1) Christianity. 2) Buddhism. 3) Judaism. 4) Hinduism. 5) Islam

Transcription

1 A religion is a set of beliefs that is followed by a group of people. There are many different religions in the world, each with its own set of beliefs. Most beliefs are about people, the world we live in, how life started and the purpose of life. A god or a spirit is an important aspect of almost all religions. People who believe in a certain religion have their own set of rules and ideologies regarding how to behave and worship. The main religions in the world are Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism and Judaism. People who do not believe in a god or a spirit are called atheists whereas people who are not sure whether there is a god or not are called agnostics. Religious people believe in a god or a spirit. Some religions, such as Christianity and Islam have only one god. Other religions, such as Hinduism or ancient Roman and Greek religions have several gods or spirits, who each have different roles. Apart from gods, in certain religious beliefs, one may also encounter other kinds of spirits, such as devils and angels. Honoring a god is an important aspect of all religions. Most of the time people gather and perform rituals. These rituals are mainly based on old traditions and legends and may have been performed for hundreds of years. A place where people meet for religious purposes is often called a temple. In Christianity, it is called a church. Muslims meet in a mosque and Jewish people meet in a synagogue. Most religious buildings are very beautiful, some are even regarded as great works of architecture. Exercise 2: To which religions do the photos below belong? Write the numbers behind the religions below. Exercise 1: Are the following statements true or false? 1) Religious people follow a certain moral code. 2) Muslim people worship in a synagogue. 3) Religious rituals often change and are very modern. 4) An agnostic person does not believe in a god or spirit. 5) An angel is the same thing as a god. 6) Some religions have more than one god. 7) A temple is a place where religious rituals are performed. 8) An atheist is a person who does not believe in a god. ( ( ( ( ) ) ) ) ( ( ( ( ) ) ) ) 1) Christianity 2) Buddhism 3) Judaism 4) Hinduism 5) Islam

2 With more than 2.2 billion followers, Christianity is the world s biggest religion. The religion focuses on the teachings of Jesus of Nazareth or Jesus Christ. They believe that he is the Son of God. Christians believe that Jesus was God s chosen one and they further think that God speaks to the people through a prophet which they aptly refer to as Jesus. He was born in Bethlehem over 2000 years ago; which is a small city in the Middle East. Christ wasn t actually Jesus real name, but he was given that name as it means Messiah in the Greek language. Jesus was actually a Jew (a person who believes in Judaism). For that reason, Christianity originated as a part of Judaism. Around 33 AD, Jesus was crucified in Jerusalem. The Bible is the holy book for Christians and is divided into the Old (Jewish Book) and the New Testaments. Around 60 AD, 20 years after Jesus crucifixion, the New Testament was written. Christians believe that the text of the Bible was inspired by God. The Bible as we know it today was put together around 300 AD. The holy book explains how Jesus was sent by God to restore the broken relationship between the people and God. Christians believe that this broken relationship was caused by the wrongdoings of people. When Jesus was 33 years old, the Romans executed Jesus on a Bible cross (Crucifixion). The Jews and the Romans thought that Jesus was too rebellious and they were worried about the increasing number of people who became his followers. According to Christian teachings, Jesus rose from the dead three days after he was crucified (which is referred to as the Resurrection). Most people who lived during the time of Jesus, however, did not believe that he rose from the grave. Christian s belief in god is a little complicated to understand. They believe in God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit. This belief in god is called the Holy Trinity: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Christians think that these 3 forms are the same God. Jesus of Nazareth A church is the holy place of worship for Christians. These buildings are often built in the shape of a cross. The Christian leaders are called priests or ministers, and are believed to have a special relationship with God. Most churches hold services such as Communion or Mass and are led by a priest. There are different groups within Christianity. These groups have different interpretations of the teachings of the Bible and also worship in different ways. The main 3 groups of Christianity are Catholic, Protestant and Orthodox. These main groups are even further divided into smaller groups. Some examples are Mormons, Baptists and Methodists. They all worship in different ways, but their main beliefs are the same. They all believe in heaven, Jesus and the resurrection. Milan Cathedral

3 Exercise 3: Answer the questions about Christianity. 1) What do Christians believe in? 2) Who was Jesus? 3) When and how did Jesus die? 4) What is the Resurrection? 5) Why is a cross a symbol in Christianity? 6) What are the 3 main branches of Christianity? 7) What is a mass? 8) Which countries have a majority of Christians? Exercise 4: Write down the names of the images on the right and find the hidden word. 1) _ 2) _ 3) _ 5 2 4) 5) 3 6) _ Answer: Exercise 5: Match the words with their definitions. Crucifixion Priest New Testament Mass Prophet Resurrection Messenger of God Death by nailing to a cross Bible Rising from the death Central act of worship Performer of Christian ceremonies

