What “Big Questions” do people turn to their religion for answers to? What does religion

provide people, or perhaps more personally, you, with?

The Growth & Development

of World Religion

Our “Big Questions”

• How and where did Hinduism, Judaism, Confucianism, Daoism, and Buddhism grow?

• How did they influence people’s perception of the world?

• How do they interact with people of different cultures or faiths?

• What does the map tell us about religion as a factor in world history?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bd5hvXgI_bQ

I. Indo-European MigrationA. Who? Groups of nomadic peoples from the steppes N. of the Caucasus who spoke languages that form the basis of many modern languages pg. 61 text pg. 129-Atlas

b. Aryans

• A group of Indo-Europeans who settled in India

• Where else have you heard “Aryan”?

• Bring Vedas• Control: Aryans vs. Dasas • Caste system: see

64

II. Hinduism

• A.“To Flow”• B. No one founder• C.Basic Beliefs:--Moksha--Karma

--Reincarnation --Caste system? • D. Sacred text:

Vedas • E. Gods:

polytheistic!

Draw a dancer caught in a pose that reflects the mood and tempo of each

musical selection…• Which best fits this dancer?• Most unusual feature?• What mood or feelingdoes the figure communicate?

• Symbols?--Drum?--Fire?--Cobra?--Hands?--”mystery figure”?

Hinduism Cont…

• F. Leadership: Guru, Brahmin

• G. Ritual/Worship: Puja

III. Buddhism

• A. Founder: Siddhartha Gautama (563-483 BC)

• --Prophecy: sees sickness, old age, and death

• --Wanders• --Becomes “Enlightened one”

• B. Basic Beliefs • Four Noble Truths &

Eightfold Path pg. 69• Nirvana • BUT…REJECTS?????

The 8-fold path

Right View

Right Thinking

RightSpeech

Right Action

Right Livelihood

Right Diligence

Right Mindfull-ness

Right Concen-tration

1. Everything is suffering

2. We create suffering by

desiring

3. We can end suffering by ending our desires

4. We can end our desires by following

the…

Buddhism Cont…

• D. Gods: None– Buddha as example

• Mahayana Buddhists: Bodhisattvas

• E. Leadership: Monks, Nuns

• F. Ritual • G. Spread (pg. 27

atlas)

IV. Judaism

• A. Founder: Abraham leads Hebrews to Canaan (page 14 in atlas)

• B. Basic Beliefs/Gods • Monotheism: Yahweh• Covenant: mutual promise• Ten Commandments

• C. Sacred Text: Torah• D. Leadership: Rabbis

Oh God said to abraham kill me a sonAbe said man you must be puttin me on

God said no, abe said whatGod say you can do what you wanna but

The next time you see me comin you better runWell abe said where dyou want this killin done

God said out on highway 61Well georgia sam he had a bloody nose

Welfare department wouldnt give him no clothesThey asked poor howard where can I go

Howard said theres only one place I knowSam said tell me quick man I got to run

Oh howard just pointed with his gunAnd said that way down highway 61

Well mack the finger said to louie the kingi got 40 red white and blue shoestrings

And a thousand telephone that dont ring.Do you know where I can get rid of these things?

And louie the king said let me think for a minute sonThen he said yes I think it can be easily done

Just take everything down to highway 61

Judaism cont…

• E. Ritual • Synagogue or Temple

with an ark • Bar or Bat Mitzvah• Kosher laws• Yarmulke

• F. Spread: Diaspora

Canaan/

Palestine/

Israel home to the Jewish ppl!!

Romans destroy 2nd temple, Diaspora,

A.D. 70

V. Confucianism

• A. Founder: Confucius (551-479 B.C.)

• B.Basic Beliefs:• Restore order & harmony

to war-torn China through…

• Five relationships: – Ruler and Subject– Father and Son– Husband and Wife– Older brother and Younger– Friend and Friend

Confucianism Cont…• Proper Conduct in each

relationship• Filial Piety: RESPECT!

• C. Gods: NONE! Ethical System

• D.Text: Analects 400 BC

• E. Leadership: bureaucracy– government led by trained civil servants

• F. Ritual: ancestor worship

• G. Spread: East Asia

Sayings of Confucius…

• “Let the sole worry of your parents be that you might become ill”

• “The Great Man sets the good example, then he invites others to follow it”

• “A man who lacks reliability is utterly useless”

• “Put loyalty and reliability first. Have no friends inferior to yourself. If you have faults do not fear self-improvement”

VI. Daoism • A. Founder: Laozi 6th Cent. B.C. • B. Basic Beliefs• Also arises during strife…• Importance of Nature—live simply and in

harmony with it • The Dao “WAY” guides all things

• C. Gods- none• D. Text: Dao De Jing (The Way of

Virtue)

Daoism Cont…The Dao never does anything

yet through it all things are done

If powerful men and women could center themselves in it,

the whole world would be transformedby itself, in its natural rhythms.

People would be contentWith their simple, everyday lives, in harmony and free of

desire.

When there is no desire,all things are at peace.

--Laozi, Dao De Jing, Passage 37