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Unit 1: Religions of the Ancient World

Unit 1: Religions of the Ancient World. Essential Question : What a re 2 similarities and 2 differences shared by the 4 major religions of the ancient world?. Judaism. Founder: Abraham Homeland: Ur (Mesopotamia) God: Yahweh. Judaism: Sacred Writings. The Hebrew Bible: Torah

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Unit 1: Religions of the Ancient World

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  1. Unit 1: Religions of the Ancient World

  2. Essential Question: • What are 2 similarities and 2 differences shared by the 4 major religions of the ancient world?

  3. Judaism Founder: Abraham Homeland: Ur (Mesopotamia) God: Yahweh

  4. Judaism: Sacred Writings • The Hebrew Bible: Torah • Talmud: Mishnah (oral laws of Jews)

  5. Judaism: Key Beliefs • monothestic • Star of David (shield of David) is their symbol • temple = synagogue • covenant - agreement between God and his people, could be fulfilled by obedience to the law of God • prophets- sent by God to serve as his voice to the people • expressed concern for all humanity • hoped that all people would someday follow the God of Israel • concerned for social justice • called Jews to act justly, share with neighbors, care for the poor and unfortunate, and act with compassion

  6. Zoroastrianism Founder: Zoroaster Homeland: Persia (Iran) God: Ahura Mazda

  7. Zoroastrianism: Sacred Writings • Sacred Writings: Avesta

  8. Zoroastrianism: Key Beliefs • monotheistic • concept of Satan (AngraMainyu) • belief of Angels • the final judgment and people have a free will to choose good or evil

  9. Hinduism Founder: • based on Aryan religious beliefs • no single founder Homeland: • India • vast majority of Indian people are still Hindus today

  10. Hinduism God: • Brahman = ultimate reality (God) • Hindu gods and goddesses: • gave ordinary Hindus a way to express their religious feelings • three chief deities • Brahma the Creator • Vishnu the Preserver • Sivathe Destroyer

  11. Hinduism: Sacred Writings • Vedas = collections of hymns and ceremonies passed down orally by Aryan priests and later written down • knowledge comes from the Vedas

  12. Hinduism: Key Beliefs • polythestic • Reincarnation • the idea that the individual soul is reborn in a different form after death • after many existences, the soul may fulfill its final goal and unite with Brahman • you may be reborn into a higher or lower caste • Karma • an important part in reincarnation • the idea that people’s actions determine: • their form of rebirth • the class into which they are reborn, if they are reborn as a person

  13. Hinduism: Key Beliefs • Dharma: duties you are expected to perform, the ethical way in which you are supposed to behave • Ahimsa: non-violence towards all living things • Caste system • religious basis created by the system of reincarnation • higher caste members worthy of privileges because of good karma • lower classes hoped to improve their social status in future lives if they behaved well in the present

  14. Buddhism Founder: • Siddhartha Gautama • known as the Buddha • “Enlightened One” Homeland: • Northern India God: • rejects the idea of a deity

  15. Buddhism: Sacred Writings Sacred Writings: • Mahayana Sutras • The Tripitaka

  16. Buddhism: Key Beliefs • taught: • the physical realm is an illusion • attachment to worldly things causes suffering • giving up attachments stops suffering • leads to Bodhi (wisdom)

  17. Buddhism: Key Beliefs • Purpose is to reach nirvana (enlightenment) • achieving wisdom is a key step • Four Noble Truths: • The truth of suffering (dukkha) • All people suffer and know sadness and sorrow • The truth of the cause of suffering (samudaya) • People suffer because of their material desires • The truth of the end of suffering (nirhodha) • Suffering could end by elimination desires • The truth of the path that frees us from suffering (magga) • By following the Eightfold Path one could eliminate desires

  18. Buddhism: Key Beliefs • Eightfold Path • Also known as the Middle Path • Way to achieve the Four Noble Truths

  19. Buddhism vs. Hinduism • Related to Hinduism • Shares belief of: • Karma • (accumulation of good or bad deeds) • Dharma • (but in this case is the teachings of Buddha telling you how to act/live) • Reincarnation • (rebirth) Differs from Hinduism Rejection of Hindu caste system • taught that all individuals could reach nirvana as a result of their behavior in their current life

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