The Five Major Religions of the WORLD!

Main Menu Christianity Islam Hinduism Judaism Buddhism

Judaism  Judaism was the first to teach belief in only one God= Monotheism.  Two other important religions developed from Judaism: Christianity and Islam.  Judaism was the first to teach belief in only one God= Monotheism.  Two other important religions developed from Judaism: Christianity and Islam.

Judaism  Jews think that God will send a Messiah (a deliverer) to unite them or bring about a messianic age and lead them in His way.  Christians believe that Jesus was the Messiah. The Jewish people do not agree; they anticipate His arrival in the future.  Judaism teaches that death is not the end and that there is a world to come.  Jews think that God will send a Messiah (a deliverer) to unite them or bring about a messianic age and lead them in His way.  Christians believe that Jesus was the Messiah. The Jewish people do not agree; they anticipate His arrival in the future.  Judaism teaches that death is not the end and that there is a world to come.

Judaism  The "Torah," the first five books of the Hebrew Bible, is the most important Jewish scripture.  It contains the basic laws of Judaism such as the Ten Commandments.  Another important book is the "Talmud," serving primarily as a guide to the civil and religious laws of Judaism.  The "Torah," the first five books of the Hebrew Bible, is the most important Jewish scripture.  It contains the basic laws of Judaism such as the Ten Commandments.  Another important book is the "Talmud," serving primarily as a guide to the civil and religious laws of Judaism.

Judaism  The Jewish house of worship is called a synagogue.  Rabbis (spiritual leaders) conduct services, act as interpreters of Jewish laws, and deliver sermons.  Today there are over 18 million followers of Judaism scattered throughout the world. A large number of those people live in the Jewish nation of Israel.  Over six million live in the United States.  The Jewish house of worship is called a synagogue.  Rabbis (spiritual leaders) conduct services, act as interpreters of Jewish laws, and deliver sermons.  Today there are over 18 million followers of Judaism scattered throughout the world. A large number of those people live in the Jewish nation of Israel.  Over six million live in the United States.

History of The Israelites  2000 B.C.–Abraham migrates from Mesopotamia to Canaan, where he founds the Israelite nation.  Famine forces Israelites to migrate to Egypt, where they are enslaved.  Moses leads the Israelites out of Egypt.  Israelites enter Canaan, the promised land.  1000 B.C.–David unites Israelites into kingdom of Israel.  Solomon builds capital at Jerusalem, but his rule inspires revolts.  2000 B.C.–Abraham migrates from Mesopotamia to Canaan, where he founds the Israelite nation.  Famine forces Israelites to migrate to Egypt, where they are enslaved.  Moses leads the Israelites out of Egypt.  Israelites enter Canaan, the promised land.  1000 B.C.–David unites Israelites into kingdom of Israel.  Solomon builds capital at Jerusalem, but his rule inspires revolts.

History Continued  922 B.C.–Kingdom weakens after splitting into Israel and Judah.  722 B.C.–Assyrians conquer Israel.  586 B.C.–Babylonians capture Judah – Babylonian Captivity under ruler Nebuchadnezzar, marked the start of Diaspora = scattering of the Jews.  Persians conquer Babylon under leader Cyrus and free the Jews from captivity.  100s B.C. Jews lived within the Roman Empire during the Pax Romana, absorbing Greek customs and experiencing turmoil.  922 B.C.–Kingdom weakens after splitting into Israel and Judah.  722 B.C.–Assyrians conquer Israel.  586 B.C.–Babylonians capture Judah – Babylonian Captivity under ruler Nebuchadnezzar, marked the start of Diaspora = scattering of the Jews.  Persians conquer Babylon under leader Cyrus and free the Jews from captivity.  100s B.C. Jews lived within the Roman Empire during the Pax Romana, absorbing Greek customs and experiencing turmoil.

Jewish Philosophy  God is one and unique  God is the creator  God is transcendent  God is immanent.  God is lawgiver  God is personal  We have the obligation to worship  The Torah is God's law  God is judge  The Messiah will come.  God is one and unique  God is the creator  God is transcendent  God is immanent.  God is lawgiver  God is personal  We have the obligation to worship  The Torah is God's law  God is judge  The Messiah will come.

How would you best describe the history of the Israelites?  The Israelites were often displaced, poorly treated and forced to migrate in and out of their homeland by various conquerors.  Diaspora= Scattering of the Jews  The Israelites were often displaced, poorly treated and forced to migrate in and out of their homeland by various conquerors.  Diaspora= Scattering of the Jews

ChristianityChristianity  Christianity started about 2000 years ago.  Jesus, or the Messiah, was a young Jewish carpenter who disagreed with some of the Jewish principles of his day and began a new way of thinking.  He traveled preaching his and God’s love for mankind.  Jesus’ teachings were rooted in Jewish tradition.  This eventually led to the beginning of the Christianity.  Christianity started about 2000 years ago.  Jesus, or the Messiah, was a young Jewish carpenter who disagreed with some of the Jewish principles of his day and began a new way of thinking.  He traveled preaching his and God’s love for mankind.  Jesus’ teachings were rooted in Jewish tradition.  This eventually led to the beginning of the Christianity.

