1. (Ancient) World Religions

2. The Vedic Religion (ancient Hinduism)
The religion of the Aryan Indus Valley
1500 BCE to 500 BCE
also known as Vedism
The Aryans left collection of sacred hymns, songs, prayers
The Vedas
Map of the Beginnings

3. Ancient Hinduism Method of worship The elements Fire and rivers
worship of heroic gods
chanting of hymns
performance of sacrifices.

4. Ancient Hinduism Polytheistic Dharma – Duty
Brahma (creator) and others
Vishnu, Shiva, Devi
Dharma – Duty
Follow duty = good karma = move up caste
Reincarnation
Only men could reach ‘moksha’
“openness with the universe
Sati – widows burned themselves on husbands funeral pyres

5. Buddhism Founded by Siddhartha Gautama (~500 BCE)
Do not believe is a god.
Four noble truths
1) Life is suffering
2) Suffering is caused by desire
3) There is a way out of the suffering
4) The way out is to follow the Eightfold Path

6. The Eightfold Path Acting from love and compassion
Non-harmful communication
Finding an ethical foundation
Complete or full effort
Goal – to reach nirvana (enlightenment)
Everyone could reach nirvana
Men and women were spiritual equals
Women could become nuns in monasteries

8. Judaism Monotheistic Abraham considered founder of the Jews
Yahweh
Abraham considered founder of the Jews
Hebrews are the chosen people of God
Canaan is the chosen land
Messiah will create God’s kingdom on Earth

9. Basic Beliefs of Judaism
Death is not the end of human existence
Focus on life instead of afterlife
Believe dead will be physically resurrected
One is saved through commitment to being moral to God

10. Social Impact of Judaism
Short lived kingdom in the Middle East
1050 BCE – 930 BCE
Jewish Diaspora
The dispersion of Jews beyond Israel
Heavy emphasis on tradition & culture
Language, diet, holidays
Patriarchal community
Matrilineal descent
Israel as a united monarchy lasted from BCE. Eventually it was divided into two kingdoms. The northern kingdom of Israel would last until 720 BCE. The southern kingdom of Judah would last until The fall of the two kingdoms led to Jewish Diaspora.

11. The Diaspora

12. Christianity Founded by Jesus of Nazareth in 32 CE
Sage (philosopher with wisdom, sound judgment)
Performed miracles
Devotion to God, love for fellow human beings
Teachings become New Testament

13. Spread of Christianity
Palestine was part of Roman Empire
Jesus openly denounced Roman priests
Romans were concerned about uprisings
Jesus was “King of the Jews”
Monotheism was a threat to religious toleration in Rome
was executed (purely political motivation)
Christianity should have died with him
Followers were determined
Paul of Tarsus (St. Paul) – Missionary who used Roman roads to spread Christianity

15. Islam Had visions, angel appeared
Muhammad born in Mecca (Saudi Arabia) ~570 CE
Had visions, angel appeared
Began to spread message about the one true god
Unlike Jesus (who Christians believe was God's son) Muhammad was a mortal, albeit with extraordinary qualities
He preached a strong social justice message about equality and poverty

16. Islam
Muslims believe that God had previously revealed Himself to the earlier prophets of the Jews and Christians
Muslims therefore accept the teachings of both the Jewish Torah and the Christian Gospels
Use their own text, the Koran (or Qur’an)
Believe that Islam is the perfection of the religion
Caliphs – leaders of the Muslim community
Considered to be the religions successors of Muhammad