Basic Information

1. Basic Information • Founders: Jesus Christ, and God. • Practiced: Western hemisphere and Europe • It’s a universalizing religion • Has approximately 1.6 billion members worldwide.

2. Maps/Cathedrals Catholic churches were originally built the way they are, because they were meant to be seen from miles around. They were also supposed to show the importance and power of the church.

3. Major Prophets/Beliefs • Prophets- Jesus, 12 disciples, Jeremiah, Elijah, Isaiah, Daniel, Ezekiel • Beliefs- Jesus came to earth to live a sinless life and die for our sins. If you accept him you are forgiven of you sins. • Afterlife- If you have accepted Jesus you will go to heaven. If not you go to Hell.

4. Symbols/Our personal beliefs Symbols- The cross/crucifix, The Virgin Mary, Rosaries. Our personal beliefs: We are Baptists, so what we believe is very similar. The major differences are we don’t worship saints, and we don’t baptize people as babies.

5. Judaism • Judaism was founded in the 6th or 5th century B.C. by Abraham. • Judaism is primarily practiced in Israel (5,500 million), and in the U.S. (5 million). • Judaism is an ethnic religion. • Judaism is estimated to have 13 – 14 million followers worldwide.

6. Jewish Religious Beliefs • Major prophets or 'Navi' of Judaism include: Joshua, Samuel, Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekial. • Jewish belief says that there is only one God, and that he should be worshiped. There are also ethics associated with it, such as following the Ten Commandments. • Jews traditionally believe that the good go to a heaven like place called Gan Eden, and the wicked go to a place known as Gehinnom.

7. Religious Symbols of Judaism • The three symbols shown here are the Magein David, or Star of David, the Mezuzah, and the Menorah, respectively. • The Magein David supposedly represents the shape of David's shield. • The Mezuzah is a case containing a scroll with part of the Shema written on it. • The Menorah is a candlabra representing the Jewish nation.

8. Jewish Dispersal • The Jewish people originally inhabited what is now Israel, but were displaced to other places in the Middle East in the 8th and 6th centuries BC. • In the 30's and 40's many Jews fled from Poland, Germany, and other European countries to escape the Holocaust. Many of these Jews came to America. • When the state of Israel was established in 1948, many Jews migrated there.

9. Islam The founder of Islam was Muhammad. Even though Islam is mainly practiced in the Middle East, Southeast Asia, and North Africa, it is still a universalizing religion. Islam has over 1.5 billion members world wide.

10. Islam • They believe that Abraham and Muhammad were major prophets and teachers of this religion. Muslims also believe that Islam is God’s final message to humankind, a reconfirmation and perfection of the messages that God has revealed through earlier prophets. They also believe that people are born free of sins. • Like Christianity, Islam teaches the continued existence of the soul and a transformed physical existence after death. There will be a day of judgment and humanity will be divided between the eternal destinations of paradise and Hell.

11. Islam • Christianity and Islam are the two largest religions in the world and they have many points of contact. Both inherited from Judaism a belief in one God who created the world and cares about the behavior and beliefs of human beings. For the most part both of these religions believe in the same things, although Christians sacred text is the Bible while Muslim’s sacred text is the Qur'an. • In the Islamic faith there are no official symbols, but several symbols or images that have a special place in Islam. The Star Crescent is the best-known symbol used to represent Islam. It shows up on most flags.

13. main beliefs 6. The divine beings exist in unseen worlds and that temple worship, rituals, sacraments and personal devotionals allow communication between devas and Gods. 1. One, all-pervasive Supreme Being. 2. Divinity of the four Vedas, the world's most ancient scripture, and venerate the Agamas as equally revealed. These hymns are the Sanatana Dharma, or, the eternal religion. 7. All life is sacred, to be loved and cherished, and practice ahimsa, (the avoidance of violence), in thought, word and deed. 3. The universe undergoes endless cycles of creation, preservation and dissolution. 4. Karma, the law of cause and effect by which each individual creates his own destiny through his thoughts, words and deeds. 8. No one religion leads to salvation above all others, all paths are facets of God's Light, and deserve tolerance and understanding. 5. The soul reincarnates, evolving through many births until all karmas have been achieved, and moksha, or, liberation from the cycle of rebirth, is attained.“Not a single soul will be deprived of this destiny.”

