World Religions World Religions

Monotheism Monotheism belief in one godbelief in one god

Most religions today believe this wayMost religions today believe this way

PolytheismPolytheismbelief in many godsbelief in many gods

What is religion?What is religion?

An explanation of the origins and An explanation of the origins and purpose of humans and their role on purpose of humans and their role on earthearth

A belief in the existence of a higher A belief in the existence of a higher power, spirits, or godspower, spirits, or gods

Rituals, festivals, rites of passage, Rituals, festivals, rites of passage, and cultural landscapesand cultural landscapes

Early HumansEarly Humans Hunter-gatherersHunter-gatherers

Lived in isolated Lived in isolated groups.groups.

Developed Developed spiritual beliefs as spiritual beliefs as a means of a means of understanding the understanding the natural world and natural world and its phenomena.its phenomena.

Early CivilizationEarly CivilizationAgriculture - large settled Agriculture - large settled communitiescommunities

Writing - recording of spiritual Writing - recording of spiritual beliefs, passed downbeliefs, passed down

Indigenous beliefs began to Indigenous beliefs began to fade; modern world religions fade; modern world religions developed.developed.

Common Beliefs of Early Common Beliefs of Early HumansHumans

Hunting ritualsHunting rituals - expressed reverence and respect for - expressed reverence and respect for creatures killed for survivalcreatures killed for survival

AnimismAnimism - spirits inhabit all people, creatures, and things and - spirits inhabit all people, creatures, and things and play a part in the worldplay a part in the world

ShamanismShamanism - centered on one individual who is spiritual - centered on one individual who is spiritual leader of communityleader of community

All are still found All are still found

in parts of the in parts of the

modern world.modern world.

Diffusion of ReligionsDiffusion of Religions

Relocation (diffusion through Relocation (diffusion through migration)migration)Expansion (diffusion through a Expansion (diffusion through a snowballing effect)snowballing effect)o hierarchical (diffusion through key leaders)hierarchical (diffusion through key leaders)o contagious (widespread diffusion)contagious (widespread diffusion)

Missionaries - Individuals who help to Missionaries - Individuals who help to transmit a universalizing religion transmit a universalizing religion through relocation diffusionthrough relocation diffusion

Distribution of ReligionsDistribution of Religions

Universalizing religionsUniversalizing religions– ChristianityChristianity

2 billion adherents2 billion adherents– IslamIslam

1.3 billion adherents1.3 billion adherents– BuddhismBuddhism

365 million adherents365 million adherents

Ethnic religionsEthnic religions– HinduismHinduism

97% of India’s population97% of India’s population– Other ethnic religionsOther ethnic religions

Confucianism, Daoism, Shintoism, Judaism and AnimismConfucianism, Daoism, Shintoism, Judaism and Animism

HinduismHinduism

India’s major religionIndia’s major religionno known founderno known foundermain beliefs:main beliefs:– polytheismpolytheism– caste system-caste system-hereditary social system, hereditary social system,

enforced by law, based on occupation, enforced by law, based on occupation, economic status, race, ethnicity, etc.economic status, race, ethnicity, etc.

– karma- karma- action and subsequent action and subsequent reaction reaction

– reincarnation-reincarnation-literally "to be made literally "to be made flesh again“ when Enlightenment is flesh again“ when Enlightenment is reached.reached.

VedasVedas Hinduism’s oldest holy textsHinduism’s oldest holy texts

HinduismHinduism

Siddhartha Gautama - BuddhaSiddhartha Gautama - Buddha

Indian born in warrior casteIndian born in warrior casteattained enlightenment & given the title attained enlightenment & given the title of Buddhaof Buddhafounder of Buddhismfounder of Buddhismreligion that broke away from Hinduismreligion that broke away from Hinduismmain beliefs:main beliefs:– polytheismpolytheism– reincarnationreincarnation– the Four Noble Truths- the Four Noble Truths- sufferingsuffering– Eightfold Path- Eightfold Path- instrument of discoveryinstrument of discovery– Middle Way- Middle Way- practice of non-extremismpractice of non-extremism – nirvananirvana-state of perfect peace-state of perfect peace

SutrasSutras holy texts in Buddhismholy texts in Buddhism

BuddhismBuddhism

BuddhismBuddhism

Confucius (Confucianism)Confucius (Confucianism)Chinese philosopherChinese philosopher

ethical system based on the ethical system based on the teachings of Confuciusteachings of Confucius

main beliefs:main beliefs:– social and civic responsibilitysocial and civic responsibility– Five Relationships- juniors to Five Relationships- juniors to

seniors, parents to children, seniors, parents to children, etc.etc.

