The Five Major ReligionsThe Five Major Religions

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m6dCxo7t_aE (Ted Talk Overview of Major Religions)

By the Numbers: Compare and ContrastBy the Numbers: Compare and ContrastBy the Numbers: Compare and ContrastBy the Numbers: Compare and Contrast

Christianity

Islam

Hinduism Judaism

Buddhism

2.2 billion people

1.6 billion

900 million

325 million

14 million

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JudaismJudaismJudaismJudaism

• Today there are over 14 million followers of Judaism scattered throughout the world.

• A large number of those people live in the Jewish nation of Israel.

• Over six million live in the United States.

• Today there are over 14 million followers of Judaism scattered throughout the world.

• A large number of those people live in the Jewish nation of Israel.

• Over six million live in the United States.

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JudaismJudaismJudaismJudaism

• JUDAISM is a religion of just one people: the Jews.

• JUDAISM was the first to teach belief in only one God. Two other important religions developed from Judaism: Christianity and Islam.

• You have to be born into the religion. Conversion is difficult.

• JUDAISM is a religion of just one people: the Jews.

• JUDAISM was the first to teach belief in only one God. Two other important religions developed from Judaism: Christianity and Islam.

• You have to be born into the religion. Conversion is difficult.

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JudaismJudaismJudaismJudaism

• Jews think that God will send a Messiah (a deliverer) to unite them and lead them in His way.

• Christians believe that Jesus was the Messiah. The Jewish people do not agree; they anticipate His arrival in the future.

• Judaism teaches that death is not the end and that there is a world to come.

• Jews think that God will send a Messiah (a deliverer) to unite them and lead them in His way.

• Christians believe that Jesus was the Messiah. The Jewish people do not agree; they anticipate His arrival in the future.

• Judaism teaches that death is not the end and that there is a world to come.

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• Menorah-It is a symbol of the nation of Israel and a mission to be "a light unto the nations.

• Menorah-It is a symbol of the nation of Israel and a mission to be "a light unto the nations.

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• A Yarmulke is worn during prayer to show respect to God

• A Yarmulke is worn during prayer to show respect to God

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• The Star of David is the international symbol of Judaism

• Flag of Israel has it

• The Star of David is the international symbol of Judaism

• Flag of Israel has it

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JudaismJudaismJudaismJudaism

• The "Torah," the first five books of the Hebrew Bible, is the most important Jewish scripture.

• It contains the basic laws of Judaism. • The Jewish house of worship is called a

synagogue. • Rabbis (spiritual leaders) conduct services,

act as interpreters of Jewish laws, and deliver sermons.

• The "Torah," the first five books of the Hebrew Bible, is the most important Jewish scripture.

• It contains the basic laws of Judaism. • The Jewish house of worship is called a

synagogue. • Rabbis (spiritual leaders) conduct services,

act as interpreters of Jewish laws, and deliver sermons.

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Jewish PhilosophyJewish PhilosophyJewish PhilosophyJewish Philosophy

• God is one and unique• God is the creator • God is transcendent • God is lawgiver • God is personal • We have the obligation to worship• The Torah is God's law • God is judge • The Messiah will come.

• God is one and unique• God is the creator • God is transcendent • God is lawgiver • God is personal • We have the obligation to worship• The Torah is God's law • God is judge • The Messiah will come.

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ChristianityChristianityChristianityChristianity

• The early Hebrews who eventually developed into the Jewish religion became the foundation of Christianity.

• Ten Commandments – brought to earth by Moses for the Jews during the Exodus.

• The early Hebrews who eventually developed into the Jewish religion became the foundation of Christianity.

• Ten Commandments – brought to earth by Moses for the Jews during the Exodus.

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Christian BeliefsChristian BeliefsChristian BeliefsChristian Beliefs

• Jesus, or the Messiah, was a Jewish boy who disagreed with some of the Jewish principles of his day began to profess a new way of thinking.

• This eventually led to the beginning of the Christian religion.

• Jesus, or the Messiah, was a Jewish boy who disagreed with some of the Jewish principles of his day began to profess a new way of thinking.

• This eventually led to the beginning of the Christian religion.

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Christian BeliefsChristian BeliefsChristian BeliefsChristian Beliefs

• Christianity started about 2000 years ago about the same time of Jesus.

