Download Ethnic Religions

Ethnic
Religions
Hinduism
 Pantheistic
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religion
The world (universe) and God are one or
related
Brahman is God (Supreme Being)
 Everything
that is seen and unseen
 Stats:

900 million followers (largest ethnic religion)
 97%
of followers in India
 Makes up 80% of India’s population
Hinduism

Origins

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Beyond written, recorded history
No primary holy book but several sacred texts
Basic Beliefs:
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Vedas: the eternal rules
Strive for dharma (doing the “right” thing)
Souls are immortal (transmigration)
The goal is moksha (being free of
transmigration)

Paths duty, knowledge, devotion
Hindu Caste System &
Polytheism

Caste system – belonging to specific group
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Priestly/intellectual class (Brahmans)
Warrior class (Kshatriyas)
Trade/commerce class (Vaisyas)
Agriculture/labor class (Shudras)
Untouchables (Pariahs)
Polytheism – not different gods but different
aspects of Brahman

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Brahma (Creator)
Vishnu (Preserver)
Shiva (Destroyer)
Judaism
 People
tracing their lineage to Abraham
& Sarah

Moved several times but center remains
Jerusalem
 Stats:


There are approximately 14 million Jews in
the world now
Israel & the US are home to about 2/3 of the
Jewish population
 Wide
distribution for the last 1500-2000 years
Judaism
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Basic Beliefs:
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Monotheistic
Chosen people of God
10 Commandments
Holy book is the Torah (old testament)
Holy places:

Places of worship are temples


Canaan then Palestine then Israel

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Led by rabbis
All centered around Jerusalem
Calendar:

Events based on agricultural calendar
Other Ethnic Religions
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Confucianism
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Daoism (Taoism)
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Based on the teachings of the philosopher
Confucius
No belief in a deity (god) only a description of
the way to treat each other and perform daily
service (help)
Lao Tse was also a philosopher but described
the importance of the mythical and unknown
Seek the dao or The Way
Animism (found in many African religions)

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The animal, plant, and natural world have
conscious spirits
Relates to some Native American beliefs