DIVERSE CULTURES – Ethnic and Religions Groups
FSMS
Standard SSG712a.b
Day 12-16
SS7G12 – The students will analyze the diverse
cultures of the people who live in Southern and
Eastern Asia.
a. Explain the differences between an
ethnic group and religious groups.
b. Compare and contrast the prominent
religions in Southern and Eastern Asia: Buddhism,
Hinduism, Islam, Shintoism and the philosophy of
Confucianism.
Agenda Message: Social Studies Choice Board Projects are
due no later than Friday, December 13th. Before-school
tutoring is tomorrow starting at 7:30a.
Standard: Compare and contrast different Religious groups
in S&EA.
Essential Question, Monday 12/2/13: What is the difference
between a religious and an ethnic group?
Warm Up:
Name ten geographic landforms we have studied in S&EA.
Today We Will:
1.
Geography Quick Quiz
2.
Introduction to the Religions of S&EA
E.Q. Answer for Monday 12/2/13:
An ethnic group is a group of people who share
cultural ideas and beliefs that have been a part of their community for
generations. The characteristics they have in common can include;
1.
Language
2.
Religion
3.
History
4.
Types of food
5.
A set of traditional stories
6.
Beliefs, or
7.
Celebrations
A religious group shares;
1.
A belief system in a god or gods,
2.
With a specific set of rituals, and
3.
Spiritual literature
Warm-Up Answer for 12/2/13:
(Any ten of the following is an acceptable answer)
Indus River
Ganges River
Yangtze River
Mekong River Huang He River Gobi Desert
Tibetan Plateau
Taklimakan Desert Arabian Sea
South China Sea
Yellow Sea Korean Peninsula
Bay of Bengal
Himalayan Mountains Sea of Japan
Agenda Message: After-school tutoring is tomorrow from 4-5p.
Choice Board Project is due Friday, December 13th.
Standard: Compare & contrast the prominent religions of S&EA.
(Hinduism, Buddhism, Shintoism, & Confucianism)
Essential Question, Tuesday 12/3/13: What is the relationship
between reincarnation and the caste system in Hinduism?
Warm Up: When was the Hindu religion developed and in which
country?
Today We Will:
1.
Continue with the Religions of S&EA, finish Hinduism
2.
Chapter 26 Worksheet “Asia Has It All”
3.
Start Buddhism
E.Q. Answer for Tuesday 12/3/13:
Hindus also believe in reincarnation, the idea that the soul
does not die with the body, but enters the body of another
being, either a person or animal.
Another important part of Hinduism is the caste system, a
belief that social class is hereditary (inherited), and does not
change throughout a persons life. The only way to move to a
higher caste was to be born into one in the next life.
Warm-Up:
1500 B.C. in India
Agenda Message: After-school tutoring TODAY from 4-5p.
Quiz Thursday, Dec. 12th on Geography, Population
Distribution, & Religions of S&EA. Choice Board Projects are
due Dec. 13th.
Standard: Compare & contrast the prominent religions of
S&EA. (Hinduism, Buddhism, Shintoism, & Confucianism)
Essential Question, Wednesday; 12/4/13: What is the
ultimate goal of Buddhists?
Warm Up: What is the definition for reincarnation?
Today We Will:
1.
Continue with the Religions of S&EA (finish Hinduism and
start Buddhism)
Essential Question Answer for Wednesday; 12/4/13:
The ultimate goal for Buddhists is to reach
Nirvana, a state of perfect peace
Warm-Up Answer:
Hindus also believe in reincarnation, the idea that
the soul does not die with the body, but enters the
body of another being, either a person or animal.
Agenda Message: Geography, Population Distribution &
Religions of S&EA Quiz is Thursday, Dec. 12th. Study!!!
Choice Board Projects are due no later than Friday, Dec. 13th.
Standard: Compare & contrast the prominent religions of
S&EA. (Hinduism, Buddhism, Shintoism, & Confucianism)
Essential Question, Thursday, 12/5/13: How do many Shinto
followers worship their ancestors?
Warm Up: Who started Buddhism and in what year?
Today We Will:
1.
Continue with the Religions of S&EA (finish Buddhism,
Shintoism, & start Confucianism)
2.
Chapter 27 “Culture & Religion in Southeast Asia”
Essential Question Answer for Thursday, 12/5/13:
Many Shinto build shrines and worship their
ancestors who they believe became kami when
they died.
Warm-Up Answer:
Siddhartha Gautama, a rich young man, founded
the religion about 500 B.C.
