Five Major World Religions

1. Christianity 2 Billion 31% o Christian

2. Islam 1.6 Billion 23%o Muslim

3. Hinduism 1 Billion 15%o Hindu

4. Buddhism 376 million7.1%o Buddhist

5. Judaism 14 million0.2% o Jewish

World Religions NotesNontheistic-not having or involving a belief in a

god or gods.The claim of Non-theism is true in the sense that

there is no God in Buddhism who is a Creator, Judge, or Deity-in-Charge.

Ex. Buddhism

World Religions Notes

• Christianity • Islam• Judaism

• Monotheism: Belief in one god.

World Religions Notes

Polytheism

Polytheism: Belief in multiple gods • Hinduism

HOLY BOOKS• Torah: Old

Testament (first 5 books) of the Bible. Hand written on scrolls.

• Talmud: The Ten Commandments

Written in Hebrew

I. Basis of Belief • Oldest Monothestic religion in the

world. • Started by Abraham (yes, the

same one from Christian religion). • God spoke to Abraham and told

him to start a new land and that he and his descendants would be blessed and prosper.

• God= Yaweh

Rabbi

Temple/Synagogue

Rabbi

II. Holy Sites/Places• Jerusalem, Israel oWestern Wall aka Wailing Wall •Part of the wall that is left from the Temple Mount (the first Jewish synagogue)

Western Wall/Wailing Wall

Day of Worship and Holy Days

IV. Holy Days/traditions a) Rosh Hashanah: Jewish New Yearb) Yom Kippur: Day of Atonement (forgiveness) c) Passover: Celebrating the freedom/exit of the

Israelites (Jewish slaves) from Egypt, lasts 8 days, Christians also celebrate this

d) Chanukah/Hanukah: 8 days, celebrating the defeat over the Syrians

e) Bar/Bat Mitzvah: Coming of age ceremonya) 13 yr. old boys/12 yr. old girls

V. Day of worship: o Shabbat (means Sabbath)o sundown on Friday to sundown on Saturday

VI. Jewish Sects• Orthodox: traditionaloHasidic: most traditional sect

• Conservative: a sect that looks to “conserve” (save) traditions/belief. o opposite of Reform sect

• Reform: faith is based on the idea the beliefs are a guideline which you should live your life by rather than a strict set of rules. oMore modern

Jewish Sects….

Which sect is it??

Bible

I. Basis of belief• Monotheistic

• We are created good but are born into sin

• God sent Jesus, his son, to save people from their sins

• Belief in heaven and hell- an afterlife.

• Ten Commandments-especially the Golden Rule (treat others as you would want to be treated)

Priest

Church

II. Holy Sites/Places • Vatican City o Important to Roman Catholics oHas political voice in the world

• Jerusalem, Israel o Church of the Holy Sepulchre• Built where Jesus’s tomb is believed to have

been • Holds a boulder/stone where Jesus was washed

after being crucified

Church of the Holy Sepulchre, built on the spot Christians believe Jesus came back from the dead.

Bible

III. Holy Book/Teachings

• The Bible • Old Testament • Before Jesus

Christ • New Testament• Jesus Christ’s

teachings

IV. Holy Days/TraditionsV. Day of Worship

IV. Holy Days/Traditions • Christmasobirth of Jesus Christ

• Easteromarks the day of resurrection of Jesus

Christ• Celebration of the Last Supperomass/services/sacrament

V. Day of worship: Sunday

VI. Christian Sects • Catholics

o Roman Catholic, Greek Orthodox, Eastern Orthodox

• Protestant (PROTEST against Catholic church):o Methodist, Lutheran, Baptist, LDS/Mormon,

Greek Orthodox, Russian Orthodox

• Non Denominational• refers to those churches that have not

formally aligned themselves with an established church/sect.

I. Basis of Beliefs

• Definition: to surrender or submission in peace to God

• Followers: Muslims

• Word for God: Allah• Prophet

(messenger): Muhammad

Basis of Belief5 Pillars of Islam

1. Worship only Allah, Muhammad is a prophet of Allah

2. Prayer- must pray 5 times per day (sunrise, noon, dusk, sunset, night), must be done facing Mecca

3. Charity-rich give to poor, all will give to Allah

4. Ramadan- fast during daylight hours for one month (9th month on Islamic calendar)

5. Hajj: males should make a pilgrimage to Mecca at least once in their lifetime.

Iman

Mosque

II. Holy Sites/Placesa) Mecca: birthplace of Muhammad, destination

of Hajj (done to celebrate Muhammad’s travel)b) Medina: where Muhammad lived his young

adult life (Saudi Arabia) c) Dome of the Rock: believed by Muslims to be

where Muhammad ascended to heaven (Jerusalem)

d) Al-Aqsa Mosque: Mosque near Dome of the Rock

e) Kaaba: first mosque, located in Mecca, holds a stone that is believed to be a piece of the altar that Abraham was going to sacrifice his son on

Dome of the Rock

Believed to be the site where Muhammad ascended to heaven to be with Allah

IV. Holy Book/Teachings Koran/Qu’ran• The teachings of Muhammad• His Communications with Allah (God)• Most holy book• May not be translated from Arabic • The Bible, specifically the Old Testament

V. Day of Worship • Sunday

Al-Masjid al-Haram mosque

Kaaba

IV. Holy days/traditions Ramadan• Month long fasting. • Purpose: teach

discipline and sacrifice

Dome of the Rock and the Western/Wailing Wall

Islamic Sects

a) Shi’ites (aka Shia)o Believe that the only true descendent leaders of

Islam are family members of Muhammad. o They do not recognize the first 3 caliphs

(leaders) after Muhammad’s death. They believe that they are inferior because they were not a relative of Muhammad.

o They acknowledge the fourth caliph because he was related to Muhammad.

b) Sunnio Believe that Muhammad chose his successor-

who was not a family member.