The 5 Major World Religions

Religion may be as old as language, or even older. It developed from a fundamental human quality: to ask

questions and try to answer them. Why is there day and night? What is the sun? Why do humans exist? Different religions all sought to answer these questions and many

others. Some of them have, over time, been answered by science, but religion still serves an important role in many

people's lives. Some of the enduring qualities of most religions is that they offer meaning and comfort, and teach

people lessons about how to live.

Percent of World Religions

Christianity, 32%2,187,050,000

Islam, 23%1,610,000,00

0

Hinduism, 15%

Buddhism, 7%

Folk or Tradi-tional Reli-gions, 6%

Judaism, 0.9%

No specific faith or lack of faith, 16%

Population of the U.S.: 320,000,000

TYPES OF RELIGIOUS BELIEFS• Monotheistic

– religion with one god• Polytheistic

– religion with many gods• Agnosticism

– the belief that nothing is known or can be known of the existence or nature of God or of anything beyond material phenomena; a person who claims neither faith nor disbelief in God.

• Atheism– A disbelief or lack of belief in the existence of God or gods.

OTHER KEY TERMS• Prayer

– A way of communicating to the source of worship (takes many forms)• Worship

– the feeling or expression of reverence and adoration for a deity• Faith

– Belief, trust, or reliance in something without proof of its existence

Judaism: Beliefs and Origins• Monotheistic: Believe in ONE God• TEXT: The Torah which includes 2 main parts:

– Pentateuch • The first part of the Hebrew bible that is separated into 5 parts: Genesis, Exodus,

Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy)

– Talmud• The body of Jewish civil and ceremonial laws

Mishnah• The first part of the Talmud containing Jewish law

Gemara• Rabbis commentary on the Mishna

• Origin: The Middle East• Central Beliefs:

– God exists– God is one and unique– God is incorporeal– God is eternal– Prayer is to be directed to G-d alone and to no other– The words of the prophets are true– Moses’ prophecies are true, and Moses was the greatest of the prophets– The Written Torah (first 5 books of the Bible) and Oral Torah (teachings now contained in

the Talmud and other writings) were given to Moses– There will be no other Torah– G-d knows the thoughts and deeds of men– G-d will reward the good and punish the wicked– The Messiah will come– The dead will be resurrected

Abraham & Isaac

Moses & the 10 Commandments

Torah

Judaism: Customs and Holy Days• RELIGIOUS CUSTOMS

– Prayer 3 x a day– Worship on the Sabbath day Saturday

• Whole Torah (Pentateuch) is read each year– KOSHER DIET

• "Kosher" is a Hebrew word that literally means "fit" or "proper." When used in relation to food products, "kosher" means that the item in question meets the dietary requirements of Jewish law.

– The principles governing what is kosher and what is not, are rooted in the Written Torah (the Bible) and the Oral Torah. These laws have been observed by Jews for over 3,000 years.  The laws relating to kosher foods are intricate and detailed, and it takes years to master the subject in depth

– HOLY DAYS & FESTIVALS• Passover

– the major Jewish spring festival that commemorates the liberation of the Israelites from Egyptian slavery, lasting seven or eight days from the 15th day of Nisan.)

• Shabouth – a major Jewish festival held on the 6th (and usually the 7th) of Sivan, fifty days after

the second day of Passover. It was originally a harvest festival, but now also commemorates the giving of the Law (the Torah).)

• Rosh Hashanahd– the Jewish New Year festival, held on the first (also sometimes the second) day of

Tishri (in September). It is marked by the blowing of the shofar, and begins the ten days of penitence culminating in Yom Kippur.

• Yom Kippur – the most solemn religious fast of the Jewish year, the last of the ten days of

penitence that begin with Rosh Hashanah (the Jewish New Year).

• Hannukkah – a lesser Jewish festival, lasting eight days from the 25th day of Kislev (in

December) and commemorating the rededication of the Temple in 165 BC by the Maccabees after its desecration by the Syrians. It is marked by the successive kindling of eight lights.

• Purim– a lesser Jewish festival held in spring (on the 14th or 15th day of Adar) to

commemorate the defeat of Haman's plot to massacre the Jews as recorded in the book of Esther

ChristianityNote: There are many versions, or denominations, of Christianity including

Catholicism, Lutheranism, Baptist, Protestantism, Fundamentalism, Pentecostalism, Evangelicalism, Presbetyrianism, Unitarianism, etc..

