Religious Groups of Southern and Eastern Asia Hinduism Buddhism Part 3 Shinto Confucianism Islam  

Quick Review of Islam Give me a “thumbs up” if the word you see on the screen is a characteristic of Islam. Give me a “thumbs down” if the word you see on the screen is not a characteristic of Islam.

Yahweh

Muslim

Rabbi

Friday

Holy Bible

Synagogue

Qur'an

Abraham

Christians

Caliph

Jews

Mosque

Mecca

Religion Members by Percentage Worldwide Christianity 2.1 billion 33.0% Islam 1.5 billion 22% Hinduism 900 million 14% Buddhism 376 million 6% Sikhism 23 million 0.36% Judaism 14 million 0.22% Bahaism 7 million 0.1% Confucianism 6.3 million 0.1% Jainism 4.2 million 0.1% Shintoism 4 million 0.1% NOTES: As of 2005

To get us started… 4 minute video on Hinduism

“The Way of the Gods.”

Shintoism   Shinto is a religion that is unique to Japan. It has not spread to other parts of the world like Hinduism, Buddhism, and Islam.  

Shintoism Shinto is based on the traditional Japanese teaching that everything in nature contains Kami or the spirit of a god. Shinto has no rules for moral living and no concepts of a single ruling God.

AGE of RELIGION Believed to be 1000-2000 years old Developed in Japan

Holy People No known founder

SACRED TEXT: Kojiki (Record of Ancient Matters)

Sacred Text: Rikkokushi (Six National Histories)

Shinto can be compared to traditional religions of Africa MONO or POLY? POLYTHEISTIC Shinto can be compared to traditional religions of Africa Ancestor worship Animal worship Nature worship

BELIEFS: KAMI: Kami are spirits worshipped by followers These spirits are found in everything—every squirrel, every rock, every living and non-living thing.

Shinto The basic ideas of Shinto include:   Expected to be reverent (respect) to nature, life, birth, and fertility. Physical purity is more important than moral purity.

Many Shinto build shrines and worship their ancestors who they believe became kami when they die. Since Shinto offers no ideas of a moral code or one God, many people who practice Shinto also practice another religion such as Buddhism.  

Kami Main and most worshipped is the sun goddess AMATERASU.

HOLY PLACES: Ise Shrine All SHINTO SHRINES are considered sacred places. Every town or city has a shrine dedicated to the local KAMI Every home has a shrine where believers worship everyday Ise Shrine

Torii Gates Symbolic gateway marking the entrance to a Shintō shrine. The boundary between the sacred space of the shrine and ordinary space. Usually two vertical posts topped by two beams and painted bright red.

Torri Gates

Quick Check… Thumbs Up or Down? Shinto is commonly practiced all over the world like Islam.

Quick Check Thumbs Up or Down? Shinto believes in Kami spirits in nature.

Quick Check… Thumbs Up or Down? Torii are the spirits that are in trees.

Quick Check… Thumbs Up or Down? Shinto is like Hinduism and Buddhism in the belief of reincarnation.

Speak the truth, do not yield to anger; give, if thou art asked for little; by these three steps thou wilt go near the gods. --Confucius CONFUCIANISM

CHINA AGE of PHILOSOPHY Where did it begin? This philosophy was developed 2500 years ago 2500 years old (500 years older than Christianity) Where did it begin? CHINA

Philosophy of Confucianism Not a religion, but a philosophy Religion: a set of beliefs concerning the cause, nature, and purpose of the universe, especially when considered as the creation of a superhuman agency or agencies, usually involving devotional and ritual observances, and often containing a moral code governing the conduct of human affairs. Philosophy: the rational investigation of the truths and principles of being, knowledge, or conduct.

Thought to be the foundation of modern Chinese culture Thought to be the foundation of modern Chinese culture. Like Buddhism and Islam, the ideas of Confucianism come from one man, Confucius, who believed he knew how to bring peace to ancient China.  

Confucius created a moral structure for social life and politics that every person should follow. Like Shintoism, Confucianism is based on tradition and does not teach about one ruling god.

Countries where Confucianism is a major Philosophy: China and Vietnam

FOUNDER Chinese philosopher named K'ung Fu-tzu or CONFUCIUS

MONO or POLY? Neither Confucianism is not a religion; it is a philosophy about how to live your life

Be loyal and show courtesy to others at all times! BELIEFS Golden Rule: "Do not do unto others what you would not want others to do unto you". Be loyal and show courtesy to others at all times!

What is the key to social order and peace? BELIEFS: What is the key to social order and peace? Key to social order & peace = good character and virtue in people

The Basic Ideas of Confucianism Each person has a place in society and they must accept their positions so that society can function well.

SACRED TEXT: The Analects: the teachings of Confucius --“Forget injuries, never forget kindnesses.” --“When anger rises, think of the consequences.” --“Wherever you go, go with all your heart.” --“The superior man is modest in his speech, but exceeds in his actions.”

HOLY PLACES: There are many temples where the memory and teachings of Confucius are remembered and celebrated.

Quick Check… Thumbs Up or Down? Confucianism is a religion with a moral code or “Golden Rule.”

Quick Check… Thumbs Up or Down? Confucianism is older than Shinto, but younger than Christianity.

Quick Check… Thumbs Up or Down? Confucianism believes in the god Confucius to tell people what to do.

Quick Check… Thumbs Up or Down? Confucianism gave structure and guidance to the Chinese to help form government and social rules.

Now you tell me what you have learned. Draw a Venn Diagram to compare and contrast Shintoism and Confucianism. Make sure you have at least four similarities and four differences. Write a short essay comparing and contrasting these two religions. You should have an introduction, a conclusion, and a paragraph for comparisons and one for contrasts.