DATE:_____________________________

Understanding World Religions and Ethical System

OBJECTIVES:
1. We will be able to describe the main beliefs of religions
and ethical systems of the world: Christianity, Islam, Hindu,
Buddhism, Judaism, Confucianism.
2. We will be able to locate the major population centers of
the world's religions and ethical belies.

Judaism (Jews)
Basic Facts

____________________ millions of followers

Majority of followers are in Israel (5.9 million) or
__________________ (5.5 million)
Symbol=
o

3. We will be able to explain how the various religions were

spread throughout the world.
Buddhism (Buddhist)
The Facts

___________________ followers
Mostly found in __________________
Symbol=
Wheel of Dharma

__________________________
One God
Founder: ____________________
o One of the three major Abrahamic religions
(1800 BC, MesopotamiaCanaan present
day Israel)

Extra Information

Eight Sections=

_____________________________
Founder = _________________________________
(the Buddha) c. 520 BC, in NE India

Tell Me More

_______________: Buddha did not teach a deity

although some sects believe in some
Holy Book: Many sacred texts, including the
Dhammapada
Leaders: Buddhist monks, nuns and the
____________________________

Basic Beliefs:

Person achieves complete peace and happiness

(______________) by eliminating their attachment to
worldly things
Nirvana is reached by following the Eightfold Path:
(1) Right views, (2) Right resolve, (3)Right speech,
(4) Right conduct, (5) Right livelihood, (6) Right
effort, (7) Right mindfulness, (8) Right ___________
Every living thing has possibility for spiritual growth,
therefor all are reborn (reincarnation)

Practices and Development

Buddhist meditate and make offerings

o Three Main Sects:
Theravada, Mahayana, and
Mantrayan
Was spread through trade: Silk Road

Sacred Texts: ___________________ (including the

Torah)
Leaders: Rabbis

Basic Beliefs

There is only one God, who watches over and cares

for his people
o He also holds people accountable for their
sins
Serve God by studying and living out the Torah
o _______________________________ are a
vital part to Jewish life.

Worship and Practice

Worship takes place in a synagogue

Eat kosher foodsno pigs or shellfish
Three Major Sects
o OrthodoxStrict followers
o ReformHelp to adapt to the West
o ConservativeIn the middle

Christianity (Christian)
The Facts

___________________________ followers
Mostly found in the __________________,
_______________, and Africa_
Symbol =

Name of

Deity-

_______________________
o Founder-Jesus Christ (~30 AD) from Israel

The Basic Beliefs

A Few More Facts

One of the three _____________________ religions

Holy Book= _________________________
Leaders: Priests, ministers, monks, nuns and
_________________________

Basic Beliefs

There is only one God, who watches over and cares

for his people
___________________ was the son of God
o He died to save humanity from sin
o His death and resurrection made eternal life
possible for other
Reach salvation by following teachings of Jesus
Christ and believing in Christ

DATE:_____________________________

Two Holy Books: Analects, and the

____________________________________
No designated leaders

The Five Relationship (How Society Should Be

Organized):
o Ruler and Subject
o Father and Son
o Husband and Wife
o Older Brother and Younger Brother
o ______________________________
______________________ vital
Education is important for the welfare of the
individual and society
o Foundation for bureaucracy

Islam (Muslim)

______________ billion followers

Mostly found in N. Africa, the Middle East, and
Southeast Asia (Indonesia has the largest national
population of Muslims)
Symbols =
o

Practices and Development

Essential to worship are communion, baptism, and

________________________
o Major Christian Sects:
Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox,
and Protestant
Spread through trade, exploration, settlement,
conquest, and empires (ie. Roman)

_____________________________

Confucianism
The Facts

Not really religion but ethical system

____________________ followers
Mostly found in __________________, and other
east Asia nations
Symbol= Yin and Yang
o
Represents
opposite forces in
the
world working
togethersymboli
zes
the social order and
harmony of
Confucianism
Founder =_________________ in Northeastern
China (551 BC)

A Little Extra

No deity; however, some view ___________ as a god

DATE:_____________________________

o The Name of Allah

Name of Deity?__________________(God)
Founder-________________________ (622 AD),
and founded in Saudi Arabia

FYI

One of the three major ________________ religions

Holy Book = Quran
Main leaders are part of a scholar class called the
___________ and the _________

Practices and Beliefs

Basic Beliefs

Achieve salvation by following the Five Pillars of

Islam and living a just life
o Sincere reciting the Muslim profession of
faith
o Performing proper prayers 5x a day
o Giving to charity
o Fasting during the month of Ramadan
o Pilgrimage to Mecca
________________ = final prophet of Allah
Do NOT worship idols or images

Practice and Developments

Two Different Sects

o Sunni
Believe leader should come from
Muslim scholar
o Shia
Believe only direct descendants of
Muhammad should rule
Spread some through trade, but mostly from
_____________________
Contributions
o Math, Astronomy, Navigation, Medicine,
Physics, Education

Hinduism (Hindus)
Basic Facts

__________ million followers

Nearly all of the followers are in _________
Symbol =
sacred sound om

Name of
Deities:
o ____________________________________
____________________________________
Founder-No one founder (1500 BC or earlier)

Additional Information

Several Sacred Texts

o ____________________

o ____________________
Leaders of Hinduism
o Guru
o Holy Man
o Brahmin Priest
Known for Caste system which goes beyond
religionBrahmin at the top & untouchables below

After death the soul is reincarnated (reborn in another

physical form) based on one's karma from the
previous lifetime.
o After death the soul is reincarnated (reborn
in another physical form) based on one's
karma from the previous lifetime.
o After death the soul is reincarnated (reborn
in another physical form) based on one's
karma from the previous lifetime.
Believe all life is sacred...remember all souls are
reborn
Very flexible beliefs

KEY TERMS FOR THE TOPIC

Deity
A god or goddess that is the subject of religious worship.
Heresy
Any words or actions that go against the accepted teachings
or practices of a given religion.
Monotheism
A religion that centers around the worship of one deity.
Patriarchy
Social system in which leadership, privileges, and inheritance
is passed through males from generation to generation.
Polytheism
A religion that centers around the worship of multiple deities.
Sect
A subgroup or division of a larger religion.
Religion (Basic Dictionary)
The belief in and worship of a superhuman controlling power,
esp. a personal God or gods.

DATE:_____________________________

4.

Why was Buddhism popular for those in the

Hindu caste system?

Judaism
1.

Hebrews developed what central idea that would

influence other religions?
A belief in one God (monotheism)

2.

What is a covenant and why was it important?

Confucianism
1.

What did Confucius argue was most important?

2.

What was filial piety and why is it important to

Confucianism?

Islam
1.

What did Islam go from in 200 years?

2.

What is a radical reforming religion?

CRASH COURSE VIDEO QUESTIONS:

BUDDHISM:
1.

When does our story with Buddhism start?

2.

3.

Hinduism
1.

What is the earliest text known for Hindus?

What did Siddhartha encounter that caused him

to renounce the crown and caused search for how
life could come to such a terrible end ?

2.

How did the division of Purusha give the

organization of caste system?

Overall, what did the four noble truths deal with?

3.

What role does dharma play in Hinduism?