• The central point of Christian belief is that God, the Father, entered into human history as the Son, Jesus of Nazereth, and arose as the Holy Spirit. 

• Christianity started about 2000 years ago about the same time of Jesus.

• The central point of Christian belief is that God, the Father, entered into human history as the Son, Jesus of Nazereth, and arose as the Holy Spirit. 

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Christian BeliefsChristian BeliefsChristian BeliefsChristian Beliefs

• God is the Creator of the universe. There is one God, Who is Three  Persons- Holy TrinityFather, Son and Holy Spirit.

• Jesus is both fully man and fully God. 

• He was born of the Virgin Mary then Crucified, resurrected from the dead, and ascended to the Father.

• God is the Creator of the universe. There is one God, Who is Three  Persons- Holy TrinityFather, Son and Holy Spirit.

• Jesus is both fully man and fully God. 

• He was born of the Virgin Mary then Crucified, resurrected from the dead, and ascended to the Father.

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Christian BeliefsChristian BeliefsChristian BeliefsChristian Beliefs

• Sin and Evil are realities in our existence. Heaven and Hell.

• All believers are promised life everlasting = Salvation

• Bible – Holy book of Christians that contains the old and new testaments.

• The leader of Christianity was Jesus, and the followers were his 12 disciples.

• Sin and Evil are realities in our existence. Heaven and Hell.

• All believers are promised life everlasting = Salvation

• Bible – Holy book of Christians that contains the old and new testaments.

• The leader of Christianity was Jesus, and the followers were his 12 disciples.

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Spread of ChristianitySpread of ChristianitySpread of ChristianitySpread of Christianity

• St. Paul – follower of Christ who spread Christianity throughout the Roman Empire and started the early church.

• St. Paul – follower of Christ who spread Christianity throughout the Roman Empire and started the early church.

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HinduismHinduismHinduismHinduism

• HINDUISM is the world's oldest religions.• Over 2/3's of the world's Hindus live in India; large numbers reside

in Africa also. • Hindus are polytheistic, numbering into the thousands.• They recognize one supreme spirit called Brahman ("the Absolute.")

• HINDUISM is the world's oldest religions.• Over 2/3's of the world's Hindus live in India; large numbers reside

in Africa also. • Hindus are polytheistic, numbering into the thousands.• They recognize one supreme spirit called Brahman ("the Absolute.")

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HinduismHinduismHinduismHinduism

• Hinduism has many sacred books, the oldest being a series called the "Vedas.“

• Traditional Hindu society was divided into groups

• This was known as the "caste system."

• Hinduism has many sacred books, the oldest being a series called the "Vedas.“

• Traditional Hindu society was divided into groups

• This was known as the "caste system."

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Hindu GodsHindu GodsHindu GodsHindu Gods

• One would think Hinduism is polytheistic. Most Hindus would say they worship one God.

• There is only one ultimate God, Brahman, but shows itself in many forms

• The gods Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva, for example, are different aspects of Brahman:

• Brahma reflects God's divine work of creating the universe

• Vishnu reflects God's work in keeping the universe in existence

• Shiva reflects God's work in destroying it

• One would think Hinduism is polytheistic. Most Hindus would say they worship one God.

• There is only one ultimate God, Brahman, but shows itself in many forms

• The gods Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva, for example, are different aspects of Brahman:

• Brahma reflects God's divine work of creating the universe

• Vishnu reflects God's work in keeping the universe in existence

• Shiva reflects God's work in destroying it

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HinduHinduHinduHindu

• The goal of Hindus is to someday join with Brahman.

• Until that union takes place, believers are in a continuous process of rebirth called "reincarnation."

• The goal of Hindus is to someday join with Brahman.

• Until that union takes place, believers are in a continuous process of rebirth called "reincarnation."

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Hindu Hindu Hindu Hindu

• At death, the Hindu's deeds (karma) determine what the next life will be.

• Followers work to break this cycle--birth, death, re-birth-- (referred to by writers as the "Wheel of Life") and gain release.

• The Hindu's soul then merges with Brahman in a condition of spiritual perfection, end of reincarnation (moksha).

• At death, the Hindu's deeds (karma) determine what the next life will be.

• Followers work to break this cycle--birth, death, re-birth-- (referred to by writers as the "Wheel of Life") and gain release.

