Transcript Religion - THEMISTERPARSONS.COM

Religion
THE BIG
Warm Up
 List in order what you think are the top 5 religions in





the world according to followers.
.
.
.
.
.
World Religions










Religion:
Christianity
Islam
Hinduism
Buddhism (?)
Shinto (?)
Sikhism
Judaism
Jainism
Baha'I
Members:
2.3 Billion
1.6 Billion
1.1 Billion
440 Million
45-120 Million
24 Million
17 Million
10 Million
8 Million
 * there are 500 million folk religions followers spread across Asia, Africa
and the Americas as well as 500 million exclusively Chinese folk religions
followers (Taoism, Confucianism.).
World Religions
Major Religion World Map
History of Religion (and war…)
 http://www.mapsofwar.com/ind/history-of-
religion.html
Christianity
Christianity
 People are sinful and that separates people from God
 Romans 3:23 For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of
God’s glorious standard. 24 Yet God, with undeserved
kindness, declares that we are righteous. He did this
through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty
for our sins. 25 For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice
for sin. People are made right with God when they
believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood.
This sacrifice shows that God was being fair when he held
back and did not punish those who sinned in times past,
26 for he was looking ahead and including them in what
he would do in this present time. God did this to
demonstrate his righteousness, for he himself is fair and
just, and he declares sinners to be right in his sight when
they believe in Jesus.
Christianity
 Despite people’s desires to live selfish or godless
lives, God still wants relationship with people.
 John 3:16 For God so loved the world that he gave his
one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall
not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not
send his Son into the world to condemn the world,
but to save the world through him. 18 Whoever
believes in him is not condemned…
Christianity
 Love God and love one another.

We know what real love is because Jesus gave
up his life for us. So we also ought to give up our lives
for our brothers and sisters. 17 If someone has enough
money to live well and sees a brother or sister in need
but shows no compassion—how can God’s love be in
that person? 18 Dear children, let’s not merely say
that we love each other; let us show the truth by our
actions.
1 John 3:16
History of Christian Branches
Jesus
AD 1 – AD 32/33
1.) Roman
Catholic
Roman
Catholic
Split in AD
1054
Michael
Cerularius
Split in
AD 1517
Martin
Luther
2.) Eastern
Orthodox
3.) Protestant
Why was Jesus important
historically?
 To Rome: Rich/Poor (no discrimination,







looks at the heart, cares for widows/children)
Roman/Greek mentalities were based on doing
everything for themselves , they made gods in their own image, rather
than Christianity’s explanation that God made people in His image
Roman/Greek gods - lower the bar, nothing to improve-no desire to help
others, just yourself – What kind of society?
Christianity - Humility, complete love of others, forgiveness, God's consistent
love for you
Kingdom of Heaven is now - Righteousness, Peace and Joy - that's what he
offered
Completely revolutionized what people believed was the way to live pompous, self-righteousness, “me first!”
to the World: Time Magazine's Man of the Millennium in 2000 - no figure has
been more influential
Christianity is found in every culture, frequently in the form of humble help:
Harvard University, Salvation Army, Red Cross, etc.
15 & 2
With your teammate:
 Discuss and write
down the part that
stood out to you.
 Discuss and write
down questions
about the previous
section covered.
Time To Chew
Islam
Islam
 Islam is to Muslim as
 Christianity is to Christian as
 Judaism is to Jew as
 Ninjutsu is to Ninja.
Muslim Distribution
Early Arab lifestyle
 Nomadic
 Ruled by sheikh
 Most Arabs were polytheistic, Judaism/Christianity
was also prevalent
 Major god represented by black meteorite that was
kept in holy tent.
Muhammad
Muhammad (Mohammed)
 Born in Mecca AD 570
 Background – trader/merchant
 Angel Gabriel, Caves, Black Rock
 Fleeing from Mecca to Medina (the “Hirjrah”) –
AD 622
 Triumphant return to Mecca (“Hajj”) where
Muhammad’s forces fought the Meccans for 8
years finally conquering in AD 630
Islam = Submission to Allah
 Five Pillars of Islam:
 Belief
(in Allah as the one God)
 Prayer (5 times a day toward Mecca)
 Charity (giving $$$/alms to the poor)
 Fasting (during Ramadan during the day)
 Pilgrimage (hajj) to Mecca.
Islam = Submission to Allah
 Hadith




Prophetic 'traditions', meaning the reports of the teachings, deeds
and sayings of the Islamic prophet Muhammad.
Compiled from oral reports in society long after the death of
Muhammad.
Primary - Sahih al-Bukhari by Muhammad al-Bukhari (AD 810-870)
The hadith was used in forming the basis of 'Sharia' Law.
 ‘Sharia’ Law



