Belief systems and Religions
Made by Logan Toth
What is religion?
Religion is the belief and worship of a god. Some people are monotheistic (belief in 1 God) or polytheistic (belief in many God.) Others don't even believe in a God, which would be a belief system.
What is a belief system?
A belief system is a system that does not believe in a god. This isn't a religion because each religion believes in a god.
Hinduism
Hinduism is a religion that believes in many god meaning they are polytheistic with the main God being Brahman. It started in India by the Aryans, and was spread across India. One of the biggest beliefs in Hinduism was the caste system. The caste system was the social class of Hinduism. It was separated by the most dominant, to least dominant. This effected the Hindus daily life. One of which being there social life. You could only talk to people in your caste. You also didn't have a choice of who you were going to love, and whatever job your father or mother had, you had to "follow in there footsteps" and do what they did for a job. Another big belief is Reincarnation. Reincarnation is the rebirth of the sound into another being's body wether it be animal or human. Reincarnation ties into karma. Karma is the idea of "what goes around comes around." If you do good deeds in your life you will get a good life afterwards in return. If you do bad deeds, you will get a bad life in return. Your could next life could possibly be as an animal! This effects Hindus life because every single decision you make, will tie into your next life. So if you decide to steal, or kill, you will have a bad life. In Hinduism there were specific rules to follow, and it's called Dharma. Dharma was known as "The right way of living" and all Hindus had to follow it. The final resting for the Hindus was known as Moksha. The path to Moksha was the path to right way of thinking, path if right action, and path of religious devotion. That is the only way to reach Moksha. Now we can move on to the next religion, Buddhism.
How does Hinduism effect the daily lives of it's followers?
The caste system is a big one. It limits your social life, as you can only talk to the people in your specific caste.you also didn't have a choice of who you could love. You had to follow in your fathers it mothers footsteps for job purposes.karma and Dharma effected your everyday choices.
Below is the caste system.
The Vedas
The Vedas is one of the holy books. This contained religious hymns, philosophy, and guidance on rituals for the priests of the Vedic Religion
The Bhagavad Gita
The Bhagavad Gita another one of the holy books for the Hindus. The Bhagavad Gita is a synthesis of the Brahmanical concept of Dharma.
The Upanishads
Thw Upanishads is another holy book of the Hindus. The Upanishads were interpretations of Vedic Hymns.
Buddhism
Buddhism started around 528 BCE and quickly spread across India. It was inspired by the Upanishads. The Buddhists were a belief system, as they did not believe in a god. It was founded by Siddhartha Gautama. Siddhartha wanted to find the way of enlightenment or wisdom. At the young age of 29 he decided to leave his family in order to lead a simple life. After a few years of leaving his family, he returned with many followers. The followers devoted their lives to the middle way. It's a combination between a simple lifestyle, and one full of materialistic goods. He decided to meditate under a tree, and after 49 days he had finally found the answer he was looking for. He was now called The Buddha or the enlightened one. Buddhism was very similar to Hinduism. They both believed in reincarnation, karma, and dharma. This effected their daily lives the same way as in Hinduism. It effected each, and every decision you make. However unlike the Hindus, the Buddhists believe in the 4 noble truths. Suffering is universal, the cause of suffering is desire, if you accomplish your desires suffering will end, and follow the eightfold path. So the 4 noble truths are all based off of suffering. But you may ask, what is the eightfold path? It is the idea of the right thing to do. If you follow the eightfold path, then suffering will end. The eightfold path is the right understanding, right thought, right speech, right action, right work, right effort, right mindfulness, and right concentration. It is the right mindset, and it's how you become enlightened. This effected there everyday life because you had to follow it to stop suffering. Following the eightfold path, and accomplishing your desires you will achieve Nirvana. Nirvana is the final resting place in Buddhism. It is the ultimate goal of releasing a person from suffering. This was how to stop suffering. It effected there everyday life because you wanted to achieve this. Nirvana was the ultimate goal in a Buddhists life. That's all about what the Buddhists believed. We will move on to Confucianism.
How does Buddhism effect the daily lives of it's followers?
Very similar to Hinduism. It effected your everyday choices, as the Buddhists also believed in karma, dharma, and reincarnation. If you wanted to achieve Nirvana, you would have to accomplish your desires, thus effecting the way you treat others, and the decisions you make everyday.
Confucianism
Confucianism was not a religion, as it was a belief system. It was originated by Confucius and quickly spread across China, unlike Hinduism, and Buddhism. One of the main beliefs in Confucianism was the five relationships. The 5 relationships were created for social harmony. There is always a Superior over an Inferior. The five relationships were Father over son, Elder brother over younger brother, Husband over wife, Ruler over subject, and Elder friend over younger friend. This effected there lives because it taught you to respect others around you. Filial piety also taught how to respect one another. It taught you to respect your parents. It was based off of honesty, hard work, and concern for others around you. Confucius believed education was key and it was the road to advancement. This effected there everyday lives because it taught you how education will be a big part of your life, and it will lead you down the right path. Legalism, and Daoism were similar to Confucianism, as they all had the same beliefs. We will move on from Confucianism to our last religion, Judaism.
