Politics and ReligionPolitics and Religion

Major World ReligionsMajor World Religions

JudaismJudaism Who –Who – Abraham, Moses Abraham, Moses When –When – circa 3000 BC circa 3000 BC Where –Where – Israel Israel Holy Books -Holy Books - TorahTorah, ,

and and TalmudTalmud Major Divisions –Major Divisions –

Orthodox, Conservative, Orthodox, Conservative, ReformReform

Basic BeliefsBasic Beliefs MonotheisticMonotheistic – one God – one God Jews are the chosen Jews are the chosen

people of God, must people of God, must follow his laws. follow his laws.

Jerusalem/Israel are Jerusalem/Israel are holy lands.holy lands.

ChristianityChristianity Who –Who – Jesus of Nazareth Jesus of Nazareth

When –When – circa 30AD circa 30AD

Where –Where – Israel Israel

Holy Books –Holy Books – Old and New Old and New TestamentsTestaments

Major Divisions –Major Divisions – Catholic, Catholic, Protestant, OrthodoxProtestant, Orthodox

Basic BeliefsBasic Beliefs Jesus Christ is the son of Jesus Christ is the son of

GodGod Death and resurrectionDeath and resurrection Came to redeem mankind Came to redeem mankind

from sin.from sin.

IslamIslamWho –Who – Mohammed Mohammed

When –When – circa 620AD circa 620AD

Where –Where – Arabian Peninsula Arabian Peninsula

Holy Books –Holy Books – QuranQuran and the and the HadithHadithMajor Divisions –Major Divisions – Sunni, Shia Sunni, Shia

Basic BeliefsBasic BeliefsThere is no god but Allah, and There is no god but Allah, and Muhammad is the messenger Muhammad is the messenger of Godof GodQuran is word of God. Quran is word of God. Muslims must perform the Muslims must perform the “Five Pillars of Faith”. “Five Pillars of Faith”.

The Five Pillars of Islam

- the five obligations that every Muslim must satisfy in order to live a good and responsible life according to Islam.

•Shahadah: sincerely reciting the Muslim profession of faith

•Salat: performing ritual prayers in the proper way five times each day

•Zakat: paying an alms (or charity) tax to benefit the poor and the needy

•Sawm: fasting during the month of Ramadan

5.Hajj: pilgrimage to Mecca

Rules to live by

• Rules or Pillars of Islam– Faith – Prayer– Alms– Fasting– Pilgrimage

Faith

• “There is no other God but Allah.

• Muhammad was the messenger to God

• Faithful to Allah will give you Paradise in the after life

Prayer

• Pray 5 times a day• Always facing Mecca• Mosque

– Temples for the Islamic faith

Alms

• Giving to the poor• Take care of the poor,

orphans and the old.

Fasting

• During the month of Ramadan the Muslims fast.

• No eating or drinking from sun up to sun down

Pilgrimage

• Take a trip to Mecca once in a life time.

• Trip is a journey/journey of faith

• This is called a hajj

IslamAn Abrahamic Religion

IslamAn Abrahamic Religion

Muslims are strict monotheists.

They believe in the Judeo- Christian God, which they call Allah.

Muslims believe that the Torah and the Bible, like the Qur’an, is the word of God.

Peoples of the BookPeoples of the Book

Abraham’s GenealogyAbraham’s Genealogy

HAGARHAGAR ABRAHAMABRAHAM SARAHSARAH

Ishmael

Ishmael

IsaacIsaac

12 Arabian Tribes

12 Arabian Tribes

JacobJacob EsauEsau

12 Tribes of Israel

12 Tribes of Israel

The Prophetic Tradition

The Prophetic Tradition

Adam

Noah

Abraham

Moses

Jesus

Muhammad

The MosqueThe Mosque

Other Islamic Religious Practices

Other Islamic Religious Practices

Up to four wives allowed at once.

No alcohol or pork.

No gambling.

Sharia body of Islamic law to regulate daily living.

Three holiest cities in Islam: * Mecca, Medina, Jerusalem.

Essential Question:Essential Question:

Why was Islam able to spread so

quickly and convert so many

to the new religion?

The Spread of IslamThe Spread of Islam Easy to learn and practice.

No priesthood.

Teaches equality.

Non-Muslims, who were “Peoples of the Book,” were allowed religious freedom, but paid additional taxes.

Easily “portable” nomads & trade routes.

Jihad (“Holy War”) against pagans and other non-believers (“infidels”).

