World Religions Project
Carlos A. Chuc Garcia.
Hinduism
Most scholars believe Hinduism started somewhere between 2300 B.C.
Region of Origin and 1500 B.C. in the Indus Valley, near modern-day Pakistan.
The revealed texts constitute the Veda, divided into four sections: the
Sacred Texts Rig Veda, the Yajur Veda, the Sama Veda, and the Atharva Veda. The
Vedas are hymns that are also accompanied in the total Veda by
Brahmanas (ritual texts) Aranyakas (“forest” or “wilderness” texts), and
Upanishads (philosophical texts).
Polytheistic or Monotheistic (Highlight One)
Vishnu, Shiva, Ganesha, Krishna, Sarasvati, Durga, and Kali. As a result,
God or Gods there are dozens upon dozens of Hindu festivals honoring and
celebrating these multitudinous divinities. Some are celebrated
throughout India, and many more are primarily regional.
Main Teachings A Hindu views the entire universe as God's and everything in the
Buddhism
This religious movement then rapidly developed in a number of
Region of Origin different places in and around what is now India, the birthplace of
Buddhism. Buddhism itself started sometime in the fifth century BCE.
Known as the Tripitaka, the sacred texts of Buddhism are broken down
Sacred Texts into three sections known as baskets. Referred to in the West as the
Three Baskets, the Tripitaka includes the Vinaya Pitaka, the Sutta
Pitaka, and the Abhidhamma Pitaka.
Polytheistic or Monotheistic (Highlight One)
Buddhism includes a wide array of divine beings that are venerated in
God or Gods various ritual and popular contexts. Initially they included mainly Indian
figures such as devas, asuras and yakshas, but later came to include
other Asian spirits and local gods (like the Burmese nats and the
Japanese kami).
Main Teachings Buddhism is one of the world's largest religions and originated 2,500
Judaism
Contemporary Judaism evolved from Yahwism, the cultic religious
Region of Origin movement of ancient Israel and Judah, around the 6th/5th century BCE,
and is thus considered to be one of the oldest monotheistic religions.
Torah scroll. Containing the Five Books of Moses (the Pentateuch), a
Sacred Texts Torah scroll is handwritten by a specially trained scribe who pens the
text -- letter by letter and word by word -- on specially prepared
parchment.
Polytheistic or Monotheistic (Highlight One)
Yahweh, the god of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and the national god of
God or Gods the Israelites, delivered the Israelites from slavery in Egypt, and gave
them the Law of Moses at Mount Sinai as described in the Torah.
Main Teachings Judaism is that there is one God, incorporeal and eternal, who wants all
people to do what is just and merciful. All people are created in the
image of God and deserve to be treated with dignity and respect.
Christianity
Judea in the mid-first century CE, based first on the teachings of Jesus
Region of Origin and later on the writings and missionary work of Paul of Tarsus.
Originally, Christianity was a small, unorganized sect that promised
personal salvation after death.
THE BIBLE. Luke Harley Gospels The Bible is the sacred book of
Sacred Texts Christians. It was the first printed book and has been translated into
more languages than any other written work.
Polytheistic or Monotheistic (Highlight One)
"The Church ... believes in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of
God or Gods heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all things that are in them; and in
one Christ Jesus, the Son of God, who became incarnate for our
salvation; and in the Holy Spirit".
Main Teachings God sent his Son to earth to save humanity from the consequences of
its sins. One of the most important concepts in Christianity is that of
Islam
Mecca, in modern-day Saudi Arabia, during the time of the prophet
Region of Origin Muhammad. Today, the faith is spreading rapidly throughout the world.
The Qur'an. Islam's main sacred text is the Qur'an. According to Muslim
Sacred Texts tradition the Qur'an is the actual word of God revealed to the Prophet
Muhammad in the Arabic language through the intermediary of the
Archangel Jibril (Gabriel). The Qur'an consists of 114 surahs, or
chapters.
Polytheistic or Monotheistic (Highlight One)
Followers of Islam are called Muslims. Muslims are monotheistic and
God or Gods worship one, all-knowing God, who in Arabic is known as Allah
Main Teachings belief in God and his Prophet and obligations of prayer, charity,
Comparing and Contrasting Religions
Religion #1 Religion #2
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Comparing and Contrasting Religions
How are the Religions of ________________ and _____________ alike?
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Of the religions we covered, which one do you believe has the greatest impact on
their society? Support your answer with examples.
