Download Holy Book(s)

Faith System
God (s)
Hinduism
Out of the millions of major and minor Gods, worship tended to center around the
Trimurti: Brahma, the creator; Shiva, the destroyer; and Vishnu, the preserver.
Holy Book(s)
The Vedas are the sacred scriptures of Hinduism. The four basic Vedic books are the RigVeda, the Yajur-Veda, the Sama-Veda, and the Atharva-Veda. The fourteen principal
Upanishads form the basis of Hindu philosophy.
Founder(s)
Early Aryans people 2000 BCE (SW Asia)
How to do “Good”
The code requires the cultivation of pleasantness, patience, control of mind, nonstealing, purity, control of senses, intelligence, knowledge, truthfulness, and nonirritability.
The Code of Manu also teaches the various stages through which a man is expected to
pass in a successful life: student, householder, hermit, and wandering beggar. These
stages are only for twice born men. Women should stay in the home under the
protection and control of the chief male in the household.
Man basically good; Lack of filial piety is the root of evil in society. The killing of cows is
listed among the greatest of sins.
The Gita also teaches a variety of means of personal salvation. One may achieve release
from life (Nirvana) through asceticism, through meditation, through devotion to and
worship of the gods, or through obedience to the rules of his caste. Reincarnation if
nirvana not achieved.
http://www.urantiabook.org/archive/readers/religion_belief_comparisons.htm
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/rs/god/hinduismrev1.shtml
What is “Good”?
What is “Evil”?
What’s after
death?
Reference
Faith System
Judaism
God (s)
YHWH (Yahweh) Jehovah; El Elyon; Elohim;
Holy Book(s)
The primary Jewish sacred text is the Tanakh, whose name is an acronym
of Torah, Nebi'im and Ketuvim (Law, Prophets and Writings). These are supplemented by
Talmudic Law, explanations of how to live out rules of Tanakh
Founder(s)
Abraham of Ur 2000 BCE (SW Asia), Moses of Egypt (1600 BCE)
How to do “Good”
What is “Good”?
Follow Ten Commandments, Talmudic Law
Obedience to and worship of YHWH, justice, righteousness, truth, loving-kindness,
humility, learning, kosher food.
Disobedience, lack of remorse after breaking laws, choosing egocentric self, false gods,
or evil. Lucifer/Satan actively opposes YHWH
Early Judaism: She'ol--land of the dead; Later Judaism: Judgment, heaven and hell
What is “Evil”?
What’s after
death?
Reference
http://www.urantiabook.org/archive/readers/religion_belief_comparisons.htm
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/rs/god/
Faith System
God (s)
Buddhism
No personal God; no soul; Buddha Deified
Holy Book(s)
Tripitaka (Three Baskets of Wisdom), made up of the Vinaya Pitaka (Discipline Basket),
the Sutta Pitaka (Teaching Basket), and the Abhidhamma Pitaka (Higher Doctrine Basket)
Founder(s)
Siddhartha Gautama 600’s BCE, (South Asia)
How to do “Good” Follow the eight-fold path; Right knowledge, aspiration, speech, behavior, livelihood,
effort, mindfulness, contemplation, control of one's mind, kindness Self-effort; Salvation
is through reincarnation and working with the laws of karma;
What is “Good”? Nonattachment to the world
What is “Evil”?
Insatiable desires are the cause of evil and suffering
What’s after
Nirvana is the highest destiny of the human spirit--a state of indescribable bliss. In
death?
Mahayana Buddhism there are afterlife states referred to as heavens and hells.
Reference
http://www.urantiabook.org/archive/readers/religion_belief_comparisons.htm
http://www.buddha101.com/
Faith System
God (s)
Jainism
Various Gods; unimportant
Mahavira taught that there is no personal God; Mahavira deified
Holy Book(s)
The scriptures of Jainism are Agana (precepts) or Siddhantas-(treatises).
Founder(s)
Mahavira 600’s BCE (South Asia)
How to do
“Good”
What is “Good”?
What is “Evil”?
Five Vows: non injury to life, to speak the truth, to not steal, to renounce sexual pleasure
and women in general, and to renounce all attachments.
The devout Jain is ascetic, humble, inoffensive, and unvindictive.
The cause of all misery is the connection of the vile material body with the pure eternal
spirit.
Salvation is liberating the soul from matter.
What’s after
death?
Reference
http://www.urantiabook.org/archive/readers/religion_belief_comparisons.htm
Faith System
God (s)
Confucianism
Many Gods, but main focus is on right conduct on earth
Holy Book(s)
Analects of Confucius, the Five Classics,
Founder(s)
Kung Fu-Tzu 600’s BCE, (East Asia)
How to do “Good”
What is “Good”?
What is “Evil”?
What’s after
death?
Reference
Kindness, justice, following rituals, loving learning, personal integrity
Loyalty, Respecting parents/elders, consistency, doing right
Selfishness, Disloyalty, Cruelty
No clear teachings, but through correct living, a unity of self and heavens can be achieved
http://www.patheos.com/Library/Confucianism
Faith System
God (s)
Taoism
Many Gods, but the Tao (way) pleases them all
Holy Book(s)
Tao Te Ching and Chuang Tzu
Founder(s)
Codified by Lao Tzu in 142 CE (East Asia) from beliefs dating to 400’s BCE
How to do “Good”
What is “Good”?
What is “Evil”?
What’s after
death?
Reference
Harmony with nature. Self-control, study and analysis of Scriptures, Tai Chi, Martial Arts
Discovering the Tao (way) of the universe through study
Disrupting the community, causing harm to others or self
Release from the body is a continuation of the process of following the Tao, which has
both visible an invisible aspects/energies
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/taoism/
http://www.patheos.com/Library/Taoism/Beliefs/Afterlife-and-Salvation
Faith System
Atheist, Deists, Agnostic
God (s)
Atheist=Lack of belief in God(s)
Deist=God(s) exists, but as natural/scientific laws- no name, holy books, etc
Agnostic=Uncertain if God(s) exists
Holy Book(s)
None
Founder(s)
Atheist= Diagoras of Melos 400’s BCE (Europe). His Derveni Papayrus doubts the
existences of Greek gods as anything more than characters based on nature.
Deist= Lord Edward Herbert 1600 CE (Europe) His book “De Vertiae” is considered the
first explanation of Deism Agnostic=Thomas Huxley, 1800’s CE (Europe) His speech
“Agnosticism” (1889) is considered the founding explanation of Agnosticism
How to do
“Good”
What is “Good”?
Rational thought, critical thinking, and science
What is “Evil”?
What’s after
death?
Reference
Humans can and have an obligation to lead ethical lives that improve the human
condition. Humans can understand and explain the universe without god(s)
Behavior that leads to self-harm or the harm of others
Nothing
http://atheists.org/activism/resources/what-is-atheism?
http://thetempleofnature.org/_dox/derveni-papyrus-new-translation.pdf
http://www.religioustolerance.org/agnostic.htm
http://www.religioustolerance.org/deism.htm
http://www.sbnr.org/a-brief-history-of-deism.html
Faith System
God (s)
Holy Book(s)
Founder(s)
How to do “Good”
What is “Good”?
What is “Evil”?
What’s after death?
Reference
European Traditional (pre-Christian)
Generally polytheistic Gods, based on nature, who reveal themselves in many forms as necessary.
“Insomebutnotall” term coined to preserve diversity of practice
Wicca= Semi-Organized religion (covens) with Northern European/Germanic influence.
Druid= Semi-Organized religion with Western European/Celtic influence.
Asatru=Semi-Organized religion with Northern European/Viking influence
*Euro-Traditional Religions also include traditions from Greco-Roman, Slavic and Finnish/Hungarian
sources
None clearly accepted by majority of adherents. Oral Traditions kept by priests/priestesses.
Traditions from practitioners of European pre-Christian faiths (400BCE) , reasserted by modern
believers since 1940’s CE
Modern Wicca credits Gerald Gardener (UK) with compiling & codifying Wicca traditions
Modern Druidry credits Ross Nichols (UK) with compiling & codifying Druid traditions
Modern Asatru credits Goði Sveinbjorn Beinteinsson (Iceland) with compiling & codifying Asatru
traditions
Wiccan Rede= “If it harms none, do what you will”
Druid= Respect and Kindness, Preserving Dignity of Self and Clan, Environmentalism
Asatru= Nine Noble Virtues
Ethical theism
Failure of duty to stand up for justice and against oppression, intolerance or hate
Many European Traditionalists believe in reincarnation. This means that a person’s soul may be reborn
many times as a human or an animal. Therefore, death is not the end. Asatru believes in an afterlife of
Niu Heimar (Nine Worlds).
http://www.religioustolerance.org/witchcra.htm
http://www.druidry.org/druid-way
http://www.religioustolerance.org/asatru.htm
Faith System
God (s)
Founder(s)
Holy Book(s)
Christianity (Nicene Creed)
God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. It describes the relationship
between these three ‘persons’ which are all part of the one God in “Tri-unity”
Jesus of Nazareth: Reforms Judaism 1st century CE; (SW Asia, Mediterranean)
Paul of Tarsus: Transforms into universal (anyone can join) faith. (SW Asia and Europe)
Jewish Tanakh, Christian Stories of Life of Jesus (Gospels), Letters of Early Christian
Leaders (Epistles)
How to do “Good” Love of God and humanity; service to vulnerable, truth, beauty, goodness, peace and
justice, humility, learning.
