Prominent Religions of Southern and Eastern Asia

Hinduism• One of the oldest religions in the world• Practiced most widely in India• 3rd largest religion in the world• Developed in India, it’s origins are based upon

the religion practiced by the Aryans (invaded the country from the north around 1500 BC).

• Rituals and hymns known as Vedas, of The Books of Knowledge led to the development of the religion known as Hinduism

• Hinduism is polytheistic, meaning they worship many gods

• Hindus believe that all of these gods are part of a supreme spirit named Brahman

• Believe that all living things have souls (including animals)

• Some animals, like the cow, are considered especially sacred

• Many Hindus are vegetarians, meaning they eat no meat

• Believe in reincarnation- the idea that the soul does not die with the body, but enters the body of another being, either a person or an animal.

• The type of life a person leads determines what his next life will be like

• A soul is reincarnated over and over again, until the life it lives is good enough to bring it to be united with Brahman.

• Karma, is the belief that one’s actions determine one’s fate.

Caste System

• Another important part of Hinduism is the caste system

• A caste system is the belief that social class is hereditary (inherited), and does not change throughout a person’s life.

• The only way to move to a higher caste was to be born into one in the next life.

Four Main Castes

• Priests and wise men, or Brahmans, are the highest

• Warriors and rulers, called the Kshtriyas• Merchants, traders, and small farmers, Vaisyas• The Sudras, or peasants and field workers, are

last• The untouchables, or pariahs, who do work no

one else would do, belong to the fifth caste

Buddhism

• Began in India• 4th largest religion in the world• 6% of the world’s population today is Buddhist• Siddhartha Guatama a rich young man

founded the religion about 500 B.C.• Believe in the Four Noble Truths and the

Eightfold Path

Siddhartha Gautama

• Founded the religion about 500 B.C.• Lived a life of luxury, but was concerned about

the poverty and suffering he saw in the world• Left his family and became a monk for a

number of years, hoping that he would learn why people had to suffer

• After years of wandering, he understood what needed to be done…

• He felt that people could find peace if they rejected greed and desire

• He agreed with the Hindu belief of reincarnation and karma but did not accept the caste system or the need for priests

• He became known as “Buddha,” or “The Enlightened One” by his followers

Four Noble Truths• Buddha taught that there were Four Noble

Truths in life1.Life always brought pain2.Suffering and sorrow were usually caused by

greed and the desire for material things.3.By giving up these greedy desires, a person

could end his suffering and reach Nirvana- Nirvana means a state of perfect peace

4.To achieve Nirvana, a person needed to follow the Middle Way

The Middle Way• The Middle Way was accomplished by following

what Buddha called the Eightfold Path (8 rules for conduct)

1. Try to recognize the truth2. Try to avoid evil actions and bad people3. Do not say things that hurt others4. Respect other people and their belongings5. Choose a job that does no harm to others6. Do not think evil thoughts7. Avoid excitement or anger8. Work at meditation, thinking carefully about

what matters in life

Islam• Second largest religion in the world.• Began in the Arabian Peninsula in the 7th century

AD with teachings of the prophet ________________. Muhammad

• Islam came to India in the 1500s AD when Muslim armies swept into the country

• Established the Mogul Empire that ruled India for almost 200 years

• Muslim conquerors treated the Hindus as conquered people and introduced Islam as a new religion.

______Pillars of Islam

1. Believe there is only _______god and ___________ is his messenger

2. ________ five times a day facing the direction of Mecca

3. Charity to the poor4. Fasting during the holy month of

____________.5. Pilgrimage to __________ at least once in a

person’s lifetime

• Muslims believe in only one god, this religion is a _______________religion

• A religion that believes in more than one god is called a __________________ religion

• Muslims worship in community _____________ for prayer

• Their holy book is called a __________

Shinto• The earliest religion of Japan was Shintoism• Shintoism believe in kami, divine spirits that

Shinto followers believe live in nature• These spirits are believed to live in beautiful

places, animals, and especially as a person’s ancestor

• Places such as mountains and rivers are considered as sacred because they are thought to be the homes of these kami

• Those who practice Shintoism offer prayers and perform rituals to honor and please the kami or spirits they feel are special

• Shinto religion does not stress life after death• The worship of nature has also led the

Japanese to create small, beautiful gardens, and areas of quiet and reflection

• Shintoism was once the state religion of Japan

Confucianism

• Confucius was one of the most important scholars in Chinese history

• Believed that the key to peace and social order was for people to behave with good character and virtue

• Golden Rule of Behavior- “what you do not like when done unto yourself, do not unto others.”

• He believed a good ruler was one who treated his people fairly and was kind to them.

• Confucius was not a religious prophet or even a religious leader

• Confucianism is thought of as a philosophy or ethical system based on good deeds and morality rather than religion.

Five Basic Relationships• Believed that there were five basic relationships

among men:1. Ruler and subject2. Father and son3. Husband and wife4. Older brother and younger brother5. Friend and friendHe believed if each relationship were based on

kindness, there would be peace and harmony in the country.

Your turn! Answer the following questions on a

separate sheet of paper!!

1. Which of these religions is considered one of the oldest in the world?

2. What is the Hindu belief in reincarnation?3. What Buddhist teaching shows its followers

the correct way to live their lives?4. What is the name of the Muslim holy book?5. In which country was Shintoism founded?6. What is Confucius’ Golden Rule?