Religions Snapshot JUDAISM STAR OF DAVID

Religions Snapshot

JUDAISM

STAR OF DAVID Symb ol

The supreme being of The Jewish religion is God Also known as Yahweh In Hebrew which means “The lord” or “the creator”

It is taught that Abraham is the Father of the Jewish religion. It is believed that he was the first monotheistic Jew and began to spread the beliefs of Judaism around 1900 B. C.

Abraham began to teach the beliefs and customs of Judaism in the land of Canaan in modern day Palestine

The Hebrew bible is known as the Tanakh. The first five books comprise the Torah, which are divine writings by Moses.

The synagogue is the Jewish place of worship.

The ultimate goal of people of the Jewish religion is to reach heaven. THIS IS DONE BY FOLLOWING THE CUSTOMS AND LAWS OF THE FAITH AND LIVING A SPIRITUALLY MORAL LIFE- ethical monotheism

The main teachings of the religion are: -The belief that there is one God. -Every person is accountable to God for their actions. -Believe and follow the 10 commandments given to Moses.

DIVISIONS/BRANCHES OF JUDAISM -Orthodox Judaism: Believe that Moses was given the Torah by God on Mt. Sinai. -Conservative Judaism: Believe that the ideas of the Torah were transmitted through humans from God. -Reform Judaism: Believe that the Torah was written by different human sources, rather than by God. -Reconstructionist Judaism: Do not believe that Jewish people are Gods chosen people and follow customs and laws because of historical beliefs rather than religious. -Humanistic Judaism: Founded in 1963; do not believe in a supernatural authority, but following Jewish customs combined with Humanistic values.

Israel is the main area of influence today.

THIS GRAPH SHOWS THAT. 22% OF THE WORLDS POPULATION PRACTICE THE JEWISH FAITH

CHRISTIANITY

The Cross

SUPREME BEING • GOD

FOUNDER • JESUS OF NAZARETH • 6 BC-29 AD • PALESTINE (MODERN ISRAEL)

SACRED WRITINGS • HOLY BIBLE • (NEW AND OLD TESTAMENT)

PLACE OF WORSHIP • CHURCH

MAIN TEACHINGS/ULTIMATE GOAL • ETHICAL MONOTHEISM • TEN COMMANDMENTS • JESUS IS THE SON OF GOD AND SAVIOR OF THE WORLD • HEAVEN

DIVISIONS • ROMAN CATHOLIC • EASTERN ORTHODOX • PROTESTANT Major Traditional Branches of Christianity (mid-1995; source: Encyclopedia Britannica) Branch Number of Adherents Catholic 968, 000 Protestant 395, 867, 000 Other Christians 275, 583, 000 Orthodox 217, 948, 000 Anglicans 70, 530, 000

AREAS OF INFLUENCE TODAY • • NORTH AMERICA CENTRAL AMERICA SOUTH AMERICA EUROPE

PERCENTAGE OF WORLD’S POPULATION 33%

ISLAM “Submission to the will of Allah” Crescent Moon

SUPREME BEING Allāh The Arabic word referring to “God” “The Only God", The Supreme Creator of the universe

MUHAMMED 622 AD MECCA The prophet Muhammed preaching to his followers.

QU’RAN Revealed to Muhammad, over a period of twenty-three years by the angel Gabriel and regarded as God's final revelation to mankind.

MOSQUE

FIVE PILLARS n n n FAITH – “There is no God but Allah” PRAYER- 5 times a day toward Mecca ALMS-Give money to less fortunate FASTING-Holy month of Ramadan PILGRIMAGE- (Hajj) Mecca Ultimate goal - HEAVEN

Divisions of Islam n n Sunni – Predominately located in most of the Islamic world Shi’a – Traditionally located in Iran

Areas of Influence Africa, Indonesia, Middle East

HINDUISM The oldest Eastern religion

SACRED OM • Used in meditation • Represents three dimensions of earth, air and heaven • Refers to the important Hindu gods: Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva

SUPREME BEING BRAHMAN “UNIVERSAL GOD”

ARYANS • • NO ONE FOUNDER Indo-European People/ARYANS 750 BC/India Established a caste system

BRAHMA – THE CREATOR •

VISHNU – THE PRESERVER

SHIVA – THE DESTROYER

VEDAS • Sacred Writings Oldest Hindu scripture Contains prayers and hymns

TEMPLES • Hindu temple focus on the goal of enlightenment and liberation

KARMA - DESTINY CAUSE: The force that drives a person’s actions EFFECT: How a person acts or reacts to life’schallenges

REINCARNATION • REBIRTH – Determined by karma Bhagavad gita “Just as a man discards worn out clothes and puts on new clothes, the soul discards worn out bodies and wears new ones. " (2. 22)

MOKSHA • A soul’s final resting place

DIVISIONS • Shaktism • Reform Hinduism • Shaivites • Vaishnavites

AREA OF INFLUENCE INDIA

BUDDHISM The teachings of Siddhartha Gautama

The Wheel

It was founded in Northern India by the first known Buddha, Siddhartha Gautama. In 535 BC, he attained enlightenment and assumed the title Lord Buddha (one who has awakened)

Sacred Texts § Buddha died in 483 BC § a council of Buddhist monks collected his teachings and the oral traditions of the faith into written form, called the Tripitaka. This included a very large collection of commentaries and traditions; most are called Sutras (discourses). http: //www. religioustolerance. org/buddhism 5. htm

Buddhist Holy Places Ø Temples http: //www. buddhanet. net/boro. htm

Main Teachings The Buddha's Four Noble Truths: 1. Dukkha: Suffering exists: (Suffering is real and almost universal. Suffering has many causes: loss, sickness, pain, and failure. ) 2. Samudaya: There is a cause for suffering. (It is the desire to have and control things. It can take many forms: the desire for fame, fear, anger or jealousy. ) 3. Nirodha: There is an end to suffering. (Suffering ceases with the final liberation of Nirvana. ) 4. Magga: In order to end suffering, you must follow the Eightfold Path.

The Eight. Fold Path The Buddha's Eightfold Path consists of: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. Right Understanding of the Four Noble Truths Right thinking Right speech Right conduct Right livelihood Right Effort Right Mindfulness Right Concentration: Meditate to achieve a higher state of consciousness

Nirvana – A Buddhist Ultimate Goal Ø Nirvana is the state of final liberation from the cycle of death and rebirth. It is also therefore the end of suffering.

As Buddhism expanded across Asia, it evolved into two main forms, which evolved largely independently from each other: I. Theravada Buddhism: (sometimes called Southern Buddhism; occasionally spelled Therevada) "has been the dominant school of Buddhism in most of Southeast Asia since thirteenth century, with the establishment of the monarchies in Thailand, Burma, Cambodia and Laos. " II. Mahayana Buddhism: (sometimes called Northern Buddhism) is largely found in China, Japan, Korea, Tibet and Mongolia.

Buddhism is the fourth largest religion in the world, being exceeded in numbers only by Christianity, Islam and Hinduism.

Confucianism

Supreme Being… Ø Confucius is respected, but not a god…

FOUNDER / DATE / PLACE Ø Confucius Ø 551 B. C. Ø China

SACRED WRITINGS Ø Analects- Writings of confucius

PLACE OF WORSHIP… Ø SHRINES / TEMPLES Ø Nagasaki's Koshi-byo is one of the few shrines dedicated to the Chinese philosopher Confucius in Japan

MAIN TEACHINGS Ø 5 basic relationships: Ruler & Subject l Father & Son l Husband & Wife l Older Brother & Younger Brother l Friend & Friend l

Filial Piety… Ø Respect Your Elders !!

Main Teachings (continued) Ø There will be peace and Harmony if everyone would do their duty

AREAS OF INFLUENCE CHINA