This document provides an overview of several major world religions including Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, and others. For each religion, key details are given such as the founder, origins, holy texts, divisions, symbols, and core beliefs. The document also explains concepts like reincarnation and karma as illustrated in the film Groundhog Day. Overall, the document serves as an introductory survey of the major tenets and histories of the world's most widely practiced religious and spiritual traditions.
This document provides an overview of several major world religions including Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, and others. For each religion, key details are given such as the founder, origins, holy texts, divisions, symbols, and core beliefs. The document also explains concepts like reincarnation and karma as illustrated in the film Groundhog Day. Overall, the document serves as an introductory survey of the major tenets and histories of the world's most widely practiced religious and spiritual traditions.
This document provides an overview of several major world religions including Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, and others. For each religion, key details are given such as the founder, origins, holy texts, divisions, symbols, and core beliefs. The document also explains concepts like reincarnation and karma as illustrated in the film Groundhog Day. Overall, the document serves as an introductory survey of the major tenets and histories of the world's most widely practiced religious and spiritual traditions.
This document provides an overview of several major world religions including Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, and others. For each religion, key details are given such as the founder, origins, holy texts, divisions, symbols, and core beliefs. The document also explains concepts like reincarnation and karma as illustrated in the film Groundhog Day. Overall, the document serves as an introductory survey of the major tenets and histories of the world's most widely practiced religious and spiritual traditions.
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Warm-Up
What religion does your family practice?
What do you believe about the nature of God/Gods/Higher Power of Your Choice? What do you believe happens to a person after death?
-OR-
If you are politically active, tell me about your
political beliefs. What party do you support, and why? Why are religion and politics difficult to discuss? How do you feel about controversial issues, like abortion, gun control, gay marriage, the economy, our place in the Middle East, et cetera? Why?
Introduction to World Religions and Beliefs
Major World Religions
Judaism
Who Abraham, Moses
When circa 3000 BC Where Israel Holy Books - Torah, and Talmud Major Divisions Orthodox, Conservative, Reform Holy Symbol(s) tzitzit (fringe on shawl or clothing) and tefillin are reminders of the commandments The menorah(candelabrum) is the ancient universal symbol of Judaism The Jewish star is a modern universal Jewish symbol skullcap (yarmulke)
Basic Beliefs
Monotheistic one God
Jews are the chosen people of God,
must follow his laws.
Jerusalem/Israel are holy lands.
Christianity
Who Jesus of Nazareth
When circa 30AD
Where Israel
Holy Books Old and New
Testaments
Major Divisions Catholic,
Protestant, Orthodox Holy Symbol(s) The cross
Basic Beliefs Jesus Christ is the son of God Death and resurrection Came to redeem mankind from sin.
Islam Who Mohammed When circa 620AD Where Arabian Peninsula Holy Books Quran (Koran) and the Hadiths (traditions)
Major Divisions Sunni, Shia
Holy Symbol(s) - The Star and Crescent
The star and crescent is the best-known symbol used to represent Islam. It features prominently on the Featured on flags of Turkey and Pakistan. The symbolized was popularized during the Ottoman Empire (1299-1922) Basic Beliefs There is no god but Allah, and Muhammad is the messenger of God Quran is word of God. Muslims must perform the Five Pillars of Faith.
1.Shahadah:sincerelyrecitingtheMuslimprofessionoffaith 2.Salat:performingritualprayersintheproperwayfivetimeseach day 3.Zakat:payinganalms(orcharity)taxtobenefitthepoorandthe needy 4.Sawm:fastingduringthemonthofRamadan 5.Hajj:pilgrimagetoMecca
Hinduism Who Ancient priests of India When 5000 3000 BCE Where India Holy Books Vedas, Bhagavad-Gita Major Divisions Numerous schools and traditions Basic Beliefs Polytheistic Reincarnation and Karma cause and effect Ultimate goal oneness with Brahman (God, Reality)
Buddhism Who Siddhartha Gautama (Buddha) When 500 BC Where Northern India Holy Books - Tripitaka Major Divisions Mahayana, Theravada Holy Symbols CircleofZen
Basic Beliefs Life is suffering, caused by wanting things, caused by ignorance. Reincarnation and karma 8-fold Path allows escape to Nirvana
WheelofDharma
Other Religions Bahai: a religion founded in Iran in 1863 by Husayn Al (called Bahaullah) teaching the essential worth of all religions, the unity of all races, and the equality of the sexes. Confucianism: the system of ethics, education, and statesmanship taught by Confucius, a Chinese philosopher and his disciples, stressing love for humanity, ancestor worship, reverence for parents, and harmony in thought and conduct. Jainism: a dualistic religion founded in the 6th century b.c. as a revolt against current Hinduism and emphasizing the perfectibility of human nature and liberation of the soul, esp. through asceticism and nonviolence toward all living creatures. In Jainism, nirvana means final release from
the karmic bondage.
Shinto: the native religion of Japan, primarily a system of
nature and ancestor worship.
Other Religions (cont.)
Sikhism: a monotheistic religion, founded in the Punjab c1500 by the guru Nanak, that refuses to recognize the Hindu caste system or the Brahmanical priesthood and forbids magic, idolatry, and pilgrimages. Taoism: the philosophical system evolved by Lao-tzu and Chuangtzu, advocating a life of complete simplicity and naturalness and of noninterference with the course of natural events, in order to attain a happy existence in harmony with the Tao. Zoroastrianism: an Iranian religion, founded c600b.c.by Zoroaster, the principal beliefs of which are in the existence of a supreme deity, Ahura Mazda, and in a cosmic struggle between a spirit of good, Spenta Mainyu, and a spirit of evil, Angra Mainyu. PreIslam