14. Other beliefs/facts Devas and Devis • No one founder, it is a collective religion, meaning it has been created over time. • Their religious texts are divided into two groups, Śruti (revealed) and Smriti (remembered). • The religion contains over 330 million deities, devas, devis, and gods. These contain local and regional god’s. • Hinduism is the predominant religion of India, with 80.5% of the country relating themselves to the Hindu faith. • Hinduism is the 3rd, or possibly 4th, largest religion, behind Christianity, Islam, Judaism, and Buddhism, respectively. Durga LakshmiSarasvati Vishvedavas MarutasMoordha PrajapatiPrithvi PushaRudraSavitrShivaSomaVarunaVayuVishnu AdityaAgniAntarikshaAshwinisBrahmaBrihaspatiDishasDyausIndraGanesha

15. Hindu beliefs on topics • Hell: Since Hindus believe in reincarnation, they do not have the same views on hell. They view hell as a stage in the cosmic cycle. If you die with negative karma, you wait in hell until a matching ‘parent’ body is found. If you die with positive karma, you move on to the next level. • Women: Their beliefs/values vary from region to region, and based off of which texts they pull their beliefs from. The Vedas is more authoritative, the Ramayana and the Mahabharata defines the ideal women, and the Manu Smriti advocates the restriction of women’s rights. • Abortion: While Hindu text believes you should do whatever cause they least amount of harm, Hindus are free to have their own opinion on the topic. • Homosexuality: Hinduism is one of the only religions in the world that does not condemn homosexuality. It recognizes it as a natural occurrence, and defines love as a natural force and sees no gender.

16. Architecture Lilburn, Georgia West Bengal

17. Architecture DoddaBasappa Temple at Dambal, Karnataka Built in the 17th century. Shiva temple, Prambanan, Central Java

18. Architecture TajMahal Agra, India

19. Siddhartha Gautama • In Nepal, c. 430 BC, Gautama founded the religion known today as Buddhism. • While sitting under a papal tree, Gautama became Buddha ‘enlightened one’. Reincarnation is the belief that the soul, upon death of the body, comes back to earth in another body or form. Buddhists cremate their dead as a symbol that gives a sense of detachment. They believe that the soul of the departed is set free from bondage. (Disciples, Buddha)

20. Universalizing Religion The Four Noble Truths All living things must endure suffering. Suffering, which is caused by a desire, leads to reincarnation. The goal of all existence is to escape from suffering… Nirvana is attained through an Eightfold Path. The Wheel of Life The Eightfold Path View, thought, speech, action, livelihood, effort, mindfulness, and concentration. The Eightfold Path

21. c.380-250 BC – Buddhism spread to south India and into Sri Lanka. (3rd century BC - King Asoka) Map of Buddhist population today… Today there are around 350 million Buddhists worldwide.

22. Buddhist temples are dedicated to divine named Buddhas. Australian Temple Vajrayana Temple… Chita Siberia Venkateswara Swami Temple … Atlanta Georgia European Temple

23. Theravada- They believe they are closer to Buddha’s original approach and that Buddhism is a full time occupation. They also believe that one must become a monk. • Mahayana- They believe that their approach to Buddhism can help more people because it is less demanding and all-encompassing.

24. The Religion • The founders of this religion are St. Paul and the Apostles • Eastern Orthodox is an Ethnic religion • The area where this is mostly practiced is eastern Europe and Russia • The number of members of the church is 233,146,000 • The major prophets/teachers of the religion are: Patriarch in Constantinople and Jesus.

