World Religions
Essential Questions:
• What is the purpose of religion?
• What impact does religion have on other
aspects of culture?
How are we going to study religion?
• This is not temple, church, or mosque. Therefore, we
will not be analyzing religion as adherents; rather we
will be analyzing religion from the outside looking in,
as historians.
• This does not mean that we will leave out discussion of
faith-based beliefs; on the contrary, religious beliefs
shaped historical actions and events for thousands of
year.
Religion and Beliefs
 Religion is humanity’s way of explaining the
unexplainable.
 God/The gods were and are seen as the provider
and sustainer of life.
 All cultures have a religion of sorts.
 All religions seek to answer how we got here
and what is our purpose
Judaism
Hear O Israel,
the Lord our God,
the Lord is One.
Judaism
• Judaism is the religion of the Jews.
• Judaism was the first Western religion:
Christianity and Islam grew out of traditional
Judaism and share many of the same beliefs.
• Judaism was the first monotheistic religion.
• People who follow Judaism are known by several
names:
–
–
–
–
Jews (a religious and ethnic connotation)
Hebrews (an ancient ethnic connotation)
Israelites (ancient national connotation)
Israeli (modern national connotation)
Jewish Holy Book
• The origins and history
of the Jewish people is
contained an a
document called the
Torah.
• The Torah is NOT one
book, but a collection
of books that were
written between the
years 2000 B.C.E. and
400 B.C.E.
• Sometimes the Torah is
referred to as the Five
Books of Moses.
Jewish Creation Story
• The Jewish creation story described in Genesis is
also believed by both Christians and Muslims.
• God created the universe in 6 days; and on the
seventh God rested. For Jews, the 7th day
represents the Sabbath or Shabbat.
• God creates the universe out of nothing.
• For Jews, Christians, and Muslims, God is the
One—perfect unity and pure essence in whom
all goodness, justice, and beauty derives.
• Judaism began circa
1800 B.C.E. in
Mesopotamia
(modern day Iraq)
with a man named
Abraham.
• One day, Abraham
was called by God to
take his family and
travel to the land of
Canaan, where he
would become the
father of a great
nation. They
eventually migrated
to Egypt and were
enslaved.
History
General Timeline
• 1250B.C.E. Moses led Hebrews from Egypt
• According to tradition, he heard the voice of God
and made a holy, binding agreement that if the
Hebrews would accept God as ruler of Heaven and
earth, God would make Hebrews the chosen people
• By 1025B.C.E. Kingdom of Israel is formed.
• United Israel only had three kings: Saul, David,
and Solomon.
• David unified Israel, made it a Middle East power
• Solomon’s reign was peaceful, built great temple
Babylonian Destruction of the Temple
The End of United Israel
• When Solomon died, his sons disputed who
would rule the kingdom. There was a war,
which was resolved by the kingdom of Israel
being divided into two separate kingdoms:
– Judah: Southern Israel encompassing the tribes of
Judah (David’s tribe) and the small tribe of
Benjamin.
– Israel: Northern Israel encompassing the
remaining ten tribes.
Babylonian Captivity
• Solomon died in 931 B.C.E. at which time his
kingdom was divided between two of his sons.
• Between the years of 700 B.C.E. and 600 B.C.E.
both kingdoms were attacked and destroyed by
the Babylonians, a strong empire to the east of
Israel.
• During this time, the temple in Jerusalem was
destroyed (580s B.C.E.) and Jews were forced
leave their homes in Israel and were resettled in
Babylonia.
The Second Temple
• In 539 B.C.E., the Persian Empire, under King
Cyrus the Great conquered the Babylonians
and allowed exiled Jews to return to Israel and
rebuild their temple in Jerusalem.
Persians, Greeks, and Romans (580 B.C.E.-70 C.E.)
• Although Jews were allowed to live in Israel and worship their
God, they were controlled remotely by foreign empires.
• The Persians were the kindest to the Jews, allowing them to
practice their culture and religion freely.
• Under the Persians, Jews began to speak Aramaic, the
common language of the Middle East. Hebrew was only used
in religious settings.
• In 332 B.C.E. the Greeks, under Alexander the Great
conquered the Persian Empire.
• From 332-63 B.C.E., Israel was controlled by Greek governors.
• Under the Greeks, Israel became very metropolitan and Greek
became as widely spoken as Aramaic. Most Jews at this time
became trilingual in Greek, Aramaic, and Hebrew.
• In 63 B.C.E., the Romans conquered the
province of Israel and sent a legion of troops
and a governor to keep order in the province.
• The Romans ruled as harshly as the Greeks
and imposed Roman ways and customs on the
Jews, which greatly angered the Jews.
New Ideas
• There is only one God
• God chooses to behave in a way that is both
just and fair.
