(HINDUISM, JUDAISM, BUDDHISM, CHRISTIANITY AND ISLAM)

religion is defined as any specific system of belief, worship, or conduct that prescribes certain responses to the existence (or non-existence) and character of God the belief in and worship of a superhuman controlling power Religion is the set of beliefs, feelings, dogmas and practices that define the relations between human being and sacred or divinity The terms spiritual and sacred add to the complexity of defining religion.

 Defined as the Cradle of Great Religions Includes:

Buddhism, Judaism, Hinduism, Christianity, Islam, Jainism, Sikhism, Taoism, Zoroastranism Confucianism,

JUDAISM

HINDUISM

BUDDHISM

CHRISTIANITY

ISLAM

Formed: Founder:

1500 BCE none

Origin:
Followers: Deity: Sacred Texts/ Holy Book:

NE India
950 million Brahman The Vedas, Upanishads, Bhagavad Gita, Ramayana,

 Sanatana Dharma, "eternal religion," and Vaidika Dharma, "religion of the Vedas,"

Brahma the Creator, Vishnu, (Krishna) the Preserver, Shiva, the Destroyer

 Transmigration of the Soul-is the transfer of one's soul after death into another body Samsara-a continuing cycle of birth, life, death and rebirth through their many lifetimes Karma-is the accumulated sum of ones good and bad deeds. Karma determines how you will live your next life.

 The three goals of the "pravritti,

dharma: righteousness in their religious life. artha: success in their economic life; material prosperity. kama: gratification of the senses; pleasure; sensual, sexual, and mental enjoyment.

The main goal for the "nivritti,

moksa: Liberation from "samsara."

Formed:

520 BC

Founder:
Origin: Followers: Deity: Sacred Texts/ Holy Book: Place of Worship:

Siddharta Gautama
India 350-500 million none Tripitaka or Tipitaka, Mahayana sutras like the Lotus Sutra, others. Vihara

 is a religion and philosophy encompassing a variety of traditions, beliefs and practices, largely based on teachings attributed to Siddhartha Gautama, commonly known as the Buddha. started between 6th and 4th centuries BCE.

Mahayana Buddhism (The Great Vehicle) Theravada Buddhism (The School of the Elders)

 a title given to one spiritually awakened or enlightened. it also means awake and it refers to Siddhartha Gautama, the name of the historical Buddha. "The Enlightened One."

Impermanence Suffering Not-self

 That life is subject to sorrow. That this sorrow is caused by ignorance, which results in desire-attachment. That this sorrow can be eliminated by the elimination of desire-attachment. That the way to eliminate desire-attachment is to follow the Eightfold Path.

 The Middle Way of life between extremes of excessive austerity and sensuality.

Kill no living thing. Do not take what is not given to you. Do not speak falsely. Drink no intoxicating drink. Do not be unchaste.

Formed: Founder: Origin: Followers: Deity: Sacred Texts/ Holy Book: Place of Worship

c. 2000 B.C.E Moses Canaan 4,090,156,000 God Torah, Tanakh (Hebrew scriptures), Talmud Synagogue

God Exists God is one and unique God is incorporeal Prayer is to be directed to God alone and to no other The words of the prophets are true Moses prophecies are true, and Moses was the greatest of the prophets The Written Torah (first 5 books of the Bible) and Oral Torah (teachings now contained in the Talmud and other writings) were given to Moses There will be no other Torah God knows the thoughts and deeds of men God will reward the good and punish the wicked The Messiah will come The dead will be resurrected

God Exists God is One God is the Creator of Everything God is Incorporeal God is Neither Male nor Female God is Omnipresent God is Omnipotent God is Omniscient God is Eternal God is Both Just and Merciful God is Holy and Perfect Avinu Malkeinu: God is our Father and our King

Religion/Sec t/ Origins & Belief History System Buddhism

Adherents Human God(s) and Worldwide Situation and Afterlife Universe (approx.) Life's Purpose

Practices

Texts

Founded by 360 million Siddharta Gautama (the Buddha) in c. 520 BC, NE India.