ChristianityChristianity  Jesus traveled teaching the need for justice, morality and service to others =Christianity , but was eventually considered a threat to Roman power.  The Romans persecuted the Christians.  Jesus was taken and Crucified by the Roman authorities.  Roman persecution of the Christians finally ended in A.D  with Emperor Constantine, who passed the Edict of Milan = granted freedom of worship to all citizens of the Roman Empire.  Jesus traveled teaching the need for justice, morality and service to others =Christianity , but was eventually considered a threat to Roman power.  The Romans persecuted the Christians.  Jesus was taken and Crucified by the Roman authorities.  Roman persecution of the Christians finally ended in A.D  with Emperor Constantine, who passed the Edict of Milan = granted freedom of worship to all citizens of the Roman Empire.

Christianity  The Christian community considered all its members equals.  The central point of Christian belief is that God, the Father, entered into human history as the Son, Jesus of Nazareth, and arose as the Holy Spirit.  The apostles added ideas from Plato, the Stoics, and other Greek thinkers to Jesus’ message.  The Christian community considered all its members equals.  The central point of Christian belief is that God, the Father, entered into human history as the Son, Jesus of Nazareth, and arose as the Holy Spirit.  The apostles added ideas from Plato, the Stoics, and other Greek thinkers to Jesus’ message.

Christian Philosophy  God is the Creator of the universe. There is one God, Who is Three Persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. (The Trinity)  Jesus is both fully man and fully God. He was born of the Virgin Mary, Crucified, resurrected from the dead, and ascended to the Father.  God is the Creator of the universe. There is one God, Who is Three Persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. (The Trinity)  Jesus is both fully man and fully God. He was born of the Virgin Mary, Crucified, resurrected from the dead, and ascended to the Father.

Christian Philosophy  Sin and Evil are realities in our existence.  The Holy Bible is made up of the Old and New testament. It includes records of God's revelation, ideas from the Torah, Jesus’ Gospels, Paul’s letters and words of the prophets.  All believers are promised eternal life.  The leader of Christians was Jesus, and he had his 12 apostles.Like Peter and Paul.  Paul was a Jew that heard Jesus’ teachings and decided to follow him and became the most influential apostle to spread Christianity.  This where B.C. and A.D. comes from.  Sin and Evil are realities in our existence.  The Holy Bible is made up of the Old and New testament. It includes records of God's revelation, ideas from the Torah, Jesus’ Gospels, Paul’s letters and words of the prophets.  All believers are promised eternal life.  The leader of Christians was Jesus, and he had his 12 apostles.Like Peter and Paul.  Paul was a Jew that heard Jesus’ teachings and decided to follow him and became the most influential apostle to spread Christianity.  This where B.C. and A.D. comes from.

The Judeo-Christian Tradition YOUR ASSIGNMENT:  Read Page 39 and Summarize the main idea of the Judeo-Christian Tradition. YOUR ASSIGNMENT:  Read Page 39 and Summarize the main idea of the Judeo-Christian Tradition.

Islam  ISLAM is the name given to the religion preached by the prophet Muhammad in the 600s A. D.  The Islamic religion started in the area known as Palestine in the year 600AD.  It has about 850+ million followers, most of them in the region north and east of the Mediterranean Sea=MIDDLE EAST.  By the 1100s in the Middle East, Muslim had grown and Muslim scholars began to translate works of Aristotle and other Greek thinkers.  ISLAM is the name given to the religion preached by the prophet Muhammad in the 600s A. D.  The Islamic religion started in the area known as Palestine in the year 600AD.  It has about 850+ million followers, most of them in the region north and east of the Mediterranean Sea=MIDDLE EAST.  By the 1100s in the Middle East, Muslim had grown and Muslim scholars began to translate works of Aristotle and other Greek thinkers.

Islam  The holy book of Islam is the "Koran."  Muslims believe its words to be those of Allah himself, spoken to Muhammad by the angel Gabriel.  Continuing the revelations found in Jewish and Christian scriptures.  Allah, is the Islamic God.  People who believe these ideas are called Muslims.  The holy book of Islam is the "Koran."  Muslims believe its words to be those of Allah himself, spoken to Muhammad by the angel Gabriel.  Continuing the revelations found in Jewish and Christian scriptures.  Allah, is the Islamic God.  People who believe these ideas are called Muslims.

