RAMIREZ, CZARINA JOY F.

BSN 2E
The Contemporary World

Activity 5.
Instruction: Make a matrix about the major religions of the world using the following
parameters: Founder, Place of Origin, Main Belief, Numbers of Members.

Christianity Judaism Islam Hinduism Buddhism

Founder Jesus of Nazareth Abraham Prophet Muhammad Unlike other (Sakyamuni Buddha)
religions, Hinduism has refers to the Buddha
no one founder but is Siddhattha Gotama.
instead a fusion of
various beliefs.

Place of Christianity originated Canaan is the Islam started in Most scholars Origins of Buddhism -
Origin with the ministry of biblical name for Mecca, in modern-day believe Hinduism The Art of Asia -
Jesus, a Jewish the area between Saudi Arabia, during started somewhere Buddhism. Buddhism,
teacher and healer the Jordan River the time of the between 2300 B.C. a religion that more
who proclaimed the and the prophet Muhammad’s and 1500 B.C. in the than 300 million
imminent kingdom of Mediterranean,ap life. Today, the faith is Indus Valley, near people currently
God and was crucified proximately the spreading rapidly modern-day practice, was founded
c. AD 30–33 equivalent of what throughout the world. Pakistan. But many in northeastern India
in Jerusalem in the today comprises Hindus argue that by Prince Siddhartha
Roman province of the state of Israel their faith is timeless in the sixth century
Judea. and the Palestinian and has always B.C. Having achieved
territories. existed. enlightenment, he
became known as
Shakyamuni and
preached a path of
salvation to his
followers.

