1. Ethnic Religions

2. Hinduism  Pantheistic religion  The world (universe) and God are one or related  Brahman is God (Supreme Being)  Everything that is seen and unseen  Stats:  900 million followers (largest ethnic religion)  97% of followers in India  Makes up 80% of India’s population

3. Hinduism  Origins  Beyond written, recorded history  No primary holy book but several sacred texts  Basic Beliefs:  Vedas: the eternal rules  Strive for dharma (doing the “right” thing)  Souls are immortal (transmigration)  The goal is moksha (being free of transmigration)  Paths duty, knowledge, devotion

4. Hindu Caste System & Polytheism  Caste system – belonging to specific group  Priestly/intellectual class (Brahmans)  Warrior class (Kshatriyas)  Trade/commerce class (Vaisyas)  Agriculture/labor class (Shudras)  Untouchables (Pariahs)  Polytheism – not different gods but different aspects of Brahman  Brahma (Creator)  Vishnu (Preserver)  Shiva (Destroyer)

5. Judaism  People tracing their lineage to Abraham & Sarah  Moved several times but center remains Jerusalem  Stats:  There are approximately 14 million Jews in the world now  Israel & the US are home to about 2/3 of the Jewish population  Wide distribution for the last 1500-2000 years

6. Judaism  Basic Beliefs :  Monotheistic  Chosen people of God  10 Commandments  Holy book is the Torah (old testament)  Holy places :  Places of worship are temples  Led by rabbis  Canaan then Palestine then Israel  All centered around Jerusalem  Calendar:  Events based on agricultural calendar

7. Other Ethnic Religions  Confucianism  Based on the teachings of the philosopher Confucius  No belief in a deity (god) only a description of the way to treat each other and perform daily service (help)  Daoism (Taoism)  Lao Tse was also a philosopher but described the importance of the mythical and unknown  Seek the dao or The Way  Animism (found in many African religions)  The animal, plant, and natural world have conscious spirits  Relates to some Native American beliefs