World ReligionsWorld Religions

Five Main World ReligionsFive Main World Religions

• ChristianityChristianity 2 billion followers2 billion followers

• JudaismJudaism 14 million followers14 million followers

• IslamIslam 1.3 billion followers1.3 billion followers

• HinduismHinduism 900 million900 million

• BuddhismBuddhism 360 million360 million

BuddhismBuddhism

Siddharta Guatama founder Siddharta Guatama founder of the Religionof the Religion

• Born in the north of India.Born in the north of India.

• Son of a Rich Hindu noble man who Son of a Rich Hindu noble man who wanted to protect Siddharta from the wanted to protect Siddharta from the world. As a result the young world. As a result the young Siddharta was never allowed to leave Siddharta was never allowed to leave the Palacethe Palace

• Sidharta married and had one Son.Sidharta married and had one Son.

SiddhartaSiddharta

• One day he got to take a trip outside One day he got to take a trip outside the palace and outside he saw four the palace and outside he saw four things that were to change his life.things that were to change his life.

• An old manAn old man

• A sick manA sick man

• A dead man A dead man

• A monkA monk

Inspiring VisionInspiring Vision

• He was confused . He wondered how He was confused . He wondered how the monk could be so poor, yet so the monk could be so poor, yet so content.content.

• He left his wife and Son and joined a He left his wife and Son and joined a group of monks. He fasted vigorously group of monks. He fasted vigorously trying to find answers about life. This trying to find answers about life. This proved to be bad for his health.proved to be bad for his health.

Inspiring VisionInspiring Vision

• He then found what he called a middle way He then found what he called a middle way between suffering and luxury. He began to between suffering and luxury. He began to meditate. He thought deeply about the meditate. He thought deeply about the meaning of life and the causes of suffering.meaning of life and the causes of suffering.

• He meditated under a figHe meditated under a fig

(Bodhi tree) close to the (Bodhi tree) close to the

River Gaya.River Gaya.

• He eventually became enlightened.He eventually became enlightened.

This is called the “Sacred Night”This is called the “Sacred Night”

Inspiring VisionInspiring Vision

• He met monks that he once knew and told He met monks that he once knew and told them about his new found knowledge.them about his new found knowledge.

• He told them about the Four Noble Truths He told them about the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path.and the Eightfold Path.

• They called Siddharta “The Enlightened They called Siddharta “The Enlightened one”. Buddha.one”. Buddha.

Four Noble TruthsFour Noble Truths• All life involves sufferingAll life involves suffering• The cause of Suffering – The cause of Suffering –

Caused by our desiresCaused by our desires• The end of Suffering - we can The end of Suffering - we can

free ourselves from suffering free ourselves from suffering and find happiness if we stop and find happiness if we stop wanting material things.wanting material things.

• The way to end suffering –The way to end suffering –The way to end suffering is to The way to end suffering is to follow the path to true follow the path to true happiness.happiness.

• There are eight steps along There are eight steps along the way.the way.

The Eight- Fold pathThe Eight- Fold path1.1. Right view pointRight view point

2.2. Right intentionRight intention

3.3. Right speechRight speech

4.4. Right conductRight conduct

5.5. Right workRight work

6.6. Right effortRight effort

7.7. Right mindfulnessRight mindfulness

8.8. Right meditationRight meditation

Sacred Text - TipitakaSacred Text - Tipitaka

• Tipitaka :Written in Pali, an ancient Tipitaka :Written in Pali, an ancient language.language.

• It is an important collection of the It is an important collection of the Buddhist teaching.Buddhist teaching.

It contains:It contains:

• Discipline, Instruction and TeachingDiscipline, Instruction and Teaching

Festival - WeaskFestival - Weask

• Takes place in May and lasts for 3 Takes place in May and lasts for 3 days.days.

• Celebrates the birth, enlightenment Celebrates the birth, enlightenment and death of the Buddha.and death of the Buddha.

• It is a festival of light. The focus is It is a festival of light. The focus is the enlightenment to the Buddha.the enlightenment to the Buddha.

• People go the Temples and make People go the Temples and make offerings to Buddha. Buddhists offerings to Buddha. Buddhists celebrate with their families.celebrate with their families.

Worship - TempleWorship - Temple

• A Temple is the Buddhist place of worship. A Temple is the Buddhist place of worship. Buddhists go there to pray and make Buddhists go there to pray and make offerings.offerings.

• A central feature is a statue of the Buddha.A central feature is a statue of the Buddha.

