World Religions

1. World Religions A super brief intro… Well, kinda!!!!!!

2. Religion • …any specific system of belief about a *deity. • Usually involves: • rituals, • code of ethics • philosophy of life."

4. Religion also is… • shared beliefspassed down from one generation to the next • a moral code of conduct • (A way to answer questions such as: Why are we here? What happens when I die? )

5. !!!Disclaimer!!! • This unit DOES NOT say that one religion is better than another. • It is a way to introduce these concepts, not to tell you what to believe. • The following few days will be a BRIEF explanation of SOME of the world religions. Neither are all religions here nor are they explained in detail. • In either case, no disrespect is intended.

6. 1st 4 Terms • polytheism :The belief in many gods or goddesses. • monotheism :The belief in one god or goddess. • canon: what a religion believes in, doctrine. What they hold as true • Text: Holy Word of God, Scripture. Often contains history of the religion as well as law codes

7. TED TALK • BEFORE WE GET INTO THE TOPIC, LETS WATCH AND DISCUSS WHAT WE UNDERSTAND FROM… • Jonathan Haidt: Religion, evolution, and the ecstasy of self-transcendence

8. What would you like to debate? • What happens after death? • Why do people insist on looking outside themselves for a reason for their life? • What were we before this life, what are we during this life and what will we be after this life? • Why is there evil? • Is there scientific evidence for an intelligent designer • What is the nature of our soul? • Who created us? • Why is there a universe? • How can we be truly good? • Why do you believe anything you believe? • Why do we have religions • What are the differences between religions? • What will make us respect and love each other? • How can I come to KNOW rather than just believe? • Do you have to believe in God or take part in organized religion to be a spiritual person?

9. y.t.I.t.d.-QUIZ ON GOOGLE DOCS • What has been the impact of the World’s Religions on the daily lives of people?

10. Next 4 Terms • Soul: spiritual part of a person • Myth: sacred story that explains the creation of something • Taboo: actions if performed have bad consequences • Priest: leader who assumes religious influence and power

11. A few more terms…LOL • Law:a formal rule that governs proper behavior • Caste: (social) “class” determined by birth • Patriarchal: male dominated. Family influence stems from the fathers lineage. • Matriarchal: female dominated. Family influence stems from the mothers lineage. • Omnipresent: (of God) present everywhere at the same time. • Omniscient: (of God) knowing everything.

12. Judaism • Israel, U.S., and Russia(concentration) • 1st documented monotheistic religion • Patriarchal

13. Judaism • Founders- • Abraham(Abram): founder of Judaism due to his covenant with God. Around 2200BC(clip to 3:02) • Moses: • liberated Hebrews from Egypt • Ten Commandments-Mount Sinai~1250 BCE

14. Location: near Ur, in Mesopotamia

15. Judaism: Canon • There is ONE God • -creator of all things form. • -judgment (God is omnipresent/omniscient) • -dead will be resurrected • -The Jews are God’s chosen people: more responsibility in life…

16. strict regulations that govern Jewish life. • There is no intermediary between you and God. • (influence???) • The Jews are God’s chosen people: chosen to receive more responsibilities in life…

18. Significant Writings • The Tanakh corresponds to the Jewish Scriptures, (often referred to as the Old Testament by Christians). It is composed of three groups of books: • the Torah • the Nevi'im • the Ketuvim

19. Holy Text • The “Talmud” • -stories, laws, medical knowledge, debates about moral choices, & Life

20. INSIDE A SYNAGOGUE

21. How are you going to remember Judaism? • Remind 101 article Judaism

22. Hinduism

23. Hindu Canon • Salvation • achieved through a spiritual oneness of the soul • Reach “Brahman” • break reincarnation cycle • by doing good deeds and fulfilling one's duty in life • All things have souls so all life is sacred.

24. Deities • Brahma: Creator of Life • Gods and goddesses are manifestation of Brahma: • Vishnu; the preserver • Shiva the Destroyer • Kali-Ma; goddess, destroys the ego, rules compassion

26. Hindu religion • traced back to the Indus River Valley civilization (approximately 3000 BCE) in modern-day Pakistan. • is a result of cultural diffusion between Aryan invaders and the nativeIndians around 1500 BCE

28. Significant Writings- • Vedas, • Upanishads, • Ramayana, • Mahabharata, • Bhagavad Gita.

29. Caste System • The Caste System is a rigid class structure • It you lead a good life, you will be rewarded by being reincarnated as a person belonging to the next highest level in the Caste System. • However, if you are wicked, you will be demoted, and possibly even removed from the Caste System altogether.

30. Outcasts, or Untouchables, are members of Hindu society thought to have been removed from the Caste System, with no hope of returning to it, due to their misdeeds in previous lives. Work that is deemed unclean for all other Hindus is reserved for these Outcasts.

31. A person who followed the rules of their caste would be reborn to a higher form in the next life. A Hindu who neglected their duties would be reborn in a lower form, perhaps as an animal or insect. The goal of Hinduism is to escape the cycle of rebirth by reaching Nirvana

33. Patriarchal. • Usually non violent to avoid bad or negative karma that will prevent you from growing closer to Nirvana.

35. Animism • Animism is the oldest known type of belief system in the world. It is still practiced in a variety of forms in many traditional societies. • It is a form of polytheism

36. Founder-There is no one person who is considered the founder of Animism.Geographic Origin-Developed simultaneously in different parts of the world.Currently Practiced-World-wide, but most common in areas of Africa and the Americas.Significant Writings- none due to the oral tradition of story-telling, rather than a developed writing system

37. Animists practice nature worship. They believe that everything in the universe has a spirit. Animists also believed that ancestors watch over the living from the spirit world. • This belief resulted in ancestor worship as a means of communicating with and showing respect to ancestors.

39. Shintoism • Shinto, which means "Way of the Gods," is the traditional religion of Japan that focuses on nature. Many consider Shinto to be a form of Animism due to the many similarities found between them

40. Established: Shinto was was founded around the year 500 BCE. • Founder: Mixture of tribal religions • Geographic Origin: Japan. • Currently Practiced: Most common in Japan. • Significant Writings: Kokiji, or Record of Ancient Matters and Nikong, or Chronicles of Japan

41. Shinto teaches that there is a sacredness of the whole universe and that humans can be in tune with this sacredness.

43. Buddhism • Founder-Siddartha Gautama, or Buddha, which means "enlightened one."dated to the 6th century BC • Gautama was a prince who left his life behind when he saw a suffering beggar outside of his palace. • He wandered for years until he achieved Enlightenment.

44. The Buddha said that it didn’t matter what a person’s status in the world was, their gender or what their background or wealth or nationality might be.  All were capable of enlightenment, and all were welcome. This was radically different from what society was like. Buddhists DO NOT WORSHIP BUDDHA

45. Geographic Origin-Developed in India and spread throuhj Asia and especially South East Asia. • Currently Practiced-Most common in Southeast Asia and Japan..Significant Writings-Tripitka, or Three Baskets of Wisdom.The Pali

46. Upon reflection, Gautama deduced that desire was the root caused of all suffering. This idea has been recorded as the Four Noble Truths.

47. The 4 Noble Truths • Life is full of pain and suffering. • Human desire causes this suffering. • By putting an end to desire, humans can end suffering. • Humans can end desire by following the Eightfold Path

48. Buddhism is more of a guide line to how to morally and ethically live one’s life away from suffering. Many become monks or nuns, living an ascetic lifestyle.