By: Averie Scholz, Nathan Eliason, Alec
Harris, and Kennedy Parker

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In early societies, two groups’ beliefs combined together to form one very large religion. This large religion led to the worship of thousands of gods, which made it confusing for its followers.
People started to offer new religious ideas because of the complexity of the one large religion, which brought about the practice of Hinduism. Hinduism is different than other religions because it does not originate from one founder and has a collection of beliefs, giving its followers freedom to worship as they please.
Hinduism has developed over time since around 1500 B.C.E.
The universal sign representing Hinduism

Beliefs
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The followers of Hinduism viewed religion as a way to
“liberate the soul” from mistakes and disappointment as a result of everyday life.
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The ultimate goal of the religion was to reach
Moksha , or a state of being able to understand all things
-If you reach Moksha , you have developed an understanding of the relationship between the individual soul (atman) and the unifying soul of the world
(Brahman).
-Hindus believed that you are reincarnated until you reach Moksha , and it could take many lifetimes to achieve.
Change
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The practice of Hinduism has changed over a period of
2,500 years
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The Brahman was characterized as three souls:
- Vishnu (the protector)
- Brahma (the creator)
- Shiva (the destroyer)
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Hindus were given freedom to choose which deity they worshiped (although their faith was usually inherited through their family). They chose which was the best deity to help them reach
Moksha .
Society
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In society, Hindu beliefs could be applied.
-If you were born an upperclass male, it was a result of good karma from a past lifetime
- If you were born a lowerclass female, it was a result of bad karma from a past life.
- Men who worshiped one of the top three deities could hope to reach Moksha in their current life.
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Hinduism determined every aspect of the follower’s life.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6AYL9_-PQyQ

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Main belief of Jainism in that everything in the world has a soul, therefore nothing should be disturbed or harmed.
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Jains were strong believers in anti-violence and tolerance of every being
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Most Jains live in India today

Buddhism was founded by a man named Siddhartha Gautama (the Buddha).
As a young boy, he was isolated in a palace because of an Oracle’s fortune that was given to him, stating that if he remained isolated, he would become a world ruler. Siddhartha Gautama left his palace four times, and while he was wandering he observed the patterns of life that shaped his beliefs.
Siddhartha Gautama left his palace and wandered through the forest for six years, searching for religious truth and an end to all suffering. He meditated under a tree for 49 days and finally discovered the causes of human suffering.
He organized these causes into a system called the Four Noble Truths.
The Four Noble Truths
I. Life is filled with suffering and sorrow
II. The cause of suffering is selfish desire for temporary pleasures
III. To end all suffering, you must end all desires
IV. Overcome desires by following the Eightfold path between desires and self denial.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_rCMcExMen4&feature=relmfu

Goals of Buddhism
The Eightfold Path
I. Right views
II. Right resolve
III.Right speech
IV.Right conduct
V. Right livelihood
VI.Right effort
VII.Right mindfulness
VIII.Right concentration
If you master the Eightfold path, you reach nirvana, or a state of ultimate peace or serenity and release yourself from selfishness or pain.
Mastery of the path could take several lifetimes.

In modern society, Buddhism is composed of the sangha (the religious community), Buddha, and dharma (the religious teachings), known as the Three
Jewels of Buddhism. After his death missionaries spread to all parts of Asia to deliver the
Buddha’s faith throughout the world.
"Do not believe in anything simply because you have heard it.
Do not believe in anything simply because it is spoken and rumored by many.
Do not believe in anything simply because it is found written in your religious books.
Do not believe in anything merely on the authority of your teachers and elders.
Do not believe in traditions simply because they have been handed down for many generations.
But after observation and analysis, when you find that anything agrees with reason and is conducive to the good and benefit of one and all, then accept it and live up to it.“
~Siddhartha Gautama

Some statistics:
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Hinduism is the world’s 3 rd largest religion
It is the oldest organized religion
Has attained about 950 million followers. (14% of the world’s population)
Buddhism has 376 million followers
It is the 4 th largest religion in the world http://www.religioustolerance.org/hinduism.htm and http://www.religioustolerance.org/buddhism/htm