World Religions
Major World Religions
Judaism
Judaism
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Believers are called Jews
Founder of Religion: Abraham
Where did it start: Canaan (modern day Israel)
Sacred Book: Torah, Talmud
Monotheistic
Main Beliefs: Monotheism
-Following God's Law
-Equality and Social Justice
-The Importance of Study
- Do have some dietary restrictions (against pork and shellfish)
Judaism
• Spread: Diaspora
• Mostly practiced in
Israel today.
Christianity
Christianity
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Believers called: Christians
Founder: Jesus Christ (Jesus of Nazareth)
Where is started: Modern day Israel
Sacred Book: The Bible
Monotheistic
Beliefs:
Teachings of Jesus Christ
The Trinity
Believe in trying to achieve salvation (go to
Heaven)
Christianity
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Groups within Christianity:
Catholics
Protestants
Orthodox
Spread throughout the Roman Empire
through missionaries and traders and by
conquest.
All over the world
Islam
Islam
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Believers are called: Muslims
Founder: Mohammed
Where it started: Mecca, in modern day Saudi Arabia
Monotheistic
Main beliefs:
The Five Pillars (declaration of faith, fasting during
Ramadan, pilgrimage to Mecca, pray 5 timers per day,
give alms (money) to the poor)
2. Does have some dietary restrictions (against pork)
3. Believe in trying to achieve salvation.
Islam
• The religion spread through: missionaries,
traders, and through conquest.
Stoning the devil
Pilgrimage to Mecca
Hinduism
Hinduism
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Believers: Hindus
No single founder
Started in what is now India
Sacred Book: Vedas
Polytheistic
Main Beliefs:
Dharma: Law, obligation, and duty. Effect: many
believe in nonviolence-every living creature has a soul.
Karma: explains why dharma is important, law explains
what will happen to people’s soul when they die,
karma made up of good and evil.
Believe in reincarnation (born again) until soul merges
with Brahma.
Caste System
Hinduism and the Caste System
• Social classes” Brahmins (religious class),
Kshatriyas(rulers and warriors), Vaishyas
(herders and merchants), and Shudras
(servants, farmers, and laborers).
• Also had the untouchables.
• Over time, became complex.
• No social mobility. Born into a certain level
of society and stayed there.
Hinduism
• Ethnic religion.
• Mostly practice in India.
• Spread through migration.
Hindu Temples
Pilgrimage to Ganges River
Buddhism
Buddhism
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Believers: Buddhists
Founder of religion: Siddhartha Gautama
Where it started: India
Name of Sacred Book: Tripitaka
Main Beliefs:
People’s self centered desires causes suffering.
The Four Noble Truths
The Eightfold Path
When a person dies, they will be reincarnated until
they hit enlightenment, nirvana.
Spread of the Religion
• Monks and traders
along the Silk Road
Confucianism
Founder
• Kong Fu Zi
Confucianism
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Practioners: Confucianists
Where it started? China
Name of Sacred Book: Analects
Main Beliefs:
Uphold traditions of the past, establish
relationships and guidelines for how people
should act.
2. Taught respect for parents, loyalty to the state,
honesty, hard work, concern for others.
3. Believed education is important.
4. Ancestor worship.
Relationships
Parents
Husban
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Children Wife
Elder
Brother
Ruler
Younger Subject
Brother
Teacher Friend
Student
Friend
Daoism
Daoism
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Founder: Lao-Tzu
Daoists
Started in China
Name of Sacred Book: Daodejing
Main Beliefs:
Live in harmony with nature.
Yin/yang: opposite forces of nature and it represents balance.
Importance of honor and duty.
Best government is one that governs least.
Observe nature to learn how to behave.
Achieve oneness with the Dao.
Wuwei: action through non-action.
Daoism
• Found in China.
Sikhism
Sikhism
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Followers: Sikhs
Founder: Guru Nanak
Started in India
Sacred Book: Guru Granth Sahib
Started in India
Main Beliefs:
Faith, especially faith in one god
Social reform and pursuit of justice for all
people
Sikhism
• Spread through migration (Diaspora).
Sikhs
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