25. Beliefs • That there are three Divine Persons in God, distinct, yet equal. • That the Father is the head of the Trinity, neither begotten, nor proceeds from anyone. • That there are Seven Sacraments: Baptism, Holy Chrismation, Holy Eucharist, Holy Confession, Ordination, Marriage, and Holy Unction. • The people who follow this religion also believe in resurrection

26. Religious Symbols • The small top crossbar represents the sign that Pontius Pilate nailed above Christ's head. It often is inscribed with an acronym "INRI", meaning “Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews”; however, it is often replaced or amplified by the phrase "The King of Glory" in order to answer Pilate's statement with Christ's affirmation, "My Kingdom is not of this world". • There is also a bottom slanting bar. This appears for a number of reasons. Claims of evidence indicate that there was a small wooden platform for the crucified to stand on in order to support his weight; in Jesus' case his feet were nailed side by side to this platform with one nail each in order to prolong the torture of the cross.

28. Who are the gurus and what are their beliefs? • There are ten major Gurus(The Prophets) • 1.Nanak Dev, 2. Angad Dev , 3. Amar Das, 4. Ram Das, 5. Arjan Dev, 6. Har Gobind, 7. Har Rai, 8. Har Krishan, 9. Tegh Bahadur, 10. Gobind Singh • The principal belief of Sikhism is faith in Waheguru—represented by the phrase ik ōaṅkār, meaning one God. • Sikhism advocates the pursuit of salvation through disciplined, personal meditation on the name and message of God. • The rejection of the divisive Caste system. Sikhs reject any distinction made for class, race, creed or sex. Sikhs believe in full equality for all people. • The Sikh goal is to end the cycle of birth, death and rebirth, and unite the separated individual soul with the Universal Soul (God). • In Sikhism there are 4 cardinal sins (Kurahts). • Sikhism identifies 5 vices, which a Sikh must regulate and control. • To protect and help those in need through charity and community service. • Sikhism teaches that the soul reincarnates when the body dies. Sikhs believe that good, or bad actions, determine the life form into which a soul takes rebirth.

29. Where And How Did Sikhism Start, And how many people practice it? • Sikhism is a monotheistic religion founded in the fifteenth century Punjab on the teachings of Guru Nanak Dev Ji(1469-1538), and ten successive Sikh Gurus. • Sikhs make up 0.39%of the world population, 75% of Sikhs live in the Indian state of Punjab. However, Sikhs only make up about 2% of the Indian population. Even though there are a large number of Sikhs in the world, certain countries have not recognized Sikhism as a major religion • This religion is a universalizing religion, people are not born into it like Jews which is ethnic. • There are about 27 million Sikhs worldwide.

30. Religious Symbols • Kesh • Uncut hair, which is kept covered by a distinctive turban. Kesh are a traditional symbol of holiness in India, and the turban is a symbol of leadership. • Kirpan • A ceremonial sword, symbolizing readiness to defend the defenseless, and defend one's faith against persecution. • Kara • A steel bracelet, symbolizing strength and integrity. • Kangha • A wooden comb, symbolizing cleanliness and order. • Kachhera • Cotton boxer shorts, symbolizing self-control and chastity; prohibition of adultery. • > The Sikh Insignia - Khanda • The Khanda constitutes three symbols in one. However, the name is derived from the central symbol, Khanda, a special type of double-edged sword which confirms the Sikhs' belief in One God.   The Sikh Flag - Nishan Sahib • The Sikh flag is a saffron-colored triangular-shaped cloth, usually reinforced in the middle with Sikh insignia in blue.

31. Temples !! GURDWARA - The Sikh Temple India Singapore- Uganda, Africa Augusta Georgia London Spread of Sikhism

32. Architecture • Sikh architecture was distinguished for its many curves and straight lines. • The four doors of a Sikh temple represent the Door of Peace, the Door of Livelihood, the Door of Learning and the Door of Grace. These doors must always remain open to all.

