5 World Religions Stations Resources PDF

# Hinduism & Buddhism, Christianity, Judaism, & Islam ## Station 1: Hinduism & Buddhism ### Focus Area: World Religions **Percentage of World Population:** | Religion | Percentage | |---|---| | Christianity | 33% | | Islam | 22% | | Hinduism | 13% | | Buddhism | 7% | | Taoism | 7% | | Judaism |...

# Hinduism & Buddhism, Christianity, Judaism, & Islam ## Station 1: Hinduism & Buddhism ### Focus Area: World Religions **Percentage of World Population:** | Religion | Percentage | |---|---| | Christianity | 33% | | Islam | 22% | | Hinduism | 13% | | Buddhism | 7% | | Taoism | 7% | | Judaism | 0.2% | **Religious Symbols:** * Christianity: + * Islam: C * Hinduism: ॐ * Buddhism: * Taoism: * Judaism: ### AN INTRODUCTION Hinduism and Buddhism are two of the oldest religions in the world! Hinduism originated in the Indus River Valley as early as 7000 B.C.E, while Buddhism dates back to the 400's B.C.E. Both religions are similar in their beliefs with regards to reincarnation, that is that souls will be reborn again. They also both adhere to the idea that meditation, or quiet focused thinking is important. However, they differ in beliefs about gods. Buddhists do not worship a god as creator, but stress self-examination and improvement. Hindus are pantheistic, which means they believe that everything encompasses God and God is virtually present everywhere. However, Hindus worship three different supreme beings. Today there are over one billion Hindus worldwide (mostly in India) and 360 million Buddhists (mostly in China). ## Station 2: Christianity, Judaism, & Islam ### Focus Area: World Religions **Percentage of World Population:** | Religion | Percentage | |---|---| | Christianity | 33% | | Islam | 22% | | Hinduism | 13% | | Buddhism | 7% | | Taoism | 7% | | Judaism | 0.2% | **Religious Symbols:** * Christianity: + * Islam: C * Hinduism: ॐ * Buddhism: * Taoism: * Judaism: ### AN INTRODUCTION Christianity, Islam, and Judaism are all monotheistic (believe in one god) religions. All three religions were broadly founded on the continent of Asia in the geographic region called the Middle East. These three faiths share common history and traditions. All three have a respect for the Bible, especially the Hebrew Bible or “Old Testament” as all three religions believe in many of the same prophets (messengers of God) such as Abraham and Moses. They all maintain that there is one God and that Jerusalem is a holy city. However, Christianity, Islam and Judaism also differ significantly in both belief and practice. The belief in Jesus is at the forefront of their differences. While Christians believe he is a messiah (savior) and the son of God, Muslims acknowledge him as a prophet only. Still, most Jews deny that he was a prophet or messiah. The following chart is intended to be a brief overview for understanding the basics of these ancient religions and their shared history. ## Station 3: Christianity ### Focus Area: Origins and Beliefs **Percentage of World Population:** | Religion | Percentage | |---|---| | Christianity | 33% | | Islam | 22% | | Hinduism | 13% | | Buddhism | 7% | | Taoism | 7% | | Judaism | 0.2% | **Religious Symbols:** * Christianity: + * Islam: C * Hinduism: ॐ * Buddhism: * Taoism: * Judaism: ### Origination The Middle East - Roman province of Palestine. Based on life and teachings of *Jesus* of Nazareth, c. 30 CE. ### Beliefs About God * **Monotheistic** (believe in one god) * **Holy Trinity** (One God in three persons)=God the Father + God the Son + God the Holy Spirit ### Beliefs About Jesus Christians believe he was the son of God, as God made in flesh (part of the holy trinity). They consider him to be the Jewish *messiah* (savior of the world) ### Followers & Place of Worship * called Christians * practice Christianity * worship in a church ### Texts * **Bible =** Hebrew Bible (referred to as Old Testament) and the New Testament. * **The Old Testament or Hebrew Bible -** Comprised of thirty-nine books. The texts are about law, history, prophecy, and wisdom of the ancient people of Israel. For example: The ten commandments are laws given to the Ancient Israelites by God. * **The New Testament - **Teachings of *Jesus* and his earliest followers. ### Major Branches * **Catholic -** Original "Roman Catholic" form of Christianity. * **Greek Orthodox (1054) -** After the Great Schism (a disagreement over the selection of a pope). * **Protestant (1500s) -** After the Protestant Reformation initiated mostly by Martin Luther. ### Adherents * Approximately 2.2 billion * 53% Catholic * 33% Protestant * 9% Eastern Orthodox * 5% Non Denominational ### Fundamental Disagreements Christians do not view Muhammad as a prophet. Christians believe Jesus was the messiah (savior) that was prophesized about in the Hebrew Bible. ## Station 4: Judaism ### Focus Area: Origins and Beliefs **Percentage of World Population:** | Religion | Percentage | |---|---| | Christianity | 33% | | Islam | 22% | | Hinduism | 13% | | Buddhism | 7% | | Taoism | 7% | | Judaism | 0.2% | **Religious Symbols:** * Christianity: + * Islam: C * Hinduism: ॐ * Buddhism: * Taoism: * Judaism: ### Origination The Middle East - The religion of the Hebrews. Traces of Judaism are dated back as far as c. 1300 BCE in Ancient Babylonia. ### Beliefs About God * **Monotheistic** * **One God=Yahweh** (Hebrew name for God as used in Bible) ### Beliefs About Jesus Jews do not believe he is the Jewish messiah. He in also not considered a prophet. Muslims believe he was a messenger of god or, prophet. ### Followers & Place of Worship * called Jews * practice Judaism * worship in a synagogue or temple ### Texts * **Hebrew Bible or Tanakh and the Talmud.** * **The Hebrew Bible -** Comprised of thirty-nine books. Torah (Hebrew: “Law”), Nevi’im (“Prophets”) and Ketuvim (“Writings”). The texts are about law, history, prophecy, and wisdom of the ancient people of Israel. For example: The ten commandments are laws given to the Ancient Israelites by God. * **Talmud -** A body of Jewish civil and ceremonial law, customs and culture. ### Major Branches * **Orthodox (1800 CE) -** Believe both the written and oral Torah represent the word of God. * **Reform (approximately 1926) -** Jewish traditions and ancient laws were modernized to be more compatible with participation in Western Culture (including use of modern technology). * **Conservative (1850)-** In between Orthodox and Reform Jews. They seek to conserve the traditional elements of Judaism, while also allowing for some modernization. ### Adherents * Approximately 15 million * 35% Orthodox * 35% Reform * 20% Conservative * 10% No denomination ### Fundamental Disagreements Jews do not view Muhammad as a prophet, nor do they view Jesus as a messiah or son of God. Jews are still awaiting a messiah or savior. ## Station 5: Islam ### Focus Area: Origins and Beliefs **Percentage of World Population:** | Religion | Percentage | |---|---| | Christianity | 33% | | Islam | 22% | | Hinduism | 13% | | Buddhism | 7% | | Taoism | 7% | | Judaism | 0.2% | **Religious Symbols:** * Christianity: + * Islam: C * Hinduism: ॐ * Buddhism: * Taoism: * Judaism: ### Origination The Middle East - Mecca, Saudi Arabia. Based on teachings of the Prophet (messenger of God) Muhammad; founded 622 CE. ### Beliefs About God * Monotheistic * Allah - Arabic word for God. ### Beliefs About Jesus Muslims believe he was a messenger of god or, prophet. ### Followers & Place of Worship * called Muslims * Muslims practice Islam * worship in a mosque ### Texts * Qur’an or Koran (Scripture) and the Hadith (tradition). * **Qur’an -** Believed to be the word of God as dictated to Muhammad by the angel Gabriel. * **Hadith -** Collection of traditions containing sayings of the prophet Muhammad that, with accounts of his daily practice (the Sunna), constitute the major source of guidance for Muslims apart from the Qur’an. ### Major Branches The difference between Shia and Sunni is about the leadership of Islam (in its original boundaries). * **Shia -** Believe God chose *Ali* (Muhammad’s blood relative) to be Muhammad’s successor. Hence he was the first acceptable caliph (head of state) of Islam. * **Sunni (c. 650 CE) -** Deny that a blood relative of Muhammad needed to be the leader of Islam, hence leaders before *Ali* were acceptable. ### Adherents * Approximately 1.9 billion * 90% Sunni Muslims * 10% Shia Muslims ### Fundamental Disagreements Muslims believe that Muhammad was the last prophet and that Jesus was also a prophet, but not the son of God. ## Station 6: Buddhism ### Focus Area: Origins and Beliefs **Percentage of World Population:** | Religion | Percentage | |---|---| | Christianity | 33% | | Islam | 22% | | Hinduism | 13% | | Buddhism | 7% | | Taoism | 7% | | Judaism | 0.2% | **Religious Symbols:** * Christianity: + * Islam: C * Hinduism: ॐ * Buddhism: * Taoism: * Judaism: ### Origination Northern India (present day Nepal) 400s B.C.E. ### Beliefs About God Buddhists do not worship a god as creator, but stress self-examination and improvement. Buddhism doesn't fit neatly into either category of religion or philosophy. When people asked *Buddha* what he was teaching, he said he teaches "the way things are." ### Followers & Place of Worship * called Buddhists * Buddhists practice Buddhism * worship at home or temple ### Texts * The Tripitaka/The Pali Cannon= Handed down orally then written down in the 3rd century B.C. E. (50 volumes) * **Contains the Four Noble Truths:** * 1. All life is suffering. * 2. Desire is the cause of pain. * 3. End pain by overcoming one’s desires. * 4. To overcome desire, have virtue and compassion for all living things. * **Contains the Eightfold Path** that will end desires and lead to a path of Enlightenment. ### Major Branches * 1. **Theravada Buddhism** (doctrine of the elders) is popular in Southern Asia: Burma, Thailand, Laos, Sri Lanka, and Cambodia * 2. **Mahayana Buddhism** (greater vehicle) is most commonly found in Northern Asia: Tibet, Nepal, China, Korea and Japan. * 3. **Zen Buddhism** (Japan) ### Adherents * 400 million Buddhists worldwide (6% of the world’s population). * 50% in China * 28% in Thailand * 13% in Japan * 9% in Other areas ### Beliefs About Karma Believe in karma: the result of our own past actions and our own present doings. That people are responsible for our own happiness and sorrow. Believe people are *reincarnated* (re-born on earth) until they have reached inner peace/enlightenment (Nirvana). ### Connections to Other Belief Systems --Buddhists also believe in *reincarnation*. --Many comparisons have been made between Buddha and Jesus. Both men were believed to have miraculous births, they both began their spiritual teachings at the age of 30 and they both had a great passion for the poor and oppressed. ## Station 7: Hinduism ### Focus Area: Origins and Beliefs **Percentage of World Population:** | Religion | Percentage | |---|---| | Christianity | 33% | | Islam | 22% | | Hinduism | 13% | | Buddhism | 7% | | Taoism | 7% | | Judaism | 0.2% | **Religious Symbols:** * Christianity: + * Islam: C * Hinduism: ॐ * Buddhism: * Taoism: * Judaism: ### Origination Indus River Valley 1500 B.C.E., The Vedic Age. Based on Indus and Aryan cultures. ### Beliefs About God * Pantheism (the universe is God and God is the universe). * Supreme being is worshiped in 3 forms: *Brahma* (the creator), *Vishnu* (the preserver) and *Shiva* (the destroyer). ### Followers & Place of Worship * called Hindus * Hindus practice Hinduism * worship in a *mandir* or temple ### Texts * **The Vedas: ** Four books of knowledge written in Sanskrit. Believed to be the work of a deity (higher being) * **Later Writings:** * The Brahmanas, the Aranyankas and the Upanishads. * The *Upanishads*, written between 700-500 B.C.E., contain the final part of the Vedas (the dialogues of spiritual masters) ### Major Branches * 1. Vaishavas worship *Vishnu* (The Preserver) * 2. Shaivas worship *Shiva* (The Destroyer or Purifier) * 3. Shaktas worship *Devi* (Female Deities) * 4. Smartas worship 5 Deities: Vishnu, Shiva, Devi, Ganesh (Remover of Obstacles) and Surya (god of the sun) ### Adherents * 1.2 billion Hindus worldwide (15% of the world’s population) * 95% Hindus in India * 5% Hindus in Rest of the World ### Beliefs About Karma Believe in karma: that people create their own destiny through every action, word or thought. Believe in *Samsara* (known in the west as reincarnation): that after death, the souls of humans and animals will be reborn depending on the karma of their past life. This cycle can be broken when all karma has been purified through conduct, meditation, and other *Dharma* (religious duties). ### Connections to Other Belief Systems * Hindus believe in *samsara*/reincarnation. * Celebrate holy days like Christianity, Islam and Judaism and Buddhism. * Like the hajj of Islam, religious pilgrimages play an important role in *Hinduism*. There are several sites in India, each dedicated to a certain god, a group of gods or a famous happening.