• Jews combine two different sounding ideas of
God in their beliefs:
– God is an all-powerful being who is quite beyond
human ability to understand or imagine.
– God is right here with us, caring about each
individual as a parent does their child.
Beliefs
• God exists; There is only one God; There are
no other gods
• God can't be subdivided into different persons
• Jews should worship only the one God
• God is Transcendent: God is above and
beyond all earthly things.
• God doesn't have a body, which means that
God is neither female nor male.
• God created the universe without help
• God is omnipresent: God is everywhere, all the
time.
• God is omnipotent: God can do anything at all.
• God is beyond time: God has always existed
• God will always exist.
• God is just, but God is also merciful God punishes
the bad
• God rewards the good
• God is forgiving towards those who mess things up.
• God is personal and accessible.
Important Holidays
• Rosh Hashanah- Jewish New Year
• Yom Kippur- Day of Atonement
• Hanukkah- celebrates the ending of
persecution of Syrian laws ~170 B.C.E.
• Passover- celebrates the libration of the
children of Israel out of Egypt by Moses
Hinduism
“If I were asked under what sky the human mind has
most deeply pondered over the greatest problems of
life, and has found solutions to some of them which
well deserve the attention even of those who have
studied Plato and Kant- I should point to India. And if I
were to ask myself from what literature we who have
been nurtured almost exclusively on the thoughts of
Greeks and Romans, and of one Semitic race, the
Jewish, may draw the corrective which is most wanted
in order to make our inner life more perfect, more
comprehensive, more universal, in fact more truly
human a life, again I should point to India.”
Max Müller (19th century Orientalist)
Essential Questions
• What are the basic tenets of Hinduism?
• How is Hinduism similar to and different from
Judaism?
Background
• No founder
• Aryans, settlers of northern India ~2500B.C.E.
– Social organization of caste
– Many Hindu texts written at this time
• Interaction with other cultures leads to spread
of ideals
• No central religious authority  different
practices developed
Beginnings
– It has been theorized that Hinduism is a
result of cultural diffusion that occurred
between Aryan invaders and the native
peoples of India sometime around 1500
B.C.E.
– “Hindu” is a catch-all term that includes
most of the thousands of different
religious groups that have evolved in
India since 1500 B.C.E.
Basic Hindu Beliefs
• Salvation is achieved through a spiritual
oneness of the soul with the ultimate reality
of the universe, Brahman, by breaking the
cycle of reincarnation by doing good deeds
and fulfilling one's duty in life
• All things have souls so all life is sacred.
• Cycle of death and rebirth continues until
moksha (release from the cycle) is achieved.
• Patriarchal
• Usually non violent to avoid bad or negative
karma that will prevent you from growing
closer to moksha.
• Polytheistic? Monotheistic? Something else?
Dieties
• Brahman: Creator of Life
• Gods and goddesses are manifestation of
Brahman:
– Brahma, the Creator
– Vishnu, the Preserver
– Shiva, the Destroyer
• The three are known as Trimurti, the three
deities who represent absolute reality
Brahma
Vishnu
Shiva
Significant Writings
• Vedas: literature of religious professionals
–Upanishads: mystical writings
• Agamas: literature of the people
–Ramayana and Mahabharata: epic poems
–Bhagavad Gita: considered the epitome of
the religion
Analysis and Discussion
• The Mahabharata: Hindu Epic of Awe and
Wonder
Caste System
• The Caste System is a rigid class structure
• Dharma and Karma: If you lead a good life,
you will be rewarded by being reincarnated as
a person belonging to the next highest level in
the Caste System.
• However, if you are wicked, you will be
demoted, and possibly even removed from
the Caste System altogether.
• Outcasts, or Untouchables, are members of
Hindu society thought to have been removed
from the Caste System, with no hope of
returning to it, due to their misdeeds in
previous lives. Work that is deemed unclean
for all other Hindus is reserved for these
Outcasts.
National Geographic, June 2003
• A person who followed the rules of their caste
(dharma) would be reborn to a higher form in
the next life. A Hindu who neglected their
duties would be reborn in a lower form,
perhaps as an animal or insect. The goal of
Hinduism is to escape the cycle of rebirth by
reaching moksha.
Buddhism
Buddhism begins with a man. In his later years, when
India was afire with his message, people came to him
asking what he was. Not “Who are you?” but “What
are you?”
“Are you a god?” they asked.
“No.”
“An angel?”
“No.”
“A saint?”
“No.”
“Then what are you?”
Buddha answered, “I am awake.”
Essential Questions
• What are the basic tenets of Buddhism?
• What are similarities and differences between
Buddhism, Hinduism, and Judaism?
Beginnings
• Founder-Siddartha Gautama, or Buddha, which
means "enlightened one.”
