1. The Five Major Religions

2. Restrictions on Religion by the Governments of World Countries
Christianity
Judaism
Islam
Buddhism
Hinduism
Compare and contrast the elements of the five major world religions
More than 730 Religions which have broken out into more than 4,200 branches

3. Social Hostilities Involving Religion
Learning about religions will help us understand each other better. If we understand each other better, we may be able to avoid conflicts and come to peaceful resolutions.

4. Beginnings of Religions

5. Religion by the Numbers

6. Religion Distribution

7. Christianity
The early Hebrews who eventually developed into the Jewish religion became the foundation of Christianity.
Jesus, or the Messiah, was a Jewish boy who disagreed with some of the Jewish principles of his day began to profess a new way of thinking.
This eventually led to the beginning of the Christian religion.

8. Christianity
Christianity started about 2000 years ago about the same time of Jesus.
The central point of Christian belief is that God, the Father, entered into human history as the Son, Jesus of Nazareth, and arose as the Holy Spirit. 

9. Christian Philosophy
Monotheistic – One God who is the Creator of the universe. This one God is also thought of as the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Jesus is both fully man and fully God.  He was born of the Virgin Mary , crucified, resurrected from the dead, and ascended to the Father.

10. Christian Philosophy Sin and Evil are realities.
The Bible is the Holy Book that records God's revelation.
All believers are promised life everlasting.
The leader of Christianity was Jesus, and the followers were his 12 disciples.

11. Christian Denominations
Catholic
Protestant (Lutheran, Methodist, Baptist, Pentecostal, etc.)
Orthodox
Others (Latter Day Saints/Mormon, Non-Trinitarian/Unitarian, etc.)

12. Largest Monotheistic Religion
What is _______?
History
Beliefs
Christianity
Largest Monotheistic Religion 
was born 2,000 years ago.
Christians are the of Jesus Christ
People brought with them as they moved around the world.
Monotheism is the belief in one
Christians believe in the Trinity: father, , and holy spirit.
is all powerful
Believe Jesus on the cross.
is to turn your back on God.
Jesus
followers
religion
God
son
God
died
Sin

13. Practices & Traditions
Sacred Writings
Places of Worship
(Spiritual Places)
Practices & Traditions
Holidays
Christianity
The is a collection of sacred books and writings.
Churches:
Share one way in which churches are decorated:
A Sacrament is something you do to receive a
Name another tradition of Christianity:
Christmas is the of Jesus Christ.
is the holiest day of the Christian year.
Bible
Old & New Testaments
Altar, Cross, Pews, Statues
blessing
Baptism, confirmation, communion,
Prayer, Making sign of the cross
birth
Easter

14. Judaism People who practice in the religion JUDAISM are called Jews.
JUDAISM was the first to teach belief in only one God (Monotheistic).
Two other important religions developed from Judaism: Christianity and Islam.

15. Judaism
Jews think that God will send a Messiah (a savior) to unite them and lead them in His way.
Christians believe that Jesus was the Messiah. The Jewish people do not agree; they anticipate the Messiah’s arrival in the future.
Judaism teaches that death is not the end and that there is a world to come.

16. Judaism
The "Torah," the first five books of the Hebrew Bible, is the most important Jewish scripture.
It contains the basic laws of Judaism.
Another important book is the "Talmud," serving primarily as a guide to the civil and religious laws of Judaism.

17. Hebrew: Kept so scripture isn’t lost in translation.

18. Judaism The Jewish house of worship is called a synagogue.
Rabbis (spiritual leaders) conduct services, act as interpreters of Jewish laws, and deliver sermons.
Today there are over 18 million followers of Judaism scattered throughout the world. A large number of those people live in the Jewish nation of Israel. Over six million live in the United States.
Judaism

19. Jewish Philosophy God is one and unique God is the creator
God is lawgiver
God is judge
We have the obligation to worship
The Torah is God's law
The Messiah will come.

