1. RELIGION NOTES CHRISTIANITY JUDAISM ISLAM HINDUISM Christians Cross
Bible
(there is none)
Jerusalem
Church
Priest, Pastor, Minister
Christmas, Easter, Baptism Orthodox, Catholic, Protestant
Salvation
People/Followers
Symbol
Holy Book
Sacred Language
Holy City
Holy Building
Prayer Leader
Holidays/Celebrations Sects
Goal
Jews
Star of David
TeNaKh – Torah most important
Hebrew
Jerusalem
Synagogue
rabbi
Yom Kippur, Rosh Hashanah, Hanukkah
Orthodox, Reform; Conservative
to live a good life according to the Torah
ISLAM
HINDUISM
Muslims
Crescent Moon and Star
Qur’an
Arabic
Mecca and Jerusalem
Mosque
Imam
Ramadan Sunni; Shi’ite
Salvation
People/Followers
Symbol
Holy Book
Sacred Language
Holy City
Holy Building
Prayer Leader
Holidays/Celebrations Sects
Goal
Hindus
AUM
Vedas
Sanskrit
Ganges River
Temples, at home, at festivals
Guru
Holi -
to achieve Moksha

2. CHRISTIANITY
Followers of Christianity are called Christians. They believe in one God – the God of Abraham – often called Yahweh in English. Abraham lived in the Middle East about 4,000 years ago at a time when most people believed in many Gods. However, Abraham believed that only one, all-powerful God had created the world.
Christians believe that God made an agreement, or covenant, with Abraham. This agreement said that Abraham and the future generations of his family – his descendants – would be God’s chosen people in return for their faith and obedience. These people became the Hebrews. Today they are called Jews.
Christians base their religion on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth, known as Jesus Christ. Jesus was a
Jew who is said to have been born in Bethlehem, near the city of Jerusalem, around the year 4 BC. During his life, Jesus traveled around northern Palestine teaching about a new covenant between God and the Jews. Those who followed Jesus’ teachings broke away from other Jews. These followers became Christians, worshipping God in a new way that focused on Jesus teachings.
The Christian idea of God is called the Trinity because Christians believe God had three parts: God the Father…God the Son (Jesus
Christ)…and God the Holy Spirit (God’s presence on Earth). All Christians believe that Jesus was part of God, and they believe that Jesus was both human and divine (God-like). Christians believe that Jesus died on a cross, was buried, and then rose from the dead three days later. They believe Jesus then ascended into Heaven to be with God the Father. The story of Jesus’ life is recorded in the Christian holy book, called the Bible.

3. The goal of Christianity is go achieve salvation
The goal of Christianity is go achieve salvation. Salvation is the eternal (never ending) life of one’s soul with God in Heaven. The opposite of salvation is damnation – or eternal suffering in Hell. Christians believe that those who sin (turn away from Jesus’ teachings) without being sorry will suffer damnation.
Christians believe that a person achieves salvation in two ways. The first way is to follow Jesus’ teachings about living a moral (good) life. The second way is to participate in the sacraments – sacred ceremonies in which Christians experience the Holy Spirit. Some Christian groups practice as many as seven sacraments. However, all groups recognize baptism and communion to be sacraments. Baptism is the ceremony of introduction into Christianity. The ceremony re-creates Jesus’ own baptism in the River Jordan. Communion – commonly called the Lord’s Supper –
re-creates Jesus’ breaking of bread and sharing of wine at the Last Supper before His death.
Christianity requires that only people who are specially trained can carry out Christian teachings and ceremonies, and be in charge of the sacraments. Christian ministers – also called priests or pastors – lead Christians in worship in holy buildings called churches. The most important service occurs on
Sunday. During the worship service, Christians experience the sacraments, recite their basic
beliefs, pray, and read from the Bible. The minister
delivers a speech, or sermon, related to the Bible readings.
Christianity has three main groups, or sects: Roman Catholic, Orthodox, and Protestant. Followers of all three believe that God continues to reveal His teachings to the world. All Christian sects consider Jerusalem the holiest city because that is where they believe Christ died and rose from the dead.

