Warm-Up What religion does your family practice? What do you believe about the nature of God/Gods/Higher Power of Your Choice? What do you believe happens to a person after death? -OR- If you are politically active, tell me about your political beliefs. What party do you support, and why? Why are religion and politics difficult to discuss? How do you feel about controversial issues, like abortion, gun control, gay marriage, the economy, our place in the Middle East, et cetera? Why?

Introduction to World Religions and Beliefs

Major World Religions

Judaism Who – Abraham, Moses When – circa 3000 BC Where – Israel Holy Books - Torah, and Talmud Major Divisions – Orthodox, Conservative, Reform Holy Symbol(s) – • tzitzit (fringe on shawl or clothing) and tefillin are reminders of the commandments • The menorah(candelabrum) is the ancient universal symbol of Judaism • The Jewish star is a modern universal Jewish symbol • skullcap (yarmulke) Basic Beliefs Monotheistic – one God Jews are the chosen people of God, must follow his laws. Jerusalem/Israel are holy lands. Judaism

Christianity Who – Jesus of Nazareth When – circa 30AD Where – Israel Holy Books – Old and New Testaments Major Divisions – Catholic, Protestant, Orthodox Holy Symbol(s) – The cross Basic Beliefs Jesus Christ is the son of God Death and resurrection Came to redeem mankind from sin. Christianity

Islam Who – Mohammed When – circa 620AD Where – Arabian Peninsula Holy Books – Quran (Koran) and the Hadiths (traditions) Major Divisions – Sunni, Shia Holy Symbol(s) - The Star and Crescent The star and crescent is the best-known symbol used to represent Islam. It features prominently on the Featured on flags of Turkey and Pakistan. The symbolized was popularized during the Ottoman Empire (1299-1922) Basic Beliefs There is no god but Allah, and Muhammad is the messenger of God Quran is word of God. Muslims must perform the “Five Pillars of Faith”.

The Five Pillars of Islam - the five obligations that every Muslim must satisfy in order to live a good and responsible life according to Islam. Shahadah: sincerely reciting the Muslim profession of faith Salat: performing ritual prayers in the proper way five times each day Zakat: paying an alms (or charity) tax to benefit the poor and the needy Sawm: fasting during the month of Ramadan Hajj: pilgrimage to Mecca

Hinduism Holy Sound (symbol) Who – Ancient priests of India When – 5000 –3000 BCE Where – India Holy Books – Vedas, Bhagavad-Gita Major Divisions – Numerous schools and traditions Basic Beliefs Polytheistic Reincarnation and Karma – cause and effect Ultimate goal – oneness with “Brahman” (God, Reality) Om (also spelled Aum) is a Hindu sacred sound that is considered the greatest of all mantras. The syllable Om is composed of the three sounds a-u-m (in Sanskrit, the vowels a and u combine to become o) and the symbol's threefold nature is central to its meaning. the three worlds - earth, atmosphere, and heaven the three major Hindu gods - Brahma, Vishnu, and Siva the three sacred Vedic scriptures - Rg, Yajur, and Sama Om mystically embodies the essence of the entire universe. This meaning is further deepened by the Indian philosophical belief that God first created sound and the universe arose from it. As the most sacred sound, Om is the root of the universe and everything that exists and it continues to hold everything together.

Reincarnation and Karma: Excerpts from Groundhog Day starring Bill Murray: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9hq5jZrFTbE&list=RD02eZbtAFq7dP8

Buddhism Who – Siddhartha Gautama (Buddha) When – 500 BC Where – Northern India Holy Books - Tripitaka Major Divisions – Mahayana, Theravada Holy Symbols - Basic Beliefs Life is suffering, caused by wanting things, caused by ignorance. Reincarnation and karma “8-fold Path” allows escape to Nirvana Circle of Zen Wheel of Dharma

Other Religions Baha‘i: a religion founded in Iran in 1863 by Husayn عAlī (called Bahaullah) teaching the essential worth of all religions, the unity of all races, and the equality of the sexes. Confucianism: the system of ethics, education, and statesmanship taught by Confucius, a Chinese philosopher and his disciples, stressing love for humanity, ancestor worship, reverence for parents, and harmony in thought and conduct. Jainism: a dualistic religion founded in the 6th century b.c. as a revolt against current Hinduism and emphasizing the perfectibility of human nature and liberation of the soul, esp. through asceticism and nonviolence toward all living creatures. In Jainism, nirvana means final release from the karmic bondage. Shinto: the native religion of Japan, primarily a system of nature and ancestor worship.

Other Religions (cont.) Sikhism: a monotheistic religion, founded in the Punjab c1500 by the guru Nanak, that refuses to recognize the Hindu caste system or the Brahmanical priesthood and forbids magic, idolatry, and pilgrimages. Taoism: the philosophical system evolved by Lao-tzu and Chuang-tzu, advocating a life of complete simplicity and naturalness and of noninterference with the course of natural events, in order to attain a happy existence in harmony with the Tao. Zoroastrianism: an Iranian religion, founded c600b.c.by Zoroaster, the principal beliefs of which are in the existence of a supreme deity, Ahura Mazda, and in a cosmic struggle between a spirit of good, Spenta Mainyu, and a spirit of evil, Angra Mainyu. Pre-Islam