WORLD RELIGION

3 abrahamic religions
JUDAISM – The first monotheistic religion in the world

 Sacred text – torah

 Followers – jews
 God – yahweh
 Sacred place – canaan
 In Judaism, morality and ethics are based on the covenant between
the Jews and God
 Ten Commandments serves as the summary of all laws found in the Torah.
 Halakhah - a religious law that provides prescribed rules in everyday living,
such as eating, praying, wedding and funeral rites, etc.
 Predetermination, which means that it is God who decides on a person’s
basic lifespan, wealth, and opportunities, but it is still humanity’s free will that
is the deciding factor.
 Patriarchal society, propagates an unequal view of men and women.
 Show low regard for women
 Divorce is also allowed in Judaism, with men easily divorcing their wives.
CHRISTIANITY – was developed from judaism

 Sacred text – Holy Bible

 Followers – Christians
 Sacred places : jerusalem, rome(roman empire/catholic church/western
empire)
 murder, adultery, and theft are also considered evil and should be avoided if
one wants to live a moral life.
 Christians are also expected to live a life for others.
 Ten Commandments emphasized to love God above all else and to love your
neighbor as you love yourself.
 Unlike in Judaism, Christianity does not advocate for retribution since
Christians are advised to love their enemies.
  Predestination refers to the belief that all events are determined in advance
by divine will or fate.
 a higher regard for women
 men and women have the equal capacity of eternal salvation of the soul
ISLAM – the youngest among the three abrahamic/monotheistic religion

 Prayed facing mecca(place where muhammad had his first followers)

 Muhammad(founder)
 morality and ethics is based on having faith in one God, which is manifested
in exhibiting righteousness and piety.
 based on the Quran, Islam emphasized the need to possess traits such as
holiness and righteousness as guidance in becoming morally good.
 If something is willed by God to happen, it will happen no matter how hard
they try to prevent it from happening.
 Belief in predestiny also encourages humility, which is one of the traits valued
in Islam.
 Ummah or the community of believers that is supposed to promote equality
among all races, ethnicities, and genders, is supposed to have a high regard for
women.
 It was stated in the Quran that men and women are equal in the eyes of God
and are expected to fulfill the same duties
 polygyny (refers to a partnership wherein a man has many wives.)
 men are allowed to have up to four wives as long as they can support them
financially and guarantee that they be treated equally.
 Hijab or head covering worn in public by Muslim women
 Burka or a long loose garment covering the whole body from head to feet.
 The practice of purdah or strict veiling of women in Islam is symbolic of their
subordination and literally inhibits their social mobility.
HINDUISM – oldest religion in the world/sacred symbol: om

 Hindu which means “river”.

 “Arya Dharma” or the “Aryan Way.”
 Vedas – Oral texts
 sanatana dharma, which translates to “eternal law”.
 Dharma refers to the religious and moral laws governing all people’s action
and lives.
 Brahman is regarded as the Supreme Being in Hinduism.( unifying existence
and the ultimate divine reality.)
 devas (gods), devis (goddesses). These terms both mean “divine” and
“radiant”.
TRIMURTI

 BRAHMA- is the Hindu god of creation. He is believed to have created the

universe and everything that is contains. His consort is Sarasvati, the goddess
of knowledge.
 SHIVA- is the Hindu god of destruction. This destructive power is seen not
just as a transition to death, but ultimately to rebirth or a new form of life. It is
necessary as a way of destroying evil forces and restoring order in the
universe. Parvati is the consort of Shiva.
 VISHNU- is the Hindu god credited with the power to sustain or preserve the
universe. His consort is Lakshmi, who is considered the Hindu goddess of
wealth and prosperity.
THE SACRED TEXTS OF HINDUISM

 Shruti- that which is heard or revealed.