4 There are over a billion followers of Islam in the world, making it the second largest religion. Prophet Muhammad is the founder of Islam. He was born in Saudi Arabia. People who follow Islam are called Muslims. They believe in Allah, which is their god. The religion is most popular in the Middle East, North Africa and Asia. Muslims worship at a mosque, which is a place where people gather to study their religion and worship Allah. Most mosques have a roof which is dome shaped with towers that are referred to as minarets. Islamic holy men, called muezzins, climb the minaret to call Muslims to pray. In a mosque, there are no statues or paintings of holy figures. Instead, there are decorations with patterns and texts from the Qur an, the holy book. Inside a mosque, there are no places for Muslims to sit, they use little prayer mats to pray to Allah. When people enter a Mosque, they need to take off their shoes and wash themselves to keep the place clean for prayer. There are special places where people can put their shoes and there is a little pool or fountain where people can wash. Women have a separate area in the Mosque and are not allowed to go to the men s side. Qur an The Qur an is the holy book of Islam; Muslims believe the Qur an is the word of God. All Muslim practices and beliefs are written in the holy book and it is treated with great respect. They believe that the book is from Allah, so every word is considered to be sacred. The Qur an is often placed on a special wooden stand when it is being read. Muhammad is the prophet of Islam, he was born in 570 A.D. in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. He is regarded as the founder of the religion. Muslims believe that he was the last prophet who was sent by Allah. The first prophet was Adam. Muslims are required to: pray five times per day (the times are fixed by the position of the sun and changes every day) wash themselves before praying face the direction of Mecca while they say their prayers Islam has 5 duties that every Muslim must follow, they are also called the Five Pillars of Islam. Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque 1. Shahada This is the main belief of all Muslims and is a declaration of their faith. 2. Salah Salah is prayer and all Muslims must pray 5 times a day and follow the specific rituals. 3. Zakat Muslims are required to look after people in need. Every follower must give a part of his or her wealth to help people who really need it. 4. Hajj All Muslims have to make a pilgrimage to Mecca at least once in their life time. 5. Saum During the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, Muslims cannot eat or drink during the daylight hours. This period is called the Ramadan. The fast is to remind people how difficult it is to be poor and hungry. It teaches people to think about the essentials of life and not to be greedy.

5 Exercise 6: Answer the questions about Islam. 1) In which country did Islam originate? _ 2) In which parts of the world do most Muslims live? _ 3) What is the name of the place where Muslims worship? How is it different from a church? 4) How many Muslim countries do you know? Write them down. _ 5) What is the name of the god for Muslims? _ 6) Who is Muhammad? 7) How do Muslims pray? 8) Why do Muslims wash themselves before going inside the mosque? _ 9) What is Mecca and why is it special to Muslims? _ 10) What are the 5 pillars of Islam? Write them down in your own words. Exercise 7: The table below contains words that have been chopped in half. Find the pieces that fit together. LAH SHA QUR HADA MUS AN LAM AL PRO IS MUEZ LIM ZIN PHET RET MOS QUE MINA MEC CA 1) 6) 2) 7) 3) 8) 4) 9) Muezzin 5) 10)

6 Judaism is one of the oldest religions in the world, it is around 3500 years old. However, it is also one of the smallest religions, with around 12 million followers. Followers of Judaism are called Jews. The symbol symbol of Judaism is the Star of David. They consider Abraham to be the father of all Jewish people. Abraham is also an important figure in Christianity and Islam. The story of Abraham is told in the Torah, the holy book of Judaism. Christians refer to it as the Old Testament. Israel is the only country in the world that has a majority of Jewish people. The capital city is Jerusalem and it is considered to be a holy city for several religions, especially in Judaism. The Jews believe in a single God, who created the universe. Moses is the most important person in Judaism. In the Torah, it is mentioned that Moses was the leader who freed the Jews from slavery in Egypt. Jews believe that god gave Moses the 10 Commandments. These commandments are written in the Torah and are guidelines for the Jewish people on how to live their lives. A Synagogue is a place of worship for Jewish people. There are separate rooms for men and women to pray. In a Synagogue, men are required to cover their head with a little skull cap, a Kippah. The ceremonies are led by Rabbis, who are Jewish leaders. Unlike the leaders of Christianity or Islam, Rabbis have no special religious status. Torah The Land of Israel is an important part of Judaism. In one of the first stories of the Torah, God told Abraham to leave his home and go to the Land of Canaan (the former name of Israel). Throughout history, many battles were fought to keep Israel as the homeland for the Jewish people. Eating the correct food is an important part of Jewish life. Jews should eat food that follows Jewish law, this is called kosher food. Pork and shellfish are not allowed to be eaten and dairy products cannot be mixed with meat. The confusing part about Judaism is that it is more than just a religion. It is also an ethnic group. People can be Jewish even if they don t follow the religion. In traditional Jewish law, anyone who has at least one Jewish parent is considered to be Jewish. During the 2nd World War, more than 6 million Jews were killed by the German Nazis, this is called the Holocaust. The number of people that were killed comprised of around 30% of the world s Jewish population! After the war, many Jewish people wanted to return to their homeland, Israel. At that time, however, the area was occupied by the Palestine s. In 1948, Palestine was divided into a Palestine and a Jewish state. Most of Israel s neighbors are Muslim countries and they claim the rights of the land where the Jews are living. Ever since the new Jewish state was formed, there have been conflicts. Synagogue

7 Exercise 8: Answer the questions about Judaism. 1) Who is considered to be the founder of Judaism? 2) What is the name of the holy book of Judaism? 3) What is the name of the most holy Jewish city and where is it located? 4) Moses is considered to be the most important person in Judaism. Why is that so? 5) What is a rabbi and how are they different from priests? 6) What are commandments? 7) What is the Holocaust? 8) Why is Judaism considered to be more than just a religion? Exercise 9: Are the foods below kosher? Write down the names and tick the box if Jewish people are allowed to eat them.

