Review

 The oldest known type of belief system  Still practiced in some societies  Practice nature worship  Everything in nature has a spirit  Believe ancestors watch over the living from the spirit world  Ancestor Worship: communicating with and showing respect to ancestors

 FOUNDER: no one person  GEOGRAPHIC ORIGIN: developed simultaneously in different parts of the world  CURRENTLY PRACTICED:  Africa/Americas  PLACES OF WORSHIP: outdoors in nature

 “Way of the Gods”  Religion that focuses on nature  Similar to animism  Teaches that there is sacredness of the whole universe and humans can be in tune with it  Mountains, rivers, plants, animals have spirits called “kami” that inhabit them  Also practice ancestor worship

 ESTABLISHED: 500 BCE  FOUNDER: Mixture of tribal religions  GEOGRAPHIC ORIGIN: Japan  CURRENTLY PRACTICED: Japan  PLACES OF WORSHIP: Shrines located near places of impressive natural beauty  SIGNIFICANT PEOPLE: Emperor of Japan- direct descendent of the sun goddess who created the islands of Japan

 Polytheistic  Formed from a variety of different religious practices  Salvation is achieved through the spiritual oneness of the soul  Soul must achieve liberation from the endless cycle of birth, death, and rebirth  All life is sacred and should not be harmed

 Reincarnation: process by which a soul is reborn continuously until it achieves perfect understanding  Influenced by Karma and Dharma  Karma: actions resulting in consequences of previous actions  Dharma: Fulfilling one’s duty in life

 Caste System: rigid class structure with religious justification  If one leads a good life through good Karma and Dharma, they are rewarded by being reincarnated as a person in the next highest level.  If one leads a wicked life, they can be demoted or overall removed and therefore “untouchable” with no hopes of return.

 FOUNDER: result of cultural diffusion between Aryan invaders and native people of India (about 1500 BCE)  GEOGRAPHIC ORIGIN: Indian subcontinent  PLACES OF WORSHIP: Hindu temples, usually practiced at home with a shrine dedicated to a favorite deity  SIGNIFICANT PEOPLE: Hindu priests

 Oldest known monotheistic religion that it still practiced today  Fundamentals have influenced Christianity and Islam  One god is the creator of all things  After Hebrew exodus from Egypt, Jews begin to lose faith  Moses goes atop Mt. Sinai and retrieves two tablets containing laws that all should follow

 1. You shall have no other gods before Me.  2. You shall not make yourself any graven image  3. You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain  4. Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy  5. Honor your father and mother  6. You shall not commit murder  7. You shall not commit adultery  8. You shall not steal  9. You shall not witness falsely against your neighbor  10. You shall not covet thy neighbor’s house…

 FOUNDER: Abraham and Moses for his role in liberating the Hebrews  GEOGRAPHIC ORIGIN: Middle East around present-day Israel  CURRENTLY PRACTICED: Worldwide  PLACES OF WORSHIP: Synagogues  SIGNIFICANT PEOPLE: Rabbis are Jewish scholars who conduct religious services, serve as spiritual guide

 Developed in India, some components of Hinduism  Siddhartha Gautama- born into Brahmin class but doesn’t like the misery he sees  Says desire is the root of all suffering  Also believe in reincarnation- no caste system

 FOUNDER: Siddhartha Gautama or Buddha, “enlightened one”  GEOGRAPHIC ORIGIN: India  CURRENTLY PRACTICED: Southeast Asia, Japan  PLACES OF WORSHIP: Individually or temples and monasteries  SIGNIFICANT PEOPLE: Buddhist monks

 1. Life is full of pain and suffering  2. Human desire causes this suffering  3. By putting an end to desire, humans can put an end to suffering  4. Humans can end desire by following the Eightfold Path

 1. Know that suffering is caused by desire  2. Be selfless and love all life  3. Do not lie, or speak without cause  4. Do not steal, kill, or commit other unrighteous acts  5. Do not things that promote evil  6. Take effort to promote righteousness  7. Be aware of your actions, physical state of mind, and emotions  8. Learn to meditate

 Confucius lived in China during the Chou dynasty a time of mass confusion and disorder  He is appalled by what he sees in a fractured Chinese society  Only cure is through social order and mutual respect  Philosophy becomes known as Confucianism

 FOUNDER: Kong Fu Zi (Confucius)  GEOGRAPHIC ORIGIN: China 500 BCE  CURRENTLY PRACTICED: elements of the philosophy are practiced in Southeast Asia  Natural order to a society through five relationships:

 Ruler to ruled  Father to son  Older brother to younger brother  Husband to wife  Friend to friend  If everyone knows their place in society, order will prevail  Filial Piety?

 One should respect their elders

 Chinese philosophy developed later in Chou Dynasty during a time when it is unclear is Chinese civilization will survive  Naturalistic ideal of how one should live  Tao- “the way”  People should accept the way of nature  Emphasis placed on link between people and nature  This link lessens the need for rule and order and better understanding of the world

 FOUNDER: Lao Tze  GEOGRAPHIC ORIGIN: China  CURRENTLY PRACTICED: elements of the philosophy are still practiced in Southeast Asia

YIN Light Male Heavenly Active YANG Dark Female Earthly Passive Everything has an opposing force.

 Currently most popular based on number of worshippers  Monotheistic  Developed from Judaism  Also subscribe to the Ten Commandments  Believe Jesus is the Son of God sent to redeem the world of sin  Taught brotherhood, peace and charity, and importance of treating others with love and respect

 FOUNDER: Jesus and disciples  GEOGRAPHIC ORIGIN: Middle East, present day Israel in 30CE  PLACES OF WORSHIP: churches  SIGNIFICANT PEOPLE: priests and ministers are Christian holy men and women who conduct religious services and are spiritual guides for their community.

 “to submit to the will of Allah”  Youngest of the major religions  Monotheistic  Muslims  Currently second most practiced religion in the world, though might overtake Christianity in the 21 st century

 Prophet Mohammed  Received word of Allah through the angel Gabriel while in Mecca  People in Mecca are afraid of him and he flees to Medina where people believe him  Mohammed and followers later return to Mecca and start a jihad. Capture the city  Established Five Pillars of Islam

 1. Confession of Faith- “There is no god but Allah and Mohammed is his prophet”  2. Prayer: Muslims must pray five times a day facing Mecca  3. Charity- Muslims must give alms to the poor  4. Fasting- during Ramadan, the ninth month of the Muslim calendar. Fast during daylight hours  5. Pilgrimage- if possible financially, each Muslim must take a hajj or holy pilgrimage to Mecca