1. Religion Day 1

2. Religion Commonalities: Differences: A set of teachings
Imply a value system
Some notion of the sacred- whether it’s a divine being, set of texts, or a symbol
Creation story to explain the origins of humans and the physical universe
Differences:
Teachings about law, politics, social mores, sexual relations, physical fitness, cleanliness, eating habits, and interior decorating

3. Classifications of Religions
Monotheistic religions – worship a single deity.
Polytheistic religions – worship more than one deity, even thousands.
Animistic religions – belief that inanimate objects posses spirits and should be revered.
Global religions- members are numerous and widespread

4. Classifications of Religions
Universalizing religions – religions that actively seek converts because members believe they offer belief systems of universal appropriateness and appeal.
Ex: Christianity, Islam, Buddhism
Ethnic or Local religions – religions whose adherents are born into the faith and whose members do not actively seek converts.
Ex: Judaism, Native American religions
Evangelical religions- expand their membership by using missionaries to recruit new followers actively.
Ex: Christianity

5. Religions of the World

6. What are the world’s major religions and where did they diffuse to?

7. From the Hearth of the Eastern Mediterranean

8. From the Hearth of the Eastern Mediterranean
Judaism –
originated in Israel about 4000 years ago.
* first major monotheistic religion, covenant between
God (one God) and Abraham (the chosen people)
founder: Abraham
sacred text: Torah
characteristics/customs: worship in Synagogue’s, celebrate Hannukkah, Batmitzvah’s, Passover
sacred sites: Jerusalem (Western Wall), land between
the Mediterranean and the Jordan River
social manifestation: Zionism
diffusion: into European cities during the diaspora,
into N. America during WWII, into Israel over
last 50 years
most practiced: Israel, North America, Europe

9. Western Wall (Wailing Wall), Jerusalem- remnant of the temple of the Jews, destroyed by the Romans in 70AD

10. The Western Wall has been through many periods of different control… It is a Jewish symbol but has not always belonged to the Jews. “The surface of the wall, from the pavement and up to the man's height, differs by the color and feels differently - it is polished by human hands that touched it in prayers through the centuries.”

11. Jewish neighborhoods in European Cities the Old Jewish Cemetery in Prague, the Czech Republic

12. From the Hearth of the Eastern Mediterranean
Christianity –
originated in Israel about 2000 years ago.
* monotheistic religion, follow teachings of Jesus to
achieve eternal life
founder: Jesus (son of God)
characteristics: worship in Churches, celebrate Easter, Christmas, Baptisms
sacred text: Bible
sacred sites: Bethlehem, Jerusalem
split in the church:
* split into Eastern Orthodox and Roman
Catholic churches in 1054
* Protestant sect split off in 1517
diffusion: into Western Europe, and then world wide
during colonialism and after.
most practiced in North and South America, Europe, and parts of Asia.

14. First Split in Christianity, 1054 CE Western Roman empire = Roman Catholicism Eastern Roman empire = Eastern Orthodox

15. Switzerland concentrations of Catholics and Protestants by canton and commune

16. Christianity- Branches and Sects
Roman Catholic
Based in Vatican City, Rome
Dominant in Western Europe, North, Central, and South America
Protestant
1517- Martin Luther broke away from the Catholic Church and began a different type of Christian church, with less emphasis on the Catholic rituals
Denominations include- Baptist, Episcopalian, Lutheran, Methodist, Mormon, and Presbyterian
Eastern Orthodox
Dominant in Eastern Europe and Russia

17. From the Hearth of the Eastern Mediterranean
Islam –
originated on the Arabian peninsula about 1500 years ago.
* monotheistic religion, revelations Muhammad
received from Allah, Five Pillars.
founder: Muhammad
characteristics: worship in Mosques, celebrate Ramadan
sacred text: Koran (Qu’ran)
sacred sites: Mecca, Medina, Jerusalem
split in the church:
* shortly after Muhammad’s death, split into
Sunni Muslims (great majority)
Shi’ite Muslims (concentrated in Iran)
diffusion: across Arabian peninsula, across North
Africa, into Spain and also east into Southeast Asia
most practiced in Northern Africa, Southwest Asia, and India

18. The Diffusion of Islam

20. Minaret (for call to prayer)

21. Diffusion of Islam into Europe large mosque in Paris, France
End Day 2

22. From the Hearth of South Asia

23. From the Hearth of South Asia
Hinduism –
originated in Indus River Valley over 4000 years ago, no single founder.
* ritual bathing, karma, reincarnation
worship in Temples
sacred text: Vedas
sacred sites: Ganges River
social manifestation: caste system
diffusion: through South Asia and into Southeast Asia
most practiced in India and Southeast Asia

24. Hindu Temple –
Angkor Wat, Cambodia. This temple suffers from neglect and destruction now, as Buddhism has supplanted Hinduism in most of Cambodia.

27. From the Hearth of South Asia
Buddhism –
splintered from Hinduism 2500 years ago. Originated in India- in a region from Nepal south to the Ganges River area.
* anyone can achieve salvation, reach enlightenment
founder: Siddartha Gautama (the Buddha)
sacred text: Tripitika/ 4 Noble Truths
sacred sites: stupas and temples
diffusion: most strongly into Tibet in the north and into East Asia
most practiced in Sri Lanka, Southeast Asia, Tibet, and Koreas

28. Siddhartha Gautama
Was the son of a warrior king, and thoroughly enjoyed his life in the upper caste.
However, he became bored as a young adult, and started to search the world for an understanding of life.
During his travels, he encountered an old man, an ill man, and a dying man. He quickly came to the conclusion that suffering lay at the end of all existence.
He then denounced his princely status and became a monk. He gave up all worldly possessions and continued his search for truth and understanding.

29. The “Enlightened One”
Siddhartha found this truth and understanding while meditating under a tree one day, and claimed to have an epiphany.
He believed to have finally understood how to be free from suffering , and ultimately, reach salvation.
After this epiphany, Siddhartha was known as the Buddha, meaning the “Enlightened One”
The Buddha spent the rest of his life traveling around India teaching people about what he had come to understand.

30. Nirvana

31. The Buddha’s teachings
The 4 Noble truths
Truth of suffering
Truth of the cause of suffering
Truth of the end of suffering
Truth of the path that leads to the end of suffering
= suffering exists; it has a cause; it has an end; and it has a cause to bring about its end.

32. Buddhist Stupas -
72 stupas, each containing a sculpture of the Buddha in meditation were built around 800 CE and still stand in Borobudur, Indonesia.