Religions

1. Exercise 2: To which religions do the photos below belong?
Write the numbers behind the religions below.
1) Christianity _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
2) Buddhism _ _ _
3) Judaism _ _ _ _
4) Hinduism _ _ _ _ _
5) Islam _ _ _ _ _ _ _
A religion is a set of beliefs that is followed by a group of people. There are many different religions in the world and each religion
has its own beliefs. Most beliefs are about people, the world we live in, how life started and the purpose of life. A god or a spirit is
an important aspect of many religions. People who believe in a certain religion have their own set of rules on how to act and worship.
The main religions in the world are Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism and Judaism. People who do not believe in a god or spirit
are called atheists, people who are not sure whether there is a god or not are called agnostics.
Religious people believe in a god or spirit. Some religions, such as Christianity and Islam, only have one god. Other
religions, such as Hinduism or ancient Roman and Greek religions have several gods or spirits, who each have
different roles. Apart from gods, certain beliefs also have other kinds of spirits, such as devils and angels.
Honoring a god is an important aspect of all religions. Most of the time, people gather and perform rituals. These
rituals are mostly based on old traditions and may have been performed for hundreds of years. A place where
people meet for religious purposes is often called a temple. In Christianity, it is called a church. Muslims meet in a
mosque and Jewish people meet in a synagogue. Most religious buildings are very beautiful, some are even great
works of architecture.
Exercise 1: Are the following statements true or false?
1
9
2
3
10
11
4
5
6
7
8 1213
14
20
19
18
17
15
16
21
22
23
25
26
27
28
24
1) Religious people follow a certain moral code.
2) Muslim people worship in a synagogue.
3) Religious rituals often change and are very modern.
4) An agnostic person does not believe in a god or spirit.
5) An angel is the same thing as a god.
6) Some religions have more than one god.
7) A temple is a place where religious rituals are performed.
8) An atheist is a person who does not believe in a god.
29

2. With more than 2.2 billion followers, Christianity is the world’s biggest religion. The religion focuses on the
teachings of Jesus of Nazareth or Jesus Christ, they believe that he is the Son of God. Christians believe that
Jesus was God’s chosen one, they think that God speaks to the people through a prophet, Jesus. He was born in
Bethlehem over 2000 years ago; which is a small city in the Middle East. Christ wasn’t actually Jesus’ real name, but
he was given that name as it means Messiah in the Greek language. Jesus was actually a Jew (a person who believes in Judaism).
For that reason, Christianity originated as a part of Judaism. Around 33 AD, Jesus was crucified in Jerusalem.
The Bible is the holy book for Christians, it is divided into the Old Testament (Jewish Book) and the
New Testaments. 20 years after Jesus’ crucifixion, around 60 AD, The New Testament was written.
Christians believe that the text of the Bible was inspired by God. The Bible as we know it today was
put together around 300 AD. The holy book explains how Jesus was sent by God to restore the
broken relationship between the people and God. Christians believe that this broken relationship
was caused by the wrongdoings of people.
When Jesus was 33 years old, the Romans executed Jesus on a
cross (Crucifixion). The Jews and the Romans thought that Jesus
was too rebellious and they were worried about the increasing
number of people who became his follower. According to
Christian teachings, Jesus rose from the dead three days after
he was crucified (the Resurrection). Most people who lived
during the time of Jesus, however, did not believe that he rose from the grave.
Christian’s belief in god is somewhat complicated. They believe in God, Jesus and the
Holy Spirit. This belief in god is called the Holy Trinity: the Father, the Son and the
Holy Spirit. Christians think that these 3 forms are the same God.
A church is the Christian place of worship; these buildings are often built in the
shape of a cross. The Christian leaders are called priests or ministers, they are
believed to have a special relationship with God. Most churches hold services such
as Communion or Mass and are led by a priest.
There are different groups within Christianity. These groups have different
interpretations of the teachings of the Bible and also worship in different ways.
The main 3 groups of Christianity are Catholic, Protestant and Orthodox. These
main groups are even further divided into smaller groups. Some
examples are Mormons, Baptists and Methodists. They all
worship in different ways, but their main beliefs are the
same. They all believe in heaven, Jesus and the
resurrection.

