I. WHAT IS RELIGION?I. WHAT IS RELIGION?A. religion is a set of common beliefs and practices generally held by a group of people1. often classified as prayer, ritual,

and religious law

2. cultural traditions, writings, history, and mythology, as well as personal faith

A. =the belief in more than 1 GodA. =the belief in more than 1 God

1. Examples:1. Examples:

a. Hinduism (India)a. Hinduism (India)

b. Shinto (Japan)b. Shinto (Japan)

c. Primalc. Primal--indigenousindigenous

B. Hinduism (1500BC)B. Hinduism (1500BC)

1. Basic Beliefs:1. Basic Beliefs:

a. Many Gods:a. Many Gods:

i. Brahman #1 Godi. Brahman #1 God

b. Reincarnation: cycle of rebirthb. Reincarnation: cycle of rebirth

c. Karma: what goes around?c. Karma: what goes around?

d. Dharma: dutiesd. Dharma: duties

e. Vegetariane. Vegetarian

f. Yogaf. Yoga

g. Holy Book: g. Holy Book:

i. the Vedas or epicsi. the Vedas or epics

h. Temples: place of worshiph. Temples: place of worship

C. ShintoC. Shinto

1. No founder, 500s AD1. No founder, 500s AD

2. Basic Beliefs:2. Basic Beliefs:

a. Many Godsa. Many Gods

i. Sun Goddess #1i. Sun Goddess #1

b. b. KamiKami=source of life=source of life

c. Respect to allc. Respect to all

d. Truthfulness & purificationd. Truthfulness & purification

e. Temples: place of worshipe. Temples: place of worship

f. Holy Books:f. Holy Books:

i. Records of Ancient Mattersi. Records of Ancient Matters

ii. Chronicles of Japanii. Chronicles of Japan

D. D. PrimalPrimal--Indigenous (prehistoricIndigenous (prehistoric))

1. Ancient=no one founder1. Ancient=no one founder

2. Beliefs:2. Beliefs:

a. Many Godsa. Many Gods

b. Nature & animal Gods/spiritsb. Nature & animal Gods/spirits

c. Offerings to Godsc. Offerings to Gods

d. Prayers used to communicate d. Prayers used to communicate

with Godswith Gods

e. No holy booke. No holy book

III. MonotheismIII. Monotheism

A. =the belief in only 1 GodA. =the belief in only 1 God

1. Christianity 1. Christianity (world)(world)

2. Islam 2. Islam (world)(world)

3. Judaism 3. Judaism (Israel)(Israel)

4. Sikhism 4. Sikhism (India)(India)

IV . The MONOTHEISTIC FAITHSIV . The MONOTHEISTIC FAITHS

B. Began with Abraham c. 2000BCB. Began with Abraham c. 2000BC

1. Believe that God made a 1. Believe that God made a

covenant* with Abrahamcovenant* with Abraham

a.=Canaan (Israel) to be the a.=Canaan (Israel) to be the

home of home of ““GodGod’’s Chosen Peoples Chosen People””

b. Isaac: Abrahamb. Isaac: Abraham’’s sons son

2. Basic beliefs:2. Basic beliefs:

a. 1 God (called Yahweh)a. 1 God (called Yahweh)

b. Saturday Sabbathb. Saturday Sabbath

c. Synagogues: house of worshipc. Synagogues: house of worship

d. Only Kosher Meatd. Only Kosher Meat

i. No Pork or venisoni. No Pork or venison

--Due to cloven hoofDue to cloven hoof

e. Still waiting for their Messiah* e. Still waiting for their Messiah*

(=savior of man)(=savior of man)

f. Men wear f. Men wear yamukahsyamukahs in synagoguein synagogue

g. Holy Book:g. Holy Book:

i. the Torah i. the Torah

••11stst 5 books of the Christian 5 books of the Christian

Old Testament in BibleOld Testament in Bible

h. Holidays:h. Holidays:

i. Hanukkahi. Hanukkah

ii. Rosh Hashanahii. Rosh Hashanah

iii. Passover iii. Passover

i. Rabbi: priesti. Rabbi: priest

f. Holy Book: the Biblef. Holy Book: the Bible

i. Old & New Testamenti. Old & New Testament

g. Forgiveness of sinsg. Forgiveness of sins

h. Holidays:h. Holidays:

i. i. ChristChristmasmas

ii. Easterii. Easter

i. Priests, ministers, reverendsi. Priests, ministers, reverends

j. All people equalj. All people equal

k. Sacraments: baptism, marriage, k. Sacraments: baptism, marriage,

communion, last ritescommunion, last rites

C. Islam (followers called Muslims)C. Islam (followers called Muslims)

11. Began with Mohammed (632AD). Began with Mohammed (632AD)

2. Basic beliefs: (Ishmael)2. Basic beliefs: (Ishmael)

a. 1 God (called Allah)a. 1 God (called Allah)

