2. World Religions

3. Animism

4.  Indigenous religion of pre-historic peoples from all over the world Founder, Origins & History

5. Adherents Worldwide  unknown

6. God(s) & Universe  Multitude of gods and goddesses  Represented in all forms of nature  ALL THINGS HAVE A SPIRIT AND ALL SPIRITS MUST BE APPEASED

7. Human Situation and Life Purposes  The basis for animism is acknowledgment that there is a spiritual realm which humans share the universe with.  The concepts that humans possess souls and that souls have life apart from human bodies before and after death are central to animism, along with the ideas that animals, plants, and celestial bodies have spirits.

8. Afterlife  None addressed

9. Practices  gods often are immortalized by mythology explaining the creation of fire, wind, water, man, animals, and other natural earthly things.  Although specific beliefs of animism vary widely, similarities between the characteristics of gods and goddesses and rituals practiced by animistic societies exist.

10. Texts  none

11. Buddhism  Dharma Wheels

12. Founder, Origins & History  Siddharta Gautama (the Buddha)  Circa. 520 BC  North East India

13. Adherents Worldwide  360 Million

14. God(s) & Universe  Varies Theravada – atheistic Mayana – polytheistic Buddha taught that nothing is permanent

15. Human Situation & Life’s Purpose  The purpose is to avoid suffering  Gain enlightenment and release from cycle of rebirth  Or at least attain a better rebirth by gaining merit  Reincarnation

16. Human Situation & Life’s Purpose, con’t  Four Noble Truths 1. Suffering exists 2. Suffering arises from attachment to desires 3. Suffering ceases when attachment to desire ceases 4. Freedom from suffering is possible by practicing the Eightfold Path

17. Human Situation & Life’s Purpose, con’t  Eightfold Path: Right View Right Thought Right Speech Right Action Right Livelihood Right Effort Right Mindfulness Right Contemplation

18. Afterlife  Reincarnation until enlightenment is gained  Nirvana

19. Practices  Meditation  Mantras  Devotion to deities (in some sects)

20. Texts  Tripitaka

21. Christianity

22. Founder, Origin, & History  Jesus Christ  Circa 30 AD  Jerusalem area  Modern day Israel

23. Adherents Worldwide  2 billion

24. God(s) & Universe  One God who is a Trinity of Father, Son and Holy Ghost

25. Human Situation & Life’s Purpose  All have sinned and are thereby separated from God  Salvation is through faith in Christ  For some sacraments and good works

26. Afterlife  Eternal Heaven or hell  Temporary purgatory

27. Practices  Prayer  Bible study  Baptism  Eucharist  Church on Sundays  Numerous holidays

28. Texts  Bible Old Testament New Testament

29. Confucianism

30. Founder, Origin & History  Confucius  Circa 551-479 BC  China

31. God(s) & Universe  none

32. Human Situation & Life’s Purpose  Purpose of life is to fulfill one’s role in society with propriety, honor and loyalty  Five Relationships Subject to Ruler Son to Father Younger Brother to Elder Brother Wife to Husband Friend to Friend

33. Afterlife  Not addressed

34. Practices  Honesty  Politeness  Humaneness  Perform correct role in society  Loyalty to family and nation

35. Texts  Analects

36. Hinduism

37. Founder, Origins & History  Indigenous Religion of India  Developed to present day

38. Adherents Worldwide  900 Million

39. God(s) & Universe  One supreme Reality (Brahman) manifested in many gods and goddesses Trimurti statue of Brahma, Shiva & Vishnu symbolizing the supreme being. Ganesh

40. Human Situation & Life’s Purpose  Humans are in bondage to ignorance and illusion  But are able to escape  Purpose is to gain release from rebirth, or at least a better rebirth  Reincarnation

41. Afterlife  Reincarnation until enlightenment is gained  Moksha

42. Practices  Yoga  Meditation  Devotion to a god or goddess  Pilgrimage to holy cities  Live according to one’s dharma (purpose or role in life)

