MAJOR WORLD RELIGIONS Christianity Islam Judaism Confucianism Hinduism

MAJOR WORLD RELIGIONS Christianity Islam Judaism Confucianism Hinduism Buddhism Sikhism Animism

Two Types of Religion § Monotheism – One God § Mono equals single, one, or alone § Polytheism – More than one god or gods § Poly = many or multiple

Other Viewpoints § Atheism – Disbelief or lack of belief in the existence of God or gods. (Not a type of religion, but an opposing concept. ) § Secularism – The belief that life’s questions can be answered apart from religion.

World Religions

Christianity § Dominant in Europe, North America, and Latin America § Members usually worship in a church § Bible is considered the sacred text § Multiple forms of the faith § Jerusalem is the sacred city § Jesus is the Son of God § Jesus is the prophet § Abrahamic Faith § Monotheistic

Islam § 5 Pillars – faith, daily prayers, giving, fasting, pilgrimage § Jerusalem is a city considered holy by Islam § Muhammad was the prophet and founder § Members (Muslims) worship in a Mosque § Dominant religion of the Middle East § Koran (Qur’an) is the sacred text § Allah (God) is the deity § Mecca is the holy city § Abrahamic Faith § Monotheistic

Judaism § God is the deity – Tetragrammaton, YHVH, Yahweh § The Torah is the sacred text (5 books of Moses) § Jerusalem is a city considered holy by Judaism § Worship in a synagogue or temple § Israel is a key location for Judaism § Moses is consider to be a founder § Jesus is not the messiah § Abrahamic Faith § Monotheistic

Hinduism § Believe in social hierarchy under the Caste System § Thought to be the oldest of the world’s major religions § Believe in karma and dharma within the Caste System § Ganges River – sacred site to cleanse sins § Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva are the deities § Believe in reincarnation (Soul is reborn) § No single founder or date of origin § The Vedas are the sacred texts § Complex philosophies § Worship in a temple § Polytheistic

Hinduism

Buddhism § Eight fold path to reach Nirvana – An Enlightened State § Meditation is used to transcend worldly desires § Four Noble Truths – Suffering, Cause, Path, End § Sacred text is the Tripitaka (Three Baskets) § Practiced mainly in south and east Asia § Born with name Siddhartha Gautama § Buddha means the Enlightened One § Sacred city is Bodh Gaya, India § Worship in a temple § Bodhi Tree

Confucianism § Referred to as a religion, but is truly a philosophy § Grounded in ethical behavior and good governance § Sacred symbol is Yin-Yang – harmony and balance § 3 Areas of Philosophy – Social, Political, Educational § Influenced social order and social hierarchy § Sacred Site – The temple of Qufu in China § Based on the teachings of Confucius § Followers view it as a way of life § Sacred Text is the Analects

Sikhism § Sacred Site is Harimandir Sahib (Golden Temple) § Communicate with God through meditation § Influenced by Islam and Hinduism § Forbids discrimination of any kind § Adi Granth is the sacred text § Guru Nanak is the founder § Mainly found in India § Monotheistic

Animism – Indigenous Religions § Inanimate objects and natural events have spirits § Close relationship with the environment § Celebrate with music and dance § Shinto in Japan is the largest § Traditions are generational § Practiced mainly in Africa and Japan § Native Americans § Oral traditions § Polytheistic