The Five Major Religions of the World

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The Five Major Religions of the World
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Judaism
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Judaism

• Judaism is the worlds oldest monotheistic
  religion ever to exist.
• This means Jewish people were the first to
  believe in one god.

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Judaism

• Judaism dates back 5,000 years when Jews were a
  nomadic people called the Hebrews who lived in
  the Middle East.

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Judaism

• A man named Abraham is believed to have been the
  first Jew and Judaisms founding father.

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Judaism

• According to scriptures, God promised Abraham
  that he would be the father of a great nation.
• Abraham believed, but he and his wife were very,
  very old.

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Judaism

• Since his wife was very old, Abraham conceived a
  child with his maidservant, who was not Jewish,
  but Arab.
• She had a son, named Ishmael.

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Judaism

• According to scripture, Abrahams wife finally
  did conceive a son, and they named him Isaac.
• As promised, the Hebrews or Jews, became very
  numerous and a large, powerful nation.

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Judaism

• Centuries later, another great leader, named
  Moses, led the Jews out of slavery in Egypt and
  led them on a long journey to the promised land
  (the land promised to them by God Israel)

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Judaism

• Jewish people believe that it was through Moses
  that God gave them the books of their sacred
  text, The Torah.
• On Mt. Sinai, Moses listened and recorded the
  Torah from God. He also recorded the 10
  commandments.

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Judaism

• The Ten Commandments

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Judaism

• Another revered figure is King David. Under his
  wisdom and leadership he unites the people and
  establishes a mighty capital in the city of
  Jerusalem.

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Judaism

• King Davids son, King Solomon, built the first
  great temple to God in Jerusalem.

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Judaism

• The basic belief of the Jews is in the existence
  of one God who created the world and is eternal
  and invisible.
• They believe that they have a special
  relationship with God which dates back to the
  time of Abraham.

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Judaism

• The purpose of every Jew is Tikkum Olam.
• Tikkam Repair
• Olam World

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Judaism

• Jewish people must love God and respect all
  people.
• Following Gods laws and rules is very important

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Judaism

• Jewish people also believe that God will one day
  send a leader, called the Messiah, who will bring
  peace and harmony to the whole world.
• This Messiah will save them.

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Judaism

• Jews worship in a synagogue, which means meeting
  place.
• The teachers of the Jewish faith are called
  Rabbis.

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Synagogues come in many different styles.
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Judaism

• The Star of David, seen here, is a symbol of the
  Jewish faith.

• The star represents a very important number to
  Jewish people. The star has 6 points and 1 center
  the holy number 7.

• It is also called Magen David, as it comes from a
  design on the shield, or magen, or King David.

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Judaism

• According to Jewish law, anyone who has a Jewish
  mother counts as a Jew whether or not they
  actively follow Judaism as their religion.

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Judaism

• There are many branches of Judaism including
• 1) Orthodox (follow the Torah exactly worship is
  said in Hebrew)
• 2) Reform
• 3) Conservative
• Both believe that the Torah can be adapted to
  modern life

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Judaism

• Many Orthodox Jews wear yarmulkas (a round cap
  for the skull) as a sign of Gods presence

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Judaism

• Special ceremonies must follow certain
  commandments, or mitzvoth

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Judaism

• When a boy turns 13 he has a Bar Mitzvah ceremony
  to mark his entry into adulthood.
• Now days, when girls reach the age of 12 they
  celebrate a Bat Mitzvah. However, this wasnt
  always the case.
• During this ceremony, the young person must read
  in the synagogue from the Torah for the first
  time.

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Judaism

• Jewish people eat only 'Kosher foods.
• Kosher means that a food is permitted or 'clean',
  while anything 'unclean' (such as pork and
  shellfish) is strictly forbidden.

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Judaism

• Preparation of food is key, especially with
  slaughtering animals
• Certain foods cannot touch other types of foods
  (such as dairy and meats)
• Fasting is apart of many celebrations
• Bitter herbs are consumed during Passover to
  represent the suffering of the Israelites under
  the Egyptians.

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Judaism

• Pesach, or Passover, is a celebration of the
  exodus of the Jews from Egypt.
• It is celebrated in March or April.

