WORLD RELIGIONS World Religions

Baha’i Faith Buddhism Christianity Confucianism Islam Judaism Shinto Hinduism Wicca Taoism

Catholicism Protestantism Eastern Orthodoxy Oriental Orthodoxy Anglicanism Nontrinitarianism Nestorianism Christianity 2,100,000,000 members

Christianity

Represents the crucifixion of Jesus Christ Symbol - Cross

Christianity General Beliefs Christians believe that there is only one God Triune God – Father, Son, Holy Spirit Jesus, son of God, was crucified for the sins of man. Jesus will return again one day to judge all people Life after death in Heaven or Hell Holy text is the Bible

Christianity God Jesus Holy Bible

The Catholic religion has been around since the time of Christ. Leader of the church is called the Pope. More emphasis on Mary, mother of Jesus, than Protestants Christianity Catholicism St. Peter’s Basilica Vatican City

Christianity Catholicism St. Peter, disciple of Jesus, is considered the first Pope. He was crucified upside- down. Pope Benedict XVI is the current Pope.

Christianity Protestantism vs. Catholicism CatholicProtestant Includes apocrypha Excludes apocrypha PurgatoryNo Purgatory Prayer to saintsNo prayer to saints Mary – key roleMary – mother of Jesus Mary, mother of Jesus

Protestant religions formed when people protested the actions of the Catholic Church. Began in 1517 with Martin Luther Angry with Catholic church selling indulgences (forgiveness of sins) Christianity Protestantism Martin Luther

Baptist Lutheran Methodist Reformed (Calvinism, Presbyterian, Congregational) Anabatism (Amish & Mennonites) Pentacostal Non-Denominational African initiated Seventh-day Adventist Christianity Denominations

Orthodox Reform Unaffiliated and Secular Conservative Reconstructionist Judaism 14,000,000 members

Judaism

Judaism Symbols Star of DavidMenorah

Judaism General Beliefs Oldest faith among the major religions Same God as Christians Believe God’s will for humans was revealed to Moses when he was given the 10 commandments Do not believe Jesus was the Son of God Holy text is the Torah Followers called Jews

Judaism Moses and the Ten Commandments Torah

Judaism Other Facts A Jewish church is called a Synagogue Jewish ceremonies are often performed in Yiddish, or Hebrew. A Jewish leader is called a Rabbi Do not believe Jesus was the Messiah Holy text is the Torah, comprised mainly of Old Testament Followers are called Jews

Sunni Shiite Ahmadiyya Druze Islam 1,500,000,000 members

Islam

ISLAM Islam Symbol Star and Crescent

ISLAM Islam General Beliefs Founded in the 7 th century by Muhammad Believe in one God God is not triune, Jesus is not God’s son Call their God Allah Allah, written in simple Arabic calligraphy

ISLAM Islam General Beliefs Holy text is the Quran Believe in angles, including Gabriel, who brought the Quran to Mohammad Believe Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, and Jesus were prophets, but Muhammad was the final prophet Prophet Mohammad

ISLAM Islam General Beliefs Followers of Islam are called Muslims Muslims worship in temples called mosques Muslim priests are called imams

ISLAM Islam Shiites & Sunnis When Mohammad died, his preference to follow him was Ali, the husband of his daughter. While the family was busy burying the Mohammad, the leaders of Medina elected the aging Abu Bakr, the father of the Prophet's favorite wife, as the successor. The Sunni follow Abu The Shiites follow Ali

Islam SunniShiite

ISLAM Islam While some Muslims have engaged in acts of terror in the name of their God, the majority of Muslims are NOT terrorists.

Vaishnavites Shaivites Neo-Hindus & Reform Hindus Veerashaivas Hinduism 900,000,000 members

Hinduism

Symbol Om or Aum It represent several important triads: 1.The three worlds - earth, atmosphere, and heaven 2.The three major Hindu gods - Brahma, Vishnu, and Siva

Hinduism General Beliefs Three-in-one God known as Brahman Brahma (the creator) Vishnu (the preserver) Shiva (the destroyer)

Hinduism General Beliefs Caste System

Hinduism General Beliefs Karma. The law that good begets good, and bad begets bad. Every action, thought, or decision one makes has consequences – good or bad – that will return to each person in the present life, or in one yet to come. Reincarnation. This is a journey on the “circle of life,” where each person experiences a series of physical births, deaths, and rebirths. With good karma, a person can be reborn into a higher caste, or even to godhood. Bad karma can relegate one to a lower caste, or even to life as an animal in their next life.

Hinduism General Beliefs Nirvana. This is the goal of the Hindu. Nirvana is the release of the soul from the seemingly endless cycle of rebirths. Part of Brahman within you, called the atman. Similar to the idea of a soul in Christianity Many sacred texts including the Vedas and the Bhagavad Gita

Theravada Mahayana Lamaism Buddhism 376,000,000 members

Buddhism

BUDDHISM The most different of the five major religions is Buddhism. It is more a lifestyle that focuses on ending desire, thus ending suffering. 376 million

BUDDHISM Buddhists don’t really worship a god - they believe god is everywhere, and that when we end desire we are at peace with ourselves and nature.

BUDDHISM Many people believe that Buddhists worship statues of Buddha, like the one at right. Not so.

BUDDHISM Buddhist priests are called lamas or monks. The Buddhist scriptures are called the Tripatakas, or three baskets.

BUDDHISM One thing Buddhists and Hindus have in common is the belief in reincarnation. They believe you come back in a different form based on your actions in this life.

BUDDHISM Most Buddhists live in Asian countries such as China.

HINDUISM Brahma is the senior God, and creator of the universe.

What god does each religion believe in?

What is the scripture for each religion?

Match the religion with its place of worship Synagogue Church Cathedral Mosque Temple Muslim Protestant Jewish Catholic Buddhist & Hindu

Match the term to the religion Priest, Bishop Monk, lama Imam Rabbi Minister, Reverend Guru Judaism Buddhism Protestant Hindu Catholic Muslim

Match the geographic location to the religion Middle East Israel, Europe, U.S. N. & S. America, Europe Asia India U.S., Australia Protestant Muslim Jewish Hindu Catholic Buddhist

What is the BIG difference between Christians and Jews and Muslims? HINT: J.C.

How was each religion created? JudaismAbraham CatholicismJesus’ teachings Hinduismunsure ProtestantProtesting Catholicism BuddhistBuddha IslamMohammed

How does each religion view the afterlife? Which religions believe in reincarnation?