HINDUISM

BUDDHISM

CONFUCIANISM

TAOISM

Early Early ReligionsReligions

JUDAISM

The Chosen PeopleMonotheism

Yahweh

The Covenant

Morals

Faith

~1800bc (currently year 5764) Sheep herders outside Ur (“Dusty feet”)

Worshipped only 1 godCreated all things in nature but was more concerned with human behavior then forces of nature. Omnipotent – all powerful, could do everythingOmniscient – knows all things.

Hebrew name for God, “He who cannot be named” Created mankind in his image – but he does not have human behaviors. Created world in 6 days (Sabbath – 7th day of rest) and all things in it.

The Hebrews would be God’s Chosen People as long as they followed his laws.

Moral Law – Ethics – Taught people right vs wrong. Punishment based on spiritual beliefs.

In exchange they would live in a Promised homeland of their own.

All things are possible with God: if have faith- individuals are capable of achieving what ever they want if they work hard enough. When they didn’t they would be punished – Flood, Sodom etc

When all Hebrews lived under Gods law – a messiah would comeMessiah: Savior , would bring Heaven to Earth.

Afterlife: Mysterious – accepted as an unknown

Hebrew history is one of migration.Always forced to live amongst Non HebrewsStruggle to keep Culture pure – non assimilationLooking for own land to protect culture

God tells him to take people from Ur to Canaan (modern day Israel) it will be theirs as long as they have Faith – keep their culture pure

Leads from Canaan to Egypt to escape famine. Punished for losing Faith – enslaved.

Exodus: God tells to take people out of Egypt – protect them from turning Egyptian but loses way for 40 years in desert. Homeland taken away for loss of Faith. Have to agree to new Covenant to get homeland back.

Messiah

Protecting their Identity

Abraham

Jacob

Moses

The Ten Commandments

The Kingdom of Israel Civil War

Babylon

Return to Israel

10 moral laws to guide people. Worship no other, Covet neighbors property,steal, kill, honor parents, use Lords name in vain, adultery, false idols, observe Sabbath, false witness

Marks first official Legit Home to self. Jerusalem – capital – center of their culture. Solomon – legitimize culture: Solomon’s Temple

Judahs vs Israelites Fight 200 years – loss of Faith Assyrians Invade – Temple destroyed. Israelites genocide, Judahs deported to Babylon.

Forced to live in Babylon throughout Chaldean rule. Struggle to keep traditions pureSynagogues: Secret meeting places where could practice faithRabbis: Teachers who were responsible for teaching Hebrew childrenDead Sea Scrolls: Laws written down to govern Hebrews while in Babylon.

Daniel gets Nebuchadnezzer to release – return to Israel. Rebuild Temple of Solomon. Ezra writes down the 5 Books of Moses “Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuderotomy” first 5 books of “Old Testament”

Roman Occupation

Diaspora

Further Covenants

Zionist Movement

Live in Judea throughout Roman Empire – Romans persecute. Destroy 2nd Temple

Most over time flee Judea and spread throughout Europe and in time to America. Often persecuted where went – by Christians. Never allowed to own land – so tradition of being involved in business and trade – not agriculture.

In attempts to keep culture while mixed in with other cultures (they view themselves as the Chosen People) create 613 new covenants to resist assimilation into other cultures.

Kashrut: Kosher Food – food purity laws

Shevat: Sabbath – keep Sabbath day holy

Bris: Circumcision – identification

Early 20th century – movement to return to Jerusalem and Israel – which had been inhabited by Muslim group known as the Palestinians. Small settlements until after WWII holocaust when millions of Jews have been flooding back into Israel. United Nations divided area into two countries: Israel and Palestine. Two have been at war for last 50+ years.

Judaism Today

2 Branches

Orthodox

Secular

Conservative

Reconstructive

Non Practicing

Differ in beliefs about to what extent Jews should be allowed to assimilate with other cultures.

18% - Tend to segregate selves from other groups through rituals- stress purity. Non Jewish people wouldn’t be able to convert. Wouldn’t be able to marry into. View Holocaust as punishment for assimilating too much into western culture

82% - Subdivided into 3 groups

: discourage assimilation – but not as strict as Orthodox – could marry into if perform correct ceremonies

: Its OK to change to meet the times.

: Are Jewish – but don’t really follow covenants. Its really fine to blend in with other cultures.

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The Roots of Hinduism

The Aryans

The Dravidians

A mixing of beliefs

The Vedics

The Bhagavad Gita

The Ramayana

Religious Structure

Brahman ~ The One and Many

The Passion Play

•~1500bc Nomadic cattle herders Aryans (related to Persians) migrate east into and beyond Indus River Valley.

•Settle and start building cities

•The native Indian people.

•Aryans took them into their society as second class citizens.

Aryan and Drav. Gradually mix old religions together to form new religion: Hinduism

Example: Dravidians spirits of nature

Aryans Indra God of War

Cows become sacredEpic poems that teach the lessons of Hinduism. Holy stories. Longest Poems in world.

Universal Energy – Everything in the Universe and everything that makes it work.

So vast and complex can’t really describe it but they try

Can be described as 1 god

Also can be described as millions of gods, demons and spirits that control anything you can think of.

Indra- Father of gods + War

Ganesh – god of luck and happiness

Village gods, etc.

Life is described as a dream that Brahma is having.