8 Hinduism is the oldest religion in the world that is still being practiced; it began around 4000 years ago. Around 1 billion people in the world practice Hinduism, making it is the third largest religion. The majority of Hindus live in India and the word Hindu comes from the name of the river Indus; which is located in the northwest of India. Hinduism is actually a collection of different belief systems that have changed over time. Unlike most other religions, such as Christianity and Islam, Hinduism has no single founder like Jesus or Muhammad. There is also no central leader, such as the pope in Catholicism. For that reason, Hindus worship in many different ways. Hindus worship in a temple, also referred to as a Mandir. Different Mandirs are dedicated to different gods. When Hindus worship, they repeat the names of their favorite gods or goddesses. They often bring water, fruit or flowers as offerings to the gods. Hindus also worship at their homes, many Hindus have a special room with a little shrine for a particular god. Hinduism is taught through ancient writings. These ancient Hindu writings are called the Vedas and were written around 3000 years ago. For many years, the teachings of Vedas were only spoken or sang because there were no writings. Vedas Hindus believe in a supreme spirit called Brahman. They believe that god is represented in all things in the world and not just a spirit in the sky. Hindus worship their god in many different ways. Hindus may worship gods such as Shiva, Vishnu, Krishna or Ganesh. Nevertheless, all these different gods represent Brahman but just in a different form. Reincarnation is an important aspect of Hinduism. It is the Hindu belief that when the body dies, the soul is reborn into another new form. This can be in many different forms, such as a person or an animal. The form in which the soul is reborn depends on Karma. Karma is the belief that what people do in their lives determines in which form they will be reborn. A good Hindu should follow dharma. Dharma is a life path of truth, duty, religion and good behavior. When dharma is followed, the soul will reincarnate into a higher form in the next life. Moksha is the end of the reincarnation cycle for Hindus and it is the spiritual goal. Moksha is the one-ness with Brahman, the god. When Hindus reach the final stage, they are reborn as Brahmins, who try and live a life of perfection. The reincarnation will end and they become part of the spirit of Brahman. In Hinduism, some waters are sacred. The Ganges River in the north of India is the holiest. They personify the river with the goddess Gaṅgā. Many Hindus bath in the river, as they believe it will wash away their sins and help them move towards or even attain moksha. When Hindus die, in many cases, their bodies are burned (cremated) and the ashes are put into the Ganges River. Mandir

9 Exercise 10: Answer the questions about Hinduism. 1) Why do Hindu people worship in many different ways? 2) What is the difference between the god of Hinduism and the god of Christianity? 3) What is the Hindu place of worship and how is it different from a church? 4) What is the difference between reincarnation and karma? 5) What is the ultimate goal of Hindu people? 6) What is special about the Ganges River and how do Hindu people express this? Exercise 11: Unscramble the words below and find them in the word search. aramhd rakma niaid Idsnu askhmo adsve rdinam ambarnh E V E E F I C R I N I K D H A R M A I N W A N X M H M A M D D L N M D L V O V G N U B A X H I G H Y K A S E U Y M A A L N H M S A D E V Y R K H K Q S M H S K I E B A J I B N P Z A G Q S S T K K W H Y A P U U L N M K

10 Buddhism is the world s 4 th largest religion and the main religion in Thailand. There is no God in Buddhism, it is rather a way of life or a philosophy. Buddhists believe in powerful spiritual forces. The Three Jewels are the three central beliefs in Buddhism. The belief in Buddha Dharma the teachings of Buddha The Sangha the Buddhist community that consists of ordinary people, monks and nuns. It is the purpose to be helpful to others and move towards enlightenment. Siddharta Gautama is the founder of Buddhism, he was born around 563 BC. He was also called the Buddha; which means the awakened one. Siddharta wasn t the only Buddha, in fact, there have been several, but Siddharta is considered to be THE Buddha, which means that he was considered to be the main Buddha wholaid the foundations of Buddhism. A Buddha is a person who finds the true understanding of life through many years of spiritual investigation and meditation. Siddharta was born as a Hindu, but he found it hard to adhere to and believe the Hindu teachings because of all the suffering he saw around him. He was actually born as a wealthy prince in Nepal, but he sacrificed the comforts of wealth and riches so as to find the true understanding of the world he lived in. At first he tried different kinds of Hindu beliefs, but eventually he created his own belief system and taught it to many people. Many of Siddharta s teachings come from Hinduism and were written down in the Buddhist holy book, Tripitaka. There are two kinds of places for worship: pagodas and stupas. A pagoda is a tiered tower that is very common in several Asian countries, such as China, Japan and India. A Stupa, on the other hand, is a dome-shaped stone structure that represents the holy mind of Buddha. These temples are not essential for Buddhists to pray. Some Buddhists have little shrines in their houses that allow them to pray at the most convenient time for them. Buddhist worship is called Puja, which includes chanting, bowing, meditation and making offerings. Siddharta believed that life is suffering. In order to end the suffering, a special path, or way of life must be followed, which he called Dharma. Reincarnation is an important aspect of this, which is basically a belief that people go through different cycles of life. At the end of the cycle, a person is released from desire and the self, and they can reach Nirvana (a state of freedom from suffering). Buddhists aim to understand the reality of the world to end suffering and reach Nirvana. Nirvana is the end of reincarnation and is somehow similar to heaven. In order to reach Nirvana, Buddhists must train and purify their minds by following The Four Noble Truths. Dukkha Life is suffering Samudaya There is suffering because of desire and the need to control things Nirodha There is an end to suffering by letting go our cravings Magga The true path that leads to the end of suffering

11 Exercise 12: Answer the questions about Buddhism. 1) Why is Buddhism considered to be a philosophy rather than a religion? 2) What are the main beliefs of Buddhism? _ 3) Who is the founder of Buddhism and why did he did he do this? _ 4) What is a Buddha? 5) What is dharma? 6) What is Nirvana? 7) What must Buddhists do in order to reach Nirvana? _ Exercise 13: Complete the crossword about Buddhism. Down: 1) Buddhism is not a religion but a 2)... is the origin of Buddhism 4) Another word for the enlightened one 5) The end of all desire, ignorance and sorrow 6) A Buddhist temple Across: 3) The founder of Buddhism 7) Siddharta said: life is... 8) A Buddhist holy book 9) The Buddhist word for lifestyle

12 Exercise 14: Fill up the blanks of the five main religions. Please note that not all blanks can be filled. Religion Follower God Place of worship Book Founder Allah Bible Judaism Hindu Siddhartha Gautama Exercise 15: Match the geographical areas on the world map to the religions on the left. Judaism Islam Buddhism _ Hinduism _ Christianity Exercise 16: Choose the best answers for the questions below. 1) What is the oldest religion? a. Hinduism b. Judaism c. Christianity d. Buddhism 2) What is the world s biggest religion? a. Hinduism b. Christianity c. Islam d. Buddhism 3) Which religion believes in more than one god? a. Judaism b. Buddhism c. Hinduism d. None of above 4) The Qur an is the holy book of.. a. Islam b. Christianity c. Hinduism d. Judaism 5) Which religion is most popular in India? a. Buddhism b. Judaism c. Hinduism d. Christianity 6) Which religion believes in reincarnation? a. Buddhism b. Hinduism c. Islam d. A and B 7) The biggest religion in Israel is.. a. Judaism b. Christianity c. Hinduism d. Islam 8) Judaism is the origin of.. a. Christianity b. Hinduism c. Islam d. A and C

13 JESUS OF NAZARETH (±3 BC 33 AD) Jesus was a Jew who lived in a country that is now called Israel. At that time, Israel was occupied by the Romans. He worked as a carpenter until his thirties and lived a traditional Jewish life. Around 27 AD, he started teaching and healing, just as other Rabbis did during that time. The Roman government became concerned about the increasing popularity of Jesus. Roman soldiers crucified Jesus soon after. MUHAMMAD ( ) Muhammad was the last prophet of Islam. His father died before he was born and his mother died when he was six years old. He was raised by his grandfather and uncle. When Muhammad was nine years old, his uncle took him on a trading trip. When he was 40, Muhammad had an encounter with an angel on a trading trip. After this miracle, Muhammad returned home and began to spread the teachings he learned. There are no pictures of Muhammad, Muslims believe that the Qu ran is against it. MOSES (1393 BC 1273 BC) Moses was an Egyptian prince with Jewish roots. He is the most important prophet in Judaism. One day, Moses lost his temper and killed an Egyptian who killed a Jewish slave. Because of this, he had to run away to another country. God spoke to Moses and told him to go back and free the Jews from slavery in Egypt. When Moses led the slaves out of Egypt, the army trapped them at the banks of the red sea. God told Moses to lift up his rod and as he did so, the waters parted and made a dry path for Moses and his people to cross. When all Jews made it safely to the other side, Moses lifted his rod again and the waters closed again. Moses was looking for Canaan (Israel) as God had promised this land to them. MARTIN LUTHER ( ) Martin Luther was a Christian monk from Germany. As he studied the Bible, Luther found many areas where the Bible and the Catholic Church disagreed. Many people agreed with him that the Catholic Church had become corrupt and much of northern Europe began to separate from it. Luther initiated the Protestant Reformation which led to Protestantism. CONFUCIUS (551 BC 479 BC) Confucius is the most famous philosopher of China. He worked for the government but became concerned about the increasing disorder and chaos in his country. He developed a moral code that focused on respect, kindness, education, honesty and strong family bonds. The teachings of Confucius became the basis for religious and moral life in China. JOSEPH SMITH ( ) Joseph Smith founded the Latter Day Saint Church; which is also called Mormonism. The religion is a branch of Christianity. Smith received a revelation of god through an angel and a book inscribed on golden plates. He translated the messages he received into the Book of Mormon. The book tells the story of the ancient people of America. POPE FRANCIS (1936 PRESENT) ABRAHAM (±1800 BC ±1638) Abraham is an important figure in Judaism, Christianity and Islam. He is considered to be the father of these three religions. Abraham was the first to teach that there was only one god. Before that, people believed that there were many different gods. In Islam, Abraham is called Ibrahim and the father of Ishmael, the father of the Arab people. The pope is the supreme leader of the Catholic Church. The first Pope was Saint Peter, he was the leader of the apostles after Jesus was crucified. Pope Francis is the current pope; he is the 266 th Pope after St. Peter. 80 Cardinals can elect the Pope. Once a new leader is chosen, he will hold the position until he dies or resigns. When a new pope is assigned, he will choose another name. The actual name of Pope Francis is Jorge Bergoglio. DALAI LAMA (1935 BC PRESENT) The Dalai Lama is the spiritual Leader in Tibetan Buddhism. They have been responsible for governing the region until the Chinese government took control of the place in The current Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, was reincarnated from the past Lama. After the Dalai Lama dies, the Tibetan government finds his reincarnation. They look for a boy who was born around the same time as the death of the Dalai Lama.

14 Exercise 17: Are the statements below true or false? 1) There are no pictures of the prophet of Islam. 2) Dalai Lamas belong to the same family. 3) Abraham was the first to have the idea of one single god. 4) Confucianism is a religion. 5) Muhammad lived before Jesus Christ. 6) Martin Luther was a Catholic. 7) Joseph Smith lived during the time of Jesus Christ. 8) Jesus was a Jew. 9) A Pope is the leader of all Christians. 10) Moses freed the Jews and led them to Israel. 11) Moses was a Jew. 12) Jesus Christ was killed by the Romans. Exercise 18: The table below contains words that have been chopped in half. Find the pieces that fit together and write down on the right. CRUCI CAT LIM MON CONFU LES FIED CIUS ISH STANT MOR MUS HOLIC JEW APOST PROTE 1) 2) 3) 4) 5) 6) 7) 8) Exercise 19: Unscramble the words below, hints are given. 1) aaarmbh _ Who is the father of Christianity, Judaism and Islam? 2) ossem _ Who is the savior of the Jewish people? 3) ppeo iarfscn _ The leader of the Catholic Church. 4) artnim leruht The founder of Protestantism. 5) poejhs thism _ Who is the founder of Mormonism? 6) sofcnucui _ A famous philosopher from China. 7) admmmauh The prophet of Islam. 8) aaldi alam _ Who is the spiritual leader of Tibet in China?

15 Christianity Christmas celebrates the birth of Jesus, it is also a holiday for many non-christians all over the world. It is celebrated on the 25 th of December and it is one of the most important days of the year for many Christians. Many churches display nativities that show the newborn Jesus in a stable. He is surrounded by Mary, Joseph, shepherds and several animals. Many people decorate their homes with a Christmas tree and children write a letter to Santa Claus for the gifts they desire. Easter is the most important holiday in Christianity, they celebrate that Jesus Christ returned from the death. Good Friday is the day on which Jesus was crucified and Easter Day is the day on which he came back to life. During Easter, people decorate eggs and make Easter baskets filled with eggs and sweets. Eggs are a symbol of Easter because they represent a new beginning. Islam Eid Al-Fitr is a 3-day celebration at the end of Ramadan. During the Ramadan, Muslims don t eat or drink during the sunlight hours for a month. The word Eid means festivity and Fitr means breaking the fast. During the Eid Al-Fitr, Muslims get together at a mosque early in the morning and perform the Eid prayer. After the prayer, they visit family members and friends and exchange gifts. Eid Al-Adha is the end of the Hajj. The Hajj is a pilgrimage to Mecca. Muslims from all over the world celebrate this day, it starts around mid-october and lasts three days. During Eid Al-Adha, Muslims honor Abraham, who wanted to sacrifice his youngest son, Ishmael, to Allah. Instead, Allah provided Abraham with a lamb to offer instead. Judaism Rosh Hashanah is the New Year festival for Jewish people that lasts two days. It is also a time for reflection, Jews think of the good and bad things they have done and decide how they will live the next year. During Rosh Hashanah, there are several rituals. One of the rituals is the blowing of the Shofar, a ram s horn trumpet. A hundred notes played in a special rhythm mark the start of a ten-day period known as the Days of Awe ; which ends the festival of Yom Kippur. Yom Kippur is the most important holiday in Judaism. Jews ask for forgiveness for the wrong things they have done. They fast for 25 hours and pray in a synagogue. They believe that on that day, God will decide what will happen to them in the year ahead. Hinduism Diwali is one of the most important festivals in Hinduism. It is the festival of lights, which celebrates the New Year of the Hindu calendar. During Diwali, many Hindus clean their houses and open their windows to welcome the goddess of wealth, Lakshmi. They also light up special clay lamps to show the way for the goddess, this is the reason why it is also called the Festival of Lights. Hindus believe that Lakshmi will bring good luck and some Hindu families prepare offers to the goddess, such as fruit and flowers. Holi is probably the most colorful festival in the world, it is also called the festival of colors. Hindus celebrate it in March when wheat is harvested. It is a festival with singing, dancing and throwing powder paint at each other. The celebration originated with a Hindu God, Krishna, who threw colored water over his milkmaids. This, eventually, led to this joyful festival. Hindus believe that Holi is the day when the Gods look away. It is the day where people can get rid of evil demons and the colors represent their sins. When the colors are washed off at the end of the day, you are clean from your sins. Buddhism Vesak is the most important festival in Buddhism. Buddhists celebrate the birthday of Buddha which also marks his enlightenment. On this day, Buddhists go to a temple and pay their respect to Buddha. Many homes and temples will be decorated with bright cloths, lanterns and lights. People light candles and offer all kinds of gifts to Buddha to show their gratitude for his teachings. Ulambana is a celebration during the first 15 days of the seventh lunar month. Buddhists believe that the gates of Hell open and that the ghosts visit the world for 15 days. They bring offerings to the ghosts in order to bring good fortune and luck. The last day of the festival is called Ancestors Day; people will visit cemeteries to make offerings to their ancestors, such as food, medicine, money and clothes.

16 Exercise 20: Choose the best answers for the questions below. 1) What do Christian people celebrate during Easter? a. the crucifixion of Jesus b. the birthday of Jesus c. the resurrection of Jesus d. none of above 2) Who celebrates Ulambana? a. Hindus b. Christians c. Muslims d. Buddhists 3) Which holiday is a pilgrimage? a. Vesak b. Eid Al-Adha c. Holi d. Eid Al-Fitr 4) Why do Hindu people throw with powder during Holi? a. to honor Krishna b. to make the gods look away c. to get rid of the sins d. all of above 5) What is Rosh Hashanah? a. a Jewish holiday b. a time of reflection c. a 2 day festival d. all of above 6) What is the festival of lights? a. Diwali b. Christmas c. Holi d. Vesak 7) What is the Ramadan? a. the celebration of Eid Al-Fitr b. a time of fasting c. a pilgrimage d. none of above 8) Which people believe in ghosts? a. Christians b. Muslims c. Hindus d. Buddhists Exercise 21: Which of the religious holidays above would you like to celebrate most? Give reasons. Exercise 22: Match the words below with the religious festivals. Birthday Ghosts Ancestors Fasting Lights Eggs Ram s horn trumpet Pilgrimage Abraham Colors Forgiveness New Year Krishna Resurrection Christmas Easter Eid Al-Fitr Eid Al-Adha Yom Kippur Rosh Hashanah Diwali Holi Vesak Ulambana

17 In ancient Egyptian mythology, there are over 2000 different gods. Just like the ancient Greek and Roman religions, Egyptian religion had many gods and goddesses. Some images of these gods show that they had human bodies with the head of an animal. Different animals were chosen to represent different powers of these gods. Temples Temples were built by the ancient Egyptians to honor their gods. Each god had its own or more temples. The people prayed to their gods in order to get the things they needed. Most Egyptians were not afraid of their gods; they would sometimes hit the temple in case they didn t get what they needed. The afterlife The Egyptians believed that there was life after death. In order to go to this afterlife, people needed to have two parts: a ka ; which is the force of life, and ba ; which is the soul. If both of these parts could be united, the people would live in the afterlife. In order to make this happen, dead bodies needed to be preserved, mummification. Gods and Goddesses Some gods were more important than others. Different cities and Pharaohs in Egypt favored different gods; some gods were worshiped throughout the country while others were only worshiped locally. Isis Isis was the wife of Osiris and the mother of Horus. She used powerful magic spells to help people in need. Osiris Osiris was the ruler of the underworld and also the god of the dead. He was married to Isis and was the father of Horus. Ra The most important god was Ra, he was the god of the sun. The Egyptians believed that Ra created all forms of life and he was the supreme ruler of the gods. Horus Horus was the god of the sky. The Pharaoh, a ruler of the Egyptians, was considered to be the living version or the intermediary of this god. Exercise 23: Answer the questions about ancient Egyptian religion. 1) Why do you think there were many different gods and goddesses in ancient Egyptian religion? 2) Why did the Egyptian gods have animal heads? 3) Why did some Egyptian people hit temples? 4) How could Egyptian people reach the afterlife? 5) Who is the most important god or goddess? 6) Were pharaohs gods? Explain.

18 The Greek civilization prospered around 4,000 years ago. They lived in Greece and other surrounding countries, such as Bulgaria and Turkey. The empire reached all the way to the west of Europe. The ancient Greeks were most powerful between 2000 BC and 146 BC. They had a very sophisticated society with revolutionary ideas for government, philosophy, religion and art. The Roman Empire started around 500 BC and was a very powerful and important civilization that ruled most parts of Europe for over 1,000 years. They spread their culture and ideas across Europe and their influence can still be seen today. The basis of Western culture finds its origin in Ancient Rome, mainly in areas such as government, architecture, engineering, literature and language. Religion was very important for the ancient Greeks and Romans, and they believed that it would improve their daily lives. They thought that their gods would take care of them after they died. Most religions that we have today believe in one single God. The ancient Greeks and Romans, however, believed in many different gods and goddesses. They thought that the gods controlled every single aspect in their lives and the environment. Every aspect in life had a different god. It was very important for the people to please the gods; a happy god would help a person, but an angry god would punish. Many people made little shrines in their houses to worship the gods they found important. There were also public shrines where people worshiped and made sacrifices. Gods and Goddesses The ancient Greeks and Romans believed in the same gods, but they had different names for them. They believed that all gods came from the Earth and the sky. The gods they believed in were very different than the god in Christianity. The Greek and Roman gods were very much like humans, rather than a spirit in the sky. They could fall in love, have arguments, have children or play music. Temples Nearly every Greek or Roman town had a temple for their gods and goddesses. Temples were built to honor specific gods, rather than a temple for all gods. Temples were the homes for the statues of their gods and were taken care of by priests. The priests would also organize ceremonies and festivals that took place outside the temple. The people highly respected the priests, they thought that they had the power to communicate with the gods. Mount Olympus Mount Olympus is a mountain in Greece that was a very important place not only for the ancient Greeks, but also for the Romans. They believed that the mountain was the home for the 12 most important gods and goddesses. Sometimes, if it was cloudy, the top of the mountain could not be seen. That s why they believed it was the home of the gods.

19 Apollo / Apollo Ares / Mars Apollo is the god of music and the god of healing who taught men medicine. He is also the god of light and the god of truth. Ares is the son of Zeus and the god of war. His bird is the vulture and his animal is the dog. Poseidon / Neptune Poseidon is the brother of Zeus and the god of the sea. His weapon is a trident, which can shake the earth, and shatter any object. He is second most powerful Hades / Pluto Hades is the brother of Zeus and god of the underworld, ruling over the dead. He is also the god of wealth. Hades has a helmet that makes him invisible. Aphrodite / Venus Aphrodite is the goddess of love, desire and beauty. She rises from the waves of the sea, enchanting anyone who sees her and inciting feelings of love wherever she goes. Zeus / Jupiter Zeus is the ruler of the gods and was married to Hera. He is lord of the sky and the rain god. His weapon is a thunderbolt, which he hurls at those who displease him. Hermes / Mercury Hermes is the son of Zeus and the messenger of all gods. He is the fastest, wears winged sandals and carries a magic wand. Hermes is also the god of thieves and commerce, as well as the guide for the dead to go to the underworld. Exercise 24: Answer the questions below about the ancient Greek and Roman religions. Exercise 25: Complete the crossword. 1) The Roman Empire started in. a. France b. Italy c. Greece d. America 2) The Greeks believed in. a. Allah b. Brahman c. God d. Zeus 3) Many gods and goddesses lived. a. in the underworld. b. on the top of Mount Olympus c. in temples d. in the sky 4) Ancient Greek and Roman temples were. a. built to honor the gods b. homes for gods c. taken care of by priests d. A and C 5) was the god of all gods. a. Mars b. Poseidon c. Zeus d. Pluto e. Hermes f. Venus 6) is the of Zeus and the god of the sea. a. Poseidon / brother b. Ares / son c. Poseidon / son d. Jupiter / son 7) Who is the god of music and light? a. Jupiter b. Mars c. Apollo d. Hades 8) Greek and Roman religion still have many followers. a. true b. false Across 5. Zeus was married to The... civilization took place around 4,000 years ago. 8. An important mountain for the ancient Greeks. 9. The goddess of love. Down 1. The... started around 500 BC. 2. The god of the sea. 3. The ancient Greek and Roman gods are the The messenger of all gods. 7. The ruler of the gods.

20 Exercise 26: Write the names of the things on the right and find the hidden word. 1) 2) 8 7 3) 4) 5) _ 6 4 6) _ 3 7) 8) _ Answer: Exercise 27: Choose the word that is the odd one out. 1) Zeus Hades Jupiter Hermes Poseidon 2) Jesus Muhammad Abraham Brahman Siddharta 3) Qur an Bible Stupa Torah Vedas 4) Osiris Ra Isis Venus Horus 5) Protestant Mormon Catholic Orthodox Muslim

21 Exercise 28: To which religion(s) do the words below belong? Mosque New Testament Israel Hajj Crucifixion Priest Mormon Muhammad India Pagoda Minaret Star of David Dharma Buddha Pope Protestant Torah Nirvana Dalai Lama Abraham Allah Moses Brahman Resurrection Mecca Rabbi Siddhartha Easter Christianity Judaism Islam Hinduism Buddhism Exercise 29: Unscramble the words. Hints are given below. 1) ahitcolc A branch of Christianity. 2) epjiutr _ The Roman ruler of the gods. 3) thbhmeeel _ The birthplace of Jesus. 4) mhnabra _ The supreme spirit of Hinduism. 5) uarqn _ The holy book of Islam. 6) iaind _ The country where Hinduism originated. 7) soisir The ancient Egyptian god of the underworld. 8) sosme _ The most important person in Judaism.

22 EXTRA The Amish people are an old religious sect. They have a population of roughly 200,000 members. They originally come from Germany, but moved to America around 200 years ago to escape persecution. The majority of the Amish now live in Pennsylvania and Ohio in the northeastern part of United States. All Amish communities have separated from American society. They live a very traditional lifestyle and have maintained their way of life as it was in the 18 th century. Most Amish people are farmers and they do not use electricity or cars. They also do not use any modern technology. According to the Amish people, conveniences such as TVs, telephones and tractors could be a temptation that causes jealousy or inequality. This is the main reason why such items are not accepted in most communities. Most people farm their land with horse-drawn machinery and they get around on horse-drawn buggies. The Amish beliefs are governed by the Ordnung, which is a set of rules that the Amish people follow. They interpret the Bible literarily and the Ordnung is designed to make sure that all members of the group live their lives according to their scriptures. The Ordnung dedicates nearly every aspect of the lives of the Amish people, the farming techniques, the hairstyle and many more things. The life of an Amish person is devoted to his or her family, the community and God. Individualism is avoided at all costs and all the time. All members work together and help a member when he or she is in trouble. They do not accept any state benefits and have no insurance. Their own community is their only support. Typical Amish families have between 7 and 10 children. The men usually work on the farm, while the ladies do the household chores. Exercise 21: Choose the best answers for the questions below. 1) What religion do Amish people practice? a. Christianity b. Islam c. Buddhism d. they have no religion 2) Why do Amish people live separately from American society? a. because they have created their own state and laws b. because it is mentioned in the Ordnung c. because they have a different way of live d. none of the above 3) In what part of the U.S. do most Amish people live? a. in the northeast b. the southern states c. in California d. all over the country 4) What is the Ordnung? a. the Amish Bible b. a set of rules c. a holy scripture d. all of the above 5) Why do Amish people not use any modern technology? a. because they think that technology will cause problems b. because they want to have the same lifestyle as their ancestors. c. because they don t know how to use it. d. all of the above are correct 6) Choose the things that are important in the lives of Amish people. a. family b. god c. the Internet d. tractors e. smart phones f. the Bible g. the community h. jewelry i. cars Exercise 22: The words below are chopped in half. Find the pieces that fit together and write them down below. RELI BLE MERS NUNG SEPA ISH TECHNO AM LOGY COMMU FAR ORD BI GIOUS NITY RATED 1) 5) 2) 6) 3) 7) 4) 8)

23 EXTRA Torii Shintoism is a very old Japanese religion which means the way of the gods. The religion was founded around 3,000 years ago and is still practiced today by many Japanese people. The followers of Shintoism greatly value nature and believe that the natural world has spiritual powers. These spiritual powers are called kami and live in animals, stones, plants and people. Followers of Shintoism worship in temples called shrines. They are usually located in beautiful natural areas. In the center of the shrine, there is an inner hall, which is only entered by Shinto priests. They believe that kami is present in these places. A Shinto priest can be either a male or a female. When people enter a shrine, they wash their hands and rinse their mouth. This is done as the Japanese believe that purity is very important. The religious ceremonies start with a bell and after that, rice and money is offered to the kami. After this takes place, the worshipper bows two times, claps to welcome the kami and then bows again. Shinto Priest At the entrance of a shrine, there is a special archway which is called a torii. According to Shintoism, the torii divides the sacred spirits in the shrine from the outside world. In Japan, there are more than 80,000 shrines and each one of them has a yearly ceremony where people pay their respects to the kami. Japanese people also worship at home and at work. They do this with prayers and simple offerings such as tea and rice. The offerings are usually placed on a specific shelf, which is called a godshelf. Most of the time, the people pray to their family ancestors. In Shintoism, there are different kamis. Amaterasu is the most important and is the goddess of the sun. The people believe that she is the ancestor of the ancient emperors of Japan. The goddess has a shrine that is considered to be the most important shrine in Japan. Inari, the rice producer, is another important god. This god is believed to be both male and female. Many people in Japan practice both Shintoism as well as Buddhism. Both religions have many things in common. Exercise: Choose the best answers for the questions below. 1) What is kami? a. the Shinto god b. a follower of Shintoism c. animals, plants and people d. spiritual powers of nature 2) Where are most Shinto shrines located? a. in areas with nature b. in urban areas c. in spiritual places d. none of above 3) What is a torii? a. the inner place of a shrine b. a Shinto priest c. a Shinto temple d. the entrance of a temple 4) Followers of Shintoism worship in the inner hall of a shrine. a. true b. false 5) What do people do before they enter a shrine? a. they brush their teeth b. they wash their hands c. they offer rice and money d. they bow and clap 6) Where do followers of Shintoism pray? a. in the shrine b. in their homes c. in the office at work d. all of above 7) Who is Amaterasu? a. a Japanese emperor b. the most important priest c. the god of rice d. the goddess of the sun Exercise: Unscramble the words. Hints are given below. 1) kmai The spiritual powers of Shintoism. 2) anulrta _ Shrines are located in beautiful.. areas. 3) acywrha _ A torii is an.. of a shrine. 4) airni _ The god of rice. 5) sddbiuhm Shintoism is similar to... 6) stprie The inner hall can only be entered by a...