Means the moral code and religious law of Islam.
Sharia deals with many topics addressed by secular law,
including crime, politics, and economics, as well as personal matters
such as hygiene, diet, prayer, everyday etiquette and fasting.
Adherence to Islamic law has served as one of the distinguishing
characteristics of the Muslim faith.
The Black Stone




The Black Stone is a Muslim relic.
It is the eastern cornerstone of the
Kaaba, the ancient stone building
towards which Muslims pray, in the
center of the Grand Mosque in Mecca,
Saudi Arabia.
The Stone is a dark rock, polished
smooth by the hands of millions of
pilgrims, that has been broken into a
number of fragments cemented into a
silver frame in the side of the Kaaba.
Muslim pilgrims circle the Kaaba as
part of their ritual of the Hajj
pilgrimmage.
Islamic Burka?
 The Koran, Islam's holy book , tells Muslims - men




and women - to dress modestly.
Male modesty has been interpreted to be covering
the area from the navel to the knee - and for women
it is generally seen as covering everything except
their face, hands and feet when in the presence of
men they are not related or married to.
This has led to a distinction between the hijab
(literally "covering up" in Arabic) and the niqab
(meaning "full veil").
Hijab is a common sight among Muslim women, a
scarf that covers their hair and neck.
Niqab consists of covering up completely, including
gloves and a veil for the face - leaving just a slit for
the eyes, or covering them too with transparent
material.
Islam and Terrorism?
 Definition of Terrorism

"the unlawful use of -- or threatened use
of -- force or violence against individuals
or property to coerce or intimidate
governments or societies, often to
achieve political, religious, or ideological
objectives."
-- U.S. Department of Defense
publication
 In the wake of the Sept. 11, 2001
terrorist attacks on the U.S., the threat
of militant Islamic terrorism -rooted in
the Middle East and South Asia - has
taken center stage. While these
extremely violent religious extremists
represent a minority view, their threat
is real.
Islam and Terrorism?
FUNDAMENTALIST ISLAM
MODERATE ISLAM
 A movement that has gained
 A Muslim / an interpretation of
momentum in recent decades within
several Muslim nations.
 Islamic fundamentalists
oppose the infiltration of secular and
Westernizing influences and seek to
institute Islamic law, including strict
codes of behavior throughout the
world.
 Often uses strict interpretation
of the Qur’an to justify violence.
Islam that rejects extremism and
terrorism or is generally accepting of
Western society.
 Problem of that definition:
Implies that Islam as a whole is by
definition intolerant and aggressive;
that the majority of Muslims are
extremist or violent - hence the need
to qualify those who are not - rather
than establish a peaceful Islam as
the norm; alternatively put: it
equates being faithful with violence
and - implying that the less Islam
consumed, the better.
Islam and Terrorism?
 In 1980 two out of 64 “terrorist”
groups were categorized as largely
religious in motivation
 In 1995 almost half of the identified
groups, 26 out of 56, were classified
as religiously motivated; the majority
of these espoused Islam as their
guiding force.
Islam and Terrorism?
 ISIS - Islamic State in Iraq and Syria






Started as an al Qaeda splinter group.
The aim of ISIS is to create an Islamic state
across Sunni areas of Iraq and in Syria.
ISIS is known for killing dozens of people at a
time and carrying out public executions,
crucifixions and other acts. It has taken over
large swaths of northern and western Iraq.
The group currently controls hundreds of
square miles. It ignores international borders
and has a presence from Syria's Mediterranean
coast to south of Baghdad. It rules by Sharia
law.
LEADER: Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi: Very little is
known, but a biography posted on jihadist
websites in 2013 said he earned a doctorate in
Islamic studies from a university in Baghdad.
ISIS's initial strategy for revenue was through
extortion and robbery. Recently, al-Baghdadi's
strategy shifted to generating resources through
large-scale attacks aimed at capturing and
holding territory.
Moderate Muslims and the Credibility Crisis
“Most of the world's 1.6 billion Muslims do not countenance violence and
human rights violations, but the fact remains that fundamentalists are not
a fringe group; they occupy senior positions in Muslim clerical hierarchy.
There are tens of millions (or more) of them, and they believe their
interpretation of Islam is the only correct one.
Moderate Muslims claim they are being unfairly lumped into this motley
crew, but if they are claiming a schism, they haven't been clear about it.
When Martin Luther, a Catholic priest and a theology professor,
repudiated two core teachings of the Catholic Church, he acknowledged
that, by definition, he was no longer Catholic. He was part of the
Protestant Reformation, and his followers are called Lutherans.
Moderate Muslims still call themselves Muslims. But there will never be a
Quran 2.0. According to fundamentalists, moderates do not follow the
rules, and fundamentalists are correct on this point.”
- Janet Tavakoli, Huffington Post Blog, 11/11/2014
Moderate Muslims and the Credibility Crisis
The Muslim World Today
“For many Muslims and non-Muslims alike, it is clear that the contemporary Muslim world is in
crisis. Despite a 600 year Golden Age characterized by scientific innovation, political and
economic success, and cosmopolitan tolerance, the Muslim world now lags behind much of the
rest of the world in numerous significant areas including the sciences, and artistic and cultural
production… ”
 “Governance is also a major problem throughout the Muslim world, where true democracies are
rare and the vast majority of states routinely deny basic human rights to their citizens. Of the 46
Muslim-majority countries, Freedom House deems only 7 percent (three countries) to be “free,”
while 43 percent (20 countries) are deemed “partially free” and 50 percent (23 countries) are
“not free.”…”
 “Nevertheless, although Islam is not the source of the Muslim world’s problems, there is an
important and relevant relationship between Islam and many of the oppressive laws and
practices that are prevalent throughout the Muslim world. With the exception of a small
minority, the governments of the world that claim to speak on behalf of the global community of
Muslims are authoritarian and repressive. These states promote a distorted and Medieval form of
Islamic law to justify their harsh practices and, often, the very existence of their regimes. Even
more radical and violent interpretations of sharia are the source of inspiration for terrorist
splinter groups around the world…”
 “Perversely, the vast majority of Muslims—who indeed reject violence and extremism—are
increasingly marginalized and caught between the narratives promoted by radicals within their
own faith community and conservatives from outside their communities.”
- Excerpts from Kareem Elbayer’s “Reclaiming Tradition: Islamic Law in a Modern World” in
George Washington University’s International Affairs Review

