CATHOLICISM
FOUNDERS
Jesus of Nazareth appeared to a man named
Paul and told him to establish a Catholic Church.
 Based on how Jesus teachings
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ORIGIN AND SPREAD OF A UNIVERSAL
RELIGION
Spread from Middle
East to
Mediterranean
(Greece)
 Spread to rest of
Europe
 Spread South America
and Asia into Africa
through missionary
work and colonization

TEACHERS OF CATHOLICISM

Please: there are also nuns, fathers and monks
etc
POPE
VATICAN
CITY
BISHOPS IN
DIOCESE
(REGIONAL)
PRIESTS IN
PARISHES
(LOCAL)
MAJOR BELIEFS
The trinity (father, son, holy spirit) is the head of
one’s life
 Guardian angels are messengers for God and
protect from danger
 Virgin Mary, mother of Jesus and queen of
heaven. Highly revered
 Apostles for Christ
 Divine saints
 After death if you are “saved” or in other words
accepted Christ as your savior and live a moral
life you go to heaven. If not you go to hell.
 In protestant faiths you are go to heaven with
faith alone.
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CONT.
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7 sacraments:
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Baptism
Eucharist
Reconciliation
Confirmation
Marriage
Holy Orders
Anointing of the sick
UNIVERSAL DISTRIBUTION OF CATHOLICS

Over one billion followers all over the world
HOLY SITES
St. Paul Basilica
Galilee
Jesus’ burial tomb
Vatican
City
CATHEDRAL’S WORLDWIDE
Notre Dame
New York
City
Philippines
Cameroon
Brazil
Judaism
 Founder: Abraham
 Key people: Moses, King David, King Solomon, Isaac
 Began in Canaan, known today as Israel
 Mainly practiced in Israel and the U.S.
 Ethnic religion because you are born Jewish and they
don’t try to convert people to Judaism
 Approximately 14 million followers
 Beliefs: God, Human kind was created in Devine image,
Community, The Torah, The Land of Israel, The Coming
Messiah, The Covenant
 Kosher: To preserve their bodies, they can’t eat flesh,
organs, eggs and milk of forbidden animals, animals
must be killed in accordance to the Jewish laws, utensils
can’t mix between meat and dairy
 Burial: eyes are closed, body is on the floor covered with
candles lit around, the body is left alone, the body is
dressed in a plain shroud and is in a plain coffin, you
can’t cremate a body, autopsies are discouraged.
Architecture
Synagogue in Florence
Spanish Synagogue
Touro Synagogue
Russian Synagogue
The Jubilee Synagogue
Star of David
Sacred sites
The Western Wall
The Temple Mount
The Dome of the Rock
Islam
• Islam is a universalizing religion
• Hearth is Mecca, Saudi Arabia
• Has a total world wide following of 1.3 billion
people with 1.1 to 7 million followers in the
US
• Early diffusion was spread through forced
conversion but later diffusion was more
peaceful.
Founders and teachers
• Islam’s founder Muhammad.
• He studied both New and Old Testaments of
the Bible before starting Islam so many
teachers are from the Old and New
Testaments
Funeral/Afterlife
• Muslims bury the dead after cleaning and
shrouding the body and a short prayer.
• Cremation is not approved of
• Funeral practices vary by region
• They believe in 8 gates of Jannah or Heaven
and 7 layers of Jahannam or Hell
Architecture and symbolss
Hinduism
• No true founder
•
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•
•
– Influenced by Aryan invasion
4 Major Texts
950 million followers worldwide (14% world
population)
1.1 million in US (0.5%)
Dietary Restrictions
– Beef
– Varies with Sects
Ethnic Religion
• Clustered
distribution
• Unknown origins
• Sites based on
physical
characteristics
• Seasonal Calendar
Beliefs
• Individualized ways of Worship
• Different paths to reach God
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Path of Knowledge
Path of Renunciation
Path of Devotion
Path of Action
Brahma (Creator)
68% worship Vishnu (Preserver)
27% worship Shiva (Destroyer)
Shankara
Burial/Afterlife
• Cremation
• Closest relative lights pyre, oldest son
• Immerse ashes in Holy body of water
ges)
• Ceremonial Meal & Gifts to poor
• Reincarnation
• Many different heavens and hells
• Not permanent in Heaven and Hell
• Cycles until one with Universal Soul
Symbols and Holy Sites
• Temple:
– macrocosm (universe)
– microcosm (inner space)
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Gopuram
Lighting
4 Dhamas
7 Ancient Holy Towns
4 Maha Kumbha Mela
There are thousands.
