – Quran and the
Hadith
Major Divisions – Sunni, Shia
Basic Beliefs
 There is no god but Allah,
and Muhammad is the
messenger of God
 Quran is word of God.
 Muslims must perform the
“Five Pillars of Faith”.
Islam
Hinduism
Who – Ancient priests of India
When – 5000 –3000 BCE
Where – India
Holy Books – Vedas, Bhagavad-Gita
Major Divisions – Numerous schools
and traditions
Basic Beliefs
 Polytheistic
 Reincarnation and Karma – cause
and effect
 Ultimate goal – oneness with
“Brahman” (God, Reality)
Buddhism
Who – Siddhartha Gautama (Buddha)
When – 500 BC
Where – Northern India
Holy Books - Tripitaka
Major Divisions – Mahayana,
Theravada
Basic Beliefs
 Life is suffering, caused by wanting
things, caused by ignorance.
 Reincarnation and karma
 “8-fold Path” allows escape to
Nirvana