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World Religions
Monotheism
belief in one god
Most religions today believe this way
Polytheism
belief in many gods
What is religion?
An explanation of the origins and purpose
of humans and their role on earth
A belief in the existence of a higher
power, spirits, or gods
Rituals, festivals, rites of passage, and
cultural landscapes
Early Humans
Hunter-gatherers
Lived in isolated
groups.
Developed spiritual
beliefs as a means
of understanding
the natural world
and its phenomena.
Early Civilization
Agriculture - large settled
communities
Writing - recording of spiritual
beliefs, passed down
Indigenous beliefs began to fade;
modern world religions developed.
Common Beliefs of Early Humans
Hunting rituals - expressed reverence and respect for creatures killed
for survival
Animism - spirits inhabit all people, creatures, and things and play a
part in the world
Shamanism - centered on one individual who is spiritual leader of
community
All are still found
in parts of the
modern world.
Diffusion of Religions
Relocation (diffusion through migration)
Expansion (diffusion through a
snowballing effect)
o
o
hierarchical (diffusion through key leaders)
contagious (widespread diffusion)
Missionaries - Individuals who help to
transmit a universalizing religion through
relocation diffusion
Distribution of Religions
Universalizing religions
– Christianity
2 billion adherents
– Islam
1.3 billion adherents
– Buddhism
365 million adherents
Ethnic religions
– Hinduism
97% of India’s population
– Other ethnic religions
Confucianism, Daoism, Shintoism, Judaism and
Animism
Hinduism
India’s major religion
no known founder
main beliefs:
– polytheism
– caste system-hereditary social
system, enforced by law, based on
occupation, economic status, race,
ethnicity, etc.
– karma- action and subsequent
reaction
– reincarnation-literally "to be made
flesh again“ when Enlightenment is
reached.
Vedas
Hinduism’s oldest holy texts
Hinduism
Siddhartha Gautama - Buddha
Indian born in warrior caste
attained enlightenment & given the title
of Buddha
founder of Buddhism
religion that broke away from Hinduism
main beliefs:
–
–
–
–
polytheism
reincarnation
the Four Noble Truths- suffering
Eightfold Path- instrument of discovery
– Middle Way- practice of non-extremism
– nirvana-state of perfect peace
Sutras
holy texts in Buddhism
Buddhism
Buddhism
Confucius (Confucianism)
Chinese philosopher
ethical system based on the
teachings of Confucius
main beliefs:
– social and civic responsibility
– Five Relationships- juniors to
seniors, parents to children,
etc.
Analects
text that contains the words
and acts of Confucius
sayings from Confucious
Everything has beauty, but not everyone sees it.
In a country well governed, poverty is something to be
ashamed of. In a country badly governed, wealth is
something to be ashamed of.
Silence is a true friend who never betrays
http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/c/confucius.html
Taoism (Daoism)
Lao-Zi (604-531? BCE)
(also Lao Tse)
teachings: Tao Te Ching
dao (tao) = “the way” or
“the path”
Live in harmony with
nature
Values: simplicity,
compassion, humility
Shintoism
distinctive ethnic religion of Japan
forces of nature are divine (Sun, Moon, rivers,
trees, mountains, and more)
official state religion of Japan 1860s-WWII
more than 80,000 shrines in Japan
Jewish Religion
founded by Abraham
main beliefs:
– monotheism (world’s 1st)
– Jews are God’s chosen people
Ten Commandments
– a list of religious and moral guidelines
– foundation of Judaism, Christianity,
and Islam
Abraham
Middle Eastern prophet
founder of Judaism
Jerusalem
Judaism’s, Christianity, and
Islam’s holy city
Torah
Judaism’s holy book
written by Moses
Judaism
Judaism
Jesus (Christianity)
founder of Christianity
executed by the Jewish leadership for
creating the split between Christianity and
Judaism
religion that broke away from Judaism
main beliefs:
–
–
–
–
Ten Commandments
monotheism
Jesus is the son of God
resurrection of the dead
Bible
Christianity’s holy book
made up of 2 parts:
– Old Testament (Jewish text)
– New Testament (lives and teachings of Jesus
and his followers)
Church of the Holy Sepulcher
Jerusalem
Christianity - Diffusion
Muhammad (Islam)
Arab warrior and prophet
founder of Islam
religion that began in modern-day Saudi
Arabia
followers of Islam are called Muslims
main beliefs:
– monotheism
– Muhammad is God’s greatest and last
prophet
– believe that Jesus was a prophet, not as
the son of God)
– Five Pillars
Qur’an
Islam’s holy book
contains the teachings of Muhammad
Mecca
Muhammad’s birthplace
Islam’s holiest city
Ka’bah- temple of Abraham
Religion in the U.S.