Buddhism: A Philosophy and Way of Life

1. Religion Presented By: Jill Stanchfield, Rebekah Hodgson, Jessica Dunn, Laura Bruchert

2. Christianity: 2 billion Islam: 1.3 billion Hinduism: 900 million Buddhism: 360 million Primal-indigenous: 150 million Sikhism: 23 million Juche: 19 million Spiritism: 14 million Judaism: 14 million Baha'i: 6 million Jainism: 4 million Shinto: 4 million African Traditional & Diasporic: 95 million Chinese traditional religion: 225 million Secular/Nonreligious/Agnostic/Atheist: 850 million Cao Dai: 3 million Tenrikyo: 2.4 million Neo-Paganism: 1 million Unitarian-Universalism: 800 thousand Rastafarianism: 700 thousand Scientology: 600 thousand Zoroastrianism: 150 thousand World Religions www.adherents.com/Religions_By_Adherents.html

3. Religion Topics • Buddhism • Jewish • Hinduism • Islam

4. What is Buddhism? • A religious faith which originated 2,500 years ago in India. • Buddhism is a philosophy, a moral code • There are estimated to be as many as 665 million practicing Buddhists worldwide • 5 million in the United States. • To many, Buddhism goes beyond religion and is more of a philosophy or 'way of life'. http://www.buddhanet.net/e-learning/5minbud.htm

5. Do Buddhists Worship Idols? • Buddhists pay respect to images of the Buddha, not in worship or to ask favors. • The shrines found are a focal point of Buddhist observances. • Buddha was not a God, nor did he claim to be. • Buddha was a man who taught a path to enlightenment from his own experience. www.buddhanet.net/e-learning/budethics.htm

6. Beliefs • Meditation • Chanting • Do not believe in a supreme being. • Four Noble Truths http://www.buddhanet.net/e-learning/pathmaps.htm

7. Holiday's • For sects from Myanmar, Cambodia, India, Laos, Thailand and Sri Lanka • "Versakha Puja" or "Buddha Day," • "Magha Puja," • For the Mahayana sect from China, Japan, Tibet, Korea and Vietnam • "Nirvana Day," • "Bodhi Day," http://www.acay.com.au/~silkroad/buddha/buddhism_practice1.htm

8. Stereotypes and Misperceptions • Perceived as a form of satanic worship • People refused to accept Buddhism as a "real" religion because it does not believe in a supreme being http://buddhism.about.com/cs/meditation/a/BasicsMed.htm

9. Jewish Religion • 14 million followers of the Jewish religion around the world • Most are in three countries • United Sates (6 million) • Israel (3.7 million) • Soviet Union (2.5 million) • Wisconsin • 28,000 (0.5% of the population) www.us-isreal.org

10. Jewish Religion • Judaism religion of Jews • Based on monotheism • Belief in one God • Decentralized religion • No Pope • Usually led by a rabbi • Synagogue • Torah • Main body of Jewish law • 613 commandments www.jcpa.org

11. Festivals, Fasts and Special Days • Rights of Passage • Birth Ceremony • Bar/Bat Mitzvah • Sabbath • Rosh Hashanah (New Year) • Yom Kippur (day of atonement) • Passover • Hanukkah (Dedication) www.remember.org

12. Holocaust • When? • January 30, 1933 when Hitler became Chancellor of Germany to May 8, 1945, the end of the war. • Why? • Nazi’s hatred of the Jews • Considered the Jews a race whose goal was world domination • Considered duty to eliminate Jews • Other factors include: • Christian anti-Semitism • Political anti-Semitism www.remember.org

13. Jewish Religion and Work • All business and school activities stop on all Sabbath-like holidays • Restrictions include: • All forms of travel vehicular travel • Writing • Direct use of electrical devices • Measurements and any preparations for, or discussion of, normal weekday activities or responsibilities. • Fast Days www.us-isreal.org

