Aspects of

Culture
 What is culture?
Culture refers to a people’s way of life.
There are 5 categories that define culture
Language, Literature, Art and Music
Beliefs and Religions
Culture
 Customs

Clothing Food

Holidays Houses
 Institutions

Family Schools
Technology and material
goods
Major
 Animism
The belief that all things in nature have their
own spirit.
Animals
Mountains
Sun, moon and stars
Plants
 Hinduism
Most popular religion in modern India

*Believe in many gods (polytheistic)

*Reincarnation. After you die you will be born again

as someone or something else

*Karma. If you are good you will be reborn into a

higher caste

*Castes System. Social classes

*Sacred Objects. Believe cows are sacred; don’t eat

beef
 Buddhism
*Main religion in Tibet, Japan, Thailand and
China
*Buddhists follow teaching of Buddha, who
taught selfish desires means human suffering
*Eightfold Path. Buddhist must give
up wealth
*Nirvana. Live right and you will
reach eternal bliss
 Judaism
*First religion to teach belief in one God
(monotheism)
*Old Testament. History of Jewish people told in
first half of Bible
*Ten Commandments. Moral code of
conduct
Ex: Believe in one God
Listen to your parents
Do not kill
Do not steal
Do not commit adulturey
 Christianity
*Begun by Jesus
*Believe
-Jesus is the son of God
- Jesus rose from the dead to
go to Heaven
- If you are saved, you will go to Heaven
*Includes: Catholics, Protestant, and Eastern
Orthodox Christians
*World’s most popular religion
 Islam
*Founded by Mohammed around 600 A.D.
*Muslims believe in one God-Allah (monotheistic)
*Qur'an. Holy book which contains God
messages given to Mohammed
*Five Pillars of Faith. Basic religious duties that Muslims must fulfill
There is no God but Allah
Pray 5 times a day facing Mecca
Give money to the poor
Fast during the month of Ramadan
Make a pilgrimage (trip) to Mecca

*Popular in the Middle East, South and Southeast Asia

 Sikhism
*Found mostly in Northern India

*Combines beliefs from Hinduism and Islam

*Believe in reincarnation

*Believe in one God (monotheistic)

*Everyone is equal in the eyes of

God

*Men do not cut their hair and

often wear turbans over their hair