Confucianism, Islam, and shinto Other asian RELIGIONS Confucianism, Islam, and shinto

What is Confucianism ? Confucius was born in China in the year 551 B.C.E. It was a time of Warlords and warring states. Confucius had a great desire to study and was probably the most Learned man in his lifetime. He was the first Private Teacher in China. Confucius believed he knew how to bring peace to ancient China. He stressed the need for responsibility and moral character. He created a structure for Social life and Politics that every person should follow. Confucianism is not really a religion, but a philosophy or code of ethics

BASIC BELIEFS Confucius believed there were Five basic relationship among men: Ruler/Subject, Father/Son, Husband/Wife, Older Brother and Younger Brother, and Friend to Friend. If each relationship were based on kindness, there would be peace and harmony in the country. Children are taught to respect and listen to their parents and other elders. Confucianism became popular 100 years after Confucius lived, and the Government officially adopted it as their guiding practice in 121 B.C.E. “Do not do unto others what you would not want them to do to you…” Sounds almost Judeo-Christian….doesn’t it ???

ETHICS TELL HOW PEOPLE SHOULD TREAT ONE ANOTHER! CONFUCIUS - TRUE OR FALSE True False 1. He was a very rich man T F 2. He was born in India T F 3. He wanted to make the world a better place T F 4. He was a Teacher T F 5. He was a Buddhist Monk T F 6. He believed in Reincarnation T F 7. Peace and Order were important T F

Temples and other Confucian architecture

ISLAM IN ASIA Nine out of Ten people in the islands of Indonesia are Muslim. This means 90% of Indonesians follow Islam. Muslims follow the teachings of the Prophet Muhammed. Unlike other Asian religions, Islam believes in one God (Allah), which means it is a Monotheistic religion. Muslims pray 5 times per day facing Mecca in Saudi Arabia. The holy book of Islam is the Qur’an (Koran).

PRAYER DURING RAMADAN IN JAKARTA, INDONESIA

SHINTOISM – Religion of japan Shinto is the earliest religion in Japan. Shinto means “Way of the Gods” It is unique to Japan and has not spread to other parts of the world It was once the state religion, and is still widely honored Shinto centers on the reverence of the Kami (divine spirits), many Japanese believe that the mountains, and rivers are home to the Kami and are considered sacred (holy).

SHINTO – CONTINUED… Shintoists offer prayers and perform rituals to honor and please the Kami. Japanese housholds have a small altar where the family will offer payers for the spirits they hope will bless and protect them. Many worship their ancestors who they believe become Kami after death. Shinto stresses cleanliness as a virtue and teaches physical purity. Since Shinto offers no ideas of a moral code, a god, or life after death, many people combine it with the practice of another religion (Buddhism).

TORRI Gates separate the human world from the world of the kami… on Land or Sea

DIFFERENCES Between Islam and other Religions HINDUISM BUDDHISM SHINTOISM CONFUCIAN-ISM TYPE OF RELIGION Monotheistic Many Images Atheistic HOLY BOOK Qur’an None NAME FOR GOD Allah COUNTRY OF ORIGIN FOUNDER Unknown BELIEFS 5 Pillars of Faith Reincarnation Kami Torii Gates