Major World Religions

What is Religion?  Religion is a set of beliefs and practices based upon prayer, ritual, worship, and the belief of a higher being  Religion binds a specific group of people together based upon these beliefs

Five Major World Religions  Buddhism  Hinduism  Judaism  Islam  Christianity

Hinduism  Began to develop 4,000 years ago in the Indian subcontinent  Unlike other religions, does not have a founder, no clear beginning, or central authority (like the pope!)  No single belief that unites all Hindus--- but there are several widely held beliefs that are common among all Hindus

Hinduism  Sacred Texts: The Vedas; Bhagavad Gita  Sacred Sites: Ganges River  Sacred Creature: Cow (every part of a cow is important in sustaining life)  Belief in Reincarnation that is based upon the caste system  Major holiday: Holi (burning of evilness)

Buddhism  Originated about 2,500 years ago in the Himalayas as an offshoot of Hinduism (monks had a problem with the caste system)  Moved to China ca. 100 B.C.E. where it declined in India  Siddhartha Gautama (b-563 BCE)---developed Four Noble Truths and Eightfold Path---which is what all Buddhists follow today

Buddhism The Eightfold Path

Judaism  Developed in Mesopotamia around 2000 BCE when Abraham established a covenant (special agreement) with Yahweh (God)  Jews spread all over the world in 586 BCE because of the Babylonian Exile when many were forced into slavery  First religion with one God

Jewish holidays  Passover—springtime  Remembers when Yahweh passed over the first born Jewish son in Egypt  Rosh Ha-Shanah—autumn  New Year according to Torah  Yom Yippur---autumn  Day of repentance  Most important  Hanukkah---winter  Remembering the rededication of the 2 nd Temple

Islam  Founded by the prophet Muhammad in 570 C.E. in Mecca (Saudi Arabia)  Five Pillars of faith provide Muslims with the basis for living a proper and moral life  Sacred text is the Qur’an/Koran  Basic Belief: There is but one God, Allah and Muhammad is His Prophet

Islam FIVE PILLARS OF FAITH 1. There is but one God, Allah and Muhammad is His Prophet 2. Pray 5x a day 3. Giving charity to the poor 4. Fasting from sun up to sun down during Ramadan 5. Pilgrimage to Mecca once a lifetime

Christianity  Founded with the death of Jesus Christ in 30 C.E.  Largest religion in the world  Basic belief in Jesus as the savior  Sacred text—Bible  Christian religions include: Methodist, Baptist, Eastern Orthodox, Episcopalian, Catholic, Lutheran, Mormons.  Central authority---The Pope