• Many Buddhists worship before a shrine in Many Buddhists worship before a shrine in their own homes. Flowers, incense, candles their own homes. Flowers, incense, candles are used. are used.

HindusimHindusim

FoundationsFoundations• A great civilisation grew up in the Indus A great civilisation grew up in the Indus

valley in India about 5.500 years ago.valley in India about 5.500 years ago.

• A nomadic people came from the North A nomadic people came from the North and invaded India. The Ayrans adopted and invaded India. The Ayrans adopted to the culture and way of life of the to the culture and way of life of the people around the Indus valley. people around the Indus valley.

• Hinduism developed from the Religious Hinduism developed from the Religious ideas of both of these peoples. By ideas of both of these peoples. By 1000BC Hinduism had evolved into the 1000BC Hinduism had evolved into the form that we find it today.form that we find it today.

Sacred Text.Sacred Text.

• There is no one sacred text.There is no one sacred text.

• Hindus have many holy books.Hindus have many holy books.

• They are written in an ancient They are written in an ancient language called Sanskrit that is not language called Sanskrit that is not used very much today.used very much today.

Sacred TextSacred Text

• VedasVedas: a collection : a collection of Hymns and poems of Hymns and poems that go back to that go back to ancient times. Used ancient times. Used in Hindu celebrations in Hindu celebrations today.today.

• UpanishadsUpanishads: : collection of collection of teachings about the teachings about the Hindu way of life.Hindu way of life.

• Mahabhata: Mahabhata: worlds worlds longest poem with longest poem with over one thousand over one thousand verses. Most famous verses. Most famous part is the part is the Bhagavad Bhagavad Gita.Gita.

• Ramayana: Ramayana: Story Story of the God Rama of the God Rama and his wife Sita. and his wife Sita. Teaches Hindus the Teaches Hindus the virtues of courage, virtues of courage, friendship and love.friendship and love.

GodsGods

• Brahman The Creator GodBrahman The Creator God

• VishnuVishnu The Preserver GodThe Preserver God

• ShivaShiva The Destroyer GodThe Destroyer God

Festival - HoliFestival - Holi

• This is a Spring festival to celebrate This is a Spring festival to celebrate Krishna. Bonfires are a central part of the Krishna. Bonfires are a central part of the celebrations. celebrations.

• People circle the bonfires and share People circle the bonfires and share “prasad” or holy food. “prasad” or holy food.

• Images of Krishna are carried through the Images of Krishna are carried through the streets.streets.

Festival - DivaliFestival - Divali

• This is a winter festival to mark the This is a winter festival to mark the beginning of the Hindu new year. beginning of the Hindu new year.

• Divali means row of lights. Divali means row of lights.

• During the festival oil, lamps and During the festival oil, lamps and candles are lit in the temple, in the candles are lit in the temple, in the home and in the work place. home and in the work place.

• Lakshi is the Goddess of good fortune. Lakshi is the Goddess of good fortune. Many Hindus believe that once a year Many Hindus believe that once a year at Divali she visits and brings good at Divali she visits and brings good fortune.fortune.

                                             

Kumbh-MelaKumbh-Mela

• Every twelve years, up to twelve Every twelve years, up to twelve million hindus gather at Ujjain in million hindus gather at Ujjain in Central India to celebrate the Kumbh Central India to celebrate the Kumbh –Mela. –Mela.

• This involves ritual bathing in the This involves ritual bathing in the place where the river Ganges meets place where the river Ganges meets the Jumma river.the Jumma river.

IslamIslam

FounderFounder

• Islam began in Mecca 1500 years ago. Islam began in Mecca 1500 years ago. It was founded by a man called It was founded by a man called Muhammad.Muhammad.

• He was born in Arabia. His parents He was born in Arabia. His parents died when he was small child and he died when he was small child and he was raised by a kindly uncle.was raised by a kindly uncle.

• He was a successful trader in Mecca.He was a successful trader in Mecca.• He married a woman called Khadja He married a woman called Khadja

and they had six children together.and they had six children together.

MeccaMecca

• Mecca was a very busy place at this Mecca was a very busy place at this time. Traders came from far and neartime. Traders came from far and near

• Pilgrims came to pray at a shrine in the Pilgrims came to pray at a shrine in the centre of the city.centre of the city.

• The dishonesty in Mecca bothered The dishonesty in Mecca bothered Muhammad.Muhammad.

• People gambled and consumed alcohol People gambled and consumed alcohol to excess.to excess.

