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Prominent Religions in Southern and Eastern Asia

Prominent Religions in Southern and Eastern Asia. Hinduism Polytheistic religion Major world religion Began about 1500 BC in Indus River Valley Almost all follow these practices: reverence for the Brahmans and cows, prohibition on the eating of meat, and marriage in the same caste.

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Prominent Religions in Southern and Eastern Asia

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  1. Prominent Religions in Southern and Eastern Asia

  2. Hinduism Polytheistic religion Major world religion Began about 1500 BC in Indus River Valley Almost all follow these practices: reverence for the Brahmans and cows, prohibition on the eating of meat, and marriage in the same caste. Religious Text: Vedas

  3. All Hindus believe in Karma • Belief that every person does have a consequence. Both good and bad deeds have an effect on a person’s happiness or misery in their present life, as well as their future lives. • All Hindus believe in Reincarnation • Each person is reborn repeatedly until he or she reaches the final supreme goal of Absolute (Moksha) by overcoming all evils and all earthly desires. Only then is the soul released from the cycle, never to be reincarnated again • All Hindus believe in Darma • Belief that one is born into a particular station in life and it is his or her moral duty to live according to that station. Hindus believe that if they perform their duty well, they will be rewarded by being born at a higher social level in the next life.

  4. HINDU GOD(S) Believe in the universal soul or God (Brahman), as the sole reality who is present in all things. Brahman has no form, and is eternal. Brahman is creator, preserver and transformer of everything. Brahman appears in the human spirit as Atman, or the soul. Often believed that Hindus worship many gods. Really one eternal god (Brahman). The other gods are different aspects of the Brahman. Three principal gods: Brahma: creates the universe Vishnu: preserves the universe Shiva: destroys the universe.

  5. Buddhism • Originated through the teachings of Siddhartha Gautama around 500 BC in NE India. He reached enlightenment and was given the name of Buddha. • Buddhists believe that one must go through the cycle of birth, life, and death and then become reincarnated. • The teachings of Buddha were written down several years after Buddha’s death. • Sutras – Buddhists sacred writings • They don’t believe in any particular god, so the need for a savior or prayer is unnecessary.

  6. Central Beliefs of Buddhism • Reincarnation and Karma • Soul strives for enlightenment • Good or bad deed preformed called Karma and travels with soul to next life • When the cycle is finally broken (enlightenment), like the Buddha, the soul enters a state of nirvana (highest bliss) and never returns to earth.

  7. Philosophy of Confucius • A Chinese philosopher believed that society could become perfect if the people in it exhibited perfect conduct • Confucius (551-479 BC) also taught that your well-being depends directly on the well-being of others. This principle is called Jen. • There are five texts (Analects) which contain Confucian scriptures. These include poems, history, rituals, and sayings. • Some say Confucianism is more a description of how to be a good person than a spiritual practice. • After death, people built temples in his honor

  8. What did Confucius teach people? (for your info only) • Confucius taught people five basic ideas about behavior:Always be considerate to others. Respect your ancestors. Try for harmony and balance in all things. Avoid extremes in behavior and emotion. If you live in peace and harmony, then you will be in contact with the spiritual forces of the universe, including nature. • Confucius taught five basic virtues: 1) kindness2) righteousness3) sobriety4) wisdom5) trustworthiness

  9. Shinto • Shinto means “way of the gods” • Ancient religion of Japan • Important text – Kojiki or Nihon-gi • Followers believe that spiritual powers exist in the natural world • They believe that “spirits” called kami live in natural places such as animals, plants, stones, mountains, rivers, people, and even the dead • Worship in shrines found in beautiful, natural settings • Most important Kami is Amaterasu, the sun goddess • Many people practice both Shintoism and Buddhism

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