comparing world religions

8/8/2019 Comparing World Religions

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Comparing World Religions


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Hinduism Beginnings

India Worlds oldest religion (4000 B.C.E.) Founded by nomads who invaded India

Sacred Texts Vedas collection of sacred texts

Major Deity(deities)

Brahma supreme being Shiva Vishnu


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Hinduism cont.

Core beliefs Reincarnation until soul achieves enlightenment Two paths anyone can choose:

Path of desire leads to unhappiness

Path of renunciation leads to happiness Karma actions in this life affect future lives Non-violence toward all living things

Worship Offerings of food and incense 3 times a day at templein home

Worship at the regional temple


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Judaism

Beginnings Middle East 1300 B.C. Founded by Abraham

Sacred Texts Torah (Old Testament of the Bible) Talmud (teachings of the rabbis)

Major Deity Called God


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Judaism, cont. Core Beliefs

Each person is free to choose to do good or evil If you follow Gods laws as described in the Torah, life

will be full of love, compassion, and justice

The Jews are the people God chose to transmit his law Someday, God will redeem the world from evil Worship (varies)

Daily prayer Saturdays go to worship at the synagogue Observe holiday rituals during Passover, Rosh

Hashana, Yom Kippur, Hanukkah


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Buddhism

Beginnings 500 B.C.E. Founded by a young Hindu noble named Siddhartha

who sought the meaning of life and found

enlightenment. His followers are Buddhists. Sacred Texts

Dharma the teachings of Siddhartha Gautama

Major Deities No gods, this religion focuses on what is within

everyone


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Buddhism, cont. Core Beliefs

We are our own masters and there is no higher beingcontrolling our destinies

Violence is forbidden You will be trapped in samsara (reincarnation) until

you have achieved Enlightenment (reached nirvana)

All actions have consequences (karma) Accept the 4 Noble Truths which basically state thatselfishness causes suffering

Worship Buddhists dont really worship, they reflect. Follow the 8 Fold Path to stop selfishness through

proper living with the right understanding, speech,

thought, action, livelihood, effort, awareness,concentration (meditation).


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Christianity Beginnings 1 A.D. Started by followers of a Jew named Jesus Christ in

what is now Israel After the Protestant reformation, Christians were

split into two categories, Catholic and Protestant.

Sacred Texts The Old Testament The New Testament of the Bible

Gospels

Acts of Apostles Epistles Book of Revelation

Deity Called God


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Christianity, cont. Core Beliefs

God created the world and humans are born withoriginal sin from Adam and Eves mistake

Jesus is Gods son who came to Earth to teach aboutGod. His death was a sacrifice to save the world.

Do Gods work and you will go to heaven or sinagainst God and you could go to hell.

Worship (varies)

Go to church on Sundays Spread the gospel (word of God) Observe the holidays of Easter and Christmas

Follow the 10 commandments


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Islam

Beginnings 622 A.D. in Saudi Arabia Builds on early foundations of Judaism and

Christianity, but focuses on the teachings of aprophet named Muhammad.

Sacred Text Quran (Koran) considered by Muslims to be the

actual transcribed word of God. Deity God (called Allah)


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Islam, cont.

Core Beliefs Surrender to God (Allah) Worship Allah and not idols or physical

representations of him

There will be a day of judgment and sinners will go tohell while the good, who have followed God, go toparadise

Worship Practice 5 pillars of Islam: saying the shahadah (thereis no God but Allah), pray five times a day, fastduring Ramadan, give to charity, make a pilgrimage

(hajj) to Mecca once in your lifetime

comparing world religions

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