WORLD RELIGIONS

WHY IS EACH RELIGION DIFFERENT?

• It boils down to just different perceptions of our

existence
• Religions are split into 3 categories on the view
of existence: Atheism (There is nothing to
explain it, we are just here), Pantheism (God is
absolutely everything and more) and Theism
(God as infinite power that gave us existence).
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xrY0nmsgbp
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 OLDER DEFUNCT RELIGIONS

• Greek Mythology (Zeus as the ultimate God), Roman

Mythology (Jupiter as the ultimate God) and Norse
Mythology (Odin as the ultimate God)
• Each of these religions believed in many deities. That each
God was in charge of different things. For example:
Greek Mythology had Aphrodite as the God of Love,
Hades as the God of the Underworld and Aries as the
God of War
• People would make sacrifices to these many deities while
always valuing the ultimate God as the leader of all.
RELIGION PROFILES - HINDUISM

1. Oldest religion on record. Having originated between 10,000 to 5,000 B.C.

2. Believe in concepts of reincarnation (life after life), karma (if you do good, you come
back as a good thing and vice versa) and eternal soul (the soul travels through different
reincarnations while the body perishes)
3. Interesting Facts:
• Huge proponent is meditation
• Ideas of decimals and math questions were created by Hindus
• Believe in no conflict with religions, each person is destined for their afterlife regardless of
religious orientation.
RELIGION PROFILES - BUDDHISM

1. Originated around 500 BC

2. Life is about living simply and appreciate the natural cycle of life
3. Believe Buddha to be divine. Took Buddhist teachings and devoted his life to be that.
4. Interesting Facts:
• Believe in caring for yourself and others/environment. No need for conflict or war
• Do not believe in a supreme God
• Monks are those who dedicate their lives to Buddhism. Sometimes takes vows of silence.
 RELIGION PROFILES - JUDAISM
• Christianity spawns from
Judaism
• Differences between both
include:
• Catholics believe in individual
salvation while Jews believe in
collective participation
• Catholics believe in God as
human form or has given us a
savior in human form (Jesus),
Judaism rejects this.
Interesting Facts:
• Speed dating was invented by a
Rabbi
• Moses wrote the original Bible
• Has stated that if science could
ever prove that it is correct than
they will be first to say religion is
wrong
• The Vulcan salute from Star Trek is
actually a priestly blessing in
Judaism
CLASS ACTIVITY

1. In your rows or groups you will research the teachings of a certain religion on your
phone and present your findings to the class
2. Research origin and beliefs as the main focus
3. Religions to research:
1. Latter Day Saints/Mormons
2. Sikhism
3. Atheism
4. Shinto
5. Rastafarianism