World Religions Interesting Facts• Oldest to Youngest: Hinduism, Judaism, Buddhism, Christianity,

Islam

• Largest Religion: Christianity (Why?)• Worship: Muslims (Friday), Jews (Saturday) & Christians (Sunday)• Branches: Christianity (3), Buddhism (2), Islam (2), Hinduism (4),

Judaism (3)• Symbols: Christianity (The Cross), Islam (Crescent Moon), Judaism

(Star of David), Hinduism (Sacred Ohm), & Buddhism (The Wheel)• Holy Scriptures: Christianity (The Bible), Islam (Koran), Judaism

(Torah), Hinduism (Vedas), & Buddhism (Sutras)• Famous Quotes On Religion

– People have just enough religion to make them hate, but not enough to make them love one another. --Jonathan Swift

– Philosophy is questions that may never be answered. Religion is answers that may never be questioned. --Unknown

– Religion is for people who are trying to keep from going to hell. Spirituality is for people who have already been there.

Hinduism

• Founded: 3000 B.C. Oldest Religion. No founder

• Holy Scriptures: Vedas, Upanishads & Bhagavad Gita

• God: Brahman (Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva)– Many manifestations (Rays of light)

• Hindus Believe:– Law of Karma (Action & Reaction)– Reincarnation (Soul travels until released)– All Paths Lead To God (Tolerance)– Vegetarian Lifestlye= All Life Sacred (Ahisma)– Personal Guru & Family Shrine– Mantras, Caste System

• Goal of Hinduism:– “To escape the physical realm (time) or cycle of

reincarnation and become one Spirit with Brahman (eternity) by purifying the soul over many lifetimes.”

• Founded: 2000 B.C. By Abraham (Father of the Jews)• Holy Scriptures: Torah (Moses), Talmud & Kabbalah• God:“YAWEH or JEHOVA” (Monotheism) • Types: Orthodox, Reform, & Conservative• Jews Believe:

– Torah, Talmud & 10 Commandments Must Be Obeyed

– Observe The Sabbath (Saturday, NO WORK!)– Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Hanukkah & Bar

Mitzvah) – Kosher Laws (No Pork, Shell Fish, Blood In Meat)– Messiah (Christ) Coming To Rule The World– Land Of Israel Belongs To The Jews

• Goal of Judaism: – Live Moral Lives, Worship One God, Heaven May

Exist, Follow the Torah, God Forgives Faithful Jews

Judaism

Moses

Buddhism• Founded: 5th-6th BC By The Buddha (Prince

Siddhartha Guatama)

• Holy Scriptures: Tripitaka, Sutras & Tibetan Dead Book

• God: There Is No God• Types: Theraveda (Monks) & Mahayana• Beliefs Of Buddhism

– 4 Noble Truths (Cure For Suffering)– Eightfold Path (The Middle Way)– Life Is An Illusion (We Are Asleep & Dreaming)– Nirvana Through Meditation (Thought Control)

• Goal of Buddhism– Is to awaken to Enlightenment. There is no god. There is no soul.

There is no reincarnation only rebirth. Only the eternal exists & time is an illusion…We are dreaming we are alive and must be awakened to see Enlightenment, Nirvana = Eternity…

Buddha

The Four Noble Truths–Four Noble Truths

•1. ALL humans endure pain & suffering

•2. WE SUFFER BECAUSE we desire, we have an ego, we want more, & we are selfish

•3. To End suffering we must end desire. (Called Nirvana)

•4. DESIRE is understood through the eightfold path leading to enlightenment!

