JUDAISM

Is the world’s oldest monotheistic religion, dating back nearly 4,000 years.
Followers of Judaism believe in one God who revealed himself through ancient
prophets. History is essential to understanding the Jewish faith, which is embedded in
tradition, law and culture.
THE JEWISH RELIGION
Jewish people believe there’s only one God who’s established a covenant—or special
agreement—with them. Their God communicates to believers through prophets and
rewards good deeds while also punishing evil.
Most Jews (with the exception of Messianic Jews and a few other groups) believe that
their Messiah hasn’t come—but will one day.
Today, there are about 14 million Jews worldwide. Most of them live in the United
States and Israel. Traditionally, a person is considered Jewish if his or her mother is
Jewish.
THE TORAH
The Jewish sacred text is called the Tanakh or the “Hebrew Bible.” It includes the same
books as the Old Testament in the Christian Bible, but they’re placed in a slightly
different order.
The Torah—the first five books of the Tanakh—outlines laws for Jews to follow. It’s
sometimes also referred to as the Pentateuch.
Jewish people worship in holy places known as synagogues, and their spiritual leaders
are called rabbis. The six-pointed Star of David is the symbol of Judaism.
JEWISH HISTORY
The origins of Jewish faith are explained throughout the Torah. According to the text,
God first revealed himself to a Hebrew man named Abraham, who became known as
the founder of Judaism.
Jews believe that God made a special covenant with Abraham and that he and his
descendants were chosen people who would create a great nation.
Abraham’s son Isaac, and his grandson Jacob, also became central figures in ancient
Jewish history. Jacob took the name “Israel,” and his children and future generations
became known as Israelites.
More than 1,000 years after Abraham, the prophet Moses led the Israelites out of Egypt
after being enslaved for hundreds of years.
According to scriptures, God revealed his laws, known as the Ten Commandments, to
Moses at Mt. Sinai.
THE TEMPLES
Around 1000 B.C., King David ruled the Jewish people. His son Solomon built the first
holy Temple in Jerusalem, which became the central place of worship for Jews.
The kingdom fell apart around 931 B.C., and the Jewish people split into two groups:
Israel in the North and Judah in the South.
Sometime around 587 B.C., the Babylonians destroyed the first Temple and sent many
Jews into exile.
A second Temple was built in about 516 B.C. but was eventually destroyed by the
Romans in 70 A.D.
The destruction of the second Temple was significant because Jewish people no longer
had a primary place to gather, so they shifted their focus to worshipping in local
synagogues.
OTHER JEWISH TEXTS
While the Tanakh (which includes the Torah) is considered the sacred text of Judaism,
many other important manuscripts were composed in later years. These offered
insights into how the Tanakh should be interpreted and documented oral laws that
were previously not written down.
Around 200 A.D., scholars compiled the Mishna—a text that describes and explains the
Jewish code of law that was previously orally communicated.
Later, the Talmud, a collection of teachings and commentaries on Jewish law, was
created. The Talmud contains the Mishnah and another text known as the Gemara
(which examines the Mishnah). It includes the interpretations of thousands of rabbis
and outlines the importance of 613 commandments of Jewish law.
The first version of the Talmud was finalized around the 3rd century A.D. The second
form was completed during the 5th century A.D.
Judaism embraces several other written texts and commentaries. One example is the 13
Articles of Faith, which was written by a Jewish philosopher named Maimonides.
JUDAISM AND PERSECUTION
Throughout history, Jewish people have been persecuted for their religious beliefs.
Some well-known events include:
1066 Granada Massacre: On December 30, 1066, a Muslim mob stormed the royal
palace in Granada and killed more than 1,000 Jewish families. The group also
kidnapped and crucified Joseph ibn Naghrela, the Jewish vizier to the Berber king.
The First Crusade: In the first of the Crusades—a series of medieval holy wars
involving Christians and Muslims—thousands of Jews were killed, and many were
forced to convert to Christianity.
The Spanish Expulsion: In 1492, Spain’s rulers issued a royal edict that declared all
Jews who refused to convert to Christianity would be expelled from the country.
