World Religions
Judaism
Began in Asia—Arabian Peninsula
Founder: Abraham
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Book: Torah – Written records &
beliefs (1st 5 books of the old Testament)
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Beliefs: monotheistic, you are held
accountable for your sins.
• Ten Comandments
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Symbol: Star of David
• Leaders: rabbis
• Fact: first monotheistic religion
• Today—concentrated in Israel and North
America
Oldest monotheistic religion
Christianity
• Began in Asia (Arabian Peninsula) w/in
about 100 years had spread to Europe.
• Founder: Jesus
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Book: Bible
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Beliefs: monotheistic, Jesus as the son
of God, life after death
• Symbol: Cross
• New Testament (also uses the Old
Testament—including the Torah
• Early Christian doctrines were esablished
by early church councils
• Leaders : priests, ministers
• Fact: world’s largest religion
• Today concentrated in Europe and North
and South America
Islam
• Began in Asia—the Arabian Peninsula
• Founder: Muhammad
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Book: Qu’ran (or Koran)
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Beliefs: Five Pillars of Islam
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Belief in one god
Alms to the poor
Pray 5 times a day
Pilgrimage to Mecca (hajj)
Fasting during Ramadan
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Symbol: Crescent Moon
Mecca, Medina, and
Jerusalem are holy cities
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Leader: No clergy
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Fact: world’s fastest growing religion
• Today concentrated in the Middle East,
Africa, and Asia
Hinduism
• Began in Asia—specifically India
• Founder: not known
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Book: the Vedas
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Beliefs: many gods being parts of one
god, reincarnation, dharma and karma
(knowledge that all facts and actions result
in future consequences)
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Symbol: OM
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Leaders: Guru, Holy Man, Priest
Fact: World’s oldest religion
Currently concentrated mostly in India
Believe in reincarnation, eventually
achieving moksha
Buddhism
• Began in India, but quickly spread East
• Founder: Siddhartha Gautama or the
Buddha
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Book; Perfection of the Wisdom Sudra
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Beliefs: No deity, reach happiness or
Nirvana by following the four noble truths
and eightfold path.
• Symbol: Wheel of law
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Leaders: monks and nuns
Fact: In India, Buddhism was
reabsorbed back into Hinduism.
• Currently Buddhism is concentrated in
East and Southeast Asia (China, Japan,
VietNam, etc)
• Individuals reach Nirvana by the eightfold
path