1. EQ: What are the major religions of the world?
World Religions
EQ: What are the major religions of the world?

2. Polytheism
Belief in MANY Gods

3. Monotheism
Belief in ONE God

4. Deity
A God

5. Sect
Sections of religion within religion

6. Hinduism Polytheistic 3 major deities: Brahma Vishnu Shiva
Brahma refers to “the creator God”… He is no longer worshipped as a major God but his image is found in most temples.
Vishnu is the "preserver" in the Hindu trinity (Trimurti) that includes Brahma and Shiva.
Shiva is the "destroyer of evil and the transformer"

7. Hinduism Founder: No single founder Holy Book: The Vedas
Holy Place: Ganges River/Mandir (Temple)
Basic Belief:
Reincarnation- The soul is reborn after death
Karma
Caste System
Hinduism is a collection of beliefs that developed slowly over time. Hindus today are free to choose which deity they worship… But family tradition goes back centuries so people normally continue to worship the God that their family worships.
The Ganges river will wash away their bad karma

8. Hinduism

9. Buddhism Founder: Siddhartha Gautama (The Buddha) No Gods… Nontheistic
Holy Book: Dhammapadas/various texts
Holy Place: Bodhi (fig) tree/Temple
Basic Beliefs:
Reincarnation
Eightfold Path
Four Noble Truths
Sutras (wise sayings)
A prophecy indicated that if Siddhartha stayed within his home he would become a world ruler… If he left home he would become a spiritual leader. His father desperately wanted him to be a world ruler, so he kept his son in isolation. At 29 years of age he left his home for the first time on four separate occasions.
He sate under a fig tree, while meditating and fasting (living on only 6 grains of rice a day) for 49 days… Then he reached enlightenment.

10. Buddhism
Eightfold Path- a guide to behavior to those seeking enlightenment. By following the eightfold path anyone can reach nirvana
Nirvana- release from selfishness and pain
Buddhism rejects the caste system. Why do you think people who were laborers might be interested in Buddhism?

11. Buddhism 4 Noble Truths-
First Noble Truth- Life if filled with suffering and sorrow
Second Noble Truth- The cause of all suffering is people’s selfish desire for the temporary pleasures of this world
Third Noble Truth- The way to end all suffering is to end all desires
Fourth Noble Truth- The way to overcome such desires and attain enlightenment is to follow the eightfold path, which is called the Middle Way between desires and self denial

12. Theravada Buddhism
Best way to reach nirvana is to become a monk or a nun and spend ALL of one’s time in meditation

13. Mahayana Buddhism
Anyone can reach nirvana (do not need to become monk or nun)
Seek help through a spiritual guide

14. Buddhism

15. To Be Continued
Tomorrow we will discuss Judaism, Christianity and Islam

16. Judaism FIRST MONOTHEISTIC RELIGION!!! Founder: Abraham
Deity: God (Yahweh)
Holy Book: Torah (old testament) and Talmud
Holy Place: Jerusalem/ Wailing Wall
In the Torah, God chose Abraham to be the “father” of the Jewish people. God commanded Abraham to move his people from their homeland to Egypt and then back to their homeland. Because he obeyed God, Abraham and his people were protected. Abraham promised to always obey God and in return God promised to protect Abraham and his descendants. This mutual promise between God and the founder of the Jewish faith is called a covenant.
Talmud (Jewish oral law)

17. Judaism
Mezuzah

18. Judaism Basic Beliefs: One God Jesus is Prophet (NOT Messiah)
10 Commandments
Serve God by studying Torah and live by teachings
While on Mount Sinai the old testament (Jewish) prophet Moses received the 10 commandments. The Israelites promised to keep God’s commandments.

19. Judaism

20. Monotheistic Founder: Jesus Christ Deity: God Holy Book: Bible
Holy Place: Jerusalem
Christianity
Although Jesus was raised as a Jew, he started a movement that created a whole new religion… Christianity. He went from town to town preaching and spreading his message.

21. Christianity Basic Beliefs: 10 Commandments
Jesus is the Son of God who died to save humanity from sin
Roman Pontius Pilot accused Jesus of defying Roman authority and he sentenced Jesus to be crucified (which was a common punishment during that period of time). According to the Christian gospels three days after Christ’s death, he ascended into heaven and according to his followers he became the messiah.

22. Christianity

23. Islam Monotheistic Deity: Allah (God) Founder: Muhammed
Holy Place: Mecca
Holy Book: Qu’ran (Koran)
Islam
While meditating outside of Mecca Muhammed claimed to hear a voice. The voice told him he was a messenger of Allah. He began to move around the region preaching… He created the Islamic faith.

24. Islam Basic Beliefs: Fast during Ramadan
Achieve salvation by following the Five Pillars of Islam
Faith
Prayer (5 times a day facing Mecca)
Charity
Fasting
Pilgrimage
Faith: To become a Muslim a person has to recite a set statement of faith. Once you say the statement (in front of a religious leader) you are considered a Muslim.

25. Islam

26. Complete your World Religions Notes and Do Summary
Complete your World Religions Notes and Do Summary! Remember the summary is 3 sentences that answer the essential question