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World Religions. Influence of World Religions in the Contemporary World. Five World Religions. Five world religions have had a profound impact on culture and civilization. What are some characteristics of the five major world religions?. Judaism. Monotheism
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World Religions Influence of World Religions in the Contemporary World
Five World Religions • Five world religions have had a profound impact on culture and civilization. • What are some characteristics of the five major world religions?
Judaism • Monotheism • Ten Commandments of moral and religious conduct • Torah: Written records and beliefs of the Jews
Christianity • Monotheism • Jesus as Son of God • Life after death • New Testament: Life and teachings of Jesus • Establishment of Christian doctrines by early church councils
Islam • Monotheism • Muhammad, the prophet • Qur’an (Koran) • Five Pillars of Islam • Mecca and Medina
Buddhism • Founder: Siddhartha Gautama (Buddha) • Four Noble Truths • Eightfold Path to Enlightenment • Spread of Buddhism from India to China and other parts of Asia, resulting from Asoka’s missionaries and their writings
Hinduism • Many forms of one god • Reincarnation: Rebirth based upon karma • Karma: Knowledge that all thoughts and actions result in future consequences
Essential Understanding and Question • Five world religions have had a profound impact on culture and civilization. These religions are found worldwide, but their followers tend to be concentrated in certain geographic areas. • Where are the followers of the five world religions concentrated?
Geographic Distribution of World’s Major Religions • Judaism: Concentrated in Israel and North America • Christianity: Concentrated in Europe and North and South America • Islam: Concentrated in the Middle East, Africa, and Asia • Hinduism: Concentrated in India • Buddhism: Concentrated in East and Southeast Asia
Contemporary Political issues…ethic/religious conflicts • Developed and developing nations face many challenges. These include migrations, ethnic and religious conflicts… • What are some challenges faced by the contemporary world?
Ethnic and Religious Conflicts • Middle East – • Muslim infighting (Sunni vs. Shi’a), Muslims (Arabs) vs. Jews (Israel), Strict vs. moderate, Muslims vs. Christians (United States) • Northern Ireland – • Protestants vs. Catholics • Balkans – • Serbs, Bosnians, and Croats fight one another for land (their own nation)
Ethnic and Religious Conflicts • Horn of Africa – • Consists of Somalia, Ethiopia, Eritrea, and Djibouti. Drought, disease, and piracy has been a problem in this region. • South Asia – • Consists of India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, et al… India and Pakistan have a history of disputes and with the war on terror Afghanistan and Pakistan are in the news.