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Judaism

• Yom Kippur, or the Day of Atonement, is the
  holiest day in the Jewish year. It is a day of
  prayer and fasting when Jews ask for forgiveness
  for any wrong they have done.
• Jewish people believe that everyone's soul is
  purified before going to be with God.

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Judaism

• Hannakah is a celebration of the miracle of
  lights.
• During a rededication of the Temple by the
  Maccabees, there was only enough oil to last one
  day however, the the lamps stayed lit for 8
  days a miracle!

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Judaism

• Today there are about 14 million Jews living all
  around the world.
• Most, however, live in Israel (their promised
  land), Europe, or the United States.

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Christianity
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Christianity

• Christianity dates back about 2 thousand years
  ago in the Middle East, during Roman rule.
• It is a monotheistic religion that believes there
  are three entities in one God, called the Trinity
  (the Father God, the Son, and the Holy Spirit).

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Christianity

• The founder of the faith was a Jewish man, who
  came from the line of King David.
• His name was Jesus Christ.

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Christianity

• According to Jesus and his believers, he was
  Gods son, the Messiah, sent to save the world
  from its sin, by dieing for it.

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Christianity

• Although Jesus was Jewish, he was not always
  happy with the Jewish Rabbis and teachers.
• Although they followed the law very strictly,
  they did not have a personal relationship with
  God. Their lives were all about rules, and not
  about loving God.

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Christianity

• When Jewish teachers asked Jesus what was the
  most important commandment, he responded by
  stating To love the lord your God with all your
  heart.
• This was a new commandment.

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Christianity

• Christians believe in an afterlife. Your soul
  either goes to Heaven (to live eternally with
  God in perfect peace) OR to go to hell (a place
  of eternal damnation and pain)

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Christianity

• So, because humans could never be totally
  perfect, God had sent his own son (who was
  perfect) to die as a perfect sacrifice to atone
  for the sins of the world.
• In a sense, Jesus paid the price for sinners. He
  died so they wouldnt have to.

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Christianity

• Along with preaching this message, Jesus also
  performed many miracles.
• He made blind people see, deaf people hear, lame
  people walk, and even made a dead man come back
  to life.

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Christianity

• According to the Bible, it was his own disciple,
  Judas, who turned him in to the Jewish leaders.
  These Jewish leaders turned him into the Romans
  to be executed, for blasphemy, claiming to be
  Gods son.
• He was executed by crucifixion.

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Christianity

• Christ told his followers to go and tell all who
  will believe that the only way into heaven is
  through faith in him. Many of his accounts are
  described in the gospels. Which means good news.

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Christianity

• Many of his disciples sent letters to various
  churches all around the region, reminding them of
  Christs teachings.
• These letters are what make up most of the New
  Testiment, in the Bible. The Old Testiment
  includes the books in the Hebrew Torah.
• Christians believe the Bible was inspired by the
  Holy Spirit and that every word comes from God.

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Christianity

• For a Christian, there are many important
  celebrations.
• The most important one is that of baptism.

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Christianity

• Baptism represents that you were once a dirty,
  sinner, but that you are buried with Christ (when
  you are under the water) and then raised with
  Christ to walk a new, clean life (as you come up
  out of the water).
• It is as though Christs perfect death has
  covered up or washed away your sins.

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Christianity

• Another important tradition is the act of sharing
  in communion.
• Communion is a time to remember the sacrifice
  Christ made by eating broken bread and drinking
  wine or grape juice.

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Christianity

• There are not any restrictions on a Christians
  diet.
• However, many Christians choose to fast for holy
  days.
• Also, many Catholics will give up a food during a
  period called Lent.

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Christianity

• The holiest day for Christians is Easter. This is
  the day that Christs resurrection is celebrated.

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Christianity

• Easter is celebrated with a worship service or
  mass and usually a big feast with family.
• Some people hide eggs. Eggs are a symbol of new
  life. Christians believe that a new life can be
  found in Christs resurrection.

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Christianity

• Christmas is also an important holy day. It is
  the day that Christians celebrate the birth of
  Christ. They give each other gifts on this
  holiday however, they remind each other that the
  most important gift was Gods gift of his son,
  Jesus.

