Major World Religions

1. Major World Religions Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism

2. Buddhism

3. Buddhism History • Siddhartha Gautama was born to a noble family • Prophecy indicated he would become a spiritual leader if he ever left home • He left home 4 times when he was 29, encountering different men • An old man • A sick man • A corpse • A wandering holy man who seemed at peace with himself • As a result, he decided to spend his life searching for religious truth & an end to life’s suffering

5. Buddhism • Originated in the northeastern Indian subcontinent some time between the 6th and 4th centuries BCE • Two major branches of Buddhism are recognized: • Theravada ("The School of the Elders") • Mahayana ("The Great Vehicle“) • Karma • specifically refers to those actions (of body, speech, and mind) that spring from mental intent and which bring about a consequence • Rebirth • a process whereby beings go through a succession of lifetimes as one of many possible forms of sentient life, each running from conceptionto death • Buddhism rejects the concepts of a permanent self or an unchanging, eternal soul (as in Christianity & Hinduism)

6. Buddhism Practices • Devotion: • practices include bowing, offerings, pilgrimage, and chanting • Meditation & Yoga: • transforming the mind and using it to explore itself and other phenomena • a complete cessation of thought, some sort of mental activity must take place: a liberating cognition, based on the practice of mindful awareness during the process of meditation • Monastic life: • Vinaya is the specific moral code for monks and nuns. • The precise content differs slightly according to different schools, and different schools or sub-schools set different standards for the degree of adherence to Vinaya

7. Beliefs • Persons achieve complete peace and happiness (nirvana) by eliminating their attachment to worldly things • Nirvana is reached by following the Noble Eightfold Path

8. Four Noble Truths

9. Fast Facts: • Who founded Buddhism? • The Buddha (“the enlightened one”) – Siddhartha Gautama • Name of Deity? • The Buddha did not teach a personal deity • Name of Holy Book? • No one book, but a collection of sacred texts, including Dhammapada • Where is Buddhism found in the world? • Founded in Northeastern India • Practiced in India, China, Japan, Korea, most of Southeast Asia today

10. How many people practice Buddhism? • Approximately 362 million up to 500 million • Who are the leaders of Buddhism? • Buddhist monks and nuns • Accepts the ideas of: • Reincarnation • Cyclical or repetitive view of history, where the world is created and destroyed over and over again • Sangha: Buddhist religious order; at first was a community of Buddhist monks and nuns • Today refers to the entire religious community • Dharma: Buddhist doctrine or teachings • “Three Jewels of Buddhism”: the religious community, Buddha, and dharma • Nirvana: The release from selfishness & pain

11. Buddhism Symbols The Wheel: represents the teachings of Buddha; its motion is a metaphor for rapid spiritual change; the spokes symbolize the Noble Eightfold Path The Lotus: progress of the soul, from primeval mud of materialism through the waters of experience, and into the bright sunshine of enlightenment Buddha Eyes: a.k.a. Wisdom Eyes, look in four directions to symbolize the omniscience (all-seeing) of a Buddha

12. Buddhism Symbols Endless Knot: symbolizes Buddha’s endless wisdom and compassion; the intertwined lines represent how all phenomena are joined together as a closed cycle of cause and effect “Peace comes from within. Do not seek it without.” ~ Buddha

13. Do not overrate what you have received, nor envy others. He who envies others does not obtain peace of mind. ~ Buddha Hatred does not cease by hatred, but only by love; this is the eternal rule. ~ Buddha We are shaped by our thoughts; we become what we think. When the mind is pure, joy follows like a shadow that never leaves. ~ Buddha

14. Christianity

15. However, not everyone in the Roman Empire welcomed Jesus and his message. In particular, Roman and Jewish leaders alike were concerned about the growing popularity of Jesus. • Roman leaders felt Jesus was defiant of Roman law, while Jewish leaders found His teachings to be blasphemous (false). • Roman and Jewish leaders wanted Jesus arrested for the charges mentioned above. One of Jesus’ disciples, Judas Iscariot, identified Jesus for the authorities, and in return was given 30 pieces of silver.

16. Jesus was taken before the Roman governor, Pontus Pilate, who under pressure from a rioting Jewish mob, sentenced Jesus to death by crucifixion. This was the most common form of capital punishment in the Roman Empire. • On the third day after His death, His tomb was found empty. • Christians believe Jesus descended into heaven on this day. • He was later seen by His disciples and many other believers, whom He commanded to teach and baptize others.

