Aim: How are major religions similar and different?

• Theme: Belief Systems

The Big Idea

As civilizations developed and spread, so did belief systems and religions.

Today, you will compare and contrast 3 major religions.

Animism

The belief that every living and nonliving thing in nature has a Spirit. Many times this belief wasCombined with a reverence for ancestors.

What were some things animist civilizations woulddo to influence the gods?1.2.3.

Origins of Hinduism

• Ancient India• Oldest religion that is still practiced today

Brahman

• The “ultimate reality”• The “divine essence”• Everybody’s soul (including animals) is

part of the “ultimate reality.”• The goal of Hindus is to get back to

Brahman and rejoin the “ultimate reality.”

Brahman – the Ultimate Reality

“The self-controlled person, moving among objects, with his senses free from attachment and malevolence and brought under his own control, attains tranquility.”~ Bhagavad Gita II.64

What words in the above quotation describe the concept of Brahman?

Reincarnation

• People’s souls are reborn again and again until they get all the way to Brahman – the ultimate reality.

Karma

• The law of cause and effect in Hinduism• The sum of a persons good and evil

doings in one life will determine their next life.

Dharma

• The moral law and spiritual path that guides a person’s life.

• The proper behavior according to one’s profession and place in life.

The Caste System• The social and

spiritual class system in India that grew out of Hinduism

• Each level is one step closer to reaching Brahman – the ultimate reality and divine essence.

Spread of Buddhism

1. Where did Buddhism originate?

2. Where did it spread to first?

3. Where did it spread to last?

The Enlightened One• Siddartha Gautama,

or The Buddha born 500 BC

• 4 Noble Truths:– All life is suffering– Suffering is caused by

desire for things– Eliminate suffering by

eliminating desire– Follow the 8-fold path

to eliminate desire

1. What is similar and different about these buddhas?

2. What might account for these differences?

Nirvana and Reincarnation

• Buddhists believe in reincarnation, karma and dharma

• Nirvana = The release from the cycle of reincarnation

• Nirvana = To become one with the universe

(In Hinduism, this is known as rejoining Brahman – the ultimate reality)

How do you get to Nirvana?

8 –Fold Path

Know the truth

Say nothing to hurt others

Practice meditation

Respect life

Work for the good of others

Free your mind of evil

Resist evil

Control your thoughts

Teachings of Siddhartha Gautama

Classwork

• List MINIMUM two similarities and two differences between Hinduism and Buddhism from your chart.

• Then write two paragraphs putting your lists into sentences.