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Religion

Religion . Religion is a system of beliefs and practices that help people make sense of the universe and their place in it Why would people need to make sense of their world? . Deity – a deity is a god Monotheistic – a belief in one (mono) god Polytheistic – a belief in more than one god

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Religion

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  1. Religion • Religion is a system of beliefs and practices that help people make sense of the universe and their place in it • Why would people need to make sense of their world?

  2. Deity – a deity is a god • Monotheistic – a belief in one (mono) god • Polytheistic – a belief in more than one god • Atheistic – a belief that there are no gods

  3. Religion and identity • How does religion shape the identity of a person • ?

  4. How does religion shape the identity of a community?

  5. Ritual – behaviors regularly practiced that often have personal or symbolic meaning

  6. Piety – means to be deeply devoted to a religion • Two types of religions and the difference between the two is how they get followers and at what scale • Universalizing religion – • (Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, and Sikhism) these are closely associated with a key individual who established the religion. • Welcomes all people as potential members • May actively work to get converts

  7. Ethnic religion • Membership in an ethnic religion is usually conferred by birth • Rarely use missionaries to increase numbers • Judaism, Hinduism, Shintoism (Japan) • Civil religion • When religious ideas, symbols and rituals are part of the political culture of an area.

  8. Abrahamic Faiths • Religions that have a historical association with Abraham • Abraham lived in the Middle East in the 19th century BCE • Judaism, Christianity and Islam are often classified as Abrahamic faiths

  9. Buddhism and Hinduism are Vedic faiths. The Vedas are India’s oldest sacred writings and influenced the development of Hinduism • Buddhism separated from Hinduism

  10. Judaism • 13 million Jews world wide • Israel is the only country in which the majority of the population is Jewish • Abraham is the patriarch (male head) • Torah is holy book

  11. Christianity • Largest world religion with 2.3 billion adherents • Promises forgiveness and eternal life through belief in Jesus • Many different forms of Christianity • Western Christianity – Roman Catholics based in Rome. Broke into Protestant faiths in 1500’s • Eastern Christianity – Eastern Orthodoxy based Constantinople (Istanbul)

  12. Islam • Second largest religion • 1/5 of world’s population calls themselves Muslims • Fastest growing religion in the world • Muhammad is the founder. Born in 570 CE in Mecca (Saudi Arabia) • God is called Allah • Holy book – Qur’an • Sunnis – largest and most wide spread. Believed that after Muhammad’s death someone outside his family could succeed him

  13. Islam • Shiites – believed that Muhammad’s successor should be someone from his family.

  14. Hinduism • Largest ethnic religion in the world. • Most Hindus live in South Asia, specifically India • Great diversity of religious beliefs and practices • Belief in reincarnation– existence is a cycle and souls are immortal. • Karma is an important element of reincarnation • Brahman is the supreme spiritual source • Hinduism has a large number of gods and goddess, each expressing different qualities of Brahman

  15. Buddhism • Prevalent in China, Japan, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Singapore. (also mixes with Confucianism) • Founder is Siddhartha Gautama (6th century) • He had a privileged life and when he saw suffering he felt the need to give up his life of comfort and seek a way to end human suffering • He attained enlightenment by meditating (Buddha means enlightened one) • Oldest Buddhist document is the Tripitaka

  16. Buddhism • Buddhists believe that suffering is linked to reincarnation and that to escape the cycle of reincarnation you need to achieve Nirvana • The Four Noble Truths of Buddhism are: • Life brings suffering • Desire causes this suffering • This suffering can be overcome and nirvana can be attained • Disciplining the mind and body by practicing proper thinking and behavior ends this suffering and leads to nirvana • Three major branches of Buddhism – Theravada, Mahayana and Tantrayana.

  17. Sikhism • Smallest of the universalizing religions (23 million adherents) • Guru is an inspired religious teacher • Sikh means disciple • Guru Nanak (1469-1538) founded Sikhism • Sikhs believe that Guru Nanak experienced a divine (god like) revelation and began teaching and establishing Sikh communities • Is influenced by Buddhism and Islam • Believes in one creator and emphasizes the importance of karma • Holy book is – Guru Guanth Sahib - contains hymns revealed to Guru Nanak and other gurus.

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