15 & 2
With your teammate:
 Discuss and write
down the part that
stood out to you.
 Discuss and write
down questions
about the previous
section covered.
Time To Chew
Judaism
Judaism / Israelites
 Dates
 c.2300 Abraham
 1200 BC Moses
 970-930 Height of Israel
 Location
 Eastern Mediterranean
 Contributions
 Hebrew language
 Monotheism
 Hebrew Bible
 Judeo-Christian
 Ten Commandments
Leaders
Abraham (c.2400)
Moses (c.1500s)
Solomon(970-930)
Religion
Monotheistic
Judaism
Yahweh/God
(later Christianity and Islam claim
connection to Judaism)
Cities
Jerusalem
What do Jews belive?


Judaism does not have a formal mandatory beliefs
Most accepted summary of Jewish beliefs is Rambam's (AD 1135-1204) 13 principles of faith















G-d exists
G-d is one and unique
G-d is incorporeal
G-d is eternal
Prayer is to be directed to G-d alone and to no other
The words of the prophets are true
Moses' prophecies are true, and Moses was the greatest of the prophets
The Written Torah (first 5 books of the Bible) and Oral Torah (teachings now contained in the Talmud and
other writings) were given to Moses
There will be no other Torah
G-d knows the thoughts and deeds of men
G-d will reward the good and punish the wicked
The Messiah will come
The dead will be resurrected
Even these basic principles have been debated
Judaism focuses on the relationships between the Creator, mankind, and the land of Israel
Torah or Old Testament?
 TORAH (The Law):





Bereishith (In the beginning...) (Genesis)
Shemoth (The names...) (Exodus)
Vayiqra (And He called...) (Leviticus)
Bamidbar (In the wilderness...) (Numbers)
Devarim (The words...) (Deuteronomy)
 KETHUVIM (The Writings):











Tehillim (Psalms)
Mishlei (Proverbs)
Iyov (Job)
Shir Ha-Shirim (Song of Songs)a
Ruth
Eikhah (Lamentations)
Qoheleth (the author's name) (Ecclesiastes)
Esther
Daniel
Ezra & Nechemyah (Nehemiah) (treated as
one book)
Divrei Ha-Yamim (The words of the days)
(Chronicles)
 NEVI'IM (The Prophets):








Yehoshua (Joshua)
Shoftim (Judges)
Shmuel (I &II Samuel)
Melakhim (I & II Kings)
Yeshayah (Isaiah)
Yirmyah (Jeremiah)
Yechezqel (Ezekiel)
The Twelve (treated as one book):












