1 / 59

World Religions

World Religions. The Western Religions. RELIGION. a set of beliefs concerning the cause, nature, and purpose of the universe. usually involving devotional and ritual observances, and often containing a moral code governing human activity and conduct. Polytheistic Believing in MANY gods

betrys
Download Presentation

World Religions

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. World Religions The Western Religions

  2. RELIGION • a set of beliefs concerning the cause, nature, and purpose of the universe. usually involving devotional and ritual observances, and often containing a moral code governing human activity and conduct.

  3. Polytheistic • Believing in MANY gods • Monotheistic • Believing in ONE god • Deity • A god

  4. Sect • Sections within a religion usually separated by subtle differences in their beliefs within the same religion • prophet • a person who speaks for God or a deity, or by divine inspiration.

  5. Judaism Founded about 2000 BC

  6. Judaism's Deity • Monotheistic • Call God “Yahweh” – to scholars • Called “Adonai” – in the worship services. • No images of Yahweh

  7. Judaism’s Key Beliefs • Belief in Yahweh (God) • 10 Commandments given by Yahweh (God) to Moses who is a prophet (someone who speaks the word of God). Includes: • Do not steal, kill, or lie • Honor (respect your parents) • There is only one God • Believe in Afterlife • A person serves Yahweh (God) by studying the Torah and living by its teachings.

  8. Judaism's Holy Book • Bible • First 5 books are called the Torah • Different than complete Christian Bible

  9. How is it Practiced? • Bar Mitzvah—at age 13 boys celebrate their entrance into adult religious community (girls=Bat Mitzvah) • Several holidays that honor their history and their God. • Passover recalls events from the departure of the Jews from Egypt where they had been enslaved.

  10. Sacred Place • Jerusalem • Western Wall: Remains of Jewish Temple destroyed by Romans in 70 AD. Believe when Messiah (savior) comes, temple will be rebuilt.

  11. Worship Services • Place of worship: Synagogue • Holy day (Sabbath or Shabbat) is from sundown Friday to sundown Saturday • Services led by a Rabbi (Jewish spiritual leader)

  12. Divisions (Sects) • Orthodox • Conservative • Reform

  13. Other Information • First monotheistic religion • Founded by Abraham • Same God as Christians and Muslims • Kosher = Various dietary restrictions as interpreted in the Hebrew Bible

  14. Christianity Founded: 30 AD

  15. Christianity’s Key Beliefs • Belief in God • Believe Jesus as son of God • Believe in Ten Commandments and that they were given to Moses • Believe that Jesus died and then rose from the dead to save people from sin. • Call him “Christ” or “Messiah” • Believe in heaven, hell, and afterlife • Christians believe that they can serve God and achieve salvation by following the teachings of Jesus

  16. Christianity’s Deity • Monotheistic • Same God as Jews and Muslims

  17. Christianity’s Holy Book • Bible –divided into two sections • Old Testament • very similar to the Jewish Bible • New Testament • about the life and teachings of Jesus Christ as well as his followers after his death

  18. How is it Practiced? • Many Christians also have a practice of Baptism where they are initiated into Christianity • Holidays that celebrate Jesus such as Christmas (birth) and Easter (resurrection after being crucified)

  19. Christianity’s Sacred Place • Jerusalem • Church of the Holy Sepulchre • Church built where Jesus was crucified • Other sites as well

  20. Worship Services • Place of worship: Church • Holy Day: Sunday • Religious Leader: Priest; bishop; archbishop; patriarch; pope; pastor; minister; preacher; deacon

  21. Christianity’s Divisions (Sects) • Some examples: • Roman Catholics • Eastern Orthodox • Baptist • Lutheran • Presbyterian • Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints • And many more

  22. Other Information about Christianity • For many sects the cross represents symbol of victory over death

  23. Islam Founded: 622 AD

  24. Islam’s Key Beliefs • Belief in heaven, hell, and afterlife • 5 Pillars: 1)Only one God-Allah and Muhammad is his prophet 2)Pray 5x/day 3)Charity 4)Fast during Ramadan 5)Pilgramage to Mecca

  25. Islam’s Deity • Monotheistic • Belief in God • Allah: Arabic word for God • Forbidden to draw images of Muhammad and Allah • Colorful mosaics instead • Same God as Jews and Christians

  26. Islam’s Holy Book • Qur’an • Word of Allah as given to Muhammad • Muslims believe Muhammad ascended to heaven over a period of time where he received messages from Allah through the angel Gabriel

  27. How is it Practiced? • Only Arabic can be used in worship as Muslim’s believe the Arabic version to be true word of Allah • Ablution—cleansing before prayer • Don’t eat pork or drink alcohol • Halal-dietary restrictions based on the slaughtering of meat • Holidays such as Id al-Fitr the celebrates the end of Ramadan (fasting month).

