1. Major World Religions

2. Judaism Who – Abraham, Moses When – circa 3000 BC Where – Israel
Holy Books - Torah, and Talmud
Major Divisions – Orthodox, Conservative, Reform
Basic Beliefs
Monotheistic – one God
Jews are the chosen people of God, must follow his laws.
Jerusalem/Israel are holy lands.

3. Christianity Who – Jesus of Nazareth When – circa 30AD Where – Israel
Holy Books – Old and New Testaments
Major Divisions – Catholic, Protestant, Orthodox
Basic Beliefs
Jesus Christ is the son of God
Death and resurrection
Came to redeem mankind from sin.
Christianity

4. Islam Who – Mohammed When – circa 620AD Where – Arabian Peninsula
Holy Books – Quran and the Hadith
Major Divisions – Sunni, Shia
Basic Beliefs
There is no god but Allah, and Muhammad is the messenger of God
Quran is word of God.
Muslims must perform the “Five Pillars of Faith”.

5. Hinduism Who – Ancient priests of India When – 5000 –3000 BCE
Where – India
Holy Books – Vedas
Major Divisions – Numerous schools and traditions
Basic Beliefs
Polytheistic
Reincarnation and Karma – cause and effect
Ultimate goal – oneness with “Brahman” (God, Reality)
Caste System-system of social classes

8. Buddhism Who – Siddhartha Gautama (Buddha) When – 500 BC
Where – Northern India
Basic Beliefs
Life is suffering, caused by wanting things, caused by ignorance.
Reincarnation and karma
“8-fold Path” allows escape to Nirvana
Four Noble Truths

10. Animism Retained tribal ethnic religion of people around the world
Today, adherents number at least 100 million
Animists believe certain inanimate objects possess spirits or souls
Spirits live in rocks, rivers, mountain peaks, and heavenly bodies
Each tribe has its own characteristic form of animism
A Shaman — tribal religious figure usually serves as the intermediary between people and the spirits
Sub-Saharan Africa is the greatest surviving stronghold of animism

12. Sikhism Monotheistic Found mainly in Northern India Meditation
Reincarnation like Hindus