World Religions

Influence of World Religions in the Contemporary World

Five World Religions

• Five world religions have had a profound impact on culture and civilization.

• What are some characteristics of the five major world religions?

Monotheism• Began in Palestine

with the Jews

• Abraham is the founder of:– Judaism– Islam

Monotheism

• Begun by Abraham about 2000 BCE• Common Beliefs:– God created the universe–God continues to govern the universe– The Ten Commandments were given to

Moses by God on Mt. Sinai and must be followed

Judaism

• Monotheism• Ten Commandments of moral and religious

conduct• Torah: Written records and beliefs of the Jews• Founder: Abraham

JUDAISM

• Followers are called Jews• Believe that God made a covenant with

Abraham and his people (Israelites)• Adherents are worldwide, but most are in

Israel• Holy book is the Torah (= the first five books of

the Old Testament of Christian Bible)• Worship in a Synagogue

Christianity

• Monotheism• Jesus as Son of God• Life after death• New Testament: Life and teachings of Jesus• Establishment of Christian doctrines by early

church councils• Worship in a church• Holy Book: Bible

Islam

• Monotheism• Muslim name for their God is Allah• Muhammad, the prophet• Holy Book: Qur’an (Koran)• Mecca and Medina• Started his religion in Mecca, Saudi Arabia.

This is the holiest city in Islam.

ISLAM

• Muslims worship in a mosque• Muslims must follow the Five Pillars of Islam:– Stating the Faith– Prayer 5 times/day facing Mecca– Charity to poor– Pilgrimage (Hajj)– Fast during Ramadan

Buddhism

• Founder: Siddhartha Gautama (Buddha)• Four Noble Truths• Eightfold Path to Enlightenment• Spread of Buddhism from India to China and

other parts of Asia, resulting from Asoka’s missionaries and their writings

Buddhism

• Basic Tenets of Buddhism–The world is full of suffering–Meditation is our only escape–Nirvana is the ultimate goal–Follow the Eightfold Path

Eightfold Path• Right Understanding• Right Thought• Right Speech• Right Action• Right Livelihood• Right Effort• Right Mindfulness• Right Concentration

Images of Buddha

Polytheism

• Polytheism is the worship of more than one god.

• May accept gods from other religions• Choose your favorite god!

Hinduism

• Many forms of one god• Reincarnation: Rebirth based upon karma• Karma: Knowledge that all thoughts and

actions result in future consequences

Polytheism

• Hinduism–From India around 1700 BCE–No single founder–3rd largest religion–Holy Book: Rig Veda–Brahman is the source of all divinity (holiness)–Believe in reincarnation (soul is reborn many

times based on Karma).

Caste System

Untouchables

Good Karma

OK KarmaBad Karma

Hindu Gods

VISHNU SHIVA BRAHMA

Essential Understanding and Question

• Five world religions have had a profound impact on culture and civilization. These religions are found worldwide, but their followers tend to be concentrated in certain geographic areas. (pp. 700-714)

• Where are the followers of the five world religions concentrated?

Geographic Distribution of World’s Major Religions

• Judaism: Concentrated in Israel and North America

• Christianity: Concentrated in Europe and North and South America

• Islam: Concentrated in the Middle East, Africa, and Asia

• Hinduism: Concentrated in India• Buddhism: Concentrated in East and Southeast

Asia

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/6/60/Worldwide_percentage_of_Adherents_by_Religion.png

Contemporary Political issues…ethic/religious conflicts

• Developed and developing nations face many challenges. These include migrations, ethnic and religious conflicts…

• What are some challenges faced by the contemporary world?

Ethnic and Religious Conflicts

• Middle East –• Muslim infighting (Sunni vs. Shi’a), Muslims

(Arabs) vs. Jews (Israel), Strict vs. moderate, Muslims vs. Christians (United States)

• Northern Ireland –• Protestants vs. Catholics• Balkans –• Serbs, Bosnians, and Croats fight one another for

land (their own nation) 1990s

Ethnic and Religious Conflicts

• Horn of Africa –• Consists of Somalia, Ethiopia, Eritrea, and

Djibouti. Drought, disease, and piracy has been a problem in this region.

• South Asia –• Consists of India, Pakistan, Afghanistan,

Bangladesh, Nepal, et al… India and Pakistan have a history of disputes and with the war on terror Afghanistan and Pakistan are in the news.