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Christianity

• There are many branches of Christianity
• Roman Catholicism and Eastern Orthodox are two
  branches. They are similar in that they place a
  huge emphasis in following traditions and rules.

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Christianity

• Another branch of Christianity is called
  Protestantism. This comes from the word
  Protest.
• Protestants include many groups (including
  Baptists, Methodists, Presbyterians, etc)

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Christianity

• It is called Protestantism, from the word
  Protest, because in the 16th century many people
  began to protest the Catholic church. The leader
  of this movement was a monk named Martin Luther.

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Christianity

• To this day, Christianity is the most wide spread
  religion on earth.
• It has over a billion followers.

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Islam
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Islam

• The Islamic faith dates back thousands of years.
• However, the founder of Islam is the prophet
  Muhammad, who was born about 1,500 years ago.

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Islam

• People who believe is the Islamic faith refer to
  themselves as Muslims.
• Like Christians and Jews, Islam is a monotheistic
  religion, believing in one god, Allah.

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Islam

• Muslims holy books are called the Quran (Koran)
  and the Hadiths.
• Many of the stories in their holy books are
  similar to the stories in the Jewish Torah and
  the Christian Bible.

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Islam

• Muslims believe that Allah reveals his message to
  a series of prophets.
• The first was Adam, the first man.
• Other prophets include Abraham (or Ibrahim),
  Moses (or Musa), and Isa (or Jesus).

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Islam

• Muslims believe that Muhammad was the last and
  greatest prophet.
• It is believed that Allah, or God, revealed to
  Muhammad His will and wishes for the world.

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Islam

• Muhammad was born in Mecca (a city in Saudi
  Arabia).
• He was an orphan and was raised by his
  grandfather and uncle.

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Islam

• When he was 25, Muhammad married a rich widow and
  worked as a merchant.
• Although he had many things, he became
  dissatisfied with the way people lived and
  worshiped.

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Islam

• One night, in 610 AD, while Meditating on Mt.
  Hira, the Angel Gabriel, or Jibril, appeared and
  began to reveal Allahs message to him.

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Islam

• Muhammad is said to have experienced a miraculous
  event. The angel Jibril took him from Mecca to
  Jerusalem in one night. There he prayed and
  worshiped with prophets from the past.
• That journey became known as The Night Journey

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Islam

• It was there that Allah told Muhammad that
  Muslims should pray five times a day.

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Islam

• Muhammad also received from Allah The Five
  Pillars of Faith.
• Like the pillars that hold up a building, these
  pillars are what hold up the Islamic faith.
  Without one, faith would not be firm or complete.

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Islam
1st FAITH

• The First of the Five Pillars
• Shahadah or declaration of faith
• It states There is no God but Allah and
  Muhammad is his prophet.

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Islam
2nd PRAYER

• Second of the Five Pillars
• Salah or prayer.
• Muslims must pray five times a day between dawn
  and dusk.

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Islam
3rd GIVING

• Third of the Five Pillars
• Zakah or giving to charity

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Islam
4th FASTING

• Fourth of the Five Pillars
• Sawm or fasting during the holy month of Ramadan

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Islam
5th PILGRIMAGE

• Fifth of the Five Pillars
• Hajj or a pilgrimage to the holy city of Mecca.

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Islam

• Muslims believe it is very important to follow
  the Five Pillars and to also do good deeds
  throughout life.
• According to Muslims, two angels follow you
  throughout your life and record all of your good
  and bad deeds.

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Islam

• When you die, if you have more good deeds you
  will be taken into a land of paradise. If you
  have more bad deeds will go to Hell.

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Islam

• After teaching the messages revealed to him from
  Allah, Muhammad ascended into heaven on Mt.
  Moriah in Jerusalem.
• He left behind a great following of believers in
  the Islamic faith.

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Islam

• Today, Muslims practice many traditions and
  celebrations that were taught to them by the
  prophet Muhammad.

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Islam

• Muslims try to make a pilgrimage to Mecca at
  least once in their lives.
• As they enter Mecca, they must change into white
  clothes to represent that they are equal.