20. First Monotheistic Religion
What is _______?
History
Beliefs
Judaism
First Monotheistic Religion 
Abraham lived over years ago and is the _ of a great nation.
First religion to worship
led the people out of Egypt to freedom.
The ten commandments are the of the Jewish people.
Anti-Semitism is the against Jews.
was founded as a homeland for Jews.
Important to learn the language.
Belief that Jews should live and act like people.
are the rules to live by.
4,000
father
one god.
Moses
laws
prejudice
Israel
Hebrew
God’s
10 Commandments

21. Practices & Traditions
Sacred Writings
Places of Worship
(Spiritual Places)
Practices & Traditions
Holidays
Judaism
Torah is  
The is another sacred book.
A Temple and are places of prayer and study.
A Cantor sings or chants the
A means teacher; he/she leads the services.
A is always kept burning.
The prayer shawl is called the
The Yarmulke is
is a way to prepare food.
Tell what each holiday is:
Rosh Hashanah-
Yom Kippur-
Hanukkah-
Passover-
The Jewish Laws/ how you should behave
Talmud
synagogue
prayers
rabbi
light
tallit
head covering
Kosher
New Year- repent sins
Atonement – make up for sins “fix it”
Victory in Israel – menorah
Freed from slavery

22. Islam
ISLAM is the name given to the religion preached by the prophet Muhammad in the 600s A. D.
Muslim is the name given to the people who practice the Islam religion
The Islamic religion started in the area known as Palestine in the year 600AD.
It has millions of followers, most of them in the region north and east of the Mediterranean Sea.

23. Islamic Philosophy Allah, is the one Islamic God; Monotheistic
Muslims learn that life on earth is a period of testing and preparation for the life to come.
Angels record good and bad deeds.
People should behave themselves and help others, trusting in Allah's justice and mercy for their reward.

24. The holy book of Islam is the "Koran" or Quran
The holy book of Islam is the "Koran" or Quran. Muslims believe its words to be those of Allah himself, spoken to Muhammad by an angel.
Muslims pray five times daily in their mosques (churches).
While praying, they face the holy city of Mecca (in Saudi-Arabia) and sometimes kneel with faces to the ground.
Islam

25. Islam All Muslims are required to make a pilgrimage
(trip to a sacred place) to
Mecca at least once in
their lifetime.

26. Dome of the Rock
It was completed in , making it the oldest existing Islamic building in the world.
The Foundation Stone, is in the center.
According to Islamic tradition, this rock is the spot from where Muhammad ascended to Heaven .
According to Jewish tradition, the stone is the site where Abraham prepared to sacrifice his son Isaac.
An Islamic shrine and major landmark located on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem, Israel.

27. Monotheistic; Muslims are the people who practice Islam
is the spiritual messenger.
is a city of great importance to the Muslim people.
Palestine  
is the language of the Muslim religion.
Allah is the name of the Islamic
Muslims dress the same to show
determine your after-life.
What is _______?
History
Beliefs
Muhammad
Mecca
Country/land that was given to the Jews
Arabic
God
we are all equal
in the eyes of God.
Actions

28. (“Koran”) is written in Arabic Mosque: Share some facts:
Sacred Writings
Places of Worship
(Spiritual Places)
Practices & Traditions
Holidays
Islam
(“Koran”) is written in Arabic
Mosque:
Share some facts:
Five are duties a Muslim must perform:
Testimony of faith
Pray times a day facing
Give $$ to the
FAST
Trip to
leads prayer.
No alcohol or
is a holiday in which daytime fasting is done for 1 month.
is a holiday to end the fasting. Gifts are exchanged.
Qur’an
Friday – holy day
Wash when enter; no shoes, boys & girls apart, no statues or pictures
pillars 5
Mecca
poor
Mecca
Imam
pork
Ramadan
Eid-al-Fitr

30. Judaism, Christianity, and Islam
Venn Diagram:
Judaism, Christianity, and Islam
Jesus is divine
Trinity
Sacraments
Ordained Ministry
No Sacred Language
Church is Holy Building
Weekly Holy Day is Sunday
Liturgical practice of breaking bread and wine
Ongoing revelation
One God- God of Abraham
Special Relationship with God
History of Ancient Hebrews
Importance of Prophets
Religion is Divided into groups
Prayer occurs during religious service
Services held in Holy Building
Jerusalem is Holy City
Hebrew is Sacred Language
Canaan is Promised Land
God is Adonai
Synagogue is Holy Building
Holy Day is the Sabbath (Friday Night to Saturday Night)
Salvation and Damnation
Recitation of Creed
Story of Jesus’ Life
Arabic Sacred Language
Mecca Holy City
Muhammad Final Prophet
Koran is Holy Book
5 Pillars- To Attain Salvation
Dietary Laws
Fasting- Ramadan and Yom Kippur
Almsgiving
Sacred Language
God is Allah
Mosque is Holy Building
Friday prayer
Hajj to Mecca

31. Jerusalem: Whose Holy City?
Both groups claim this territory as their Holy Land.
The name Jerusalem itself is part Arabic part Hebrew that means city of peace.
Wailing wall = believed by many people to be the remains of one wall of a great Jewish temple, which was torn down by the Romans.