33. Mormonism .

34. Founder • Founder- Joseph Smith • Wrote Book of Mormon • Organized The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter- Day Saints • Visited by spirits

35. Mainly Practiced in… - Majority is in Utah • Concentration is in the West (Arizona, Nevada, Montana, Wyoming)

36. Mormon Symbols • Lot of symbols are similar to other Christian groups • Bread and water stand for symbols of flesh and blood of Jesus Christ • Unlike other Christian groups there is an absence of a cross

37. After-Life • Everyone who dies will live eternally • Families can live together forever in heaven if they are "sealed" through special temple ceremonies • Believe in Hell • If you do not repent on Earth- Temporary Hell • If you do not repent after temporary Hell- Eternal Hell

38. Number of Members • Worldwide there are a total of about 13million Mormons.

39. Major Beliefs • The main beliefs of Mormons are summarized by the 13 Articles of Faith which were written by the founder of Mormonism, Joseph Smith. • Basically they just say that they believe in and worship God.

40. Map

41. Personal Beliefs • Valerie: I go to church like they do, but not as much. Also, I am family oriented. I am not as into religion as they are though. • Arianna:

42. Extra • Stephanie Meyer is a MORMON!!! • gasp!

43. Baha'i By: Tatiana Khov & Amber Brown

44. Baha’I Worldwide • The Faith’s founder was Baha'u'llah. He was a Persian noble man that was from Tehran, who left a life of princely comfort & security. He also faced a rough life of deprivation & persecution. In the mix & brutality he found a peace & unity within himself. Baha'u'llah claimed to be nothing less than a new and independent Messenger from God. The essential message of Baha'u'llah is that of unity. He taught that there is only one God, that there is only one human race, and that all the world’s religions represent stages in the revelation of God’s will and purpose for humanity. • The religion is mainly used throughout many places around the world as of today. It is mostly spread through cities and countries such as: • Wilmette, Illinois, USA • Frankfurt am Main, Germany • Kampala, Uganda • Sydney, Australia • Panama City, Panama • Apia, Samoa • New Delhi, India • Baha'i's worship services have no rituals, sermon, or clergy. Services consist of prayers, music, and reading of the scriptures of all religions, especially the writings of the Baha'i Messenger Baha’u’llah. Houses of Worship are open to people of every religion • Baha'i faith is an independent monotheistic religion with its own sacred scriptures, laws, calendar, and holy day. It would be considered as an universalizing religion because it slowly but surely spreading worldwide with more than 5 million adherents from virtually every nation and ethnic group on earth. • While the five-pointed star is the symbol of the religion, being used to represent the human body and Messengers of God, more common symbols include the nine-pointed star the Greatest Name, and the Ringtone symbol, representing perfection, and the Messengers of God. • The symbol of the Greatest Name represents an invocation which can be translated either as 'O Glory of Glories' or 'O Glory of the All-Glorious.' The word glory used in this connection is a translation of the Arabic term Bahá, the name of Baha'u'llah." • This graph demonstrates the spread of the Baha'i religion in the United States.

45. Belief, Prophets, & Lessons The Twelve Principles- 1.Oneness of God. 2.Oneness of Religion. 3.Oneness of Mankind. 4.Elimination of prejudice of all kinds. 5.Individual search after truth. 6.Universal auxiliary language. 7.Equality of men and women. 8.Universal education. 9.Harmony of science and religion. 10.Elimination of extremes of wealth and poverty. 11.World government. 12. Protection of cultural diversity. Afterlife- Baha'is believe in an afterlife in which the soul is separated from the body. At death, according to the Baha'i faith, the soul begins a spiritual journey towards God through many planes of existence. Progress on this journey towards God is likened to the idea of "heaven." If the soul fails to develop, one remains distant from God. This condition of remoteness from God can in some sense be understood as "hell." Thus Baha'is do not regard heaven and hell as literal places but as different states of being during one's spiritual journey toward or away from God. Baha'is understand the spiritual world to be a timeless and placeless extension of our own universe--and not some physically remote or removed place. But beyond this, the exact nature of the afterlife remains a mystery. Baha'u'llah wrote, "The nature of the soul after death can never be described." Major Beliefs- Progressive- Revelation Baha'i theology holds to the idea of progressive revelation. In their system there are different manifestations of God during different periods of time. Oneness and Unity- The Baha'i faith teaches the oneness of God, the oneness of all religions, and the oneness of mankind. The emphasis on oneness is not window dressing; it is a core concept of the system. Unity is sought, taught, and preached today and is the goal for tomorrow. The mission of Baha'i life is to bring to fruition the unity of all mankind in a divine civilization based on the teachings of Baha'u'llah. Laws & Obligations- 1.      Pray every day. 2.      Observe the Baha'i Fast from sunrise to sunset each day from March 2 through 21. 3.      Consider work as worship. 4.      Teach the Cause of God. 5.      Avoid alcoholic drinks and drugs. 6.      Observe Baha'i marriage. 7.      Obey the government and not participate in politics. 8.      Avoid backbiting and gossip. 9.      Observe Baha'i Holy Days. 10.  Contribute to the Baha'i Fund.9) Map of locations of Baha'i House of Worship in the world. Green, countries with a House of Worship (location shown with blue dot); red, countries with destroyed House of Worship; light green, countries with a planned location for a House of Worship