17. Beliefs • Christianity teaches that Jesus is the Son of God, God having become human and the saviour of humanity • Jesus suffered, died, was buried, and was resurrected from the dead to open heaven to those who believe in him and trust him for the remission of their sins (salvation). • They further maintain that Jesus bodily ascended into heaven where he rules and reigns with God the Father. • Most denominations teach that Jesus will return to judge all humans, living and dead, and grant eternal life to his followers. He is considered the model of a virtuous life, and both the revealer and physical incarnation of God. • Christians call the message of Jesus Christ the Gospel ("good news") and hence refer to the earliest written accounts of his ministry as gospels.

18. Beliefs • The Trinity is an essential doctrine of mainstream Christianity. • "Father, Son and Holy Spirit" represents both the immanence and transcendence of God. • God is believed to be infinite and God's presence may be perceived through the actions of Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. • Christianity regards the Bible, a collection of canonical books in two parts (the Old Testament and the New Testament), as the authoritative word of God • Most Christians believe that human beings experience divine judgment and are rewarded either with eternal life (heaven) or eternal damnation (hell).

19. Fast Facts Christianity is the largest religion in the world, with about 2 billion followers. Christians believe that they reach salvation by following the teachings of Jesus Christ. Christianity is a monotheistic religion, which means Christians believe in one God. The Bible is the most sacred book of the Christian religion. It is divided into two major parts: the Old Testament, which focuses on Jewish history, and the New Testament, which describes the teachings of Jesus.

20. Fast Facts Christianity spread from the Middle East and Europe through missionary work and colonization. In order to follow Jesus' command to serve others, Christians established hospitals, churches, schools, charities, orphanages, homeless shelters, and universities in the areas in which they spread Christianity Sunday is considered a holy day and a day of worship in Christianity. It is believed to represent the 7th day from the book of Genesis in which God rested after creating all of the Earth.

21. Divisions with Christianity • Roman Catholic: • Leader is Pope, he is the highest authority in matters of faith, morality and Church governance • Largest group in Christianity • Based in Vatican City • Defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ,administering the sacramentsand exercising charity • Protestant: • Founded in the 16th century by Martin Luther, Huldrych Zwingli, and John Calvin during the period of Protestant Reformation • Technically the 2nd largest group, but Protestants are broken into many denominations • Believe that salvation comes only through faith in Jesus and commitment to him rather than good works • Eastern Orthodox: • Found predominately in Eastern Europe • 2nd largest group in Christianity • The goal of Orthodox Christians from baptism is to continually draw themselves nearer to God throughout their lives. This process is called theosis, or deification, and is a spiritual pilgrimage in which each person strives to both become more holy and more "Christ Like" within Jesus Christ.

22. Sacraments of the Catholic Church: • Baptism • Baptism is usually conferred today by pouring water three times on the recipient's head, while reciting the baptismal formula: “I baptize you in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit” • Baptism is also practice in other sects of Christianity • Confirmation • Process in which followers receive the Holy Spirit and become adult members of the Catholic Church • Said to strengthen baptism • Eucharist • Partaking of the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ and allow followers to participate in his one sacrifice • Commonly known as Communion • Communion is practice in other sects of Christianity as well • Reconciliation • (1) Contrition (the Penitent's sincere remorse for wrongdoing or sin, repentance, without which the rite has no effect); (2) Confession to a Priest with the faculty to hear confessions (Canon 966.1) – while it may be spiritually helpful to confess to another, only a Priest has the power to administer the sacrament; (3) Absolution by the Priest; and, (4) Satisfaction or Penance. • Anointing of the Sick • Holy Orders • Marriage

23. Christianity Observances • Easter: • Easter is a spring festival that celebrates the resurrection of Christ. It is the oldest Christian holiday and the most important day of the church year. • Good Friday: • Friday before Easter • Observance of the crucifixion of Jesus on the cross • Christmas: • The celebration of the birth of Jesus • Gifts are usually exchanged in symbolism of the gifts the Three Wise Men brought to Jesus when he was born • Palm Sunday: • Palm Sunday is the sixth Sunday of Lent and the last Sunday before Easter. It commemorates the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem. • The term stems from the fact that when Jesus rode a donkey into Jerusalem, a large crowd of people in the city spread out palm branches on the ground before him as a sign of his kingship • Lent: • Lent is a 40-day period of fasting and repentance in preparation for Easter • Christians usually abstain from one pleasure during this period

24. Christian Symbols • The fish is an early symbol of Christianity. There are many theories about the origin of the symbol, but some Christians believe that it derives from the fact that Jesus called his disciples, or followers, “fishers of men.” • The cross is the earliest and most widely used Christian symbol. It represents the crucifixion of Christ.

25. Christian Symbols • Bread & Wine • Many Christian worship services include communion, in which bread and wine are consumed in remembrance of Jesus’ death. Communion celebrates the last meal Jesus took with his disciples, as illustrated in the Last Supper by Leonardo da Vinci.