4. JUDAISM
Followers of Judaism are called Jews. These people believe in one God – the God of Abraham – called Adonai in Hebrew. Abraham lived in the Middle East about 4,000 years ago at a time when most people believed in many Gods. Abraham believed that only one all-powerful God created the world. Jews believe that God made an agreement, or covenant, with Abraham. This agreement said that Abraham and future generations of his family – his descendants – would be god’s chosen people in return for their faith
and obedience. These people –
called Hebrews – would live
in a promised land called
Canaan.
Jews base their religion on their holy book, called the
TeNaKh. This holy book is written in Hebrew, the
sacred language of Judaism. The word TeNaKh is
taken from the holy book’s three parts: The Torah
contains stories of the ancient Hebrews and the Hebrew law.
The Nevi’im contains the history of the Hebrew messengers of God’s word,
or prophets. The Ketuvim contains writings. Including psalms – prayers written in song or poem form.
The Torah is the most important part of the TeNaKh because it is the law of God. Jews believe that about 3,000 years ago, God gave the Torah to Moses, Judaism’s most important prophet. In addition to the history of the early Hebrews, it includes laws, called commandments. These commandments tell the followers of Judaism how to worship and how to live a moral (good) life.
The goal of Judaism is to live a good life according to the laws of the Torah. In addition, followers of Judaism are supposed to pass on Jewish traditions to their families. An example of this combination is the Torah law that requires Jews to keep the Sabbath day, or

5. Shabbat, holy. From Friday evening until Saturday evening, Jews must rest and pray. Shabbat begins with a traditional family meal. This meal includes such practices as breaking the Shabbat bread, the Challah, and sharing wine. On Friday evening and Saturday morning, Jews gather to pray at a holy building called a synagogue. During the worship service, a teacher, or rabbi, leads the congregation (worshippers) in prayers and readings from the TeNaKh. During Saturday’s service the rabbi also gives a religious speech, or sermon.
Traditionally, rabbis were Torah scholars who also kept every day jobs. They acted a s rabbis only when working at the synagogue. About 2,000 years ago rabbis began to speak about the Jewish oral (spoken) law, or the Talmud. Jews believe that the Talmud continues to unfold in every generation. This means that God’s teachings continue
to be revealed. Rabbis work to understand the continual
unfolding of God’s laws and adapt them to the modern
world.
The Torah’s laws direct many aspects of Jewish religious
and social life. For instance, the Torah commands all
Jews to fast by not eating or drinking during the holiday
of Yom Kippur. This scare holiday is ta day Jews set
aside for being sorry for their bad acts, or a day of
atonement. The Torah also calls upon Jews to give to the
needy to created justice in the world. The Torah outlines
what a Jew can eat, called the rules of kashrut. Jews can only eat kosher foods, because they alone meet the Torah’s requirements about clean preparation of food. Food that is not kosher is called tref. These foods include pork, shellfish, and meat prepared with dairy products. Today, Jews from various sects follow kashrut to varying degrees.
The three main sects of Judaism are Orthodox, Conservative, and Reformed. All three sects have special reverence for Jerusalem because it is the sacred city of the prophets.

6. ISLAM
Followers of Islam are called Muslims. These people believe in one God – the God of Abraham, called Allah in the Arabic language. Abraham lived in the Middle East about 4,000 years ago at the time when most people believed in many Gods Abraham believed that only one all-powerful God had created the world. Muslims believe that God made an agreement, or covenant, with Abraham This agreement said that Abraham and the future generations of his family – his descendants – would be god’s chosen people in return for their faith and obedience. Abraham had a son named Isaac by his wife Sarah. He also had a son named Ishmael by his wife Hajar. Muslims believe that the Hebrews, or Jews, descended from Isaac, and that the Arabs descended from Ishmael.
Islam is based on God’s teachings and the example of the
life of Muhammad. Muhammad was born in Mecca, located
on the Arabian Peninsula, around A.D Muslims
believe that when Muhammad was 40 years old, he had a
vision. In this vision, the angel Gabriel appeared and told
him to repeat a message from God. God’s messaged was
revealed over the next 23 years. During this time, Muslims
learned to accept all the Hebrew messengers of God’s word,
or prophets, including Moses and Jesus. However, Muslims
did not believe that Jesus was divine (God-like), and they felt that God’s chosen people had not properly followed the prophets. Muslims consider Muhammad to be God’s final prophet. They believe that through Muhammad, God made Mecca the center of Islam, and its holiest city. After Muhammad’s death, God’s teachings, as revealed to Muhammad, were written down in the Koran – the holy book of Islam.
Arabic is the sacred language of Islam. Though the Koran has been translated into many languages, it is used for religious purposed only in its Arabic form. The Koran contains the revelations (teachings) God made to Muhammad. These revelations include many of the ideas from the history and law of the ancient Hebrews and their prophets, as well as the story of Jesus’s life. The Koran outlines the goal of Islam: Living according to God’s guidance, which will be rewarded with salvation, or eternal (never ending) live in paradise with god. The opposite is damnation, or eternal suffering in Hell.

