World Religions
By Eliana Yamouni
Christianity
- Christmas: the day of Jesus' birth
- Last supper: when Jesus revealed that bread represents his body and wine represents his blood
- Good Friday: the day the Jesus died on the cross
- Easter: the day that Jesus rose from the dead
Video link: http://youtu.be/qjQLAay1HqM
Judaism
Judaism is a monotheistic religion that works to prepare for the coming of the messiah, and believes that God is the almighty one. Their holy book is the Torah, and they follow it's teachings along with those of the prophets such as Abraham. It is known that the Jewish religion focuses more on actions than beliefs, because the most important thing is to have a good relationship with God. Jews practice the rituals of prayer, worship, and eating only Kosher foods. Some of the major Jewish holidays are:
- Hanukkah: eight day celebration of the victory overMaccabees
- Rosh Hashanah: Jewish New Year
- Yom Kippur: the day to atone for sins
Video link:
Hinduism
Hinduism is the polytheistic belief that there is one god, but many forms of him. It is believed that you can call god by what ever name you want because there is no "wrong" religion. In Hinduism you are offered to pray to the god of your choice according to what you are praying for. Hindus believe in the principal that what goes around comes around (Karma), and based on how much good or bad Karma you have depends on what happens when you die. If you have bad Karma, when you die, you will reincarnate into something "bad." This process will keep repeating itself until you finally "discover" god in you and become one with god.
Major holy books of Hinduism:
- Vedas
- Ramayana
- Mahabharata
- Parunas
Major Hindu holidays:
- Diwali: celebration of lights
- Holi: spring festival in honor of Krishna
- Krishna Jayanti: birth of Krishna (one of gods)
Islam
- There is one god, Allah, and Mohammad is his messenger
- You must fast during the month of Ramadan
- Give to the poor
- Make a pilgrimage to Mecca, the holy city were Mohammad had his first revelation
- Pray five times a day
- Ramadan: Time of fasting commanded by the Quran
- Muharram: Islamic New Year
- Mowlid al-Nabi: prophet Mohammad's birthday
- Eid al-Fitr: celebration that ends Ramadan
To learn more about Islam:
Buddhism
- The truth of suffering
- The truth of the cause of suffering
- The truth of the end of suffering
- The truth of the path that frees us from suffering
- Buddhist New Year
- Visakah Puja: Buddha's birthday
- The Festival of Tooth: the procession of Buddha's casket
Lear more about Buddhism: