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 Dreams & Visions Fears, Magic, superstition. the little voice of right and wrong Burying the dead with care and/or ceremony religious feelings?
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: The study of religions Ecclesiastical: Related to the church or clergy Secular: Related to worldly things Doctrine: Beliefs of a religion Rituals: Ceremonial rites of a religion Deity: Any kind of god or goddess Denomination: Subset of an organized religion Sect: Implies the group broke away from a religion Agnostic: Believes humans can not know whether God exists Atheist: 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
B. Basic Beliefs: Hinduism 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
1. Symbols and Images of Buddhism 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
D. Customs: Buddhism 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
Split within Christianity Priest Parish Pope Catholic All members of the clergy could not marry Latin -- language of the Church Excommunicate those who chose to ignore the orders of the Church Eastern Orthodox Head of the church Patriarch Greek Priest can marry Stopped using Icons for a while against the 10 commandments
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
Basic Beliefs: Monotheistic Islam 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
Customs: Islam 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
Customs Islam 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 7 th and 12 th 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 looselyorganized 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