What is religion?

What does text mean? Using what you know about texting, try to figure out what “religious text” means. Hint: It has nothing to do with cell phones.

If the Greek prefix mono means “one” and theism means ”the belief in God or gods,” what does the word monotheistic mean?

Who was Abraham? (Not Abraham Lincoln)

List as many religions as you can.

Is there anything you think most religions have in common?

World Religions

Hinduism Many gods and goddesses Birth Life Death Hinduism Started 1500 BCE Many gods and goddesses Reincarnation, the continuous cycle of rebirth Sacred writing is the Vedas (include prayers, hymns, rituals, Hindu philosophy and mystical texts Important gods: Brahma, the god of creation Vishnu, the preserver of the universe Shiva, the destroyer

Buddhism Started 563 BCE Founder was Siddhartha Gautama, a Hindu He became known as Buddha, which means “enlightened one” He taught four noble truths: Life has suffering We suffer because we want power and riches To not suffer, we need to not want power and riches To give up wanting power and riches, we must follow the Eight-Fold Path

Buddhism continued The Eight-Fold Path Right understanding Right thought Right speech Right action Right livelihood Right effort Right mindfulness Right concentration

Judaism Abraham was the father of the Jewish people One God Started around 2000 BCE Abraham was the father of the Jewish people One God God gave Moses the Ten Commandments, laws that tell how Jews should live their lives A traditional belief is that a messiah, or savior will come and lead the Jewish people to defeat their enemies

Christianity People who believe in the teachings of Jesus Christ He was born between 6 and 4 BCE He gathered disciples. Jesus was a Jew He believed in one God Taught that anyone who believed in Him would have eternal life and forgiveness. His disciples recorded his teachings in the gospels which are a part of the New Testament.

Islam Started around 600 CE Based on the teachings of Muhammad He claimed that Allah (God) sent the angel Gabriel to him Gabriel told him he needed to be a messenger for Allah Believes in one God Muhammad’s revelations were collected in a book called Koran, a sacred book that states how people should live their lives.

Buddhism Christianity Hinduism Choose the correct religion to match with the description below: Buddhism Christianity Hinduism Islam Judaism monotheistic; Torah; conservative; orthodox; reform Universe has one divine soul; karma; Brahma; Vishnu; Shiva Four noble truths; nirvana; reincarnation Monotheistic; Bible; Jesus Christ; Catholicism; Protestantism Monotheistic; Allah; Koran; five pillars