The Five Major Religions of the World

SPI: Compare and contrast the tenets of the five major world religions (i.e., Christianity, Buddhism, Islam, Hinduism, and Judaism).

Our OathI promise to be respectful at all times during this unit. I will not discuss or debate the beliefs of others nor will I say something that could be considered disrespectful or out of line. I understand that the United States of America is a country where religious freedom is a right of the citizens and that all people are allowed to practice their own beliefs.

What is Religion?

Religion is:a set of beliefs concerning the cause, nature, and purpose of the universe, especially when considered as the creation of a God or gods.

Religion usually involves devotional and ritual observances and often contains a moral code to govern the conduct of human behavior.

Worship

Honoring God/gods or a sacred person.

Monotheistic

Belief in the existence of one god.

Polytheistic

Belief in the existence of many gods.

What Will We Learn?

What we will learn about each religion:•Symbol of Religion•Names of God(s)•Prophets/Religious Figures•Sacred Writings•Meeting Places•Holy Places•Holy Days•Major Beliefs

Indigenous ReligionsThere are also religions called indigenous religions. These are mostly tribal religions and often come from isolated areas.

These religions are passed down from ancestors to descendants.

Beliefs are often based on forces of nature (sun, rivers, and natural disasters)

Major geographic features or landmarks are often worshipped.

Indigenous Religions

Buddhism Basics

Symbols include:BuddhaDharma Wheel

Buddhism Basics

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

Buddhism is a major religion in China, Japan, India, and Tibet.Originated in Northern India in the late 500s BC.

People who practice Buddhism called “Buddhists”.

Gods and Religious Figures

Buddhists do not believe in an individual god

Based on the religious teachings of Siddhartha Gautama the Buddha.

Dalai Lama- is a monk and the leader of the Tibetan Buddhists

Sacred Writings and Meeting Places

Sacred scriptures are called Sutras

Lectures and preaches about how to make since of relationships in world and reach the path of Enlightenment.

Sacred meeting places include temples, shrines, and monasteries

Buddhism Holy Days

Obon: celebration of remembering ancestors

Lanterns guide spirits back to their world.

Buddhist Beliefs

Holy places include stupas. Stupas are places of offering and represent Buddha's body, mind, and the path to Enlightenment.

Buddhist Beliefs

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).

Buddhist BeliefsFour Noble Truths:1.Suffering is Everywhere2.Suffering comes from wants and desires3.To end suffering you have to reach Nirvana (Enlightenment, understanding all things)4.To stop wanting, you must follow the Eight-Fold Path of the Buddha.

The Eight-Fold path is the Middle road of the path of Moderation.

The Eight-Fold Path

Buddhism Philosophy

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.

Quick Quiz

Who do Buddhists worship?

What is reasoning for celebrating Obon?

Where do most Buddhists live?

When did Buddhism originate?

Why would people want to live their life in a moral way?

How can one achieve Nirvana?

Siddhartha Gautama or Buddha.

Celebration of ancestors.

China, Japan, India, and Tibet

About 500 years BC.

To achieve Enlightenment. Buddhists also believe in karma and reincarnation.

By ridding themselves of desires and achieving Enlightenment.

Hinduism Basics

Hinduism is one of the world's oldest religions.

Over 2/3's of the world's Hindus live in India; large numbers reside in Africa and Asia.

Symbols: “Om” represents Brahman

Gods and Religious Figures

Hindus believe in many gods, numbering into the thousands. They recognize one supreme spirit called Brahman ("the Absolute.")

There are many forms of god to represent different aspects of life such as nature and luck.

Hindu Gods/Goddesses

Other gods include:Ganesha HanumanShiva VishnuKrishna LakshmiRama Durga

Sacred Writings and Meeting Places

Sacred scriptures called Vedas. The Vedas contain hymns, prayers, and rituals from ancient India.

Upanishads are the core beliefs of Indian philosophy. Many Hindu teachings are found in the Upanishads.

Sacred meeting place is called a temple.

Holy Days and Places

The Ganges River is a holy place. All rivers are sacred.

Dawali is a Holy day that celebrates New Year. Families gather for traditional activities (lighting lamps).

Holi is the celebration of Spring and is also known was the Festival of Colors.

Holi

Ganges RiverIn India, the sacred River Ganges embodies for Hindus the water of life. Bathing in the Ganges frees the bather from sin, the outward purification serving as symbolic support of inward purification. The source of the Ganges lies in the Himalayas, the mountains of the Gods, and descends to the plains of India as if from Heaven.