Main Christians are Jewish people (shahada). The belief Hinduism embraces Followers of Buddhism
monotheistic, i.e., believe there’s that "There is no god many religious ideas. don’t acknowledge a
Belief
they believe there’s only one God who but God, and For this reason, it’s supreme god or deity.
only one God, and he has established a Muhammad is the sometimes referred They instead focus on
created the heavens covenant—or Messenger of God" is to as a “way of life” achieving
and the earth. This special central to Islam. This or a “family of enlightenment—a
divine Godhead agreement—with phrase, written in religions,” as state of inner peace
consists of three them. Their God Arabic, is often opposed to a single, and wisdom. When
parts: the father (God communicates to prominently featured organized religion. followers reach this
himself), the son believers through in architecture and a spiritual echelon,
(Jesus Christ) and the prophets and range of objects, Most forms of they’re said to have
Holy Spirit. rewards good including the Qur'an, Hinduism are experienced nirvana.
deeds while also Islam's holy book of henotheistic, which
The essence of punishing evil. means they worship The religion’s founder,
divine revelations.
Christianity revolves a single deity, known Buddha, is considered
around the life, death Most Jews (with (salat). Muslims pray as “Brahman,” but an extraordinary
and Christian beliefs the exception of a facing Mecca five still recognize other being, but not a god.
on the resurrection of few groups) times a day: at dawn, gods and goddesses. The word Buddha
Jesus. Christians believe that their noon, mid-afternoon, Followers believe means “enlightened.”
believe God sent his Messiah hasn’t yet sunset, and after dark. there are multiple
son Jesus, the come—but will Prayer includes a paths to reaching The path to
messiah, to save the one day. recitation of the their god. enlightenment is
world. They believe opening chapter attained by utilizing
Jesus was crucified on Jewish people (sura) of the Qur'an, Hindus believe in the morality, meditation
a cross to offer the worship in holy and is sometimes doctrines of samsara and wisdom.
forgiveness of sins and places known as performed on a small (the continuous Buddhists often
was resurrected three synagogues, and rug or mat used cycle of life, death, meditate because they
days after his death their spiritual expressly for this and reincarnation) believe it helps
before ascending to leaders are called purpose. and karma (the awaken truth.
heaven. rabbis. The six- universal law of
pointed Star of (sawm). During the cause and effect). There are many
Christians contend David is the daylight hours philosophies and
that Jesus will return symbol of Judaism. of Ramadan, the ninth One of the key interpretations within
to earth again in month of the Islamic thoughts of Buddhism, making it a
what’s known as the Today, there are calendar, all healthy Hinduism is “atman,” tolerant and evolving
Second Coming. about 14 million adult Muslims are or the belief in soul. religion.
Jews worldwide. required to abstain This philosophy
The Holy Most of them live holds that living Some scholars don’t
from food and drink. recognize Buddhism as
Bible includes in the United Through this creatures have a
important scriptures States and Israel. soul, and they’re all an organized religion,
temporary but rather, a “way of
that outline Jesus’s Traditionally, a deprivation, they part of the supreme
teachings, the lives person is soul. The goal is to life” or a “spiritual
renew their tradition.”
and teachings of considered Jewish awareness of and achieve “moksha,”
major prophets and if his or her gratitude for or salvation, which Buddhism encourages
disciples, and offer mother is Jewish. everything God has ends the cycle of its people to avoid
instructions for how provided in their rebirths to become self-indulgence but
Christians should live. lives—including the part of the absolute also self-denial.
Qur'an, which was soul.
Both Christians and Buddha’s most
Jews follow the Old first revealed during One fundamental
this month. important teachings,
Testament of the principle of the known as The Four
Bible, but Christians (hajj). Every Muslim religion is the idea Noble Truths, are
also embrace the New whose health and that people’s actions essential to
Testament. finances permit it and thoughts understanding the
must make at least directly determine religion.
The cross is a symbol their current life and
of Christianity. one visit to the holy
city of Mecca, in future lives. Buddhists embrace the
The most important present-day Saudi concepts of karma (the
Hindus strive to law of cause and
Christian holidays Arabia. achieve dharma,
are Christmas (which effect) and
which is a code of reincarnation (the
celebrates the birth of living that
Jesus) continuous cycle of
emphasizes good rebirth).
and Easter (which conduct and
commemorates the morality. Followers of Buddhism
resurrection of Jesus). can worship in
Hindus revere all temples or in their
living creatures and own homes.
consider the cow a
sacred animal. Buddhist monks, or
bhikkhus, follow a
Food is an important strict code of conduct,
part of life for which includes
Hindus. Most don’t
 eat beef or pork, and celibacy.
many are
vegetarians. There is no single
Buddhist symbol, but a
Hinduism is closely number of images
related to other have evolved that
Indian religions, represent Buddhist
including Buddhism, beliefs, including the
Sikhism and Jainism. lotus flower, the eight-
spoked dharma wheel,
the Bodhi tree and
the swastika (an
ancient symbol whose
name means "well-
being" or "good
fortune" in Sanskrit).

Numbers Christians remained As of 2010, there As of 2010, there Hinduism, with an Buddhism is a religion
the largest religious were about 14 were an estimated 1.6 estimated 1.1 billion that is practiced
of
group in the world in million Jews billion Muslims followers, is the worldwide. It is
Members 2015, making up around the world, around the world, world's third largest believed that as
nearly a third (31%) of representing 0.2% making Islam the religion and also one many as 535 million
Earth’s 7.3 billion of the global world’s second-largest of the oldest, with people around the
people, according to population. In religious tradition beliefs and practices world practice this
a new Pew Research 2050, the Jewish after Christianity. that date back at religion, which would
Center demographic population is least as far as the represent between 8%
analysis. expected to 1500s BCE. and 10% of the world's
number about 16 total population.
million. Several countries have
a very high proportion
of Buddhism followers.
References:

Hackket, C. & Mcclendon D. (2017). Christians remain world’s largest religious group, but they are
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History.com Editors (2017). Christianity. Retrieved from https://www.history.com/topics

/religion/history-of-christianity

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http://www.globalreligiousfutures.org/religions/jews

History.com Editors (2017). HInduism. Retrieved from https://www.history.com/topics/r

eligion/hinduism

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.com/topics/religion/buddhism#section_1

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eligion/hinduism

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/curriculum-resources/art-of-the-islamic-world/unit-one/the-five-pillars-of-islam

Vaughan, Don. "What Is the Most Widely Practiced Religion in the World?". Encyclopedia Britannica,
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