Religions of the World - PBworks
Transcript of Religions of the World - PBworks
Religions of the World
Animism
Founder:
There is no one person considered the
founder.
Geographic Origins/Where
Practiced
Animism originated in many different parts
of the world at the same time.
Practiced world wide but most commonly
practiced in Asia and the Americas
(specifically with Native Americans)
Holy Writings
Most of the traditional animism practices
are with an oral tradition (story telling), not
in a written form.
Religious People
Rituals typically are
conducted by people
called Shaman or a
Medicine Man.
Places of Worship
They tend to take place outdoors in
nature.
Belief System
Nature Worship
Belief that everything has a spirit.
In believing everything has a spirit, they pray
to things like the rain, hoping to help crops, or
sun to help grow the crops.
Everything in nature has a purpose.
Shinto(ism)
Founder
No 1 specific founder, but a mixture of
tribal religions with similar beliefs.
Geographic Origins/Where
Practiced
Developed on the Japanese archipelago
(the islands of Japan)
Holy Writings
Chronicles of Japan
or the Kokiji.
Religious People
Emperor of Japan was considered to be a
direct descendant of the Sun Goddess
who created the Japanese islands.
This means the Emperor was considered
divine by anyone who practiced Shintoism.
Founder
Believed that it is a result of cultural
diffusion that occurred between Aryan
invaders and the native people of India.
Places of Worship
Shinto shrines
Usually near sites of
natural beauty (lakes
or mountains) or of
important Japanese
history.
Teachings and Beliefs
Sacredness to everything in the whole
universe.
Everything has spirits.
Ancestor worship is important where they
pay close attention to those that have
come before them.
Hinduism
Geographic Origin/Currently
Practices
Developed on the
Indian Subcontinent.
Most common in
India.
Holy Writings
Vedas
Upanishads.
Ramayana
Mahabharata
Bhagavad Gida
Places of Worship
Hindu practices can
be done in temples,
but for the most part,
they are conducted in
homes.
The Ganges River is
the most sacred of
rivers, and is used for
spiritual cleansing.
Religious People
Hindu priests usually
carry out traditional
religious practices in
temples.
Belief System
Salvation is achieved through a spiritual oneness of the soul.
Hindus believe in Reincarnation ( the endless cycle of birth, death and rebirth).
Reincarnation is based on your karma (your actions in everyday life) and dharma (your religious duty in life).
They believe in ahimsa (all life is sacred) with the cow being the most sacred of all and this leads to many Hindus being vegetarians (where they don’t harm other living beings).
They also follow the Caste System, which is a rigid social class structure, and where they are born in the caste system depends on the actions of their last life.
They can also be removed from the caste system, where they are known as an Untouchable and are not allowed to associate with others.
Buddhism
Founder
Siddhartha Gautama
The Enlightened One
Buddha
Geographic Origins/Where
Practiced
Developed in India.
Most commonly
practiced in SE Asia
and India.
Holy Writings
Tripitka (3 Baskets of Wisdom)
Religious People
The Dalai Lama is the
spiritual leader of
modern day
Buddhism.
Buddhist monks are
easily recognizable in
orange robes.
Places of Worship
Most of the time, it is practices individually.
There are temples and monasteries where
it is practiced.
Belief System
4 Noble Truths- Life is suffering, human desire causes suffering, putting an end to desire, humans can end suffering, humans can end desire by following 8fold path.
8fold Path is what you need to get rid of suffering.
Believe in Reincarnation.
Reject the caste system.
Want to achieve Nirvana, (Spiritual Enlightenment).
Taoism
Founder
Chinese philosopher Lao Tze
Geographic Origins/Where
Practiced
Developed in China around 500BC.
Practiced in areas of SE Asia.
Holy Writings
Tao-te-Ching
Belief System
It is a philosophy which teaches that nature has a “way” in which it moves, and that people should passively accept the “way” of nature rather than resist it.
An emphasis is placed on the link between people and rules and order, and leads to a better understanding of the world.
Yin and yang is the way to illustrate the natural harmony that exists in the world.
Yin:
Light
Male
Heavenly
Active
Yang:
Dark
Female
Earthly
Passive
Confucianism
Founder
Confucius
Geographic Origins/Where
Practiced
Developed in China around 500.
Still practiced in SE Asia.
Holy Writings
The Analects
Belief System
There is a natural social order to society that is
best explained through the 5 Relationships:
Ruler to ruled.
Father to son.
Older brother to younger brother
Husband to wife
Friend to friend.
In these relationships, the 2nd role is considered subordinate
to the 1st.
If everyone knew their place in society, order would prevail.
Judaism
Founder
Abraham is consider
founder due to
covenant with God.
Moses also
considered founder
due to his role in the
liberation of the
Hebrews from Egypt
and delivery of the 10
Commandments.
Geographic Origins/Where
practiced
Developed in the Middle East in and
around what is present day Israel.
Practiced today world wide, but mostly in
Israel, the US and the former Soviet
Union.
Holy Writings
The Torah and the Talmud
Religious People
Rabbis are the holy men charged with the
religious service.
Places of Worship
Temples that are called Synagogues.
Belief System
There is one God who
was the creator of all
things.
Still waiting for God to
send the savior, the
messiah, to the people of
Israel.
Moses went atop Mount
Sinai and brought back
the 10 commandments.
Major religious
ceremonies are
Hannukah and Passover.
Christianity
Founder
Jesus of Nazareth and his disciples.
Holy Writings
The Holy Bible- the Old and New
Testament.
Religious People
Priests and ministers preach and serve as
a spiritual guide.
Deacons, nuns and monks have dedicated
their lives to Christian service.
Places of Worship
Temples that are called Churches.
Belief System
Christianity evolved from Judaism.
Has the 10 Commandments.
Believe that Jesus of Nazareth was the Son of god, sent to redeem the world from sin.
Holy Trinity: Father (Creator), Son (Redeemer) and Holy Spirit (Sustainer)
Take part in sacraments, going to church regularly, Christmas and Easter.
Islam
Geographic Origin/Where
Practiced:
Developed on the Arabian Peninsula
around 622.
Dominant throughout the Middle East, SW
Asia and North Africa.
Holy Writings
The Koran (Qu’ran)
Religious People
Caliph- successor to the prophet
Mohammed.
Imam: Leader of prayers.
Places of Worship
Mosques
Religious Beliefs
Mohammed received the word of God (Allah) through the angel Gabriel.
Upon receiving threats, he fled from Mecca to Medina, known as a Hegira.
Follow the 5 Pillars of Islam: There is no God but Allah.
Pray 5 times a day, facing Mecca
Charity, give alms to the poor.
Fasting during Ramadan (9th month of the Muslim calendar)
Pilgrimage to Mecca once during their life (Hajj)