• In 6th c. B.C.E., Brahmin caste was very powerful.
Reformers tried to limit their power.
• Gautama was a prince who had a luxurious life.
• Seers predicted he would be a great ruler OR a world
redeemer father wanted the former
• Very shielded from unpleasantness of life
• Married a princess at age 16; had a son
• In time he witnessed an old man, a man
suffering with disease, and a corpse outside of
his palace.
• He left his wife and son and wandered for
years until he achieved Enlightenment.
• The Buddha said that it didn’t matter what a
person’s status in the world was, their gender,
or what their background or wealth or
nationality might be. All were capable of
enlightenment, and all were welcome.
• This was radically different from what society
was like.
• Upon reflection, Gautama deduced that
desire was the root cause of all suffering. This
idea has been recorded as the Four Noble
Truths.
Four Noble Truths
1.Life is full of pain and suffering; suffering is
universal
2.Human desire causes this suffering.
3.By putting an end to desire, humans can end
suffering
4.Humans can end desire by following the
Eightfold Path
The Three Fires:
Greed and desire  rooster
Ignorance or delusion  pig
Hatred and destructive urges  snake
Impact of Buddhism
• Geographic Origin-Developed in India and
spread through Asia and especially Southeast
Asia.
• Today- Most common in Southeast Asia and
Japan.
• Significant Writings-Tripitka, or Three
Baskets of Wisdom.
Main Sects of Buddhism
• Theravada Buddhism
– Stresses the monastic life
– Respects Buddha as teacher, but not a god
– Spread to Southeast Asia
• Mahayana Buddhism
– Worships Buddha as a god
– Spread to China, Tibet, Japan, Korea
Tenets
• Buddhism is more of a guide on how to
morally and ethically live one’s life away from
suffering. Many become monks or nuns, living
an ascetic lifestyle.
• There is no belief in a personal God. It is not
centered on the relationship between
humanity and God
• Buddhists believe that nothing is fixed or
permanent - change is always possible
• Buddhists can worship both at home or at a
temple
Buddha preached a religion…
•
•
•
•
•
Devoid of authority
Devoid of ritual
Devoid of tradition
Devoid of the supernatural
Of intense self-effort
Christianity
“For God so loved the world, that He
gave His only begotten Son…”
Essential Questions
• What are the basic tenets of Christianity?
• How is Christianity similar to and different
from Judaism, Hinduism, and Buddhism?
General Information
• Founder-Jesus of Nazareth and his disciples
who helped spread his teachings.
• Geographic Origin-Developed in Judea (now
Israel), around the year 30 C.E., under control
of Roman Empire
• Monotheistic
• Significant Writings-The Holy Bible, consisting
of both the Old Testament and the New
Testament.
Roman Reaction to Jesus
• Jesus stated publicly that he spoke with the
authority of God.
• This claim angered the Jewish religious
authorities in Palestine, and they handed
Jesus over to the Roman authorities as a
revolutionary.
• He was tried for heresy, condemned, and put
to death by means of crucifixion.
Who were the Christians?
• Jews who believed Jesus was the messiah
promised in the Torah
• Followed Jesus’ teachings
Activity
• Continent partner work on Gospel According
to Luke
Early Christianity
– One supreme God who loved humankind
– Acceptance
• Offers hope and eternal life
• Paul moves Christianity away from Judaism
• Persecuted for centuries
– Strong organization and following by 400 C.E.
– Roman Emperor Constantine converts to
Christianity in 330 C.E.
– Exclusive  idea of one truth
– Jesus of Nazareth
• Message of salvation
• Disciples spread message
• Christians are expected to attend church
services regularly, usually on Sundays and holy
days such as Christmas and Easter. On these
occasions Christians take part in sacraments,
which are religious practices.
The Great Schism
• The differences between Eastern
(Constantinople) and Western (Rome)
Christianity culminated in what has been
called the Great Schism, in 1054, when the
patriarchs of the Eastern and Western division
were unable to resolve their differences.
• The split led to the Orthodox church and the
Roman Catholic church.
• The Orthodox Church does not recognize the
authority of the Roman papacy and claims a
Christian heritage in direct descent from the
Christian church of Christ's believers
• There are multiple branches of Christianity
with slightly differing doctrines.
– Roman Catholic
– Orthodox
– Protestant
• broke from Catholicism
• Martin Luther’s 95 Theses in 1517
Beliefs
• Christians believe that Jesus was the Messiah
promised in the Old Testament.
• Christians believe that Jesus Christ is the Son
of God.
• Christians believe that God sent His Son to
earth to save humanity from the
consequences of its sins.
Beliefs
• One of the most important concepts in Christianity is
that of Jesus giving his life on the Cross (the
Crucifixion) and rising from the dead on the third day
(the Resurrection).
