Belief Systems

• BELIEF SYSTEMS are organized ways to

look at the world.

• Most belief systems include a moral code or

way to live life.

• RELIGIONS are belief systems with a

God(s).
 Monotheistic - one god
 Polytheistic - more than one god
 Monotheism Polytheism
• The belief in ONE • The belief in MANY
God. Gods.

• Ex. Judaism, • Ex. Ancient Egypt,

Christianity, Islam Hinduism
Animism is the belief that all living
and nonliving things in nature have a
spirit.

Animism was the belief system of

many early civilizations.

Animism in early civilizations was

often combined with ancestor
worship.
• Animism dates back to earliest
humans and still exists. It can be
practiced by anyone who believes in
spirituality, but does not proscribe to
an organized religion. Animist gods
and beliefs often explain natural
earthly things. The presence of holy
men or women, visions, trances,
dancing, sacred items and places are
often characteristic of animist
societies. Animism exists in
traditional African, Asian, American
and Aboriginal cultures.
• Founder: None specifically- developed around the
world during the Neolithic revolution.

• Book/rules: Oral story telling

• Location: Africa and parts of America (Native

Americans)

• Main ideas:
 Polytheistic
 Every living and nonliving thing in nature has
a spirit
 Often pray to ancestors for help
Hinduism
Hinduism has no single founder,
but originated from the mixing
of Harappan and Aryan cultures
in ancient India around 1500
BCE.

Hindus believe in one

unifying spirit, Brahman.
Brahman can manifest in
many, polytheistic, forms or
in one, monotheistic.
 Hinduism is based on the
concept of reincarnation
(Spirits return to earth many
times in different forms
trying to become one with
Brahman). The soul moves
up or down a hierarchy
depending on their behavior
in life.
A person moves closer to
Brahman by obeying the law
of karma. Karma is the sum
of all your deeds, good and
bad. Good deeds involve
following your dharma, or
duties dependent on your
position, gender and
occupation.
The caste system (outlawed since 1948) was an important part of
Hinduism. Castes are social classes into which a person is born
and lives their entire life. If a person has a good karma they may
be reincarnated into a higher caste.

This life Next life

Good Karma Higher caste

Born into
A caste
 The caste system separated Indian society into
distinct social classes in which everyone knew their
place and believed that if they followed the dharma
of their caste, they would be reincarnated into a
better caste.

Brahmin
Kshatriya

Vaisya

Sudra

Untouchables
The Caste System is created to keep the social order.
Reincarnation is based on Karma (all your life’s deeds)
and Dharma (duties in your life).

Do your dharma
and you will be
reincarnated at a
higher place until
you reach
Brahmin

Untouchable
• Founder: None specifically- result of cultural diffusion
between Aryan invaders and people of the Indus River
Valley Civilization

• Location: Started in India and is still commonly

practiced there

• Book: Upanishads and Vedas

• Main Ideas:
 The goal is to reach Brahmin, or universal spirit
 Polytheistic- Gods help understand Brahmin
 Reincarnation to keep trying to get to Brahmin
 Caste System
 Karma and Dharma
 Ganges River is sacred
 Over the centuries Hindu
beliefs were recorded into a
number of sacred texts
including the Vedas and the
Upanishads.

The Ramayana is a
Hindu creation story.
Buddhism
• Buddhism was founded
by Siddhartha Gautama
in northern India around
560 BCE.

• Gautama was born into a

wealthy Hindu family,
but renounced his wealth
to seek spiritual
enlightenment.
• Buddhism spread
through cultural
diffusion to
eastern Asia,
including China,
Thailand, Korea
and Japan.
• In other areas,
Buddhism was
adapted and took
on new forms.
Buddhism is based on the Four Noble
Truths.

1. All life is 3. The way to

suffering. eliminate suffering is
to eliminate desire.

2. Suffering is caused
by desire for things that 4. Following the
are illusions. Eightfold path will help
people to overcome
desire.
Buddhism has much in common with Hinduism, but
important differences.