Islam  Muslims pray five times daily in their mosques (churches).  While praying, they face the holy city of Mecca (in Saudi-Arabia) and sometimes kneel with faces to the ground.  All Muslims are required to make a pilgrimage (trip to a sacred place) to Mecca at least once in their lifetime.  Muslims pray five times daily in their mosques (churches).  While praying, they face the holy city of Mecca (in Saudi-Arabia) and sometimes kneel with faces to the ground.  All Muslims are required to make a pilgrimage (trip to a sacred place) to Mecca at least once in their lifetime.

Islamic Philosophy  Muslims learn that life on earth is a period of testing and preparation for the life to come.  Angels record good and bad deeds.  People should behave themselves and help others, trusting in Allah's justice and mercy for their reward.  Muslims learn that life on earth is a period of testing and preparation for the life to come.  Angels record good and bad deeds.  People should behave themselves and help others, trusting in Allah's justice and mercy for their reward.

Buddhism  Founding person of Buddhism is Guatama, the Buddha  The Dalai Lama is a Buddhist monk who remains the leader of the Tibetans.  Buddhism is a major religion in China, Japan, India, and Tibet.  Founding person of Buddhism is Guatama, the Buddha  The Dalai Lama is a Buddhist monk who remains the leader of the Tibetans.  Buddhism is a major religion in China, Japan, India, and Tibet.

The Major Philosophy of Buddhism  Love: without conditions  Compassion: or feeling at one with the person who is suffering  Sympathetic Joy:Celebrate the happiness of others, and do not resent their good fortune.  Impartiality: Treat everyone equally, and do not use others for personal gain or to win approval.  Love: without conditions  Compassion: or feeling at one with the person who is suffering  Sympathetic Joy:Celebrate the happiness of others, and do not resent their good fortune.  Impartiality: Treat everyone equally, and do not use others for personal gain or to win approval.

The Major Philosophy of Buddhism  Buddhism states that existence is a continuing cycle of death and rebirth called reincarnation.  Each person's position in life is determined by his or her behavior in the previous life. This is known as their "karma" (also a Hindu belief).  Buddhism states that existence is a continuing cycle of death and rebirth called reincarnation.  Each person's position in life is determined by his or her behavior in the previous life. This is known as their "karma" (also a Hindu belief).

Buddhism  Buddhism is the world's oldest universal religion and it is the second fastest growing religion.

Hinduism  HINDUISM is one of the world's oldest religions.  Over 2/3's of the world's Hindus live in India; large numbers reside in Africa also.  Hindus believe in many gods, numbering into the thousands. They recognize one supreme spirit called Brahman ("the Absolute.")  HINDUISM is one of the world's oldest religions.  Over 2/3's of the world's Hindus live in India; large numbers reside in Africa also.  Hindus believe in many gods, numbering into the thousands. They recognize one supreme spirit called Brahman ("the Absolute.")

Hindu Philosophy  Hindus believe in many gods, numbering into the thousands.  They recognize one supreme spirit called Brahman (the Absolute).  The goal of Hindus is to someday join with Brahman.  Until that union takes place, believers are in a continuous process of rebirth called "reincarnation.”  Hindus believe in many gods, numbering into the thousands.  They recognize one supreme spirit called Brahman (the Absolute).  The goal of Hindus is to someday join with Brahman.  Until that union takes place, believers are in a continuous process of rebirth called "reincarnation.”

Hindu Philosophy  At death, the Hindu's deeds (karma) determine what the next life will be.  Followers work to break this cycle--birth, death, re-birth-- (referred to by writers as the "Wheel of Life") and gain release.  The Hindu's soul then merges with Brahman in a condition of spiritual perfection (moksha).  At death, the Hindu's deeds (karma) determine what the next life will be.  Followers work to break this cycle--birth, death, re-birth-- (referred to by writers as the "Wheel of Life") and gain release.  The Hindu's soul then merges with Brahman in a condition of spiritual perfection (moksha).

Hinduism  Hinduism has many sacred books, the oldest being a series called the "Vedas.“  Traditional Hindu society was divided into groups of four classes (or varnas). This was known as the "caste system."  Hinduism has many sacred books, the oldest being a series called the "Vedas.“  Traditional Hindu society was divided into groups of four classes (or varnas). This was known as the "caste system."

***Quiz = 10 points How much have you learned?  Which Religion was the first to believe in one God?  What is the world’s oldest universal religion?  Where is the largest population of Muslims?  Which Religion was the first to believe in one God?  What is the world’s oldest universal religion?  Where is the largest population of Muslims?