Comparison of World Religions
Linus Haak
Islam
- Started with Muhammad
- Started by fights and a so called jihad
- Monotheistic with Allah as god
- Five Pillars of Islam: faith, prayer, almsgiving, fasting, pilgrimage to Mecca
- Mecca and Medina
- Started 622 AD so it's almost 1400 years old
- “The parable of those who take protectors other than Allah is that of the spider, who builds (to itself) a house; but truly the flimsiest of houses is the spider's house;- if they but knew. ” [29:41] ; This parable means the confidence in Allah by his followers. You have to be strong in your religion and not believe in other gods.
- 1.2 billion, mostly in the Middle East and North Africa
- The Muslim beliefs were spread by two countries, the Maureen Empire and the Ottoman Empire
- Their holy book is the not translatable Qur'an
- Holy people were of course Muhammad, and in the past all the sultans of the Ottoman Empire were the unofficial leaders of the Islam
- Today the five pillars organize the Islam and the imams and the ulamas who are scholars but not real leaders
Hinduism
- Teachings of Aryans (ancient Indian people)
- It can be lived agnostic, monotheistic or polytheistic (no god, one god of the following, more then one of the following gods: main gods Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva
- Soul continually reborn, achieve happiness & enlightenment after freeing from earthly desires, lifetime of worship + knowledge + virtuous acts
- It started in India
- Started ca. 4000 years ago
- The human body is the temple of God.
- 820 million mostly in India
- Hinduism was spread by talking and writings
- No book just sacred texts
- Gurus, holy men, Brahmin priests
- The Hindus have a code of behavior which is called someone's dharma
Confucianism
- Started with Confucius
- Confucius wanted people to live fair and they could create a perfect society
- No real religion so they don't have a by everyone excepted god, even if Confucius is seen as a god by some people
- Strong relationship in families, respect for elders, education: kindness, righteousness, sobriety, wisdom, trustworthiness
- No real place where it began and spread, but Confucius worked at the court of the Chinese emperor
- 551 BC so it's nearly 1450 years old
- By three methods we may learn wisdom: First, by reflection, which is noblest; Second, by imitation, which is easiest; and third by experience, which is the bitterest.
(Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/c/confucius131984.html#4CpszWIvHYF0ZIGO.99) - 6.3 million people mostly in China
- Confucius spread his beliefs by his own
- Confucianism has five books about good behavior
- The only holy person was Confucius who is seen as god by many people
- Confucianism is organized by well educated pastors and priests