1. Religions

2. As we go through the slides, fill in your Religion Chart
Overview
There are many different religions. We are going to focus on the main ones:
Christianity Buddhism
Islam Hinduism
Judaism Sikhism
Animism
As we go through the slides, fill in your Religion Chart

3. When was the Religion Founded?
Islam: 610 CE
Judaism: BCE
Christianity: 1 CE
Hinduism: Around 1500 BCE
Buddhism: 520 BCE
Sikhism: Late 1400s CE
CE means Common Era & takes the place of AD.
BCE means Before the Common Era & takes the
place of BC.

4. Founder / Most Important Person
Islam: Mohammad
Judaism: Abraham
Christianity: Jesus

5. Founder / Most Important Person
Hinduism: No Single Founder
Buddhism: Gautam Buddha
Sikhism: Guru Nanak

6. Important Ideas Islam: Allah is One person and can’t be divided.
Judaism: agreement between God and Jews. The Jews obey God, and God makes the Jews his chosen people.
Christianity: Three part God: Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit. Jesus is the son of God

7. Important Ideas
Hinduism: Dharma (ethics and duties), Samsara (rebirth), Karma (right action), Moksha (liberation from the cycle of Samsara)
Buddhism: Four Noble truths – About suffering and how to end it.
Sikhism: the oneness of God and the need for people to be devoted to God and to develop God consciousness
Animism: It is the worship of animals and environmental features.

8. Place of Origin Islam: Middle East Judaism: Middle East
Christianity: Middle East
Hinduism: India
Buddhism: India
Sikhism: India / Pakistan

9. Where in the World is it Now?
Islam: Countries of the Middle East, Indonesia, South Eastern Europe
Judaism: Israel
Christianity: North America, South America, Europe, Australia, Parts of Africa, Russia
Buddhism, Hinduism, Sikhism: India
Animism: Mainly in Africa
Note: All the religions are located
everywhere. These are the places where they
are predominant.

10. How many Gods? Islam: Monotheistic Judaism: Monotheistic
Christianity: Monotheistic
Hinduism: Polytheistic
Buddhism: Polytheistic
Sikhism: Monotheistic
Monotheistic: Belief in ONE God.
Polytheistic: Belief in MANY gods.

11. Sacred Text Islam: Koran or Qur’an Judaism: Torah Christianity: Bible
Hinduism: Vedas
Buddhism: Tipaka
Sikhism: Guru Granth Sahib

12. Symbol of the Religion Islam: Crescent Moon and Star
Judaism: Star of David
Christianity: Cross
Hinduism: Om
Buddhism: Dharmachakra
Sikhism: Khanda

13. Important Religious Holidays
Islam: Ramadan – Month of Fasting
Holy Pilgrimage – Journey to Mecca
Judaism: Hanukah - eight-days commemorating the rededication of the Holy Temple
Rosh Hashanah – Jewish New Year
Christianity: Christmas – Birth of Jesus
Easter – Resurrection of Jesus

14. Important Religious Holidays
Hinduism: Diwali, Pooja (for various gods and goddesses), and Mahashivatrati.
Buddhism: Vesak – Birth of Buddha
Sikhism: festivals marking the birthday or martyrdom of a Guru

15. Place of Worship
Islam: Mosque
Judaism: Synagogue
Christianity: Church

16. Place of Worship
Hinduism: Temple
Buddhism: Temple
Sikhism: Temple

17. Different Religious Branches
Islam: Sunni & Shi’ite and many more
Judaism: Orthodox & Conservative & Reform and more.
Christianity: Catholic & Protestant (Many different branches) & Eastern Orthodox and many more.

18. Different Religious Branches
Hinduism: Vaishnavism, Shaivism, Smartism and Shaktism
Buddhism: Theravada ("The School of the Elders") and Mahayana ("The Great Vehicle")
Sikhism: Khalsa or Singhs, Keshdhari, Sahajdharis Sikhs

19. Special Clothing for Average Person
Islam: Hijabs Burkas
Judaism: Yarmulke
Christianity: None required

20. Special Clothing for Average Person
Hinduism: Sari
Buddhism: Robes
Sikhism: Turban

21. Misc. Things about the Religions
Islam: Sharia Law (Islamic Religious Law) – Deals with all aspects of day-to-day life. Very Strict.
Judaism: Holocaust – 6 million Jews killed by Nazis during World War II.
Christianity: 10 Commandments – Moral and Ethical system for Christians.

22. Misc. Things about the Religions
Hinduism: Believe in Reincarnation
Buddhism: Believe in Reincarnation
Sikhism: Cutting hair is strictly forbidden in Sikhism.
Animism: Believe that spirits are in everything, inanimate and alive.