–Eight Fold Path (Middle Way)•Right Views-Accept the 4 Noble Truths•Right Intent-Renounce all bad thoughts•Right Speech-Speak only the truth•Right Conduct-no stealing, killing•Right Livelihood-work to benefit others•Right Effort-eliminate evil qualities•Right Mindfulness-be aware & free

•Right Concentration-train mind to work.• Meditation, Haiku, Caligraphy & Koans

The BuddhaThe Buddha 55thth--66thth Century BC in India (Hinduism Century BC in India (Hinduism ↓↓)) Prince Siddhartha Prince Siddhartha GuatamaGuatama decided to find a cure decided to find a cure

for the suffering of the worldfor the suffering of the world He discovered the Four Noble truths and the EightHe discovered the Four Noble truths and the Eight--

fold path (Middle Way) to reach Nirvanafold path (Middle Way) to reach Nirvana The goal of Buddhism is to awaken to The goal of Buddhism is to awaken to

Enlightenment. There is no god. There is no soul. Enlightenment. There is no god. There is no soul. There is no reincarnation only rebirth. Only the There is no reincarnation only rebirth. Only the eternal exists & time is an illusion…We are eternal exists & time is an illusion…We are dreaming we are alive and must be awakened to dreaming we are alive and must be awakened to see Enlightenment, Nirvana & Eternity…see Enlightenment, Nirvana & Eternity…

Christianity

• Founded: 26 A.D. By Jesus Christ• Holy Scriptures: The Bible (Old & New)• God: Father, Son & Holy Ghost (Trinity)• Types: Catholic, Orthodox & Protestants• Christians Believe:

– Exclusiveness (One Way), Morality (Heart), Miracles– Baptism (Water), Sacraments, Prayer, Sin,

Forgiveness– 2nd Coming Of Christ, Resurrection, Judgment Day

• Goal Of Christianity– Called The Gospel: All Have Sinned, Jesus Died

For Sins & Rose Again, Believe In Christ, Receive Eternal life & Escape Judgment, Live In Heaven For Eternity

Jesus

Islam• Founded: 610 A.D. By Prophet Mohammed• Holy Scriptures: The Quran & Sunnah• God: “Allah” Is The One True God• Types: Sunni & Shia (Imams)• Beliefs Of Muslims (Islam)

– Mohammad Is The Final Prophet• Allah Gave Mohammad The Quran By The Angel Gabriel

– 5 Pillars Of Faith• 5 Daily Prayers, Confession, Ramadan, Tithes, &

Pilgrimage (Mecca)

• Goal Of Islam: – Muslims Must Follow The 5 Pillars Of Faith, Live A

Submissive Life, & Await Allah’s Mercy On Judgment Day

Mohammad

Mecca

Kabba

Quran

5 Pillars of Faith– FAITH (Confession: There is no God but Allah

and Mohammed is His prophet)– PRAYER (Friday mosque at noon)

• 5 set times per day facing Mecca– ALMS (Gifts to the poor, 2.5% of income)– FASTING (Spiritual exercise)

• Ramadan Fast for 1 month• Sunrise to sunset (No food, no drink)

– PILGRIMAGE • A visit to Mecca at least once in lifetime

Ways To Exercise Religion• Prayer• Meditation• Fasting• Worshipping• Chanting• Tithing• Pilgrimage• Giving to poor

(Alms)• Baptism• Begging/Vows

• Shrine Worship• Reading Scripture• Sermon/Guru• Holy Days• Kosher (Dietary

laws)• Communion• Saints• Witnessing• Sacraments• Clothing

Religious Wars• Charlemagne

– Forced Conversions Of Saxons

• The Crusades – Christians vs. Muslims (Holy

Land)

• Thirty Years War– Protestants vs. Catholics

• St. Bartholomew’s Day Massacre– Catholics Killing French

Protestants

• Salem Witch Trials– Christians Killing Women

• Holy Inquisition– Jews, Muslims & Heretics

• Russian Pogroms – Christians Persecuting Jews

• Northern Ireland vs. Ireland– Protestants vs. Catholics

• Bosnian War Christians– Christians Killing Muslims

• Sudanese Civil War– Muslims Killing Christians

• Sri Lanka– Hindus Killing Buddhists

• Kashmir– Hindus vs. Muslims

• Al Queda– Muslims Killing Westerners