3. 5) Why is a cross a symbol in Christianity?
___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________
6) What are the 3 main branches of Christianity?
___________________________________________________
7) What is a mass?
___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________
8) Which countries do you know with a majority of Christians?
___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________
Exercise 4: Write down the names of the images on the right and find the hidden word.
Exercise 3: Answer the questions about Christianity.
1) What do Christians believe in?
___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________
2) Who was Jesus?
___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________
3) When and how did Jesus die?
___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________
4) What is the Resurrection?
___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________
1) _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
2) _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
3) _ _ _
4) _ _ _ _ _ _
5) _ _ _ _ _ _
6) _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Answer: _ _ _ _ _ _
1
2
4
5
6
3
Exercise 5: Match the words with their definitions.
Messenger of God
Death by nailing to a cross
Bible
Rising from the death
Central act of worship
Performer of Christian ceremonies
Crucifixion
Priest
New Testament
Mass
Prophet
Resurrection

4. There are over a billion followers of Islam in the world,
making it the second largest religion. Prophet Muhammad is
the founder of Islam; he was born in Saudi Arabia. People who follow
Islam are called Muslims. They believe in Allah, which is their god. The religion is most popular in the Middle East, North Africa and
Asia.
Muslims worship at a mosque, it is a place where people gather to study their religion and worship Allah. Most mosques have a
domed roof and tall towers, which are called minarets. Islamic holy men, called muezzins, climb the minaret to call Muslims to pray.
In a mosque, there are no statues or paintings of holy figures. Instead, there are decorations with patterns and texts from the Qur’an,
the holy book. Inside a mosque, there are no places for Muslims to sit, they use little prayer mats to pray to Allah. When people
enter a Mosque, they need to take off their shoes and wash themselves to keep the place clean for prayer. There are special places
where people can put their shoes and there is a little pool or fountain where people can wash. Women have a separate area in the
Mosque and are not allowed to go to the men’s side.
The Qur’an is the holy book of Islam; Muslims believe the Qur’an is the ‘word of God’. All Muslim practices and beliefs are written
in the holy book and it is treated with great respect. They believe that the book is from Allah, so every word is considered to be
sacred. The Qur’an is often placed on a special wooden stand when it is being read.
Muhammad is the prophet of Islam, he was born in 570 A.D. in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. He is regarded as the founder of the religion.
Muslims believe that he was the last prophet who was sent by Allah. The first prophet was Adam.
Muslims are required to:
 pray five times per day (the times are fixed by the position of the sun and changes every day)
 wash themselves before praying
 face the direction of Mecca while they say their prayers
Islam has 5 duties that every Muslim must follow, they are also called the Five Pillars of Islam.
1. Shahada – This is the main belief of all Muslims and is a declaration of their faith.
2. Salah – Salah is prayer and all Muslims must pray 5 times a day and follow the specific rituals.
3. Zakat – Muslims are required to look after people in need. Every follower must give a part of his or her
wealth to help people who really need it.
4. Hajj – All Muslims have to make a pilgrimage to Mecca at least one
time in their life.
5. Saum – During the ninth month of the Islamic calendar,
Muslims cannot eat or drink during the daylight hours. This
period is called the Ramadan. The fast is to remind people
how difficult it is to be poor and hungry. It teaches people
to think about the essentials of life and not to be greedy.

5. 1) In which country did Islam originate?
__________________________________________________
2) In which parts of the world do most Muslims live?
__________________________________________________
3) In which place do Muslims worship? How is it different
from a church?
__________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
4) How many Muslim countries do you know? Write them
down.
__________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
5) What is the name of the god for Muslims?
__________________________________________________
6) Who is Muhammad?
__________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
7) How do Muslims pray?
__________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
8) Why do Muslims wash themselves before going inside the
mosque?
__________________________________________________
9) What is Mecca and why is it special to Muslims?
__________________________________________________
10) What are the 5 pillars of Islam? Write them down in your
own words.
__________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
Exercise 6: Answer the questions about Islam.
LAH
MUS
PRO
ZIN
QUE
SHA
AN
IS
PHET
MINA
QUR
LAM
MUEZ
RET
MEC
HADA
AL
LIM
MOS
CA
1) _________________________ 2) _________________________
3) _________________________ 4) _________________________
5) _________________________ 6) _________________________
7) _________________________ 8) _________________________
9) _________________________ 10) ________________________
Exercise 7: The table below contains words that have been chopped in
half. Find the pieces that fit together.

