Warm-UpWarm-Up• What religion does your family practice?What religion does your family practice?• What do you believe about the nature of What do you believe about the nature of

God/Gods/Higher Power of Your ChoiceGod/Gods/Higher Power of Your Choice??• What do you believe happens to a person after What do you believe happens to a person after

death?death?

• -OR- -OR-

• If you are politically active, tell me about your If you are politically active, tell me about your political beliefs. political beliefs.

• What party do you support, and why?What party do you support, and why?• Why are religion and politics difficult to discuss? Why are religion and politics difficult to discuss? • How do you feel about controversial issues, like How do you feel about controversial issues, like

abortion, gun control, gay marriage, the economy, abortion, gun control, gay marriage, the economy, our place in the Middle East, et cetera? Why?our place in the Middle East, et cetera? Why?

Introduction to World Introduction to World Religions and BeliefsReligions and Beliefs

Major World ReligionsMajor World Religions

JudaismJudaism Who –Who – Abraham, Moses Abraham, Moses When –When – circa 3000 BC circa 3000 BC Where –Where – Israel Israel Holy Books -Holy Books - TorahTorah, and , and TalmudTalmud Major Divisions –Major Divisions – Orthodox, Orthodox,

Conservative, ReformConservative, Reform Holy Symbol(s) –Holy Symbol(s) –

• • tzitzit (fringe on shawl or (fringe on shawl or clothing) andclothing) and

tefillin are reminders of the are reminders of the commandmentscommandments

• • The menorah(candelabrum) The menorah(candelabrum) is the ancient universal is the ancient universal symbol symbol of Judaismof Judaism• • The Jewish star is a The Jewish star is a modern universal Jewish modern universal Jewish symbolsymbol• • skullcap (yarmulke)skullcap (yarmulke)

Basic BeliefsBasic Beliefs MonotheisticMonotheistic – one God – one God Jews are the chosen people of God, Jews are the chosen people of God,

must follow his laws. must follow his laws. Jerusalem/Israel are holy lands.Jerusalem/Israel are holy lands.

ChristianityChristianity Who –Who – Jesus of Nazareth Jesus of Nazareth

When –When – circa 30AD circa 30AD

Where –Where – Israel Israel

Holy Books –Holy Books – Old and New Old and New TestamentsTestaments

Major Divisions –Major Divisions – Catholic, Catholic, Protestant, OrthodoxProtestant, Orthodox

Holy Symbol(s) – Holy Symbol(s) – The crossThe cross

Basic BeliefsBasic Beliefs Jesus Christ is the son of Jesus Christ is the son of

GodGod Death and resurrectionDeath and resurrection Came to redeem mankind Came to redeem mankind

from sin.from sin.

IslamIslamWho –Who – Mohammed Mohammed

When –When – circa 620AD circa 620AD

Where –Where – Arabian Peninsula Arabian Peninsula

Holy Books –Holy Books – QuranQuran and the and the HadithHadithMajor Divisions –Major Divisions – Sunni, Shia Sunni, Shia

Holy Symbol(s) Holy Symbol(s) - - The Star and CrescentThe Star and CrescentThe star and crescent is the best-known The star and crescent is the best-known symbol used to represent Islam. It features symbol used to represent Islam. It features prominently on the Featured on flags of prominently on the Featured on flags of Turkey and Pakistan.Turkey and Pakistan.The symbolized was popularized during The symbolized was popularized during the Ottoman Empire (1299-1922)the Ottoman Empire (1299-1922)

Basic BeliefsBasic BeliefsThere is no god but Allah, and There is no god but Allah, and Muhammad is the messenger of GodMuhammad is the messenger of GodQuran is word of God. Quran is word of God. Muslims must perform the “Five Pillars of Muslims must perform the “Five Pillars of Faith”. Faith”.

The Five Pillars of Islam

- the five obligations that every Muslim must satisfy in order to live a good and responsible life according to Islam.

1.Shahadah: sincerely reciting the Muslim profession of faith

2.Salat: performing ritual prayers in the proper way five times each day

3.Zakat: paying an alms (or charity) tax to benefit the poor and the needy

4.Sawm: fasting during the month of Ramadan

5.Hajj: pilgrimage to Mecca

HinduismHinduismWho –Who – Ancient priests of India Ancient priests of IndiaWhen –When – 5000 –3000 BCE 5000 –3000 BCE Where –Where – India IndiaHoly Books –Holy Books – Vedas, Bhagavad-Gita Vedas, Bhagavad-GitaMajor Divisions –Major Divisions – Numerous schools Numerous schools and traditionsand traditionsBasic BeliefsBasic BeliefsPolytheisticPolytheisticReincarnation and Karma – cause and Reincarnation and Karma – cause and effecteffectUltimate goal – oneness with “Brahman” Ultimate goal – oneness with “Brahman” (God, Reality)(God, Reality)

Om (also spelled Aum) is a Hindu sacred sound that is considered the greatest of all mantras.

