Religion

1. Religion Confirmation Class Moody AFB, GA – September 2008 What Catholics and Others Believe

2. Why should we learn about the faith or religion of other people?

3. Overview • Define Religion • Fundamentals of Religion • World Religions • Protestant Reformation • Predominant Christian Religions in the US

4. Background • From the earliest known evidence of human religion continues to be a very influential aspect of human lives • Religion is the universal tool for explaining things which we do not understand through the context the known physical world • Charismatic leaders provided their people with gods who would offer help and guidance in the difficult process of living their lives

5. What is religion?

6. What is Religion? • Religionis “the belief in a superhuman controlling power, especially in a personal God or gods entitled to obedience and worship.” This is a loose definition that encompasses many beliefs and traditions • Sometimes used interchangeably with faith or belief system • Religion has taken many forms in various cultures and individuals

7. What is Religion? • There are approximately 4,200 religions • Although there are countless religions, each different from the other, they all serve the same purpose – they answer … • Why are we here? • What happens when I die? • How shall I live my life?

8. Religion helps us to … • Transmit our values from one generation to another, and influences the way we interact with the natural environment • See ourselves in light of the universe and gives purpose and meaning to life

9. Fundamentals of Religion • Golden Rule: All major leaders of religious faiths teach “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you” • Hope and Comfort: All peoples, regardless of cast, creed, or nationality, require and often seek out some kind of belief system to sustain themselves in their daily lives, giving them hope and comfort • Schism: The division of a group into opposing sections or parties; the separation of a church into two churches or the secession of a group owing to doctrinal, disciplinary differences

10. Nonreligious Definitions • Agnostic: A person who neither believes nor disbelieves in God; one who believes that there is not enough evidence either way • Atheist: A person who has no belief or faith in any god • Secular humanist: A person believes thewell-being of humankind should take precedence over religious considerations in civil affairs or public education • Theistic: A person who believes in the existence of one or more divinities but isn’t associated with any organized religion

11. World Religions

12. Primary Religions of the World • Buddhism • Hinduism • Judaism • Islam • Christianity

13. Prevalence of World Religions 33% Christianity Catholic, Protestant, Eastern Orthodox, Pentecostal, Anglican, Latter-day Saints, Evangelical, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Quakers, etc. 20% Islam Shiite, Sunni, etc. Other Religions 5% Buddhism Nonreligious .22% Judaism Hinduism Nonreligious: Agnostic, atheist, secular humanist (half are “theistic” but nonreligious) 5% 15% 13%

14. Timeline of Important Dates Note: Some dates are estimates or ranges

15. Timeline of Important Dates Note: Some dates are estimates or ranges

16. Buddhism

17. History of Buddhism • Based on the teachings of Siddhartha Gautama, the son of a wealthy landowner born in northern India around 560 B.C. • In order to achieve spiritual peace, Gautma renounced his worldly advantages and became known as Buddha, or "the enlightened one“ • He preached his religious views his entire life throughout South Asia • Gautma eventually married and fathered a son, but still had not left his father's palace • One day, he told his father that he wished to see the world

18. “Buddha” • Buddha is not a proper noun, it is a title • The Buddha … a Buddha • Buddhist Tradition • Many Buddhas in the past … many in the future • When the term the Buddha” is used today, it’s assumed to mean Buddha Gautama, the Buddha of the present era

19. History of Buddhism • While Gautama meditated, he reached the highest degree of God-consciousness, nirvana • He stayed under a fig tree for 7 days • He learned truths which would be imparted to the world after his death at age 80 • Buddhism became a strong force in India before Buddha's death • The diffusion of Buddhism, however, was limited until the Indian emperor Asoka became a convert and supported missionary activities

20. The “Four Noble Truths” of Buddhism • Existence of suffering • Birth, death, disease, old age, desire • Cause of suffering • Desire for the pleasures of the senses, which seeks satisfaction here and now • Craving for happiness and prosperity • How to end suffering • Give up, get rid of, extinguish this every craving, so that no passion and no desire remain • End pain by way of the “Eightfold Path”

21. The “Eightfold Path” of Buddhism • You must accept the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path • You must renounce the pleasures of the senses; you must harbor no ill will toward anyone and harm no living creature • Do not lie; do not slander or abuse anyone; do not indulge in idle talk • Do not destroy any living creature; take only what is given to you; do not commit any unlawful sexual act

22. The “Eightfold Path” of Buddhism • Earn your livelihood in a way that will harm no one • You must resolve and strive to prevent any evil qualities from arising in you and to abandon any evil qualities that you may possess. Strive to acquire good qualities and encourage those you do possess to grow, increase, and be perfected • Be observant, strenuous, alert, contemplative, and free of desire and of sorrow • When you have abandoned all sensuous pleasures, all evil qualities, both joy and sorrow, you must then enter the four degrees of meditation, which are produced by concentration

23. Buddhist Precepts • Kill no living thing • Do not steal • Do not commit adultery • Tell no lies • Do not drink intoxicants or take drugs • Other precepts apply only to monks and nuns: • Eat moderately and only at the appointed time • Avoid that which excites the senses • Do not wear adornments • Do not sleep in luxurious beds • Accept no silver or gold

