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World Religions
Essential Information
Distribution of Major World Religions
Essential Questions
•What is “religion”
•“commitment or devotion to an organized
system of beliefs, ceremonies and
practices”
•What is the PURPOSE of religion?
–Help people seek answers to enduring
questions
WHY?....
• ……fill in your own blanks
Things to keep in mind before beginning a
comprehensive review of World Religons:
• Psychologists deny that there
is a “religious” instinct
• Social environment
• Upbringing/conditioning
• Search for value/meaning in
life
• (both intellectual and
emotional)
• Religion is linked to
morality
• Morals vary from society
to society
• “learning about” and
“practicing” are two
different things…Practice
what you will, but you are
expected to “learn” about
them all
When did man first exhibit
“religious feelings?”
• Dreams & Visions
• Fears, Magic,
superstition….”the
little voice of right
and wrong”
• Burying the dead
with care and/or
ceremony
Physical Geography
• Natural barriers will delay the spread of some religions/ideas/ traditions
The Sky figured prominently in early
religions
―The Sun‖ was central to many
early religions
•Source of light, heat,
“life”
•Symbols of the sun
associated with
power/royalty
•Knowledge of the heavens
(astronomy) meant some
scholars could let rulers
know when solar events
would occur
The Moon and its phases did too…
• Early man paid attention to the sky
and to nature
• The “celestial bodies” and forces of
nature were mysteries
• Powerful
• Predictable (at least the sun, moon,
and seasons)
• “Awesome” to
contemplate…therefore:
Astronomy was
part of many
early religions
The sun and moon were
constant…nature changed
• Everything has a spirit
• Nature offered many “gods” and
“goddesses” for early man to worship and
respect
• Modern people refer to these non-organized
religious practices as “Pagan” religions
What is “Paganism?”
• Earth/nature based religion traced to Neolithic times through Middle Ages
• Earliest civilizations in Sumer, Greece and Rome would be classified as “pagan” religions
• Druids and “goddess” or “Mother Earth” worshippers
• “polytheistic” by definition….• http://library.thinkquest.org/28111/
Working Vocabulary for Our Study
• Theology:
• Ecclesiastical:
• Secular:
• Doctrine:
• Rituals:
• Deity:
• Denomination:
• Sect:
• Agnostic:
• Atheist:
• The study of religions
• Related to the church or clergy
• Related to worldly things
• Beliefs of a religion
• Ceremonial rites of a religion
• Any kind of god or goddess
• Subset of an organized religion• Implies the group broke away from a religion
• Believes humans can not know whether God exists
• Does not believe God exists at all
Belief in “gods” versus “GOD”
• POLYTHEISM
– The belief in many
gods
– Many ancient religions
were “polytheistic”
– Many tribal societies
worship nature gods
• MONOTHEISM
– The belief in only ONE
god
– Hebrews (Jews) were
the first monotheistic
group in ancient times
– Christians were next
– Muslims were next
This is a breakdown of the most popular religions
worldwide, based on the estimated number of adherents for
that religion (or non-religion).
1)Christians - 2,116,909,552
2) Muslims - 1,282,780,149
3) Hindus - 856,690,863
4) Buddhists - 381,610,979
5) Sikhs - 25,139,912
6) Jews - 14,826,102
And...
a) Others - 814,146,396
b) Non-Religious - 801,898,746
c) Atheists - 152,128,701
The source for this data is the CIA Factbook from 2005
Hinduism: Images and Symbols
1 2.
3. 4.
5.
1. ―Om‖ 2. ―Bindi‖
3. “Lotus” 4. ―Swastika‖
5. “Trishula”
Hinduism
• I. Oldest ―living‖ religion
A. Origins 4,000 years ago in earliest cities
of India
– No single founder/shaped by thousands of
years of different peoples and cultures
– A way of life
– ―polytheistic‖ BUT ―Brahman‖ is 1
spiritual force represented through many
gods
Hinduism
B. Basic Beliefs:
• Reincarnation- rebirth of the soul into another form
based on behavior of present life
• Karma- actions of life that will affect fate in the next life
• Dharma-religious and moral duties
• Caste System-rigid social ranking
• 3 Major Gods- BRAHMA (the Creator)
VISHNU (the Preserver)
SHIVA (the Destroyer)
In the basic Hindu Trinity of Brahma, Vishnu
and Shiva, the Hindu god Vishnu is the
preserver and protector of creation.
