Religions & Philosophies The Order of Adherents: (notes are grouped by region) Christianity Islam Hinduism Buddhism Animism Sikhism Judaism

First Amendment of the United States of America Guarantees Freedom of Religion In the United States, the religious civil liberties are guaranteed by the First Amendment of the United States Constitution: Have you seen/heard this before? From where? “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”

The Institution of Religion Monotheistic or Polytheistic Sacred Figure: Sacred Site: Where Started/Spread: Holidays: Architecture:

Christianity

CHRISTIANITY Christians Monotheistic: ONE God Sacred Figures: God & Jesus Sacred Site: Jerusalem, Bethlehem Spread through Migration from Europe Holidays: Easter, Christmas Architecture: Church Holy Book: Bible

ISLAM Muslims Monotheistic: Believe in one God (Allah) Sacred Figures: Allah (God) & the Prophet Muhammad Sacred Site: Jerusalem, Mecca Started in Southwest Asia and spread through Africa. Important Days: Ramadan, The Hajj, Architecture: Mosque Holy Book: Qur'an (Koran)

JUDAISM Jews Believe in one God Sacred Figure: God, Abraham Sacred Site: Jerusalem Holidays: Hannukkah, Yom Kippur Rosh Hashanah Architecture: Synagogue Holy Book: Torah

Map of Islam, Hinduism, & Buddhism Concentrations

HINDUISM Hindu Polytheistic: Belief in many (1000’s) gods Areas of Concentration: India & Nepal Sacred Figure: Many Gods & Brahmin (highest caste member) The Caste System: Can not marry outside of the caste you were born into. illegal, though many still follow the traditions of the caste system. Sacred Site: Ganges River

Sikhism Sikhs Monotheistic: God Sacred Figures: God & the founder Guru Nanak Sacred Places: The Golden Temple in Punjab, India Primarily located: India, SE Asia, Pakistan, UK, Europe.

Animism animists Indigenous peoples including Shinto, & some forms of Islam Hinduism, Buddhism, Pantheism, Christianity, & Neopaganism. Central Beliefs: Spirits exist in everything, animals, plants & people. Non-human entities are spiritual beings, or at least embody some kind of life-principle.

The following are mostly considered Philosophies rather than religions

BUDDHISM Buddhists A philosophy, Buddhism does not believe in a “God” Sacred Figure: Indian prince named Buddha (Siddhartha Guatama) AKA “The Enlightened One” Buddhism: Concentrated in China, Tibet, & Japan, Australia, Russia. Spread throughout Asia in various forms: (Confucianism, Taoism, Shintoism) The Dalai Lama - Buddhist monk, leader of the Tibetans (more about the Dalai Lama and the struggles in Tibet soon).