World Religions

Images from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religion Christianity, Judaism, Hinduism Islam, Buddhism, Shinto Sikhism, Bahai, Jainism

Ground Rules for Learning about Religion Our goal is understand the religious beliefs of others, but we will not impose our beliefs on others.

Ground Rules for Learning about Religion We will be respectful when speaking about the beliefs of others.

Ground Rules for Learning about Religion We will share our knowledge. (You may know more than the teachers!)

Why Study Religion? Influence of the Eastern Hemisphere From the Fertile Crescent From India Judaism Christianity Islam Hinduism Jainism Buddhism Sikhism

Polytheism Poly = many Theism = belief in god Poly + theism = belief that there are many gods

Examples Greeks = Zeus, Hera, Ares, Aphrodite, Hermes Romans = Jupiter, Juno, Mars, Venus, Mercury Vikings = Odin, Thor, Freya, Loki, Tyr

Monotheism Mono = one Theism = Belief in a god Mono + theism = belief that there is only one god.

Religions in the USA Christianity: 76.0% Unaffiliated, including atheist or agnostic: 15.0% Judaism: 1.2% Other (including Sikh, Unitarian, Pagan, First Peoples):0.8% Islam: 0.6% Buddhism: 0.5% Hinduism: 0.3% Refused to Answer: 5.2% Source: US Census Bureau, 2008 (http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/cats/population.html), Retrieved 12/4/2011.

Religions in the World Christianity: 33.4% (2.3 billion people) Islam: 22.4% (1.5 billion people) Hinduism: 13.8% (1 billion people) Unaffiliated, including atheist, state secular: 11.5% Other: 11.2% (0.8 billion people) Buddhism: 7.1% (0.5 billion people) Sihk, Baha’i: 0.5% Judaism: 0.2% Source: CIA World Factbook (https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/xx.html) Retrieved 12/4/2011.

Why Study Religion? Lasting Legacy

Why Study Religion? Understand Conflict