Five Major World Religions Christianity 2 Billion 31% Christian Islam 1.6 Billion 23% Muslim Hinduism 1 Billion 15% Hindu Buddhism 376 million 7.1% Buddhist Judaism 14 million 0.2% Jewish

Nontheistic-not having or involving a belief in a god or gods. World Religions Notes Nontheistic-not having or involving a belief in a god or gods. The claim of Non-theism is true in the sense that there is no God in Buddhism who is a Creator, Judge, or Deity-in-Charge. Ex. Buddhism

World Religions Notes Monotheism: Belief in one god. Christianity Islam Judaism

World Religions Notes Polytheism: Belief in multiple gods Hinduism

Judaism Written in Hebrew HOLY BOOKS Torah: Old Testament (first 5 books) of the Bible. Hand written on scrolls. Talmud: The Ten Commandments

I. Basis of Belief Oldest Monothestic religion in the world. Started by Abraham (yes, the same one from Christian religion). God spoke to Abraham and told him to start a new land and that he and his descendants would be blessed and prosper. God= Yaweh

Rabbi Rabbi Temple/Synagogue

II. Holy Sites/Places Jerusalem, Israel Western Wall aka Wailing Wall Part of the wall that is left from the Temple Mount (the first Jewish synagogue)

Western Wall/Wailing Wall

Day of Worship and Holy Days IV. Holy Days/traditions Rosh Hashanah: Jewish New Year Yom Kippur: Day of Atonement (forgiveness) Passover: Celebrating the freedom/exit of the Israelites (Jewish slaves) from Egypt, lasts 8 days, Christians also celebrate this Chanukah/Hanukah: 8 days, celebrating the defeat over the Syrians Bar/Bat Mitzvah: Coming of age ceremony 13 yr. old boys/12 yr. old girls V. Day of worship: Shabbat (means Sabbath) sundown on Friday to sundown on Saturday

VI. Jewish Sects Orthodox: traditional Hasidic: most traditional sect Conservative: a sect that looks to “conserve” (save) traditions/belief. opposite of Reform sect Reform: faith is based on the idea the beliefs are a guideline which you should live your life by rather than a strict set of rules. More modern

Jewish Sects…. Which sect is it??

Christianity Bible I. Basis of belief Monotheistic We are created good but are born into sin God sent Jesus, his son, to save people from their sins Belief in heaven and hell- an afterlife. Ten Commandments-especially the Golden Rule (treat others as you would want to be treated) Bible

II. Holy Sites/Places Priest Church Vatican City Important to Roman Catholics Has political voice in the world Jerusalem, Israel Church of the Holy Sepulchre Built where Jesus’s tomb is believed to have been Holds a boulder/stone where Jesus was washed after being crucified Church

Church of the Holy Sepulchre, built on the spot Christians believe Jesus came back from the dead.

III. Holy Book/Teachings Christianity III. Holy Book/Teachings The Bible Old Testament Before Jesus Christ New Testament Jesus Christ’s teachings Bible

IV. Holy Days/Traditions V. Day of Worship Christmas birth of Jesus Christ Easter marks the day of resurrection of Jesus Christ Celebration of the Last Supper mass/services/sacrament V. Day of worship: Sunday

VI. Christian Sects Catholics Roman Catholic, Greek Orthodox, Eastern Orthodox Protestant (PROTEST against Catholic church): Methodist, Lutheran, Baptist, LDS/Mormon, Greek Orthodox, Russian Orthodox Non Denominational refers to those churches that have not formally aligned themselves with an established church/sect.

Islam I. Basis of Beliefs Definition: to surrender or submission in peace to God Followers: Muslims Word for God: Allah Prophet (messenger): Muhammad

Basis of Belief 5 Pillars of Islam Worship only Allah, Muhammad is a prophet of Allah Prayer- must pray 5 times per day (sunrise, noon, dusk, sunset, night), must be done facing Mecca Charity-rich give to poor, all will give to Allah Ramadan- fast during daylight hours for one month (9th month on Islamic calendar) Hajj: males should make a pilgrimage to Mecca at least once in their lifetime.

Iman Mosque

II. Holy Sites/Places Mecca: birthplace of Muhammad, destination of Hajj (done to celebrate Muhammad’s travel) Medina: where Muhammad lived his young adult life (Saudi Arabia) Dome of the Rock: believed by Muslims to be where Muhammad ascended to heaven (Jerusalem) Al-Aqsa Mosque: Mosque near Dome of the Rock Kaaba: first mosque, located in Mecca, holds a stone that is believed to be a piece of the altar that Abraham was going to sacrifice his son on

Dome of the Rock Believed to be the site where Muhammad ascended to heaven to be with Allah

IV. Holy Book/Teachings Koran/Qu’ran The teachings of Muhammad His Communications with Allah (God) Most holy book May not be translated from Arabic The Bible, specifically the Old Testament V. Day of Worship Sunday

Al-Masjid al-Haram mosque IV. Holy days/traditions Ramadan Month long fasting. Purpose: teach discipline and sacrifice Al-Masjid al-Haram mosque Kaaba

Dome of the Rock and the Western/Wailing Wall

Islamic Sects Shi’ites (aka Shia) Believe that the only true descendent leaders of Islam are family members of Muhammad. They do not recognize the first 3 caliphs (leaders) after Muhammad’s death. They believe that they are inferior because they were not a relative of Muhammad. They acknowledge the fourth caliph because he was related to Muhammad. Sunni Believe that Muhammad chose his successor- who was not a family member.