Islam

●1.3 billion Muslims, mostly in Middle East from N. Africa to Central Asia, Indonesia, Pakistan, Bangladesh, India

●Islam means “submission to the will of God”, has a similar root to the word “peace”

5 Pillars of Islam

●1. There is no God but God, and Muhammad is his prophet

●2. Pray 5 times/day, facing Mecca●3. Alms giving (charity)●4. Fasting during Ramadan●5. Pilgrimage to Mecca if able

Branches of Islam

●2 main ones- Sunni (orthodox) and Shi’ite (sectarian)

●Sunni 83%, Shi’ite 16%●Shi’ite concentrated in Iran, Iraq, Pakistan●Muslims in W. Europe a legacy of colonialism and

immigration. E. Europe- Ottoman Empire●5 million Muslims in N. America

Nation of Islam

●Aka “Black Muslims” started in 1930’s in Detroit●Led by Elijah Muhammad, advocated a separate

nation within the US for themselves●Malcolm X converted to orthodox Islam after a

pilgrimage to Mecca, assassinated 1965

Buddhism●400 million adherents●Mainly in China and SE Asia●4 Noble Truths:●1. Life is suffering●2. Suffering is caused by desire●3. To eliminate suffering, eliminate desire●4. To eliminate desire and achieve Nirvana, follow

the Noble Eightfold Path- right beliefs, resolve, speech, action, livelihood, effort, thought, meditation

Buddha

Buddhist Branches

●Theravada “little raft” (38%), Mahayana “big raft” (56%), tantrayana “yoga” (6%)

●Buddhists can adhere to more than one Eastern religion.

Other Universalizing●Sikhism- 25 million, mostly in Punjab region of India●Kind of a combo of Islam and Buddhism●Sikhs wear turbans and never cut beards/hair●Baha’i- 8 million, dispersed mostly in Asia and Africa●Baha’u’llah wanted to overcome disunity and establish

universal faith by abolishing class, race, and religious prejudices