The Five Major Religions

1. The Five Major Religions

2. Restrictions on Religion by the Governments of World Countries Christianity Judaism Islam Buddhism Hinduism • Compare and contrast the elements of the five major world religions • More than 730 Religions which have broken out into more than 4,200 branches

3. Social Hostilities Involving Religion • Learning about religions will help us understand each other better. If we understand each other better, we may be able to avoid conflicts and come to peaceful resolutions. http://www.cbsnews.com/news/two-of-three-kansas-city-area-shooting-victims-were-grandfather-grandson/

4. Beginnings of Religions

5. Religion by the Numbers

6. Religion Distribution

7. 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.

8. 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 Nazareth, and arose as the Holy Spirit. 

9. Christian Philosophy • Monotheistic – One God who is the Creator of the universe. This one God is also thought of as the 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.

10. Christian Philosophy • Sin and Evil are realities. • 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 were his 12 disciples.

11. Christian Denominations • Catholic • Protestant (Lutheran, Methodist, Baptist, Pentecostal, etc.) • Orthodox • Others (Latter Day Saints/Mormon, Non-Trinitarian/Unitarian, etc.)

12. Jesus followers religion God son God died Sin

13. Bible Old & New Testaments Altar, Cross, Pews, Statues blessing Baptism, confirmation, communion, Prayer, Making sign of the cross birth Easter

14. Judaism • People who practice in the religion JUDAISM are called Jews. • JUDAISM was the first to teach belief in only one God (Monotheistic). • Two other important religions developed from Judaism: Christianity and Islam.

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

16. 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.

18. 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.

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

20. 4,000 father one god. Moses laws prejudice Israel Hebrew God’s 10 Commandments

21. The Jewish Laws/ how you should behave Talmud synagogue prayers rabbi light tallit head covering Kosher New Year- repent sins Atonement – make up for sins “fix it” Victory in Israel – menorah Freed from slavery

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

23. Islamic Philosophy • Allah, is the one Islamic God; Monotheistic • 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.

24. Islam • The holy book of Islam is the "Koran" or Quran. Muslims believe its words to be those of Allah himself, spoken to Muhammad by an angel. • 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.

25. Islam • All Muslims are required to make a pilgrimage (trip to a sacred place) to Mecca at least once in their lifetime.

26. An Islamic shrine and major landmark located on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem, Israel. Dome of the Rock • It was completed in 691-692, making it the oldest existing Islamic building in the world. • The Foundation Stone, is in the center. • According to Islamic tradition, this rock is the spot from where Muhammad ascended to Heaven . • According to Jewish tradition, the stone is the site where Abraham prepared to sacrifice his son Isaac.

27. Muhammad Mecca Country/land that was given to the Jews Arabic God we are all equal in the eyes of God. Actions

28. Qur’an Friday – holy day Wash when enter; no shoes, boys & girls apart, no statues or pictures pillars 5 Mecca poor Mecca Imam pork Ramadan Eid-al-Fitr

30. Venn Diagram: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam • Jesus is divine • Trinity • Sacraments • Ordained Ministry • Liturgical practice of breaking bread and wine • Ongoing revelation • No Sacred Language • Church is Holy Building • Weekly Holy Day is Sunday • One God- God of Abraham • Special Relationship with God • History of Ancient Hebrews • Importance of Prophets • Religion is Divided into groups • Prayer occurs during religious service • Services held in Holy Building • Jerusalem is Holy City • Hebrew is Sacred Language • Canaan is Promised Land • God is Adonai • Synagogue is Holy Building • Holy Day is the Sabbath (Friday Night to Saturday Night) • Salvation and Damnation • Recitation of Creed • Story of Jesus’ Life • Arabic Sacred Language • Mecca Holy City • Muhammad Final Prophet • Koran is Holy Book • 5 Pillars- To Attain Salvation • Dietary Laws • Fasting- Ramadan and Yom Kippur • Almsgiving • Sacred Language • God is Allah • Mosque is Holy Building • Friday prayer • Hajj to Mecca

31. Jerusalem: Whose Holy City? Both groups claim this territory as their Holy Land. The name Jerusalem itself is part Arabic part Hebrew that means city of peace. Wailing wall = believed by many people to be the remains of one wall of a great Jewish temple, which was torn down by the Romans.

32. Buddhism • Founding person of Buddhism is Guatama, the Buddha • The Dalai Lama is a Buddhist monk who remains the leader of the Tibetans.

33. Buddhism • Buddhism is a major religion in China, Japan, and Tibet. • Buddhism is the second fastest growing religion. 488 million Buddhists worldwide*

34. 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.

35. 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).

36. Buddha enlightenment – left cycle of rebirth wanting Dharma Reincarnation karma Nirvana

37. Tripitaka home Pagoda Dharma Burn incense or candles, Buddha statues Prayer Flags. Bodhi trees, lotus flowers NOBLE Gossip bullying First – think, speak, act Lama Monks mind O-bon Vesak

38. Hinduism • HINDUISM is one of the world's oldest polytheistic religions. • Over 2/3's of the world's Hindus live in India; large numbers reside in Africa also.

39. Hindu Beliefs • Hindus believe in many gods, numbering into the thousands. • They recognize one supreme god called Brahman (the Absolute). • Hindus believe in a continuous process of rebirth called "reincarnation."

40. Hindu Beliefs • 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). This is the goal of Hindus.

41. 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."

42. India Caste Gandhi Brahman Vishnu sacred Moksha

43. Vedas Upanishads No shoes; wash feet, bells, statues washed, Flowers, incense, candles home Good Luck; be humble Before prayer Marriage Ganges Honor your siblings bracelet Divali Lakshmi Holi

44. Religious Symbols Christianity Hinduism Buddhism Judaism Islam

45. How much have you learned? • Hopefully you understand religions better and we can avoid conflicts and come to peaceful resolutions. • Focus on similarities not differences.