Hindu BeliefsHindus believe in “karma”– what goes around comes around.

Reincarnation:Cycle of death and rebirth depending on present life behaviors.

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

Caste System:Divided people into groups based on how

important or worthless they are. This is decided by birth.

Brahmin are highest. “Untouchables” were the lowest in society.

Holy Cow

Cows are sacred and holy to Hindis

Compare and Contrast

How are Buddhism and Hinduism alike? Name three ways they are alike. How are they different? Name five ways they are different.

Judaism Basics

The Jewish symbol is the Star of David.

Judaism is a religion of just one people: the Jews.

Judaism Basics

Today there are over 18 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.

During World War II, Adolf Hitler tried to extinguish the Jewish race (genocide) killing 6 million Jews in the Holocaust.

God and Religious Figures

Judaism was the first to teach belief in only one God.

Two other important religions developed from Judaism: Christianity and Islam.

Important prophets and figures include Abraham (the Father) and Moses (bringer of the law; deliverer)

Sacred Writings and Meeting Places

Sacred scriptures are in the Torah, (Christian Old Testament)

The Jewish house of worship is called a synagogue.

Rabbis (spiritual leaders) conduct services, act as interpreters of Jewish laws, and deliver sermons.

Holy Places and Holy Days

Jerusalem located in Israel is the “Holy City”.

Holy Days are Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement), Rosh Hashanah (New Year) Pass Over (emancipation of Israelites), and Hanukkah (dedication of Holy Temple).

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

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

Major Beliefs: The Ten Commandments

Kosher diet: certain restrictions on what they can eat.

4-3-2-14 Jewish Holidays

3 Facts about Judaism

2 Religions that come from Judaism

1 Jewish Nation

Islam BasicsSymbol: Crescent and star is widely believed to be symbol, but it existed long before Islam

The Islamic religion started in the area known as Palestine in the year 600AD.

Islam means “peace”; It is the name given to the religion preached by the prophet Muhammad in the 600s A. D.

Practiced in the Middle East, Northern Africa, Asia/Indonesia, and all over the world.

Two branches are Sunni and Shi’ite.

Gods and Religious Figure

Allah, is the Islamic God.

Abraham is the Father, Mohammed is the Prophet.

Sacred Writings and Meeting Places

The holy book of Islam is the "Koran” (Qu’ran) Muslims believe its words to be those of Allah himself, spoken to Muhammad by an angel.

Muslims practice their religion in places called mosques.

Holy Places and Holy Days

Mecca is the holiest of cities to all Muslims. It is where the Prophet Muhammad was born. It is built. Ka’ba is a mosque built around a black stone where Muslims come to pray.

Muslims fast (do not eat or drink) during the 40 days of Ramadan from sun up to sun down. Ramadan is when Muslims try to make peace with those they have wronged.

Islam BeliefsMuslims 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. This pilgrimage is called a hajj.

IslamMuslims believe in the Five Pillars of Islam:

1.Belief in one God- Allah.2.Prayer toward Mecca five times a day.3.Giving alms (charity) to the poor.4.Fasting (especially during Ramadan).5.Hajj, the pilgrimage to Mecca once in each

person’s life.

Christianity BasicsSymbols: The Cross, the Fish

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

Catholic, Orthodox, and Protestant Religions all originate from Christianity. Under these branches are several different denominations.

God and Religious FiguresChristians believe in one God. God is the Creator of the universe.

Abraham (father) and Jesus is the Son of God (Messiah, Savior)

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

Sacred Writings and Meeting Places

The sacred scriptures of the Christianity are called the Bible, consisting of the Old Testament (Jewish Torah) and New Testament.

The Bible is the Holy Book that records God's revelation.

The meeting place of Christians is the church.

Holy Days and Holy Places

Holy Places include Jerusalem (Jesus birth place) and Vatican city (Home to the Pope; Catholics)

Important Holidays are Christmas (birth of Jesus), Easter (Resurrection of Jesus), and Lent (40 days of Fasting in preparation for Easter).

Major Beliefs of ChristianityThe central point of Christian belief is that God, the Father,

entered into human history as the Son, Jesus of Nazareth, and arose as the Holy Spirit.

Sin and Evil are realities in our existence.

All believers are promised life everlasting.

Death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus

Many Jewish Laws

Baptism (Forgiveness of sins) and Communion (Relationship between Christians and Church, Celebration of Jesus)

Religion Jeopardy