32. Buddhism Founding person of Buddhism is Guatama, the Buddha
The Dalai Lama is a Buddhist monk who remains the leader of the Tibetans.

33. Buddhism Buddhism is a major religion in China, Japan, and Tibet.
Buddhism is the second fastest growing religion. 488 million Buddhists worldwide*
   
*Time Magazine, July 1, 2013

34. The Major Philosophy of Buddhism
Love: without conditions
Compassion: or feeling at one with the person who is suffering
Sympathetic Joy:Celebrate the happiness of others, and do not resent their good fortune.
Impartiality: Treat everyone equally, and do not use others for personal gain or to win approval.

35. The Major Philosophy of Buddhism
Buddhism states that existence is a continuing cycle of death and rebirth called reincarnation.
Each person's position in life is determined by his or her behavior in the previous life. This is known as their "karma" (also a Hindu belief).

36. Polytheistic – Many Gods
Buddhism
 Polytheistic – Many Gods
Guatama was a prince who started the religion and became the
A Buddha is a god like figure who has reached
A Buddha has realized that sadness and suffering is caused by
is the law of Buddhism.
is the belief that when you die you are reborn again. The life form you take on is determined by your actions on Earth or your
is the place you go when you become a Buddha.
What is _______?
History
Beliefs
Buddha
enlightenment – left cycle of rebirth
wanting
Dharma
Reincarnation
karma
Nirvana

37. Tripitaka home Pagoda Dharma NOBLE Lama Monks mind O-bon Vesak
Sacred Writings
Places of Worship
(Spiritual Places)
Practices & Traditions
Holidays
Sutras
Shrines in your
Temple
Share some facts:
wheels are used while praying.
Four Truths: desire or wanting creates
Show Compassion No
Put others
Dalai is a spiritual leader.
shave their heads.
Meditation is to free your of thought.
: hang lanterns to guide spirits
:Buddha’s birth, death, enlightenment.
Tripitaka
home
Pagoda
Dharma
Burn incense or candles, Buddha statues
Prayer Flags. Bodhi trees, lotus flowers
NOBLE
Gossip
bullying
First – think, speak, act
Lama
Monks
mind
O-bon
Vesak

38. Hinduism HINDUISM is one of the world's oldest polytheistic religions.
Over 2/3's of the world's Hindus live in India; large numbers reside in Africa also.

39. Hindu Beliefs
Hindus believe in many gods, numbering into the thousands.
They recognize one supreme god called Brahman (the Absolute).
Hindus believe in a continuous process of rebirth called "reincarnation."

40. Hindu Beliefs
At death, the Hindu's deeds (karma) determine what the next life will be.
Followers work to break this cycle--birth, death, re-birth-- (referred to by writers as the "Wheel of Life") and gain release.
The Hindu's soul then merges with Brahman in a condition of spiritual perfection (moksha). This is the goal of Hindus.

41. Hinduism
Hinduism has many sacred books, the oldest being a series called the "Vedas.“
Traditional Hindu society was divided into groups of four classes (or varnas). This was known as the "caste system."

42. What is _______?
History
Beliefs
Hinduism
OLDEST; Polytheistic  
is the country where Hinduism is primarily practiced.
System divides people into classes and doesn’t allow them to cross the lines.
was a great leader who preached tolerance and nonviolence.
is the divine God.
and Shiva are also Gods.
Cows are believed to be and beef is not eaten.
is when you have left the cycle of reincarnation (samsara).
India
Caste
Gandhi
Brahman
Vishnu
sacred
Moksha

43. Practices & Traditions
Sacred Writings
Places of Worship
(Spiritual Places)
Practices & Traditions
Holidays
Hinduism
are written in the language of Sanskrit.
Temple called a Mandir. Share some facts:
Shrines can be found in a person’s
The forehead is marked with a bindi –dot- or tilak to:
Sacred River:
Raksha Bandhan:
A Rakhi is a given to a sibling to show commitment.
;festival of lights to honor the God of wealth & good fortune.
;return of spring
Vedas
Upanishads
No shoes; wash feet, bells, statues washed,
Flowers, incense, candles
home
Good Luck; be humble
Before prayer
Marriage
Ganges
Honor your siblings
bracelet
Divali
Lakshmi
Holi

44. Religious Symbols
Christianity
Hinduism
Buddhism
Judaism
Islam

45. How much have you learned?
Hopefully you understand religions better and we can avoid conflicts and come to peaceful resolutions.
Focus on similarities not differences.