HinduismHinduismWho –Who – Ancient priests of India Ancient priests of India

When –When – 5000 –3000 BCE 5000 –3000 BCE

Where –Where – India India

Holy Books –Holy Books – Vedas, Bhagavad-Gita Vedas, Bhagavad-Gita

Major Divisions –Major Divisions – Numerous schools Numerous schools and traditionsand traditions

Basic BeliefsBasic BeliefsPolytheisticPolytheisticReincarnation and Karma – cause and Reincarnation and Karma – cause and effecteffectUltimate goal – oneness with “Brahman” Ultimate goal – oneness with “Brahman” (God, Reality)(God, Reality)

Om (also spelled Aum) is a Hindu sacred sound that is considered the greatest of all mantras.

The syllable Om is composed of the three sounds a-u-m (in Sanskrit, the vowels a and u combine to become o) and the symbol's threefold nature is central to its meaning.

the three worlds - earth, atmosphere, and heaventhe three major Hindu gods - Brahma, Vishnu, and Siva the three sacred Vedic scriptures - Rg, Yajur, and Sama

Om mystically embodies the essence of the entire universe. This meaning is further deepened by the Indian philosophical belief that God first created sound and the universe arose from it. As the most sacred sound, Om is the root of the universe and everything that exists and it continues to hold everything together.

Holy Sound (symbol)

Hinduism

• Hindus share a common view or the world. They see religion as a way of liberating the souls from the illusions, disappointments and mistakes of everyday existence.

Hinduism

• The goal of Hinduism is to reach Moska or a state of perfect understanding of things. There is Atman the individual soul of a living being and Brahman the world soul that contains and unites all Atmans.

• Atman – Individual soul• Brahman – world soul

that contains and unites all atman.

Brahman and Atman

• When a person understands the relationship between Atman and Brahman, that person achieves perfect understanding and release from this world.

• Usually does not come in one lifetime.

Reincarnation

• They believe in reincarnation

• Reincarnation means rebirth. The soul is reborn again and again until Moskha is reached.

Karma

• A soul’s karma or good or bad deeds follows them from one reincarnation to another reincarnation.

• Karma influences specific life circumstances such as the castes one is born into and one’s state of wealth or property and so on

Brahman

• The world soul has Brahman personalities of three gods:

• Brahman – creator• Vishnu – priest• Shiva -

                        

Hinduism

• Hinduism is both a way of life and a set of belief.• Every individual must live according to his or her

own dharma or moral duty.• All actions are rewarded – punished under the law

of karma• People are reincarnated or reborn• See all the worlds religions as a path to the same

goal.

Jainism

• Founder was Mahavira

• Believed that everything in the universe has a soul and should not be harmed.

• Belief in non violence and logical conclusion

Jainism

• Occupations must not harm things or creatures and so on.

• One of wealthiest community in India.

• Total tolerance

Reincarnation and Karma:

Excerpts from Groundhog Day starring Bill Murray:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9hq5jZrFTbE&list=RD02eZbtAFq7dP8

BuddhismBuddhismWho –Who – Siddhartha Gautama Siddhartha Gautama (Buddha)(Buddha)

When –When – 500 BC 500 BC

Where –Where – Northern India Northern India

Holy Books -Holy Books - Tripitaka Tripitaka

Major Divisions –Major Divisions – Mahayana, Mahayana, TheravadaTheravada

Basic BeliefsBasic BeliefsLife is suffering, caused by Life is suffering, caused by wanting things, caused by wanting things, caused by ignorance.ignorance.Reincarnation and karmaReincarnation and karma““8-fold Path” allows escape to 8-fold Path” allows escape to NirvanaNirvana

Wheel of Dharma

Circle of Zen

Buddhism

• Founder Prince Siddhartha Gautama.

• Began his life as a Prince in a kingdom in ancient India.

Siddhartha Gautama

• It was his search for religious truths and an end to life’s suffering that led him to leave the palace.

Prince Gautama

• Prince Gautama was born about 553 BCE. He had parents who loved him and many servants to wait on him, the finest clothes, and a different palace for each season of the year.

• Yet, he found his world full of suffering. • It upset him that painful old age, sickness,

and death were all part of life in this world.

Prince becomes the Buddha

• He met a monk. He was amazed that this monk could find calm and peace in a world filled with such suffering.

• He mad a difficult decision and left his wealth and his comfort, his wife and his newborn son, to become a monk.

• *He searched for enlightenment and reason.

Buddha

• He spent 6 years wondering and a 49 days in meditation where he achieved the understanding of the cause of suffering.

• Upon his discovery, he became known as Buddha.

4 Noble Truths

• First sermon was done to introduce the 4 noble truths.– Life is filled with suffering– Suffering is caused by people’s

wants.– Suffering can be ended if people stop

wanting things, like more pleasure or more power.

