Belief Systems

Belief Systems

Essential Question:

How have belief systems impacted the development of cultures and historical events?

World Religions

I. Belief Systems (World Religions)A.Purposes - Religion is a

concept man uses to:1. Explain the Unknowna. How the world was created?b. What happens after you die?2. Provide moral guidelines or laws to live by

World Religions

B. Types of Belief Systems1. Polytheistic – Belief in MORE THAN ONE god or divine being

a. Examples: Animism, Shinto, Hinduism, Daoism

 2. Monotheistic – Belief in ONE god.a. Examples: Judaism,

Christianity, Islam 

World Religions

• Characteristics of Belief Systems 

• Founder – A person who is usually honored as a deity or sacred person.

 • Examples:

• Siddhartha Gautama - Buddhism• Abraham and Moses - Judaism• Jesus - Christianity• Muhammad - Islam

World Religions

• Sacred Writings – Holy books or texts that provides an explanation to the origins of the religion, guidelines for behavior, holy days of observance, as well as rituals and practices.

 • Examples:

• Vedas and Upanishads – Hinduism• Analects – Confucianism • Torah and Talmud – Judaism• Holy Bible – Christianity• Qur’an - Islam

World Religions

• Rules of Behavior – Provides guidelines for behavior in order to achieve enlightenment, harmony or salvation.

 • Examples:

• Dharma – Hinduism• Eight Fold-Path – Buddhism• Ten Commandments – Judaism and

Christianity• Five Pillars of Islam – Islam

World Religions

1.Founder - There is no one person who is considered the founder of Animism

2.Geographic Origin - Developed worldwide in different parts of the world. (Africa, the Americas, Asia, and Australia)

3.Currently Practiced - World-wide, but most common in traditional societies of Africa, the Americas and Australia

iety.

D. Animism

Animism

West African Griot

North American Shaman

AnimismAnimism

Animism

1. Founder - There is no one person who is considered the founder of Hinduism. It is believed that the Aryans and the people of the Indus River Valley’s traditions formed the foundation of Hindu beliefs.

 2. Geographic Origin - Developed in India approximately around 3000 BCE

 3. Currently Practiced - Most commonly practiced in India. (80% of India is Hindu)

E. Hinduism

Hinduism

Current Vedas

Originals

Brahmins

HinduismHinduism

The Creator The Preserver of Life

The Destroyer

How can Hinduism be considered polytheistic if they believe there is one Supreme Being?

Hinduism

Hinduism

Hinduism

Hinduism

7. Practices:a. Prayer - Prayer and offerings at templesb. Dharma - daily life is regulated by caste

rulesc. Social discrimination – Limited caste

interaction creates discriminatory practices and does not allow social mobility.

d. The Caste System was outlawed in 1947, but it is still widely practiced.

e. Art - expression of faith through the arts

HinduismHinduism

• Founder - Siddhartha Gautama, or Buddha, which means "enlightened one."

 • Geographic Origin - Developed in India approximately around 500 BCE

 • Currently Practiced - Most common in Southeast Asia and East Asia. Through trade, migration and pilgrimages

 • Significant Writings – Tripitka, or the Three Baskets of Wisdom.

traditional orange robes.

F. Buddhism

5. Places of Worship - Buddhism may be practice individually, but temples and monasteries known as Pagodas can be used for worship.

 6. Significant Religious People -

The Dalai Lama is the spiritual leader of the Tibetan sect of Buddhism. Buddhist monks can be identified by their traditional orange robes.

Buddhism

Buddhism

b. Four Noble Truths - Siddhartha's philosophy of the nature of human suffering and its relation to desire is articulated by these four statements:1. Life is full of pain and suffering. 2. Human desire causes this suffering. 3. By putting an end to desire, humans can end suffering. 4. Humans can end desire by following the Eight-fold Path.

Buddhism

C. The Eight-Fold Path – Gautama’s guidelines on how to achieve Nirvana

1. Right views 5. Right livelihood 2. Right Aspirations 6. Right Effort3. Right Speech 7. Right Mindfulness4. Right Conduct 8. Right Contemplation

Buddhism

Siddhartha Gautama Under the Bodhi Tree

Do you think that human suffering is connected to worldly desires? Why or Why not?

d. Reincarnation - Buddhists believe in an endless cycle of reincarnation, or samsara, which is similar to beliefs of Hinduism. Like Hindus, Buddhists believe one’s karma influences a person’s reincarnation.

e. Rejects the Caste System - Instead Buddhists who believe that a person is reincarnated until they can achieve Nirvana, spiritual enlightenment.

f. Nirvana – Spiritual enlightenment

Buddhism

What similarities and differences do Hinduism and Buddhism have?

Buddhism

g. Two sects of Buddhism:1. Theravada Buddhists – South East

Asiai. Buddha’s Teachings - Closely

followed Buddha’s original teachings2. Mahayana Buddhists – East AsiaII. Polytheistic - Combined with

other East Asian polytheistic religions such as Daoism and Shinto and saw Buddha and other holy beings as compassionate gods.

Buddhism

1.Founder - Confucius, a scholar, philosopher and politician

2.Geographic Origin - Developed in China approximately around 500 BCE

3.Currently Practiced - Most commonly in China, as well as elements Southeast Asia and East Asia culture.

4.Significant Writings –The Analects

G. Confucianism

Confucianism

c. Five Relationships - Confucianism teaches that there is a natural social order to society which can best be explained through the Five Relationships:

•Ruler to subject. •Father to son. •Older brother to younger brother. •Husband to wife. •Friend to friend.

Confucianism

Which relationships do not apply to today?

Do the five relationships apply to our society today? If so, which one?

What lessons do parents teach their children?

d. Superior and Inferior Relationships - In these relationships, the first role is considered superior to the second role and the second role is considered subordinate to the first. It was taught that if everyone knew their place in society, then order would prevail.

e. Role of the Superiors - For example, the ruler must provide leadership, guidance and discipline to the subjects. This would be the same for fathers, husbands and elders.

f. Role of Inferiors - For example, the subjects must show loyalty, love and compliance to the leader. This would be the same sons, wives (women), younger generations.

g. Friend to Friend – friends are considered equal

Confucianism

6. Practices – a. Dynastic Cycle - As long as the rulers were good and did well for their people, they held the Mandate of Heaven. If, after several generations, the dynasty becomes corrupt or does not protect their people, they will lose the Mandate of Heaven and a new dynasty will take over. b. Patriarchal Society - Women are subservient to men. In Confucius’ five relationships, women are mentioned only as the inferior of men. However, women were to be respected if they were the mother of sons.c. Ancestor Worship - Respect for and worship of ancestors because filial piety was stressed even after your ancestors’ death

Confucianism

d. Scholar Gentry -A well run system of government must be headed by educated, knowledgeable people and stressed the importance of education for the upper class (scholar gentry).

 e. Civil Service Exams – Exams

based on Confucian principles that Chinese officials must pass in order to work for the government.

Confucianism

 H. Daoism/Taoism

1. Founder – Lao Tsu, a Chinese philosopher

2. Geographic Origin - Developed in China approximately around 500 BCE

3. Currently Practiced - Most commonly in China, as well as elements Southeast Asia and East Asia culture.

4. Significant Writings – Tao-te-Ching or The Way of Virtue

H. Daoism

Daoism

Daoism

Yin YangMale FemaleLight DarkHeavenly EarthlyAggressive PassiveStrong WeakHot Cold

Daoism

Daoists believe that nature is a marriage of opposites. They believe that the world cannot exist without this balance. Name 3 sets of opposing forces in nature? 1.   2.  3.

Daoism