24 EXTRA Confucius or K ung Fu-tzu was a Chinese philosopher who was born in 551 BC. He believed that a society could be better or perfect if the people exhibited beautiful conduct. Confucius had a job with the government, but he gave that up to devote his life to teach the people how to live their lives. Today, there are over 6 million followers of his belief and most of them live in China. There are five basic principles about behavior that Confucius taught the people. Always be considerate to others. Respect your ancestors. Try for harmony and balance in all things. Avoid extremes in behavior and emotion. If you live in peace and harmony, then you will be in contact with the spiritual forces of the universe, including nature. These principles were taught in five basic points: 1) kindness 2) fairness 3) soberness 4) wisdom 5) trustworthiness Confucius believed that a person s actions would directly affect his or her well-being as well as the well-being of others. This idea is called Jen. Jen emphasizes the importance of being polite and loyal to others. People who practice Confucianism believe that the family and its values are very important. Parents teach their children to be respectful to others and obey their parents. Confucianism has five texts that contain the scriptures. These scriptures include rituals, poems, sayings and history. Confucianism is actually more a way to be a good person instead of a religion. There are no prophets or a single god. Nevertheless, after the death of Confucius, many temples were built as a monument in his honor. One of Confucius most famous sayings is Heaven is the author of the virtue that is in me. This means that Confucius believed that he saw heaven as a kind of god who created the virtue in us. Other religions, such as Hinduism and Buddhism have influenced Confucianism over time. Many people in China practice a combination of these beliefs. Exercise: Are the statements given below true, false or not given? 1) The government did not like Confucius ideas. 2) Confucius believed that being good for others is being good for yourself. 3) According to Confucius, children should do what their parents tell them. 4) Confucianism has 5 different holy books. 5) Confucianism is a way of live rather than a religion. 6) Confucianism was influenced by Christianity. 7) Most people in China follow Confucius teachings.

25 EXTRA Islam is divided into two main groups, Sunni and Shia. The 2 groups are not very different from each other, they both agree on the fundamentals of Islam and share the same Qur an. The main differences between Sunni and Shia Muslim are in the politics of early Islam and the interpretation of the Qur an. After the death of Prophet Muhammad in the early 7 th century, there was a debate over who should become the new leader of the religion. Most Muslims believed that Muhammad had not assigned a successor. They wanted Abu Bakr to become their new spiritual leader. Bakr was the closest advisor and a good friend of the prophet. But other Muslims did not agree, they believed that Muhammad had assigned Ali ibn Abi Talib to become his successor. Ali was the son-in-law of Muhammad and was the closest male relative. The supporters of Ali became known as Shia, they believed that direct descendants of Muhammad were the rightful spiritual leaders of Islam. The Sunnis, who supported Bakr, had the opinion that the most capable person should become the leader. Finally, Abu Bakr was appointed as the first Caliph (ruler of the Muslim community). In order to keep peace in the Muslim community, Ali accepted the leadership of Bakr. Umar ibn al-khattab became the second Caliph, he was assigned by Bakr on his deathbed. The third spiritual leader was Uthman ibn Affan. Eventually, Ali was chosen as the fourth Caliph after Uthman was murdered. He moved the capital of the Islamic state from Saudi Arabia to Iraq. Muslims accused Ali of not bringing Uthman s murderers to justice. Violent clashes followed which divided the community once again. The Sunnis are the largest group in Islam, they make up around 85% of the Muslims in the world. Most Shi as live in Iraq and Iran, 90% of the Iranian population is Shia. Exercise: Are the following statements true or false? 1) Abu Bakr was a prophet. 2) Muhammad was the last prophet of Islam. 3) Sunni and Shia are two different religions. 4) Uthman was a Sunni Muslim. 5) The differences between Sunni and Shia are mentioned in the Qur an. 6) Most Muslims are Sunni. 7) There are no major differences between Sunni and Shia Muslims. 8) A Caliph is a Muslim spiritual leader. 9) Saudi Arabia has a majority of Sunni Muslims. 10) The main difference between Sunni and Shia is based on the successor of Prophet Muhammad. Exercise: Complete the sentences with the words below. Caliph Muhammad Qur an Prophet Iran Saudi Arabia Abu Bakr Ali ibn Abi Talib Shia 1) was the first Muslim leader after Muhammad. 2) was the of Islam 3) Prophet Muhammad lived in. 4) has a majority of Shia Muslims. 5) was a leader. 6) Sunni and Shia interpret the differently. 7) A is a spiritual leader of a Muslim community.