Post on 29-Dec-2015
transcript
WORLD RELIGIONS
CHRISTIANITY
ORIGINS OF CHRISTIANITY
Started in the Middle East c. 30 A.D.Middle East was a part of the Roman Empire
Roman Empire worshiped a multitude of godsCalled the Roman pantheon
CHRISTIANITY Founder: Jesus of Nazareth
Executed in Jerusalem
MonotheisticBelieve in the trinity: Father , Son (Jesus), and
Holy Spirit
CHRISTIAN BELIEFS 1. Holy book: the Bible
God’s teachings are found in this bookCollected and written by prophets and
disciples 2. There is only 1 God that created
everything Jesus was the Son of God and also the same
as God 3. Jesus is the savior of man
Salvation (Heaven) is achieved through Jesus’ death on the cross
BUDDHISM
Originated in India
EARLY BUDDHISM Foundations of the religion are in India
Polytheistic: worship of many gods Founder: Siddhartha Gautama (born c. 563 B.C.)
Dissatisfied w/ comfortable life All life contains suffering Took up ascetic, wandering life to understand suffering
Asceticism-give up material pleasures and devote life to spiritual path.
Enlightenment Trials: Intense meditation Extreme asceticism
ENLIGHTENMENT The Buddha (“enlightened one”)
Sat under a tree 49 daysTempted/challenged by demons
Demons retreatedReceived enlightenment and became the
Buddha
BUDDHIST DOCTRINE Dharma
Four Noble Truths and Noble Eightfold PathBasic Buddhist doctrine
NirvanaNirvana is the goalState of perfect spiritual independenceReached by reduced desire for worldly
things detachment from world itself
FOUR NOBLE TRUTHS Fundamental Doctrine
1. All life involves suffering2. Desire is the cause of suffering3. Elimination of desire brings an end to
suffering4. Disciplined life conducted in accordance
w/ the Noble Eightfold Path bring elimination of desire
NOBLE EIGHTFOLD PATH Path to enlightenment and nirvana Lead balanced and moderate lives Reject devotion to luxury and also
extreme asceticism 1. right belief 2. right resolve 3. right speech 4. right behavior 5. right occupation 6. right effort 7. right mindfulness 8. right meditation
HINDUISM
Originated in India
HINDUISM Originated in India due to the caste system Polytheistic: worship of many gods Reincarnation:
Belief that when the body dies, the soul returns as another life form.
If you were successful in your previous life, you would be reincarnated at a higher level
Possible to be reincarnated as any living thing.
CASTE SYSTEM 4 main classes of people:
Each caste has a particular duty Brahmins
Priests Kshatriyas
Warriors, aristocrats Vaishyas
Peasants merchants Shudras
serfs
HINDU EPIC POEMS Bhagavad Gita (“song of the lord”)
Final form in 400 C.E. after several revisionsOutlines duties of the caste system
ShudrasServe
Vaishyas Work
BrahminsLearn and seek wisdom
KshatriyasGovern and fight
HINDU EPIC POEMS Bhagavad Gita: (the basic points)
Participate actively in the world and perform your caste duties and you will reach salvation
Do not seek rewardConcentrate on actions alone with no
thought as to their consequences
HINDU ETHICS 4 principle aims of human life:
1. dharma Obedience to religious morals and laws
2. artha Pursuit of economic well-being
3. kama Enjoyment of social, physical and sexual
pleasure4. moksha
Salvation of the soul Proper balance leads to moksha
APPEAL OF HINDUISM Offered salvation to masses of people
who had to lead active lives in societyPeople could not easily get away from their
caste Replaced Buddhism as most popular
JUDAISM
VIDEO QUESTIONS 1. Who was the founder/father of the
religion? 2. Where did the religion start? 3. Is Judaism monotheistic or
polytheistic? 4. What are 2 major figures in the
religion?
CONFUCIANISM
KONGFUZI Born in China in 551 B.C.
Known in China as the first teacher
Goal was to become a political advisorExtreme turmoil during his lifetimeCorruption, wars and instability in ChinaFew listened to Kongfuzi’s ideas
Western travelers coined the term Confucius
CONFUCIANISM Not a religion
A philosophy The Analects (400 B.C.)
Kongfuzi’s followers wrote down his teachings after he died
Confucianism became a widely accepted school of thought in China It became the foundation of education for all
government officials in China for centuries