Buddhism

1. Buddhism Wheel of the Law

2. 354 million followers worldwide found mostly in Southeast Asia, Sri Lanka, and Japan • The Buddha did not teach a personal deity • The Buddha founded the religion • Buddha’s teachings = Dharma • Siddhartha Gautama= The Buddha • Leadership – Buddhist monks and nuns • They are expected to lead a life of poverty, meditation, and study.

3. Beliefs • Persons achieve complete peace and happiness, known as nirvana, by eliminating their attachment to worldly things. • 3 Cardinal Faults • Greed - Pig • Hatred - Snake • Delusion - Rooster • Sacred Writings • Perfection of Wisdom Sutra – has 8000 verses. Relates the life and teachings of the Buddha

5. Confucianism • Yin-Yang – represents opposite forces in the world working together. It symbolizes the social order and harmony that Confucianism stresses.

6. Confucius is the father of Confucianism and is viewed by many as a deity. • Confucius’ Golden Rule: “Do not do unto others what you would not want others to do unto you.” Confucianism stresses social and civic responsibility. • Not what you would consider a religion like most others. Has no clergy, no gods to worship, but is rather an ancient philosophy that guides the actions and beliefs of millions of Chinese and others in the East. • It is a way of life. • Respect for family and elders. • Analects • Earliest and most authentic record of Confucius’s ideas was recorded by his students. • Around 400 B.C., they compiled Confucius’s words in this book

7. Confucius’s birthday is celebrated on September 28 in East Asia. It is known in Taiwan as Teacher’s Day. Confucius was a teacher, and believed that education was an important part of a fulfilled life. • Beliefs • Social order, harmony and good government should be based on strong family relationships. • Respect for parents and elders is important to a well-ordered society • Education is important both to the welfare of the individual and to society. • People build shrines in their homes to honor deceased relatives. Family offers prayers and food at the shrine.

9. Hinduism The World’s Oldest Religion • Sacred Om • Most sacred syllable for • Hindus. It is used in prayers

10. Three main Gods: • Brahma • Vishnu • Shiva • It spread by tradition (oral and written) • Spread by holy men (gurus who travel from village to village sharing the gods’ words) • Never spreads out of India – evangelically – no attempts at conversion • Ritual • India’s Ganges River – considered a sacred site in the religion. • Most Hindus come to bathe in the water, an act they believe will cleanse and purify them

11. 762 million followers worldwide ranging mostly in India • Leadership – Guru, Holy Man, Brahmin priest • Sacred texts • Vedas – oldest of Hindu scriptures • Older than the sacred writings of any other major religion • Contain prayers and hymns • It is the nature of reality, morality, eternal life, and the soul • 3 Main Beliefs • The soul never dies, but is continually reborn (reincarnation) • Persons achieve happiness and enlightenment after they free themselves from their earthly desires • Freedom from earthly desires comes from a lifetime of worship, knowledge, and virtuous acts

13. Islam • Crescent Moon • May be related to the • new moon that begins • each month in the Islamic • lunar calendar, which • orders religious life for • Muslims

14. Muslims are forbidden to gamble, eat pork, drink alcoholic beverages, and practice dishonesty • The religion split into 2 groups in the 7th century – Shiite and Sunni • Shi’ites accept only the descendants of Ali, Muhammad’s son-in-law, as true rulers and Sunni Muslims • Sunnis are the larger group, while Shi’ites are the majority in Iraq and Iran • 5 times a day Muslims face Mecca (the holy city) and pray to Allah • This religion was founded by a man named Muhammad

15. 1.2 Billion followers worldwide – concentrated mostly in southwest to central Asia and parts of Africa • The God is known as Allah. This religion teaches that all prophets of Judaism and Christianity do exist. Monotheistic • Followers of Islam are known as Muslims. • The Qur’an • Sacred book of Muslims • Five Pillars • Faith – in 1 God and Muhammad is the messenger • Prayer – 5 times a day • Almsgiving (charity) • Fasting – refraining from food and drink from dawn to sunset during Ramadan • Pilgrimage – making a once in a lifetime visit to Mecca.

17. Judaism The Star of David -Shield of David -Refers to King David who ruled the Kingdom of Israel from 1000-962 B.C.

18. Abraham is the father of the Hebrew people. • 2000 BCE • 10 Commandments – given to Moses on Mt. Sinai (part of law code) • Major Sects • Reform • Orthodox • Conservative • Judaism teaches that a person serves God by studying the Torah and living by its teachings. • Some follow strict dietary laws based on passages from the Hebrew Bible. Kosher laws forbit the eating of animals considered unclean.

19. 14 million followers centering mostly in Israel • God is also known as Yahweh – first religion to teach the existence of only one god. • Abraham founded the religion • Torah – first of five books of the Hebrew bible. • A Rabbi performs ceremonies in the Synagogue (they are church leadership) • Beliefs • There is only one God, who watches over and cares for his people • God loves and protects his people, but also holds people accountable for their sins and shortcomings • Persons serve God by studying the Torah and living by its teachings

21. Christianity

22. Deity – God • Founder – Jesus Christ • Clergymen are the leaders of religious ceremony and practice • Ministers Pastor • Priests Bishop • Beliefs • There is only one God, who watches over and cares for his people • Jesus Christ was the son of God. He died to save humanity from sin. His death and resurrection made eternal life possible for others • The Bible • Most sacred book of the Christian religion • 2 parts – Old Testament and New Testament

23. 1.9 Billion followers worldwide with majorities being in the Americas, Europe, Africa, and the Former USSR • It is the world’s largest religion – based on the teachings of Jesus Christ • Three major groups: Eastern Orthodox Roman Catholic Christianity Protestant