Experts estimate about 200,000 people were ousted and tens of thousands died while
trying to reach safety.
The Holocaust: In the Holocaust, the most well-known act of modern-day atrocities,
the Nazis murdered more than 6 million Jews.
THE CREATION OF ISRAEL
During and after the Holocaust, many Jews returned to their homeland (in the Middle
East region known as Palestine) and embraced Zionism, a movement for the creation of
a Jewish nation that emerged in 19th-century Europe.
In 1948, Israel officially became an independent state. David Ben-Gurion, one of the
leading promotors of a Jewish nation state, was given the title of prime minister.
This event was considered a success for the Jewish people who had tirelessly
petitioned for an independent state in their homeland. However, tensions between
Jews and Arabs living in Palestine escalated in the years since Israel became a state and
are still ongoing today.
TYPES OF JUDAISM
There are several sects in Judaism, which include:
Orthodox Judaism: Orthodox Jews are typically known for their strict observance of
traditional Jewish law and rituals. For instance, most believe Shabbat shouldn’t involve
working, driving or handling money.
Orthodox Judaism is a diverse sect that includes several subgroups, including Hasidic
Jews. This form started in the 18th century in Eastern Europe and holds different
values than traditional or ultra-Orthodox Judaism. Hasidic Jews emphasize a mystical
experience with God that involves direct communion through prayer and worship.
Chabad is a well-known Orthodox Jewish, Hasidic movement.
Reform Judaism: Reform Judaism is considered a liberal category of the religion that
values ethical traditions over strict observance of Jewish laws. Followers promote
progressive ideas and adaptation. Most of the Jews living in the United States follow
Reform Judaic traditions.
Conservative Judaism: Many people consider this form of Judaism somewhere in
between Orthodox and Reform Judaism. Typically, conservative Jews honor the
traditions of Judaism while allowing for some modernization.
Reconstructionist Judaism: Reconstructionism dates back to 1922 when Mordecai
Kaplan founded the Society for the Advancement of Judaism. This sect believes that
Judaism is a religious civilization that’s constantly evolving.
Humanistic Judaism: Rabbi Sherwin Wine founded this denomination of Judaism in
1963. Humanistic Jews celebrate Jewish history and culture without an emphasis on
God.
Messianic Judaism: This modern movement combines the beliefs of Judaism and
Christianity. Messianic Jews believe that Jesus Christ was the Messiah but still follow
Jewish traditions.
While there are various denominations of Judaism, many Jews don’t identify with a
particular classification and simply refer to themselves as Jewish.
SHABBAT
The Shabbath, or Shabbat, is recognized as a day of rest and prayer for Jews. It
typically begins at sunset on Friday and lasts until nightfall on Saturday.
Observing Shabbat can take many forms, depending on the type of Judaism that a
Jewish family may follow. Orthodox and Conservative Jews, for example, may refrain
from performing any physical labor, using any electrical device or other prohibited
activities.
Most observant Jews celebrate Shabbat by reading or discussing the Torah, attending a
synagogue or socializing with other Jews at Shabbat meals.
JEWISH HOLIDAYS
Jewish people observe several important days and events in history, such as:
Passover: This holiday lasts seven or eight days and celebrates Jewish freedom from
slavery in Egypt. Specifically, Passover refers to the biblical story of when the Hebrew
God “passed over” houses of Jewish families and saved their children during a plague
that was said to have killed all other firstborn babies in Egypt.
Rosh Hashanah: Jews celebrate the birth of the universe and humanity during this
holiday, which is also known as the Jewish New Year.
Yom Kippur: This “Day of Atonement” is considered the holiest day of the year for
Jews who typically spend it fasting and praying.
The Days of Awe: The 10 days starting with Rosh Hashanah and ending with Yom
Kippur are known as the Days of Awe, or Yamim Noraim. This is considered a time of
repentance for Jewish people.
Hanukah: A Jewish celebration, also known as the “Festival of Lights,” lasts eight
days. It commemorates the rededication of the Jewish Temple in Jerusalem after the
Maccabees defeated the Syrian-Greeks over 2,000 years ago.
Purim: This is a joyous and light holiday that celebrates a time when the Jewish people