(Vishnu is the embodiment of mercy and
goodness and represents the omnipresent power
that preserves the universe and maintains the
cosmic order)
Hinduism
C. Sacred Texts: VEDAS and Upanishads contain the
central Hindu teachings
Bhagavad-Gita has ethical ideas central to Hinduism
D. Customs:
– Ahisma: (nonviolence) all living things are aspects of brahman and deserve respect
– Caste system: rigid social ranking, outlawed but still “there”
– Ganges River: sacred river, “River= Soul”
– Cow: sacred animal
Hinduism
• E. Spread/Influence:
– Mostly India and a few other Asian
nations
– Influenced Buddhism (founder was Hindu
prince)
– Symbols part of popular culture
Symbols and Images of Buddhism1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
• The Dharma Wheel (wheel of life) has eight
spokes, signifying each of the steps in the
Eightfold path.
II. Buddhism
A. Origins : Siddharta Gautama “the
enlightened one” (Buddha) founded it in India
– did not stay in India, moved to China, Tibet, Korea
B. Basic Beliefs:
– Life is a cycle of death and rebirth
– NIRVANA: state of bliss/escape from cycle of
rebirth
– Religion does NOT stress the belief in a supreme
being or in powerful gods
– *personal enlightenment is the goal and it comes
from WITHIN each person
Buddhism
C. Sacred Texts: Tripitaka is the Buddhist holy
book with the core beliefs of the Buddha….
*Four Noble Truths*
1. ―All living holds suffering‖
2. ―Suffering is related to/caused by
GREED‖
3. ―Suffering ends when GREED stops‖
4. ―Stop Greed by living a proper life‖
One lives a proper life by following the 8 fold
path……
• Right views
• Right aspirations
• Right speech
• Right conduct
• Right livelihood
• Right effort
• Right mindfulness
• Right contemplation
• “Understand the 4
noble truths” and
“commit to he 8 fold
path”
• “Live a moral life,
avoid evil words and
actions”
• “Meditate to achieve
enlightenment”
Buddhism
D. Customs:
– No formal places of worship
– Individual religion
– More “open” and accepting of all humans
regardless of social position
– *equal opportunity religion* because it is really a
quest for “self-understanding”
E. Influence/Spread of Buddhism:
China, Tibet, Korea and Japan
Images and symbols of:Judaism
Judaism
III. Judaism
A.Origins: Hebrews were first people to worship a
single, all powerful god
– Judaism began 4,000 years ago
– Founder was Abraham around 1300 BC
B. Basic Beliefs:
• Monotheism
• Covenant: promise between God and Hebrews that
God would love and protect Hebrews if they obeyed
his laws
• LAWFULNESS: God established moral laws and
agrees to be fair to those who obey them
III. Judaism
• History: idea that God is changing the world
and leading humanity to a better life
• Sabbath: special day of rest and prayer
– Jews observe it from dusk on Friday
through Saturday
• C. Sacred Text: Torah
– A group of ancient writings called the Old
Testament that tells the story
The Jewish world in the Eastern Hemisphere around
1500…….
