World Religions

1. World Religions Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism

2. Judaism • Torah: first five books of Hebrew bible • Christians consider them part of Old Testament • Abraham: father of Hebrew people • Shepherd from Ur, Mesopotamia, led families & their herds to Canaan (Palestine), the land God promised to Hebrew people • Yahweh: only Hebrew God, monotheism • Covenant: Abraham promised to obey Yahweh & he agrees to protect Abraham & his descendants

3. Jewish History • Migrated to Egypt, honored at first but eventually enslaved as Pharoah felt threatened • Exodus: fled in 1300-1200 B.C. led by Moses • Ten Commandments: brought by Moses, written by Yahweh • Important to study scriptures & live accordingly

4. Jewish homeland • Israel: united & formed under Saul, David & Solomon • Kingdom divides: Israel (No) & Judah (So.) in 922 B.C. • Attacked by Assyrians & Babylonians • Jerusalem falls in 586 B.C. • Exiled to Babylon but Ezekiel urges Jews to keep religion in foreign land • Cyrus the Great returns Jews to Israel in 539 B.C.

5. Diaspora • Come under Roman rule but rebel in A.D. 66 • Romans destroy Jerusalem and Jews driven from their land in exile • Dispersal of Jews throughout Europe known as Diaspora • No political state or homeland existed until Israel is created in 1948 after World War II

6. Rosh Hashanah • Day of Remembrance • God judges each person individually according to his/her deeds, and makes a decree for the following year

7. Yom Kippur • Holiest day of the year • Day of Atonement • Through prayer and complete fasting –abstinence from all food and drink (including water) • Bathing, wearing perfume or cologne, wearing leather shoes, sexual relations prohibited on Yom Kippur • all designed to ensure attention is completely and absolutely focused on the quest for atonement with God.

8. Hanukkah • 8 day festival of lights • commemorating the rededication of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem • acted as the figurative "footstool" of God’s presence • Symbolized by Menorah

9. Christianity • Jesus: born in Bethlehem in Judea~ 4-6 B.C., raised in Nazareth (northern Palestine). • Carpenter, began public ministry at 30 • Teachings similar to Judaism: Monotheistic, 10 commandments • Preached good, forgiveness & personal relationship with God • Apostles: 12 disciples & followers of Jesus

10. Jesus’ Death • Becomes very popular, viewed as Messiah • Judea controlled by Romans & Roman Governor Pontius Pilate arrests Jesus • Defying Roman authority • Sentenced to death, body placed in tomb • Appears three days later to his followers then ascends to heaven • His teachings spread after death

11. Spread of Christianity • Paul: Jew that sees vision of Jesus & spends rest of his life spreading his teachings • Romans persecute Christians • They refuse to honor Roman gods • Are blamed for economic & political troubles • Many killed, crucified, killed by wild animals, became known as martyrs

12. Overcomes persecution • Christianity grows because: • Embraced all people • Gave hope to the powerless • Appealed to those who deterred imperial Rome • Offered personal relationship with a loving God • Promised eternal life after death • Constantinople, Roman emperor accepts Christianity & credits it in military victory • Approves it as a religion • Made official religion of Rome in 380 A.D. by Theodosius

13. New Testament • Debates occur about beliefs, New Testament created to end conflicts • Contains: four Gospels, Epistles of Paul • Added to the Hebrew Bible (Christians refer to as Old Testament) Christian Leadership Priest: leader of the Church • Bishop: Priest who supervises several churches • Pope: head of Christian Church

14. Islam • Monotheistic religion that develops in Arabia in 7th Century • Mecca: location of Ka’aba, a religious shrine • Religious pilgrims came from all over to worship • Many Christians & Jews live in Arabia & Mecca and they believe in one God • In Arabic, the belief in one God is called “Allah”

15. Islam • Muhammad • born in Mecca • At age 40 spoken to by an angel, Gabriel • taught others Allah was only God, abandon other gods • Believed by Muslims to be God’s last & greatest prophet • Leads Hijrah: move from Mecca to Medina in 622 • Returns to Mecca in 630, destroys idols in Ka’aba • Meccans pledge loyalty to Muhammad & convert to Islam

16. Islam • In Arabic, Islam means “submission to the will of Allah” • Muslim means “one who has submitted” • Qur’an: holy book of the Muslims. • Revelations Muhammad received from angel Gabriel • Sunna: Muhammad’s example for proper living • Imam: the worship leader of a mosque and the Muslim community.

17. 5 Pillars of Islam • Faith: “There is no God but Allah, and Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah.” • Prayer: 5 X a day, face towards Mecca, at mosque, Islamic house of worship or wherever • Alms: responsibility to support less fortunate. Give alms (money for poor) through religious tax • Fasting: during Ramadan, from dawn to sunset *spiritual needs greater physical needs 5. Pilgrimage: hajj to Mecca all Muslims must take

18. Links to Judaism & Christianity • Allah is same God (just different name) that is worshiped • Muslims view Jesus as a prophet not son of God • All three believe in heaven and hell, and a day of judgment • All three trace ancestry to Abraham

19. Ramadan • No eating, drinking, smoking or sexual relations during sunset to sundown • 9th month of Muslim calendar, when Quran was sent down from heaven • Fast ends with meal & prayer at sunset • The good that is acquired through the fast can be destroyed by a bad deed (greed, theft, slander, etc.) • 2012: Began on July 20, lasted for 30 days • Photos: http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2012/07/ramadan_2012_begins.html

20. Hinduism • Cannot be traced to one founder • Religion liberates the soul from everyday difficulties • Recite daily verses from the Vedas • Upanishads: teacher’s comments on the Vedic hymns • Dialogue between teacher & student about liberation • Goal is Moksha: release from cycle of birth, death and birth again (reincarnation)

21. Hinduism • Deity: Brahman, personality of three gods • Brahma (creator), Vishnu (protector), Shiva (destroyer) • Caste system controls of a person’s life • Who to eat or talk with, dress, what to eat, cleanliness • Birthplace was a result of karma earned from previous life • Hindus today can choose any deity or none • Religious leader is Guru • Place of worship is home • Diwali: religious holiday, “festival of lights”

22. Buddhism • Originated in India but never a significant religion • More prominent in SE Asia • Founded by Siddhartha • Special at birth, kept inside palace until 29 • Spends adult life searching for religious truth & end suffering • Six years in Indian forests seeking enlightenment • Became known as Buddha • After he concludes to the cause of human suffering

23. Four Noble Truths • Life is filled with suffering and sorrow • The cause of all suffering is people’s selfish desire for the temporary pleasures of this world • The way to end all suffering is to end all desires • The way to overcome such desires and attain enlightenment is to follow the Eightfold Path, which is called the Middle Way between desires and self-denial.

24. Eightfold Path • Right Views • Right Resolve • Right Speech • Right conduct • Right Livelihood • Right Effort • Right Mindfulness • Right Concentration

25. Eightfold Path Nirvana • Buddhists seeking enlightenment must master one step at a time. • This would occur over many lifetimes • Buddhists also believe in reincarnation • By following eightfold path, you could reach Nirvana • The release from selfishness and pain • Pray daily and follow texts from the Tripitaka

26. Buddhism Monks & Nuns • Took vows to live a life of poverty, nonviolent and not marry • Spread Buddha’s teaching in the streets of India, carried begging bowl for daily charity offerings • Retreated to caves in rainy season • These caves developed into Monasteries Trade • helped spread Buddhism to Sri Lanka, Burma, Thailand, China, Korea, Japan