World Religions Websites and Videos
The Youtube videos listed here have been downloaded and saved directly on the Shared
(S:) drive in case you can’t access Youtube. ( Go to S:\Middle School\Duyck\Social Studies
7\religion videos from youtube)
The entries with an asterisk (*) are the ones that I think are most helpful/interesting.
If you find any good websites or videos, please send me the address at
steve.duyck@staff.spartaschools.org.
I have reviewed these resources, but have not had time to read or view every page or every
link, and some of them might have been edited since I reviewed them. Please let me know if
you find anything inappropriate, or any information that you suspect may be inaccurate, so
I can remove it.
–Mr. Duyck
Multiple Religions
Websites:
World religions for kids:
*http://www.uri.org/kids/world.htm
*http://resources.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/homework/religion/
*https://sites.google.com/site/worldreligionsforkids/home
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/religion/
World Religions Map: http://worldreligions.psu.edu/maps-introduction.htm
Major World Religions: http://www.omsakthi.org/religions.html
*Major Religions Ranked by Size: http://www.adherents.com/Religions_By_Adherents.html
A Pinterest pages with dozens of resources:
http://www.pinterest.com/tootsie79/middle-school-world-religions/
Videos:
*Video: 5 major world religions by John Bellaimey:
http://ed.ted.com/lessons/the-five-major-world-religions-john-bellaimey
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m6dCxo7t_aE&list=PLyTQFe4nDbl9HQuRFTrNdeJJYctC
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Video: Video Timeline – World Religions Astonishing Facts:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JTZOjVwHr7A&list=PLyTQFe4nDbl9HQuRFTrNdeJJYct
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Hinduism
Websites:
Hindu Temples: http://www.hindunet.org/hindu_pictures/temples/temples.shtml
Hindu architecture: http://www.touropia.com/amazing-hindu-temples/
http://hinduism.about.com/od/basics/p/hinduismbasics.htm
http://www.religionfacts.com/hinduism/index.htm
http://www.religioustolerance.org/hinduism.htm
Hinduism History Timeline: http://www.religionfacts.com/hinduism/timeline.htm
Videos:
*Video: Crash Course on Hinduism & Buddhism:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Nn5uqE3C9w
*Video: Hip Hughes Hinduism & Buddhism:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kGUwKscC0tw
Video: Chicago Police Department on Hindu religious beliefs:
http://www.schooltube.com/video/e565e0882667424b8a64/Hinduism
Video: Five misconceptions about Hinduism:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yp25I8f3gaY&list=PLyTQFe4nDbl9HQuRFTrNdeJJYctCF
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Video: Hindu temples: Get it from the Shared (S:) drive.
Video: Hindu creation story: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y9yWwFWpbRo
Buddhism
Websites:
Buddhist Art and Architecture: http://www.buddhanet.net/gallery.htm
Buddhist Festivals and Special Days: http://www.buddhanet.net/festival.htm
A Brief History of Buddhism: Siddhartha Gautama:
http://mcel.pacificu.edu/as/students/vb/history.htm
Buddhism for teenagers: http://dhammadana.fr/en.htm
Treasures of the World: Borobudur Temple:
http://www.pbs.org/treasuresoftheworld/borobudur/boro_main.html
Buddhism History Timeline: http://www.religionfacts.com/buddhism/timeline.htm
Videos:
These two videos are also listed in the Hinduism section:
*Video: Crash Course on Hinduism & Buddhism:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Nn5uqE3C9w
*Video: Hip Hughes Hinduism & Buddhism:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kGUwKscC0tw
Video: Ancient India Buddhism:
http://www.schooltube.com/video/238013c3ec3f4a208980/Ancient%20India%20Buddhism
Judaism
Websites:
Jewish architecture:
https://www.google.com/search?q=jewish+architecture&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=C9
VZU-SIL5CnyATa1ILAAw&sqi=2&ved=0CAYQ_AUoAQ&biw=1440&bih=785
Heritage: Civilization and the Jews: http://www.pbs.org/wnet/heritage/
Judaism 101: Synagogues, Shuls, and Temples: http://www.jewfaq.org/shul.htm
Judaism: http://www.jewfaq.org/index.htm
Judaism History Timeline: http://www.religionfacts.com/judaism/timeline.htm
Videos:
Video: Facts about Judaism: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KzCoWo2eYGA
Video: Chicago Police Department on Judaism:
http://www.schooltube.com/video/e8902fc7c3bf41a9adb3/Judaism%20The%20Chicago%20Police%20Department
Christianity
Websites:
*Architecture in Russia: http://architecture.about.com/library/weekly/aa090501c.htm