Goes in phases

Goes to sleep and everything is strange and being put together

2nd. All things work together – peaceful and harminous

3rd. Things start breaking apart - conflict among living things

4th. Chaos and destruction – very short

Brahma wakes up and our world ends until he does it again

The Trinity

Brahma

Shiva

Vishnu

Religious Purpose:

Brahman

Atman

Moksha

Reincarnation

Karma

Dharma

The three most important gods to human lifeThe creator – created life – but has little impact on human life and vice versaThe Destroyer – not evil – recycles all life and energy – of good things and bad things

The Protector – defends all humans. Will come to earth in 10 different forms.

Hindu’s incorporate all other religions into him – he is Jesus, Mohammad, Buddha, etc. Universal energy – everything that makes

everything do what it does.The little bit of Brahman every little thing contains. The more you have the higher up life form you are.Vegetables to animals to humans to gods

The ultimate goal – to become Brahman – or everything in the universeYou will be reborn endless amounts of

time – until you achieve Moksha

What you are reborn as depends on your amount of Atman

The amount of Atman you lose or gain depending on your actions. You lose whatever atman you negatively impact on another living thing – gain what you positively impact

What you are supposed to do with your life

Everything from job in life to what supposed to eat

Your Dharma

Rituals

Asceticism

The Caste System

Aryan Creation

The Castes

Brahmins

Chetriya

Vaishyas

Sudras + Untouchables

Rules of the Caste System

Various exercises and ceremonies that produce good karma like Yoga

Deliberately living a simple life free of material needs to avoid bad karma

Jainism – extreme asceticism

Aryans created social ranking to keep Dravidians second class citizens.

Priest class – very few – most powerfulWarrior class and ruling class –

includes royalty.

Middle class – white collar jobs – doctors, lawyers, merchants

Lowest classes – unskilled labor to homeless. Includes all non Hindu’s

Born into your caste – and must stay in it for life.

Limit contact with other castes

Can’t marry outside of caste

Technically illegal after WWII – but socially still accepted

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ShivaShivaThe Destroyer

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VISHNUVISHNU

(THE PROTECTOR)and his carnations:

The Horned Fish

The Tortoise

The Boar

The Man Lion

The Dwarf

Parasurama

Rama

Krishna

Buddha

Kalkin- yet to come

Krishna

Rama

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JAINS

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The Problem with Hindu Society

Siddharta Guatama

Enlightenment

The Four Noble Truths

The Eight Fold Path

The Middle Way

Chi

Growth in Popularity and Spread

Theravada Buddhism

Mahayana Buddhism

CHART

CHART

~500bc – too many Sudra’s being kept miserable and suffering by rule of the Brahmins – due to beliefs Brahmins did little too help.

Born in Nepal as a Brahmin.

Lived sheltered comfortable childhood.

As an adult sought a new answer to why some suffered while others didn’t.

Fasted for years – finally found answer sitting under a tree.

Found answer to his question

Called “Buddha” or “The Enlightened One”

Means some one who achieves a great understanding.

The right way to follow the 8 Fold Path

Live a life of moderation – avoid extremesYour inner energy (spirit, Atman) gives you ability to do what you do

Can be grown and manipulated

Becomes very popular in India

Asoka builds monasteries and sends teachers further east into China and Japan.

Original form, only follows teachings of original Buddha.

The Lesser Vehicle – elitist – only a few can do it

Focus on need to spend life in Meditation – Need to be monastic and isolated from society to achieve Nirvana. Not readily accessible to most of society.

Mostly found in Southern Asia

Northern Asia (China, Japan, Korea)

The Greater Vehicle – more attainable

Anyone can be a Buddha and add to the teachings.

Highest rank of person is a Bodhisattvas – someone who gives up Nirvana to stay behind and teach the rest of us the way.

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1. LIFE IS SUFFERING

2. SUFFERING IS CAUSED BY DESIRE

3. THE END OF SUFFERING IS NIRVANA

4. NIRVANA IS REACHED BY FOLLOWING THE 8 FOLD PATH

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•VIEWSVIEWS

•RESOLVESRESOLVES

•SPEECHSPEECH

•CONDUCT CONDUCT

•EFFORTEFFORT

•LIVELIHOODLIVELIHOOD

•RECOLLECTIONRECOLLECTION

•MEDITATIONMEDITATION

TO HAVE THE RIGHT:

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China - The setting

Pessimists

Conservatives

Reformers

Kung Fu Tzu

The Problem with Time

Ritual, Ritual, Ritual

The Five Relationships

The Analects

CHART

~550bc. Zhou Dynasty China

Constant War - Poverty – corrupt RulersThings can’t be fixed – withdraw from societyThings can’t be fixed so – become part of the problem.

Things can be fixed – very dangerous – a lot of work

“Grand Master” Kung – Confucius

Reformer – 550 bc.

Philosopher who traveled from palace to palace trying to educate leaders in a new way of living.

Not a religion – nothing to do with gods

Problem with life was time

Present not good

Past was good and could be learned from

People bent on speeding into the future.

Need to harmonize past with future to make present better.

Reharmonize past with future by doing everything the exact same way everyday.

Avoid suffering by doing same thing same way every time.

The approved social order that must be obeyed by strict rules.

Superiors job to guide the inferior

Inferiors job to overthrow the superior if they don’t do their job.

Extremely sexist system – that still has implications on Human Rights in China today

Books of sayings of Confucius written after his death.

Teach what the right and wrong things are.

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SUPERIOR INFERIOR

RULER RULED

FATHER SON

OLDER BROTHER YOUNGER BROTHER

HUSBAND WIFE

FRIEND FRIEND

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