Comparative Religions Elizabeth Pham
Jan 12, 2015
Comparative Religions
Elizabeth Pham
Islam
IslamHow It Began:
Founder: Muhammed Founded: 610 C.E.
(Muhammed received first revelation)
Point of Origin: Mecca
Where It Spread: West and East Africa,
Philippines, Central Asia, Western China, India, Malaysia, Indonesia, North America, and Europe.
A Muslim must make a pilgrimage to Mecca once in their life. In the heart of Mecca, lays the Ka’aba. He/she must walk around the Ka’aba seven times and then, the Black Stone.
Islam [cont.]How It Spread:
TradeWhere Most Influential
Today: India and Indonesia,
however being the fastest growing religion, North America is giving way to many Muslims.
Followers, worldwide: 1,387,454,500
Prayer 5 times a day is part of the Five Pillars. When praying it is important to face the direction of Mecca, thus, everyone in the above picture is facing the same direction.
Islam [cont.]Holy Book:
The Qur'an (or Koran) Main God/gods/deities:
AllahBasic Beliefs:
Strictly monotheistic; Allah is the Muslims must practice 5 Pillars of Islam
Submission to AllahFasting during RamadanPrayer 5 times a dayPilgrimage to MeccaZakat (pay alms to needy)
The sacred text of Islam is the Qur’an, which is shown in the above picture.
Islam [cont.]Religious Leader
Organization:Caliph is Islamic leader.
Sects Evolved Overtime:ShiitesSunnis
The Holy Mosque (Masjid Al-Haram) in Mecca is the most famous Mosque in the world and holds the holy Black Stone, the Ka’aba.
Buddhism
BUDDHISM
How It Began: Founder: Siddhartha
Gautama (The Buddha) Founded: c. 525 B.C.E.
Point of Origin: near present-day
Benares, India Where It Spread:
Mainly throughout Asia and North America.
The Life of a Buddhist Monk is meant to be simplistic. Thus, the shave their heads and wear robes in order to rid themselves of vanity.
BUDDHISM [CONT.]
How It Spread: By Trade and as Ashoka the Great spread the word throughout his Mauryan Dynasty
Where Most Influential: Buddhism is predominately practiced in Asia
Followers, worldwide: 385,609,000
Holy Book: The Tripitaka and Mahayana Sutras
The Dharmashakra represents the Eightfold Path.
BUDDHISM [CONT.]
Main God/gods/deities: no divine being
Basic Beliefs: Karma Reincarnation
Birth, Life, Death, Rebirth Four Noble Truths
Life means suffering Origin of suffering is desire. The stopping of all suffering is possible By following the correct path, one can achieve Nirvana
(the state of no suffering). The Eightfold Path will lead to the cessation of suffering.
BUDDHISM [CONT.]
Religious Leader Organization: Monastic order
where traditions passed down between monks and nuns
Sects Evolved Overtime: Mahayana (Zen &
Sokagakkai) Theravada Vajrayana (Tantrism)
One of the eight auspicious symbols for Buddhism, the white lotus represents the state of spiritual perfection.
Christianity
Christianity
How It Began:› Founder: Jesus (of
Nazareth)› Founded: c. 33
C.E. Point of Origin:
› Palestine Where It Spread:
› Europe, North America, and South America
A painting of Jesus Christ.
Christianity [cont.]
How It Spread: › Constantine made it
the official religion of the Roman Empire.
Where Most Influential Today: › Europe, North
America, and South America
Followers, worldwide: › 2,199, 817,400
Jesus Christ died on the Cross in order to forgive everyone’s sins, thus, the cross is a symbol to represent Christianity.
Christianity [cont.]
Holy Book: › The Bible
Main God/gods/deities: › God
Basic Beliefs:› Monotheistic› Jesus died on the cross to forgive everyone's
sins› The Bible tells the life of Jesus› Heaven and Hell
Christianity [cont.]
Religious Leader Organization:› The Pope is head of
the church. Sects Evolved
Overtime: › Main sects include
Roman Catholic Eastern Orthodox Protestant
A church of Eastern Orthodox, one sect of Christianity.
Hindu
ism
HinduismHow It Began:
◦ Founder: Not Specified
◦ Founded: c. 1500 B.C.E.
Point of Origin: ◦ India
Where It Spread: ◦ Mainly India, Nepal,
Malaysia, Guyana, Suriname, and Sri Lanka.
Symbol for Hinduism.
Hinduism [cont.]How It Spread:
◦ TradeWhere Most
Influential Today: ◦ India and Nepal
Followers, worldwide: ◦ 875,726,000
A statue of Shiva, a Hindu trinity God.
Hinduism [cont.]Holy Book:
◦ Vedas, Upanishads, Sutras, Bhagavad Gita
Main God/gods/deities: ◦ Brahman, Shiva, Vishnu, Devi
Basic Beliefs: ◦ Four Vedas◦ Karma◦ Reincarnation
Hinduism [cont.]Religious Leader
◦ Organization: Spiritual leaders known as gurus and sages.
Sects Evolved Overtime:◦ Shaivism◦ Vaishnavism
Vishnu, a Hindu trinity God.
Judaism
Judaism How It Began:
• Founder: c. 2000 B.C.E.
• Founded: Abraham Point of Origin:
• Israel Where It Spread:
• Mainly across Israel and United States
For each night of Hanukah, a Jewish holiday, one candle is lit on the menorah.
Judaism [cont.] How It Spread:
• Started by passing down through families. Where Most Influential Today:
• Israel Followers, worldwide:
• 14,956,000
Judaism [cont.] Holy Book:
• The Torah Main God/gods/deities:
• God Basic Beliefs:
• Monotheistic• Stresses ethical
behavior• God has special
relationship with Hebrews; they shall bear witness to God’s mercy.
The Holy Book of Judaism, the Torah.
Judaism [cont.] Religious Leader
Organization: • Other than the Rabbi,
who teaches and preaches Judaism, there is no overall religious leader.
Sects Evolved Overtime:• Orthodox• Conservative• Reform• Reconstructionist• Humanist
The Star of David.
Confucianism
Confucianism
How It Began: Founder: Confucius Founded: 6th-5th
Century C.E. Point of Origin:
China Where It Spread:
Koreans, Japan, Vietnam and Europe.
The Chinese symbol for Confucianism.
Confucianism [cont.]
How It Spread: Chinese tradition;
Became state doctrine for the Han Dynasty
Where Most Influential Today: China
Followers, worldwide: 6,111,100
An analect of Confucianism.
Confucianism [cont.]
Holy Book: Confucianism followed many different documents as sacred
text, including, but not limited to: The Confucian Analects, The Doctrine of The Mean, The Book of Odes, The Book of Changes, The Book of Rites, and The Book of Filial Piety
Main God/gods/deities: God
Basic Beliefs: Because Confucianism was more of a moral code, the basic
beliefs were simply the stressing of certain values:▪ Li: ritual, propriety, etiquette, etc.▪ Hsiao: love among family members▪ Yi: righteousness▪ Xin: honesty and trustworthiness▪ Jen: benevolence towards others; the highest Confucian virtue▪ Chung: loyalty to the state, etc.
Confucianism [cont.]
Religious Leader Organization: There’s no set religious
leader for Confucianism. Sects Evolved Overtime:
There are no formal sects of Confucianism, however Neo-Confucianism could be considered as Confucianism evolving over time, as it incorporates ideas from Buddhism and Daoism to form.
A depiction of the founder of Confucianism, Confucius.