7. To achieve salvation, Muslims must participate in five basic practices
To achieve salvation, Muslims must participate in five basic practices. These practices are known as the “Five Pillars,” and they are found in the Koran. The first is shahada, the public declaration of faith, which is the recitation of the Islamic basic belief, or creed. The second is salat, or prayer. Muslims pray five times a day at specific times, always facing Mecca. The third is zakat, or giving to the needy. Islam requires a Muslim to give approximately 2.5% of his or her wealth to charity. Siyam, or fasting, is the fourth pillar. For 30 days – during the month of
Ramadan – Muslims
cannot eat or drink dawn to sunset. The final pillar
requires each Muslim to make a hajj, or journey, to
Mecca at least once in his or her lifetime.
The Koran also describes a way
of life that contains halal, acts that
are allowed, and haram, acts that
are forbidden. The acts include dietary laws, which do not allow
the eating of pork or the drinking of alcohol.
Muslims worship in a holy building called a mosque.
Prayers held on Friday at noon are the most important.
During the Friday worship service, an imam, or prayer
leader, leads prayers, reads from the Koran, and gives
a religious speech , or sermon. Muslims select a
person of good character and religious knowledge as
their imam. However, the imam has the same
relationship with God as any other Muslim. Muslims
also hold Jerusalem sacred as the city of prophets.
They believe it is the place where Muhammad met the other prophets and ascended into Heaven.
The two major sects of Muslims are the Sunni and the Shi’ite. The sects share most beliefs, but differ mainly over the issue of leadership in the Muslim community.

8. 5 PILLARS OF ISLAM Shahada – public declaration of faith.
The recitation of the Islamic creed.
2. Salat – prayer.
Muslims pray five times a day at specific times, always facing Mecca.
3. Zakat – Giving to the needy.
Islamic requires Muslims to give approximately % of his or her wealth to charity.
4. Siyam – fasting.
During the month of Ramadan – 30 days – Muslims cannot eat or drink from dawn to sunset.
5. Hajj – journey.
Each Muslim is required to travel to Mecca once in his or her lifetime.

9. HINDUISM
Followers of Islam are called Hindus. They believe in one supreme god who is the creator of everything. This god is commonly known by three names: Vishnu, Brahma, and Shiva. Hindus believe that God is not limited by form, space or time, and is equally present in all living things. Most Hindus worship that one god in many forms, and they use icons or symbols to represent those forms. That is why many people think that Hindus worship many gods.
Unlike other religions of the world, Hinduism has no founder or prophet. Hindus generally do not have a goal of converting others. Instead Hindus are respectful of others’ religious beliefs.
The Hindu Vedas, the most holy books of their religion, contain sacred songs about how the world works. The Vedas were the first building blocks of Hinduism written in Sanskrit, the ancient Indian language. The Vedas consist of four holy books. The four Vedas are the Rig Veda, the Yajur Veda, the Sama Veda, and the Atharva Veda. The oldest, the Rig Veda consists of more than 1,000 verses (hymns). They are believed to be the oldest books ever written by mankind. The words – called mantras - are chanted at religious ceremonies. They tell Hindus how they should live, and explain life.
Most Hindus worship at home, in temples, and at special festivals. Although Hindus consider worship as any action that expresses love for God, meditation is often practiced. Yoga is the most common form of meditation. Other worship activities include daily devotion, public rituals, and puja – a ceremonial dinner for God.
rural areas.
At one time one of the main characteristics of Hinduism was the caste system. The caste system was organized around the belief that people are not equal. A caste is an inherited social class. Each person is born to a particular caste for his/her lifetime. Caste determines a person’s job, marriage partner, and friends. It is based on four major classes (priests, warriors and princesses, merchants and farmers, and laborers). Another

