The Big 5 and Beyond

 Mainly Located Today: North and South America, Europe and Australia. Also in parts of Africa.  Founded by: Jesus Christ/Jesus of Nazareth around AD/CE  Founded In: Israel/Palestine around AD/CE  Sects of Christianity: 3 Major: Catholic, Protestant, and Eastern Orthodox. Each sect has a number of separate denominations/ sub sects  Sacred Writings: The Holy Bible – including the Old Testament and the New Testament (Gospels)  Holy Days: Christmas (Birth of Jesus), Easter (Death and Resurrection of Jesus)

 Places of Worship: Churches, Cathedrals, Houses  Major Beliefs and Ideas: A. Jesus is the Son of God, lived a sinless life and was crucified for the sins of all mankind. B. Jesus rose from the dead after three days. C. Faith in Jesus is the pathway to Heaven. D. Jesus came to fulfill Old Testament/Jewish prophecies E. Faith is Jesus requires Christians to do good works F. The Holy Trinity = God the Father Jesus the Son The Holy Spirit

 Mainly Located Today: India  Founded by: Unknown. Many believe that Manu was the “first” Hindu  Founded In: India probably between 2000 – 1500 BC/BCE  Sects of Hinduism: 4 Major: Shaiva, Vaishnava, Shakta & Smarta  Sacred Writings: The Vedas, The Brahmanas, The Upanishads  Holy Days: Diwali (Festival of Lights/New Year), Navaratri (Nine Nights-Good over Evil), Janamashtami (Birth of Krishna)

 Places of Worship: Hindu Temples  Major Beliefs and Ideas: A. One god, Brahman, in which many other gods come from. B. Has a trinity of key gods; Brahma – Creator, Vishnu – Preserver, Shiva – Destroyer. C. Has as many as 300 million other “gods”. D. Reincarnation: Belief that the soul goes through a cycle of being reborn into new bodies. E. Karma: the force that determines the quality of each life & is based on behavior. Good behavior = good Karma, Bad b behavior = bad Karma. F. Moksha: Escaping the cycle of reincarnation when one’s Karma is good enough for enough lives.

 Mainly Located Today: China and Southeast Asia  Founded by: Siddhartha Gautama in the 400s BC/BCE  Founded In: Started in India- then spread to China  Sects of Buddhism: 3 Major: Theravada (Way of the Elders), Mahayana (Greater Vehicle) & Vajrayana (Diamond Vehicle)  Sacred Writings: The Tripitaka (Mahayana) & The Sutras (Theravada)  Holy Days: Vesak (Birth, Enlightenment & Death of the Buddha), Abhidhamma Day (When the Buddha went to Heaven), The Ploughing Festival (The Buddha’s first moment of enlightenment)

 Places of Worship: Vihara (Buddhist Temple)  Major Beliefs and Ideas: A. The purpose of life is to end suffering through Enlightenment B. The 4 Noble Truths 1. All life is suffering 2. Suffering is caused by desire (wanting what we don’t have) 3. Suffering can be stopped 4. To end Suffering..follow the 8-Fold Path of Enlightenment C. The 8-Fold Path = Being “Right” in all things * Right knowledge, motive, speech, action, work, effort, mindfulness (caring), concentration (meditation) D. Living an enlightened life can lead to the soul achieving Nirvana (Heaven)

 Mainly Located Today: Israel, United States & Europe  Founded by: Abraham about 2000 – 1900 BC/BCE  Founded In: Canaan (Modern Day Israel)  Sects of Judaism: 4 Major: Orthodox, Reform, Conservative & Hasidic  Sacred Writings: The Torah (Hebrew/Jewish Bible), The Talmud (Books of Jewish Law and Tradition), 10 Commandments (First Laws given to Moses by God)  Holy Days: Rosh Hashanah (Jewish New Year), Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement (Forgiveness of Sin), Sukkot (Remembrance of wandering in the dessert), Chanukkah (Festival of Lights), Passover (Remembering the exodus from Egypt)

 Places of Worship: Synagogue  Major Beliefs and Ideas: A. One god – creator of all – strict monotheism B. Jews/Hebrews are God’s chosen people C. Dedication to God is shown through observing God’s Law D. God will send a Messiah to rescue His people E. The 10 Commandment are the root/start of all moral and ethical law F. Obedience allows followers to get to Heaven

 Mainly Located Today: Middle East & North Africa  Founded by: Muhammad in 310 AD/CE  Founded In: Mecca (Modern Day Saudi Arabia)  Sects of Islam: 2 Major: Sunni & Shia (Shi’ite)  Sacred Writings: The Qur’an  Holy Days: Ramadan (Month of Prayer and Fasting), Hajj/Umrah (Pilgrimage), Eid al-Fitr (Feast of Breaking the Fast)

 Places of Worship: Mosque  Major Beliefs and Ideas: A. One god – creator of all – strict monotheism B. Muhammad is God’s last prophet C. The 5 Pillars of Islam 1. Shahadah – Profession of Faith 2. Salat – Ritual Prayers 3. Zakat – Charity & Tithing 4. Sawm – Fasting (During Month of Ramadan) 5. Hajj - Pilgrimage