How does Confucianism effect the daily lives of it's followers.
Filial piety was a big way on how it effected it's followers. It taught you to respect your elders, and everybody around you. This effected the way you talk to elders, and the way you respect them. It ultimately led to social harmony.
Below are the 5 relationships
Below is a Chinese philosophy called yin and yang
Judaism
Judaism started around 4,000 years ago, and spread across Israel, and they were known as Hebrews or Jews The Hebrews were a group of people living near the Fertile Crescent. The Hebrews recorded their events and laws in a book called the Torah. The Hebrews history tells of a great flood that devastated their land. In 1800 BC a famine (an extreme shortage of food) caused the Hebrews to move to Egypt, where they were enslaved. In 722 BC the Assyrian empire known for there violence defeated the Hebrews, and in 586 BC the Babylonians defeated the Hebrews as well. There were a diaspora (Jews living outside of isreal) scattering of Jews around the world, without a homeland. Jews were monotheistic as they believe in just one God. They also believe in a covenant or an agreement with God. They also believed that the Old Testament Hebrew Bible first five books is the Torah. One of the major beliefs were the 10 commandments. The Ten Commandments are religious duties and a guide for moral conduct. The Ten Commandments will be show below this text. The Ten Commandments effected the Hebrews life because you needed to follow these to live the right way of life. The Hebrews celebrate 4 holidays throughout the year. They celebrate Passover, Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, and Chanukah. Passover celebrates the exodus of the Jews from Egypt. Rosh Hashanah is the Jewish new year. Yom Kippur is the day of atonement, and Chanukah is an 8 day celebration. So that's how this is going to end. This is everything (well not actually everything but a lot) you need to about Hindusim, Buddhism, Confucianism, and Judaism.
How does Judaism effect the daily lives of its followers
The Ten Commandments effected the daily lives of its followers. You had to follow it, because it was the code of conduct. They believed it was the right way to live your life. Mint heist was a another belief that effected its followers.
Below are the Ten Commandments
Below are the candles of Chanukah.
Christianity
Christianity started in Judea, and it quickly spread across the world, to become the most populated religion in the world. It still spreads across the world today. People spread it because that's what you are supposed to do if are a Christian. Spread the word of God. One of the biggest beliefs in Christianity is the belief in monotheism, which is the belief in only one God. Christians are also supposed supoosed to believe in Jesus who is a central figure of Christianity. Christians also believe in resurrection which was Christ's rising from the dead. They also believe in the golden rule. "Treat others the way you want to be treated." You are also supposed to act kind, and be truthful. The code of conduct for Christianity is the Ten Commandments. It Is shown above in Judaism. Christians have many practices, withsome of the biggest is to pray, and to go to church. As always, each religion has an effect on your daily life. I'm Christianity it can effect how you get along with others. If you believe in God, and others don't, you might not get along with them very well, because if your religious beliefs and practices. Holiday rituals also effect every day life's of Christians. On December 25th Christians celebrate Christmas. If you are bad over Christmas, you will not get rewarded. If you are good over Christmas, you will get rewarded. So this is why Christianity is so important in today's world.
How does Christianity effect the daily lives of it's followers.
Like Judaism, Christianity also had the Ten Commandments. They believed it was the right way to live your life. You are also supposed to pray everyday. Heaven and hell effect your daily decisions. If you make continuously bad decisions in your life, you will go to hell. If you continuously make good decisions you will go to heaven. You decide if that happens.
Below is a drawing of Jesus
Below are crosses
Islam
Islam is a religion and started at around 610. Islam was founded by Muhammed and it was started in Mecca. Islam quickly spread to Mecca, Asia, North Africa, Spain, and other old places from the Byzantine empire. Islam currently has 2.2 billion followers, and is the second most populated religion, only behind Christianity. Islam like many other religions believes in monotheism which means to believe in just one God. Islam's God is Allah. Islam teaches that there is a good and an evil. They believe each individual is responsible for the actions of his or her own life. Another major believe is that Muslims are not allowed to eat pork, or drink alcohol. You are also supposed to pray 5 times a day. The holy book for Islam is known as the Qur'an. The Qur'an is written in Arabic, and is believed to be the only true word of the god Allah. Muslims follow a code of conduct which is known as the five pillars. Pillar 1 shows your faith towards the Islam religion and Allah. Pillar 2 is how you have to pray 5 times a day facing the city of Mecca. Pillar 3 is how you have to give to charity and the needy. Pillar 4 is how you have to fast during the holy month of Ramadan. Muslims are to refrain from eating to be reminded that spiritual sacrifice is more important then your physical needs. Pillar 5 tells you to visit the city of Mecca at least once in your lifetime. This is all about the Islamic religion.
How does Islam effect the daily lives of it's followers?
You have to pray 5 times in a day. It is a major part of an islam's life. It's just a way of life for Muslims. Islam also limits the different foods you can eat, and what you can drink as well. It also affects the different clothing a you wear. Some Men have to wear a special hat. You can't eat pork, and drink alcohol. For a girl she decides how much she wants to cover your body. Muslims are not supposed to marry somebody from another religion