6. Judaism is one of the oldest religions in the world, it is around 3500 years
old. However, it is also one of the smallest religions, Judaism only has
around 12 million followers. Followers of Judaism are called Jews. The
symbol of Judaism is the Star of David. They consider Abraham to be the father of all Jewish people. Abraham is also an important
figure in Christianity and Islam. The story of Abraham is told in the Torah, the holy book of Judaism. Christians refer to it as the Old
Testament. Israel is the only country in the world that has a majority of Jewish people. The capital city is Jerusalem and it is
considered to be a holy city for several religions, especially in Judaism. The Jews believe in a single God, who created the universe.
Moses is the most important person in Judaism. In the Torah, it is mentioned that Moses
was the leader who freed the Jews from slavery in Egypt. Jews believe that god gave Moses
the 10 Commandments. These commandments are written in the Torah and are guidelines
for the Jewish people on how to live their lives.
A Synagogue is a place of worship for Jewish people. There are separate rooms for men and
women to pray. In a Synagogue, men are required to cover their head with a little ‘skull
cap’, a Kippah. The ceremonies are led by Rabbis, they are Jewish leaders. Unlike the leaders
of Christianity or Islam, Rabbis have no special religious status.
The Land of Israel is an important part of Judaism. In
one of the first stories of the Torah, God told Abraham
to leave his home and go to the Land of Canaan (the
former name of Israel). Throughout history, many
battles were fought to keep Israel as the homeland for
the Jewish people.
Eating the correct food is an important part of Jewish
life. Jews should eat food that follows Jewish law, this
is called kosher food. Pork and shellfish are not allowed
to be eaten and dairy products cannot be mixed with
meat.
The confusing part about Judaism is that it is more than
just a religion. It is also an ethnic group. People can be
Jewish even if they don’t follow the religion. In
traditional Jewish law, anyone who has at least one
Jewish parent is considered to be Jewish.
During the 2nd World War, more than 6 million Jews
were killed by the German Nazis, this is called the
Holocaust.
It is around 30% of the world’s Jewish population! After
the war, many Jewish people wanted to return to their
homeland, Israel. At that time, however, the area was
occupied by the Palestine’s. In 1948, Palestine was
divided into a Palestine and a Jewish state. Most of
Israel’s neighbors are Muslim countries and they claim
the rights of the land where the Jews are living. Ever
since the new Jewish state was formed, there have
been conflicts.

7. Exercise 8: Answer the questions about Judaism.
1) Who is considered to be the ‘founder’ of Judaism?
____________________________________________________________________
2) What is the name of the holy book of Judaism?
____________________________________________________________________
3) What is the name of the most holy Jewish city and where is it located?
____________________________________________________________________
4) Moses is considered to be the most important person in Judaism. Why is that so?
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
5) What is a rabbi and how are they different from priests?
____________________________________________________________________
6) What are commandments?
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
7) What is the Holocaust?
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
8) Why is Judaism considered to be more than just a religion?
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
( ) _______________ ( ) _______________ ( ) _______________
( ) _______________ ( ) _______________ ( ) _______________
( ) _______________ ( ) _______________ ( ) _______________
( ) _______________ ( ) _______________ ( ) _______________
( ) _______________ ( ) _______________ ( ) _______________
Exercise 9: Are the foods below kosher? Write down the names and tick the box
if Jewish people are allowed to eat them.

8. Hinduism is the oldest religion in the world that is still being practiced; it began around 4000
years ago. Around 1 billion people in the world practice Hinduism, it is the third largest
religion. The majority of Hindus live in India and the word “Hindu” comes from the name of
the river Indus; which is located in the northwest of India. Hinduism is actually a collection
of different belief systems that have changed over time. Unlike most other religions, such
as Christianity and Islam, Hinduism has no single founder like Jesus or Muhammad. There is
also no central leader, such as the pope in Catholicism. For that reason, Hindus worship in
many different ways.
Hindus worship in a temple, called a Mandir. Different Mandirs are dedicated to different gods. When Hindus worship, they repeat
the names of their favorite gods or goddesses. They often bring water, fruit or flowers as offers to the gods. Hindus also worship at
their homes, many Hindus have a special room with a little shrine for a particular god.
Hinduism is taught through ancient writings. These ancient Hindu
writings are called the Vedas and were written around 3000 years ago.
For many years, the teachings of Vedas were only spoken or sang
because there were no writings.
Hindus believe in a supreme spirit called Brahman. They believe that god
is represented in all things in the world and not just a spirit in the sky.
Hindus worship their god in many different ways. Hindus may worship
‘gods’ such as Shiva, Vishnu, Krishna or Ganesh. Nevertheless, all these
different gods represent Brahman but just in a different form.
Reincarnation is an important aspect of Hinduism. It is the belief that when the body dies,
the soul is reborn into another new form. This can be in many different forms, such as a
person or an animal. The form in which the soul is reborn depends on Karma. Karma is
the belief that what people do in their lives determines in which form they will
be reborn. A good Hindu should follow dharma. Dharma is a life path of truth,
duty, religion and good behavior. When dharma is followed, the soul will
reincarnate into a higher form in the next life.
Moksha is the end of the reincarnation cycle for Hindus and it is the
spiritual goal. Moksha is the “one-ness” with Brahman, the god. When
Hindus reach the final stage, they are reborn as Brahmins, they believe
They will live a life of perfection. The reincarnation will end and they
become part of the spirit of Brahman.
In Hinduism, some waters are sacred. The Ganges River in the north
of India is the holiest. They personify the river with the goddess
Gaṅgā. Many Hindus bath in the river, as they believe it will
wash away their sins and move toward moksha. When Hindus
die, in many cases, their bodies are burned (cremated) and
the ashes are put into the Ganges River.
Vedas