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Islam

• During the pilgrimage, Muslims walk around the
  Kaaba shrine seven times.

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Islam

• Next, they go to Mt. Arafat, where Muhammad
  preached his last sermon.
• At Mina, they throw stones at three pillars
  representing the devil, which is what Abraham or
  Ibrahim did, according to scripture.

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Islam

• Id ul-Adha takes place at the end of the Hajj.
• It remembers how the prophet Ibrahim was ready to
  sacrifice his son to obey Allah.

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Islam

• Id ul-Fitr marks the end of Ramadan, the holy
  month of fasting. It is marked with prayers,
  parties, and giving money to charity.

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Islam

• Muslims continue to pray five times a day.
• Prayer can occur anywhere, as long as it is a
  clean place, or they lay a prayer mat on the
  floor.

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Islam

• Muslims pray and worship Allah in a mosque.
• Inside most mosques there is a tall tower, and
  inside there is a large prayer hall, with an arch
  indicating the direction of Mecca.

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Mosques come in different sizes but have many
similarities in architecture.
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Islam

• In some places, mosques will sound the Call to
  Prayer. This is when the Muezzin calls in Arabic
  that it is time to pray.

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Islam

• Islam has two branches
• Sunnis
• 90 of Muslims are Sunni Muslims.
• 2) Shiites
• 10 of Muslims are Shiites
• Most Shiites live in Iran or Iraq

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Islam

• After Muhammads death, the Muslims were led by
  Khalifas, or Caliphs. Under their leadership, the
  term jihad is formed.
• A jihad is a person struggle against evil which
  occurs within every persons heart.
• Or a jihad is a war that defends Islam.

Jihad inner war (good vs. evil)
OR Jihad outer war to defend faith
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Islam

• There are different words for the leader or
  teacher of Islam. They include Imam, Khatib,
  Masjid, and many others.

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Islam

• According to the laws of Islam, Muslim men and
  women must dress modestly.

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Islam

• When a Muslim woman gets married or comes to the
  age when she is no longer a child, she then must
  wear a veil.
• In some places, a woman can show her whole face
  and hands. In other places, the veil must cover
  the entire body.

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Islam

• Because the Quran is very vague about the matter
  of the veil, it has been debated among many
  different Muslim scholars.
• Tell the faithful women to lower their gaze and
  guard their private parts and not display their
  beauty except what is apparent of it, and to
  extend their scarf to cover their bosom
• Koran, 2431 (English translation)

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Islam

• Regulations on food are called halal.
• Prohibited foods are called haram.
• Foods that cannot be eating, include pork,
  alcohol, foods with animal fats, tinned
  vegetables, certain margarines, and bread or
  bread products that contain dried yeast. Gelatine
  (made from pig) is also considered
  haram.Caffeinated drinks are sometimes forbidden.

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Islam

• Today, Islam is the second most prevalent
  religion on earth (second to Christianity).
• Islam is the fastest growing religion on earth.
• Currently, there are over 1 billion Muslims on
  earth.

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Islam

• Most Muslims live in the Middle East or North
  Africa.
• However, Muslims can also be found in the United
  States, Europe, and beyond.

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Hinduism
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Hinduism

• Hinduism is also known as Sanatana Dharma, which
  means eternal law or teaching.
• It is one of the worlds oldest religions. Its
  roots are roughly 4,500 years old
• It began during a civilization of people called
  the Indus Valley Civilization

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Hinduism

• However, Hinduism, as it is practiced today
  actually borrowed many ideas from the Aryans (a
  nomadic group) who began to invade India around
  1500 BC.

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Hinduism

• Both the ancient Indus Valley civilization and
  the Aryans believed in many gods and goddesses.

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Hinduism

• Hindus believe in a great soul or spirit, called
  Brahman, or God.
• Brahman has no shape or form and cannot be seen.
• His spirit is composed of many other gods and
  goddesses, which represent some part of his
  character.

