World Religions A Brief Overview

Hinduism - The World’s Oldest Religion It consists of thousands of different religious groups that have evolved in India since 1500 BCE. Because of this Hinduism is often referred to as a way of life. Holy Text: The Vedas The Samhitas, The Brahmanas, The Aranyakas, The Upanishads Deities: Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva

Hinduism Beliefs Worship: Hindus believe that existence is a cycle of birth, death, and rebirth, governed by Karma. Most Hindus believe in a Supreme God, whose qualities and forms are represented by the multitude of deities which emanate from him. Worship: A home or temple, with a shrine where offerings and prayers are said. Nitya are rituals performed daily and at home shrine

Hinduism Holy places: Symbol: Om Benares Festivals: Diwali- festival of Lights Located: Mainly located in India and Nepal

Judaism Jewish beliefs center on the conviction that there is only one God. This was a minority view in its time, but monotheism is now dominant in the western world— thanks to the influence of Judaism on the powerful religions of Christianity and Islam. Today, approximately 14 million people identify themselves as Jews. There are three main branches of Judaism, each with different approaches to religious life: Orthodox; Conservative; and Reformed. Jewish life is rich in traditions, rituals and holidays, which commemorate the past, celebrate the present, and express hope for the future.

Holidays and Festivals Observing holidays and festivals has important social outcomes. They help to keep tradition alive, contribute to a sense of community and belonging, and ensure regular reflection and celebration. The most important Jewish holy days are the Sabbath, the three pilgrimage festivals (Passover, Shavuot, and Sukkot) and the two High Holy Days (Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur). For observant Jews, it is forbidden to work on any of these days. Chanukah- The Festival of Lights

Sacred Locations The Jewish house of worship is a synagogue. The synagogue predates the destruction of the Second Temple, but it became central to religious life after the Temple was lost. The synagogue replaces ritual sacrifice with Torah readings, prayer and teaching.

Buddhism Buddhism is based on the teachings of an Indian prince named Siddhartha Gautama who lived around 500 BCE. According to Buddhist tradition, the sheltered young prince was shocked by the suffering he saw outside his palace walls, so he left his life of luxury to seek answers. Eventually he succeeded, becoming the Buddha--the "Enlightened One." He spent the remaining 45 years of his life teaching the dharma (the path to liberation from suffering) and establishing the sangha (a community of monks).

Religious Texts Enlightenments In Buddhism, there are a vast number of Buddhist scriptures and religious texts, which are commonly divided into the categories of canonical and non-canonical. The former, called the Sutras (Sanskrit) or Suttas (Pali) are believed to be, either literally or metaphorically, the actual words of the Buddha. The latter are commentaries on canonical texts, other treatises on the Dharma, and collections of quotes, histories, grammars, etc. Religious Texts Enlightenments

Beliefs Buddhist beliefs include ancestors, and the afterlife, but the most important Buddhist beliefs are about suffering and how to escape it. The Buddha himself was called the "Enlightened One." After he became enlightened, he taught that the way to eliminate suffering begins with understanding the true nature of the world. Buddha considered knowledge important only insofar as it remains practical. He rejected speculation about such matters as God, the nature of the universe, and the afterlife.

Christianity The World’s largest religion

Christianity Holy Text: Bible Deity: God/Jesus Leader/Founder: Based off the teachings of Jesus Christ Beliefs: based on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ as presented in the New Testament. Christians believe that Jesus is the Son of God and the savior of humanity whose coming as Christ or the Messiah was prophesied in the Old Testament.

Christianity Divisions: Roman Catholic, Orthodox Eastern, and Protestant. Many other smaller groups have sprouted off of these. Holy Day: Sabbath, 7th day. Holy City: Jerusalem Symbol: Cross Holidays: Christmas, Lent, Good Friday, Easter, and All Saint's Day

Basics Islam is one of the largest religions in the world, with over 1 billion followers. It is a monotheistic faith based on revelations received by the Prophet Muhammad in 7th- century Saudi Arabia. The Arabic word islam means “submission,” reflecting the faith's central tenet of submitting to the will of God. Followers of Islam are called Muslims.

Holidays and Festivals Ramadan is not a holy day to Muslims but a holy month. It is the ninth month of the Muslim year, in which "the Quran was sent down as a guidance for the people" At least once in his or her lifetime, each Muslim is expected to undertake a pilgrimage to Mecca, the sacred city of Islam. This holy journey is called the hajj in Arabic.

Why do religions exist?