Religion NotesReligion Notes

ReligionReligion

Looks at how cultures answer life’s Looks at how cultures answer life’s great great questionsquestions::

-What is the origin of life?-What is the origin of life?-What does it mean to be human?-What does it mean to be human?-Are there greater-than-human -Are there greater-than-human forces responsible for events in the forces responsible for events in the

world?world? Examines Examines whowho or or whatwhat people people worshipworship and and

how they how they worshipworship..

Religion Key TermsReligion Key TermsDeityDeity – Any – Any god god or or goddess. goddess.

In Roman mythology, Diana was the goddess of

the hunt.

Hapy – Egyptian god embodied by the Nile, and who represents life.

Religion Key TermsReligion Key Terms

MonotheismMonotheism – The belief that – The belief that there is only there is only oneone god. This god god. This god can take can take differentdifferent forms across forms across many religions and culturesmany religions and cultures

Religious Key TermsReligious Key TermsPolytheism Polytheism – – The belief that The belief that there are there are manymany gods. It is gods. It is believed that believed that different gods are different gods are representationsrepresentations of of different things in different things in the world.the world.

Brahma is the Hindu god of creation.

Varuna is a god of the sky, of rain and of the celestial ocean, as well as a god of law and of the underworld.

BuddhismBuddhismFollowers : BuddhistsFollowers : BuddhistsNumbers of Adherents: Numbers of Adherents:

376 Million376 MillionGods : NoneGods : None

BuddhismBuddhismImportant People: Important People:

Siddhartha GautamaSiddhartha Gautama: the : the BuddhaBuddha (“enlightened one”) (“enlightened one”)

ImportantImportant TextsTexts: :

TripitakaTripitaka: the teachings : the teachings of the Buddhaof the Buddha

BuddhismBuddhismImportant Points: Important Points:

--Reincarnation: Reincarnation: a cycle of birth, a cycle of birth, life, and deathlife, and death

--Enlightenment: Enlightenment: the final goal the final goal

--Place of worshipPlace of worship: Buddhist : Buddhist TempleTemple

Young Tibetan Buddhist Young Tibetan Buddhist monks of Drepung monks of Drepung

The Four Noble Truths1. Life is suffering;

2. Suffering is due to attachment; 3. Attachment can be overcome;

4. There is a path for accomplishing this.

Typical interior of a temple in Korea

Buddhist SymbolsBuddhist Symbols The image to the right is the The image to the right is the

Tibetan Tibetan Wheel of LifeWheel of Life, which , which represents Samsara.  In the very represents Samsara.  In the very center, there is a rooster chasing center, there is a rooster chasing a pig chasing a snake chasing the a pig chasing a snake chasing the rooster -- craving, hatred, and rooster -- craving, hatred, and ignorance.  Around that are ignorance.  Around that are people ascending the white people ascending the white semicircle of life, and others semicircle of life, and others descending the black semicircle descending the black semicircle of death.  The greatest portion of of death.  The greatest portion of the Wheel is devoted to the Wheel is devoted to representations of the six realms representations of the six realms -- the realm of the gods, the -- the realm of the gods, the realm of the titans, the realm of realm of the titans, the realm of humans, the realm of animals, humans, the realm of animals, the realm of the hungry ghosts, the realm of the hungry ghosts, and the realm of demons -- each and the realm of demons -- each realm looked over by its own realm looked over by its own boddhisattva.  The outermost boddhisattva.  The outermost circle is the 12 steps of circle is the 12 steps of dependent origination.  The entire dependent origination.  The entire Wheel is held by Yama, the Lord Wheel is held by Yama, the Lord of Death. of Death.

ChristianityChristianity

Followers : ChristiansFollowers : ChristiansNumbers of Adherents: 2.1 Numbers of Adherents: 2.1

billionbillionGods : One GodGods : One God

ChristianityChristianity

Important People: Important People:

Jesus: Jesus: the son of God the son of God who came to earthwho came to earth

ImportantImportant TextsTexts: :

the Biblethe Bible: Old and : Old and NewNew TestamentTestament

ChristianityChristianity

Important Points: Important Points: --The TrinityThe Trinity: Father/Son/Holy Spirit: Father/Son/Holy Spirit

-Heaven: the final -Heaven: the final afterlifeafterlife

-Salvation through Jesus’ death -Salvation through Jesus’ death

-Place of worship: church or -Place of worship: church or cathedralcathedral

--DivisionsDivisions: Catholics & Protestants: Catholics & Protestants

Vatican City – Home of Vatican City – Home of the Pope who is head the Pope who is head of the Catholic Churchof the Catholic Church

The Nativity Scene – Birth of The Nativity Scene – Birth of JesusJesus

Statue of Christ the Redeemer- Statue of Christ the Redeemer- overlooking Rio de Janeiro, overlooking Rio de Janeiro, BrazilBrazil

Christian SymbolsChristian Symbols

The budded cross is a common form of the cross. Its trefoils represent the trinity.