TEXT:The BibleBELIEFS

– The Holy Trinity (Belief that Jesus Christ was the sent to Earth as the son (or incarnation) of God and then when he died, he rose and ascended back to Heaven)

– Immaculate Conception (Belief that Mary, mother of Jesus Christ, was made to be pregnant by God)

– The Afterlife– Belief in ONE God

CUSTOMS & HOLIDAYS– Weekly Worship– Holy Week

• the week before Easter, starting on Palm Sunday

– Palm Sunday• the Sunday before Easter, when the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem is celebrated

in many Christian churches by processions in which palm fronds are carried.

– Maundy Thursday• the Thursday before Easter, observed in the Christian Church as a commemoration of the

Last Supper.

– Good Friday• the Friday before Easter Sunday, on which the Crucifixion of Jesus Christ is

commemorated in the Christian Church. It is traditionally a day of fasting and penance.

• Easter– Christmas

Christ on the Cross, Velazquez

Islam: Beliefs and OriginsOrigins: The Middle East

THERE ARE 5 PILLARS OF FAITH

1. Faith– There is no God other than Allah and Muhammad is his

messenger

2. Prayer (Salat)– 5 x daily

3. Charity (Zakat)– All Things belong to Allah so we should donate to the Needy

4. Fast– During Ramadan, form sun up to sundown.

5. Pilgrimage (Hajj)– Once in a lifetime trip to Mecca and the Ka’ba

History -Islam is the second most popular religion in the world with over a thousand million followers. It is more often thought of as a complete way of life rather than a religion. Islam began in Arabia and was revealed to humanity by the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). Those who follow Islam are called Muslims.

God - Muslims believe that there is only one God, called Allah. Islam is mainly followed in the Middle East, Asia, and the north of Africa.

Text – The Koran (Qur’an)

Islam: Holy Days• AL-HIJRA:

– remembrance of the migration of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) and his followers to Madinah in 622 c.e. and the establishment of the first Islamic state. The Muslim calendar dates from this event. This celebration marks the beginning of the Muslim New Year. No specific religious rituals are observed.

• EID-AL-ADHA /ID UL ADHA: – Feast of Sacrifice, the most important feast of Islam. It is celebration at the conclusion of the Hajj (pilgrimage to

Makkah) and is a four day festival recalling Prophet Ibrahim’s willingness to sacrifice his so, Ishma’il, in obedience to Allah.

• EID AL FITR /ID UL FITR: – A three day feast marks the close of Ramadan. It is a festival of thanksgiving to Allah for the month of Ramadan. It

involves prayer, giving of charity, wearing finest clothing, sharing a family feast and fostering understanding with other religions.

• HAJJ: – Pilgrimage to Makkah on the 7th-12th days of the month of Dhu al-Hajja. Concludes with Eid / Id ul Adha when those

not travelling to Makkah also take part. • LAILAT-AL MIRAJ & ISRAA’:

– observance of Prophet Muhammad’s night journey from Makkah to the Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem and his ascension into heaven.

• LAILAT AL-QADR: – Night of Power, marking the first revelation of the Qur’an to Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). Observed during the last ten

days of Ramadan. Prayers are said to Allah for a good destiny. • RAMADAN:

– The event begins when authorities in Saudi Arabia sight the new moon of the ninth month. There is strict fasting from sunrise to sunset.

Fasting in the month of Ramadan, the month of revelation of the Holy Qur'an, is an obligation for all Muslims past the age of puberty. It is the holiest period of the Islamic Year. There are exemptions from these requirements for some people, such as, those who are sick, those engaging in a long journey, menstruating women, or those who are frail in old age. Exemptions have to be made up later or compensated for, e.g. by fasting on another day or by feeding the poor. Fasting at other times is also encouraged but is non-obligatory.

Hinduism: Beliefs and Origins• Origins: – India (“Hindu” = “Indus”..as in the river)

• Texts: Scriptures– Shruti– Smritis

• Hindu Beliefs: – Brahman (the Ultimate God which can take on

other forms)– Atman (true self/soul)– Karma (in Hinduism and Buddhism: the sum of a

person's actions in this and previous states of existence, viewed as deciding their fate in future existences)

– Dharma (virtue/morality)– Moksha (release from the cycle of rebirth

impelled by the law of karma.)– Reincarnation (the rebirth of a soul in a new body

– and possibly into a new caste)• Aryan Caste System: levels of existence related

to your wealth and occupation– Brahmins: Priests – Ksatriyas: Warriors & Rulers– Vaisyas: Merchants, Farmers, Artisans– Sudras: Manual Laborers– Untouchables: Dirty Work

Hindu Gods: Many Forms of One God

Brahma: The Creator

Siva: The Destroyer

Vishnu: The Preserver

Hinduism: Holy Days• Diwali/Dipawali (October/November, lasting several days)

– A festival of lights which celebrates the New Year. • Dasara/Dassehra (September/October)

– Ten days of celebration in honor of Durga or Kali. • Holi (February/March)

– Spring festival associated with Krishna when people throw colored powder and water at each other. Celebration of creation and renewal

• Makar Sankrant (January)– The first Hindu festival of the solar calendar year celebrating the very young and

the very old. It is traditional to fly kites, to bathe in Ganga River, and to decorate cows in flowers and bells.