26. Islam

27. Origins & History • Muhammad, the prophet of Islam, was born in the town of Mecca in 570 A.D. • As a young man, while mediating in a cave outside of Mecca, Muhammad hear the word of God spoken through the angel Gabriel. • Gabriel told him to preach the existence of one God and destroy all idols • Muhammad then began to reveal Gabriel’s message to his family and then others

28. Origins & History • While in Mecca, Muhammad and his followers suffered torment and their lives were threatened • Eventually, they to the hijrah, or journey, from Mecca to Medina. • While in Medina, Muhammad gained many followers. This was a turning point for Muhammad. • In the year 622, Muhammad and his followers returned to Mecca and began to teach the belief in one God—Allah.

29. Divisions within Islam • Sunni: • Mainstream body of Muslims • Means the teachings and actions or examples of the Islamic prophet, Muhammad • Sunnis believe that Muhammad did not specifically appoint a successor to lead the Muslim ummah (community) before his death • Shi’ite: • Minority division • Account for 10-20% • Thought to be more radical than the Sunnis • Believe that that Muhammad’s family, the Ahl al-Bayt (the "People of the House"), including his descendants known as Imams, have special spiritual and political rule over the community • Though a minority in the Muslim world—constitute the majority of the populations in Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Iran, and Iraq, as well as a plurality in Lebanon and Yemen. • There are various Shi‘ite theological beliefs, schools of jurisprudence, philosophical beliefs, and spiritual movements within this sect.

30. Key Words • Allah: Arabic word for God, the one and only God. Allah is same God worshiped by Jews and Christians • Islam: means submission to God • Muhammad: the prophet of God; his role in conveying the role of God was similar to Moses and Jesus • Mecca: town where Mohammad was born and raised; a holy city for Muslims • Muslim: a believer in Islam, literally means “one who submits to God” • Qur’an: holy scripture of Islam, revealed to Muhammad by God

31. Key Words • Hajj: pilgrimage (especially to Mecca), one of the five pillars of Islam • Mosque: place of worship • Jihad: • means struggle or fight • sometimes translated as “holy war” • used in reference to wars fought by Muslims against those thought to be enemies of Islam • Ramadan: • Takes place in the 9th month of the Islamic year and last for 1 month • Muslims are required to fast from dawn until sunset during the month of Ramadan • Fasting during this period is called Sawm (another one of the five pillars of Islam) • During this month, the Qur’an (holy text) was sent down from Heaven as guidance for men and also as direction and means for salvation

33. The Five Pillars of Islam • All Muslims are required to perform the five pillars if they are able physically and mentally • Iman or Shahada: • The profession of faith; this is recited several times a day during daily prayers • “There is no god but Allah and Muhammad is his prophet.” • Salah: • Daily prayers • Said five times each day (once in the morning, three times during the day, and once at night) • Said facing the holy city of Mecca which is located in Saudi Arabia

34. The Five Pillars of Islam • Zakah: • Giving alms to the needy • Considered a religious obligation • Seen as an expression of devotion to Allah • Qur’an strongly encourages charity • Sawm: • Fasting • Usually done during the 9th month of the Islamic calendar during Ramadan • For the entire month, Muslims must fast from daybreak to sunset by refraining from eating, drinking, and all sexual activities • Hajj: • Pilgrimage to Mecca • Muslims that are physically, financially, and mentally able should perform the Hajj at least once in their lifetime

36. Facts: • Muslims believe that Muhammad was the last and greatest prophet. • Islam is one of the fastest growing religions in the world with over 1 billion followers. • Islam is a way of life that governs all facets—moral, spiritual, social, political, economical, intellectual, etc. • A muezzin is the chosen person at a mosque who leads the call to prayer at Friday services as well as the five daily times for prayer

37. The Dome of the Rock is located in Jerusalem and is believed by Muslims to be the place where Muhammad descended into heaven. • The Ka’aba is located in present day Saudi Arabia and is an important Islamic Shrine. According to Islamic belief, it was build by Abraham and Ishmael, from whom Muslims trace their heritage.

39. Symbols • The crescent, star, and the color green are symbols often associated with Islam. • You will find these symbols on the flags of many Muslim nations • Star: represents knowledge and light • Crescent: represents progress

40. Hinduism

41. History • No particular founder • Roots begin with the Indus River Valley Civilization over 5000 years ago • Aryans enter 4000 - 3500 years ago • Vedas: sacred literature of the Aryans; four collections of prayers, magical spells, and instructions for performing rituals • Between 750 & 550 B.C.: Hindu teachers tried to interpret & explain hidden meaning of Vedic hymns • Vedic Tradition adopted 3500 – 2500 years ago • Various rituals, many gods (polytheism), sacred texts (Vedas), social stratification (caste system) • Upanishads (metaphysical philosophy) develops 2800 – 2400 years ago • Comments about the Vedas that explore how a person can achieve liberation from desires and suffering • Vedic Tradition along with the Upanishads develop into Hinduism

