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.

TheFivePillarsofIslam
thefiveobligationsthateveryMuslimmustsatisfyin
ordertoliveagoodandresponsiblelifeaccordingtoIslam.

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)

Holy
Sound
(symbol)
Om(alsospelledAum)isaHindusacred
soundthatisconsideredthegreatestofall
mantras.
ThesyllableOmiscomposedofthethree
soundsaum(inSanskrit,thevowelsaand
ucombinetobecomeo)andthesymbol's
threefoldnatureiscentraltoitsmeaning.
thethreeworldsearth,atmosphere,and
heaven
thethreemajorHindugodsBrahma,
Vishnu,andSiva
thethreesacredVedicscripturesRg,Yajur,
andSama
Ommysticallyembodiestheessenceofthe
entireuniverse.Thismeaningisfurther
deepenedbytheIndianphilosophicalbelief
thatGodfirstcreatedsoundandtheuniverse
arosefromit.Asthemostsacredsound,Om
istherootoftheuniverseandeverything
thatexistsanditcontinuestohold
everythingtogether.

ReincarnationandKarma:
ExcerptsfromGroundhogDaystarringBillMurray:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9hq5jZr
FTbE&list=RD02eZbtAFq7dP8

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