– To stop wanting things, people must follow 8 basic laws called the Eightfold Path.

8 Fold Path

• To know the truth• To intend to resist evil• To not say anything to hurt others• To respect life, property, and morality• To work at a job that does not injure

others.• To try to free one’s mind from evil• To be in control of one’s feelings and

thoughts.• To practice appropriate forms of

concentration.

The Middle Way

• The Eightfold Path was designed to guide people without making life too strict or too easy.

• The Middle Way is the name Buddhists call lives guided by the laws of the Eightfold Path.

Growth

• As time moved on, the religion changed in regards to Buddhism– Some Buddhist began to

believe that many people became Buddhist

– They could choose to give up Nirvana and work to save humanity through good works and self-sacrifice

Laughing Buddha

• The laughing Buddha reminds us that to be happy we need to have a loving heart. A big heart gives you tolerance.

• It helps you to greet each day with joy and all people with gladness.

• It helps you to tolerate a great many things with a big happy simile that reaches your eyes and your heart.

Buddha says…..

• Buddha says that the best way to solve a problem we might have with someone else is to have a warm and living heart.

• By not being resentful, by not bearing grudges, only then are we able to smile like the Buddha, only then can we be truly happy.

Buddhism

• Buddhism teaches that being the greatest is an absolute achievement free of comparison.

• What does that mean?• It means that to be the greatest is not an

achievement that ca be attained through competition. You cant win greatness but you can achieve it. That means everyone ca be the greatest.

Example

• Here's an example: For a healthy ant to successfully carry one grain of rice is a great achievement. For a healthy horse to successfully carry one grain of rice is not all that terrific. The ant has put his best effort into his job. It has fulfilled its purpose as an ant. When this truth is achieved, the ant is no longer just an ant. The ant has moved into the realm of Truth - it has become the greatest ant in the world

Buddhism

• Buddhism teaches that a person is successful not because he or she is better than someone else, and not because they received a higher grade on a test or won a Gold Medal at the Olympics, or beat out other ants to see who could carry the biggest and heaviest grain of rice.

• True achievement does not come from competition or comparison. A person (or an ant, or a horse) is successful because he or she has given their best within their means. For this reason, every single person can become the greatest person in the world, all at the same time.

Other ReligionsOther Religions

Baha‘i:Baha‘i: a religion founded in Iran in 1863 by Husayn a religion founded in Iran in 1863 by Husayn ععAlī Alī (called Bahaullah) teaching the essential worth of all (called Bahaullah) teaching the essential worth of all religions, the unity of all races, and the equality of the religions, the unity of all races, and the equality of the sexes.sexes.

Confucianism:Confucianism: the system of ethics, education, and the system of ethics, education, and statesmanship taught by Confucius, a Chinese statesmanship taught by Confucius, a Chinese philosopher and his disciples, stressing love for humanity, philosopher and his disciples, stressing love for humanity, ancestor worship, reverence for parents, and harmony in ancestor worship, reverence for parents, and harmony in thought and conduct.thought and conduct.

Jainism:Jainism: a dualistic religion founded in the 6th century b.c. as a dualistic religion founded in the 6th century b.c. as a revolt against current Hinduism and emphasizing the a revolt against current Hinduism and emphasizing the perfectibility of human nature and liberation of the soul, perfectibility of human nature and liberation of the soul, esp. through asceticism and nonviolence toward all living esp. through asceticism and nonviolence toward all living creatures. creatures. In Jainism, In Jainism, nirvananirvana means final release means final release from the karmic bondage.from the karmic bondage.

Shinto:Shinto: the native religion of Japan, primarily a system of the native religion of Japan, primarily a system of nature and ancestor worship. nature and ancestor worship.

Other Religions (cont.)Other Religions (cont.)

Sikhism:Sikhism: a monotheistic religion, founded in the Punjab c1500 a monotheistic religion, founded in the Punjab c1500 by the guru Nanak, that refuses to recognize the Hindu caste by the guru Nanak, that refuses to recognize the Hindu caste system or the Brahmanical priesthood and forbids magic, system or the Brahmanical priesthood and forbids magic, idolatry, and pilgrimages. idolatry, and pilgrimages.

Taoism:Taoism: the philosophical system evolved by Lao-tzu and the philosophical system evolved by Lao-tzu and Chuang-tzu, advocating a life of complete simplicity and Chuang-tzu, advocating a life of complete simplicity and naturalness and of noninterference with the course of natural naturalness and of noninterference with the course of natural events, in order to attain a happy existence in harmony with events, in order to attain a happy existence in harmony with the Tao. the Tao.