What is “Good”? Jesus as Messiah (savior), Church as God’s presence on earth, Golden Rule, Nicene Creed
What is “Evil”?
Disobedience of God’s rules, temptation by Satan; egocentricity; alienation from God.
What’s after
Growth and joyful service to God in heaven; punishment in eternal fires and tortures of
death?
hell for non-believers.
Reference
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/rs/god/christianityrev2.shtml
http://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/_INDEX.HTM
http://www.urantiabook.org/archive/readers/religion_belief_comparisons.htm
Faith System
God (s)
Mandaeism/ Sabeanism
One God, Ptahil or Ptah-el
Holy Book(s)
Ginza Rba, Psalms of King David of Israel
Founder(s)
Adam, Noah, John the Baptist, about 100’s CE SouthWest Asia
How to do “Good” Follow the Light, Examples of Founders, Prophets and Priests, Avoid Red Meat and
Alcohol, Having a Large Family
What is “Good”? Baptism , Cleanliness, Desire to unite with God
What is “Evil”?
Ignoring God’s Will and signs from Universe, following false prophets including Abraham
and Jesus
What’s after
Cycle of reincarnations until all bad energies accumulated during lifetime are overcome
death?
by practicing virtue
Reference
http://www.hermetics.org/Sabians_of_Harran.html
http://www.britannica.com/topic/Mandaeanism
Faith System
God (s)
Islam
Allah
Holy Book(s)
Qur’an. Hadith (Sayings of the Prophet form a secondary source of information), Jewish
and Christian Writings accepted by some with reservations.
Founder(s)
Muhammed of Mecca
How to do
“Good”
What is “Good”?
What is “Evil”?
Five Pillars: creed, prayer, almsgiving, fasting and pilgrimage
What’s after
death?
Reference
(pbuh)
600’s CE (SW Asia)
Submission to the will of Allah; Living by the Five Pillars, Protecting Dhimmi
Satan; Not submitting to the will of Allah;
Allah beyond human questioning; Accept life as is.
Judgment: heaven and hell; Sensual description of afterlife.
http://www.urantiabook.org/archive/readers/religion_belief_comparisons.htm
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/rs/god/islamrev1.shtml
Faith System
God (s)
Shinto
Many nature Gods/spirits (kami)
Holy Book(s)
None. Oral Traditions kept by priests
Founder(s)
Traditional, developing from 800’s CE in East Asia
How to do “Good” Follow Traditions, honor and support family, Love Nature, Observe Purity, Celebrate
Gods, Show reverence to priests, priestesses and Emperor
What is “Good”? All life/living things
What is “Evil”?
Disturbing the peace and harmony, selfishness,
What’s after
Humans become kami and find a place to dwell depending on how they lived their livesdeath?
humans can become both benevolent and malicious spirits. Human names recorded at
shrines are honored as local kami
Reference
http://www.religioustolerance.org/shinto.htm
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/shinto/
http://www.yasukuni.or.jp/english/
Faith System
Dine’ (Navajo)
God (s)
Holy People (Holy Supreme Wind gave life to all the other Holy People)
Holy Book(s)
Oral Tradition, including stories of creation by the Holy People, written down by
European chroniclers in 1800’s and 1900’s CE
Founder(s)
Estimated 1500’s CE from much earlier Athabascan traditions (North America)
How to do
“Good”
The interrelatedness of all living beings is recognized by ceremonies and prayer offerings.
Religion is inseparable from traditional life. All living things are considered relatives, each
containing its own sprit or inner form.
Maintaining balance between individuals and the universe and to live in harmony with
nature.
Disruption in the natural order
All things must begin and end at the same point (no afterlife?)
What is “Good”?
What is “Evil”?
What’s after
death?
Reference
http://www.pbs.org/independentlens/missnavajo/religion.html
http://www.indians.org/welker/dineway.htm
Faith System
God (s)
Holy Book(s)
Founder(s)
Vodun (Voodoo)/Santeria
Christian God, however focus is intensely on Christian Saints who have been combined
with West African and/or Native American spirits
Oral Traditions kept by priests and priestesses
Traditional West African practices combined with Roman Catholic practices in Haiti
(Vodun) and Cuba (Santeria) during 1500-1800’s CE. Mexican Santeria evolved similarly
from Caribbean influences since the 1940’s
How to do “Good” Offering prayers and sacrifices to the saints, honoring priests/priestesses, openness to
spiritual experiences/ceremonies
What is “Good”? Selflessness, healing and caring for others less fortunate
What is “Evil”?
