1. Buddhism is mixed with local religions in some places
Buddhism is mixed with local religions in some places. In Japan, Buddhism is mixed with the local religion, Shintoism.
Shinto Shrine
In Kyoto, Japan, this Shinto shrine is visible after walking through a torii – a gateway usually formed by two wooden posts and topped by two horizontal beams.

3. Buddhist Stupas -
72 stupas, each containing a sculpture of the Buddha in meditation were built around 800 CE and still stand in Borobudur, Indonesia.

4. Sacred Landscapes of Buddhism
Swedogon Pagodo in Yangon, Myanmar
Eight hairs of the Buddha are preserved under the dome (chedi)

5. Buddhism came to Tibet from India in the 8th century
Buddhism came to Tibet from India in the 8th century. Tibetan Buddhism is a mixture of Tantric and other Mahayana teachings developed further by spiritual leaders or monks called lamas.
A prayer wheel contains a mantra, a prayer or chant that is repeated many times. Each turn of the wheel counts as a prayer said and merit gained.

6. Shintoism A Japanese ethnic religion based on animism and shamanism.
Was modified by introduction of Buddhism-closely related today-many Japanese practice both.
Reverence for nature and the land-emperor seen as divine.
Belief in kami or spirits
Used by militants as a nationalistic religion in 1930s to unify the country in war time.
A torii gate welcomes pilgrims to the Itsukushima Shrine on Miyajima Island-it is sacred to Shinto and Buddhism

7. From the Hearth of Huang He (Yellow) River Valley
Taoism –
originated in China more than 2500 years ago
* oneness of humanity and nature
founder: Lao-Tsu
sacred text: “Book of the Way”
social manifestation: Feng Shui
diffusion: East Asia

8. Chinese Religions
Confucianism-mainly a philosophy of life founded by K’ung Fu-tze in 6th cent. BC
Became a state religion of China-emphasized duty, social order and respect of others
Daoism or Taoism “the Way” founded by Lao Zi, a reverence and harmony with nature-easily co- existed with Confucianism and Buddhism
Left to right-Buddha, Confucius and Lao Zi

9. From the Hearth of the Eastern Mediterranean
Judaism –
originated in Southwest Asia about 4000 years ago.
* first major monotheistic religion, covenant between God (one God) and Abraham (the chosen people) sacred text: Torah founder: Abraham
sacred sites: Jerusalem (Western Wall), land between the Mediterranean and the Jordan River
social manifestation: Zionism diffusion: into European cities during the diaspora,
into N. America during WWII, into Israel over
last 50 years

10. Judaism One of the world’s oldest religions
Monotheistic religion that evolved in Southwest Asia
3 branches-Orthodox, Conservative and Reformed
Not evangelical-does not seek converts
Concentrated in Israel, but widely scattered in Middle East, North Africa, Russia, Ukraine, Europe and the Americas
Yemeni Jew in 1914 reads from the sacred Torah
Total number is about 18 million world wide
19th cent. Reform movement-goal to update Judaism
Orthodox wanted to keep old precepts
Conservative-less strictly Orthodox, but not as much change as Reformed.

11. Sacred Sites of Jerusalem
Jerusalem is sacred to three major religions:
Judaism (Western Wall)
Christianity (Church of the Holy Sepulchre)
Islam (Dome of the Rock)

12. Western Wall, Jerusalem

13. Jewish neighborhoods in European Cities the Old Jewish Cemetery in Prague, the Czech Republic
Old Jewish Cemetery dates from the 1400s-last burial in 1787-tombstones are in disarray from years of burials one on top of another.-as many as 12 burials in one spot.

14. From the Hearth of the Eastern Mediterranean
Christianity –
originated in Southwest Asia about 2000 years ago.
* monotheistic religion, follow teachings of Jesus to
achieve eternal life
sacred text: Bible
founder: Jesus (son of God)
sacred sites: Bethlehem, Jerusalem
split in the church:
* split into Eastern Orthodox and Roman
Catholic churches in 1054
* Protestant sect split off in mid 1500s
diffusion: into Western Europe, and then world wide
during colonialism and after.

15. Christianity
It has the largest number of followers and is the most widely dispersed with 1.6 billion or 40% of the population
Roman Catholicism is the largest segment and is found in Europe, North American and Latin America.
Protestantism dominates in Northern Europe, North America, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa.
Eastern Orthodox is found in Eastern Europe, Russia and Ethiopia.
Do Road Atlas Religious Toponyms
If Time Permits hand out Road Atlases and have students count the number of towns or place names with St., Ste. Or Saint in Quebec-note how few there are in Ontario next door.
Here or later

16. First Split in Christianity, 1054 CE Western Roman empire = Roman Catholicism Eastern Roman empire = Eastern Orthodox

17. The Eastern Orthodox Church makes up 14% of Christianity and is a loose collection of 14 self-governing churches in Eastern Europe and the Middle East.
To the right are the spires of St. Basil’s Cathedral in the Kremlin of Moscow.
Notice the Orthodox cross on the onion-domed spire.

18. The Cathedral of the Assumption, Moscow

19. Roman Catholicism is the largest branch of the Christian faith
Roman Catholicism is the largest branch of the Christian faith. The Vatican in Rome is the headquarters of the Papacy and a powerful symbol to Catholics around the world.
European cities were dominated by the spires of great cathedrals and churches until the 20th century.

20. Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage
Vatican City-Pope John Paul II greeted pilgrims in St. Peter’s Square

21. National Geographic April 2008
Religious tourism is a rapidly growing industry with 300 million pilgrims per year producing revenues of 18 billion dollars.

22. Sacred Sites and Rituals At Saint Declan’s Holy Well in Ardmore, Ireland Pilgrims hang scraps of clothing as offerings
This practice is common at sacred sites in Far Eastern Russia

24. Sacred Landscapes of Christianity
Catholic Churches
Are often located in the center of European cities, with spires reaching far above the other buildings.
St. Michaels, (1472) Bordeaux, France
St. Michaels (1472) in Bordeaux, France