in Persia were saved from extermination.
 HINDUISM
Is the world’s oldest religion, according to many scholars, with roots and
customs dating back more than 4,000 years. Today, with about 900 million followers,
Hinduism is the third-largest religion behind Christianity and Islam. Roughly 95
percent of the world’s Hindus live in India. Because the religion has no specific
founder, it’s difficult to trace its origins and history. Hinduism is unique in that it’s not
a single religion but a compilation of many traditions and philosophies
HINDUISM BELIEFS
Some basic Hindu concepts include:
 Hinduism embraces many religious ideas. For this reason, it’s
sometimes referred to as a “way of life” or a “family of religions,” as
opposed to a single, organized religion.
 Most forms of Hinduism are henotheistic, which means they worship a
single deity, known as “Brahman,” but still recognize other gods and
goddesses. Followers believe there are multiple paths to reaching their
god.
 Hindus believe in the doctrines of samsara (the continuous cycle of life,
death, and reincarnation) and karma (the universal law of cause and
effect).
 One of the key thoughts of Hinduism is “atman,” or the belief in soul.
This philosophy holds that living creatures have a soul, and they’re all
part of the supreme soul. The goal is to achieve “moksha,” or salvation,
which ends the cycle of rebirths to become part of the absolute soul.
  One fundamental principle of the religion is the idea that people’s
actions and thoughts directly determine their current life and future
lives.
 Hindus strive to achieve dharma, which is a code of living that
emphasizes good conduct and morality.
 The Om and Swastika are symbols of Hinduism. The Swastika, which
represents good luck, later became associated with evil when
Germany’s Nazi Party made it their symbol in 1920.
 Hindus revere all living creatures and consider the cow a sacred animal.
 Food is an important part of life for Hindus. Most don’t eat beef or
pork, and many are vegetarians.
 Hinduism is closely related to other Indian religions, including
Buddhism, Sikhism and Jainism.
HINDU TEXTS
Hindus value many sacred writings as opposed to one holy book.
The primary texts, known as the Vedas, were composed around 1500 B.C. This
collection of sacred verses and hymns was written in Sanskrit and contains revelations
received by ancient saints and sages.
The Vedas are made up of:
 The Rig Veda
 The Samaveda
 Yajurveda
 Atharvaveda
Hindus believe that the Vedas transcend all time and don’t have a beginning or an end.
The Upanishads, the Bhagavad Gita, 18 Puranas, Ramayana and Mahabharata are also
considered important texts in Hinduism.
ORIGINS OF HINDUISM
Most scholars believe Hinduism formally started somewhere between 2300 B.C. and
1500 B.C. in the Indus Valley, near modern-day Pakistan. But many Hindus argue that
their faith is timeless and has always existed.
Unlike other religions, Hinduism has no one founder but is instead a fusion of various
beliefs.
Around 1500 B.C., the Indo-Aryan people migrated to the Indus Valley, and their
language and culture blended with that of the indigenous people living in the region.
There’s some debate over who influenced who more during this time.
The period when the Vedas were composed became known as the “Vedic Period” and
lasted from about 1500 B.C. to 500 B.C. Rituals, such as sacrifices and chanting, were
common in the Vedic Period.
The Epic, Puranic and Classic Periods took place between 500 B.C. and 500 A.D.
Hindus began to emphasize the worship of deities, especially Vishnu, Shiva and Devi.
The concept of dharma was introduced in new texts, and other faiths, such
as Buddhism and Jainism, spread rapidly.
MEDIEVAL AND MODERN HINDU HISTORY
The Medieval Period of Hinduism lasted from about 500 to 1500 A.D. New texts
emerged, and poet saints recorded their spiritual sentiments during this time.
In the 7th century, Muslim Arabs began invading areas in India. During parts of the
Muslim Period, which lasted from about 1200 to 1757, Hindus were restricted from
worshipping their deities, and some temples were destroyed. Saints expressed their
devotion through poetry and songs.
MAHATMA GANDHI
Between 1757 and 1848, the British controlled India. At first, the new rulers allowed
Hindus to practice their religion without interference. But later, Christian missionaries
sought to convert and westernize the people.
Many reformers emerged during the British Period. The well-known politician and
