RELIGIONS OF THE WORLD

Pre-Mid 2nd Semester

Religion 3 Types of Religions
●​ Organized system of beliefs, ceremonies & rules 1.​ Monotheistic religions believe in one god.
used to worship a god /group of god 2.​ Polytheistic religions believe in many gods.
●​ Expression of proper piety (devotion/respect) 3.​ Animistic or traditional religions often believe that
binding to God different aspects of nature have divine powers.
●​ is RELATIONAL bcs we form relationship w/ God RELIGION FOLLOWERS

Latin word RELIGIO - something done w/ overanxious/ Christianity 1.9 billion

scrupulous attention to detail

Islam 1.1 billion

Latin verb RELIGARE - to tie together/bind fast Hinduism 781 million

Buddhism 324 million

Godly
●​ Highest form of religion Sikhism 19 billion

KINDS OF BELIEF SYSTEM

Judaism 14 billion

KINDS OF BELIEF DESCRIPTION

SYSTEM 3 Religions Southwest Asia
1.​ Judaism
1. Atheistic disbelief /denial of existence of personal God
2.​ Christianity
2. Agnostic God cannot be known 3.​ Islam

3. Monistic there is no real distinction between God & universe

MAJOR BELIEF IN JUDAISM
A. Monotheism - There is one god who is all powerful and
4. Monotheistic doctrine in 1 supreme God
all knowing.
5. Polytheistic belief & worship many Gods B. This god made a special covenant or agreement with
Abraham, who is the ‘father’ of the Jewish people.
NATURE OF RELIGION
C. God revealed his laws to his people through Moses and
1. Edward Burnett Taylor English Anthropologist religion is spiritual belief
founder of Science OF Social the 10 commandments.
Anthropology
●​ Central belief God promised Jewish People their
2. James George Frazer Scottish social Anthropologist propitiation/conciliation if Canaan (Israel)
founder of Modern Technology power superior to man
which are believed to ●​ Western Wall -sacred site of Jewish prayer &
control & direct course of
nature & human life pilgrimage
●​ Symbol: Star of David - JUDE(German for JEW)
3. Bronislaw Kroper 20th century Polish body of self-contained acts
Malinowski Anthropologist being themselves the ●​ Bible: Tanakh, Old Testament is called Tanakh
fulfillment of their purpose
an affair of all, which ●​ Torah - Five Books of Tanakh
everyone takes active part
●​ Tanakh is interpreted by Jewish scholar RABBIS
4. David Emile Durkeheim French Anthropologist Unified system of beliefs &
Father of Sociology practices relative to sacred
HOLY DAYS & LIFE EVENTS
things
●​ YOM KIPPUR - total day of rest & fasting, July 10
Commonalities of Religion ●​ BAR MITZVAH - passage from childhood to
●​ belief of community about the deity relationship adulthood
w/ world ●​ HANUKKAH - 8th day holiday rededication of
●​ places people which community beliefs to be sacred temple in Jerusalem
hold & sacred Diaspora
●​ rules which community followed as a result of ●​ Ex: Jerusalem was captured by Romans who
belief destroyed Jewish temple.
●​ Ways in which community worship the deity ●​ refers to a group of people who have spread from
●​ Belief of community about a deity their original homeland to different locations
Religion Christianity
●​ belief in a supernatural power or powers that are A. Monotheism - There is one god who is all powerful and
regarded as the creators and maintainers of the all knowing.
universe. B. Jesus Christ died for the sins of humankind.
C. Salvation comes from faith in God.
●​ believe the Old and New Testaments of the Bible
RELIGIONS OF THE WORLD
Pre-Mid 2nd Semester
5 books of Old Testament: Caste system
1.​ Genesis ●​ system of social organization in India.
2.​ Exodus ●​ When a person is born they are born into one of
3.​ Leviticus four castes or as a Dalit.
4.​ Deuteronomy 4 castes are:
5.​ Numbers 1.​ Brahmins - Teachers and priests.
4 books of New Testament 2.​ Kshatriyas - Warriors, nobles, and kings.
1.​ Matthew 3.​ Vaishyas - Farmers, merchants, and businessmen.
2.​ Mark 4.​ Shudras - Servants and laborers.
3.​ Luke Buddhism
4.​ John ●​ related to Hinduism and shares many of the same
Branches of Christianity basic beliefs.
1.​ Roman Catholicism Founded by: Siddhartha
2.​ Protestantism Taoism
3.​ Eastern Orthodox. ●​ religion/philosophy that began in China around
Orthodox Church: St. Basil 500 - 400 B.C
Islam ●​ based on the teachings of Laozi.
●​ developed in Saudi Arabia in the early 600s. ●​ Tao Te Ching - collection of Laozi’s teachings.
●​ The teachings of Muhammed were collected into ●​ Tao -Great Mother Empty yet inexhaustible, It
a book called the KORAN/QUR’AN gives birth to infinite worlds.
●​ CHURCH: Mosque ●​ It is always present within you. You can use it any
●​ SYMBOL: Crescent and Star way you want.
founder: Prophet Muhammed Confucianism
5 PILLARS OR CENTRAL TEACHINGS OF ISLAM: ●​ philosophy that began in China around 500 - 400
1.​ A statement of faith B.C.
2.​ Prayer (five times a day in the direction of ●​ based on the teachings of Confucius.
Mecca) ●​ Confucianism is concerned mainly with social
3.​ Charity organization. It emphasizes respect for elders and
4.​ Pilgrimage to Mecca at least once in your lifetime education.
(called the Hajj) Ancestor Worship
5.​ Fasting (during the month of Ramadan)
●​ One ancient belief that has been incorporated
into many religions in Asia is the idea of
worshipping and respecting one’s ancestors.

Hinduism
●​ oldest religions in the world
●​ polytheistic religion, originated in South Asia(India)
Atman spirit
●​ soul of a person, which most Hindus believe, is
eternal.
Brahman
●​ supreme spirit but it can also mean an infinite and
unchanging reality.
- TEMPLE: Angkor Wat
- Goal of life is to realize that your atman is the same as
Brahman and thereby reach MOKSHA (Liberation)
- Hindus believe in reincarnation and karma.
holy books:
1.​ Vedas,
2.​ Upanishads,
3.​ epics the Mahabharata and Ramayana.