10. group once known as the “untouchables” has traditionally been considered inferior to the four major castes. Untouchables did the work that no one else wanted to do and were shunned by society. Contemporary Hindus are taught to see all beings with eyes of equality. This is because they believe that God dwells everywhere and in all beings. In 1949 the caste system was abolished. It has lost much of its power in urban areas – however it remains a significant force in some rural areas.
Karma is a symbol of Hinduism that represents the belief that a person experiences effects of his or her actions. That every action or thought has consequences.
Samsara is a symbol of Hinduism that is commonly known as reincarnation. Samsara is the cycle of life, death, and rebirth – in which a person carries his or her own karma. Each life cycle presents an opportunity for balance. Many Hindus believe that a person’s worldly status depends upon actions from a past life. Certain people meet in more than one life to achieve karmic balance.
Moksha in Hinduism is the equivalent of Heaven for Christians. Moksha is a state of changeless bliss. It is achieved through a life of religious devotion and moral integrity without interest in any in worldly things. It may be many lifetimes within the wheels of life before moksha is reached. Moksha is the ultimate award. Moksha is the release from samsara and union with God.

11. HINDU CASTE SYSTEM BRAHMINS – KSHATRIYAS – VAISYAS – SUDRAS –
PARIAHS –

12. SIKHISM
Followers of Sikhism are called Sikhs. They believe in one God, just like the Christians, Muslims, and Jews. The word Sikh means student, or seeker of knowledge. Sikhism is the fifth largest religion in the world.
Sikhism began in India’s Punjab region in the 1400s. Its founder was Guru Nanak, who was born in 1469, about the time of Christopher Columbus. Guru Nanak was born into a Hindu family. At the time, Hindus and Muslims were in constant conflict. Guru Nanak went on four long journeys, during which he came to realize that religions do not unite men, but rather set them against each other. He began to preach to his followers that they could end the Hindu cycle of reincarnation by living a good and moral life. He taught that union with God, not reincarnation, was the path to salvation.
Sikhs believe that the purpose of life is to forget about being selfish, to align their lives with God’s will, and to become a “saint soldier.” The Sikhs reject the Hindu belief in the caste system. Instead, they believe that men and women of every race and religion are all equal.
The Sikhs have several symbols of their faith. One is the kara, a steel bracelet that all Sikhs wear. The bracelet is meant to remind them of the strength and unity of God. Another symbol is the turban, a wrapping of cotton cloth around the head of Sikh men. The turban symbolizes spirituality, dignity, and respect for one another and for God. A third symbol is the patka, a wrapping of cotton cloth around a boy’s head. The turban and the patka are not hats. They are symbols of belief, and no one should tug on them or touch them when they are being worn. Sikhs do not cut their hair. They believe that uncut hair is a way of showing respect for the perfection of God’s creation.
The Sikhs’ place of worship is called a gurdwara. Inside the gurdwara, people take off their shoes and cover their heads. During the worship service, a prayer leader, known as a granth, reads from the Guru Granth Sahib, the sacred text of the Siks. After the worship service, all the worshipers eat a langar, a communal meal in which all the worshipers sit on the floor to reflect their belief that all people are equal.

13. .
One of the spiritual rites the Sikhs perform is the dastar bandhi, the turban tying ceremony. When a Sikh boy reaches the age of 11-13, he participates in the dastar bandhi, in which an elder of the gurdwara wraps a turban around the boy’s patka. After that, the boy is considered to have become a man.
A major holiday of the Sikh is Baisakhi, a celebration of the spring harvest in the Punjab and the beginning of the Sikh new year. During the holiday, usually on April 13 or 14 each year, Sikh men dress in traditional costumes and dance the fast-paced bhangra, a dance that is based on the various steps involved in harvesting the crops. The people gather to socialize and share festive foods.
The most important holiday of the Sikhs is Gurpurab, a holiday that celebrates the birth of the first Sikh guru, Guru Nanak. Guru Nanak, along with nine other gurus, did the most to shape Sikh beliefs. During Gurpurab, the people gather in gurdwaras and sing hymns. Afterwards, the Sikhs eat the langar, the communal lunch that reflects the Sikh belief in complete equality of all people.