Agenda Message: Geography & Religions of S&EA Quick Quiz
is TODAY. Choice Board Project is due Friday, Dec. 13th.
Social Studies Progress Reports go home next week.
Standard: Compare & contrast the prominent religions of
S&EA. (Hinduism, Buddhism, Shintoism, & Confucianism)
Essential Question, Friday, 12/6/13: Who was Confucius?
What did he believe?
Warm Up: What beliefs did Buddha accept from the Hindu
religion?
Today We Will:
1.
Quick Quiz
2.
Introduce Shinto religion & Confucius
Essential Question Answer for Friday, 12/6/13:
Confucius was one of the most important scholars in Chinese
history. He believed that the key to peace and social order
was for people to behave with good character and virtue.
Warm-Up Answer:
He accepted the Hindu belief in reincarnation and karma, but he
did not accept the caste system or the need for priests. He also
did not recognize gods. He felt man alone could change evil into
good.
An ethnic group is a group of people who share
cultural ideas and beliefs that have been a part of
their community for generations. The
characteristics they have in common can
include;
1. Language
2. Religion
3. History
4. Types of food
5. A set of traditional stories
6. Beliefs, or
7. Celebrations
A religious group shares;
1. A belief system in a god or gods,
2. With a specific set of rituals, and
3. Spiritual literature
People from different ethnic groups may
share the same religion, though they
may be from very different cultures.
HINDUISM
Hinduism is one of the oldest religions in the world.
Hinduism is the 3rd largest religion in the world.
This religion developed in India, taking much from the
religions practice by Aryans, a group who had
invaded the country from the north around 1500
B.C.
The worship of Aryan priests followed complicated
rituals and hymns known as the Vedas, of The
Books of Knowledge.
These prayers and rituals, along with many other
Aryan beliefs led to the development of the
religion known as Hinduism.
It has been said that Hinduism is a religion of 330
million gods. There can be as many Hindu Gods
as there are Hindu followers to suit the moods,
feelings, emotions and social background of
everyone.
There is a wide variety of gods to choose from to
worship with statues and symbols to pay respect
to.
If one wants to pray for acquiring knowledge and
understanding, he would pray to the god Sarasati,
for example.
One might pray to the god, Moksha, to obtain
God’s grace. Many Hindus worship their own
village god or goddesses.
However to say that Hinduism is a polytheistic
religion would be incorrect.
Many Hindus view the religion as monotheistic with
only “one supreme being”, Brahma. All other gods
or goddesses are simply facets (parts of) this one
God.
In the Hindu faith, there is a trinity as in the
Christian faith, where God is in three persons.
Brahma: is the creator of all reality,
Vishnu or Krishna: is the preserver of all
creations.
Shiva: is the destroyer.
Hindus also believe that all living beings have
souls, animals as well as people. Some animals,
like the cow, are considered especially sacred.
Many Hindus are vegetarians, meaning that they eat no
meat.
Hindus also believe in reincarnation, the idea that the
soul does not die with the body, but enters the body
of another being, either a person or animal.
The type of life a person leads determines what his
next life will be like. A good person will have a
better life in his next reincarnation. An evil person
will suffer in his next life.
A soul is reincarnated over and over again, until the life
it lives is good enough to bring it to be united with
Brahman.
The belief that one’s actions determine one’s fate is
called Karma, another important Hindu belief.
Another important part of Hinduism is the caste
system, a belief that social class is hereditary
(inherited), and does not change throughout a
persons life.
The only way to move to a higher caste was to be
born into one in the next life.
There are five main castes;
~
~
~
~
~
priests and wise men, or Brahmas, are the highest
warriors and rulers are next
merchants, traders and small farmers are third
the Sudras, or peasants and field workers, are last
a fifth caste considered even lower, the
untouchables, or pariahs, who do work no one else
would do
There are divisions within each caste, making Indian
social structure very complicated.
Traditional families would not let their children marry
someone from a different caste. Many jobs in India
are still awarded based on caste connections.
The government of India is working to make caste
divisions less important, but this is a tradition that
is slow to change.
Hinduism is practiced most widely in India where
over 80% of Indians claim to be Hindu.
BUDDHISM
Buddhism is a religion that also began in India.
Siddhartha Gautama, a rich young man, founded the
religion about 500 B.C. He had a life of luxury, but was
troubled by the poverty and suffering he saw in the
world around him.
