1. Buddhism, Hinduism, Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Daoism, Confucianism
Belief Systems
Buddhism, Hinduism, Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Daoism, Confucianism

2. Do now Write down anything you know about Belief Systems
Hinduism, Buddhism, Legalism, Confucianism, Daoism, Christianity, Islam and Judaism

3. What is a belief system?
Monotheistic
Polytheistic

4. Hinduism No single founder No single sacred text
Grew out of overlapping beliefs of the diverse groups who settled India
One of the world’s most complex religions, with countless gods and goddesses

5. Many Gods
Brahman- belief that all the universe is part of the unchanging, all- powerful spiritual force.
To Hindus, brahman too complex for other people to understand, so they worship many gods that give a concrete form to brahman
Most important gods: Brahma, the Creator; Vishnu, the Preserver; and Shiva, the Destroyer
Each of these gods can take many forms, human or animals

6. Sacred texts
Vedas and Upanishads
Hindu teachings

7. Goal of life
Ultimate goal of existence is achieving moksha, or union with brahman
Individuals must free themselves from selfish desires that separate them from brahman
Most people cannot achieve moksha in one lifetime
Hindus believe in reincarnation
Reincarnation: the rebirth of the soul in another bodily form.
Reincarnation allows people to continue working toward moksha through several lifetimes

8. Karma and dharma
People can come closer to achieving moksha by obeying the law of karma
Karma- all actions of a person’s life that affect his or her fate in the next life
People who earn good karma are reborn at a higher level existence
Those who do evil get bad karma and are reborn into suffering

9. dharma The religious and moral duties of an individual
Duties vary according to class, occupation, gender, or age.
By obeying one’s dharma, a person acquires merit for the next life
Supported the caste system

10. ahimsa
Non violence
All people and things are aspects of Brahman and should be respected
Many holy people have tried to follow the path of nonviolence

11. Homework due Tuesday 10/31
Dharma assignment- Have log of Dharma activities
You do good Dharma! You get good Karma!

12. Do now- Hinduism In your journals, write down the following Founder
Holy Text
Gods or Goddesses
Place of worship
3 other important facts about Hinduism

13. BUddhism

14. Basics of Buddhism Desire causes suffering Importance of selflessness
Impermanence: Buddhist believe life is created by changing energies, nothing is permanent
God: Since nothing is permanent, Buddhists believe there is no permanent God or soul.
Not a religion it is a philosophy
Desire causes suffering
Importance of selflessness
Good is rewarded, evil is punished
Salvation comes from knowing the “Four Noble Truths” and following the “Eightfold Path”
Belief in reincarnation

15. Siddhartha Gautama Born 563 B.C. Son of a wealthy king in the region
Given every advantage
Did not know of disease, poverty, death, or problems in life
At 29, Siddhartha decides to leave the palace
Sees challenges and problems of everyday life
Vows to discover the reasons for human suffering
Great Renunciation = he leaves his family and lifestyle in search of truth and meaning

16. The search Siddhartha searches for the truth for 6 years
When he finally understands the truth of the basis of life he becomes the Buddha

17. Four noble truths All human life involves suffering and sorrow
The desire for a life of pleasure and material gain causes suffering
Renouncing desire frees people from suffering
Eightfold path leads to the denial of desire

18. Eightfold path

19. The goal The goal of Buddhism is to reach Nirvana
Nirvana = a state of freedom from the cycle of rebirth
When a person has a state of oneness with the world
Free of desire and selfishness

20. Homework Complete the Venn Diagram comparing Hinduism and Buddhism
5 facts for each and at least 3 similarities

21. DO NOW In your journals please write down
The founder of both Buddhism and Hinduism
The holy text of Buddhism and Hinduism
The main goal of Buddhism and Hinduism
The rigid social class structure for Hinduism
The religious and moral duties for Hinduism
How to reach the main goal of Buddhism
What you do in this life will affect you in the next, what is this called?

22. confucianism Confucius- born 551 BC (toward end of Zhou dynasty)
Wanted to encourage peace among fellow Chinese and help reestablish order in society
Provided a basic set of ideas for people to follow

23. Confucianism continued
Confucius’ followers collected his sayings into a collection called the Analects
Confucius believed that there were five primary relationships
Ruler and subjects
Parent and Child
Husband and Wife
Old and Young
Friend and Friend
Known as the “Five Relationships”- Each person owed respect to his or her superior

24. Filial piety Children’s respect for their parents
Provided basis for family relationships

25. influence
Confucianism influenced Chinese life for many years and established the basis for the development of society
“The Golden Rule”- Do unto others as you would have them do unto you

26. homework Finish Confucius quotes sheet Complete documents sheet
Due Tuesday 10/25

27. Do now Take out homework (documents, quotes sheet and Confucius sheet)
Using the Taoism reading, please write down 10 facts about Taoism in your triple Venn Diagram.
This Venn Diagram will be used the next couple of class periods.

28. Daoism/ taoism

29. beliefs Founder: Laozi
Philosophy based on living in harmony with nature.
Mankind can only be
happy when he is free from
laws and living naturally
in balance with nature.
Believe government is unnatural

30. Daoism effects on culture
Best government is one that governs least
No interest in creating order
No interest in material things or status
No dynasty has ever followed this philosophy!

31. Basic beliefs and effects in daoism
Two forces in nature: Yin & Yang
These forces control/exist in everything
One cannot exist without the other
If one is out of balance, harmony must be restored.
Illness, moods, unusual behavior
Acupuncture used to create balance
Tai Chi is also used to maintain balance
Feng Shui is based on the 5 natural
elements and Yin & Yang.

