World ReligionsWorld Religions

An Introduction Through Sacred An Introduction Through Sacred TextsTexts

World ReligionsWorld Religions

• Hinduism

• Buddhism

• Judaism

• Christianity

• Islam

• Taoism

HinduismHinduism

• Is it Monotheistic?• Basic Ideas

– Brahman• Divine reality at the heart

of things– Atman

• Experience of the sacred within the self

– Samsara• The great runaround

– Karma• Consequential action

– Moksha• Release from the cycle

– Castes

• Sacred Texts– Vedas

• Rig, Yajur, Sama, Atharva– Bhagavad Gita– Upanishads

BrahmaBrahma Vishnu Shiva

http://www.brahminworld.com/brahma.jpghttp://www.heiliges-indien.info/vishnu.jpg

http://www.hockinghills.com/stoneridge/Shiva%20_India.jpg

BuddhismBuddhism

• Is it a religion?• Basic Ideas

– Samsara– Nirvana

• Extinguishing of desire

– Four Noble Truths• Suffering is everywhere

– Maya• Illusion

– Dharma• Rule, Law, religion

– Sangha• Community

– Buddha• Enlightened One

• Sacred Texts– Many

• Dhammapada• Lotus Sutra• Diamond Sutra

http://www.pauahtun.org/Gif/dharmacacra.gif

JudaismJudaism

• The People of G-d• Basic Ideas

– Monotheistic• G-d is one

– Patriarch Abraham• G-d established a

covenant

– Ten Commandments• The Covenant

– Shema• Hear O Israel

– Distinct Community• Maintained Identity

• Sacred Text– Hebrew Bible

http://biblescripture.net/Moses.jpeg

ChristianityChristianity

• The Anointed One• Basic Ideas

– One God• There is only one God

– Jesus is the Messiah• Jesus is the anointed one

– Patriarch Abraham• Christians are the

descendents of Abraham

– Spread the Good News• Believers are to spread

the Good News or Godspel

• Sacred Text– Christian Bible

• Old Testament and New Testament

http://dsc.discovery.com/convergence/jesus/photo/zoom5.html

IslamIslam

• Submit to the will of Allah• Basic Ideas

– Monotheistic• Shahada

– Mohammad is a rasul• Muhammad is the final

messenger

– Allah has no equal• There is no God but God

– Five Pillars• Shada, Salat, Zakat,

Ramadan, Hajj

• Sacred Text– Qur’an

http://www.ccislamico.org/images/Kaaba.jpg

SourcesSources

• Slide 3– http://www.greatestcities.com/6101pic/472/CP

17472.jpg/moksha.jpg– http://www.mantra.com.ar/Entrevistas/segyuc

hoepel.html– http://www.astronode.de/lexikon/k/ka/karma-

rad.jpg