Download Prominent Religions of SE Asia

Prominent Religions of Southern
and Eastern Asia
Hinduism
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One of the oldest religions in the world
Practiced most widely in India
3rd largest religion in the world
Developed in India, it’s origins are based upon
the religion practiced by the Aryans (invaded
the country from the north around 1500 BC).
• Rituals and hymns known as Vedas, of The
Books of Knowledge led to the development
of the religion known as Hinduism
• Hinduism is polytheistic, meaning they
worship many gods
• Hindus believe that all of these gods are part
of a supreme spirit named Brahman
• Believe that all living things have souls
(including animals)
• Some animals, like the cow, are considered
especially sacred
• Many Hindus are vegetarians, meaning they
eat no meat
• Believe in reincarnation- the idea that the soul
does not die with the body, but enters the
body of another being, either a person or an
animal.
• The type of life a person leads determines
what his next life will be like
• A soul is reincarnated over and over again,
until the life it lives is good enough to bring it
to be united with Brahman.
• Karma, is the belief that one’s actions
determine one’s fate.
Caste System
• Another important part of Hinduism is the
caste system
• A caste system is the belief that social class is
hereditary (inherited), and does not change
throughout a person’s life.
• The only way to move to a higher caste was to
be born into one in the next life.
Four Main Castes
• Priests and wise men, or Brahmans, are the
highest
• Warriors and rulers, called the Kshtriyas
• Merchants, traders, and small farmers, Vaisyas
• The Sudras, or peasants and field workers, are
last
• The untouchables, or pariahs, who do work no
one else would do, belong to the fifth caste
Buddhism
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Began in India
4th largest religion in the world
6% of the world’s population today is Buddhist
Siddhartha Guatama a rich young man
founded the religion about 500 B.C.
• Believe in the Four Noble Truths and the
Eightfold Path
Siddhartha Gautama
• Founded the religion about 500 B.C.
• Lived a life of luxury, but was concerned about
the poverty and suffering he saw in the world
• Left his family and became a monk for a
number of years, hoping that he would learn
why people had to suffer
• After years of wandering, he understood what
needed to be done…
• He felt that people could find peace if they
rejected greed and desire
• He agreed with the Hindu belief of
reincarnation and karma but did not accept
the caste system or the need for priests
• He became known as “Buddha,” or “The
Enlightened One” by his followers
Four Noble Truths
• Buddha taught that there were Four Noble
Truths in life
1.Life always brought pain
2.Suffering and sorrow were usually caused by
greed and the desire for material things.
3.By giving up these greedy desires, a person
could end his suffering and reach Nirvana
- Nirvana means a state of perfect peace
4.To achieve Nirvana, a person needed to follow
the Middle Way
The Middle Way
• The Middle Way was accomplished by following
what Buddha called the Eightfold Path (8 rules for
conduct)
1. Try to recognize the truth
2. Try to avoid evil actions and bad people
3. Do not say things that hurt others
4. Respect other people and their belongings
5. Choose a job that does no harm to others
6. Do not think evil thoughts
7. Avoid excitement or anger
8. Work at meditation, thinking carefully about
what matters in life
Islam
• Second largest religion in the world.
• Began in the Arabian Peninsula in the 7th century
AD with teachings of the prophet
________________. Muhammad
• Islam came to India in the 1500s AD when
Muslim armies swept into the country
• Established the Mogul Empire that ruled India for
almost 200 years
• Muslim conquerors treated the Hindus as
conquered people and introduced Islam as a new
religion.
______Pillars of Islam
1. Believe there is only _______god and
___________ is his messenger
2. ________ five times a day facing the
direction of Mecca
3. Charity to the poor
4. Fasting during the holy month of
____________.
5. Pilgrimage to __________ at least once in a
person’s lifetime
• Muslims believe in only one god, this religion
is a _______________religion
• A religion that believes in more than one god
is called a __________________ religion
• Muslims worship in community
_____________ for prayer
• Their holy book is called a __________
Shinto
• The earliest religion of Japan was Shintoism
• Shintoism believe in kami, divine spirits that
Shinto followers believe live in nature
• These spirits are believed to live in beautiful
places, animals, and especially as a person’s
ancestor
• Places such as mountains and rivers are
considered as sacred because they are
thought to be the homes of these kami
• Those who practice Shintoism offer prayers
and perform rituals to honor and please the
kami or spirits they feel are special
• Shinto religion does not stress life after death
• The worship of nature has also led the
Japanese to create small, beautiful gardens,
and areas of quiet and reflection
• Shintoism was once the state religion of Japan
Confucianism
• Confucius was one of the most important
scholars in Chinese history
• Believed that the key to peace and social
order was for people to behave with good
character and virtue
• Golden Rule of Behavior- “what you do not
like when done unto yourself, do not unto
others.”
• He believed a good ruler was one who treated
his people fairly and was kind to them.
• Confucius was not a religious prophet or even
a religious leader
• Confucianism is thought of as a philosophy or
ethical system based on good deeds and
morality rather than religion.
Five Basic Relationships
• Believed that there were five basic relationships
among men:
1. Ruler and subject
2. Father and son
3. Husband and wife
4. Older brother and younger brother
5. Friend and friend
He believed if each relationship were based on
kindness, there would be peace and harmony in
the country.
Your turn!
Answer the following questions on a
separate sheet of paper!!
1. Which of these religions is considered one of
the oldest in the world?
2. What is the Hindu belief in reincarnation?
3. What Buddhist teaching shows its followers
the correct way to live their lives?
4. What is the name of the Muslim holy book?
5. In which country was Shintoism founded?
6. What is Confucius’ Golden Rule?