Buddhism
Founder: Siddhartha Gautama
(563 BCE- 483 BCE)
• Universalizing religion
because it is not
limited to a particular
region or race.
• Buddhists worship one
person- Buddha.
360 million followers
of Buddhism.
MAJOR BELIEFS
• Buddha is the prophet, and
monks are the teachers.
Burial Practices :
Mostly cremate, and
ashes are left in urns.
After death, the belief of
rebirth is consecutive
until they reach Nirvana
(enlightenment).
•Reincarnation
•NIRVANA
•4 noble truths, 8 fold path, 5
precepts.
•No God, live to end suffering but
believe in heaven and hell
•Women can become nuns, but are
regarded as distractions.
Religious Sites
Kushinagar, India,
Tree of Enlightenment
-Bodh Gaya, India
A temple where Siddhartha
underwent spiritual
transformation.
FOUNDER
Jesus Christ and his apostles
 12 apostles spread the Gospel after his
crucifixion
 Holy Site: Church of the Holy Sepulchre located
in Jerusalem on the hill of Golgotha
 Began as eastern half of Christendom, the site
of the former byzantine empire(Greece Turkey
and nearby countries)
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Ethnic or Universalizing religion??
 Universalizing religion
 A man (Jesus Christ) founded this religion
 It is popular because it attempts to appeal to
all people
Number of members worldwide
 Second largest Christian communion after
Roman Catholic Church
 About 300 million
 About 1 million in U.S.
AREA OF THE WORLD THIS RELIGION BEGAN
AND IS CURRENTLY MAINLY PRACTICED
MAJOR BELIEF
Easter Orthodox relies on the writings of Greek
fathers such as Gregory of Nyssa, John
Chrysostom and St. Basil the great.
 Believe that Jesus Christ is the son of God

Eastern Orthodox
Church in Greece
Eastern Orthodox Church in
Belarus
Eastern Orthodox
Church in Russia
Eastern Orthodox
Church in Romania
Eastern
Orthodox
Church in
Poland
FUNERAL &BURIAL PRACTICES

5 different funeral services for
 Layman(adults),children,
Monks, Priests(Because
of their important role as preachers of the Word,
the funeral for priests has numerous Gospel
readings in it.
 Right at the beginning of the funeral, Psalm 118
(Septuagint numbering; KJV: Psalm 119) is
chanted. In the Orthodox Psalter this is known as
the 17th Kathisma, and is the longest psalm in the
Bible.
 10 Gurus all together, 2 most prominent is
Nanak Dev Ji (founder) and Gobind Singh
(introduced baptism, turbans+ long hair,
beards)
 25 Million World Wide
22 Million in India, other 3 million spread across world
 England: 389,000
 Canada: 278,415
 United States: 200,000
Maylasia: 100,000
 Monotheistic
 Equality
 Reincarnation until you find God
 Non-violent
 Good Deeds (rituals and superstition have no value)
 Amrit-Baptism to promise to uphold faith.
 Everything is by God’s will. Death is natural.
 Prefer cremation, occasionally bury or submerge in sea
 No monuments erected for the deceased
 Heaven is attained and Reincarnation is broken when
one finds God
 Architecture changes according to location (ex
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Ornamented in India, influenced by Hinduism
Progressive style of building, styles of buildings change
over time.
Domes are present in many of their buildings
Majority of the buildings are large to hold services and
mass prayers.
Khanda is the main symbol found on their flags and
architecture. The circle represents the universal and
creative power of God.