peace activist, Mahatma Gandhi, led a movement that pushed for India’s
independence.
The partition of India occurred in 1947, and Gandhi was assassinated in 1948. British
India was split into what is now India and Pakistan, and Hinduism became the major
religion of India.
Starting in the 1960s, many Hindus migrated to North America and Britain, spreading
their faith and philosophies to the western world.
HINDU DEITIES
Hindus worship many gods and goddesses in addition to Brahman, who is believed to
be the supreme God force present in all things.
Some of the most prominent deities include:
 Brahma: the god responsible for the creation of the world and all living
things
 Vishnu: the god that preserves and protects the universe
 Shiva: the god that destroys the universe in order to recreate it
 Devi: the goddess that fights to restore dharma
 Krishna: the god of compassion, tenderness and love
 Lakshmi: the goddess of wealth and purity
 Saraswati: the goddess of learning
HINDU WORSHIP
Hindu worship, which is known as “puja,” typically takes place in the Mandir
(temple). Followers of Hinduism can visit the Mandir any time they please.
Hindus can also worship at home, and many have a special shrine dedicated to certain
gods and goddesses.
The giving of offerings is an important part of Hindu worship. It’s a common practice
to present gifts, such as flowers or oils, to a god or goddess.
Additionally, many Hindus take pilgrimages to temples and other sacred sites in India.
HINDU SECTS
Hinduism has many sects, and is sometimes divided into the following:
 Shaiva (followers of Shiva)
 Vaishnava (followers of Vishnu)
 Shakta (followers of Devi)
 Smarta (followers of Brahman and all major deities)
Some Hindus elevate the Hindu trinity, which consists of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva.
Others believe that all the deities are a manifestation of one.
CASTE SYSTEM
The caste system is a social hierarchy in India that divides Hindus based on their
karma and dharma. Many scholars believe the system dates back more than 3,000
years.
The four main castes (in order of prominence) include:
1. 1. Brahmin: the intellectual and spiritual leaders
2. 2. Kshatriyas: the protectors and public servants of society
3. 3. Vaisyas: the skillful producers
4. 4. Shudras: the unskilled laborers
Many subcategories also exist within each caste. The “untouchables” are a class of
citizens that are outside the caste system and considered to be in the lowest level of the
societal hierarchy.
For centuries, the caste system determined every aspect of a person’s social,
professional and religious status in India.
When India became an independent nation, its constitution banned discrimination
based on caste.
Today, the caste system still exists in India but is loosely followed. Many of the old
customs are overlooked, but some traditions, such as only marrying within a specific
caste, are still embraced.
HINDU FESTIVALS
Hindus observe numerous sacred days, holidays and festivals.
Some of the most well-known include:
 Diwali: the festival of lights
 Navaratri: a celebration of fertility and harvest
 Holi: a spring festival
 Janmashtami: a tribute to Krishna’s birthday
 Raksha Bandhan: a celebration of the bond between brother and sister
 Mahashivaratri: the great festival of Shiva
RELIGIONS & BELIEFS IN CHINA
China has been a multi-religion country since the ancient times. It is well known that
Confucianism is an indigenous religion and is the soul of Chinese culture, which
enjoyed popular support among people and even became the guiding ideology for
feudalism society, but it did not develop into a national belief. It makes the culture more
tolerant to others, thus, many other religions have been brought into the country in
different dynasties, but none of them developed powerful enough in the history and
they only provide diverse people more spiritual support.
According to a latest survey, 85% of Chinese people have religious beliefs or had some
religious practices and only 15% of them are real atheists. The real atheists here refer to
those who lack belief in the existence of deities and do not join in any religious
activities. 185 million people believe in Buddhism and 33 million have faith in
Christianity and believes in the existence of God. Only 12 million people are Taoists,
although more than one hundred million have taken part in Taoism activities before.
Thus, it is obvious that the Buddhism has the widest influence. The other major
religions are Taoism, Confucianism, Islam and Christianity.