• Trinity: Christians believe that there is only one God,
but that there are three elements to this one God:
– God the Father
– God the Son
– The Holy Spirit
Islam
There is a means of polishing all things
Whereby rust may be removed.
That which polishes the heart
Is the invocation of Allah.
Essential Questions
• What are the basic tenets of Islam?
• How is Islam similar to and different from
Judaism, Hinduism, Buddhism, and
Christianity?
Background Info
• Islam, which when translated from Arabic, means
"to submit to the will of Allah," is the youngest of
the world's major religions.
• Islam comes from the word salam which means
“peace” and “surrender”
• Worshippers of this monotheistic religion are
known as Muslims, which means "one who
submits to the will of Allah."
• Islam is currently the second most practiced
religion in the world.
• Founder-Islam was founded by the prophet
Mohammed.
• Geographic Origin-Developed on the Arabian
Peninsula in the year 622 CE, and quickly
spread to other regions
• Currently Practiced- Islam is most dominant
throughout the Middle East (Southwest Asia
and Northern Africa) and parts of Southeast
Asia
• Significant Writings-The teachings of Islam are
collected in the Qur'an (Koran)
History
• Founder: Mohammed, born in Mecca around 570
C.E. to a leading tribe
• Both parents died; uncle adopted him and he
took up the caravan business
• Married Khadija at age 25
• During meditation, was visited by Gabriel, who
told him to go out and proclaim God’s word, to
tell others of the belief in 1 God
• Slow start: 40 followers in first 3 years
• 622C.E.: After Khadija’s death, Muhammad
had to flee from Mecca; went to Medina.
• This flight was instrumental to the founding of
the religion of Islam and is known as the
Hegira.
– Marks beginning of spread of Islam
– 622 is the first year of the Muslim calendar
• 630C.E.: Muhammad returned to Mecca with
an army and took over the city; destroyed
images of polytheistic gods
• Muhammad died in 632C.E.
Beliefs
• According to Muslims, God sent a number of
prophets to mankind to teach them how to live
according to His law.
• Story of Creation follows Judaism and Christianity to
a point
– Ishmael’s descendents become the Muslims
– Isaac’s descendents become the Hebrews
• Adam, Jesus, Moses, David, and Abraham are
respected as prophets of God. Muslims believe that
the final prophet was Muhammad.
• Muslims believe that Islam has always existed
but, for practical purposes, date their religion
from the time of the migration of
Muhammad.
• Rules of Living: Muslims believe that the
Koran gives information to live by concerning
religion, politics, law, and social life
Five Pillars of Islam
• Shahadah or Confession of Faith: “There is no God but
Allah, and Mohammed is His prophet.“
• Salat or Prayer: Muslims must pray five times a day,
facing towards Mecca.
• Zakat or Charity: Muslims give alms to the poor, and
support the local Mosque by donating a portion of
their income.
• Saum or Fasting: During the Ramadan, the ninth
month of the Muslim calendar, all Muslims must fast
during daylight hours, except the very young or sick.
• Hajj or Pilgrimage: If possible financially, each Muslim
must make a hajj, or holy pilgrimage, to the city of
Mecca once a lifetime.
Prayer Times (in Lititz on 10/23/12)
• Salat al-fajr: dawn, before sunrise (6:10am)
• Salat al-zuhr: midday, after the sun passes its
highest (12:49pm)
• Salat al-'asr: the late part of the afternoon
(16:32/4:32pm)
• Salat al-maghrib: just after sunset
(18:13/6:13pm)
• Salat al-'isha: between sunset and midnight
(19:29/7:29pm)
Basic Articles of Faith
• Muslims have 6 main beliefs:
– Belief in Allah as the one and only God
– Belief in angels
– Belief in holy books
– Belief in the prophets
– Belief in the Day of Judgment
– Belief in Predestination (with human choice)
Impact of Muslim Civilization
• Through conquest and trade, cultures of
Greek, Persian, Egyptian, and Arabic blended
• Established banking centers and started using
lines of credit
• Many advances in medicine, algebra,
development of an accurate calendar
Divisions
• Sunni Muslims
– Any devote Muslims can be caliph
• Shiite Muslims
– Only descendents of Muhammad (or brother-inlaw Ali) can be caliph
Similarities to
Judaism and Christianity
•
•
•
•
•
Belief in one God
Descendant from Abraham
Live a moral life in accordance to God’s law
Follow the holy texts
God is immortal, omniscient, and omnipresent
Jerusalem
• The Holy city is shared between the three: The
Temple Mount (site of the destroyed Temple),
the site of Jesus’ crucifixion and burial, and
the place where Mohammed rose to heaven.
• All three religions believe that the last days of
the earth and the final coming will occur in
Jerusalem.