5 Major World Religions

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5 Major World Religions

• Christianity, Islam, Buddhist, Jewish and Hindu
• 85 of the worlds population believe in some
  religion

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Teacher Page

• Content Geography
• Grade Level 7
• Creator R. Schultz
• Curriculum OBJ/MAP Standard/IBD See following
  slide

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Teacher Page

• Students will
• Discuss and practice the major elements of
  geographic study and analysis and their
  relationship to changes in society and
  environment.
• Study the relationships of the individual and
  groups to institutions and cultural traditions.
• Use the tools of social science inquiry
• Compare different regions of the world and
  understand major world issues

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What is Religion

• Difficult concept to define in general an
  expression of human belief in a power greater
  than humanity.
• Most religions have rules
• Most religions were founded by unique individuals
  who wanted to shed light on our purpose on earth
  as well as our ultimate destination after death.

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CHRISTIANITY

• 1 Billion followers (1/3 of people)
• Found in Europe and North and South America
• God, Jesus
• Church, Bible
• Jerusalem/Bethlehem
• Cross
• largest of the religions

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Christianitycont

• Began as a movement of Jews in
• ancient Israel
• over 300 denominations
• Catholic original Christian religion based in
  Rome
• Protestant includes almost all non-Catholic
  Christians example Presbyterian, Lutheran,
  Methodist, Baptist, etc. The first of these
  churches were founded by Martin Luther and King
  Henry VIII word Protestant comes from the facts
  they protested against the church in Rome.

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ISLAMIC

• 1 billion (1 of 6 people)
• Found in the Middle East, Africa, India and
  Indonesia
• Allah, Mohammed
• Mosque/Koran
• Mecca/Jerusalem
• Pray 5X a day
• Youngest of these religions

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Islamiccont.

• Islam means peace through submission to God.
• Built upon Judaism and Christianity, claiming to
  be their fulfillment.
• Muslims (Islamic followers) reject materialism in
  favor of uplifting the poor and oppressed.

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Christianity and Islam

• Compare and contrast these two religions.

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BUDDHIST

• Over 300 million
• SE Asia and Hawaii
• Buddha/Dalai Lama
• Monastery/temple
• Several holy cities
• Buddha statue

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Buddhismcont

• Has no authority or ritual
• Little tradition
• No supernatural being
• Religion of intense self-effort
• Began about 525 BC as a protestant reaction to
  Hinduism

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Buddhismcont

• Founder Gautama Siddhartha (the Buddha)
  Indian prince
• Four noble truths
• Life as misery
• Desire as the root of misery
• End of suffering through mental discipline
• Cure for spiritual ills

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Buddhismcont

• Buddhist seek nirvana a state of everlasting
  bliss, through prayer and meditation.

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Christianity and Buddhism

• How do these two religions differ?
• Are there any similarities?

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JEWISH

• no number
• Israel, worldwide
• God
• Synagogue/Torah (1st books of Old Testament
• Jerusalem
• Star of David
• 2nd oldest of these religions

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Jewishcont.

• Jews were first people to practice monotheism
  worship of one God as opposed to many
• Abraham is considered the founder of Judaism
• Jews have often been the object of persecution

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Christianity and Judaism

• Compare and contrast these two religions.

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HINDU

• Over 700 million
• India and Nepal
• No major prophet
• Temple
• River Ganges
• Reincarnation, social caste, vegetarians
• Oldest of these religions

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Hinduismcont.

• No specific founder, developed over many
  centuries
• Worship many gods, all part of Brahman, the
  universal spirit
• Brahman the universal spirit 3 major deities
• Brahma creator of the universe
• Vishnu preserver of the universe
• Shiva destroyer of the universe

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Hinduismcont.

• Animals and humans have eternal souls
• Some animals are also gods cows
• Reincarnation souls rebirth after bodily death
  reincarnation ends only when a person reaches
  perfection, or moksha
• Karma effect of every action upon the souls
  next life

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Hinduism and Buddhism

• Compare and contrast these two religions.
• How do they differ from the others talked about?

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Other Religions

• Taoism secondary religion of China
• Teaches conformity with nature and a quiet,
  simple life
• Humility the highest human virtue
• Founder Lao-tse
• About 35 million followers
• Involves magic and superstition
• 3 meanings of Tao (path or way)
• The way of ultimate reality
• The way of the universe
• The way we should order our lives

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Other religionscont.

• Shinto Japans national religion
• Means the way of the Gods
• Dates from about 500BC
• Teaches reverence for beloved places and Japanese
  lifestyles
• Worship many gods, including emperors, national
  heroes

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Religions.cont.

• Jerusalem is a holy city to 3 of these religions
• Some primary parts to culture religion,
  language, fine arts (music, art), clothing,
  housing (location), government, and economy

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Religion

• Discussion questions
• What do most religions have in common?
• How does religion fit into a country or regions
  culture?
• Why is religion so embedded in the areas
  throughout the Middle East?