HINDUISM, BUDDHISM, CONFUCIANISM Eastern religions HINDUISM, BUDDHISM, CONFUCIANISM

5 WORLD RELIGIONS JUDAISM c. 2500 BC CHRISTIANITY c. 30 AD Mesopotamia JUDAISM c. 2500 BC INDIA HINDUISM c. 2500 BC INDIA BUDDHISM c. 530 BC CHINA CONFUCIANISM c. 400 BC EUROPE CHRISTIANITY c. 30 AD Saudi Arabia ISLAM c. 610 AD As we know…it is really Judaism that is the ‘FATHER” of all the Western religions! They started this idea of talking about right and wrong, justice and crime, and equality under God with ALL MEN! Christianity carried on those ideas. Islam picked them up and established them in the Arab world 2000 -3000 years after God started speaking to Abraham about them and 600 years after Jesus tried making them (ideas of morality and righteousness) clearer for the modern world.

What is Religion? the belief in and worship of a superhuman controlling power, especially a personal God or gods.

HINDUISM

Hinduism: background Hinduism represents a diverse group of BELIEFS, practices, and texts that have developed over THOUSANDS of years. Many Hindus claim that their religion has been practices LONGER than any other religion of the world Hinduism is the major religion of INDIA - It has about 900 million followers - Most Hindus live in INDIA It has no single FOUNDER or single sacred text

Beliefs & practices The most important gods are: - BRAHMA, the Creator Hindus worship a variety of gods that give form to the brahman, or all-powerful spiritual force The most important gods are: - BRAHMA, the Creator - VISHNU, the Preserver - SHIVA, the Destroyer

brahma

Vishnu shiva

Beliefs & practices continued Although Hinduism has no single BOOK that is the source of its doctrines, it has many sacred writings that have contributed to its beliefs and practices - Hindu teachings were recorded in the sacred texts of the VEDAS Hinduism teaches that the soul is REBORN - This continuous process of rebirth is called REINCARNATION - The law of KARMA states that every action influences how the should will be born in the next reincarnation - if the person lives a GOOD life, the soul will be born into a HIGHER state, perhaps into the body of the Brahman - if a person leads an EVIL life, the soul will be born into a LOWER state, perhaps as a WORM

“being reborn” CONTINUED… a person’s reincarnation continues until he or she achieves spiritual PERFECTION The soul then escapes the process of rebirth and enters a new level of existence called MOKSHU, a union with Brahman

Intro to India https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w9l9izo7cds

The Caste system of India

Egypt Example

Egypt Example

BUDDHISM

Buddhism: Background Founded in India about 500 B.C. by a teacher called the BUDDHA Buddhism has been a dominant religious, CULTURAL, and social force in most of Asia Today, Buddhism has about 350 million followers - Most live in TIBET and other regions of China, and in Japan, the Korean Peninsula, Sri Lanka, and Southeast Asia.

THE BUDDHA Buddha is a title given to a person believed to have TRANCENDED the cycle of REBIRTH known as samsara and attained NIRVANA (enlightenment) The first Buddha and founder of Buddhism was SIDDHARTHA GAUTAMA, born in the 500s or 400s B.C. In NEPAL, INDIA As a young man, Gautama decided to leave his family and palace life to seek spiritual LIBERATION or enlightenment He became an ASCETIC, a person who denies himself worldly comforts and pleasures He traveled throughout northeastern India for 6 years - During his travels he experienced nirvana and discovered the FOUR Noble Truths

Beliefs & Practices The Four Noble Truths

The Four Noble truths 1. Life is full of suffering, PAIN, and sorrow 2. The cause of suffering is NON-VIRTUE - or negative deeds 3. The only cure for suffering is to OVERCOME non-virtue 4. The way to overcome non-virtue is to follow the Noble EIGHTFOLD PATH

BELIEFS & PRACTICES CONTINUED Eventually, Gautama decided to teach his message - His followers called him the Buddha, which means the “ENLIGHTENED one” - For the rest of his life, the Buddha preached the message of how to overcome suffering which is called the DHARMA Another key belief is the Eightfold Path - It focuses on the right VIEWS, right aspirations, right SPEECH, right CONDUCT, right livelihood, right mindfulness, and the right contemplation - This was the path to end a life of SUFFERING

Eightfold path

BELIEFS & PRACTICES CON’T… It was believed that if a person led a MORAL life he could achieve enlightenment through MEDITATION For a Buddhist, the final goal is NIRVANA –union with the UNIVERSE and RELEASE from the cycle of REBIRTH After the Buddha’s death, his followers collected his teachings in a set of texts called the TRIPITAKA

John green – Buddhism https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Nn5uqE3C9w

Confucianism

background Confucianism is a philosophy based on the ideas of the Chinese philosopher CONFUCIUS It originated about 500 B.C. From the 100s B.C. to the A.D. 1900s, it was the most important single force in Chinese life It influenced Chinese EDUCATION, GOVERNMENT, personal behavior, and the individual's duty to society

All world religions concerned themselves with ethics, government, and rules… and as a result, they HAVE stayed around!

Background continued… Many people consider Confucianism a religion However, Confucianism has no CLERGY and does not teach the worship of a God or gods or the existence of a life after death It is more accurate to consider Confucianism as a guide to MORALITY and good GOVERNMENT

Beliefs and practices Confucius lived at a time when China was DIVIDED He believed that his society could be saved if it emphasized SINCERITY in personal and PUBLIC conduct He was a brilliant scholar and his goal was to become an ADVISOR to one of China’s rulers

Beliefs and practices continued… Confucius believed everyone had responsibilities The most important was FILIAL PIETY or respect for one’s parents He also taught that a ruler was responsible for providing a good GOVERNMENT for its people VIRTUOUS behavior by rulers, he declared, had a greater effect in governing than did laws and codes of punishment

Beliefs and practices con’t… When Confucius died he was largely UNKNOWN His FOLLOWERS spread his ideas Later Chinese empires would look to Confucianism's emphasis on public SERVICE and respect for authority

Overview of Confucian & his ideas Watch this video (about 5 minutes): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tUhGRh4vdb8