1. The 5 Major Religions Vocabulary
World Cultures
The 5 Major Religions
Vocabulary

2. Hebrews
people who once lived in Mesopotamia and migrated in B.C. to Cannan.
They developed Judaism (monotheistic religion)
1000 BC they established Kingdom of Israel.
Recorded events and laws like…?

3. Torah
holy book of Jews/Hebrews where events and laws were recorded. 1st five books of the Bible.
What are the first five books?
Genesis
Exodus
Leviticus
Numbers
Deuteronomy

4. monotheistic belief in one god
What are the three monotheistic religions?
* Judaism
* Christianity
* Islam

5. Diaspora Scattering of people
Sent Jews to different parts of the world

6. Aryans
Indo-European people who migrated across Europe and Asia and moved into NW India - made tools of iron and built walled cities; divided people into classes by occupation
1) Priest 2) Warriors 3) Herders, farmers, artisans, and merchant

7. Vedas Collection of prayers, hymns, and other religious teachings
Aryan Priests memorized the Vedas
Main holy book of Hindus

8. polytheistic belief in many gods
Which of the 5 major world religions is polytheistic?
* Hinduism

9. Brahman An all powerful single force that the Hindus believe in
It is believed that it resides in all living things

10. Hinduism Has no single founder and no single sacred text
Believe everything is part of the unchanging, all powerful spiritual force called Brahman
It originated in India

11. Reincarnation
rebirth of the soul in another bodily form

12. Siddhartha Guatama
“The Buddha; The Enlightened One;” founder of Buddhism
was originally a Hindu prince. Taught that desires are the causes of suffering - to eliminate suffering you should eliminate desires

13. Nirvana
final goal of a Buddhist; union with the universe, release from cycle of rebirth (reincarnation)

14. Christianity Arose in Roman-held lands in the Middle East.
Founder = Jesus (also considered messiah, the savior sent to lead Jews to freedom); his teachings were created in Judaism
1 God/10 Commandments (laws Jews believed God had given them)

15. Messiah
savior sent to lead Jews to freedom

16. Roman Catholic Church
original, 1st Christian Church: 1200’s - peak of power
Became wealthiest and most powerful worldly force in Europe

17. Holy Roman Emperor
single ruler who united separate kingdoms in Roman Empire; was crowned by the Pope.

18. crusades
when Christian knights from Europe as well as armies of ordinary men and women left for the holy land to fight the Muslims “Holy Wars”

19. Byzantine Empire Influenced Eastern Europe and Russia
Christians in eastern part of what was the Roman Empire (East Mediterranean)

20. Muhammad Prophet of Islam What is a prophet? * Messenger of God
What God?
* Allah
born in Mecca in 570; At the age of 40, he had a vision; he was called the messenger of God

21. Five Pillars of Islam 1. Faith (in 1 God)
2. Prayer (5 times a day facing the Mecca)
3. Alms (charity for poor)
4. Fasting (Ramadan)
5. Hajj (Pilgrimage to the Mecca)

22. Quran
Muslim holy book; contains sacred word of God and is the final authority on all matters

23. caliph
successor to Muhammad
Abu Bakr elected 1st caliph

24. mosque
Muslim house of worship