Buddhism like But not

Hinduism:
Caste system
Reincarnation
Hindu gods
Karma
Hindu
Dharma priesthood
                                        

• Buddha did not record his teachings, but after he

died, his followers collected them into the Tripitaka.
Today’s Tibetan
Buddhists are led
by the Dalai
Lama, who
advocates for
freedom from
China.
• Founder: Siddhartha Gautama- Buddha, the enlightened one

• Book: Tripitaka, “three baskets of wisdom”

• Location: Developed in India but moved to Southeast Asia

(cultural diffusion)

• Main Ideas:
 The goal is to reach Nirvana
 No Caste System
 Reincarnation to keep trying to get to Nirvana
 Life is suffering because of Desire (Four Noble Truths)
 End desire with the Eightfold Path
Four Noble Truths Eightfold Path

1)All life is suffering

1.Know that suffering is caused by
2)Suffering is caused by
desire.
desire
2.Be selfless and love all life.
3)Eliminate suffering by
eliminating desire 3.Do not lie, or speak without cause.
4)Following the 8-fold 4.Do not kill, steal, or commit other
path will help overcome unrighteous acts.
desire 5.Do not do things which promote evil.
6.Take effort to promote righteousness.
7.Be aware of your physical actions,
state of mind, and emotions.
8.Learn to meditate
Judaism
Judaism originated in the Middle East around
1000 BCE. According to Jewish tradition, God
chose the Hebrews and helped them to escape
slavery in Egypt. Judaism was one of the first
monotheistic religions.
 Basic Beliefs of Judaism

• The Torah is a
sacred scripture
recording laws and
events in Jewish
history.
• The Old Testament
of the Bible includes
the Torah.
• God gave Hebrews
the 10
Commandments
through Moses.
• The Ten
Commandments
describe how
people should
behave toward
God and one
another.
God made a covenant, or Judaism had a great
promise to Abraham to influence on the later
be the God of the development of
Hebrews. Christianity and Islam.
Jews were discriminated against in the Roman Empire and
eventually kicked out of their homeland, Israel, in what is
known as the Diaspora.
• Founder: Abraham and Moses

• Book: Torah (Old Testament)

• Location: Worldwide. Originated in the Middle East

near Israel

• Main Ideas:
 Monotheistic- one God
 God is all knowing
 Synagogues
 10 commandments
 The Diaspora
Christianity
• Christianity originated from Judaism about 30
CE.

• Christians believe that Jesus was a Messiah, or

savior sent by God to bring eternal life to
anyone who would follow him.

• Jesus accepted the Ten Commandments and

also preached equality of man before God.

• The sacred text of Christianity is the Bible.

Although the Romans originally felt threatened
by the Christians, and therefore allowed Jesus
to be crucified, Christianity eventually became
the official religion of the Roman Empire.
The 10 Commandments:

1. You shall have no other gods before Me.

2. You shall not make yourself any graven image,
3. You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in
vain;
4. Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy.
5. Honor your father and mother
6. You shall not commit murder.
7. You shall not commit adultery.
8. You shall not steal.
9. You shall not witness falsely against your neighbor.
10.You shall not covet your neighbor's house, or anything
that is your neighbor's.
The primary difference between the Jews and
Christians is that the Jews do NOT think the
Messiah has come
• Founder: Jesus (the Messiah)

• Book: Bible (New Testament)

• Location: Worldwide. Originated in Israel

• Main Ideas:
 Monotheistic- one God
 God is all knowing
 Holy Trinity- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit
 Churches and sacraments
 10 commandments
 Eternal life and salvation
Islam
• Islam originated in the • Muslim
Middle East around worshippers follow
622 CE with the scriptures called the
Prophet, Muhammad. Quran, or Koran.
• Muhammad was born
in Mecca and traveled
• The collection of
to Medina in a journey
Islamic laws is also
called the hijra, that
known as the
became the founding
Sharia.
of Islam.
 Five Pillars of Islam

1. Faith in one God, Allah—monotheism

2. Five times daily prayer toward Mecca
3. Help for the poor
4. Fasting during the holy month of
Ramadan
5. Pilgrimage to holy city of Mecca
The Five Pillars are the moral code of Islam

Alms One Pray 5

Pilgrima times Fast
to the God
ge to a day during
poor Allah
Mecca Ramadan
Spread of Islam--In the 150 years following the death of
Muhammad, Islam spread through trade, missionaries and conquest
into Asia and Africa.
• Founder: Muhammad

• Book: Quran/Koran

• Location: Worldwide but primarily in the Middle East

Originated on Arabian Peninsula

• Main Ideas:
 Monotheistic- one God (Allah)
 God is all knowing
 Mosques
 Five Pillars
 the Hajj
 Sharia Law
• Belief systems help keep order in society

• They often provide moral codes or ways to

live