43. Texts  The Vedas  Upanishads  Bhagavad-Gita  Ramayana

44. Islam

45. Founder, Origin & History  Muhammad  622 AD  Saudi Arabia

46. Adherents Worldwide  1.3 Billion

47. God(s) & Universe  One God  Allah  Muhammad is the last true Prophet

48. Human Situation and Life’s Purpose  Humans must submit to the will of God to gain admittance to paradise after death

49. Afterlife  Paradise  Hell

50. Practices  Five Pillars Faith Prayer Alms Pilgrimage -- Hajj Fasting  Mosque services on Fridays  Ablutions before prayer  No alcohol or pork  Holidays related to the pilgrimage  Fast of Ramadan

51. Texts  Qur’an (scripture)  Hadith (tradition)

52. Jainism

53. Founder, Origin & History  Mahavira  420 BC  A blend of Hinduism and Buddhism

54. Adherents Worldwide  4 million  India

55. God(s) & Universe  Polytheistic  Similar to both Buddhism and Hinduism  Both heavens and hells  Moksha

56. Human Situation & Life’s Purpose  Using karma to fulfill one’s dharma

57. Afterlife  Reincarnation to obtain Moksha

58. Practices  Ahimsa – non-violence in all parts of a person – physical, mental, & verbal  Poverty  Truthfulness  Monogamous living  Vegetarian

59. Texts  Akaranga Sutra  Kalpa Sutra

60. Confucianism Adherents: 5 million Jainism: 7 heavens & 8 hells

61. Judaism

62. Founder, Origin, History  Abraham  “Hebrews”  Circa 1500 CE

63. Adherents Worldwide  Approx. 200 million

64. God(s) & Universe  One God  Yahweh

65. Human Situation & Life’s Purpose  Obey God’s commandments  Live ethically  Focus is more on this life than the next

66. Afterlife  Not historically emphasized  Beliefs vary from no afterlife to shadowy existence to the World to Come (similar to Christian Heaven)

67. Practices  Male circumcision at birth  Bar/bat mitzvah at adulthood (13)  Synagogue services on Saturdays  No pork or other non-Kosher foods  Holidays related to historical events

68. Texts  Bible (Old Testament)  Talmud  Torah

69. Shinto

70. Founder, Origin,& History  Indigenous religion of Japan

71. Adherents Worldwide  3-4 Million

72. God(s) & Universe  Polytheistic  Based on kami, ancient spirits or gods

73. Human Situation & Life’s Purpose  Followers desire Peace  Believe all human life is sacred  Revere the kami’s creative and harmonizing powers

74. Practices  Four Affirmations Tradition and family Love of nature Physical cleanliness “Matsuri” Festival which honors the spirits

75. Texts  None

76. Sikhism

77. Founder, Origin & History  Guru Nanak  1500 AD  Punjab, India

78. Adherents Worldwide  23 Million

79. God(s) and Universe  One God Ik Onkar, Nam

80. Human Situation and Life’s Purpose  Overcome the self  Align life with the will of God,  Become a “saint soldier”  Fight for good

81. Afterlife  Reincarnation until karma is resolved and merge with God

82. Practices  Prayer  Meditation on God’s name  Services at temple  Turban  Balance work, worship and charity

83. Texts  Adi Granth

84. Taoism

85. Founder, Origin & History  Lao-Tzu  Circa 550 BC  China

86. Adherents Worldwide  20 million

87. God(s) & Universe  Pantheism – The Tao pervades all Yin-yang – opposites make up a unity

88. Human Situation & Life’s Purpose  Inner harmony, peace and longevity  Achieved by living in accordance with the Tao (Way)

89. Afterlife  Revert back to state of non-being  Simply the other side of being

90. Practices  General attitude of detachment and non- struggle  “go with the flow” of the Tao  Tai chi  Acupuncture

91. Texts  Tao Te Ching  Chuang-Tzu

92. Zoroastrianism

93. Founder, Origin & History  Zoroaster  Circa 6 th cent. BC  Persia

94. Adherents Worldwide  200,000

95. God(s) & Universe  One God, with two sides  Ahura Mazda -- Good  Angra Mainyu -- Evil

96. Human Situation & Life’s Purpose  Humans are free to do good or evil  Must choose the side of good

97. Afterlife  Judgment followed by heaven or hell  Hell is temporary until final purgation and return to Ahura Mazda

98. Practices  Good deeds  Charity  Equality  Hard work  Fire ritual

99. Texts  Zend Avesta

100. Religions Vocab  Polytheism  Monotheism  Reincarnation  Caste  Abraham  Filial piety  Daoism  Legalism  Torah  Deity