RELIGIOUS HOLY PLACES

By: Megan Simms

November 28, 2012

Thesis

• All over the world, there are multiple holy places and structures that are truly different and significant of each other, but also play a major part in each individual religion.

Facts about Buddhism

• Founded in northern India by Siddhartha Gautama

• Two categories of Buddhism today Theravada (small vessel) and Mahayana (large vessel)

• Theravada are the monks• Mahayana are non-monks• Believe in endless circle of life and death

Facts about Buddhism

• Nirvana is the highest state of being• Defies logic and cannot be taught• Believe there is no father that sent his son to

die for us• Because of this belief this is why Buddhism is

rejected by many.

Holy book of Buddhism

• There are three sections of the Tripitaka (Holy book):

• Vinaya Pitaka (the Discipline Basket)- A rule book for monks and nuns

• Sutta Pitaka (the Teaching Basket)- Actual experiences of Buddha

• Abhidhamma Pitaka (the Higher Doctrine Basket)- An explanation on the teaching of Buddha

Holy Places in Buddhism

• There are 8 holy places for Buddhists, but the one that should be visited is Lumbini

• This is where the Buddha was born• Should be visited by a person of devotion• It is located at the foot- hills of the Himalayas in Nepal• The center of attraction is the Sacred Garden with the Mayadevi temple

Holy Places in Buddhism

• The temple depicts the birth of the lord Buddha

• In the temple there is a stone that depicts the birth of the lord

• South of the temple is a sacred pool which the queen bathed in before she gave birth to Buddha

Facts about Islam

• Islam was founded in 622 CE by prophet Muhammad

• The religion started in Mecca• Islam is the youngest of the worlds largest

religions• Islam is one of the fastest growing religions in

the world

Facts about Islam

• Muslims believe in Allah which means god in Arabic

• Muhammad is the main prophet of Islam and there is none after him

• The Quran is the holy book

Holy Places in Islam

• The holy place of Muslims is Ka’ba which is located in Mecca• The Ka’ba was built by Abraham and his son Ishmael • Every year millions of Muslims perform Hajj• It is a way to essentially start over for the sins you have committed• Pilgrims circle the Ka’ba 7 times and try to touch or kiss the black stone

Holy Places in Islam

• Non-Muslims are not permitted to enter the holy city

• Muslims should go to Hajj once in their lifetime if they can

• Hajj lasts seven days

Holy Places in Islam

• The mosque al-haram is the holiest mosque in the world

• It is one of the primary destinations at Hajj• Unlike other mosques this one where the men

and women are not segregated

Facts about Christianity

• Christianity was founded around 30-33 A.D.• Known to be the largest religion in the world

today with 1.7 billion people• Christianity is based on the teachings and life

of Jesus Christ• Their sacred text is the Bible, composed of the

old and new testaments

Facts about Christianity

• Christianity believes in the trinity; Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit

• Christianity believe in a Heaven or Hell; your fate is determined based on the life you lived

Holy Places in Christianity

• In Christianity, Jerusalem is the site of some of Jesus's teaching, the Last Supper, the subsequent institution of the

Holy Eucharist as well as His entombment• Christians believe Jesus was crucified on a nearby hill in Jerusalem

Holy Places in Christianity

• Bethlehem is the birthplace of Jesus• Nazareth is Jesus's hometown and the site of

many holy places, including the Church of the Annunciation and Mary's Well

• For Catholic and Orthodox Christians, Church of the Holy Sepulchre marks the site of Jesus’ crucifixion, burial and Resurrection.

Conclusion

• Every religion has a holy place or structure that is influential to them

• These places can either signify the birth place of the one they praise, the life of their god, or even where their holy book was written

• The importance of these places all start with the birth place of each religion and the religion grows from the teaching’s of their God or their God’s life

Works Cited• Hayden, Nancy. (2012). What are the four holy places in Buddhism? • Retrieved from http://www.ehow.com/info_8131258_four-holy-places-buddhism.html

• Rubenstein, J.M. (2010). Contemporary Human Geography. Prentice Hall.

• Religion Facts. (2005, February 13). Mecca: The Holiest City in Islam. • Retrieved from http://www.religionfacts.com/islam/places/mecca.htm

• Wikipedia. (2012, October 9). Holy Places. • Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holy_places

• Hyland, Deanna. (2009, March 25). Ten of the World’s Most Religious Cities. • Retrieved from http://www.bootsnall.com/articles/09-03/ten-worlds-most-religious-cities.html

• The New York Times. (2012). The Most Important Holy Places. • Retrieved from http://travel.nytimes.com/frommers/travel/guides/middle-east/israel/

frm_israel_0227020883.html

Works Cited (Cont.)• Got Questions. (2012). What is Buddhism and What do Buddhist Believe?• Retrieved from http://www.gotquestions.org/buddhism.html

• Buddhist Studies. (2008). Lumbini – Birth Place of the Buddha.• Retrieved from http://www.buddhanet.net/e-learning/buddhistworld/lumbini.htm

• Ghale Treks. (2012). Lumbini. • Retrieved from http://www.ghalegroup.com/tripDetail/33/51/1/lumbini_sightseeing.html

• Religious Tolerance. (2007, October 29). Islam.• Retrieved from http://www.religioustolerance.org/isl_intr.htm

• Sacred Desinations. (2009, October 22). Al-Masjid al-Haram (The Holy Mosque), Mecca.• Retrieved from http://www.sacred-destinations.com/saudi-arabia/mecca-haram-mosque

• Think Quest. Christianity.• Retrieved from http://library.thinkquest.org/28505/christianity/intro.htm