14. Hinduism • Hinduism is the World’s oldest religion • Mystical Religion • 1 out of every 6 people is a Hindu • Three hundred and thirty-three million Gods perceived as divine creations of the one Supreme Being • Over One Billion Followers • Dominate Faith of India • World’s Third Largest Faith http://www.himalayanacademy.com/books/pamphlets/GodAndGodsOfHinduism.html

15. What Hindus Believe: • Believe in the divinity of the Vedas • Believe there is one Supreme God • Believe the Universe goes through many cycles • Believe in Karma • Believe that the soul reincarnates • Believe that life is sacred • Believe that no particular religion teaches the only way to salvation above all others http://www.himalayanacademy.com/basics/nineb/index.html

16. 4 Disciplines or Yogas that lead to Enlightenment • Janana Yoga • Gathering intellect to avoid illusion • Bhakti Yoga • Love toward God • Kharma Yoga • Selfless service • Raja Yoga • Incorporates all yogas into a discipline www.centeronline.org/knowledge/whitepaper.cfm?ID=828&ContentProfileID=122437&Action=searching

17. Working With Hindus • Many Hindus do not eat meat or drink alcohol • Hindu Holidays change depending on the stages of the moon • Offer flexible work schedules to allow religious observation http://www.centeronline.org/knowledge/whitepaper.cfm?ID=828&ContentProfileID=122437&Action=searching1

18. What do Muslims Believe? • The Five Pillars of Islam • Faith • Prayer • The Zakat • The Fast • The Pilgrimage www.islam.org/

19. Islam in the United States Mosque in New Mexico, USA Islamic Cultural Center, Washington DC. www.islam.org/ Islamic Cultural Center, Washington DC.

20. Myths/ Stereo-Types • Come from Oil-Rich Middle Eastern Countries • May have terrorist Connections • May be members of a violent Islamic fundamentalist religion • Women are subservient to the men Norma Carr-Ruffino, 2004

21. Muslims in the Workplace • Daily Prayer • Fasting • Special Holidays • Dietary Requirements • Clothing http://www.islam.org/

22. Religion in the Workplace Religious devotion and diversity are on the rise in the United States This is creating new challenges and new demands for employers. Religious discrimination in the workplace have jumped 43% since the beginning of the decade. www.centeronline.org/knowledge/whitepaper.cfm?ID=828&ContentProfileID=122437&Action=searching

23. HR Survey Results 68% of respondents said they offer flexible schedules for religious observances but only… 19% included religion in diversity training programs. 18% trained their managers in religious accommodations. 15% provided space or time for religious observance 13% accommodated religious attire. www.centeronline.org/knowledge/whitepaper.cfm?ID=828&ContentProfileID=122437&Action=searching

24. HR Professionals • Respect religious beliefs of all employees. • Become familiar with the fundamentals of your staff’s religions. • Be sensitive, understanding, and accommodating of all religious beliefs. www.centeronline.org/knowledge/whitepaper.cfm?ID=828&ContentProfileID=122437&Action=searching

25. Workplace Religious Freedom Act • Calls to amend the religious freedom protections of the First Amendment (2001). • It has now been repackaged as a response to the 9/11 tragedy. • The WRFA requires employers to accommodate employees' religious practices unless such accommodation would require significant difficulty or expense. http://ola.adventist.org/currentissues.htm#wrfa

26. www.adherents.com www.buddhanet.net www.buddhism.about.com www.acay.com www.us-isreal.org www.jcpa.org www.eranos.freeserve.co.uk www.us-isreal.org www.himalayanacademy.com www.remember.org www.centeronline.org http://ola.adventist.org www.islam.org/ Carr, Raffino, 2004 Sources

27. Please Join us in Welcoming.. Maanaan Sabir UWMilwaukee Student Martial Arts Instructor 3rd Degree Black Belt Personal Trainer Member of Ahmadiyya Muslim Community