RELIGIONMichael Klees & Cam Brown

Religion

Definition: a belief system and a set of practices that recognize the existence of a power higher than mankind.

Acts as a powerful shaper of daily life Eating habits Dress code Celebrations Family practices

Types of Religion

Proselytic: Always seeking new members to convert

Ethnic: Focused around a specific ethnic group &

doesn’t wish to seek converts Syncretism:

Combining two or more belief systems Orthodox:

Emphasis purity of faith

Major Religions

Christianity Islam Hinduism Buddhism Judaism

Universalizing Religion

Definition: A religion that attempts to appeal to and convert all people

Broken down into Branches, Denominations, and Sects

Branch: Large fundamental divisions within a religion

Denomination: Group of common congregations within a branch

Sect: Small groups who have broken away from a certain denomination

Universalizing Religion (cont.)

Christianity Roman Catholic, Protestant, Eastern Orthodox,

Methodist, Mormon, Lutheran, Episcopalian, etc.

Buddhism Islam Sikhism

Christianity

Largest Universalizing religion 2 billion followers

Founded by Jesus 30 C.E. In Israel

Monotheistic (belief in one God) Doctrine & Holy Book

10 Commandments Bible

Holy Sites Churches Jerusalem

Christianity (cont.)

Branches: Roman Catholic (52%) Protestant (21%) Eastern Orthodox (10%) Other (17%)

Islam

2nd largest universal religion 1.3 billion followers Fastest growing

Founded by Muhammad 622 C.E. Middle East

5 Pillars Allah is one true God Pray 5 times a day towards Mecca Charity Fast during Ramadan Hajj (pilgrimage) to Mecca

Islam (cont.)

Monothesitic Holy Sites

Mecca Medina Jerusalem

Holy Book Qur'an

Branches Sunni (83%) Shiite (16%)

Buddhism

3rd largest universalizing religions 400 million followers

Founded by Siddhartha Gautama 590-600 B.C. Lumbini, Nepal

Four Noble Truths All living things must endure suffering Suffering, which is caused by desire to live, leads to

reincarnation Goal of all existence is to escape from suffering and the

endless cycle of reincarnation into Nirvana Nirvana is attained through an Eight-fold path, which included

rightness of belief, resolve, speech, action, livelihood, effort, thought, and meditation

Eightfold Path

Buddhism (cont.)

Holy Sites 8 religious shrines

Meditation to reach enlightment Branches:

Mahayana (56%) Theravada (38%) Tantrayana (6%)

Ethnic Religions

Definition: A religion that appeals to a specific group of people

Typically found in one or few locations of the world

Not as popular as universalizing religions Examples

Hinduism Judaism

Hinduism

Largest Ethnic Religion 3rd largest religion in the world 900 million followers

Polytheistic religion (belief in multiple Gods) Shiva, Vishnu, & Brahma are 3 main Gods

Founded in India Places of Worship

Temples

Hinduism (cont.)

Law of Karma: all actions produce effects in the future

Dharma: one’s duty in this life, and to strive for harmonious and eternal truth within

Reincarnation: previous acts determine the condition into which a being is reborn in one form or another

Moksha (liberation of the soul)

Judaism

14 million followers Known as the parent religion to Christianity

First monotheistic religion Founded in Palestine(Israel) Moses led the enslaved Jews from Egypt

to Israel Doctrines & Holy book

Torah (first five chapters of Hebrew bible) 10 commandments

Judaism (cont.)

Place of worship & symbols Synagogue Star of David (six point star)

Branches Orthodox

Original teachings of Judaism Reform

Developed to try and fit to the modern times Conservative

Most recent and moderate branch of Judaism