Inspiring VisionInspiring Vision• Muhammad retreated to a cave at the Muhammad retreated to a cave at the

bottom of Mount Hira.bottom of Mount Hira.• An angel of God, Gabriel appeared to An angel of God, Gabriel appeared to

him. She told him that there is one him. She told him that there is one God Allah and Muhammad is Allah’s God Allah and Muhammad is Allah’s messenger. messenger.

• He rushed home to Khadja who He rushed home to Khadja who immediately that her husband was a immediately that her husband was a prophet.prophet.

• The Angel spoke again to Muhammad The Angel spoke again to Muhammad and these words are written down in and these words are written down in the Koran.the Koran.

Inspiring VisionInspiring Vision

• Muhammad preached his message in the Muhammad preached his message in the streets of Mecca. He tried to get people streets of Mecca. He tried to get people to change their ways.to change their ways.

• People became angry with him and he People became angry with him and he had to leave Mecca.had to leave Mecca.

• People in Medina invited him to come People in Medina invited him to come and teach there. He took his family and teach there. He took his family across the desert. This journey from across the desert. This journey from Mecca to Medina is called the Mecca to Medina is called the HijraHijra

MedinaMedina

• Muhammad and his family were welcomed Muhammad and his family were welcomed in Medina. He eventually became the ruler in Medina. He eventually became the ruler there.there.

• He later went back to Mecca. He removed He later went back to Mecca. He removed all of the statues from the shrine. It then all of the statues from the shrine. It then became the Shrine of One God became the Shrine of One God Allah.Allah.

• Mecca Mecca became the holy city of Islam.became the holy city of Islam.

Sacred Text - KoranSacred Text - Koran• The story of the The story of the

prophet and the prophet and the word of Allah are word of Allah are written in the Koran.written in the Koran.

• It is written in It is written in Arabic.Arabic.

• Muslim children are Muslim children are taught to read the taught to read the Koran in Arabic.Koran in Arabic.

JudaismJudaism

A Monotheistic ReligionA Monotheistic Religion

Abraham The Founder of Abraham The Founder of JudaismJudaism• Abraham lived 4000 years ago in Ur Abraham lived 4000 years ago in Ur

Mestoptamia.Mestoptamia.• Married to Sarah. They were well off Married to Sarah. They were well off

and had a nice life.and had a nice life.• Abraham believed in one God. Many of Abraham believed in one God. Many of

the people around him were the people around him were polytheistic.polytheistic.

• Abraham’s belief in one God was to Abraham’s belief in one God was to change his life.change his life.

Inspiring VisionInspiring Vision

• Abraham felt the call of God .Abraham felt the call of God .

• God asked him to leave everything God asked him to leave everything and travel to another country.and travel to another country.

• God made a promise to Abraham.God made a promise to Abraham.

• He promised him land and many He promised him land and many descendants.descendants.

• Abraham and Sarah settled in Canaan.Abraham and Sarah settled in Canaan.

Inspiring VisionInspiring Vision

• Abraham and Sarah arrived in the Abraham and Sarah arrived in the land of Cannan and set up their land of Cannan and set up their tents. They lived here for many tents. They lived here for many years.years.

• God spoke to Abraham again.God spoke to Abraham again.

• God told him that his descendants God told him that his descendants would be as plentiful as the stars in would be as plentiful as the stars in the sky.the sky.

CovenantCovenant• God then made a covenant with Abraham.God then made a covenant with Abraham.• ““I will be your God and you will be my I will be your God and you will be my

people”people”• God appeared to Abraham again one day God appeared to Abraham again one day

when visitors were at their camp. when visitors were at their camp. Abraham was telling their guests about Abraham was telling their guests about God’s promise.God’s promise.

• Sarah was told that she would have a Sarah was told that she would have a child within a year. Abraham and Sarah child within a year. Abraham and Sarah thought this impossible because they thought this impossible because they were so old.were so old.

• Sarah gave birth to Isaac within a year.Sarah gave birth to Isaac within a year.

Sacred Text - TorahSacred Text - Torah

• The story of The story of Abraham’s journey Abraham’s journey is told in a Holy is told in a Holy Book called the Book called the Torah. Torah.

• This book is written This book is written in Hebrew.in Hebrew.

• The Torah Scrolls The Torah Scrolls are kept in the Ark are kept in the Ark of the Covenant in of the Covenant in the Synagogue.the Synagogue.

FestivalFestival