Varies: Theravada atheistic; Mahayana more polytheistic. Buddha taught nothing is permanent.
One God, Yahweh (YHVH).

Purpose is to Reincarnation Meditation, Tripitaka (Pali Canon); avoid suffering (understood mantras, Mahayana sutras like the Lotus and gain differently devotion to Sutra; others. enlightenment than in deities (in and release Hinduism, with some sects), from cycle of no surviving mandalas rebirth, or at soul) until gain (Tibetan) least attain a enlightenment better rebirth by gaining merit.
Obey God's commandment s, live ethically. Focus is more on this life than the next. Not historically Circumcision Bible (Tanakh), Talmud emphasized. at birth, Beliefs vary bar/bat from no mitzvah at afterlife to adulthood. shadowy Synagogue existence to services on the World to Saturdays. Come (similar No pork or to heaven). other nonkosher foods. Holidays related to historical events.

Judaism

The religion 14 million of the Hebrews (c. 1300 BC), especially after the destruction of the Second Temple in 70 AD.

Religion/Se ct/ Origins & Belief History Hinduism Indigenous System religion of India as developed to present day.

Adherent s Worldwid e 900 (approx.) million

God(s) and Universe One Supreme Reality (Brahman ) manifeste d in many gods and goddesse s

Human Situation and Life's Afterlife Purpose are in Humans Reincarnatio bondage to n until gain ignorance and enlightenme illusion, but are nt. able to escape. Purpose is to gain release from rebirth, or at least a better rebirth.

Practices

Texts

Yoga, The Vedas, meditation, Upanishads, Bhagavad worship Gita, Ramayana, etc. (puja), devotion to a god or goddess, pilgrimage to holy cities, live according to one's dharma (purpose/ role).

Formed: Founder:

c. 30 A.D Constantine

Origin:
Followers: Deity: Sacred Texts/ Holy Book: Place of Worship:

Palestine
2 billion God Holy Bible Church (Rome)

 Article 1: I believe in God the Father, almighty, maker of heaven and earth. Article 2: And in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord. Article 3: He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit. Article 4: Jesus Christ suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. Article 5: He descended into hell, on the third day he rose again. Article 6: He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. Article 7: From thence he will come again to judge the living and the dead. Article 8: I believe in the Holy Spirit. Article 9: I believe in the holy Catholic Church. Article 10: I believe in the forgiveness of sins. Article 11: I believe in the resurrection of the body. Article 12: I believe in life everlasting.

 You shall have no other gods before me. You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain. Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.. Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the Lord your God is giving you. You shall not kill. You shall not commit adultery. You shall not steal. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. You shall not covet your neighbors house; you shall not covet your neighbors wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbors.

Formed: Founder: Origin: Followers:

7th century Mohammed Arabians 1.57 Billion

Deity:
Sacred Texts/ Holy Book:

Allah
Koran

Mohammeds teachings and relation to other religions Principal Duties of Muslims Mosque Five Pillars of Islam Jihad

Religion/Se ct/ Belief Christianity System (Catholic, Protestant, Orthodox)

Adherent s Origins & Worldwid History Founded by e billion 2 (approx.) Jesus Christ in c. 30 AD, Israel.

God(s) and Universe One God

Human Situation and Life's Afterlife Purpose sinned Eternal All have who is a and are thereby heaven or Trinity of separated from hell (or Father, God. Salvation is temporary Son, and through faith in purgatory). Holy Christ and, for Spirit some, sacraments and good works. Humans must submit (islam) to the will of God to gain Paradise after death. Paradise or Hell.

Practices

Texts

Prayer, Bible study, The Bible baptism, Eucharist (Old and New (Communion), Testaments) church on Sundays, numerous holidays.

Islam

Muhammad, 1.3 billion One God 622 AD, (Sunni: (Allah in Saudi Arabia 940 Arabic) million)

Five Pillars: Faith, Qur'an (Scripture);Hadi Prayer, Alms, th (tradition) Pilgrimage, Fasting. Mosque services on Fridays. Ablutions before prayer. No alcohol or pork. Holidays related to the pilgrimage and fast of Ramadan.

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