Other Major World Religions

1. Other Major World Religions

2. Islam • Founder: Muhammad (an Arabic caravan trader) • Date of origin: 600’s ACE • Followers called Muslims (means submissive to God)

3. Major Beliefs • One God (Allah): Muhammad is his prophet • Qur'an is the where the revelation of Allah is found • Ishmael was the choosen son of Abraham • Moses and Jesus regognized as great prophets

4. Major Beliefs • Spread your religion anyway possible (jihad) • Sacrifice for your religion gets reward in heaven ( 72 virgins) • Places of worship are called mosques (must remove shoes before entering) • Sacred cites: Mecca, Medina, and Jerusalem

5. Five Major Pillars of Islam • Five things all Muslims must do to be true followers of Allah • Profession of faith: Believe that Allah is only God and Muhammad is his prophet • Pray five times a day facing Mecca: Pray at dawn, noon, afternoon, sunset, night

6. Five Major Pillars of Islam • Give alms to the poor: Includes food, clothes, or money • Fast during the holy month of Ramadan: No food or drink from sunrise to sunset, happens in December

7. Five Major Pillars of Islam • The Hajj: Must make one trip to the Kaaba (black stone) at Mecca if physically and financially capable during your life (happens during the month of Dhu al-Hijjah)

8. Two Branches of Islam • Sunni (90% of all Muslims): Anyone can take Muhammad’s place as leader • Shi'a (10% of all Muslims): Only adescendant of Muhammand can be the leader

9. Hinduism • Founders: Indo-Aryan nomads (invaded India in the 2000’s BCE) • Date of origin: 1700’s BCE date of first written records (The Upanishads) started as oral traditions before this date (Vedas)

10. Major Beliefs • Polytheism and Monotheism ( Gods and everything else is part of a larger living being) • Main gods are Vishnu and Shiva, but the gods have many different personalities • People or towns pick the god they will worship • Karma and Reincarnation (reason they worship cows)

11. Caste System • Priests (Brahmins) • Kings • Soldiers • Peasants • Untouchables

12. Buddhism • Founder: Siddhartha Gautama (The Buddha) • Date of origin: 500’s BCE Major beliefs • Same as Hinduism except no Caste System and the idea is to end the cycle of reincarnation

13. Four Noble Truths • There is suffering • The cause of suffering is desire • The way to stop suffering is to reach nirvana • Follow the eight-fold path to reach nirvana

14. Eight-Fold Path • Right Speech— One speaks in a non hurtful, not exaggerated, truthful way • Right Actions— Wholesome action, avoiding action that would do harm • Right Livelihood— One's way of livelihood does not harm in any way oneself or others; directly or indirectly • Right Effort/Exercise— One makes an effort to improve

15. Eight-Fold Path • Right Mindfulness/Awareness— Mental ability to see things for what they are with clear consciousness (meditation) • Right Concentration/Meditation— Being aware of the present reality within oneself, without any craving or aversion • Right Understanding— Understanding reality as it is, not just as it appears to be • Right Thoughts— Change in the pattern of thinking

16. Notes Quiz • Who was the founder of Islam? • What is the Qur'an? • What does jihad mean? • Name the sacred cites of Isalm? • What are the five pillars of Islam? • What area of the world is associated with Hinduism? • Who are the main gods of Hinduism? • Name the parts of the caste system from top to bottom? • Who was the Buddah? • Name the Four Noble Truths.