42. Basic Beliefs • Hinduism embraces a great diversity of beliefs, a fact that can be initially confusing to westerners accustomed to creeds, confessions, and carefully-worded belief statements. One can believe a wide variety of things about God, the universe and the path to liberation and still be considered a Hindu. • Despite the diversity within the religion, all Hindus generally believe in the authority of the Vedas (the oldest Indian sacred texts) and the Brahmans (highest priests); the existence of an enduring soul that transmigrates from one body to another at death (reincarnation); and the law of karma that determines one's destiny both in this life and the next. • The ultimate goal of all Hindus is release (moksha) from the cycle of rebirth (samsara) and reunited with the diving, becoming as one with Brahman.

43. Basic Beliefs • Polytheistic: Hindus believe in a divine spirit called Brahman. • Brahman is the Supreme Being and each other god or goddess worshiped represents an aspect of Brahman. • Brahman takes on many manifestations or in other words the gods and goddesses of Hinduism amount to thousands or even millions, all representing the many aspects of Brahman • Belief in the Laws of Cause and Effect • Hinduism includes a wide spectrum of laws and prescriptions of "daily morality" based on the notion of karma, dharma, and societal norms. • Karma – spiritual impurity due to actions keeps us bound to this world (good and bad) • Dharma - fulfilling one's purpose • Hinduism grants a great degree of freedom of belief and in worship

44. Basic Beliefs • Reincarnation: • The soul never dies, but is continually reborn • Persons achieve happiness and enlightenment after they free themselves from their earthly desires • Freedom from earthly desires comes from a lifetime of worship knowledge, and virtuous acts • Hindus see religion as a way of liberating the soul from the illusions, disappointments, and mistakes of everyday existence • Moksha: state of perfect understanding of all things • Atman: individual soul of a living being • Depending on one’s beliefs determines what one could eat and how to eat it, personal cleanliness, the people one could associate with, and how one dresses

45. Major Gods and Goddesses Worshiped • Ganesha: • became the Lord (Isha) of all existing beings (Gana) after winning a contest from his brother • God of knowledge and the remover of obstacles • Shiva: • god of the yogis • the destroyer of the world or transformer of the divine • known as the "giver"

46. Major Gods and Goddesses Worshiped • Krishna: • The embodiment of love and divine joy, that destroys all pain and sin. • He is the protector of sacred utterances and cows. • Instigator of all forms of knowledge and born to establish the religion of love.

47. Major Gods and Goddesses Worshiped • Brahma: • the creator • Brahma grew in a lotus out of the navel of the sleeping Vishnu • The daily alternation of light and dark is attributed to the activity of Brahma • Vishnu: • God of maintance • the preserver and protector of creation • the embodiment of mercy and goodness, the self-existent, all-pervading power that preserves the universe and maintains the cosmic order Dharma • 10 different incarnations of Vishnu are believed to exist

48. Key Terms • Vedas: • A collection of ancient sacred texts • Caste System: • "The caste system splits up society into a multitude of little communities, for every caste, and almost every local unit of a caste, has its own peculiar customs and internal regulations.” • It was once believed that a person could move up, but sometime around 500 B.C. the system became very rigid with very little mobility. Today, discrimination based on caste is illegal, but still occurs especially in rural areas. • Brahmins (the priests and academics) • Kshatriyas (rulers, military) • Vaishyas (farmers, landlords, and merchants) • Sudras (peasants, servants, and workers in non-polluting jobs) • Ahiṃsā: • non-violence and respect for all life because divinity is believed to permeate all beings, including plants and non-human animals

49. Facts • Hinduism is not a religion in the same sense as Christianity is; it is more like an all encompassing way of life -- much as Native American spirituality is. • Hinduism is generally regarded as the world's oldest organized religion. • There are over 900 million Hindus world wide with over 80% of India’s population claiming to be Hindu • "Hinduism" includes numerous traditions, which are closely related and share common themes but do not constitute a unified set of beliefs or practices.

50. Facts • Scholars describe modern Hinduism as the product of religious development in India that spans nearly four thousand years, making it the oldest surviving world religion. • It has been said that Hindus have a holiday for every day of the year, but even that may be an understatement! Exactly how many Hindu festivals are celebrated is not known, but one scholar of Hinduism has listed more than a thousand different Hindu festivals. • Hindus don't worship cows. They respect, honor and adore the cow. By honoring this gentle animal, who gives more than she takes, they believe that they honor all creatures. • Hindus teach vegetarianism as a way to live with a minimum of hurt to other beings. But in today's world not all Hindus are vegetarians.