AnalectsAnalects

text that contains the words text that contains the words and acts of Confuciusand acts of Confucius

sayings from Confucioussayings from Confucious

Everything has beauty, but not everyone sees it.Everything has beauty, but not everyone sees it.

In a country well governed, poverty is something to be In a country well governed, poverty is something to be ashamed of. In a country badly governed, wealth is ashamed of. In a country badly governed, wealth is something to be ashamed of.something to be ashamed of.

Silence is a true friend who never betraysSilence is a true friend who never betrays

http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/c/confucius.htmlhttp://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/c/confucius.html

Taoism (Daoism)Taoism (Daoism)Lao-Zi (604-531? BCE) Lao-Zi (604-531? BCE) (also Lao Tse)(also Lao Tse)

teachings: teachings: Tao Te ChingTao Te Ching

dao dao ( (taotao) = “the way” ) = “the way” or “the path”or “the path”

Live in harmony with Live in harmony with naturenature

Values: simplicity, Values: simplicity, compassion, humilitycompassion, humility

ShintoismShintoismdistinctive ethnic religion of Japandistinctive ethnic religion of Japan

forces of nature are divine (Sun, Moon, forces of nature are divine (Sun, Moon, rivers, trees, mountains, and more)rivers, trees, mountains, and more)

official state religion of Japan 1860s-WWIIofficial state religion of Japan 1860s-WWII

more than 80,000 shrines in Japanmore than 80,000 shrines in Japan

JudaismJudaismJewish ReligionJewish Religionfounded by Abrahamfounded by Abrahammain beliefs:main beliefs:– monotheism (monotheism (world’s 1stworld’s 1st))– Jews are God’s chosen peopleJews are God’s chosen people

Ten CommandmentsTen Commandments– a list of religious and moral guidelinesa list of religious and moral guidelines– foundation of Judaism, Christianity, foundation of Judaism, Christianity,

and Islamand Islam

AbrahamAbraham Middle Eastern prophetMiddle Eastern prophetfounder of Judaismfounder of Judaism

JerusalemJerusalem Judaism’s, Christianity, and Judaism’s, Christianity, and Islam’s holy cityIslam’s holy city

TorahTorah Judaism’s holy bookJudaism’s holy bookwritten by Moseswritten by Moses

JudaismJudaism

Jesus (Christianity)Jesus (Christianity)

founder of Christianityfounder of Christianityexecuted by the Jewish leadership for executed by the Jewish leadership for creating the split between Christianity and creating the split between Christianity and Judaism Judaism religion that broke away from Judaismreligion that broke away from Judaismmain beliefs:main beliefs:– Ten CommandmentsTen Commandments– monotheismmonotheism– Jesus is the son of GodJesus is the son of God– resurrection of the deadresurrection of the dead

BibleBible Christianity’s holy bookChristianity’s holy bookmade up of 2 parts:made up of 2 parts:– Old Testament (Jewish text)Old Testament (Jewish text)– New Testament (lives and teachings of Jesus New Testament (lives and teachings of Jesus

and his followers)and his followers)

Church of the Holy Sepulcher Jerusalem

Christianity - DiffusionChristianity - Diffusion

Muhammad (Islam)Muhammad (Islam)Arab warrior and prophetArab warrior and prophetfounder of Islamfounder of Islamreligion that began in modern-day Saudi religion that began in modern-day Saudi ArabiaArabiafollowers of Islam are called Muslimsfollowers of Islam are called Muslimsmain beliefs:main beliefs:– monotheismmonotheism– Muhammad is God’s greatest and last Muhammad is God’s greatest and last

prophetprophet– believe that Jesus was a prophet, not as believe that Jesus was a prophet, not as

the son of God)the son of God)– Five PillarsFive Pillars

Qur’anQur’an Islam’s holy bookIslam’s holy bookcontains the teachings of Muhammadcontains the teachings of Muhammad

MeccaMecca Muhammad’s birthplaceMuhammad’s birthplaceIslam’s holiest cityIslam’s holiest cityKa’bah- temple of AbrahamKa’bah- temple of Abraham

Religion in the U.S.Religion in the U.S.