SS7G12 The student will analyze the diverse cultures of the people who live in Southern and Eastern Asia.

Explain the differences between an ethnic group and a religious group. A group of people who share cultural ideas and beliefs that have been a part of their community for generations. The characteristics they may have in common could include language, religion, history, types of foods, and a set of beliefs, or celebrations. A group of people who share a belief system in a god or gods, with a specific set of rituals and literature. People from different ethnic groups may share the same religion, though they may be from very different cultures.

Compare and contrast the prominent religions in Southern and Eastern Asia: Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam, Shintoism and the philosophy of Confucianism. Islam Confucianism Hinduism Judaism Shintoism Christianity Buddhism

Buddhism Began in India around 500 BC. Siddhartha Gautama was born into a wealthy family. He left his wealth and family to become a monk and sought to discover a way to put an end to pain and suffering. He believed that greed and desire kept people from finding peace. Buddha means enlightened one. Nirvana = Perfect Peace The Middle Way Try to recognize the truth Avoid evil actions and bad people Don’t day hurtful things Respect People and their things Don’t harm others Don’t think evil thoughts Avoid excitement or anger Work at meditation Four Nobel Truths There is suffering in life Suffering is caused by greed and desire Give up desire and end suffering to achieve Nirvana Follow the Middle Way to reach Nirvana Buddha believed that unselfishness was the key and that man could turn evil into good.

Karma is the belief that a person’s actions determine their fate. Hinduism Hinduism is a polytheistic religion, meaning they worship many gods. It’s the third largest in the world and practiced mostly in India. It is one of the oldest in the world. Brahma The Creator Vishnu The Preserver Shiva The Destroyer Hindus consider cows sacred and many Hindus are vegetarians. It is illegal to harm a cow in India. The Vedas; book of knowledge is a collection of prayers, hymns, and rituals of Hindu belief. Karma is the belief that a person’s actions determine their fate. The caste system is also a part of Hinduism, which is a hierarchy among societal classes.  The only way to break through this is through reincarnation, which is the placement of a soul from one dead body into another. Hindus believe that the type of life you lead; your karma, determines your next life.

Islam Islam means "submission", referring to the total surrender of one's self to God, and a Muslim is "one who submits (to God)". Islam is a monotheistic religion originating with the teachings of Muhammad, a 7th century Arab religious and political figure. Islam is the second-largest religion in the world today (only Christianity is larger), with an estimated 1.4 billion adherents, spread across the globe. Followers of Islam are known as Muslims. Muslims believe that God revealed the Qur'an; the sacred book of Islam, to Muhammad and that he is God's final prophet. Muslims do not regard Muhammad as the founder of a new religion but as the restorer of the original monotheistic faith of Adam, Ibrahim and other prophets whose messages had become corrupted over time.

Shintoism means “way of the gods” Shintoism is one of the oldest religions in Japan that was influenced by Buddhism, Confucianism, and Taoism. Shintoism centers on reverence for the kami, divine spirits, that Shinto followers believe live in nature. These spirits are believed to live in beautiful places, animals and ancestors. Many Japanese believe that these spirits live in the mountains and rivers of Japan, and homes have small altars where offerings can be made to please the kami. Shintoism stresses the importance of cleanliness and order. Shintoism means “way of the gods” The worship of nature has lead the Japanese to perfect the art of creating small beautiful gardens; areas of quiet and reflection, in a crowded world.

Philosophy of Confucianism Confucius was born around 550 BC during a time when the government was having trouble keeping order and warlords controlled much of the country. He became one of the most important scholars in Chinese history. He believed that the key to peace and social order was for people to behave with good character and virtue. Golden Rule of Behavior: “What you do not like when done unto yourself, do not unto others” Confucius was not a religious leader or prophet. He saw himself as a teacher and Confucianism is considered to be a philosophy or ethical system based on morality or good deeds, rather than a religion.

Evaluate how the literacy rate affects the standard of living. The literacy rate, or the number of people who can read and write, has a large effect on a countries standard of living. Strong productive economies require an educated workforce. In many parts of the world, education is only available to those who can afford it. Countries that subsidize education, making it available to all citizens, have a high literacy rate and also a higher standard of living than those countries which don’t provide education for it’s citizens. A countries standard of living can also be measured by a countries GDP (Gross Domestic Product), or the total amount of goods and services, produced within that country in a given year. Higher GDP in a country means better living conditions for it’s citizens.

References: Moffitt, L, Mullins, E. (2009). Georgia CRCT Test Prep 7th grade Social Studies; Teaching the Georgia Performance Standards (Preview Edition). Clairmont Press. Atlanta, GA. http://webpages.csus.edu/~ctg22/ http://www.absolutechinatours.com/china-travel/China-Philosophy.html http://picasaweb.google.com/SkyeSell4685/APeopleSHistory#5350402982295663778 http://www.ucc.ie/en/hr/equality-wellbeing/health/mental/religion/

Douglas County School System Created By: Debra Harrington Yeager Middle School Douglas County School System Douglasville, Georgia