1. WORLD RELIGIONS Our Learning Goal: I am able to describe the foundations and beliefs for the following major world religions: Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.

2. Why Study Religions?  Religion plays a key role in our world today.  Religion is a major component of the human experience.  Knowledge of people’s religions helps us understand culture, people, & communities  Studying religions diminishes prejudices & clears up misconceptions.  Studying religions helps us grow in and develop our own set of beliefs.

3. Religions of Study  Hinduism  Buddhism  Judaism  Christianity  Islam

4. What will we learn?  The history of each religion  Their major beliefs  Their form of worship  Their sacred texts  The location of each religion

5. What is Bias?  With your learning partners…..  Write a definition of the word ‘ bias ’ in your own words.  I will call on pairs to discuss their answers.  Now write down it’s true definition. (I will give this to you) How close were you and your partner to its true definition?  Describe how people can be biased about people that practice different religions.

6. Example  Maybe I think that all people who drive blue cars are really bad drivers.  How is this biased?  BIG PICTURE QUESTION  How does bias relate to religions?

7. Hinduism

8. History & Establishment  No one person founded Hinduism  It developed slowly over a long period of time out of centuries of older traditions  Aryan people migrated to India in the 2000 BC  They brought rituals to India with them, which became part of Hinduism.

9. History & Establishment  Hinduism traces its roots to older traditions such as Vedic beliefs and Brahmanism  Modern-day Hinduism is very complex  Hinduism refers to the philosophical and religious traditions native to India

10. Caste System: A social system determined by heredity.  Brahmins: Priests  Kshatriyas: Rulers & warriors  Vaisyas: Farmers, craftspeople, & traders  Sudras: Laborers & unskilled workers

11. Beliefs  Brahman is the divine force some Hindus believe is greater than the other gods  There are many deities that are different faces of the supreme force  Dharma is the law, obligation, & duty of Hindus  Karma is the belief that the good & evil done in a past life determines the person’s next life  Reincarnation (Samsara) is the belief of a continuous cycle or birth, death, & rebirth

12. Sacred Texts  The Vedic Texts are the sacred texts of Hinduism.  They describe Aryan religious rituals  They contain secret rituals that only certain people can perform  They also contain ‘reflections’ on the Vedas by religious students & teachers.

13. Major Location  Hinduism is practiced throughout the world  India  Asia  North America  Europe

14. Important Vocabulary  Caste System: Class or group in Hindu society  Reincarnation : Belief that a person’s soul is reborn into a new body after death  Hinduism : A religion that developed in India over many centuries  Vedas : Collection of ancient writings views as sacred by many Hindus  Brahmanism : Ancient ritual traditions grown out of older Vedic religious beliefs & helped lead to Hinduism  Dharma : Belief that a person has a duty or obligation to live an honorable life  Karma: Belief that good or evil done in a past life will determine a person’s next life

15. Buddhism

16. History & Establishment  Siddhartha Gautama began this movement.  He was born in India around 563 BC  He was a prince who felt something was missing in his life  He was dissatisfied with Hinduism  Was determined to find answers about life  Spent years meditating & found enlightenment under a tree & became Buddha  Traveled & taught people his ideas

17. Beliefs  The 4 Noble Truths founded by Siddhartha.  Suffering & unhappiness are part of every human life.  Suffering comes from our desires ‘to want.’  People can overcome these desires by reaching Nirvana. Nirvana is the end of all suffering.  How can we end suffering? By following The Eightfold Path.

18. Beliefs  The Eightfold Path  Right Thoughts  Right Intent  Right Speech  Right Actions  Right Livelihood  Right Effort  Right Mindfulness  Right Concentration

19. Sacred Texts  The Tripitaka is a collection of Buddhist teachings recognized by Theravada Buddhists  Mahayana Sutras are Buddhist teachings recognized by Mahayana Buddhists  Tibetan Book of the Dead describes the stages of death from the Tibetan point of view

20. Major Location  Buddhism is practiced in many areas around the world  India  China  All other parts of Asia  North America  Europe  Africa

21. Important Vocabulary  Buddhism: Religion based on the teachings of Buddha that developed in India  Nirvana : In Buddhism, the end of all suffering; a state of perfect peace  Fasting : Going without food for a period of time  Meditation : A deep continued thought that focuses the mind on spiritual ideas  Missionaries : Someone who works to spread religion

22. Judaism

23. History & Establishment  Between 2000 & 1500 BC Hebrews appeared in Southwest Asia.  The work of archaeologists and accounts written by Hebrew scribes tell their history.  These accounts or writings have become the Hebrew Bible.

