1. CHAPTEr 5: RELIGION IN ASIA

2. What is Religion?
Religion refers to the act of acknowledging that God has absolute power that influences the lives of humans (Beazley, 1982).
All religions originated from Asia.
Islam, Christianity, and Judaism originated from West Asia. Buddhism, Jainism, and Sikhism originated from India. Shintoism, Taoism, and Confucianism originated from East Asia.

4. Islam
The tenets of Islam are based on Allah as the one true God, the Five Pillars of Islam, Iman, and maintaining good relations between humanity and Allah.
The two most important aspects of Islam are
Akidah
Syariah

5. What is Religion?
Religion refers to the act of acknowledging that God has absolute power that influences the lives of humans (Beazley, 1982).
All religions originated from Asia.
Islam, Christianity, and Judaism originated from West Asia. Buddhism, Jainism, and Sikhism originated from India. Shintoism, Taoism, and Confucianism originated from East Asia.

6. Five Pillars of Islam
Syahadah: testifying that there is no God but Allah and Muhammad is the messenger of God
Solat: praying 5 times a day
Zakat: giving tithes to help the needy
Haj: performing the Haj at Mekah if able
Puasa: fasting during Ramadhan

7. Iman Believing in Allah Believing in the Malaikat (angels)
Believing in the Holy Scriptures of Allah
Believing in the Prophet
Believing in the Judgment Day
Believing in the Qada’ and Qadar

8. Religion in Iran
Most ancient Persians believed in Zoroastrianism. Zoroastrianism is an ancient Persian religion formed by Zarathustra and had the most devotees in 600 BC.
Its god is Ahura Mazda, symbol of all that is good. The primary scripture of this religion is the Avesta. It was once the main religion in the Middle East.

9. Religion in Iran
Almost 98% of Persians are Muslims, of which 90% are Shi’ites and the rest are Sunni Muslims. The Sunni Muslims are primarily from Turkmenistan, as well as Arabs and Kurds. Most Persians were Sunni Muslims up until the 17th C when the Safawiyyah dynasty pronounced Shia as the official Persian religion so as to unite the Persian peole and create a unique Persian identity.

10. Religion in Indonesia
Before the arrival of Christianity and Islam, most Indonesians were Hindus or Buddhists. These religions were brought over by traders from India in the 2nd C.
The Majapahit, Srivijaya, and Sailendra empires had existed up until the 14th C. Relics of these great empires inclide the Borobudur, a sacred Buddhist temple.

12. Buddhism
Buddhism was established by Siddharta Gautama, who was born in the 5th C BC and originated in Indonesia. However, only 10% of the Indian population are Buddhist.
Buddhism may be divided into two main schisms:
Theravedan Buddhism (practiced in Thailand, Myanmar, and certain parts of Cambodia and Laos
Mahayana Buddhism (practiced in Nepal, Bhutan, Sikkim, Mongolia and western China)

13. Four Principles of Virtuous Truth
Life is full of suffering and all that lives must age, must fall ill, and must die.
Humans suffer because of desire, especially the desire for worldly riches
Humans must learn to quell these desires so as to release themselves from this misery
Desire and subsequently suffering may be quenched by adhering to the Noble Eighfold Path

14. Noble Eightfold Path Right view Right intention Right speech
Right action
Right livelihood
Right effort
Right mindfulness
Right concentration

15. Hinduism
It is not known when Hinduism came to be or who established it. Nevertheless, it is accepted as one of the oldest religions in the world.
Hindus believe in three manifestations of God:
Brahma (the Creator)
Vishnu (the Protector)
Siva (the Destroyer)

16. Hinduism
The holy scriptures of Hinduism are the Rig Veda, the Sama Veda, the Yajur Veda, the Atharva, the Ramayana, and the Bhagavad-Gita.
Hindus may be divided into two main schisms:
Saivism (followers of Siva)
Vaishnaism (followers of Vishnu)

17. Hindu Concepts
One of the most important concepts in Hinduism is samsara, which refers to the repeating cycle of birth, life and death (reincarnation).
After several cycles of samsara, one might finally be able to quell all desire and misery (nirvana) and attain moksha, which is freedom from the cycle of samsara.

18. Shintoism
Shinto means “the way of the gods” and is practiced by 83% of Japan. It is only practiced in Japan. Ancestral worship forms the basis of this religion.
At the heart of this faith, is belief in a divine being known as “Kami”, the source of lightning, thunder, the Earth, and so on.

19. An Imperial Faith
The Meiji emperor declared that Shinto would be the basis of his government and administration.
Since then, the religion has united the nation and brought them closer to the emperor.

20. Confucianism
Confucianism was established by Confucius in 6 BC in China. It is mainly practiced in China but has spread to Malaysia, Taiwan, Vietnam, Singapore, Malaysia, and Japan due to the Chinese diaspora.

21. Confucianist Concepts
Ren: Humaneness
Yi: Justice
Li: Propriety
Zhi: Knowledge
Xin: Integrity
Zhong: Fidelity
Xiao: Filial piety

22. Taoism
Taoism was based on the teachings of Lao Tze. It emphasises being at harmony with the universe. Ideally, humans should seek to be free from man-made laws and live a simple life. Taoists believe that the most effective government is one that barely governs.

23. Christianity
Christianity emphasises a life of being one with God. Its main holy scripture is the Holy Bible. Christians believe in one tripartite God consisting of the God the Father, God the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

24. Christianity Christianity in Asia may be divided into:
Catholicism: most Asian Christians are Catholics
Orthodox Church: practiced in the Middle East
Protestantism: consists of several schisms, such as Lutheran, Anglican, Methodist, and so on.

25. Judaism
The core of Judaism is centres around the belief in one true God who saved Israel from the Egyptians.
Judaism is based on the Tanakh, which is a scriptural tome that may be divided into:
Torah
Nevi’im
Ketuvim

26. Animism
Some Asian communities also practise animism. Animism refers to the belief that non-human entities possess spiritual powers.
Animism is usually practiced by communities that live by hill sides, in valleys, and in forests.