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Hinduism

• The three most important gods in Hinduism are the
  trimurti or trinity
• Brahma the creator of the universe
• Vishnu the protector
• Shiva the destroyer

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Hinduism

• Hindus try to live their lives according to a
  code of behavior called dharma. This means doing
  their duty to their family and friends, helping
  their neighbors, being kind to others, and
  telling the truth.

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Hinduism

• Hindus believe in reincarnation, the idea that
  when a person dies their soul is reborn again in
  another body.

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Hinduism

• Their next life is dictated by the good or bad
  deeds in present life, and by their results,
  known as kharma.
• The goal of a Hindus spiritual life is to break
  free of the cycle of birth, death, and rebirth
  and to achieve moksha, or ultimate salvation.

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Hinduism

• In order to break the cycle and achieve moksha,
  there are four paths.
• 1. Bhakti (Devotion)
• 2. Jnana (Knowledge)
• 3. Karma (Action)
• 4. Yoga (meditation)

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Hinduism

• Hindus who follow the first path, bhakti
  (devotion), devote themselves to a personal god,
  such as Krishna or Rama.

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Hinduism

• Hindus who follow the second step, jnana
  (knowledge) try to find the true meaning of life
  through learning and study.
• Hindus following the third step, karma (action),
  means they try to act selflessly without thought
  for their own reward but always thinking and
  acting for others.

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Hinduism

• A Hindu following the fourth and final step, yoga
  (meditation), train their bodies and minds to
  bring them closer to moksha.

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Hinduism

• Hindus have many important texts including the
  Vedas, Upanishads, Brahmanas, Puranas, and epic
  Tantras.

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Hinduism

• Hindus worship in temples, or mandirs
• Each temple is dedicated to one god or goddess or
  a holy man.

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Hinduism

• Hindus believe that cows are sacred and cannot be
  harmed or killed.
• This is because cows are associated with the god
  Krishna and Kamadhenu.
• Likewise, cows are revered because they are
  givers of milk, one of the most precious sources
  of food.

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Hinduism

• Because of this, some Hindus do not eat beef.
  Others do not eat pork.
• In some geographic areas of India, duck and crab
  may also be forbidden.
• Dairy products, however, are believed to enhance
  spiritual purity.

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Hinduism

• This symbol forms the sanskrit letters to
  represent the sacred sound Aum (Om). This is
  spoken at the beginning and end of every prayer
  and repeated during meditation.

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Hinduism

• Another important symbol for Hindus is a bindi,
  which is a symbolic dot that is placed in the
  middle of the forehead.
• The bindi is said to cover the third eye, a
  chakra on the body where energy from the body can
  be released during meditation.

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Hinduism

• In ancient times an unmarried girl would wear a
  black bindi, and a married girl, a red one.
• Many people do not realize that both men and
  women wear bindis.

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Hinduism

• Many Hindu women wear Saris. This style of dress
  is prevalent in India.

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Hinduism

• You may find a Hindu man wearing a turban, or a
  covering over his head.
• A turban is a symbol of dignity. To slap off a
  persons turban is a huge insult.

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Hindusim

• Henna is a form of art that is adorned on the
  body or hands.
• It is a temporary tattoo.
• It is often applied for various Hindu ceremonies,
  especially a wedding.

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Hinduism

• Arranged Marriages have been popular in India and
  in the Hindu religion for centuries.
• Although not as common, arranged marriages still
  occur in India today.

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Hinduism

• Today over 800 million people in the world
  consider themselves Hindu.
• Hinduism is most prevalent in India, where 8 out
  of every 10 people considers themselves such.

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Buddhism
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Buddhism

• Buddhism began in India around 2,500 year ago.
• It is based on the teachings of a nobleman named
  Siddartha Gautama.

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Buddhism

• Buddhism does not believe in any gods or
  goddesses.
• Gods and goddess are believed to be made up to
  help calm our fears. But Buddhism teaches that we
  must be the ones to face our fears, and not rely
  on gods/goddess to make us feel safe.

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Buddhism

• According to legend, Siddharthas mother, Queen
  Maya, conceived him when a god in the form of a
  pure, white elephant came to her in a dream. In
  the dream, the elephant touched her with a lotus
  flower and thus conceived Siddhartha.