24. Hinduism

25. History of Hinduism • Hinduism is the oldest and most complex of all religious systems • No specific founder or theology • Originated in the religious practices of Aryan tribes who moved to India from central Asia more than 3,000 years ago • The Aryans attacked the Harappan people who lived in modern day India around 1500 BC • Eventually, through adaptation to the religious beliefs of the other, both groups developed similar religious belief systems, founded on the polytheism (many gods) of the Aryans

26. Hindu Deities • Hindus do believe in a supreme being who has unlimited forms • Vishnu and Lakshmi have the full powers of a god • Brahm and Saravati have only partial godlike aspects

27. Central Beliefs • Law of Karma • All actions produce effects in the future • A concept that is linked to karma is that of dharma, one’s duty of station in this life • Outlined in Bhagavad-Gita, a major text within the Hindu tradition • Reincarnation • Hindus accept the doctrine of transmigration and rebirth, and believe that precious acts are the factors that determine the condition into which a being is reborn in one form or another - people are born over and over again into a state of suffering

28. Central Beliefs • Spiritual Goal (moksha) • The spiritual goal for Hindus is for the individual soul’s release from the bonds of transmigration – to get out of the endless cycle of reincarnation • Bad karma hampers the spiritual goal • Attachment to worldly goods is another obsession that prevents people form reaching salvation and eternal peace • Avatar • An incarnation of a deity in either human or animal form to carry out a particular purpose. Vishnu is known as the protector, the binding force that holds the universe together. His job is to restore dharma or moral order

29. Central BeliefsThe Caste System • Hindus have a caste system, encompassing a vast range of occupations, rules, and traditions • The Laws of Manu provide the text that explains all the complexities of this system • Examples of different castes • Brahmins priests • Kshatriyassoldiers, king-warrior class • Vaishyas merchants, farmers, Sutras laborers, craftspeople • Harijahns"untouchables“ - those thought to be descended from the Harappan aboriginal people-extremely poor and discriminated against

30. Central BeliefsThe Caste System • The higher a person's caste, the more that person is blessed with the benefits and luxuries life has to offer • The caste system was outlawed in 1948, it is still important to the Hindu people of India • Charity towards others doesn’t exist • Hinduism has branched and now encompasses a wide variety of religious beliefs and religious organizations • Primary religion of the region around India. Portions of Hindu beliefs have found their way across oceans to other countries and have been influential in the foundations of other religions

31. Calendar of Religious Festivals • Mahashivaratri celebrates the new moon night of every month, honoring the image of Shiva • Saravati Puja honors the goddess Sarasvati who is the patron of the arts and learning • Holi celebrates the grain harvest in India and also recalls the pranks Krishna played as a young man • Rama Naumi celebrates the birthday of the god Rama • On Rata Yatra a huge image of the god Visnu is placed on an enormous chariot and pulled through the streets

32. Calendar of Religious Festivals • The Raksha Bandhan is a ceremony of tying a raki (a thread or band, made of silk or decorated with flowers) • Janmashtami celebrates the birth of Kirshna and his delivery from the demon kansa • Navaratri honors the most important female deity, Durga, consort of Shiva • Divali – the most widely celebrated festival – celebrates the return from exile of Rams and Sita

33. Hindu Terms • Brama - The creator god • Dharma- The teachings of virtue and principle • Karma - The culminating value of all of one's life actions, good and bad, which together determine one's next rebirth and death • Maya - The power that produces the phenomena of physical existence • Yoga - The Hindu path of union with the divine. Any sort of exercise (physical, mental or spiritual) which promotes one's journey to union with Brahma

34. Judaism

35. Origins and Development • God made the Jews his “chosen people” - He promised Abraham that his descendants – his son Isaac and grandsons Jacob and Esau – would become a great nation • Abraham followed God’s instructions in his search for the promised land, and after many years of wandering around ended up in a place called Canaan • When the famine came, Abraham's son Jacob took his family to the land of Egypt The Lord said to Abram: "Go forth from the land of your kinsfolk and from your father's house to a land that I will show you. "I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you and curse those who curse you. All the communities of the earth shall find blessing in you.“ (Genesis 12:1-3)

36. Origins and Development • They settled in and Jacob fathered many sons and the family prospered • The descendants of Jacob’s sons would later become the twelve tribes of Israel • Judah • Levi • Naphtali • Reuben • Simeon • Zebulun • Asher • Benjamin • Dan • Gad • Issachar • Joseph

37. Origins and Development • The new pharaoh of Egypt become worried that Jacob’s family (12 tribes) might become mightier than the Egyptians • The pharaoh was treating the Israelites as slaves, but, this wasn’t enough … so he come up with an idea on how to restrict their proliferation • Kill every newborn male child at birth

38. Origins and DevelopmentMoses • A couple conceived and had son. When the mother saw the boy was fit, she decided to hide him from his inevitable death • Moses’ mother made an basket from reeds, put Moses in it, and laid it by the riverbank • Daughter of Pharaoh found and raised the child (Moses) • When Moses was fully grown he saw an Egyptian slave master beating an Israelite. Moses killed the slave master, so he had to flee from Egypt

39. Origins and DevelopmentMoses • Angel appears to Moses from a fire out of a bush • A voice came from the bush and told Moses that he had been chosen to deliver the people from the Egyptians and take them to another land • God commanded Moses to return to Pharaoh, telling Moses what he had to do • Pharaoh refused the demands from Moses • As punishment, God sent nine plagues to the Egyptians: Water to Blood, Frogs, Gnats, Flies, Livestock Diseased, Boils, Thunder and Hail, Locusts, and Darkness

40. Origins and DevelopmentMoses • None of these had any effect so God sent the final plague • In one night the firstborn of every Egyptian family would die • God had warned Moses and told him that all Israelite families should smear lamb’s blood on their doorposts to their sons would not be killed on that night. • This final plague worked and Pharaoh let the Israelites go, but the Pharaoh had second thoughts • Pharaoh sent his army after the Israelites. When they caught up with them, God parted the Red Sea so the Israelites could get safely across. Once they were on the other side and army gave pursuit, God mad the Red Sea close in on them

41. Origins and DevelopmentThe Ten Commandments • Moses was the leader of a large number of people on the move • God told Moses to go up to the top of the mountain for a meeting • God revealed to him the Ten Commandments, which were written on two tablets of stone (Exodus 20:2-17; Deuteronomy 5:6-21) • While Moses was gone, the Israelites become impatient; they made an image of a golden calf and proclaimed it to be their god

42. Origins and DevelopmentThe Ten Commandments • When Moses returned to the camp, he became very angry and threw down the stone tablets God had inscribed His law upon, breaking them into many pieces (Exodus 32:1-19) • God commanded Moses to write down the law and gave it to the Levites, who carried it in the “Ark of the Covenant” • Moses’ brother Joshua was appointed by God to succeed as the leader of the Israelites SHOW VIDEO

43. Origins and DevelopmentLeaders of the Israelites • The Israelites were ruled by a series of kings: Saul, David, and David’s son, Solomon • After Solomon’s death, the kingdom of Israel split in two and form Judah and Israel • In 63 BC the Romans conquered the land and gave it a new name: Palestine • Three years later, the Jews revolted against Rome, but were defeated. In 70 AD, the Roman army destroyed Jerusalem; Jews were forced out of the area and settled in Mediterranean countries and in other areas in southwest Asia (Diaspora)

44. Judaism – Basic Beliefs • Judaism is a monotheistic religion which believes that the world was created by a single, all-knowing divinity • All things within that world were designed to have meaning and purpose as part of a divine order • God's will for human behavior was revealed to Moses and the Israelites at Mount Sinai • Essential backbone of the religion is the Torah, which is comprised of the first five books of the Bible, which are attributed to Moses

45. The Torah • The Torah, also known at the Pentateuch, is a series of narratives and laws that chronicle, in historical order, the beginning of the world all the way through to the death of Moses • The study of the Torah is considered an act or worship for the Jews (read religiously each Sabbath) • Jewish Sabbath starts at dusk on Fridays and ends at dusk on Saturdays • The Talmud is a reference to the interpretations of the Torah • Supreme sourcebook of law as it takes the rules listed in the Torah and describes how to apply them to different circumstances

46. Synagogues • The synagogue is the center of Jewish community life, which has three traditional functions • House of Prayer where services are held on Sabbaths and festival days • House of Assembly where Jewish people can meet for any purpose • House of Study where the Torah and Talmud are studied

47. Synagogues • A rabbi (the word means teacher) has no more authority to perform rituals than any other member of the Jewish community. A synagogue can exist and operate without one • Any knowledgeable Jew can lead a religious service. However, rabbis are the spiritual leaders of the Jewish community

48. Rituals and Customs • Mezuzah – Most Jews have a mezuzah on every doorpost in the home (excluding the bathroom) to remind everyone to deep God’s laws • Bar/Bat Mitzvah – A ceremony held when a Jewish boy or girl is thirteen and is therefore considered only enough to take responsibility for self. In Jewish religious terms the child is considered an adult • Yarmulkes (skull caps) – They serve as physical symbols that demonstrate the wearers’ submission to God

49. Religious Festivals & Holy Holidays • Rosh Hashanah - Jewish New Year. It ushers in a 10-day period of self-examination and penitence • Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement) - 10 days after Rosh Hashanah. Yom Kippur is the most solemn Jewish religious holiday. Jews seek purification by the forgiveness of others and through sincere repentance of their own sins • Pesach (Passover) - Falls in March or April (weeklong). Passover celebrates God’s deliverance of the Israelites from captivity in Egypt. Jewish people eat unleavened bread in commemoration of the quickly made unleavened bread the Israelites had to subsist on during their escape from Egypt

50. Religious Festivals & Holy Holidays • Savout (Pentecost) - Takes place even weeks after Passover, and was originally an agricultural festival that marked the beginning of the wheat harvest. Additionally, this holiday commemorates the anniversary of Moses receiving the Low of God on Mount Sinai • Sukkot (Feast of Tabernacles) - An autumn festival that also celebrate the end of the harvest. Jews are required to spend some time in mediation