Transcript Document 7204397

Warm-Up Discussion Questions
1. Why do you think so many different
cultures subscribe to some form of
religion?
2. Does religion play an active role in our
society? Why or Why Not?
3. How would the world be a different place
without religion?
World Religions
Icons, Texts & Symbols
Terms for Understanding
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Monotheism: The belief in one God
Polytheism: The belief in many Gods
Deity: a God
Reincarnation: Rebirth after death
Sect: a separate religious group
within a religion having alternative
views
Buddhism
• Founder: Siddhartha
Guatama (563-483 BC)
• He is known as “Buddha” or
enlightened one
• Most Buddhists live in Sri
Lanka, East & Southeast
Asia & Japan
• 354 Million followers
Core Beliefs: Key to happiness is to detach oneself from all
worldly goods and desires. Reincarnation. No Deity.
Sacred Text: Perfection of Wisdom Sutra-an 11th century
text relating the life & teachings of Buddha
Buddhism
Mahayana
Theravada
Christianity
• Founder: Jesus Christ
• Deity: God
• Largest religion in the
world - 1.9 billion
followers
• Europe, Latin America,
Africa, North America
Core Beliefs: There is only one God – (Monotheism)
Jesus entered the world and died to save humanity.
Sacred Text: The Bible: 2 parts: Old Testament & New
Testament
Roman Catholic
Christianity
Eastern
Orthodox
Protestant
PROTESTANT
LUTHERAN
BAPTIST
EPISCOPAL
AFRICAN
METHODIST
MORMON
PRESBYTERIAN
CHURCH OF GOD
METHODIST
PENTECOSTAL
Hinduism
• Founder: None
• Deities: 3 main GodsBrahma, Vishnu, Shiva
• Polytheistic
• World’s oldest religion
• Major religion of India
• 762 Million followers
Core Beliefs: persons reach true enlightenment &
happiness only after they free themselves from their
Earthly desires. Karma determines reincarnation.
Sacred Texts: Many. A few are: The Vedas & Bhagavad-Gita
SHAKTISM
VAISHNAVITES
HINDUISM
REFORM HINDUISM
SHAIVITES
Judaism
• Founder: Abraham
• Deity: God (Yahweh)
• Monotheistic
• 14 million followers
worldwide
• Most practiced
Religion in Israel
Core Beliefs: Moral conduct & the belief in one God
Sacred Texts: The Hebrew Bible, The Torah
JUDAISIM
REFORM
ORTHODOX
CONSERVATIVE
Islam
• Founder: Muhammad
• Deity: God (Allah)
• Monotheistic
• 2nd Largest religion –
1.2 billion followers
• Africa, Southwest Asia
(Middle East),
Southeast Asia
Core Beliefs: There is only one God. The Five Pillars of
Islam: Faith, Charity, Fasting, Prayer, Pilgrimage to Mecca
Sacred Text: The Qur’an (Koran)
SUNNI
ISLAM
SHI’A
Or SHIITES
Confucianism
• Founder: Confucius
(551-479 BC)
• Deity: Confucius
(viewed by many as a
God)
• Mostly a Chinese
religion-although
officially,Communist
China is atheist
Core Beliefs: Social order, responsibility, harmony, good
government. Respect for family & education stressed
Sacred Text: The Analects, a collection of Confucius’
teachings from 400 BC.
Confucius has been compared to the great Greek
philosopher Aristotle for his humanistic view &
high moral standards.
There can be many different
sects within the same religion.
Question
The major world religions are all based
on very peaceful foundations and rules.
That being said, why do you think
religion is the source of so much conflict
in history?