World religions review


Hinduism


Buddhism


Confucianism


Judaism


Christianity


Islam


Time and Place of Origin?

1500 BC

India

541 BC

India

581 BC

China

1800 BC

Israel

The Middle East

0

Israel

The Middle East

622 AD

Mecca (Saudi Arabia today)

Middle East


Significant individuals/founders?


None

Siddhartha Gautama (Buddha)


Kong Fuzi

(Confucius)


Abraham

Moses

JESUS

Mary mother

Peter 1st Pope

Paul spread it

Muhammad

The Prophet


How many gods?


Polytheistic (many gods)


No gods

None-it is a philosophy, not a religion


1 God with a capital G

(monotheistic)

1 God

(Belief in the holy Trinity)

1 God with a capital G

(monotheistic)


Holy books?


Vedas

Sayings of the Buddha (Triptaka)


Sayings of Confucius (The Analects)

Torah

(Old Testament=

History/Laws of the Jewish people)

Bible (OT/NT)

(NT=the story of Jesus life and spread of early Church)

Q’uran

Koran


Hadiths







Hinduism


Buddhism


Confucianism


Judaism


Christianity


Islam


Code of conduct?

Follow your dharma,create good karma


8 Fold Path

Meditation

The Five Primary Relationships

10 Commandments

(act with civility and 1 God)

Love one another and love God above all else and 10 Commandments.

5 Pillars of Islam


Afterlife?

Good karma= reincarnation up the caste system until moksha (release into the Universal Spirit)

Meditate to reach Enlightenment & end suffering on earth.  NIRVANA=final destination.

It is a philosophy about how to act during your life on earth with virtue.

JUDGEMENT DAY. Unknown destination until the just are raised.The MITZVAH (LIFE) is most important.

JUDGEMENT DAY. Heaven and Hell (Purgatory for Catholics)

JUDGEMENT DAY. 

Heaven and Hell

Islam Key Beliefs:

-Allah is God and Muhammad is his final Prophet



List Key Beliefs:

Hinduism


  • Dharma

  • Karma

  • Reincarnation

  • Ahimsa

  • Vedas/caste system

  • Ganges a goddess/holy

Buddhism


-Desire causes suffering

=8-Fold Path  can end desire and suffering

-Meditation 

-Reincarnation

-ahimsa

-Siddhartha Gautama, The Buddha

-Enlightenment

-Nirvana 

Confucianism


-Know & do what is expected to bring order to society

-Lead a virtuous life

-Respect leaders

-5 Primary Relationships

-Filial piety=respect for parents

    “Do not do unto others as you would not have done to yourself.”

Judaism


-Keep 10 commandments and get the Promised Land (all of the Jews, not just an individual goal)

-Live a good life/be a good man or woman 

-Israel is The Promised Land given to them by God

-Jews are Gods chosen people, and a Messiah will come to save them and raise the dead and reward the just/punish the unjust.

Christianity

-Jesus=Messiah

-1 God (same God for Muslims and Jews)

-Sunday=day of rest

-Prayer and 7 sacraments

-Forgiveness and redemption

-Heaven & Hell

-One non-negotiable

Belief for Christians is that Jesus is the messiah.  Believe and go to Heaven.

-Do not make an image of Allah or the Prophet

-5 Pillars of Islam:including 

  -1x in a lifetime hajj  

    to Mecca 

 - Pray 5x a day facing 

   Mecca, the Qibla

  -charity

  -Fasting to develop steadfastness

-Heaven and Hell

-Jews and Muslims are “People of the Book”

-Obtain knowledge



EXPLAIN IMPACT ON THE REGION &/OR THE WORLD:


Positive effects:

1)Hindus practice ahimsa, non-violence which led to them being vegetarians and believing the cow is holy.  

2) The caste system which originated in the Vedas assures that society is orderly and all the necessary jobs get done.

Negative effects:

CASTE SYSTEM

-discrimination,

-violence

- missed opportunities -extreme poverty.   

 

2) Hinduism also led to extreme pollution.  -impoverished people living outside of cities -the Ganges River

-Hindus believe that if you bathe, drink from, and are buried in the Ganges, it is a short cut to moksha.


Not much of an impact, but POSITIVE!!!!


  1. Encourages kindness, compassion and world peace

  2. Asoka transformed India during Maurya Dynasty into a Buddhist Empire with reforms that advanced kindness and compassion, the main objectives of Buddhists.


POSITIVE EFFECTS:

  1. Helps bring order to most populous society through right relationships and good leadership.

  2. Confucianism led to the Creation of the Civil Service System in China, then in the US to select the best leaders of the nation.

Negative Effects: 

1) Women inferior

 2) Confucianism led neatly to Communism and an oppressive Chinese Government that did not put the needs of the people first in the 20th century.  (Both systems say to follow the leader/do not question authority.)



NEGATIVE EFFECTS:

  1. Because they believed in 1 God, Jews were seen as different throughout history and faced DISCRIMINATION and GENOCIDE

Examples:

  • Diaspora

  • Blamed for Black Plague

  • Holocaust

  • The Creation of Israel post WWII was positive for the Jews, but a legacy of hatred and religious conflict/violence continues between Jews and Muslims in Israel today because both claim it as their holy place (Muslims have Mecca, as well)

  • 2024 War with Palestine


Most practiced religion in the world today.  Causes both peace and conflict.  The Crusades are an example of war waged over religion, in this case between Christians and Muslims over control of the holy land for both, Israel.

Catholics still look to the Pope for spiritual direction and guidance.  Christians go to church and pray to ask for forgiveness.  They believe in charitable giving and missionary work to convert others.  Christmas and Easter celebrate the birth and death/resurrection of Jesus and are practiced across the world by both Christians and non-believers.


Second most practiced religion in the world today.  Causes both peace and conflict.  The Muslims formed an expansive empire on the trade routes.  Knowledge and religion both moved along the trade routes throughout the empire, influencing many cultures. The empire was known for its centers of learning in Baghdad, Cordoba, Samarkand.  The Muslims were also the first to reach west Africa.  The Crusades are an example of war waged over religion, in this case between Christians and Muslims over control of the holy land for both, Israel. Control of Constantinople from 1453 on made western Europeans sail off on voyages of discovery, which led to the discovery of America!  Religious conflict still rages between Muslims, Jews and Christians in the Middle East over religious beliefs and scarce resources.