Christian architecture:
https://www.google.com/search?q=christian+architecture&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=n
9VZU-rpMYyayAS3iIHYDA&sqi=2&ved=0CAYQ_AUoAQ&biw=1440&bih=785
Frontline - From Jesus to Christ: The First Christians:
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/religion/
Christianity History Timeline: http://www.religionfacts.com/christianity/timeline.htm
Videos:
Video: What is Christianity?:
http://www.schooltube.com/video/156b632615b14e5f9e33/What%20is%20Christianity
*Video: Crash Course - Christianity from Judaism to Constantine:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TG55ErfdaeY&list=PLyTQFe4nDbl9HQuRFTrNdeJJYctC
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Video: Crash Course on the Crusades (Christianity and Islam)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X0zudTQelzI&list=PLyTQFe4nDbl9HQuRFTrNdeJJYctCF
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Islam
Websites:
Islamic architecture:
https://www.google.com/search?q=christian+architecture&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=n
9VZUrpMYyayAS3iIHYDA&sqi=2&ved=0CAYQ_AUoAQ&biw=1440&bih=785#q=islamic+archite
cture&tbm=isch
Islam: Empire of Faith: http://www.pbs.org/islam/
Virtual Mosque: http://www.islamicity.com/
Taj Mahal: http://islamicity.com/Culture/Taj/default.htm
Islam Historical timeline: http://www.religionfacts.com/islam/timeline.htm
Videos:
Video: Crash course Islam: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TpcbfxtdoI8
Video: The Basics of Islam:
http://www.schooltube.com/video/266bab793403450392fc/The%20Basics%20of%20Islam
Use this information to get you started. It should not be your only source of
information.
The Top Six World Religions:
Buddhism - THE WHEEL OF DHARMA
Buddhism is a set of teachings often described as a religion. Many recent scholars
regard it as a plurality rather than a single entity. As with other religions, some
Buddhists claim that Buddhism is not a religion. Some say it is a body of
philosophies influenced by the teachings of Siddhartha Gautama, known as
Gautama Buddha. Others say it is teachings to guide one to directly experiencing
reality. Buddhism is also known as Buddha Dharma or Dhamma, which means
roughly the "teachings of the Awakened One" in Sanskrit and Pali, languages of
ancient Buddhist texts.
Buddhism began around 5th century BC with the teachings of Siddhartha
Gautama, who was born in ancient India, and is hereafter referred to as "the
Buddha."
Christianity - THE CROSS, THE HOLY BIBLE
Christianity is a monotheistic religion centered on the life and teachings of Jesus
of Nazareth as depicted in the New Testament. Christianity teaches that Jesus is the
Son of God and the Messiah prophesied in the Old Testament, and that the New
Testament records the Gospel that was revealed by Jesus.
Christianity began as a sect within Judaism, and includes the Hebrew Bible (known
to Christians as the Old Testament) as well as the New Testament as its canonical
scriptures. Like Judaism and Islam, Christianity is classified as an Abrahamic
religion.
Hinduism - THE SACRED SYLLABLE
Hinduism is a religious tradition that originated in the Indian subcontinent.
Hinduism is often referred to as Sanātana Dharma by its practitioners, a Sanskrit
phrase meaning "the eternal law".
Hinduism is the world's oldest major religion that is still practiced. Its earliest
origins can be traced to the ancient Vedic civilization. A conglomerate of diverse
beliefs and traditions, Hinduism has no single founder. It is the world's third
largest religion following Christianity and Islam, with approximately a billion
adherents, of whom about 905 million live in India and Nepal. Other countries
with large Hindu populations include Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Indonesia,
Malaysia, Singapore, Mauritius, Fiji, Suriname, Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago.
Hinduism contains a vast body of scriptures. Divided as Śruti (revealed) and Smriti
(remembered) and developed over millennia, these scriptures expound on theology,
philosophy and mythology, and provide spiritual insights and guidance on the
practice of dharma (religious living). In the orthodox view, among such texts, the
Vedas and the Upanishads are the foremost in authority, importance and antiquity.
Other major scriptures include the Tantras, the sectarian Agamas, the Purāṇas and
the epics Mahābhārata and Rāmāyaṇa. The Bhagavad Gītā, a treatise excerpted
from the Mahābhārata, is sometimes called a summary of the spiritual teachings of
the Vedas.
