Religion

Hinduism

• Collection of religious beliefs that developed slowly over time.
• No founder with a single set of ideas.

Origins & Beliefs

• 750-500 B.C. Hindu teachers created Upanishads text of teaching
• Each person has atman-soul united with all others.
• In Bahram, in reincarnation, people reborn to new lives. A soul good and bad deeds, karma, determines course of new life.

Over last 2,500 years different form of Gods grow in importance. Today, Hindus choose own path to Moksna - a state of perfect understanding.

Hinduism and Society

• Hinduism $supported$ the caste system believing the upper class were rich since in their former life they were good while the lower class were poor since they deserved it for their bad deeds.

New religion

• Jainism, a new religion arise in 500 B.C. Jainism will not harm any creature. They work in trade, commerce, & practice religious tolerance.

Buddhism

The Buddha Seeks Enlightenment

Founder of Buddhism priests prophesied his greatness.

Siddhartha’s Quest

• Raised in isolation, Siddhartha's Guatmama wants to learn about the world.
• Seeks enlightenment ( wisdom ) how to escape human suffering.
• Tries many methods; gains enlightenment by meditating.
• Becomes the “Buddha” the “ Enlightened One”
• Buddha begins to teach followers.
• Preaches Four Nobles Truths - Basic philosophy of Buddhism.
• Fourth Noble Truth is to follow the Eight fold path to achieve Nirvana.

Nirvana

• A peach state of understanding.
• A release from selfishness and pain.

Buddha rejects caste system and multiple Gods of Hinduisms.

The Caste System Develops

Aryans physically distinct from people of India. Four Castes of social classes develops.

• Priests
• Warriors
• Peasants and Traders
• Laborers

Tip: You stay in the class you born in for life in Hinduism. People are born into their caste class for life.

Judaism

Origins & Beliefs

Some of the few key beliefs Jewish believe in is $Abraham is considered to be the father founder of Jewish people$. God made an agreement with Abraham to create a nation of the Jewish people.

The Tanakh is the Hebrew bible and it’s the holy & stories that contain the origins of Jewish belief. The first five books of the Tanakh are called the Torah which are rules to follow on a daily basis. Jews also believe in the Messiah who is the promised delivery for the Jews that will be from God one day.

Western Wall is called the Wailing Wall for it is a scared place for Jewish people. The wall is located in Jerusalem. Jews make it a mission ( Pilgrimage) to visit the Western Wall. The three Judaism branches: Orthodox, The reform movement, Conservative

Christianity

Origins & Beliefs

Christianity is a monotheistic religion: The belief of only one God. It originates from 1 B.C or 2,000 years ago, and was founded by Jesus Christ. Christians believe Jesus is the promised deliver or Messiah of the Jewish people from the Old Testament. The Jews believe the Messiah has not arrived, yet. Jesus Christ was born in Bethlehem around 6 BCE. At the age of 30, he was preaching the word of God and received followers or apostles who called themselves Christians.

Jesus used short stories with messages that are called parables. Jesus was arrested for heresy. Hersey is rejecting popular religious practices and committing blasphemy: Disrespecting the holy. Jesus was sent to death and crucified: Death by the nail hanging on a cross. After his death, he was resurrected on the third day. It was Jesus’ resurrection and an act of God.

Paul, he converted after Jesus’ death and spread the Christian beliefs. Christians began to be persecuted because of their religious beliefs. The Roman emperor, Domitian, made Christianity made it illegal in the Roman Empire.

Islam

Origins & Beliefs

Islam originates from modern day Saudi Arabia. Islam is the second-largest religion. To Muslims, their holy site is the Mecca. Islam, Judaism, and Christianity are considered to Abrahamic religions since Abraham is their first prophet. They are also monotheistic religions.

Heji is the pilmrage of Mecca that every Muslims needs to visit and a self-renewal. Islam’s founder is the prophet Muhammad. The Holy book is the Quran. There are two branches of Islam is Sunni and Shia; after the death of Muhammad. Muslims pray in mosque: A room with words written in ‘Mihrab’ and face the direction of Mecca.

THE FIVE PILLARS