14. BUDDHISM
Followers of Buddhism are called Buddhists. Unlike the other major world religions, Buddhism is not centered on the relationship between people and God. Buddhists do not believe in a personal creator God.
Buddhism began in northeastern India and is based on the teachings of Siddhartha Gautama. The religion is 2,500 years old and is followed by 350 million Buddhists worldwide. It is the main religion in many Asian countries. It is a religion about suffering and the need to get rid of it. A key concept of Buddhism is nirvana, the most enlightened and happy state a person can achieve. Nirvana is a state of being without suffering.
Siddhartha Gautama was an Indian prince who lived in the 4th or 5th century B.C. He lived inside a royal palace and did not see life outside the palace walls until after he grew up, got married, and had a child. When he left the palace for the first time, he saw and old man, a sick man, and a corpse. He learned that sickness, age, and death are the fate of all human beings, a fate no one can avoid. Prince Sdddhartha traveled across the land for many years, seeking a way to end the endless cycle of birth, life, death, and rebirth, known as reincarnation. Siddhartha eventually came to believe that the only way to break the cycle of reincarnation was through Enlightenment, in which a person ceases to be selfish and fond of worldly things and thus achieves nirvana. Eventually Siddhartha became known as the Buddha, or “awakened one.”
The Buddhists have several spiritual symbols. One is the wheel of life, which symbolizes the cycle of life, death, and rebirth. Another symbol is the lotus flower, which symbolizes purity and divine birth. The lotus flower grows in mud at the bottom of a pool, but rises above the surface to become a beautiful flower. However, it eventually withers and dies, showing that nothing in life is perfect. Buddhists also worship the statue of Buddha.
The Buddhists worship at home or at a temple. Worshippers may sit on the floor barefoot facing an image of Buddha and chanting. It is very important that their feet face away from the image of Buddha. They listen to monks chanting from religious texts and take part in prayers. At home, the people often have a shrine, with a statue of Buddha, candles, and an incense burner.

15. The sacred text of Buddhism is the Tripitaka
The sacred text of Buddhism is the Tripitaka. It is written in an ancient Indian language that is similar to the language the Buddha spoke. It is a very large book, containing the teachings of the Buddha. In its English translation, it takes up nearly forty volumes.
In the Buddha’s teachings are the “Three Signs of Being.” First, nothing in life is perfect. Dukkha, or suffering, is always part of life. Second, everything in life, even solid things such as mountains, is changing all the time. Third, there is no soul. Instead, Buddhists believe that each person has a life force, known as karma, which he carries from one life to the next. Karma can be good or bad, depending on how a person lives his life.
One of the principal holidays of Buddhism is Vesak, the celebration of Buddha’s birthday. It is celebrated on the first full moon day in May. On that day, Buddhists gather in their temples before dawn to sing hymns in praise of Buddha and his teachings. After the worship service, the Buddhists release birds, insects, and animals by the thousands in what is known as a “symbolic act of liberation” for people who are in captivity or imprisoned.

16. RELIGIOUS SECTS
SECT – a subgroup of a religious system that exists within a larger religion. Think of it as a “section” within a main religion.
CHRISTIANITY
CATHOLIC
PROTESTANT
ORTHODOX
ROMAN CATHOLIC or CATHOLIC – a branch of the Christian Church headed by the Pope, with a hierarchy of priests and bishops under the Pope.
PROTESTANT – a member or follower of any of the Christian churches that are separate from the Catholic Church. These include (but not limited to) Baptist, Methodist, Presbyterian, and Lutheran churches.
ORTHODOX – one that strictly follows religious beliefs – following all religious doctrine.
JUDAISM
ORTHODOX
CONSERVATIVE
REFORM
ORTHODOX – one that strictly follows religious beliefs – following all religious doctrine.
CONSERVATIVE – a branch of the Jewish faith that follows the Torah but allows for some interpretation based upon modern times and modern circumstances.
REFORM – a branch of the Jewish faith that liberally shortens and simplifies traditional ritual.
ISLAM
SUNNI
SHI’ITE
SUNNI –
SHI’ITE –