A Celtic Cross

HinduismHinduism

Followers : HindusFollowers : HindusNumbers of Adherents: Numbers of Adherents:

900 million900 millionGods : Many gods Gods : Many gods

-Brahman: the -Brahman: the sourcesource

HinduismHinduismImportant People: Important People:

GandhiGandhi: emphasized non-: emphasized non-violence resistance and violence resistance and equality of all peopleequality of all people

ImportantImportant TextsTexts: :

the Vedasthe Vedas: a collection of : a collection of textstexts

HinduismHinduismImportant Points: Important Points:

--Caste SystemCaste System: each person in : each person in society has a set placesociety has a set place-Karma: combination of good and -Karma: combination of good and bad deeds that determine bad deeds that determine unityunity with Godwith God--Place of worshipPlace of worship: Hindu Temple: Hindu Temple

Front Entrance to Brihadisvara Temple

The Ganges River in India.

Hindu SymbolHindu Symbol As the cross is to Christians, As the cross is to Christians,

the AUM is to Hindus. It is the the AUM is to Hindus. It is the most important symbol in most important symbol in Hinduism. It is made up of Hinduism. It is made up of three Sanskrit letters, three Sanskrit letters, aaaa, , au au and and ma ma which, when combined, which, when combined, make the sound make the sound Aum Aum or or OmOm. It . It occurs in every prayer. occurs in every prayer.

This symbol represents the This symbol represents the Brahman or the Absolute -the Brahman or the Absolute -the source of all existence, in source of all existence, in English it’d mean English it’d mean 'omniscience', 'omnipotent', 'omniscience', 'omnipotent', 'omnipresent'. 'omnipresent'. An Indian woman wearing the

bindu. The small red dot can indicate she is married, indicate

her Hindu faith, or serve as a symbol of wisdom and divine

power.

IslamIslam

•Followers : Muslims

•Numbers of Adherents: 1.3 billion

•One God : Allah

•Islam means “surrender”

IslamIslamImportant People: Important People:

MuhammadMuhammad: the last prophet: the last prophetImportantImportant TextsTexts: :

The Qur’an The Qur’an (Koran): Allah’s words (Koran): Allah’s words revealed to Muhammadrevealed to Muhammad

IslamIslamImportant Points: Important Points:

-The Five -The Five PillarsPillars: the duties of all : the duties of all MuslimsMuslims

-3 Holy Cities: Mecca, Medina, -3 Holy Cities: Mecca, Medina, JerusalemJerusalem

-Place of worship: -Place of worship: MosqueMosque

--Divisions: Divisions: Sunnis and Shi’iSunnis and Shi’i

The Sultan Ahmed Mosque, IstanbulThe Sultan Ahmed Mosque, Istanbul

The Ascension of the The Ascension of the Prophet Muhammad, Prophet Muhammad, Persian manuscript Persian manuscript of the Islamic school, of the Islamic school, 16th century; in the 16th century; in the Seattle Seattle (Washington) Art (Washington) Art Museum. Manuscript Museum. Manuscript shows Muhammad shows Muhammad ascending into ascending into heaven surrounded heaven surrounded by angels; out of by angels; out of respect, his face is respect, his face is veiled.veiled.

Muslims performing Muslims performing salat (prayer) at the salat (prayer) at the Umayyad Mosque.Umayyad Mosque.

Islamic SymbolIslamic Symbol Legend holds that the founder of the Ottoman Empire, Osman, Legend holds that the founder of the Ottoman Empire, Osman,

had a dream in which the crescent moon stretched from one end had a dream in which the crescent moon stretched from one end of the earth to the other. Taking this as a good omen, he chose to of the earth to the other. Taking this as a good omen, he chose to keep the crescent and make it the symbol of his dynasty. The keep the crescent and make it the symbol of his dynasty. The symbol is due to cultural diffusion and the spread of Islam to the symbol is due to cultural diffusion and the spread of Islam to the Ottoman Turks who ruled a large area and also put the crescent Ottoman Turks who ruled a large area and also put the crescent moon and star symbol on their flag. moon and star symbol on their flag.

It can also refer to the fact that Muslims follow a religious lunar It can also refer to the fact that Muslims follow a religious lunar calendar. For example, Ramadan, the ninth month, is a holy calendar. For example, Ramadan, the ninth month, is a holy month. month.

JudaismJudaism

Followers : Followers : JewsJewsNumbers of Adherents: Numbers of Adherents: 1414

millionmillionGods : Gods : OneOne God God

YahwehYahweh: God of : God of IsraelitesIsraelites

JudaismJudaism

Important People: Important People: Abraham: Abraham: the father of the father of

the Jewish Nationthe Jewish NationImportantImportant TextsTexts: :

the Torahthe Torah: God’s words : God’s words revealed to Moses revealed to Moses

-The Torah is included in the -The Torah is included in the Hebrew bible (Tanakh). Hebrew bible (Tanakh).

JudaismJudaism

Important Points: Important Points: --MessiahMessiah: Jews are still waiting: Jews are still waiting

--Israel: Israel: considered the Promised considered the Promised LandLand

-Place of worship: -Place of worship: synagoguesynagogue

A view of Jerusalem, Israel from the Mount of Olives.

A synagogue in Sofia, Bulgaria.

•Jews praying at the Western (Wailing) Wall in Jerusalem.

Jewish SymbolsJewish Symbols•The Star of David•Symbolizes the six days of creation, and are also represent the six attributes of God: power, wisdom, majesty, love, mercy and justice.

Moses with the Ten Commandments