24. Origins of Judaism  The Bible traces the Hebrews back to Abraham  God told Abraham to leave Mesopotamia and move to Canaan  Abraham’s descendants moved to Egypt and were called Hebrews.  In Egypt the Hebrews became the slaves of the Pharaoh. (Egyptian king)

25. Origins of Judaism  In about1200 BC, God told Moses ‘Lead the Hebrews out of Egypt.”  God sent the Ten Plagues of Egypt to help them accomplish this.  The pharaoh freed the Hebrews.  Moses led the people out of Egypt. This is called the Exodus.  While Moses was on a mountain God gave him stone tablets to write a code of laws  These are called the Ten Commandments

26. Sacred Texts  The ancient Jews recorded most of their laws into five books called the Torah.  The Hebrew Bible contains 11 books of poetry, songs, stories, lessons, and history.  The Talmud is a set of commentaries and lessons for everyday life.

27. Major Location  Judaism is practiced in many areas around the world  Israel  North America  South America  Europe  Asia

28. Important Vocabulary  Judaism: Religion of the Hebrews practiced by Jews today  Exodus: Journey in which Moses led his people out of Egypt  Monotheism: The belief in only one God  Torah: Most sacred text of Judaism  Rabbi: A Jewish religious leader and teacher

29. Christianity

30. History & Establishment  According to the Bible Jesus was born in Bethlehem at the end of the first century BC  Jesus’s mother Mary was married to Joseph  Christians believe that God is Jesus’s Father  Jesus began to travel and teach the word of God known as the New Testament

31. Origins  Jesus of Nazareth  Jews predicted a leader would be born.  Many believed Jesus was this Messiah. A messiah is someone who is a leader or savior of a particular group of people.  Jesus’s life and teachings formed the basis of Christianity.

32. History & Establishment  Jesus drew many followers and challenged the authority leaders.  Jesus was arrested around 30 A.D. and crucified.  Christians believe Jesus returned from the dead in the ‘Resurrection.’  After his resurrection, he spent 40 days with his disciples, and then rose up into heaven.

33. Beliefs  Christians believe in justice and righteousness  God considers all people equal  Caring for less fortunate is important  They’re expected to follow the moral laws called the Ten Commandments.

34. Beliefs  Christians believe in one god. Therefore, they are monotheists.  Jesus is the son of God  Jesus performed miracles  Jesus rose from the dead  Ten Commandments

35. Sacred Texts  The teachings of Jesus Christ were recorded in the Holy Bible.

36. Major Location  Christianity is practiced in many areas around the world  Predominantly in the Western World

37. Important Vocabulary  Messiah: A leader or savior of a particular group of people.  Christianity : A religion based on the teachings of Jesus  Bible : The holy book of Christianity  Resurrection : Jesus’s rise from the dead  Disciples : The followers of a leader

38. Islam

39. History & Establishment  Islam is based on the teachings of Muhammad  Muhammad was born in Mecca around 570 A.D. (Mecca is in western Saudi Arabia, almost on the Red Sea)  He became unhappy because the wealthy were not helping the poor.  He meditated in a local cave to try to find some answers.

40. History & Establishment  While meditating in the cave, the angel Gabriel appeared to him. Muslims believe god revealed his teachings through this angel.  Muhammad became a prophet. (A prophet is someone who carries the teachings of god and speaks for god.)  Muhammad began teaching others about the messages he heard. These messages are the basis of Islam.

41. Beliefs  Islam teaches there is one god, therefore they are monotheists like Christians and Jews. Muslims call their god ‘Allah.’  Muslims show their devotion to Allah by performing acts of worship known as The 5 Pillars of Islam:  This first pillar of Islam is a statement of faith  The second pillar of Islam is daily prayer (Muslims pray 5 times daily and must face Mecca when they pray.)  The third pillar of Islam is a yearly donation to charity.  The fourth pillar of Islam is fasting.  The fifth pillar of Islam is a pilgrimage to Mecca.

42. Sacred Texts  During Muhammad’s life his followers memorized his messages, words, and deeds.  After his death, they collected his writings and wrote them down in the form of a book.  This book is the Islamic sacred text called the Quran.

43. Major Location  Islam is practiced in many areas around the world  Middle East  Africa  Asia  North America  Virtually everywhere!  There are over 1 billion followers of Islam

44. Important Vocabulary  Mecca: The most sacred city of Islam.  Islam : A religion based on the messages that Muhammad is believed to have received from God.  Muslim : A follower of Islam  Quran : The holy book of Islam  mosque : A building for Muslim prayer  Allah : God of Islam