Religions Religion System of faith morality and worship

Religions

Religion: • System of faith, morality and worship

Judaism • Monotheistic: One all-powerful God • Holy Book: Torah • Founder: Abraham – Founding Date: • Origin: Israel • Other important figures: – Moses (led people out of Egypt and founded nation of Israel) – King David (First important king of Israel) – King Solomon (wisest king)

Central Beliefs • One all powerful God who created the Universe and the world • Israelites: God’s chosen people to bring the Word of God

Different Sects: • • Orthodoxy: More Conservative Hasidism: More mystical Reform: More liberal Historical Sects: – Pharisees – Sadducees – Essenes

Christianity • Monotheistic • Holy Book: Bible – (Old Testament: Jewish Torah, New Testament: Collection of writings giving more “complete” picture of God’s word • Founder: Jesus Christ • Origin: Israel • Other Important Figures: – – 12 Apostles (original followers of Jesus) Saints (St. Paul) Martin Luther John Calvin

Central Beliefs • Fulfillment of Jewish Holy Scriptures and prophecy • Jesus Christ son of God and Savior of world • Holy Trinity (Father, Son, Holy Spirit) • Very pacifist religion

Sects • Roman Catholic • Eastern Orthodoxy – Greek – Russian • Protestantism – Lutheranism – Calvinism – Baptist – Evangelism

Islam • Monotheistic • Holy Book: Quran – (Incorporates Bible in holy texts {and Torah in Old Testament} Refers to Christians and Jews as “People of the Book” • Founder: Muhammad • Important Historical Figures: – Abu Bakr, Muwawiyah I, Suleiman the Magnificent, Sultan Mehmed II

Sects: • Sunni: belief that the Caliph (religious leader) can be anyone worthy of job – 97% of Muslim world • Shia: belief that the Caliph must be a descendant of Muhammad – 3%, mostly in Iran and Central Asia

Central Beliefs • Same God as Christianity and Judaism • Islam is the fulfillment of the Scriptures according to Abraham (founder of Judaism) • Jesus 2 nd most important prophet (not son of God)

Hinduism • Polytheistic • Holy Book: Vedas, Mahabharata, Ramayana • Founder: Unknown

Central Beliefs • Many Gods all incarnations of one all-powerful God Vishnu • Caste System: levels of society all people are born into (reincarnation to go to next level) • Religion of India

Buddhism • • No God, Spiritual Holy Book: Sutra Founder: Siddhartha Gautama (Buddha) Important Historical Figures: – Ashoka

Central Beliefs • Spiritual Movement where there is no central divine figure • Four Noble Truths: – 1. All life is suffering – 2. We suffer because of desire – 3. The only way to eliminate suffering is to eliminate desire – 4. The only way to eliminate desire is through the Eight-Fold Path

8 Fold Path

Confucianism • No God: Philosophical Movement • Holy Book: Analects • Founder: Confucius

Central Beliefs • Maintain society and make sure that everyone is in their proper place – Like Caste System: but, you can change your position based on merit – VERY Patriarchal: Women must be taken care of by first father, then husband, then son • Heaven: its real, but don’t worry about it, be concerned with the NOW

Daoism • No God • Founder: Lao Zi

Central Beliefs • Must be in Harmony with the Dao (the Path, or “Way) • Wu-wei: action through inaction (nature will take care of itself)

Zoroastrianism • Two Gods: Dualism – Good vs. Evil – Ahura Mazda (Good) – Ahirman (Evil) • Holy Book: Zend Avesta • Founder: Zarathusra

Paganism • Pagani: Latin for “countryside” – Kind of like “redneck” • Biased term, generally used for people who had not converted to Christianity • Term for any people who maintain their traditional religion and have not converted to a mainstream global religion