Hoshea (Hosea)
Yoel (Joel)
Amos
Ovadyah (Obadiah)
Yonah (Jonah)
Mikhah (Micah)
Nachum
Chavaqquq (Habbakkuk)
Tzefanyah (Zephaniah)
Chaggai
Zekharyah (Zechariah)
Malakhi
Abraham – Judaism, Christianity, Islam
Abraham – Judaism, Christianity, Islam
Hand out…
15 & 2
With your teammate:
 Discuss and write
down the part that
stood out to you.
 Discuss and write
down questions
about the previous
section covered.
Time To Chew
India
Hinduism
 The classical theory of the origins of Hinduism traces
the religion's roots to the Indus valley civilization circa
4000 to 2200 BCE. The development of Hinduism was
influenced by many invasions over thousands of years.
The major influences occurred when lighter-skinned,
nomadic "Aryan" Indo-European tribes invaded
Northern India (circa 1500 BCE) from the steppes of
Russia and Central Asia.
 They brought with them their religion of Vedism. These
beliefs mingled with the more advanced, indigenous
Indian native beliefs, often called the "Indus valley
culture.".
India’s Caste System
Hinduism
 The primary sacred texts of Hinduism are the Vedas: the
Rig Veda, Sama Veda, Yajur Veda and Atharva Veda.
The Vedas contain hymns, incantations, and rituals from
ancient India. The Rig Veda (a.k.a. Rigveda) may be the
oldest of the four.
 Estimates of its date of composition in oral form range
from 1500 BCE to 4000 BCE. The Yajur and Atharva
Vedas refer to the vernal equinox having occurred in the
Pleiades constellation -- an event dating from about
2500 BCE.
 The date when the Vedas were placed in written form is
unknown. Various dates from 600 to after 300 BCE have
been suggested.
Hinduism
 Categorizing the religion of Hinduism is somewhat confusing:
 Hinduism has commonly been viewed in the west as a polytheistic
religion - one which worships multiple deities: gods and
goddesses. Although a widespread belief, this is not particularly
accurate
 Some have viewed it as a monotheistic religion, because it
recognizes only one supreme God: the panentheistic principle of
Brahman, that all reality is a unity. The entire universe is seen as
one divine entity who is simultaneously at one with the universe and
who transcends it as well.
 Some view Hinduism as Trinitarian because Brahman is
simultaneously visualized as a triad -- one God with three persons:



Brahma the Creator who is continuing to create new realities
Vishnu, (Krishna) the Preserver, who preserves these new creations. Whenever
dharma (eternal order, righteousness, religion, law and duty) is threatened,
Vishnu travels from heaven to earth in one of ten incarnations.
Shiva, the Destroyer, is at times compassionate, erotic and destructive.
15 & 2
With your teammate:
 Discuss and write
down the part that
stood out to you.
 Discuss and write
down questions
about the previous
section covered.
Time To Chew
BUDDHA
Buddhism
 The name Buddhism comes from the word 'budhi'
which means 'to wake up' and thus Buddhism is the
philosophy of awakening.
 This philosophy has its origins in the experience of
the man Siddhartha Gautama, known as the Buddha,
who was himself awakened at the age of 35.
 Buddhism is now 2,500 years old and has about 300
million followers world-wide.
 Until a hundred years ago, Buddhism was mainly an
Asian philosophy but increasingly it is gaining
adherents in Europe and America.
Buddhism
 Buddhism, like most of the great religions of the world, is divided
into a number of different traditions. However, most traditions
share a common set of fundamental beliefs.
 One fundamental belief of Buddhism is often referred to as
reincarnation -- the concept that people are reborn after dying. In
fact, most individuals go through many cycles of birth, living, death
and rebirth.
 A practicing Buddhist differentiates between the concepts of rebirth
and reincarnation. In reincarnation, the individual may recur
repeatedly. In rebirth, a person does not necessarily return to Earth
as the same entity ever again. He compares it to a leaf growing on a
tree. When the withering leaf falls off, a new leaf will eventually
replace it. It is similar to the old leaf, but it is not identical to the
original leaf.
 After many such cycles, if a person releases their attachment to
desire and the self, they can attain Nirvana. This is a state of
liberation and freedom from suffering.
Buddhism 4 Noble Truths
1.) Ordinary life is full of suffering.
2.) This suffering is caused by our desire to satisfy
ourselves.
3.) The way to end suffering is to end desire for selfish
goals and to see others as extensions of ourselves.
4.) The way to end desire is to follow the Middle Path.
Buddhism’s Middle Path
 Right View: We need to know the Four Noble Truths.
 Right intention: We need to decide what we really want.
 Right speech: We must seek to speak truth and to speak well of





others.
Right action: The Buddha gave five precepts: “Do not kill. Do not
steal. Do not lie. Do not be unchaste. Do not take drugs or drink
alcohol.”
Right livelihood: We must do work that uplifts our being.
Right effort: The Buddha said, “those who follow the Way might
well follow the example of an ox that arches through the deep mud
carrying a heavy load. He is tired, but his steady, forward-looking
gaze will not relax until he comes out of the mud.”
Right mindfulness: We must keep our minds in control of our
senses: “All we are is the result of what we have thought.”
Right concentration: We must meditate to see the world in a new
way.
15 & 2
With your teammate:
 Discuss and write
down the part that
stood out to you.
 Discuss and write
down questions
about the previous
section covered.
Time To Chew
Religion Surveys
 Take Class Religion Survey below:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/Q78F67Y
 Take Religion Survey below:
http://www.selectsmart.com/RELIGION/