1. Major World Religions Christianity Islam Judaism Confucianism Hinduism
Buddhism
Sikhism
Animism

2. Two Types of Religion Monotheism – One God
Mono equals single, one, or alone
Polytheism – More than one god or gods
Poly = many or multiple

3. Other Viewpoints
Atheism – Disbelief or lack of belief in the existence of God or gods. (Not a type of religion, but an opposing concept.)
Secularism – The belief that life’s questions can be answered apart from religion.

4. World Religions

5. Christianity Dominant in Europe, Latin America, North America
Members usually worship in a church
Bible is considered the sacred text
Multiple forms of the faith
Jerusalem is the sacred city
Jesus is the Son of God
Jesus is the prophet
Abrahamic Faith
Monotheistic

6. Islam 5 Pillars – faith, daily prayers, giving, fasting, pilgrimage
Jerusalem is a city considered holy by Islam
Muhammad was the prophet and founder
Members (Muslims) worship in a Mosque
Dominant religion of the Middle East
Koran (Qur’an) is the sacred text
Allah (God) is the deity
Mecca is the holy city
Abrahamic Faith
Monotheistic

7. Judaism God is the deity – Tetragrammaton, YHVH, Yahweh
The Torah is the sacred text (5 books of Moses)
Jerusalem is a city considered holy by Judaism
Worship in a synagogue or temple
Israel is a key location for Judaism
Moses is consider to be a founder
Jesus is not the messiah
Abrahamic Faith
Monotheistic

8. Hinduism Believe in social hierarchy under the Caste System
Thought to be the oldest of the world’s major religions
Believe in karma and dharma within the Caste System
Ganges River – sacred site to cleanse sins
Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva are the deities
Believe in reincarnation (Soul is reborn)
No single founder or date of origin
The Vedas are the sacred texts
Complex philosophies
Worship in a temple
Polytheistic

9. Hinduism

10. Buddhism Eight fold path to reach Nirvana – An Enlightened State
Take refuge in 3 jewels: Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha
Meditation is used to transcend worldly desires
Four Noble Truths – Suffering, Cause, Path, End
Sacred text is the Tripitaka (Three Baskets)
Practiced mainly in south and east Asia
Born with name Siddhartha Gautama
Buddha means the Enlightened One
Sacred city is Bodh Gaya, India
Worship in a temple
Bodhi Tree

11. Confucianism Referred to as a religion, but is truly a philosophy
Grounded in ethical behavior and good governance
Sacred symbol is Yin-Yang – harmony and balance
3 Areas of Philosophy - Social, Political, Educational
Influenced social order and social hierarchy
Sacred Site – The temple of Qufu in China
Based on the teachings of Confucius
Followers view it as a way of life
Sacred Text is the Analects

12. Sikhism Sacred Site is Harimandir Sahib (Golden Temple)
Communicate with God through meditation
Influenced by Islam and Hinduism
Forbids discrimination of any kind
Sacred city is Amritsar, India
Adi Granth is the sacred text
Khanda is the sacred symbol
Guru Nanak is the founder
Mainly found in India
Monotheistic

13. Animism – Indigenous Religions
Inanimate objects and natural events have spirits
Close relationship with the environment
Celebrate with music and dance
Shinto in Japan is the largest
Traditions are generational
Practiced mainly in Africa
Native Americans
Oral traditions
Polytheistic