Zoroastrianism:Zoroastrianism: an Iranian religion, founded c600b.c.by an Iranian religion, founded c600b.c.by Zoroaster, the principal beliefs of which are in the existence Zoroaster, the principal beliefs of which are in the existence of a supreme deity, Ahura Mazda, and in a cosmic struggle of a supreme deity, Ahura Mazda, and in a cosmic struggle between a spirit of good, Spenta Mainyu, and a spirit of evil, between a spirit of good, Spenta Mainyu, and a spirit of evil, Angra Mainyu. Pre-IslamAngra Mainyu. Pre-Islam

The Han Dynasty

The Han Dynasty

• Ruled china for more than 400 years

• The Chinese became known as “people of the Han”

Lui Bang

• Ruler of Han Dynasty was Liu Bang

• Brought Peace and Stability

Accomplishments of Liu Bang

• Goals or accomplishments– Destroy the rival kings power.– Establish a Centralized Government– End Legalism– Lower taxes– Soften harsh punishments

Wudi

• Wudi, grandson of Liu Bang, came to power and continued his grandfathers centralizing policies.

Wudi

• Ruled longer than any other Han Emperor

• Called “The Martial Emperor”– Expanded Empire

through war

• Colonized the areas to the northwest.

Han Dynasty

• Han Dynasty was very structured• They intend to control people they conquered and

people at home• The Han Dynasty believed:

– That the emperor has “divine authority” meaning that they have a link between heaven and earth.

– If the emperor does a job well, China will have peace and prosperity.

– The heavens showed their displeasure with earthquakes, heavy rains, floods, etc.

Oracle Bone

• Oracle Bone began in the Shang dynasty.

• Rituals were important

• Chief god – Shang Di

• If pleased, good harvest if not, bad harvest

• King served as a ink between heaven and earth.

• To find gods will, they went to offering sacrifices.

• Priest used “Oracle bone” to consult ancestors.

• Oracle – consults with God

• Question was written on a goat or sheep bone.

• The bone was heated and the Oracle reads the cracks.

• This determined the rule of the emperor or king

Han Dynasty cont.

• Had a complex bureaucracy. • To function, they had to increase taxes on

citizens. This hurt the peasants most.• The workers must pay back to the

government in work hours and military service.

Civil Service Jobs

• Issued a series of Civil Service jobs.

• The government jobs, which were jobs that civilians obtained by taking exams.

• Tested most of the time on their knowledge of Confucianism.

Chinese Invented

• Paper – before paper, many times they would write on silk

• Collar Harness• Practiced assimilation

– helping to make conqueror people part of Chinese culture. Encouraged intermarriage

Problems with Han Dynasty

• Imbalance caused by customs that allowed the rich to gain more wealth at the expense of the poor.

• Land passed down got smaller• Landowners didn’t have to pay taxes• Political instability – one emperor after

another.

4 Major Philosophies of China

Confucianism

• Founded by Confucius

• Best known Chinese philosopher

• Said that disorder and suffering caused by constant war disturbed hi

• Came up with ideas of how to restore peace,and harmony

Confucius

• Analects – his teachings

• Came up with 5 relationships

5 Relationships

• Ruler and Ruler• Father and Son• Older Brother and Younger Brother• Husband and Wife• Friend and Friend

5 Relationships

• One person has the authority over another in 1 – 4

• Superior person is responsible for inferior person– Must set good

examples

Filial Piety

• Family is the key to society– Filial Piety

• Honor of Parents by child.

• Proper behavior based on ethical or moral principles

• Family and good of society above individuals

Daoism

• Founded by Lao Zi• Emphasis on link

between people and nature

• Best way – Natural Way or Dao

• Dao = Way

“Those who know the Dao don’t speak it; those who speak it don’t

know it”

Inventions

• Best government has few rules and laws

• Inventions:– Magnetic compass for

favorable places for graves

– Some think they invented gun powder

– Se of magic to communicate with “other side’

Legalism

• Most famous writer – Han Feizi

• Rejected Confucius thoughts about proper behavior

• Acted out of self interest

• Don’t respond to goods, rewards, punishment

• Ruler along has all the power

Buddhism

• Spread along caravan routes that linked India and china

• Chinese linked Buddhism

• Offered escape from suffering of earthly life with salvation for those who do good in life – moral life and punishment for the wicked

• Blended India thoughts and Chinese thoughts

• Nirvana became the – Western Haven- for reflecting Chinese ideas about the after life

• Emphasized Confucian ideas of proper behavior– Respect– For family and ancestor

• And the Daoism view of nature

• Confucianism and Daoism– Ethics, living in harmony, Gods and Spirits

everywhere

• Buddhism – A true religion unlike the others