• Navaratri/Durga Puja– 9 nights of celebration over the triumph of good over evil

• Mahashivratri (February/March)– A festival dedicated to Shiva

• Ganesh Chaturthi(August/Septemberl)– Week long celebration for the birthday of Lord Ganesh

Buddhism: Beliefs and Origins • Siddartha Gautama, 560-490 BCE

– The Buddha: The Enlightened One• Buddhist Beliefs

– No Real Gods or Deities– Goal: Nirvana not Brahma

• Four Noble Truths1. Life is Suffering2. Suffering is caused by desire & resistance

to change3. We can end suffering by ending desire4. We can end desire and suffering by

following the eightfold path• Eight Fold Path

1. Right Understanding2. Right Thought3. Right Speech4. Right Action5. Right Livelihood6. Right Effort7. Right Mindfulness 8. Right Concentration

-Prayer: Meditation

-No Specifically related text

Buddhism: Holy DaysBuddhist New Year

This iscelebrated for three days from the first full moon day in April. one month later.

Vesak or Visakah Puja ("Buddha Day")Vesak is the major Buddhist festival of the year as it celebrates the birth, enlightenment and death of the Buddha on the one day, the first full moon day in May, except in a leap year when the festival is held in June. This celebration is called Vesak being the name of the month in the Indian calendar.

Asalha Puja Day ("Dhamma Day") Asalha Puja means to pay homage to the Buddha on the full moon day of the 8th lunar month (approximately July). It commemorates the Buddha's first teaching: the turning of the wheel of the Dhamma (Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta) to the five ascetics at the Deer Park (Sarnath) near Benares city, India. Where Kondanna, the senior ascetic attained the first level of enlightenment (the Sotapanna level of mind purity).   .

Kathina Ceremony (Robe offering ceremony)Is held on any convenient date within one month of the conclusion of the Vassa Retreat, which is the three month rains retreat season (Vassa) for the monastic order. It is the time of the year when new robes and other requisites may be offered by the laity to the monks.

Songkran This Thai Buddhist festival goes on for several days during the middle of April. People clean their houses and wash their clothes and enjoy sprinkling perfumed water on the monks, novices and other  people for at least two or three days. They gather around the riverbank, carrying fishes in jars to put into the water, for April is so hot in Thailand that the ponds dry out and the fish would die if not rescued. People go to the beach or river bank with jars or buckets of water and splash each other. When everyone is happily wet they are usually entertained by boat races on the river.

Loy Krathong (Festival of Floating Bowls)At the end of the Kathin Festival season, when the rivers and canals are full of water, the Loy Krathong Festival takes place in all parts of Thailand on the full moon night of the Twelfth Lunar month. People bring bowls made of leaves (which contain flowers) candles and incense sticks, and float them in the water. As they go, all bad luck is suppose to disappear. The traditional practice of Loy Krathong was meant to pay homage to the holy footprint of the Buddha on the beach of the Namada River in India.

The Elephant Festival The Buddha used the example of a wild elephant which, when it is caught, is harnessed to a tame one to train. In the same way, he said, a person new to Buddhism should have a special friendship of an older Buddhist. To mark this saying, Thais hold an elephant festival on the third Saturday in November. 

The Festival of the Tooth Kandy is a beautiful city in Sri Lanka. On a small hill is a great temple which was especially built to house a relic of the Buddha - his tooth. The tooth can never be seen, as it is kept deep inside may caskets. But once a year in August, on the night of the full moon, there is a special procession for it.

Ulambana (Ancestor Day) Is celebrated throughout the Mahayana tradition from the first to the fifteenth days of the eighth lunar month. It is believed that the gates of Hell are opened on the first day and the ghosts may visit the world for fifteen days. Food offerings are made during this time to relieve the sufferings of these ghosts. On the fifteenth day, Ulambana or Ancestor Day, people visit cemeteries to make offerings to the departed ancestors. Many Theravadins from Cambodia, Laos and Thailand also observe this festival.