1. WORLD BELIEF SYSTEMS

2. MONOTHEISTIC RELIGIONS
One god

3. ZOROASTRIANISM Persian religion
Good god and bad god – right vs. wrong – eternal battle

4. JUDAISM Hebrews – Semitic people living in Ancient Mesopotamia
Hebrew Bible – Torah (law code; also Ten Commandments)
Israelites believe they’re God’s chosen people
First major monotheistic religion – God as omniscient, omnipotent, and omnipresent
Hebrew diaspora – a scattering of the people throughout the world due to persecution
Awaiting a Messiah that will usher in the kingdom of God and restore the nation of Israel

5. CHRISTIANITY Jesus as Son of God and Savior
Preached love, mercy, compassion, equality among believers
Crucified; Christians believe in his resurrection
Christian Bible = Old Testament (Torah) + New Testament (writings about Jesus’ life)
Big missionary pull – Paul and other apostles

6. POLYTHEISTIC RELIGIONS
MANY GODS

7. HINDUISM – INDIA Aryan invasion to the Indus Valley Polytheistic
Caste system – social organization based on hereditary
And, originally, color of skin

8. HINDUISM – INDIA
Karma – if you do good, good will happen to you; if you do bad, bad will happen to you
Dharma – fulfilling your castely duty
Samsara – circle of birth, death, and rebirth
Moksha – release from samsara; uniting with the divine
Brahma, the creator
Vishnu, the preserver
Shiva, the destroyer

9. BUDDHISM Siddhartha Gautama – the “Buddha,” or “enlightened one”
All life is suffering; the cause of suffering is desire; to stop suffering, stop desiring
Therefore, Buddhists live lives relatively free of material possession

10. BUDDHISM
Karma – if you do good, good will happen to you; if you do bad, bad will happen to you
Samsara – circle of birth, death, and rebirth
Nirvana – release from samsara; uniting with the divine
Eightfold Path
Four Noble Truths

11. BUDDHISM– INDIA AND CHINA

12. Hinduism only Buddhism only Both
Reincarnation
Cyclical view of history
Belief in a state of enlightenment (Hindu moksha, Buddhist nirvana)
The Middle Way (Eightfold Path)
Four Noble Truths
Caste system
Vegetarian

13. PHILOSOPHIES
Ways of life; moral codes; the study of existence (no deities)

14. LEGALISM “Rule-following”
Humans are born evil and will only obey authority through force
Obedience through fear
Characteristics:
Strict laws
Harsh punishments for breaking the laws
Sacrifice of personal freedoms for the good of the state
Examples?

15. CONFUCIANISM Founded by Confucius Based on relationships and respect
Hierarchical and harmonious relationships
Society functions when everyone plays their part
Mutual respect

16. CONFUCIANISM - RELATIONSHIPS
1. Ruler
Subject
2. Father
Son
Filial piety  respect your elders!
Status
Age
Gender
3. Husband
Wife
4. Older Brother
Younger Brother
5. Older Friend
Younger Friend

17. DAOISM Founded by Laozi Dao = “the path”
Look toward nature for understanding and comfort
Emphasizes acceptance and individual retreat from society
Rely on senses and instinct to discover the nature and ‘rhythm’ of the universe
Formed as a result from witnessing the Warring States period

18. BALANCE OF OPPOSITES Yang Yin OPPOSITES MUST BE IN BALANCE Masculine
Active
Light
Warmth
Strong
Heaven; Sun
Feminine
Passive
Darkness
Cold
Weak
Earth; Moon
Yang
OPPOSITES MUST BE IN BALANCE

19. RECAP
Universalizing religions: religions with a core of beliefs that transcend cultures and actively recruit new adherents (anyone can convert)
Examples??
Ethnic religions: religions that create strong social bonds between people but mainly are restricted to one ethnic group (people can’t always readily convert; not a strong missionary aspect)