1. A Brief Rundown of World Religions
Mr. Wyka – AP World History
A Brief Rundown of World Religions

2. World Religions
Religion is a set of beliefs in an ultimate reality and a set of practices used to express those beliefs.
Religion has spread (diffusion) throughout the world because of a variety of factors, including
Migration
Missionary work
Trade
War

3. Vocabulary Religion Animism Atheism Monotheism Polytheism Secularism
Sect
denomination
church
mosque
temple

4. Ancient Religions Many ancient religions were polytheistic
Greeks, Romans, Phoenicians, Egyptians, etc.
Oftentimes, the gods reflected the geographical reality of the culture.
For example, Egyptian gods tended toward benevolence as they reflected the nature of the Nile.

5. Animism Animism is perhaps the oldest form of religious expression.
Definition: A Belief that nature’s animals, rocks, weather events, and even plants contain spirits that affect the physical world.

6. Animism exists even today
Animism exists even today. This is a picture of local offerings to a tree spirit in Erawan Park in Thailand.

7. Tree kami surrounded by sacred boundaries
Shintoism
Ancient religion practiced today in Japan.
A form of animism
Means, “the way of the gods”
Worships kami, the spirits of nature and benevolent ancestor spirits (ancestor worship).
Tree kami surrounded by sacred boundaries

8. The Torii Gates of Shintoism
marks the transition from the profane to the sacred

9. Hinduism Oldest of the world’s living religions Polytheistic
Think R.I.C.K.
Reincarnation
India
Caste System
Karma / Dharma

10. Hinduism
Reincarnation – souls are born again and again until a state of enlightenment is achieved.
India – grew out of the ancient Vedic religion.
Caste System – Class system of India. Priests at the top (Brahmins), then warriors, then merchants, then laborers. (Untouchables are outside the caste system.) A caste can’t be changed during one’s lifetime.
Karma/Dharma – Good deeds in this life will lift you to the next caste in the next. Dharma is the duty to honor the caste. Dharma / Duty both start with a D.

11. Buddhism Siddhartha Gautama broke from Hinduism in 460 B.C.
Found enlightenment and became the Buddha (the Enlightened One).
Origins in India but spread best in China and Southeast Asia.

12. Buddhism The Four Noble Truths are the basic tenets of Buddhism.
The Eightfold path – is a moral staircase of proper behavior that will lead to enlightenment.
Goal – Nirvana (an end to the eternal cycle of rebirth – reincarnation).

13. Buddhism

14. Zoroastrianism Pre-Islamic religion of Persia. Monotheistic
Founded in the 6th century B.C.E. in Persia
Highly ethical, encouraging good deeds
Ahura Mazda – supreme deity, creator of all
Angra Mainyu - the destructive spirit
Belief in heaven and hell
Influenced Judaism, Christianity, and Islam

15. Zoroastrianism

16. Daoism / Taoism Chinese philosophy Yin Yang
Philosopher Laozi (Lao tzu) - 6th century B.C.E.
Live in harmony with nature, in balance.

17. Confucianism Philosophy China Confucius – 6th century B.C.E.
Filial Piety - Respect for parents and authority
Advocated good conduct within one’s social class.
Men naturally superior to women.

18. Christianity Jesus Christ – c. 33 C.E. The Bible
Old Testament
New Testament
Monotheistic
Salvation and Forgiveness
Missionary
Largest worldwide faith

19. Islam Monotheistic Quran – holy book Arabian Desert Allah
Prophet Muhammad – 7th century C.E.
Faithful Muslims live by the Five Pillars of Islam
2nd largest world religion

20. Judaism Monotheistic Old Testament Torah Jews Abraham – c. 1800 B.C.E.
Israel / Jerusalem

21. Sikhism Monotheistic Peaceful Originated in northwest India c. 1500s
Adi Granth
The Golden Sikh Temple

22. Indigenous Religions Shinto - Japan Aboriginal Australia
Indigenous African
Indigenous American
Often animistic