World Religions

Major World Religions

Judaism

Judaism• Believers are called Jews• Founder of Religion: Abraham• Where did it start: Canaan (modern day Israel)• Sacred Book: Torah, Talmud• Monotheistic• Main Beliefs: Monotheism

-Following God's Law

-Equality and Social Justice

-The Importance of Study

- Do have some dietary restrictions (against pork and shellfish)

Judaism

• Spread: Diaspora• Mostly practiced in

Israel today.

Christianity

Christianity

• Believers called: Christians• Founder: Jesus Christ (Jesus of Nazareth)• Where is started: Modern day Israel• Sacred Book: The Bible• Monotheistic• Beliefs: 1. Teachings of Jesus Christ2. The Trinity3. Believe in trying to achieve salvation (go to

Heaven)

Christianity

• Groups within Christianity:

1. Catholics

2. Protestants

3. Orthodox

• Spread throughout the Roman Empire through missionaries and traders and by conquest.

• All over the world

Islam

Islam

• Believers are called: Muslims• Founder: Mohammed• Where it started: Mecca, in modern day Saudi Arabia• Monotheistic• Main beliefs: 1. The Five Pillars (declaration of faith, fasting during

Ramadan, pilgrimage to Mecca, pray 5 timers per day, give alms (money) to the poor)

2. Does have some dietary restrictions (against pork)3. Believe in trying to achieve salvation.

Islam

• The religion spread through: missionaries, traders, and through conquest.

Stoning the devil

Pilgrimage to Mecca

Hinduism

Hinduism

• Believers: Hindus• No single founder• Started in what is now India• Sacred Book: Vedas• Polytheistic• Main Beliefs:1. Dharma: Law, obligation, and duty. Effect: many

believe in nonviolence-every living creature has a soul.2. Karma: explains why dharma is important, law explains

what will happen to people’s soul when they die, karma made up of good and evil.

3. Believe in reincarnation (born again) until soul merges with Brahma.

Caste System

Hinduism and the Caste System

• Social classes” Brahmins (religious class), Kshatriyas(rulers and warriors), Vaishyas (herders and merchants), and Shudras (servants, farmers, and laborers).

• Also had the untouchables.

• Over time, became complex.

• No social mobility. Born into a certain level of society and stayed there.

Hinduism

• Ethnic religion.

• Mostly practice in India.

• Spread through migration.

Hindu Temples

Pilgrimage to Ganges River

Buddhism

Buddhism

• Believers: Buddhists• Founder of religion: Siddhartha Gautama• Where it started: India• Name of Sacred Book: Tripitaka• Main Beliefs:1. People’s self centered desires causes suffering.2. The Four Noble Truths3. The Eightfold Path4. When a person dies, they will be reincarnated until

they hit enlightenment, nirvana.

Spread of the Religion

• Monks and traders along the Silk Road

Confucianism

Founder

• Kong Fu Zi

Confucianism

• Practioners: Confucianists• Where it started? China• Name of Sacred Book: Analects• Main Beliefs: 1. Uphold traditions of the past, establish

relationships and guidelines for how people should act.

2. Taught respect for parents, loyalty to the state, honesty, hard work, concern for others.

3. Believed education is important.4. Ancestor worship.

Relationships

Parents Husband

Elder

Brother

Ruler Teacher Friend

Children Wife Younger

Brother

Subject Student Friend

Daoism

Daoism• Founder: Lao-Tzu• Daoists• Started in China• Name of Sacred Book: Daodejing• Main Beliefs: 1. Live in harmony with nature.2. Yin/yang: opposite forces of nature and it represents balance. 3. Importance of honor and duty.4. Best government is one that governs least. 5. Observe nature to learn how to behave.6. Achieve oneness with the Dao.7. Wuwei: action through non-action.

Daoism

• Found in China.

Sikhism

Sikhism

• Followers: Sikhs• Founder: Guru Nanak• Started in India• Sacred Book: Guru Granth Sahib• Started in India• Main Beliefs: 1. Faith, especially faith in one god2. Social reform and pursuit of justice for all

people

Sikhism

• Spread through migration (Diaspora).

Sikhs

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