Belief Systems

What you will learn today What are the characteristics of major religions? How are they similar and different? How have major religions affected culture? How have belief systems spread over large areas?

Animism Animism is the belief that all living and nonliving things in nature have a spirit. Animism was the belief system of many early civilizations. Animism in early civilizations was often combined with ancestor worship.

Animism dates back to earliest humans and still exists. It can be practiced by anyone who believes in spirituality, but does not proscribe to an organized religion. Animist gods and beliefs often explain natural earthly things. The presence of holy men or women, visions, trances, dancing, sacred items and places are often characteristic of animist societies. Animism exists in traditional African, Asian, American and Aboriginal cultures.

Hinduism

Hinduism has no single founder, but originated from the mixing of Harappan and Aryan cultures in ancient India around 1500 BC. Hindus believe in one unifying spirit, Brahman. Brahman can manifest in many, polytheistic, forms or in one, monotheistic.

Hinduism is based on the concept of reincarnation (Spirits return to earth many times in different forms trying to become one with Brahman). The soul moves up or down a hierarchy depending on their behavior in life. A person moves closer to Brahman by obeying the law of karma. Karma is the sum of all your deeds, good and bad. Good deeds involve following your dharma, or duties dependent on your position, gender and occupation.

The caste system (outlawed since 1948) was an important part of Hinduism. Castes are social classes into which a person is born and lives their entire life. If a person has a good karma they may be reincarnated into a higher caste. This life Next life Born into A caste Good Karma Bad Karma Higher caste Lower caste

The caste system separated Indian society into distinct social classes in which everyone knew their place and believed that if they followed the dharma of their caste, they would be reincarnated into a better caste. Brahmin Kshatriya Vaisya Sudra Untouchables

Over the centuries Hindu beliefs were recorded into a number of sacred texts including the Vedas and the Upanishads. The Ramayana is a Hindu creation story.

Judaism

Judaism originated in the Middle East around 2000 BC. According to Jewish tradition, God told Abraham “In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice.” (Gen 22:18) Abraham is known as the “father” of the Hebrew nation through his son Isaac, and grandson Jacob.

Jacob had 12 sons each of whom grew into what became known as the 12 tribes of Israel. The 12 tribes came to Egypt and were subsequently enslaved by the Pharaoh. Over time, they grew into a nation and escaped slavery through the help of Moses. Judaism was the first monotheistic religion.

Basic Beliefs of Judaism ~The Torah (also known as the Pentateuch) is a sacred scripture believed to have been written by Moses and records laws and events in Jewish history. ~The first 5 books of the Bible make up the Torah.

~God gave the Hebrews 10 Commandments that formed the basis of their government. ~The first 5 describe how people should behave toward God; the last 5 describe how people should behave toward one another.

~Many more Jewish laws can be seen in the 3 rd book in the Torah (Leviticus), outlining civil laws and many religious practices such as annual feasts and rituals (e.g. Passover, circumcision), and priestly duties (animal sacrifices, intercession for the people).

God made a covenant, or promise to Abraham to be the God of the Hebrews. Judaism had a great influence on the later development of Christianity and Islam.

The Israelite Nation flourished under Kings Saul, David, and Solomon. After Solomon’s death, the nation was divided into Judah and Israel. Beginning with the Babylonian King Nebuchadnezzar in 605 BC, the Jews were under oppression from neighboring kingdoms (Babylon, Persia, Greece, and Rome).

Jews were discriminated against in the Roman Empire and, beginning with the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70, were eventually kicked out of their homeland in what is known as the Jewish Diaspora.

Buddhism

Buddhism was founded by Siddhartha Gautama in northern India around 560 BC. Siddhartha could not understand the pain and suffering present in the world He was born into a wealthy Hindu family, but renounced his wealth at age 29 to seek spiritual enlightenment.\ Sought enlightenment through pleasure and abstinence- didn’t find it

-"Buddha" ("the awakened one") -Buddhism thrived in India for centuries until the 12th century AD, when it migrated across Asia and the Himalayas; Tibet now being the foremost authority on Buddhist practices. ~ Buddhism spread through cultural diffusion to eastern Asia, including China, Thailand, Korea and Japan. ~In other areas, Buddhism was adapted and took on new forms.

Buddhism is based on the Four Noble Truths. 1. All life is suffering. 2. Suffering is caused by desire for things that are illusions. 3. The way to eliminate suffering is to eliminate desire. 4. Following the Eightfold path will help people to overcome desire.

Buddhism like Hinduism: Reincarnation Karma Dharma But not Caste system Hindu gods Hindu priesthood Buddhism has much in common with Hinduism, but important differences.

Buddha did not record his teachings, but after he died, his followers collected them into the Tripitaka.

Today ’ s Tibetan Buddhists are led by the Dalai Lama, who advocates for freedom from China.

Christianity

Christianity originated from Judaism about AD 33. Christians believe that Jesus is the Son of God; a Christ, Messiah, or “Chosen One” sent by God to bring eternal life to anyone who would follow Him. Jesus proclaimed that He was the “fulfillment” of Jewish law and preached love for God and fellow man.

The sacred text of Christianity is the Bible, with greater significance placed on the New Testament. Christians believe the 4 gospels in the New Testament to be an accurate record of the ministry and miracles of Jesus and attempt to emulate His example of self- sacrificial living (“gospel” means “good news”).

Jesus’ teachings were very unpopular among the Jewish religious leaders of His day. Fearing yet another Jewish uprising, the Romans allowed Jesus to be crucified.

Jesus’ disciples were very heavily persecuted by Jews and Romans alike. The end result was a spreading of the teachings of Jesus by His followers (known as Christians) who believed that He had risen from the grave. Although Christians were originally stoned (or worse) for their beliefs, in the 4 th century AD, Christianity was adopted as the official religion of the Roman Empire.

Islam

Islam originated in the Middle East around AD 622 with the Prophet, Muhammad. Muslims believe that Abraham’s first son, Ishmael, settled in Mecca where he and his descendants worshipped the one true God (Allah). Over time, they distorted their religion to include worshipping idols and practicing polytheistic rituals. Muhammad believed that he was visited by the angel Gabriel and given prophetic visions in order to restore the true religion of Allah. He taught that all prior revelations (Judaism and Christianity) had been tainted; his visions were therefore the only reliable source for understanding the true will of God.

Muhammad was born in Mecca and traveled to Medina in a journey called the Hijra (or “flight”), that became the founding of Islam. The Hijra is one of the 5 pillars of Islam and marks the beginning of the Muslim calendar; dates are referred to as “after Hijra.”

Although Muhammed did not write anything down himself, his visions and teachers were recorded by scribes. Muslim worshippers now follow scriptures called the Quran, or Koran. The collection of Islamic laws is also known as the Sharia.

Five Pillars of Islam 1.Faith in one God, Allah — monotheism 2. Five times daily prayer toward Mecca 3.Help for the poor 4.Fasting during the holy month of Ramadan 5.Pilgrimage to holy city of Mecca

Spread of Islam-- In the 150 years following the death of Muhammad, Islam spread through trade, missionaries and conquest into Asia and Africa.

Questions: 1.What do all these belief systems have in common? 2.Which three all originated in the Middle East? 3.Which two originated in India? 4.Which religion gave rise to the caste system? 5.How do religions spread? 6.What is the similarity between the Five Pillars of Islam and the Ten Commandments? 7.How are Hinduism and Buddhism alike and different?