Download Animism & Traditional Religions

Religions of the World
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2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
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Christianity (2.1 billion)
Islam (1.3 billion)
Hinduism (1 billion)
Animism & Traditional (400 million combined)
Buddhism (350 million)
Judaism (14 million)
Shinto (~4 million)
Confucianism (unknown)
Unique Beliefs

Judaism
 Please
God: Follow law, living right
 Fix sin: Animal sacrifice, Yom Kippur, follow God’s
law
 Messiah hasn’t come yet

Christianity
 Please
God: Personal relationship, believe in Jesus
 Fix sin: Believe in Jesus (No need for animal sacrifice)
 Jesus replaces laws of OT
 Jesus = Messiah

Died for sins, resurrected 3 days later
Unique Beliefs

Islam
 Please
Allah: Following law
 No personal relationship with Allah
 Follows example and teachings of Muhammad

Qur’an given to Muhammad by angel Gabriel
Other Terms
YHWH, Adonai, Jehovah
Allah
Torah (Old Testament)
Bible (Old and New Testament)
Koran, Qu’ran
Abraham, Moses
Mohammed
Temple/Synagogue
Mosque
Yom Kippur, Rosh
Hashanah, Passover
Easter and Christmas
Ramadan
Jerusalem – Original
temple, promised land
Jerusalem – Christ’s
ministry, crucifixion,
resurrection
Mecca – Direction of daily
prayers, location of
pilgrimage
Medina – Mohammed is
buried
Jerusalem – Mohammed
left for visit to heaven
Connection of all 3 Religions
Isaac
Judaism
Christianity
30 AD
Abraham
Ishmael
Islam
610 AD
Christianity Subsets

Catholicism
 Considered to be the ‘original’ Christianity
 HQ: Vatican City (Rome, Italy)
 Head of the Church:
Pope Benedict XVI (265th one)
 Locations: Southern/Eastern Europe, Sub-Saharan
Africa, Latin America, South America, US (smaller
number)
Christianity Subsets

Eastern Orthodox
Split from Catholic Church in 11th Century
 Difference from Catholicism:
 Origins:
Doesn’t recognize Pope
 Different opinions on Church Doctrine (beliefs, decisions)

 Locations:
Russia, Greece, Eastern Europe
Christianity Subsets

Protestant
 Origins:
Started with the Protestant Reformation in
1517 when Martin Luther posted his Ninety-Five Theses
on a church door in Germany, criticizing the Catholic
Church and the Pope
 Difference from Catholicism:
No Pope & no need for a human to intercede for believers
 Less legal rules and less formal ‘ritual’

 Denominations:
Methodist, Baptist, Presbyterian,
Lutheran, Episcopalian, etc.
 Locations: Northern/Western Europe, US (most
Christians), Asia
Judaism Subsets

Orthodox
 Considered to be the most strict branch
 Located mostly in: Israel
 Zionism and Hasidic Judaism

Conservative
Seeks to conserve Jewish traditions
 Considered to be the a mix of Orthodox and Reform,
middle of the road

Traditional beliefs with acceptance of modern reforms
 Locations: throughout
Europe and US
Judaism Subsets

Reform
Seeks to reform Jewish traditions
 Considered the least strict subset
Don’t keep Kosher
 Personal interpretation of Jewish law

 Most US Jews
Islam Subsets

Sunni
 Pray 5 times a day
 Leaders are called Caliphs and they are chosen through
elections

Last one was in 1923

He was taken out of power by Turkish government; no widely
recognized Caliph now
 The final word on religious questions
 85% of Muslims
is the Qur’an
Islam Subsets

Shi’a (Shiite)
 Pray 3 times a day
 Leaders are called Imams, they are considered holy and
must be direct descendants of Muhammad
Current Imam is being hidden by Allah and will return later
 Leaders are picked by Allah or previous Imam

 Highest rank:

Ayatollah
Most important: Grand Ayatollah
 The final word on religious questions
 15% of Muslims

Iran, most of Iraq
is the Imam
Hinduism

Mainly in India
Around 1500 BC
 About 1 billion followers

No single “God”
 All deities are part of the greater “Brahman”
 Three major gods: Brahma, Vishnu,
Shiva
 Many different gods, other main ones; (about 330 million in
total)

Each main god has purpose/idol
 Idols treated as human (feed, clothe, shelter, etc)

Goal: Soul to reach Supreme Divine and a birth of a
higher consciousness
 Believe in reincarnation; karma

Yoga = meditation
Guru = teacher
Brahma
- Creator
Vishnu
- Preserver
Shiva
- Destroyer
Buddhism

Found throughout East Asia
 About 350 million followers
Founded by Siddhartha Gautama (mid-500s BC)
 Soul on journey towards Nirvana (perfect peace)

 It goes thru many life cycles  reincarnation
 Use meditation for inward reflection

Soul’s journey depends on current life (karma)
 Good life now = rewarded
 Bad life now = punishment

Goal in current life = attain enlightenment
(Dharma) and end suffering

Four Noble Truths:
1.
2.
3.
4.

All life is suffering
Suffering is caused by desire
To eliminate suffering, eliminate desire
To eliminate desire, follow the Eightfold Path
No need for gods, idols, ceremonies
 More of a personal religion than ‘organized’


Monks and gurus help guide
Appeals to peasants
 Gives hope in current life; way out
The Noble Eightfold Path is sometimes divided
into three basic divisions, as follows
Division
Wisdom
Eightfold Path factors
1. Right view
2. Right intention
3. Right speech
Ethical conduct
4. Right action
5. Right livelihood
6. Right effort
Concentration
7. Right mindfulness
8. Right concentration
Shinto

Japan
 About 4 million followers

Several Kami (spirits)
 Every physical thing contains a kami

Like its soul
 Amaterasu (Sun Goddess) is most ‘worshiped’

Reason for Japan’s ‘slogan’…?
 Kamis linked to Buddha

Shrines dedicated to each Kami
 Guarded by a torii, gate to keep evil spirits out
“Floating” torii

All human life is sacred
 Prepare more for this life than the afterlife
Not much thought to an afterlife
 Buddhism ceremonies/traditions used for funerals

 Family, traditions and nature are very important

More ritual than belief; guides life of the kami and
humans
Confucianism
Mostly China; unknown number of followers
 Follows teachings of Confucius (550-480 BC)

 No gods, spirits,
or organized ‘worship’
 More of a way of life than religion

Importance placed on:
 Leading a good life
 Family, family loyalty, ancestors
 Ethics and morality in government

Rulers should be honest and concerned for citizens
 Everyone has an important role in society

Confucius
Big impact on Chinese history
Animism & Traditional Religions
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
About 400 million followers
Focus:
1.
Nature (animals, wind, sun, etc.)
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2.
Ancestors and spirit world
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American Indians, Inuit, Aborigines, Aztec
African religions, Voodoo
What’s happened?

Many religions have died out (population decline or followers
converting to another)
Wiped out (outsiders kill religion)
 Mixed with another religion (usually Christianity or Islam)
