Download World Religions: An Introduction

Tuesday Sep. 14 2010
World History : Mr. Paulson
DAILY AGENDA
1.
2.
3.
Spark 16
World Religions Notes cont.
Set-up Gallery Walk poster thingy
SPARK # 16
1. What are the 6 Major World Religions that we
discussed yesterday?
-List as many as you can without looking,
then use your notes
2. What is definition for the term “religion”
World Religions: An Introduction
Religion
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Religion is defined as an organized system of beliefs,
ceremonies, practices and worship that center around
one or more gods.
Religion has brought people together as well as torn
them apart.
Religion has continued to be a dominant force
throughout the world affecting everything from what
people wear to how they behave
There are thousands of religions in the world
Polytheistic= belief in many gods
Monotheistic= belief in one god
6 Major World Religions
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Buddhism
Hinduism
Christianity
Confucianism
Islam
Judaism
www.adherents.com/Religions_By_Adherents.html
Judaism
13 million + followers
 God (Yahweh)
 First major religion to teach existence of only
one god
 Basic laws and teachings come from the
Torah (first 5 books of the Hebrew Bible)
 Founder is Abraham
 Leader in Religion is a Rabbi
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Judaism
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Basic Beliefs:
 There is only one God, who watches and
cares for his people
 God loves and protects his people but
holds them accountable for their sins and
shortcomings
 Persons serve God by studying the Torah
and living by its teachings
Christianity
1.9 billion followers
 God
 Founder is Jesus Christ
 Use the Holy Bible
 Leaders are Clergy (priests/ministers)
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Christianity
Major Beliefs:
 There is only one God, who watches over
and cares for his people
 Jesus Christ was the son of God. He died to
save humanity from sin. His death made
eternal life possible for others
 Persons achieve salvation by following the
teachings of Jesus
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Islam
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1 billion followers
Followers of Islam are called Muslims
God (Allah)
Founder is Muhammad
Holy Book is called the Qur'an or Koran
 contains laws that govern daily life of Muslims
Leadership no clergy
There are two types Sunni and Shiites
 Sunni are a sect that do not accept rule of the direct
descendants of Muhammad
 Shiites are a sect that believe they were the true
Muslims because they were direct descendents of
Muhammad the prophet
Islam: Divisions/Sects
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There are two types Sunni and Shiites
 Sunni are a sect that do not accept rule of the direct
descendants of Muhammad
 Shiites
are a sect that believe they were the true
Muslims because they were direct descendents of
Muhammad the prophet
 The
division within Islam has never been resolved
and is the cause for much of the current fighting in
the Middle East.
Islam: Major Beliefs
Persons achieve salvation by following the
Five Pillars of Islam and living a just life.
 Pillars are: Those who practice are striving
for the highest level called Sufism
 1. faith
 2. almsgiving or charity to the poor
 3. fasting which Muslims perform during
Ramadan
 4. Pilgrimage (to Mecca)
 5. Prayer 5 times daily toward Mecca
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Buddhism
338 million followers
 God- Do not teach a personal deity
 Founder is The Buddha or Enlightened One
 Also known as Gautama Siddhartha
 Do not have one book as their holy book but
sacred texts including the Perfection of
Wisdom Sutra
 Leaders in are Buddhist monks and nuns
 Use the Four Noble Truths-concept of the
ever turning wheel of life, change and decay
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Buddhism
Basic Beliefs:
 Persons achieve complete peace and
happiness known as nirvana by eliminating
their attachment to worldly things
 Nirvana is reached by following the Noble
Eightfold Path:
Right views
Right livelihood
Right aspirations
Right endeavor
Right speech
Right mindfulness
Right conduct
Right meditation
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Hinduism
764 million followers
 God=There are 3 main: Brahma, Vishnu, &
Shiva
 No one founder but roots are traced to the
early Aryans of India
 No one book for holy book but have sacred
texts including the Vedas, the Puranas
 Leaders are Guru, Holy Man, Brahman priest
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Hinduism
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Basic Beliefs:
 The soul never dies, but continually reborn
 Persons achieve happiness and
enlightenment after they free themselves
from their earthly desires
 Freedom from earthly desires comes from
a lifetime of worship, knowledge, and
virtuous acts
Confucianism
Number of followers not known but is the
official religion of China
 Founder is K’ung Fu Tzu (Confucius)
 Holy Book is the Analects and the Five Classics
 Leaders in- no clergy
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Confucianism
Basic Beliefs:
 Social order, harmony, and good government
should be based on strong family relationships
 Respect for parents and elders is important to
a well-ordered society
 Education is important both to the welfare of
the individual and to society
 Unlike most religions Confucianism is a ethical
system with rituals at important times during
one’s lifetime. (Birth, reaching maturity,
marriage, and death)
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Tomorrow
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Gallery Walk
group activity
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Individual and pairs
Creating a poster(s)
Each group will focus on 1 or 2
major world religions
Use markers, colored pencils,
etc.
Use book (p. 80-85) and notes
Individual and Group grade
Gallery Walk Activity
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Each
Poster
must
contain:
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Color, Drawings, text
Organized, clear, large enough to present
Names of members
All required content information:
 1.
Name of religion
 2. Symbol
 3. Who founded the religion?
 4. Location where religion was started
 5. Important people
 6. Basic Beliefs
 7. # of followers
CHECKING FOR UNDERSTANDING
1.
According to the Buddha,
how does one achieve
happiness and fulfillment?
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Detaching oneself from all
worldly goods and desires
by following the Eightfold
Path.
2. Why is Jesus Christ central
to the Christian religion?
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Christians believe Christ to be
the son of God, and he died
to save humans from sins
3. What do the Hindus
believe about the soul?
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Believe that the soul is never
ending and continuously
reborn
CHECK FOR UNDERSTANDING
4. According to a Muslim, how
do people achieve
salvation?
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5.
By following the 5 Pillars
and living a just life.
What major religion was
first to teach the existence
of only one god?
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Judaism
6.
What does Confucianism
believe about the family?
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You should respect your
parents and elders &
government should be
based on family
relationships