The Six Major Religions

1. The Six Major Religions Social Studies Religions Unit October 2011

2. BluePrint Skill: Grade 7 History • Compare and contrast the tenets of the five major world religions (i.e., Christianity, Buddhism, Islam, Hinduism, and Judaism).

3. Main Menu Christianity Buddhism Islam Judaism Hinduism Sikhism

4. Christianity • The early Hebrews who eventually developed into the Jewish religion became the foundation of Christianity. • Jesus, or the Messiah, was a Jewish boy who disagreed with some of the Jewish principles of his day began to profess a new way of thinking. • This eventually led to the beginning of the Christian religion.

5. Christianity • Christianity started about 2000 years ago about the same time of Jesus. • The central point of Christian belief is that God, the Father, entered into human history as the Son, Jesus of Nazereth, and arose as the Holy Spirit. 

6. Christian Philosophy • God is the Creator of the universe. There is one God, Who is Three  Persons-      Father, Son and Holy Spirit. • Jesus is both fully man and fully God.  He was born of the Virgin Mary  Crucified, resurrected from the dead, and ascended to the Father.

7. Christian Philosophy • Sin and Evil are realities in our existence. • The Bible is the Holy Book that records God's revelation. • All believers are promised life everlasting. • The leader of Christianity was Jesus, and the followers was his 12 disciples.

8. Buddhism • Founding person of Buddhism is Guatama, the Buddha • The Dalai Lama is a Buddhist monk who remains the leader of the Tibetans. • Buddhism is a major religion in China, Japan, India, and Tibet.

9. The Major Philosophy of Buddhism • Love: without conditions • Compassion: or feeling at one with the person who is suffering • Sympathetic Joy:Celebrate the happiness of others, and do not resent their good fortune. • Impartiality: Treat everyone equally, and do not use others for personal gain or to win approval.

10. The Major Philosophy of Buddhism • Buddhism states that existence is a continuing cycle of death and rebirth called reincarnation. • Each person's position in life is determined by his or her behavior in the previous life. This is known as their "karma" (also a Hindu belief).

11. Buddhism • Buddhism is the world's oldest universal religion and it is the second fastest growing religion. 

12. Islam • ISLAM is the name given to the religion preached by the prophet Muhammad in the 600s A. D. • The Islamic religion started in the area known as Palestine in the year 600AD. • It has about 850 million followers, most of them in the region north and east of the Mediterranean Sea.

13. Islam • The holy book of Islam is the "Koran." Muslims believe its words to be those of Allah himself, spoken to Muhammad by an angel. • Allah, is the Islamic God. • People who believe these ideas are called Muslims.

14. Islamic Philosophy • Muslims learn that life on earth is a period of testing and preparation for the life to come. • Angels record good and bad deeds. • People should behave themselves and help others, trusting in Allah's justice and mercy for their reward.

15. Islam • Muslims pray five times daily in their mosques (churches). • While praying, they face the holy city of Mecca (in Saudi-Arabia) and sometimes kneel with faces to the ground. • All Muslims are required to make a pilgrimage (trip to a sacred place) to Mecca at least once in their lifetime.

16. Hinduism • HINDUISM is one of the world's oldest religions. • Over 2/3's of the world's Hindus live in India; large numbers reside in Africa also. • Hindus believe in many gods, numbering into the thousands. They recognize one supreme spirit called Brahman ("the Absolute.")

17. Hindu Philosophy • Hindus believe in many gods, numbering into the thousands. • They recognize one supreme spirit called Brahman (the Absolute). • The goal of Hindus is to someday join with Brahman. • Until that union takes place, believers are in a continuous process of rebirth called "reincarnation."

18. Hindu Philosophy • At death, the Hindu's deeds (karma) determine what the next life will be. • Followers work to break this cycle--birth, death, re-birth-- (referred to by writers as the "Wheel of Life") and gain release. • The Hindu's soul then merges with Brahman in a condition of spiritual perfection (moksha).

19. Hinduism • Hinduism has many sacred books, the oldest being a series called the "Vedas.“ • Traditional Hindu society was divided into groups of four classes (or varnas). This was known as the "caste system."

20. Judaism • JUDAISM is a religion of just one people: the Jews. • JUDAISM was the first to teach belief in only one God. Two other important religions developed from Judaism: Christianity and Islam.

21. Judaism • Jews think that God will send a Messiah (a deliverer) to unite them and lead them in His way. • Christians believe that Jesus was the Messiah. The Jewish people do not agree; they anticipate His arrival in the future. • Judaism teaches that death is not the end and that there is a world to come.

22. Judaism • The "Torah," the first five books of the Hebrew Bible, is the most important Jewish scripture. • It contains the basic laws of Judaism. • Another important book is the "Talmud," serving primarily as a guide to the civil and religious laws of Judaism.

23. Judaism • The Jewish house of worship is called a synagogue. • Rabbis (spiritual leaders) conduct services, act as interpreters of Jewish laws, and deliver sermons. • Today there are over 18 million followers of Judaism scattered throughout the world. A large number of those people live in the Jewish nation of Israel. Over six million live in the United States.

24. Jewish Philosophy • God is one and unique • God is the creator • God is transcendent • God is immanent. • God is lawgiver • God is personal • We have the obligation to worship • The Torah is God's law • God is judge • The Messiah will come.