b. Mohammed NOT Messiah but b. Mohammed NOT Messiah but

messenger of Godmessenger of God

c. Friday Sabbathc. Friday Sabbath

d. 5 Pillars of Islam guide lifed. 5 Pillars of Islam guide life

e. Holy book: the Koran (written only e. Holy book: the Koran (written only

in Arabic)in Arabic)

f. Mosque: place of worshipf. Mosque: place of worship

g. Holidays:g. Holidays:

i. Ramadani. Ramadan

h. Imams: (h. Imams: (akaaka priests)priests)

i. Different types: Sunni & Shiitei. Different types: Sunni & Shiite

j. No Pork or Venison (cloven hoof)j. No Pork or Venison (cloven hoof)

k. Mecca: holiest city, birthplace of k. Mecca: holiest city, birthplace of

MohammedMohammed

Judaism, Christianity and Islam all share many similarities.

Judaism is the root religion for all three.

D. D. SikhismSikhism

1. Combines Hindu & Islam1. Combines Hindu & Islam

2. Begun by 2. Begun by NanukNanuk 1500sAD1500sAD

3. Basic Beliefs:3. Basic Beliefs:

a. 1 Goda. 1 God

b. Reincarnationb. Reincarnation

c. Karmac. Karma

d. All humans equal d. All humans equal

e. Meditatione. Meditation

f. Holy Book: 1f. Holy Book: 1stst BookBook

g. Temple: place of worshipg. Temple: place of worship

h. Men never cut hairh. Men never cut hair

V. Belief Systems, NOT a ReligionV. Belief Systems, NOT a Religion

A. Confucianism A. Confucianism

1. Created by Confucius (Kong 1. Created by Confucius (Kong FuziFuzi

around 500BC)around 500BC)

2. Basic Beliefs:2. Basic Beliefs:

a. No Godsa. No Gods

b. NOT a religion but a system of b. NOT a religion but a system of

conduct in lifeconduct in life

c. Yin & Yangc. Yin & Yang

d. Filial Piety: d. Filial Piety:

i. Honoring ancestorsi. Honoring ancestors

ii. Obeying eldersii. Obeying elders

e. the 5 Relationships:e. the 5 Relationships:

i. ruler i. ruler to to ruledruled

ii. father ii. father to to childchild

iii. husband iii. husband to to wife wife

iv. Elder brother iv. Elder brother to younger to younger brother brother

v. friend v. friend to friendto friend

f. Civil Service Exams f. Civil Service Exams

(500BC(500BC——1900AD)1900AD)

i. Anyone could take the tests to get i. Anyone could take the tests to get

a better job in the governmenta better job in the government

g. Writings:g. Writings:

i. The Analectsi. The Analects

ii. The 5 Classicsii. The 5 Classics

B. Traditional Chinese (Daoism)B. Traditional Chinese (Daoism)

1. No founder, 900s AD1. No founder, 900s AD

2. Beliefs:2. Beliefs:

a. Not a religion but a way of lifea. Not a religion but a way of life

b. Reincarnationb. Reincarnation

c. Live a virtuous life c. Live a virtuous life (do right thing)(do right thing)

d. Harmony with natured. Harmony with nature

i. many are vegetariani. many are vegetarian

e. Many Confucian beliefs:e. Many Confucian beliefs:

1. the 5 Relationships1. the 5 Relationships

2. Filial Piety2. Filial Piety

3. Yin & Yang3. Yin & Yang

4. Civil Service Exams4. Civil Service Exams

f. Writings: f. Writings:

1. Dao de Jin (The Way of Power)1. Dao de Jin (The Way of Power)

2. 2. ZhuangziZhuangzi

C. Buddhism C. Buddhism (after Hinduism in 4(after Hinduism in 4ththc. BC)c. BC)

1. Begun by 1. Begun by SiddarthaSiddartha GuatamaGuatama

(the Buddha) as alternative to (the Buddha) as alternative to

Hinduism=many of same beliefsHinduism=many of same beliefs

2. Basic Beliefs:2. Basic Beliefs:

a. No Godsa. No Gods

b. Goal in life: to achieve Nirvanab. Goal in life: to achieve Nirvana

c. Karmac. Karma

d. Reincarnationd. Reincarnation

e. Vegetariane. Vegetarian

f. Yogaf. Yoga

gg. Enlightened Ones: . Enlightened Ones: BuddhasBuddhas

h. 8 Fold Path: guides lifeh. 8 Fold Path: guides life

i. Holy Books:i. Holy Books:

••4 Noble Truths4 Noble Truths

••TripitakaTripitaka (3 Baskets)(3 Baskets)

j. Temples: places of worshipj. Temples: places of worship