Religion is any specific system of belief about deity (God)

"Religion is any specific system of belief about deity (God), often
involving rituals, a code of ethics, and a philosophy of life."
Belief Systems – Religions &
Philosophies
 Founder (WHO) and early history = WHERE &
WHEN
 BASIC beliefs = sacred texts or writings (WHY)
 Practices – list and describe (WHAT)
 Impact in history = influences (SIGNIFICANCE)
 Social CONFLICTS – such as wars or persecution
**YOU need to consider HOW religions
effect people…their daily life and the
history of the world**
Belief Systems:
Religions & Philosophies
• Hinduism & Buddhism – Chapter 4,
Section 1
• Judaism – Chapter 2, Section 5
• Christianity – Chapter 6, Section 4
• Islam – Chapter 11, Section 1
• Legalism, Confucianism & Daosim –
Chapter 4, Section 4
• Shintoism – page 317
VOCABULARY: Due Tuesday
Nov. 5, 2013
• Hinduism & Buddhism – Chapter 4,
Section 1
• Judaism – Chapter 2, Section 5
• Christianity – Chapter 6, Section 4
• Islam – Chapter 11, Section 1
• Legalism, Confucianism & Daosim –
Chapter 4, Section 4
• Shintoism – page 317
Hinduism
• No single founder, developed in
India
• Brahman= universal spirit
• Goal in life = union with Brahman
• REINCARNATION = rebirth
of the soul, continue journey to
Brahman
• Karma = deeds that affect life
• Dharma = moral duties to guide
karma
• CASTE system = social groups
KARMA determines caste in life
Therefore…nonviolence (ahimsa)
• Dominates India today
Buddhism
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Developed in India BUT spread
east to China
Buddha (enlightened one)
4 Noble Truths = central philosophy
(beliefs)
Eightfold path = way to achieve
NIRVANA and get released from
cycle of death and rebirth (or
reincarnation)
Buddhists accept karma, darma and
reincarnation BUT reject gods,
rituals and priesthood of Hinduism
Also rejects caste system
Asoka and his stone pillars are an
historical example of Buddhist
practice
TODAY???
Life is full of
SUFFERING
Suffering is caused
by our DESIRES
Way to end suffering
is to END DESIRE
for selfish things
Way to end desire
Is to follow
Eightfold Path
Right
CONCENTRATION
Right
MINDFULNESS
Right
EFFORT
Right
LIVELIHOOD
Right
ACTION
Leads to ENLIGHTENMENT
NIRVANA
(released from cycle or
reincarnation)
Right
SPEECH
Right
INTENTION
Right
VIEWS
Legalism
• Developed in China
• According to Hanfeizi (233 BC),
“the nature of man is evil…His
goodness is acquired”
• Order is only achieved with
strict laws and harsh
punishments
• For rulers – strength, not
goodness was greatest virtue
• Was official policy of Qin
(Emperor Shi Huangdi) – jail,
torture, kill
Confucianism (500’s BC)
• Troubled times in CHINA led
philosophers to seek harmony/order
• Confucius = influential thinker,
taught people to accept place in
society
• 5 key relationships (Filial Piety)–
each has duties and responsibilities
depending on position
• ORDER in society when individual
finds and accepts proper place
(ex=Mulan)
• Restored order to China under HAN
dynasty (Emperor Wudi) as
Confucian scholars (civil service
exam) fill important government jobs
“ the man of virtue makes
the difficulty to be
overcome his first business,
and success only a
subsequent consideration”
-Confucius
Daoism: The Unspoken Way
• Founded by Laozi in China
• Concerned with living in
HARMONY
• Best type of government is
one that governs least.
• Dao = “the way”
• Conflict between human
desires and the simple ways of
nature = yin & yang
• Nature is influential force.
Water (rivers) flows and gives
BUT can destroy
“If the people are
difficult to govern, it
is because those in
authority are too
fond of action” Laozi
Judaism
• HEBREWS, a nomadic people,
recorded events and laws in TORAH
• Abraham and his sons – Ishmael and
• Enslaved in Egypt, led out by MOSES
• Kingdom of Israel (David and Solomon
• A COVENANT with god = sacred
agreement
– Belief in one true God
– The Chosen people
– Ten Commandments (God’s laws)
Unlike many early societies where ruler
was god-like, Jews saw leaders as
fully human and bound by God’s
laws
Christianity
• Founder-Jesus of Nazareth and his disciples
who helped spread his teachings.