  28. Islam’s Sacred Places • Saudi Arabia • Cities of Mecca and Medina • Jerusalem • Dome of the Rock: Muhammad ascended to heaven to receive messages from Allah • this is in the exact same area as Western Wall

  29. Worship Services • Place of worship: Mosque • Holy Day: Friday • Religious Leader: Imam; Sheikh

  30. Islam’s Divisions (Sects) • Sunni and Shi’a (Shiites) • The division among Muslims began with disagreements about who should lead after the death of Muhammad. • Sunnis believe that anyone with a deep understanding of Islam and the Qur’an can lead Muslims • Shi’as believe that only direct descendants of Muhammad can lead Muslims

  31. Other Information about Islam • Muhammad is the founder, but trace many beliefs back to Abraham • 2nd largest world religion • Consider Jews and Christians to be “People of the Book” • Both have a holy book with many of the same messages as Qur’an • Muslims think of Moses and Jesus as prophets, with Muhammad being the final prophet

  32. World Religions Part 2

  33. Hinduism Founded about 2000 BC

  34. Holy Book • Veda’s • Collection of texts • Rig Veda: oldest Hindu writings • Oldest writings of the major religions • Upanishads • Hindu teachers comments on the Vedas written about 750 and 550 BCE.

  35. Hinduism’s Deity • Polytheistic • Examples of main gods are • Brahma: creator of universe • Vishnu: preserver of universe • Shiva: destroyer of universe • Devi; a great mother goddess • Hindus free to choose which god or gods they worship or none at all

  36. Key Beliefs • Goal of religion is to reach enlightenment (true understanding and happiness)—Moksha • Three paths to moksha: path of right thinking, path of right action, or the path of religious devotion • Reach enlightenment after freeing themselves from earthly desires • Belief in reincarnation: Individual soul is born again and again until perfect understanding of all things is achieved • Karma (good and bad deeds) follows you from one life to another and influences your circumstances

  37. How is it Practiced? • Many use deep meditation and prayer to reach enlightenment • Achieve enlightenment through worship, attainment of knowledge, and virtuous acts

  38. Sacred Place • Ganges River in India • Bathe in water to cleanse and purify themselves • Sick and disabled come in the belief that the holy water might cure their illnesses. • Several other rivers • Sacred city of Varansai in India—city of Hindu god Shiva

  39. Worship Services • Place of worship: home or at temples • Temples contain shrines to important gods or goddesses • Annual festivals at temples to honor gods • At home, worship around a shrine to a god that is important to the family • Spiritual Leader = Guru, Saga - These are not service leaders, but guide people on how to manage their lives around god.

  40. Divisions (Sects) • Haktism • Reform Hinduism (monotheistic) • Vaishnavites • Shaivites

  41. Other Information • No single founder • Began as a blending of cultures when the Aryans (people from area between Aral and Caspian Seas (Modern day Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, and Turkmenistan) moved into the Indus River Valley • Major religion of India • Caste system: Rigid class system that dictates jobs and positions within society—nearly impossible to change caste. • Religion is a way to free soul from illusions, disappointments, and mistakes of life. • 3rd largest world religion

  42. Buddhism Founded: Approx. 530 BC

  43. Buddhism's Key Beliefs • The Three signs of Being • duhkha – life is unsatisfactory • anitya – nothing is permanent • anatman – there is no such thing as a soul • Four Noble Truths • Life is filled with suffering and sorrow • The cause of all suffering is desire • The way to end all suffering is to end all desires. • You can overcome desires and attain enlightenment by following the Eightfold Path. • Nirvana (enlightenment) —release from selfishness and pain. • Belief in reincarnation : living beings, after death are reborn and continue to exist • All living things possess the potential for spiritual growth and the possibility of rebirth as humans

  44. Buddhism’s Deity • No personal deity • Buddha is not a god, but a title of someone who has reached Nirvana

  45. Buddhism’s Holy Book • The first written collections of Buddha’s teachings, were called canons and written in two different languages. • Dhammapada – “Verses of Righteousness” • Memorable sayings of Buddha Including • Four Noble Truths • Eight fold path

  46. How is it Practiced? • The Eight Fold Path • A guideline for Buddhist to follow to live the best possible life and reach Nirvana • Right View, Thought, Speech, Action, Livelihood, Effort, Mindfulness, Concentration. • Buddhist strive to follow Buddha’s teaching through meditation and hopefully achieve enlightenment

  47. Buddhism’s Sacred Places • Various sites in India that relate to Buddha’s life • Birthplace: Lumbini Grove • Place of Enlightenment: Bodh Gaya • Various branches of Buddhism have their own sites

  48. Worship Services Place of worship: • Many Buddhists make offerings at shrines, temples, and monasteries. This is carried over as part of their cultural and less part of Buddhism itself.

  49. Buddhism’s Divisions • Two branches are: • Theravada: • Try to stay as close as possible to Buddha’s recorded teachings • Mahayana: • More accepting of change • There are also divisions of Buddhism that are based on their location: • Tibetan Buddhism • Zen Buddhism • Pure Land Buddhism

  50. Other Information about Buddhism • Founded by Siddhartha Gautama • Searched for religious truth and end to suffering of life • After 49 days of meditation he achieved understanding of the cause of suffering • Became known as “enlightened one” or Buddha • Buddhism was born from Hinduism

More Related