1. Religions

2. Religion:
System of faith, morality and worship

3. Judaism Monotheistic: One all-powerful God Holy Book: Torah
Founder: Abraham
Founding Date:
Origin: Israel
Other important figures:
Moses (led people out of Egypt and founded nation of Israel)
King David (First important king of Israel)
King Solomon (wisest king)

4. Central Beliefs
One all powerful God who created the Universe and the world
Israelites: God’s chosen people to bring the Word of God

5. Different Sects: Orthodoxy: More Conservative Hasidism: More mystical
Reform: More liberal
Historical Sects:
Pharisees
Sadducees
Essenes

6. Christianity Monotheistic Holy Book: Bible Founder: Jesus Christ
(Old Testament: Jewish Torah, New Testament: Collection of writings giving more “complete” picture of God’s word
Founder: Jesus Christ
Origin: Israel
Other Important Figures:
12 Apostles (original followers of Jesus)
Saints (St. Paul)
Martin Luther
John Calvin

7. Central Beliefs Fulfillment of Jewish Holy Scriptures and prophecy
Jesus Christ son of God and Savior of world
Holy Trinity (Father, Son, Holy Spirit)
Very pacifist religion

8. Sects Roman Catholic Eastern Orthodoxy Protestantism Greek Russian
Lutheranism
Calvinism
Baptist
Evangelism

10. Islam Monotheistic Holy Book: Quran Founder: Muhammad
(Incorporates Bible in holy texts {and Torah in Old Testament} Refers to Christians and Jews as “People of the Book”
Founder: Muhammad
Important Historical Figures:
Abu Bakr, Muwawiyah I, Suleiman the Magnificent, Sultan Mehmed II

11. Sects:
Sunni: belief that the Caliph (religious leader) can be anyone worthy of job
97% of Muslim world
Shia: belief that the Caliph must be a descendant of Muhammad
3%, mostly in Iran and Central Asia

12. Central Beliefs Same God as Christianity and Judaism
Islam is the fulfillment of the Scriptures according to Abraham (founder of Judaism)
Jesus 2nd most important prophet (not son of God)

13. Hinduism Polytheistic Holy Book: Vedas, Mahabharata, Ramayana
Founder: Unknown

14. Central Beliefs
Many Gods all incarnations of one all-powerful God Vishnu
Caste System: levels of society all people are born into (reincarnation to go to next level)
Religion of India

16. Buddhism No God, Spiritual Holy Book: Sutra
Founder: Siddhartha Gautama (Buddha)
Important Historical Figures:
Ashoka

17. Central Beliefs
Spiritual Movement where there is no central divine figure
Four Noble Truths:
1. All life is suffering
2. We suffer because of desire
3. The only way to eliminate suffering is to eliminate desire
4. The only way to eliminate desire is through the Eight-Fold Path

18. 8 Fold Path

19. Confucianism No God: Philosophical Movement Holy Book: Analects
Founder: Confucius

20. Central Beliefs
Maintain society and make sure that everyone is in their proper place
Like Caste System: but, you can change your position based on merit
VERY Patriarchal: Women must be taken care of by first father, then husband, then son
Heaven: its real, but don’t worry about it, be concerned with the NOW

23. Daoism
No God
Founder: Lao Zi

24. Central Beliefs Must be in Harmony with the Dao (the Path, or “Way)
Wu-wei: action through inaction (nature will take care of itself)

25. Zoroastrianism Two Gods: Dualism Holy Book: Zend Avesta
Good vs. Evil
Ahura Mazda (Good)
Ahirman (Evil)
Holy Book: Zend Avesta
Founder: Zarathusra

26. Paganism Pagani: Latin for “countryside”
Kind of like “redneck”
Biased term, generally used for people who had not converted to Christianity
Term for any people who maintain their traditional religion and have not converted to a mainstream global religion