Selfishness, causing intentional harm, insulting beliefs
What’s after
One-ness with nature, and escape from suffering for those who are good
death?
Reference
http://www.religioustolerance.org/voodoo.htm
http://www.religioustolerance.org/santeri3.htm
http://www.insightcrime.org/news-analysis/latin-american-drug-traffickers-turn-to-cultsfor-comfort
Faith System
God (s)
Sikhism
One God, who is worshiped by all faiths
Holy Book(s)
The Sikh scripture is called the Guru Granth Sahib, which is considered the revealed Word
of God spoken through Sikh Gurus and other blessed Saints
Founder(s)
Guru Nanak 1600 CE (South Asia)
How to do
“Good”
What is “Good”?
What is “Evil”?
What’s after
death?
The religion consists of practical living, in rendering service to humanity and engendering
tolerance and brotherly love towards all.
Ethical monotheism; God is active in social/historical processes
Failure of duty to stand up for justice and against oppression
Sikhs believe in reincarnation. This means that a person’s soul may be reborn many times
as a human or an animal. Therefore, for Sikhs, death is not the end. The Sikh sacred text,
the Guru Granth Sahib, says that the body is just clothing for the soul and is discarded at
death.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/rs/death/sikhbeliefrev2.shtml
http://www.sikhism101.com/
Reference
Faith System
God (s)
Baha’i
One God, manifested throughout history via many other faiths
Holy Book(s)
Kitab-i-Aqdas, Kitab-i-Iqan
Founder(s)
Baha’u’llah 1800’s Persia/Iran
How to do “Good”
What is “Good”?
What is “Evil”?
What’s after
death?
Reference
Devotion to God, prayer, fasting, meditation, pilgrimage,
Service to fellow human beings
Particularism (one version of God over others), Selfishness
Another existence- Bahai’s assert we do not have capacity to understand afterlife but
must prepare in this life for what lies beyond
http://www.bahai.org/
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/bahai/
Faith System
Christianity (Latter Day Saints/Mormon)
God (s)
God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. It describes the relationship
between these three ‘persons’ which are all part of the one God in “Tri-unity”
Holy Book(s)
Jewish Tanakh, Christian Stories of Life of Jesus (Gospels), Letters of Early Christian
Leaders (Epistles), Book of Mormon (Latter Day Saints)
Founder(s)
Jesus of Nazareth: Reforms Judaism 1st century CE; (SW Asia, Mediterranean)
Paul of Tarsus: Transforms into universal (anyone can join) faith. (SW Asia and Europe)
Joseph Smith: Restores Christianity 1820’s CE. (North America)
Love of God and humanity; service to vulnerable, truth, beauty, goodness, peace and
justice, humility, learning.
Jesus as Messiah (savior), Church as God’s presence on earth, Golden Rule, 13 Articles of
Faith
Disobedience of God’s rules, temptation by Satan; egocentricity; alienation from God.
Death is not the end. The spirit does not die, it goes to the spirit world, where you will
continue to learn and progress and may be with loved ones who have passed on.
Punishment in eternal fires and tortures of hell for non-believers.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/rs/god/christianityrev2.shtml
https://www.mormon.org/what-do-mormons-believe
http://www.urantiabook.org/archive/readers/religion_belief_comparisons.htm
How to do
“Good”
What is “Good”?
What is “Evil”?
What’s after
death?
Reference
Faith System
God (s)
Satanism
Satan/Lucifer/Baphomet
Holy Book(s)
The Satanic Bible
Founder(s)
Traditional, Organized by Anton La Vey 1960’s (North America)
How to do “Good”
What is “Good”?
What is “Evil”?
What’s after
death?
Reference
Following Eleven Satanic Rules
Serving yourself, exercising self will
Nine Satanic Sins
Nothing.
http://www.churchofsatan.com/
http://www.dpjs.co.uk/satanism.html
Faith System
God (s)
Falun Gong
Not clearly defined- overlaps with Buddhism, Daoism and Confucianism
Holy Book(s)
Zhuan Falun
Founder(s)
Li Hongzhi 1992 CE East Asia
How to do “Good”
What is “Good”?
What is “Evil”?
What’s after
death?
Reference
Truthfulness, Compassion and Kindness
Practice Virtues, Detachment from Material world.
Insatiable desires are the cause of evil and suffering
Cycle of reincarnations until all bad energies accumulated during lifetime are overcome
by practicing virtue
http://en.falundafa.org/
http://www.britannica.com/topic/Falun-Gong