 Samhitas (“Collections”) refers to the hymns and chants in the Vedas
 Brahmanas (“expositions”) refer to the prose text attached to the Vedas.
 Upanishads (“philosophical knowledge”) it can be translated literally as
“connection,”.
 Sutras
 THE FOUR VEDAS

 The Rig Veda or “knowledge of the Verses”. It was used in rituals, and were
finally written down after they were transmitted orally for generations. It
consists of 1,028 hymn containing praises to gods, as well as songs and
prayers associating divine deities with natural forces.
 The Yajur Veda – “knowledge of the Sacrifice” contains instructions on how
to conduct Hindu rituals. These rituals often involve performing sacrifices,
and Hindu priests use this in leading the ceremonies.
 The Sama Veda - the knowledge of Song” contains verses which are mostly
from the Rig Veda. The Sama Veda teaches the manner in which chants must
be performed in sacrificial rites. This is important for Hindus, as they believe
that reciting prayers and chanting a sacred text aloud is the best way for its
word to be instilled in their minds.
 The Atharva Veda – or “knowledge of the Fire Priest” is a later addition to
the Vedas. It contains spells and incantations for healing different illnesses
and casting away evil spirits.

 Shmriti – literally means “that which has been remembered.”

 Ramayana – an Indian epic which teaches the values of duty and morality.
 Mahabharata – regarded as a history of war and peace in India. It also
considered as the story of the people of this country.
 Bragavad Gita – a famous Hindu text containing songs about the spiritual
goals of an individuals. It also discusses the ways to attain moksha.
THE FOUR MAJOR PATHWAYS IN HINDUISM
1. Karma Yoga (The way of Work) - selfless deed and service.
2. Bhakti Yoga( The Way of Love) - love and devotion
3. Jnana Yoga (The Way ofKnowledge) - studying and reflecting
4. Raja Yoga (The way of Meditation) - experience union with God.
 THERE ARE IMPORTANT CONCEPTS IN HINDUISM SUCH AS:

 Dharma – this refers to the religious and moral laws governing all people’s
action and lives.
 Avatar - The avatar is an incarnation of a Hindu on earth in various forms,
including animals and human beings.
 Karma – In Hinduism, karma is the law of cause and effect. According to
karma, every action has a corresponding consequence.
 Reincarnation – is the Hindu phenomenon of the atman’s immortality
Through reincarnation, the atman will repeatedly undergo birth and rebirth
until it finally attains liberation.
 Moksha – can be regarded as the end of the cycle of birth and rebirth.
 Puja and Hindu Worship – Puja is the central act of Hindu worship. It is a
ritual where the devotee connects and communicates with a Hindu deity.

THE FOUR MAIN GOALS OF HUMAN LIFE ACCORDING TO

HINDUISM
1. Karma - is considered an essential and healthy goal of human life, as
long as it does not hinder the attainment of other goals.
2. Artha - is a pursuit essential to one’s life, as it is important in fulfilling
one’s obligations to his or her loved ones and society;
3. Dharma - it is regarded as an important goal in Hinduism. In seeking
the dharma, the individual is expected to live in an ethical and morally
sound way.
4. Moksha – Important goal in Hinduism. This is the liberation from the
cycle of birth and rebirth, known as samsara. In order to attain moksha,
one must nurture his or her relationship with God;
HINDU ETHICS AND MORALITY
“Do not do to others what ye do not wish done to yourself; and wish for
others too what ye desire and long for, for yourself.”

 refraining from all forms of violence and treating all living beings with
respect.
 happiness will be experienced only when man lives in peace in himself, with
nature, and with God.
 MAIN FESTIVALS INCLUDE:

 Holi - The national celebration of spring and the New Year

 Dusserah - a celebration of the triumph of good over evil, in honor of
Durga or Rama
 Diwali - “Festival of Lights” is India’s biggest and most important holiday
of the year held in October or November that is similar to the Christmas
holiday of the Christians.
REVIEWER MADE BY: LUNA, MARISHKA ANIKA