1. World Religions

2. Images from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religion
Christianity, Judaism, Hinduism
Islam, Buddhism, Shinto
Sikhism, Bahai, Jainism

3. Ground Rules for Learning about Religion
Our goal is understand the religious beliefs of others, but we will not impose our beliefs on others.

4. Ground Rules for Learning about Religion
We will be respectful when speaking about the beliefs of others.

5. Ground Rules for Learning about Religion
We will share our knowledge.
(You may know more than the teachers!)

6. Why Study Religion? Influence of the Eastern Hemisphere
From the Fertile Crescent
From India
Judaism
Christianity
Islam
Hinduism
Jainism
Buddhism
Sikhism

7. Polytheism
Poly = many
Theism = belief in god
Poly + theism = belief that there are many gods

8. Examples Greeks = Zeus, Hera, Ares, Aphrodite, Hermes
Romans = Jupiter, Juno, Mars, Venus, Mercury
Vikings = Odin, Thor, Freya, Loki, Tyr

9. Monotheism Mono = one Theism = Belief in a god
Mono + theism = belief that there is only one god.

10. Religions in the USA Christianity: 76.0%
Unaffiliated, including atheist or agnostic: 15.0%
Judaism: 1.2%
Other (including Sikh, Unitarian, Pagan, First Peoples):0.8%
Islam: 0.6%
Buddhism: 0.5%
Hinduism: 0.3%
Refused to Answer: 5.2%
Source: US Census Bureau, 2008 ( Retrieved 12/4/2011.

11. Religions in the World Christianity: 33.4% (2.3 billion people)
Islam: 22.4% (1.5 billion people)
Hinduism: 13.8% (1 billion people)
Unaffiliated, including atheist, state secular: 11.5%
Other: 11.2% (0.8 billion people)
Buddhism: 7.1% (0.5 billion people)
Sihk, Baha’i: 0.5%
Judaism: 0.2%
Source: CIA World Factbook ( Retrieved 12/4/2011.

12. Why Study Religion? Lasting Legacy

13. Why Study Religion? Understand Conflict