Islam - THE CRESCENT MOON, THE QUR’AN
Islam is a monotheistic Abrahamic religion originating with the teachings of
Muhammad, a 7th century Arab religious and political figure. The word Islam
means "submission", or the total surrender of oneself to God (Allah). An adherent
of Islam is known as a Muslim, meaning "one who submits (to God)". There are
between 1.1 billion and 1.8 billion Muslims, making Islam the second-largest
religion in the world, after Christianity.
Muslims believe that God revealed the Qur'an to Muhammad, God's final prophet,
and regard the Qur'an and the Sunnah (words and deeds of Muhammad) as the
fundamental sources of Islam. They do not regard Muhammad as the founder of a
new religion, but as the restorer of the original monotheistic faith of Abraham,
Moses, Jesus, and other prophets. Islamic tradition holds that Judaism and
Christianity distorted the messages of these prophets over time either in
interpretation, in text, or both.
Islam includes many religious practices. Adherents are generally required to
observe the Five Pillars of Islam, which are five duties that unite Muslims into a
community. In addition to the Five Pillars, Islamic law (sharia) has developed a
tradition of rulings that touch on virtually all aspects of life and society. This
tradition encompasses everything from practical matters like dietary laws and
banking to warfare.
Almost all Muslims belong to one of two major denominations, the Sunni and
Shi'a. The schism developed in the late 7th century following disagreements over
the religious and political leadership of the Muslim community. Roughly 85
percent of Muslims are Sunni and 15 percent are Shi'a. Islam is the predominant
religion throughout the Middle East, as well as in parts of Africa and Asia. Large
communities are also found in China, the Balkan Peninsula in Eastern Europe and
Russia. There are also large Muslim immigrant communities in wealthier and more
developed parts of the world such as Western Europe. About 20 percent of
Muslims live in Arab countries.
Judaism - THE MENORAH, THE STAR OF DAVID
Judaism is the religion of the Jewish people, based on principles and ethics
embodied in the Hebrew Bible (Tanakh) and the Talmud. According to Jewish
tradition, the history of Judaism begins with the Covenant between God and
Abraham (ca. 2000 BCE), the patriarch and progenitor of the Jewish people.
Judaism is among the oldest religious traditions still in practice today. Jewish
history and doctrines have influenced other religions such as Christianity, Islam
and the Bahá'í Faith.
While Judaism has seldom, if ever, been monolithic in practice, it has always been
monotheistic in theology. It differs from many religions in that central authority is
not vested in a person or group, but in sacred texts and traditions. Throughout the
ages, Judaism has clung to a number of religious principles, the most important of
which is the belief in a single, omniscient, omnipotent, benevolent, transcendent
God, who created the universe and continues to govern it. According to traditional
Jewish belief, the God who created the world established a covenant with the
Israelites, and revealed his laws and commandments to Moses on Mount Sinai in
the form of the Torah, and the Jewish people are the descendants of the Israelites.
The traditional practice of Judaism revolves around study and the observance of
God's laws and commandments as written in the Torah and expounded in the
Talmud.
Sikhism - THE KHANDA
Sikhism, founded on the teachings of Guru Nanak Dev and nine successive gurus
in fifteenth century Northern India, is the fifth-largest religion in the world. This
system of religious philosophy and expression has been traditionally known as the
Gurmat (literally the counsel of the gurus) or the Sikh Dharma. Sikhism originated
from the word Sikh, which in turn comes from the Sanskrit root śiṣya meaning
"disciple" or "learner", or śikṣa meaning "instruction."
The principal belief of Sikhism is faith in Vāhigurū—represented using the sacred
symbol of ēk ōaṅkār, the Universal God. Sikhism advocates the pursuit of
salvation through disciplined, personal meditation on the name and message of
God. A key distinctive feature of Sikhism is a non-anthropomorphic concept of
God, to the extent that one can interpret God as the Universe itself. The followers
of Sikhism are ordained to follow the teachings of the ten Sikh gurus, or
enlightened leaders, as well as the holy scripture entitled the Gurū Granth Sāhib,
which includes selected works of many philosophers from diverse socio-economic
and religious backgrounds. The text was decreed by Gobind Singh, the tenth guru,
as the final guru of the Khalsa Panth. Sikhism's traditions and teachings are
distinctively associated with the history, society and culture of the Punjab.
Adherents of Sikhism are known as Sikhs (students or disciples) and number over
23 million across the world. Most Sikhs live in the state of Punjab in India and,
prior to the country's partition, millions of Sikhs lived in what is now the Punjab
province of Pakistan.