He left his family and became a wandering monk
for a number of years, hoping to learn why
people had to suffer.
Finally, he quit wandering and simply sat and
thought, meditated, about the unhappiness of
man.
He felt he understood what needed to be done. He believed
that people could find peace if they could reject greed
and desire.
He accepted the Hindu belief in reincarnation and karma,
but he did not accept the caste system or the need for
priests.
He was called “Buddha” or “The Enlightened One,“ by his
followers.
Buddha taught that there were Four Noble Truths
in life.
1.
2.
3.
4.
One was that life always brought pain.
The second was that suffering and sorrow were usually
caused by greed and the desire for material things.
Third was that by giving up these greedy desires, a
person could end his suffering and reach Nirvana, a state
of perfect peace. Nirvana is the ultimate goal of
Buddhists.
The fourth was that to achieve Nirvana, a person needed
to follow The Middle Way.
The Middle Way was accomplished by following
what Buddha called the Eightfold Path (eight
rules for conduct):
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Try to recognize the truth
Try to avoid evil actions and bad people
Do not say things that hurt others
Respect other people and their belongings
Choose a job that does no harm to others
Do not think evil thoughts
Avoid excitement or anger
Work at meditation, thinking carefully about what
matters in life
Buddha believed that unselfishness was the key to
everything.
He did not recognize gods or see a need for
priests. He felt man alone could change evil
into good.
If one followed the Middle Way, ones soul would
eventually reach a state of perfect peace, or
Nirvana.
Their holy book, the Tripitaka, tells all of Buddha’s
teachings.
Buddhists do not worship a god but rather Buddha
by thanking him for his teachings and reading the
Tripitaka to become more enlightened.
Buddhism Summary
Buddhism is the teachings of one man.
Nirvana is the ultimate goal of the Buddhists. It is a state
of enlightenment where one can have happiness and
peace. It is often found through meditation.
About 6% of the world’s population today is Buddhist,
making it the fourth largest religion in the world. Its
largest numbers of followers are found in Southern and
Eastern Asia.
Compare ~ Contrast
Hinduism & Buddhism
ISLAM (review)
Islam is the second largest religion in the world.
Only Christianity has more followers.
SHINTO
The earliest religion of Japan was Shintoism, which literally
means the “way of the gods.”
Shintoism is based on the traditional Japanese teaching that
everything in nature contains kami, or the spirit of a god.
Unlike most of the religions of Southern and Eastern Asia, Shintoism
has no rules for moral living and no concepts of a single ruling
God.
The basic ideas of Shinto include:
 Shintoists are expected to be reverent to
nature, life, birth, and fertility.
 Shinto
teaches that physical purity is more
important than moral purity
 Many
Shinto build shrines and worship their
ancestors who they believe became kami
when they died
Since Shinto offers no ideas of a moral code or
one God, many people who practice Shinto
also practice another religion such as
Buddhism.
Shintoism was once the official religion of
Japan. It is no longer the official
religion, but Shintoism is still widely
honored among Japanese.
There are followers of Shintoism around the
world, but they are relatively few in
number when compared with other
major religions.
CONFUCIANISM
Confucius was one of the most important scholars in Chinese
history.
He was born around 550 B.C. at a time when the
government was having trouble keeping order and
warlords controlled much of the countryside.
He believed that the key to peace and social order was for
people to behave with good character and virtue.
Virtue is behaving fairly and with justice towards
others.
His Golden Rule of Behavior was “What you do not like
when done unto yourself, do not unto others.”
He believed a good ruler was one who treated his
people fairly and was kind to them.
Confucius was not a religious prophet or even a
religious leader.
He saw himself as a teacher and Confucianism is
thought of as a philosophy or ethical system
based on good deeds and morality rather than a
religion.
Confucius believed there were five basic
relationships among men:
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
Ruler and subject
Father and son
Husband and wife
Older brother and younger brother
Friend and friend
He believed that if each relationship was based on
kindness, there would be peace and harmony in
the country.
In 121 B. C. the Emperor Wu declared that
Confucianism would be the official guiding
practice for the Chinese government during his
reign.
He hired Confucian scholars to make up his
government staff and Confucian philosophy
continued to have a great influence on Chinese
government for 2000 years.
Even since the Communist revolution in China in
1949, many in China still support the teaching
of Confucius and his emphasis on treating
people fairly.
Many other people in Southern and Eastern Asia
also admire the teaching of Confucianism.
Many historians see Confucianism as one of the
foundations of Chinese society.