World Religions

1. World Religions

2. What is religion? • According to Sociologist Emil Durkheim: • "[Religion is] a unified system of beliefs and practices relative to sacred things, that is to say, things set apart and forbidden--beliefs and practices which unite into one single moral community.” • According to Webster Dictionary: • the belief in a god or in a group of gods • an organized system of beliefs, ceremonies, and rules used to worship a god or a group of gods

3. monotheism vs. polytheistic vs. nontheistic • monotheism: the believe that there is only one God • polytheistic: the believe that there is more than one god • nontheistic: the believe that there is no god

4. There is no “culture recorded in human history” which has not practiced some form of religion. • As religions moved across space, they also changed. • religious leaders interpreted doctrine differently • interaction with indigenous religions • Buddhist in China = shaped earlier Taoist beliefs. • Religion has always influence governments, families, daily habits, etc. • Jews and Muslims are forbidden to eat pork; • code of behavior in a person's relationship with other people = Golden Rule of "doing unto others as you would have them do unto you."

5. Paleolithic to Neolithic • Cave paintings and artifacts shows there was belief in a supernatural • The use of a shaman = a person who is especially attuned to the spirit world and called upon to deal with it on behalf of others • Domestication of animals and agricultural revolution led to a belief in goddess of fertility • Animism = belief that all sorts of motion- less objects as well as living and moving creatures possess souls or spirits, • every human being has a soul or souls leaving the body temporarily during dreams and finally at death.

7. Religion conflict • conflicts around the world: • Arab/Israeli in the Middle East • Taliban/less conservative Muslim/Western in Afghanistan • Muslim/Sikh/Hindu in Kashmir • Catholic/Protestant in Northern Ireland • Fundamental Christian/Chinese Communist in China • Fundamentalist Muslim/Copts/Egyptian government in Egypt • Tibetan Buddhists/Chinese government in Tibet • Hindu Tamil/Sinhalese Buddhist in Sri Lanka • Muslims/Christians in Eastern Europe

8. Top world religions • Christianity: 2.1 billion • Islam: 1.5 billion • Hinduism: 900 million • Chinese traditional religion (includes Taoism): 394 million • Buddhism: 376 million • Sikhism: 23 million • Judaism: 14 million

9. Judaism • Originated in Ur - Mesopotamia • Now Middle East – Iraq • Followers are descents of Abraham • Leaders (Prophets ): • Moses – introduces the Torah • Isaiah • Jeremiah • Leaders (Kings): • Saul • David • Solomon

10. Monotheistic • In exchange for all the good that God has done, people keep God’s laws and try to bring holiness into every aspect of their lives. • Holocaust = Genocide • Jewish = not just a religion but defines a group of people / culture. • original of faiths: Christianity and Islam

11. Christianity • most popular religion in the world • originated in Jerusalem • Founded by Jesus of Nazarene, a Jew • monotheistic • Christians believe that Jesuswas the Messiah promised in the Old Testament (Bible) • Spread of Christianity first is Roman world • Jesus disciples: Paul, John

12. Roman persecution of Christianity • Constantine – influenced by his mother, granted freedom to worship • Theodosius – made Christianity official religion • Division in the Church • Roman Church • Greek Orthodox church • Protestant reform

13. Islam • Second largest religion in the world • Originated in the Arabian Peninsula • Followers of the teaching of Muhammad • The word Islam means 'submission to the will of God’. • Monotheistic • According to Muslims, God (Allah) sent prophets to mankind to teach them how to liveaccording to His law.

14. People of the Book • Jesus, Moses, Abraham and Muhammad. • Pillars of Islam: • declaration of faith, praying five times a day, giving money to charity, fasting, and a pilgrimage to Mecca. • Islam is both a way of life and a religion • Sharia • Laws interpreting sacred book, Quran, indicating moral conduct, family life, business, political practices

15. Hinduism • majority of people in India and Nepal. • In some ways Hinduism is the oldest living religion in the world • originated around the Indus Valley, near the River Indus in modern day Pakistan. • no single founder, no single scripture, and no commonly agreed set of teachings. • 'a way of life' or 'a family of religions' rather than a single religion.

16. The origins of the term 'hindu’ cultural, political and geographical. • caste system • Teaching of karma and samsara (reincarnation) • Debate raises between the concept of Hinduism being polytheistic or monotheists. • Most Hindus believe in a Supreme God • view in multiple forms

17. Buddhism • Originated in northern parts of India • focuses on personal spiritual development • Obtaining enlightenment. • Nontheistic • There is no belief in a personal god. • Buddhists believe that nothing is fixed or permanent and that change is always possible. • Buddhists believe that life is suffering uncertainty. • not centered on the relationship between humanity and God, but rather individual drive

18. The Buddha • Siddhartha Gautama, born into a royal family. • He lived a life of privilege and luxury until one day he left the royal enclosure and encountered for the first time, an old man, a sick man, and a corpse. \ • Siddhartha meditated and reflected on his experience of life until he became enlightened. • Schools of Buddhism • Theravada Buddhism = popular in Sri Lanka, Cambodia, Thailand, Laos and Burma (Myanmar) • Mahayana Buddhism = strongest in Tibet, China, Taiwan, Japan, Korea, and Mongolia.