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Developed in Judea (now Israel), located in the Middle
East bordering the Mediterranean Sea sometime around the
year 30 CE.
Significant Writings-The Holy Bible, consisting of both
the Old Testament and the New Testament.
Because Christianity evolved from Judaism, there are
certain concepts that these two religions share. For
example, both Jews and Christians subscribe to the Ten
Commandments
Christians believe that Jesus of Nazareth was the Son of
God, sent to redeem the world of sin.
Christians are expected to attend church services regularly,
usually on Sundays and holy days such as Christmas and
Easter. On these occasions Christians take part in
sacraments, which are religious practices such as baptism,
and receiving the Eucharist.
Islam
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Islam, which when translated from Arabic, means "to submit
to the will of Allah,“ is the youngest of the world’s
religions.
Islam was founded by the prophet Mohammed
Developed on the Arabian Peninsula in the year 622 CE,
and quickly spread to other regions.
Significant Writings-The teachings of Islam are collected in
the Qur'an (KORAN)
Five Pillars of Islam. Every Muslim is expected to follow
these rules in order to lead an ethical life:
Confession of Faith: "there is no God but Allah, and Mohammed is
His prophet."
Prayer: Muslims must pray five times per day, facing towards Mecca.
Charity: Muslims must give alms to the poor, and support the local
Mosque by donating a portion of their income.
Fasting: During the Ramadan, the ninth month of the Muslim
calendar, all Muslims must fast during daylight hours, except the very
young or sick.
Pilgrimage: If possible financially, each Muslim must make a hajj, or
holy pilgrimage, to the city of Mecca.
Animism
is the oldest known type of belief system in the world. It
is still practiced in a variety of forms in many traditional societies.
The Basics
Founder-There is no one person who is considered the founder of Animism.
Geographic Origin-Developed simultaneously in different parts of the world.
Currently Practiced-World-wide, but most common in areas of Africa and the
Americas.
Significant Writings-Most traditional cultures that practice Animism also have an
oral tradition of story-telling, rather than a developed writing system.
Places of Worship-Animist rituals tend to take place outdoors in nature.
Significant Religious People-Animist rituals are typically conducted by a Shaman,
Medicine Man, or Medicine Woman.
Teachings and Beliefs
Animists practice nature worship. They believe that everything in the universe has a
spirit. This is exemplified by the practices of the Plains Indians in North America who
would praise the spirit of the buffalo that they killed for giving its life to them so that
they might survive. Animists also believed that ancestors watch over the living from
the spirit world. This belief resulted in ancestor worship as a means of
communicating with and showing respect to ancestors.
Shinto, which means "Way of the Gods," is the traditional
religion of Japan that focuses on nature. Many consider Shinto
to be a form of Animism due to the many similarities found
between them.
Basics
Established: Shinto was founded around the year 500 BC.
Founder: Evolved from a mixture of tribal religions with similar beliefs.
Geographic Origin: Developed on the Japanese archipelago.
Currently Practiced: Most common in Japan.
Places of Worship: Shinto shrines are usually dedicated near sites of impressive natural
beauty (e.g., mountains, lakes, etc.), or of historical importance to Japan. The entrance to these
shrines is usually indicated by the presence of a red gateway called a torri.
Significant Religious People: Traditionally, the Emperor of Japan was considered to be a
direct descendant of the Sun Goddess who created the Japanese islands. Therefore, the
Emperor was considered divine by the people who practiced Shinto. After Japan surrendered
to the United States in WWII, Emperor Hirohito renounce his divinity and political authority.
Teachings and Beliefs
Shinto teaches that there is a sacredness of the whole universe and that humans
can be in tune with this sacredness. Every mountain, river, plant, animal, and all
the diverse phenomena of heaven and earth have spirits, or kami, which inhabit
them. Reverence is paid to the ancestors through the practice of ancestor
worship
TEST ___________________
on Religions and Philosophies
• 25 multiple choice questions
• NO NOTES or CHARTS can
be used
• Look at the notes and your
charts to STUDY