By: Chad McBride, Sam Moore, and Jack Wolfe

1. Jainism Sikhism AND By: Chad McBride, Sam Moore, and Jack Wolfe

2. What is Jainism? • Over 2500 years old • Practiced by around 5 million people, mostly in India • Observe non-violence toward all living beings called Ahimsa • Try to move soul towards divine consciousness and liberation • Worship no gods • Not very ritualistic

3. Who founded Jainism? • No single founder • Jainism was founded by many Tirthankaras that “make a ford” or “show the way” • A Tirthankasas is an ordinary soul that is born human and works towards becoming a teacher of Jainism • “Prophets” • Mahavira- gave Jainism its present day form • The last great Tirthankara of Jainism • Often wrongly called the founder of Jainism

4. Core Beliefs • Every living being has a soul • Every soul is potentially divine • Godly but masked by its karmas • Harm nobody and be kind to all living beings • Every soul is the architect of its own life

5. Core Beliefs (cont’d) • Practice self-control because your decisions can lead you away from the true nature of the soul • Limit possessions • Jains worship icons of Jinas, Arihants, and Tirthankaras. No gods though. • Life Goal: Liberate soul from negative effects of bad thoughts, speech, and actions

6. Diet • Practice strict vegetarianism • Forbidden to use any leather or silk products • Cannot consume any root vegetables • Potatoes, garlic, onions, carrots, turnips, etc. • Cannot consume any seeds either because a seed is a form of life • Do not touch or use any sharp objects around the house or in the kitchen on certain days

7. Religious Practices • Make pilgrimages to sacred sites • Attend temples • Revere the Tirthankaras • Observe holy days: • MahavirJayanti (The birth of Mahavira) • ParyushanaParva (A festival of fasting and forgiveness) • MahavirNirvan (Celebrates death of Mahavira

8. Diffusion • Started in India around 500 bc • Didn’t spread out until recently • ~100,000 followers now in North America • Hierarchical diffusion- Religion spread through the teaching of monks • Contagious diffusion- Media and internet have helped gain more followers outside India

9. Holy Places • Temples- places to worship • Best places on peaks or mountains • Upashray- Where monks and nuns live • No particular “sacred ground”

10. Conflicts • No major conflicts because practice nonviolence and peace • Did split into 2 groups because tensions between monks of North and South • Vetämbara monks wear white clothes. • Digambara monks sometimes wear no clothes at all

11. Sikhism

12. What is Sikhism? • Monotheistic religion in India • Founded in Punjab district during the 1500’s • 20 million followers • Seek to make religion unite people, not divide • All people are equal because children of the same god

13. Founder • Guru Nanak (1469-1538) • Born and raised Hindu • Disciple of Hindu and Muslim teachers • Started gaining followers after a mystical realization in 1499 • Sikhs are disciples of the gurus and of the ultimate guru, god • Preached unity between Hindu and Muslim religions • Behind all forms of god is the “true god” • Rejected rituals for true devotion

14. Beliefs • One God, but many names • Sat Nam “true name” • Waheguru “great guru” • Equality for all human beings • Karma and reincarnation • Reject monastic life

15. Common Practices • Mediate and pray in mornings and evenings • Honesty and hard work • Charity • Service • Strong family ties • Strong identity with the Sikh community • Also abstain from smoking, drinking and drugs

16. The 5 K’s • Kesh: Long, uncut hair • Men wear turbans over hair • Kangha: Special comb to keep hair clean • Kara: Steel bracelet worn on right wrist • Reminder of god and of duties • Kachh: undergarments • Reminder of purity and chastity • Kirpan: Sword that symbolizes god’s power and protection for the weak

17. Diffusion • Founded in India and still very widespread • Sikh gurus traveled into and sent missionaries to Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan, etc to spread the word • Recently media and internet have helped show religion to a broader audience • Also example of hierarchical diffusion because influenced by people in charge • Becoming more widespread throughout world

18. Holy Places • Harmandir- “Golden Temple” • Center of worship for all Sikhs in the world • Surrounded by healing water • Many other temples for worship

19. Conflicts • Have been some conflicts between Sikhs and other religions • May 1984, Sikh extremists occupied golden temple and made it a safe haven for terrorists • Government of India sent troops and had to take temple by force. 493 total casualties. • Angered Sikhs • Since 1940’s the Sikhs have been trying to create a independent nation for themselves named Khalistan. • Carved out of the Punjab state in India • Probably never happen since in an area of good agriculture

20. Works Cited • Robinson, BA. Jainism. N.p., 10 Oct. 2010. Web. 13 Jan. 2012. • Jainism. Jainworld, 2011. Web. 13 Jan. 2012. • Jainism: Mahavira. BBC- Religions, 10 Sept. 2010. Web. 13 Jan. 2012. • Sikhism. Religion Facts, 2011. Web. 13 Jan. 2012. • Sikh Beliefs. BBC- Religions, 24 Sept. 2009. Web. 13 Jan. 2012. • Cline, Austin. Sikh Controversies. About.com, n.d. Web. 13 Jan. 2012. • The Sikh Way of Life. Sikhs.org, 2011. Web. 13 Jan. 2012.