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Buddhism

• Siddartha grew up in lavish luxury, a prince!

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Buddhism

• Siddartha did not know of the pain and suffering
  of the world, until he took a trip at the age of
  29.
• During this trip he saw a sick man, an old man,
  and a dead man.

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Buddhism

• Seeing the pain and suffering of the world made
  Siddartha very upset.
• However, during the trip he also saw a holy man.
  This man was very poor but very content and
  happy.
• Siddartha realized then that pain and suffering
  could be overcome spiritually.

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Buddhism

• So at the age of 29 Siddartha gave up all of his
  worldly possessions in search for the spiritual
  truth that could set him free from pain and
  suffering.
• He cut off his hair as a sign of all that he was
  giving up.

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Buddhism

• One day while meditating under a tree, he found
  the answer. And from that moment on, he is known
  as The Enlightened One or the Buddha.

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Buddhism

• He realized that each man must search for truth
  on his own and in his own way.
• He also realized that the reason why humans
  suffer is because they always want more.

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Buddhism

• Today, Buddhists follow the teachings of Buddha.
• The five rules Buddhists follow include
• 1) Do not kill or harm living things
• 2) Do not steal
• 3) Do not lie
• 4) Abstain from sexual misconduct
• 5) Abstain from drugs and alcohol

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Buddhism

• Like Hindus, Buddhists believe in karma, the law
  of cause and effect
• Also like Hindus, Buddhists believe in
  reincarnation. Good deeds lead to a better
  rebirth bad deeds lead to a bad rebirth. And
  that the goal of the spirit is to break this
  cycle by achieving perfect peace in Nirvana.

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Buddhism

• To achieve Nirvana, Buddhists believe they must
  follow Buddhas teachings and develop the
  qualities of compassion, loving-kindness, and
  generosity in their lives.
• Anyone can achieve Nirvana no matter what class.
  This is different than with Hinduism, which
  believes only the highest class (Brahmins) can
  achieve moksha.

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Buddhism

• The cycle that every person must travel through,
  (birth, death, rebirth) is often symbolized by
  the Wheel of Life.

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Buddhism

• An important day for Buddhists is known as Wesak.
  This is the day in May that the moon is full.
• Now days, it is called Buddha Day
• Buddhists celebrate this day because it is the
  day Siddhartha was born, the day he became
  enlightened, and on his 80th birthday the day he
  died and achieved Nirvana.

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Buddhism

• The Buddhist New Year is an important
  celebration.
• It is celebrated for three days from the full
  moon in April.
• Buddhists celebrations and festivals include
  visiting a local temple, offering food to the
  monks/shrines, and giving away money to charity.

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Buddhism

• In Buddhism, there are beings called
  Bodhisattvahs.
• They can reach Nirvana, but in their ultimate
  compassion, choose to stay here instead, in the
  form of a human or sculpture to aid all other
  beings to reach their owns Nirvanas before going
  to their own.

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Statues of Buddha
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Bodhisattva Statues
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Buddhism

• This figure is often referred to as the Happy
  Buddha
• It isnt, however, a statue of Buddha but a
  Boddhisattva of Maitreya meaning one who has
  loving kindness.
• The large belly and hemp sack represent plentiful
  wealth and prosperity

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Buddhism

• Buddhists worship in a temple, vihara.
• Their sacred text is called The Tripitaka

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Buddhism
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Buddhism

• Food regulations for Buddhists really depend on
  the area and branch of Buddhism that is
  practiced.
• A vegetarian lifestyle is common. Although some
  Buddhists eat meat.

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Buddhism

• Buddhism has spread all over the world, but is
  prevalent in places such as China, Tibet, Japan,
  Thailand, and other far east Asian countries.
• 330 million people are Buddhists

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Buddhism

• There are many different branches of Buddhism
  including
• 1) Zen Buddhism (Japan focus on riddles to
  expand the mind)
• 2) Tibetan Buddhism (Tibet focus on magic and
  rituals their leader is the Dalai Lama)

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Other Religions of the World
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• There are many other religions in the world.
• The five we discussed in this presentation were
  simply the major ones.

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• Have you heard of any other religions?

155
The End