BUDDHISM

Being brought into China 2,000

years ago, it was gradually widely
accepted by most Chinese people
and developed into three sections,
namely the Han, Tibetan and
Southern Buddhism. Buddhism
not only brought a different
religion, but also brought a
different culture. It influences the
local culture on three main Buddha Statues in Yungang Grottoes, Datong
aspects: literature, art and Chinese Religion Pictures
ideology. Many famous poems
have ideas from Buddhism and
many Buddhist stone statues can be found, which show its huge influence. It also
promotes the countries’ intercultural communications with foreign countries. In Tang
Dynasty (618 - 907), Jianzhen traveled to Japan to spread Buddhism as well as Chinese
culture. Xuanzang, who traveled to India to learn Buddhist doctrines, brought a plenty
information on the language of the countries he had been to.

Now, Buddhism has developed into the most important religion in the country. The
latest survey shows that 31% of the people who do not believe in this religion have
participated in some Buddhist activities and about 17 million people have already
become converts. Now more of those followers come from different walks of life such as
the intellectuals, business elites and the common people. Recently, there is a new report,
The Chinese Luxury Consumer White Paper 2012, jointly published by the Industrial
Bank and Hurun Report, which shows that 39% of the intellectuals and businessmen
have faith in Buddhism. Not only the number of the followers is increasing, and the
education of Buddhism obtains more attention from the society. Under the Buddhist
Association of China, 34 different levels of Buddhist academies as well as almost 50
magazines can be found. Now in mainland China, there are about 13 thousand temples
and 180 thousand monks and nuns.

Han Buddhism: With 8,400 temples and 50 thousand monks, it is the largest branch on
the mainland.
Tibetan Buddhism: As the second large sect, it has 3,000 temples and 120 thousand
monks.
Southern Buddhism: Having 8,000 monks and 1,600 temples, this sect has the smallest
scale.

Famous Buddhist Relics:

 Potala Palace, Lhasa
 Yonghe Lamasery, Beijing
 Jade Buddha Temple, Shanghai
 Big Wild Goose Pagoda, Xian
 Mt. Wutai, Shanxi
 Temple of Soul's Retreat, Hangzhou
 Longmen Grottoes, Luoyang
 Shaolin Temple, Henan
 White Horse Temple, Luoyang
CONFUCIANISM

Confucianism, not a real religion,

is just an ethical and philosophical
system, which developed
from Confucius’ thoughts and
later was treated as a kind of belief
to educate common people. It
obtained its stable position under
the reign of Emperor Wu of Han
Dynasty (202BC-220AD), and
became the ideology of the society
in the feudal system since then.
Based on the Four Books and Five
Classics, the traditions and
Statue of Confucius
principles in the Confucianism
played an important role in the
formation of Chinese people’s thinking patterns and teaching methods. For instance,
Doctrine of the Mean can be seen on communications among people. Now, to some
extent, where Chinese people stay or live, there will be Confucianism.

Confucianism has worldwide influence. In many countries and regions of world such
the UK, USA, branches of Confucius Institutes are established in recent years to spread
Chinese culture and expand the language. In China, you can find many Confucius
temples, which is an important place for the candidates for important exams. In Beijing,
They hang some red wooden plates with lucky words in the Confucius Temple in the
hope of gaining high marks and a good future.

Famous Confucius Temples:

 Confucius Temple in Qufu
 Confucius Temple in Beijing
 Confucius Temple in Nanjing
TAOISM

Taoism, with more than 1,800

years’ history originated in
the Warring Period and came into
being in Eastern Han Dynasty (25 -
220). Now about 300 Taoist
Temples are scattered around
China, in which about 30 thousand
Taoists lived in. Around 5 Taoist
schools exist in the country and
two main sections are included in
Taoism. In the 1,800 years, Taoism
influenced the local culture deeply,
especially on traditional medicine The Immortals Worshipped by Taoism
and literature. Based on some
theories of alchemists such as Wei Boyang in Eastern Han Dynasty, different kinds of
medicine prescriptions were created by Sun Simiao and many other doctors. In
literature, many fictional characters are closely related with Taoism, such as the Jade
Emperor. Apart from Mainland China, many Taoists live in Hong Kong, Macau and
some foreign countries.

 What is Taoism?
 History & System

Famous Taoist Relics:

 Wudang Mountain, Shiyan, Hubei
 Mt Qingcheng, Chengdu
 Mt. Huashan, Xian
 White Cloud Temple, Beijing

ISLAM
Being introduced into China in the 7th century in Tang Dynasty, Islam has more than
1,400 years’ history in the country. Now, Muslims live everywhere, but the highest
concentrations are Ningxia Hui Autonosmous Region, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous
Region, Gansu Province and even Qinghai Province. Sunni Islam was the main branch
worshipped by almost all the Muslims in the country.

Famous Islamic Relics:

  Great Mosque, Xian
 Dongguan Mosque, Xining

CHRISTIANITY

Christianity was first introduced to China in Tang Dynasty, which was named as
Nestorianism during that time. After 1840, they swept the country. Although they were
suspended after 1949, it spread fast in recent years. Now about 30 million Chinese
people are Christians, who are organized in about 97 parishes. Most of Christians
gather in the south part of the country.
 INTRO
to
WORLD RELIGION
and
BELIEF SYSTEM

SUBMITTED TO:

SIR RIZALDEE GRINDOLO

SUBMITTED BY:

GENTLEMENS