Notes on World Religions

1. Types of Religious Beliefs:

• Monotheism: Belief in one supreme deity, such as in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.

• Polytheism: Belief in multiple gods and goddesses, as seen in Hinduism and ancient
Greek religion.

• Pantheism: Belief that the divine exists in everything in the universe, often associated
with nature worship.

• Atheism: Lack of belief in the existence of deities or supernatural beings.

• Agnosticism: Uncertainty or skepticism about the existence of deities, acknowledging

the limits of human knowledge.

2. Buddhism:

• Founder: Siddhartha Gautama, known as the Buddha or "Enlightened One."

• Main Teachings:

• Four Noble Truths: Life is suffering, suffering is caused by desire, cessation of

desire leads to the end of suffering, and the Noble Eightfold Path is the way to
end desire.

• Noble Eightfold Path: Right understanding, intention, speech, action, livelihood,

effort, mindfulness, and concentration.

• Concept of Karma: Actions have consequences, influencing one's present and

future circumstances.

• Rejection of Caste System: Buddhism teaches equality and compassion for all
beings.

• Major Branches: Theravada (Teaching of the Elders) and Mahayana (Great Vehicle).

3. Islam:

• Founder: Prophet Muhammad.

• Main Teachings:

• Five Pillars of Islam: Declaration of faith (Shahada), prayer (Salah), fasting during
Ramadan (Sawm), almsgiving (Zakat), and pilgrimage to Mecca (Hajj).

• Belief in one God (Allah) and the finality of Muhammad's prophethood.

• Quran: Holy book of Islam, believed to be the word of God as revealed to

Muhammad.

• Sharia: Islamic law based on the Quran and Hadith (sayings and actions of
Muhammad).

• Day of Judgment: Belief in accountability for one's actions in the afterlife.

• Major Branches: Sunni and Shia.

4. Hinduism:

• Origin: Ancient religious and cultural traditions of the Indian subcontinent.

• Main Teachings:

• Concept of Dharma: Duty, righteousness, and moral order governing one's

actions.

• Belief in reincarnation (Samsara) and karma.

• Trimurti: Brahma (creator), Vishnu (preserver), and Shiva (destroyer) as primary

deities.

• Vedas and Upanishads: Sacred texts containing hymns, rituals, and

philosophical teachings.

• Varied Practices: Worship of deities, rituals, meditation, yoga, and pilgrimage.

• Diversity: Hinduism encompasses a wide range of beliefs, practices, and sects.

5. Christianity:

• Founder: Jesus Christ.

• Main Teachings:

• Belief in the Trinity: Father, Son (Jesus Christ), and Holy Spirit.

• Salvation through faith in Jesus Christ and his death and resurrection.

• Ten Commandments: Moral code outlining ethical behavior.

• New Testament: Contains the teachings of Jesus Christ and early Christian
writings.

• Sacraments: Baptism, Eucharist (Communion), Confirmation, etc.

• Major Branches: Catholicism, Protestantism, and Eastern Orthodoxy.

6. Judaism:

• Founder: Abraham.

• Main Teachings:

• Belief in one God (Yahweh) as revealed in the Hebrew Bible (Tanakh).

• Covenant: God's agreement with the Jewish people, outlined in the Torah.

• Ten Commandments: Moral and ethical guidelines for living a righteous life.

• Synagogue: Place of worship and community gathering for Jewish prayer and
study.

• Importance of ethical conduct, justice, and social responsibility.

• Major Branches: Orthodox, Conservative, Reform, and Reconstructionist.