Jews have been persecuted and marginalized for hundreds of
years. Many places were “Closed to Jews”…see map below
Christianity
Christianity
• Basic Beliefs
– Monotheistic faith based on Judaism
– Certain basic beliefs shared with Judaism
• Only one God
• Live after Death
• People are equal before God
• History is in Old Testament
Christianity
• Basic Beliefs Unique to Christianity
– That the prophet Jesus of Nazareth was the Son
of God
– That the birth, life, death and resurrection of
Jesus was a sacrifice for the forgiveness of
human sin
– Jesus’ message was that people should love
each other as God loves them all
Christianity
• Sacred Text: Holy Bible
– Consists of the Hebrew Old Testament
– And the New Testament (66 books and gospels)
– Controversial history of eliminating other
books from the “final draft” of the Bible
– Many councils met to codify official Christian
doctrine and eliminate alternative teachings
Christianity
• Customs:
– Sunday is the Sabbath
– Worship in Churches
– Sing, pray, and read from the Bible
– Observe holidays such as Easter and Christmas
– Catholic and Orthodox groups perform rituals
Christianity
• Spread and Influence
– After years of persecution and executions of
Christians, it becomes the official religion of
the Roman Empire and spreads through Europe
– Becomes a global religion with over a billion
people belonging to any of the many Christian
Churches
Priest—Parish Head of the church
Patriarch
All members of the clergy
could not marry
Greek
Latin -- language of the
Church
Priest can marry
Excommunicate Stopped using Icons for a
while – against the 10
commandments
Split within Christianity
Catholic
Pope
those who chose to ignore
the orders of the Church
Eastern Orthodox
Islam
Islam
Origins:
• Followers are called Muslims
• The prophet Muhammad founded it in the
holy city of Mecca (Saudi Arabia) in 610
AD
• Message of Allah (GOD) reveaaled to
Mohammad by the Angel Gabriel
Islam
Basic Beliefs:
• Monotheistic
• Accept the revelations of earlier prophets:
Abraham, Moses and Jesus
• Muhammad is the last and greatest of the
prophets
• All people are equal before God (not racist)
• All Muslims must follow the 5 pillars
Islam
•Belief in ONE true God (Allah)
•Daily Prayers 5 times
•Alms (charity) to the poor
•Fast from during the month of Ramadan
•Make a hajj (sacred visit) to Mecca
Islam
Sacred Text is the Koran (Qua’ran)
• The sound of the the Koran being called from
a tower is the first and last thing a Muslim
hears everyday of their lives
• Koran provides an outline for creating a
JUST life : worship, laws, family, behaviors,
work, business practices, economic
systems,etc
Islam
Customs:
• traditional toleration for both Jews and
Christians as “people of the book”
• Ceremony in Mecca is walking around the
Kaaba (shrine with a sacred black stone)
• No special day of rest, but Fridays all males
must attend prayers at a mosque
Islam
• Customs
– Art does not picture man or God but lots of
geometric shapes and patterns
– Religion is LIFE..no separation of religion and
government or law
• Called “Sharia” or divine law by strict Islamic states
– Dietary Restrictions: no pork , alcohol or drugs
– Life and property of all citizens in an Islamic
country are sacred whether the person is Muslim
or not
Islam
•Spread/Influence of Islam:
•Approx. 1 billion Muslims (more NON-ARAB
muslims than Arab)
•During 7th and 12th centuries Muslims had great
economic and political power as Islam spread in major
trade zones from Africa to Asia
•Linked by Arabic language, currency, and faith
•History of religious conflict with Jews and Christians
marked by cooperation and conflict
Confucianism*
Shintoism*
Shinto•Ancient (500 BC) religion unique to Japan
•Mixture of nature worship, fertility cults,
divination techniques, hero worship, and
shamanism
•Comes from Chinese words “Shin Tao” or “The
way of the Gods”
•Shinto has no real founder, no written scriptures,
no body of religious law, and only a very loosely-
organized priesthood
Shinto
•“Kami” are gods that created the Japanese Islands
•Shinto gods are not like the God of monotheistic
religions, they are related to nature/food/water
•Also are abstract and creative energies
•Believed that the imperial rulers of Japan were
descended from these gods
•Most Shinto believers are followers of
Confuciansim
“Cultural Diffusion” and religion
• Buddhism + Taoism = ZEN Buddhism
• Hinduism + Sufism = Sihkism
• Roman Catholicism + traditional African
religions (Yoruba in Nigeria)= Santeria
Review the Essentials
How has the geography of religion evolved over
the centuries, and where has it sparked wars? Our
map gives us a brief history of the world's most
well-known religions: Christianity, Islam,
Hinduism, Buddhism, and Judaism. Selected
periods of inter-religious bloodshed are also
highlighted. Want to see 5,000 years of religion in
90 seconds? Ready, Set, Go!
http://www.mapsofwar.com/ind/history-of-religion.html