World Religions
By: Eva Gamboa
Christianity
Definition
- The religion based on the person and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth, or its beliefs and practices.
- Worlds biggest religion, at least 2.1 billion followers worldwide
- Monotheistic Religion
- Branches of Christianity: Catholic and Protestant
- Use Holy Bible as a guide
Brief History
- Originated in the 1st century
- Jewish diaspora: jews spread out throughout middle east
- Roman emperor Constatine made it the official religion
Holidays
- Easter
- Christmas
- Good Friday
- Ash Wednesday
Rituals
- Worship and Prayer
- Go to Church most of the time on Sundays
- Baptism
- Confession (catholics)
- Communion
- Marriage
What is Christianity?
Islam
Definition
- The belief that only one God id the true god and that Muhammad was the final prophet
- Allah is Arabic for God
- Use the Quran book
- Stongly monotheistic
- Worlds second largest religion with over 1.6 million people in the UK alone.
- The prophet Muhammad's teachings
- Five pillars
Rituals
- Declaration of faith
- Praying five times a day
- Giving money to charity and those who need it
- Fasting
- Pilgrimedge to mecca (at least once)
Holidays
- Al-Hijira, islamic new year
- Ramadan, Holy month of feasting
Islam, the Quran, and the Five Pillars All Without a Flamewar: Crash Course World History #13
Judaism
Definition
- The belief of God and preparation of the coming of the Messiah
- 613 Commandments
- Book: Torah
- Monotheistic
Holidays
- Passover
- Hanukkah
- Rosh Hashanah
- Yom Kippur
- etc.
Rituals
- Bat/Bar Mitzvah
- Reading of the scrolls
- Praying and Worshipping God
Christianity from Judaism to Constantine: Crash Course World History #11
Hinduism
Definition
- 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
- 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
Holidays
- Holi, festival of colors and spring (February-March)
- Mahashivarati (Shiva Ratri) night sacred to Shiva (February-March)
- Rama Navami - birthday of Lord Rama (April)
- Krishna Jayanti - birthday of Lord Krishna (July-August)
- Raksābandhana - renewing bonds between brothers and sisters (July-August)
- Kumbh Mela - pilgrimage every 12 years to four cities in India (July-August; last one 2003)
- Ganesha-Chaturthi (Ganesha Utsava) - festival of Ganesh (August-September)
- Dassera - victory of Rama over demon king Ravana (September-October)
- Navaratri - festival of Shakti (in Bengal) or Rama's victory over Ravana (South India) (September-October)
- Diwali, festival of lights and Lakshmi (September-October)
Rituals
Hindu religious practices center on the importance of fulfilling the duties associated both with one's social position and one's stage of life. With regard to the latter, traditional Hindus are expected to pass through four stages over the course of their life.
- brahmacharga
- grastha
- vanaprastha
- sanngasu
Crash Course Hinduism
Buddhism
Definition
- A religion represented by the many groups that profess various forms of the Buddhist doctrine and that venerate Buddha
- Buddhists believe that everything is not inter-connected
- Believe that if they are spiritually enlightened then they will go to Nirvana and not have to reincarnate.
- Nontheistic
- No book
Holidays
No holidays
Rituals
No rituals
The Life of Buddha (BBC Documentary) + Eng Sub (HQ)