25. What is Sikhism? • A 500 year old, monotheistic religion of Northwest India, followed by some 20 million • Seeks to make religion a uniting rather than dividing force • All people – male and female, Brahmin and Shudra, Hindu and Muslim – are united as brothers and sisters in devotion to the one God: "there is no Muslim, there is no Hindu; all are equal human beings because they are the children of the same Father, God.“ – Guru Nanak

26. THE FOUNDER OF THE FAITH: • Guru Nanak (1469-1538) • Hindu by birth and upbringing • Influenced by the Bhakti and Sant tradition of medieval northwest India • A disciple of both Hindu and Muslim mystics • Composing and singing devotional songs (kirtan) • Drew his own disciples (“sikhs”) following a mystical realization in 1499 - Sikhs are disciples of the gurus and of the ultimate (wahe) guru, God

27. Nanak’s teaching • Preached a unifying message that overcame religious differences, uniting both Hindu and Muslim in common devotion to the same God • Recognized that behind all human names and forms for God, is one True God (Sat Nam – the “true name”) • Rejected meaningless ritual, images and idols of gods in favor of simple, heartfelt devotion

28. Beliefs • One God (whom people call by many names) • Sat Nam (“true name”), Waheguru (“great guru”) • Equality of all human beings (reject caste distinctions) • Karma and reincarnation • Reject asceticism (no monastic life in Sikhism) • The spirit of the guru (Nanak) continued for 200 years through a succession of ten human gurus…

29. Development of the faith • 2nd guru (Angad Dev) developed written form of Punjabi language for recording hymns • 3rd guru (Amar Das) instituted the community kitchen (Langar) to feed all in need • 4th guru (Ram Das) built the Sikh holy city of Amritsar (in Punjab) • 5th guru (Arjun Dev) built the Golden Temple in Amritsar as the center of the Sikh world; also compiled hymns of the earlier gurus, creating the Sikh holy book: Adi Granth

30. Martyrdom and defense • 5th guru was martyred, 6th guru (Har Gobind) began a tradition of training Sikhs in martial arts to protect those persecuted for their religion (Sikh, Hindu or otherwise) • 7th guru (Har Rai) best known for opening hospitals and offering free medical treatment to those in need • 8th guru (Har Krishan) was just a child but continued caring for the sick (died at age 8) • 9th guru (Tegh Bahadur) worked to combat religious persecution, ultimately became the 2nd Sikh martyr

31. The 10th Guru – Gobind Singh • Wrote hymns and completed the compilation of the Adi Granth • In 1699, Initiated the Sikh Khalsa (“brotherhood”) as a military defense force • Declared the end of the line of human gurus, transferring guruship to the Khalsacommunity and the holy book, nowknown as “Guru Granth Sahib” • Died 1708

32. The Khalsa • Today, the Khalsa is simply the community of the faithful • Amrit ceremony as baptism andinitiation into the Khalsa (maleand female, must be at least16 years of age) • Khalsa members take a new last name: Singh (“lion”) for men, Kaur (“princess”) for women • Khalsa members wear the “Five K’s” as symbols of their faith…

33. The Five K’s • Kesh: Long, uncut hair (both men and women) • Men wear a turban to cover their hair • Kangha: a comb to keep the hair clean and presentable • Kara: a steel bracelet worn on the right wrist as a reminder to think of God and do one’s duty • Kachh: undergarments as a reminder of chastity (outside of marriage) and purity • Kirpan: a defensive sword symbolic of God’s power and the Sikh duty to protect the weak and persecuted

34. Other Sikh symbols • The Khanda: the double edged sword represents God’s power, the circle is for continuity, the two outer swords for spiritual and political balance • “Ek-Onkar” meaning “one God” • The Golden Temple: a place of worship, pilgrimage, and seat of worldwide Sikh leadership; open on four sides for access by all people; surrounded by a pool of water for purification rites

35. The Gurdwara – the Sikh temple • “Door to the Guru,” housing andhonoring the Guru Granth Sahib • A “Granthi” (priest) is caretaker of the Gurdwara and the holy book as well as spiritual leader of the community

36. The Gurdwara – the Sikh temple • Contains a kitchen and dining hall (for Langar) and prayer hall for singing of Kirtan (hymns) from the holy book • Open daily (in India) with continuous reading and singing from holy book,serving food to all who come • Following worship, all partake in theLangar, sitting (on the floor) and eatinga meal together (equality)

37. Sikh holy days and ceremonies • Vaisakhi: April 13th, anniversary of founding of the Khalsa • Guru Nanak’s birthday (November) • Baby naming • Amrit/Baptism (Initiation into Khalsa) • Marriage (Anand Karaj): takes place in the Gurdwara with the communitybefore the Guru Granth • Death: cremation of body

38. The Sikh way of life • Mediation and personal prayer morning and evening • Honest and hard work • Charity • Service to humanity, God, and guru • Strong family values • Strong identity with the Sikh community • Khalsa members abstain from smoking, drinking and illicite drugs

39. Sikhism on the Web: • The Sikhism Home Page: http://www.sikhs.org/topics.htm • The SikhNetwork: a virtual worldwide Sikh community (includes areas for on-line discussion and live chats with Sikhs from around the world) http://www.sikhnet.com/

40. How much have you learned? • Let’s take a Chalkboard Challenge