• The Hindu's soul then merges with Brahman in a condition of spiritual perfection, end of reincarnation (moksha).

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HinduismHinduismHinduismHinduism

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Buddhism Buddhism Buddhism Buddhism

• Buddhism is one of the world's oldest universal religion and it is the second fastest growing religion.    

• Buddhism is one of the world's oldest universal religion and it is the second fastest growing religion.    

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BuddhismBuddhismBuddhismBuddhism

• Founding person of Buddhism is Siddhartha Guatama, the Buddha

• The Dalai Lama is a Buddhist monk who remains the leader of the Tibetans.

• Buddhism is a major religion in China, Japan, India, and Tibet.

• Buddha borrowed from Daoism

And Confucianism

• Founding person of Buddhism is Siddhartha Guatama, the Buddha

• The Dalai Lama is a Buddhist monk who remains the leader of the Tibetans.

• Buddhism is a major religion in China, Japan, India, and Tibet.

• Buddha borrowed from Daoism

And Confucianism

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The Major Philosophy of BuddhismThe Major Philosophy of BuddhismThe Major Philosophy of BuddhismThe Major Philosophy of Buddhism

• Love: without conditions

• Compassion: or feeling at one with the person who is suffering

• Sympathetic Joy:Celebrate the happiness of others, and do not resent their good fortune.

• Impartiality: Treat everyone equally, and do not use others for personal gain or to win approval.

• Love: without conditions

• Compassion: or feeling at one with the person who is suffering

• Sympathetic Joy:Celebrate the happiness of others, and do not resent their good fortune.

• Impartiality: Treat everyone equally, and do not use others for personal gain or to win approval.

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The Major Philosophy of BuddhismThe Major Philosophy of BuddhismThe Major Philosophy of BuddhismThe Major Philosophy of Buddhism

• Buddhism states that existence is a continuing cycle of death and rebirth called reincarnation.

• Each person's position in life is determined by his or her behavior in the previous life. This is known as their "karma" (also a Hindu belief).

• Buddhism states that existence is a continuing cycle of death and rebirth called reincarnation.

• Each person's position in life is determined by his or her behavior in the previous life. This is known as their "karma" (also a Hindu belief).

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IslamIslamIslamIslam

• ISLAM is the name given to the religion preached by the prophet Muhammad in the 600s A. D.

• The Islamic religion started in the area known as Palestine in the year 600A.D.

• It has about 1.6 billion followers, most of them in the region called the Middle East.

• "Islam" is an Arabic word which means “surrendering oneself to the will of God”

• ISLAM is the name given to the religion preached by the prophet Muhammad in the 600s A. D.

• The Islamic religion started in the area known as Palestine in the year 600A.D.

• It has about 1.6 billion followers, most of them in the region called the Middle East.

• "Islam" is an Arabic word which means “surrendering oneself to the will of God”

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IslamIslamIslamIslam

• The holy book of Islam is the "Koran." Muslims believe its words to be those of Allah himself, spoken to Muhammad by an angel.

• Allah, is the Islamic God.• People who believe these ideas are

called Muslims.

• The holy book of Islam is the "Koran." Muslims believe its words to be those of Allah himself, spoken to Muhammad by an angel.

• Allah, is the Islamic God.• People who believe these ideas are

called Muslims.

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Islamic PhilosophyIslamic PhilosophyIslamic PhilosophyIslamic Philosophy

• Muslims learn that life on earth is a period of testing and preparation for the life to come.

• Angels record good and bad deeds.• People should behave themselves and help

others, trusting in Allah's justice and mercy for their reward.

• Muslims learn that life on earth is a period of testing and preparation for the life to come.

• Angels record good and bad deeds.• People should behave themselves and help

others, trusting in Allah's justice and mercy for their reward.

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IslamIslamIslamIslam

• Muslims pray five times daily in their mosques (churches).

• While praying, they face the holy city of Mecca (in Saudi-Arabia) and sometimes kneel with faces to the ground.

• All Muslims are required to make a pilgrimage (trip to a sacred place) to Mecca at least once in their lifetime.

• Muslims pray five times daily in their mosques (churches).

• While praying, they face the holy city of Mecca (in Saudi-Arabia) and sometimes kneel with faces to the ground.

• All Muslims are required to make a pilgrimage (trip to a sacred place) to Mecca at least once in their lifetime.