1. Five Major World Religions
Origins, beliefs, and locations

2. What are the five major religions?
Judaism
Christianity
Islam
Buddhism
Hinduism

3. Where did the five religions originate?
Buddhism and Hinduism both originated in India

4. Where did the five religions originate?
Christianity and Judaism originated in Jerusalem/Palestine (Israel)

5. Where did the five religions originate?
Islam originated in Saudi Arabia (Mecca/Medina)

6. What were the Location of the major religions in 1500?
Judaism – Europe and the Middle East
Christianity – Europe and the Middle East
Islam – Parts of Asia, N. Africa and south eastern Europe
Hinduism – India and parts of Southeast Asia
Buddhism – East and Southeast Asia

7. Christianity J
Islam B
Hindu

8. Location of Major Religions in 2011
Judaism – Israel and North America
Christianity – Europe, North and South America
Islam – Middle East , Africa and South East Asia
Hinduism – India
Buddhism – East and Southeast Asia

10. What are the characteristics of Hinduism?
Origin
India
Founders
Aryans
Beliefs
Henothesitic- Belief in many forms of one God (Brahma)
Reincarnation: Rebirth based upon karma
Karma: Knowledge that all thoughts and actions result in future consequences
Caste System- social status that you are born into you can not move up only down
Sacred Texts
Vedas and Upanishads
Spread
Spread along major trade routes

11. What are the characteristics of Buddhism?
Origin
India
Founder
Siddhartha Gautama (Buddha)
Beliefs
Four Noble Truths
Eightfold Path to Enlightenment
Sacred Texts
Sutras and Tripataka
Spread
Asoka’s missionaries and their writings
spread Buddhism from India to China and other parts of Asia.

12. What are the characteristics of Judaism?
Origin
Jerusalem
Founder
Abraham
Important Prophet
Moses
Beliefs
Monotheism- Belief in one God (Yahweh)
Ten Commandments of moral and religious conduct
Sacred Text
Torah, which contains the written records and beliefs of the Jews
Ten Commandments, which state moral and religious conduct
Spread of Judaism
Exile- when being forced to live outside of Palestine/Israel
Diaspora- establishing Jewish communities outside of Palestine/Israel

13. What are the characteristics of Christianity?
Origin:
Jerusalem (Had its roots in Judaism)
Founder:
Was led by Jesus of Nazareth, who was proclaimed the Messiah and his disciples
Conflicts
Conflicted with polytheistic beliefs of Roman Empire and that the government/empire came before God
Beliefs, traditions, and customs of Christianity
Monotheism
Jesus as both Son and incarnation of God
Life after death
Sacred Text
Old Testament and New Testament, containing accounts of the life and teachings of Jesus, as well as writings of early Christians (Bible)
Doctrine
Christian doctrines established by early church councils (Trent and Nicaea)
Spread of Christianity
Popularity of the message
Early martyrs inspired others
Carried by the Apostles, including Paul, throughout the Roman Empire

14. What are the characteristics of Islam?
Origin
Mecca and Medina (Arabian Peninsula present day Saudi Arabia)
Founder
Muhammad, the Prophet
Beliefs
Monotheism: Allah (Arabic word for God)
Five Pillars of Islam- Faith, Prayer, Pilgrimage, Charity, Fasting
Acceptance of Judeo-Christian prophets, including Moses and Jesus
Sacred Text
Qur’an: The word of God
Spread of Islam
Across Asia and Africa and into Spain
Geographic extent of first Muslim empire