32. Do now Reading Legalism
Using the Legalism reading, please complete the Legalism section of the Venn Diagram (10 facts)

33. Do now
Take out Venn diagrams, Legalism reading, Daoism reading and Confucianism notes
10 facts for Confucianism
Similarities

34. Do now In your journals, answer the following questions,
What is monotheism?
What do you know about Judaism, Christianity and Islam?

35. Do now
Take out your Belief Systems notes packet, open up to the Judaism section.
In your journals, what have you learned about Judaism that you did not already know?

36. Foundations of judaism

37. beliefs
Covenant (contract or agreement) was made between God & Abraham. (founder of Judaism)
Date/Area: 2200 BCE in the Middle East
Abraham left Ur (holy city), a polytheistic society in Mesopotamia, w/ his wife & followers b/c of persecution. (to be mistreated for your beliefs)
Led to land of Canaan (Holy City) (Israel).
(Famine forced them to migrated to Egypt where they are enslaved)

38. beliefs Monotheistic - One all powerful God, Yahweh (Name of Deity)
Moses (People) was a prophet (person sent by God) who freed the Jews & led the Exodus (escape from Egypt).
Formed the 2nd covenant on Mt. Sinai where God gave the Ten Commandments (code of behavior/God’s law)
Afterlife: Heaven or when the messiah arrives the dead will be resurrected.

39. diaspora
Jews were driven out of the region by the Romans in the diaspora: scattering of Jews across the world

40. Practices Language: Yiddish, Hebrew
Torah- holy book and Talmud- book of law
Keep the Sabbath or holy day, Saturday go to synagogue (house of worship)
Kosher diet: Do not eat pork, Do not eat dairy at same meal with meat, Do not eat shellfish or scavengers

41. events All holidays begin at sundown: Sabbath: holy day of the week.
Rosh Hashanah: Start of the new year NO work is permitted.
Yom Kippur: Day of atonement, a day to ask for forgiveness.
Passover – Remembers the final plague & the exodus. Same time as Easter.
Chanukah – festival of lights
celebrates the 163 BCE victory of Maccabee. Minor holiday!

42. Rabbis – religious scholars who lead services but are not infallible.
Branches of Judaism today:
Orthodox – most traditional & male dominated
Conservative
Reform – most flexible, men & women equal participation. Female rabbis allowed

43. Christianity

44. beliefs Founder: Jesus of Nazareth Taught the Jewish Teachings:
Obey the commandments and prophets
Monotheism- obey the one and only God
Mercy on the poor and sick
New teachings:
Forgiveness, love thy enemy, turn the other cheek rather than seeking retribution
He if the son of God- Messiah

45. beliefs
Holy Trinity- in God there are 3 persons (Father, Son, and Holy Ghost) with one nature.
Sacred Text is the Bible: Five books of Moses (Torah or Old Testament) and the New Testament (Jesus life and teachings are Gospels)
Final Judgement Day: Life ever lasting in Heaven or Hell

46. practices
Follow the Ten Commandments
Participate in the 7 sacraments
Confession of sins for forgiveness
Donate 10% (income) to the church for alms (charity).
Holy Day: Sunday go to church
Holidays:
Lent: give up ____ for 40 days to acknowledge Jesus’ sacrifices before he was crucified.
Christmas & Easter : Celebrate Jesus’ birth & resurrection
The disciples/apostles (followers of Jesus) become missionaries that spread his teachings.
Works of Mercy
Feed the hungry, visit the sick, shelter & cloth the homeless
Warn the sinner, instruct the ignorant, forgive injuries, pray for living & dead.

48. DO NOW
Create a Venn Diagram comparing and contrasting Judaism and Christianity
5 facts for each, 3 similarities

49. islam

50. Quick facts Began in modern country of Saudi Arabia Founder: Mohammad
Holy city: Mecca
Islam = religion
Muslim = person who practices Islam.
House of worship: mosque

51. facts House of Worship: Mosque Holy Text: Koran, written in Arabic
All Muslims learn to read and write Arabic
Sharia- Islamic law

52. beliefs Monotheistic – Belief in only one God (Allah) Ten Commandments
Prophets Abraham, Noah, Jacob, Moses and Jesus (Old and New Testament) +
Mohammed is the last prophet (person who received God’s message)
Equality of all believers in God’s eyes
Everyone is responsible for his/ her actions
Judgment Day: Paradise or Hell
Men must care for women (patriarchal)

53. Five pillars of faith 1 God and no other gods
0ne month of fasting during daylight hours of the holy month of Ramadan
5x day pray facing the Ka’aba in Mecca
1 hajj or pilgrimage to Mecca in your lifetime (if you can afford it and are healthy enough to make the journey)
2% of your wealth donated to charity

54. Ka’aba
Located in the Mosque at Mecca. Holy because God performed a miracle that saved Ishmael.

55. homework STUDY FOR BELIEF SYSTEMS TEST THURSDAY 12/1
Finish Islam reading and questions

56. Review- Answer questions in journals
1. How was government viewed in Legalism?
2. How was government viewed in Daoism?
3. What was the main focus of Confucianism?
4. Name 3 beliefs of Buddhism and Hinduism
5. Name 3 beliefs of Judaism, Christianity and Islam
6. List the founders of Legalism, Daoism, Confucianism, Hinduism, Buddhism, Christianity, Judaism and Islam
7. Name the holy text for all of the above
8. List the monotheistic religions
9. List the polytheistic belief systems
10. Where did all of the belief systems originate?