Yay Utah!
• Founders: Joseph Smith Junior ( 1805-1844)
through the Angel Moroni.
• Started in the “Burned Over District” of
Western New York, but after persecution, was
forced to migrate to Utah.
• 13.8 Million Mormons
worldwide!!!!!!
Yay Mormons
• Universalizing
• Joseph Smith
• Brigham Young
Mormon Beliefs
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Articles of Faith ( 13 points that summerize beliefs)
Words of Wisdom
Ten Commandments
God, Jesus Christ, Holy Ghost
Believe they are sent to earth to learn good from evil
Believe that they restored the true church on earth
Family is the most important unit (explains big families)
Seminary
Funerals/ Burials/life after death
• Bury people- believe in life after death.
• The Plan of Salvation: pre mortal life, mortal
life, and life after death.
• After death the body goes to Spirit WorldSpirit Paradise or Spirit Prison.
Pictures of Mormons
Salt Lake Temple- worldwide symbol of
Mormonism.
Temple in Nigeria
Temple in Switzerland
The Angel Moroni, who stands on top of
every Mormon temple.
The Golden Plates.
Holy Sites
• Salt Lake City- headquarters
- the site of the Salt Lake Temple, Temple
Square, and Mormon Tabernacle.
• Palmyra, New York- book of Mormon printed
there
• Kirtland, Ohio- First Mormon temple
Dietary Restrictions
• Follows Words of Wisdom
– No caffeine
– No alcohol
Started in 19th century Persia
(today known as Iran)
Started in present day Iran
and diffused to neighboring
countries
Where it is practiced
in the united states!
Simple Information…
• Founder -> Siyyid ‘Ali Muhammad
• Universal religion because it’s the second fastest
growing religion and anyone can join.
• Consists of about 7 million followers
• Prophet-> Bahá’u’lláh & his
son, ‘Abdu’l- Bahá who helped
spread the message.
• Consumption of alcohol and
halucigeons are prohibited.
• Religion is based on man and
the calendar is based on his life
– 19 months, with 19 days each
Beliefs…
• Monotheistic (one god)
• Three principles
– Unity of God
– Unity of mankind
– Unity of humankind(one single race)
• God sporadically reveals his will through heavenly
messengers, whose purpose is to transform the
character of humankind and develop moral and spiritual
qualities.
• Existence of god and the universe is eternal without a
beginning or end.
• One of the disciples, Bahá, is a messenger from God.
After life and burial services…
• Cremation is forbidden
• Must be buried in an hours travel time
from place of death
• All are placed in a cemetary
• Believe in a hell also
– state of remoteness from God and a place to
develop spiritually.
• When the body dies it is freed and enters
a spiritual world
– timeless extension of our own universe
– Entry to the next life brings great joy
Religious Architectures…
In the heart of Africa
In Chicago, Illinois
In New Delhi, India
Sydney, Australia
Architectures continued…
Mount Carmel in Haifa and
the majestic Shrine of
Bahá'u'lláh are the major
holy places of the Baha’i
faith. These are located in
Israel because this was his
last resting place before
death.
In Haifa, Israel
Symbolism…
• Five pointed star: represents the
human body and the messengers of
God. (symbol for religion)
• Nine pointed star: represents the
greatest name which is Bahá’
• Ringstone: representing perfection
and the messengers of God.
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Founder: none
Mahavira: latest Tirthankaras (a person who
achieves enlightenment.)
Hearth: India
Ethnic religion
# of members: 4 million (most in India) ,
75,000 in US
Prophets/Teachers:
Monks
Tirthankaras
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Four stages during their lifetime:
Brahmacharya-ashrama: the life of a student
Gruhasth-ashrama: family life
Vanaprasth-ashrama: family and social services
Sanyast-ashrama: life as a monk; a period of renunciation
Vegetarian diet
Every living being has a soul
Karma- actions and the results they bring to the soul's path.