The syllable Om is composed of the three sounds a-u-m (in Sanskrit, the vowels a and u combine to become o) and the symbol's threefold nature is central to its meaning.

the three worlds - earth, atmosphere, and heaventhe three major Hindu gods - Brahma, Vishnu, and Siva the three sacred Vedic scriptures - Rg, Yajur, and Sama

Om mystically embodies the essence of the entire universe. This meaning is further deepened by the Indian philosophical belief that God first created sound and the universe arose from it. As the most sacred sound, Om is the root of the universe and everything that exists and it continues to hold everything together.

Holy Sound (symbol)

Reincarnation and Karma:

Excerpts from Groundhog Day starring Bill Murray:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9hq5jZrFTbE&list=RD02eZbtAFq7dP8

BuddhismBuddhismWho –Who – Siddhartha Gautama (Buddha) Siddhartha Gautama (Buddha)When –When – 500 BC 500 BCWhere –Where – Northern India Northern IndiaHoly Books -Holy Books - Tripitaka TripitakaMajor Divisions –Major Divisions – Mahayana, Mahayana, TheravadaTheravada

Holy Symbols - Holy Symbols -

Basic BeliefsBasic BeliefsLife is suffering, caused by wanting Life is suffering, caused by wanting things, caused by ignorance.things, caused by ignorance.Reincarnation and karmaReincarnation and karma““8-fold Path” allows escape to Nirvana8-fold Path” allows escape to Nirvana

Wheel of DharmaCircle of Zen

Other ReligionsOther Religions

Baha‘i:Baha‘i: a religion founded in Iran in 1863 by Husayn a religion founded in Iran in 1863 by Husayn ععAlī Alī (called Bahaullah) teaching the essential worth of all (called Bahaullah) teaching the essential worth of all religions, the unity of all races, and the equality of the religions, the unity of all races, and the equality of the sexes.sexes.

Confucianism:Confucianism: the system of ethics, education, and the system of ethics, education, and statesmanship taught by Confucius, a Chinese philosopher statesmanship taught by Confucius, a Chinese philosopher and his disciples, stressing love for humanity, ancestor and his disciples, stressing love for humanity, ancestor worship, reverence for parents, and harmony in thought worship, reverence for parents, and harmony in thought and conduct.and conduct.

Jainism:Jainism: a dualistic religion founded in the 6th century b.c. as a dualistic religion founded in the 6th century b.c. as a revolt against current Hinduism and emphasizing the a revolt against current Hinduism and emphasizing the perfectibility of human nature and liberation of the soul, perfectibility of human nature and liberation of the soul, esp. through asceticism and nonviolence toward all living esp. through asceticism and nonviolence toward all living creatures. creatures. In Jainism, In Jainism, nirvananirvana means final release means final release from the karmic bondage.from the karmic bondage.

Shinto:Shinto: the native religion of Japan, primarily a system of the native religion of Japan, primarily a system of nature and ancestor worship. nature and ancestor worship.

Other Religions (cont.)Other Religions (cont.)

Sikhism:Sikhism: a monotheistic religion, founded in the Punjab c1500 by a monotheistic religion, founded in the Punjab c1500 by the guru Nanak, that refuses to recognize the Hindu caste the guru Nanak, that refuses to recognize the Hindu caste system or the Brahmanical priesthood and forbids magic, system or the Brahmanical priesthood and forbids magic, idolatry, and pilgrimages. idolatry, and pilgrimages.

Taoism:Taoism: the philosophical system evolved by Lao-tzu and Chuang- the philosophical system evolved by Lao-tzu and Chuang-tzu, advocating a life of complete simplicity and naturalness and tzu, advocating a life of complete simplicity and naturalness and of noninterference with the course of natural events, in order to of noninterference with the course of natural events, in order to attain a happy existence in harmony with the Tao. attain a happy existence in harmony with the Tao.

Zoroastrianism:Zoroastrianism: an Iranian religion, founded c600b.c.by Zoroaster, an Iranian religion, founded c600b.c.by Zoroaster, the principal beliefs of which are in the existence of a supreme the principal beliefs of which are in the existence of a supreme deity, Ahura Mazda, and in a cosmic struggle between a spirit of deity, Ahura Mazda, and in a cosmic struggle between a spirit of good, Spenta Mainyu, and a spirit of evil, Angra Mainyu. Pre-good, Spenta Mainyu, and a spirit of evil, Angra Mainyu. Pre-IslamIslam