46. Our Beliefs Tatiana – My personal belief is quite different from the Baha'i religion. I don’t believe specifically in a god or Buddha. I do believe there is a higher power and a great & good, but I am not a mainly religious person. I was born into a Buddhist religion but I do not practice its principles, laws, or obligations. I am not well connected towards my religion. So I have drifted away from it. So I do not have a direct religion. This can be considered atheist. This is different compared to the Baha'i religion because they believe in a god, they practice principles, laws, & obligations and I do not. Amber- My personal beliefs are very similar to those of the Baha'i religion. I believe in God and that he is the higher power. I was born into a Christian religion and I am still Christian. With being a Christian I don’t really practice much because there is nothing to really practice in the religion. You do have principles that you are expected to follow but they are not forced upon you. The Baha'i religion is basically the stricter version of Christianity. The Ringstone Symbol The purpose of the symbol that appears on Baha'i ringstones and other Baha'i identity jewelry serves as a visual reminder of God's purpose for man, and for Baha'is in particular A simple nine-pointed star is generally used by Baha'is as a symbol of their Faith. The Greatest Name Particularly cherished by Baha'is are calligraphic forms of the word Baha known as the Greatest Name, a reference to Baha’u’llah. In this category is the right symbol above, which is engraved on personal rings and on buildings to establish their Baha'i identity.

47. UK Canada Jainism Atlanta, GA Belgium By Jordan Fessehaie & Megan Dunn India

48. Jainism • Founder-Mahavira (c. 599-527 BC) • Adherents-4 million (most in India) • Universalizing Religion • Mainly in Eastern India • Major sects-Digambaras ("sky-clad"); Shvetambaras ("white-clad")

49. Beliefs • Jain beliefs have their historical roots in Hinduism, but there are many distinctive differences between the two Indian religions. Jains believe that the universe and everything in it is eternal. Nothing that exists now was ever created, nor will it be destroyed. The universe consists of three realms: the heavens, the earthly realm and the hells. There are seven levels of heaven in Jain cosmology. The top level, "the Realm of the Jinas" is reserved for liberated souls. The next level down is the realm of the gods. • We both believe that that there is a heaven and hell. We do not agree that there are seven levels of Heaven.

50. Unlike hell imagery in most other systems, the eight hells of Jainism become progressively colder as they go down. Suffering in these hells is not eternal. Once a soul has been severely punished, he or she is reborn into another form. Death Afterlife Repeated reincarnation until liberation. Depending on one's karma and level of spiritual development, death may mean being reborn in another physical appearance in the earthly realm, suffering punishment in one of eight hells or joining other liberated souls in the highest level of heaven. • ahimsa • principle of non-violence to any living thing • Ambika • Mother-Goddess • anekantvad • principle of multiple viewpoints (illustration: story of blind men and elephant) • Arihanta • "destroyer of enemies" - the spiritual state at which inner passions have been destroyed (ego, deceit, greed, anger, etc.) • jinas • spiritual victors; tirthankaras • kashaya • passions • loka • true nature of the universe • salekhana • fasting to death (performed by Mahavira) Words and Meanings