8 Hells
The Three Jewels
Right Faith
Right Knowledge
Right Conduct
Beliefs
Five abstinences
Ahimsa (non-violence)
Satya (truthfulness)
Asteya (not stealing)
Aparigraha (non-acquisition)
Brahmacarya (chaste living)
 No Violence
 Text=Agamas
 Sects:
Digambara
Svetambara
 No Gods
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Beliefs
Funeral/Burial
Reincarnated until liberation.
 Can ascend to heaven due to good karma,
although most reincarnate.
 Karma & level of spiritual development
determines another physical appearance.
 Cremate dead ASAP
-Son lights the pyre
-remains are collected in bags and
put in the earth. Salt is sprinkled
over it so it dissolves
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Kochi, Kerala, India.
Digambara Statues: Undecorated
Shatrunjaya hills, Gujuratone of five holy mountains.
Svetambara decorate
images.
Mombasa, Kenya
Rajasthan, India
Ranakpur, India
Rajasthan, India
Elmhurst, NY
Then
Now
Founder: There is no historical founder in the Shinto religion.
Hearth and Diffusion: Originating in Japan, Shintoism has mildly spread to
Southeastern Asia, like in parts of Cambodia.
Universalizing VS. Ethnic:
Shintoism is technically a
universalizing religion
because one can not be born
a Shinto, and anyone can
be apart of the Shinto religion.
Members and Prophets
 In Japan there are in between 3 million to 110 million followers
 Majority of followers in Japan. Almost all Japanese are Shinto.
 There are no true prophets, but Confucius was the closest figure
to a prophet that Shintoism has because his teachings influenced
a lot of Shinto text.
Beliefs
 Impurity-belief that certain actions have a "ritual impurity" and you
should want to cleanse your self. they arent saying that impurity is
bad but its good to cleanse yourself
 Purification(Harai or Oharai)- Vital. These rituals of purification are
the lifeblood of the Shinto religion. they have been adapted to the
modern life.
 Afterlife-compared to the Greek Hades. People go to a gloomy
underground realm called Yomi
 Kami-reason for life and essence to the religion.
 Spiritualism-worshipping all spirits is a big part of
Shintoism.
Burial
Practices
 Planned and according to traditions.
 Over 20 procedures, ranging from an intense day of mourning, to giving an
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obituary gift of money to the family.
The Shinto cremate and gather the ashes (called Kotsuage) and place them
in an urn which is placed at the shrine for the priest bless their journey to the
afterlife. Then the ashes are buried at the grave site.
Not all ashes are buried, during one of the stages, the family gets to keep
some of the ashes to put into home shrines.
All ceremonies must abide by all of the traditional guidelines, meaning there
is no room for personalization for each funeral.
Ceremonies are held on the 1st, 3rd, 7th,13th, and 33rd years following the
death.
Family offer food and pray to ancestors and deceased daily.
Architecture
 Because Shintoism is very focused on nature, shrines are placed near waterfalls,
mountains, and caves.
 Shrines are single-dwelling styled houses and are made of entirely wood. Their
roofs are created from strips of Hinoki bark.
 Each shrine contains a sanctuary made for only priests, and a worship hall for
ancestral offerings.
Holy Site
 Ise Shrine-in Mei Perfecture, Japan. It’s the most
sacred shrine because its home to most important
diety of Shinto, Amaterasu omikami.
 Fushimi Inari Shrine- Oldest most revered Shinto
shrines. Dedicated to the god,of rice, sake, and
prosperity, Inari. Located in Fushimi, Japan.
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Zoroaster (Zarathustra)
 6TH century B.C.E. in Persia
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Universalizing- Monotheistic
Formerly one of world’s largest
religions; today 150-200,000
Unknown contemporaries
Adur Gushnasp
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Beliefs
 Ahura Mazda
 Good thoughts/good deeds… Chaos… Happiness
 Angra Mainyu… Cosmic renovation
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Burial Practices/After Life
 Birds scavenge “unclean” parts of body
▪ Avoid contamination of sacred elements of earth, fire,
water
 Remain dead until reunited with the savior at the
end of time (both good and bad spirits)