9. Exercise 11: Unscramble the words below and find them in the word search.
aramhD raKma nIaid Idsnu
askhMo adsVe rdinaM amBarnh
Exercise 10: Answer the questions about Hinduism.
1) Why do Hindu people worship in many different ways?
___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________
2) What is the difference between the god of Hinduism and
the god of Christianity?
___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________
3) What is the Hindu place of worship and how is it different
from a church?
___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________
4) What is the difference between reincarnation and karma?
___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________
5) What is the ultimate goal of Hindu people?
___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________
6) What is special about the Ganges River and how do Hindu
people express this?
___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________
E V E E F I C R I N I K
D H A R M A I N W A N X
M H M A M D D L N M D L
V O V G N U B A X H I G
H Y K A S E U Y M A A L
N H M S A D E V Y R K H
K Q S M H S K I E B A J
I B N P Z A G Q S S T K
K W H Y A P U U L N M K

10. Buddhism is the world’s 4th
largest religion and the main religion in
Thailand. There is no God in Buddhism, it is rather a way of life or
a philosophy. Buddhists believe in powerful spiritual forces. The
Three Jewels are the three central beliefs in Buddhism.
 The belief in Buddha
 Dharma – the teachings of Buddha
 The Sangha – the Buddhist community that consists of ordinary people, monks and nuns. It is the purpose to be helpful to
others and move towards enlightenment.
Siddharta Gautama is the founder of Buddhism, he was born around 563 BC. He was also called the Buddha; which means the
‘awakened one’. Siddharta wasn’t the only Buddha, in fact, there have been several, but Siddharta is considered to be THE Buddha. A
‘Buddha’ is a person who finds the true understanding of life through many years of spiritual investigation and meditation.
Siddharta was born a Hindu, but he found it hard to believe the Hindu teachings because of all the suffering he saw around him. He
was actually born as a wealthy prince in Nepal, but he gave it all up to find the true understanding of the world he lived in. At first he
tried different kinds of Hindu beliefs, but eventually he created his own belief system and taught it to many people. Many of Siddharta’s
teachings come from Hinduism and were written down in the Buddhist holy book, Tripitaka.
There are two kinds of places for worship: pagodas and stupas. A pagoda is a tiered tower that is very common in several Asian
countries, such as China, Japan and India. A Stupa, on the other hand, is a dome-shaped stone structure that represents the holy mind
of Buddha. These temples are not essential for Buddhists to pray. Some Buddhists have little shrines in their houses that allow them
to pray at the most convenient time for them. Buddhist worship is called ‘Puja’, it includes chanting, bowing, meditation and making
offerings.
Siddharta believed that life is suffering. In order to end the
suffering, a special ‘path’, or way of life must be followed, this is
called Dharma. Reincarnation is an important aspect of this, it is
the idea that people go through different cycles of life. At the
end of the cycle, a person is released from desire and the ‘self’,
and they can reach Nirvana (a state of freedom from suffering).
Buddhists aim to understand the reality of the world to end
suffering and reach Nirvana. Nirvana is the end of reincarnation
and is somehow similar to heaven.
In order to reach Nirvana, Buddhists must train and
purify their minds by following The Four Noble Truths.
 Dukkha – Life is suffering
 Samudaya – There is suffering because of
desire and the need to control things
 Nirodha – There is an end to suffering by
letting go our cravings
 Magga – The true path that leads to the
end of suffering

11. Across:
3) The founder of Buddhism
7) Siddharta said: ‘life is ..... ‘
8) A Buddhist holy book
9) The Buddhist word for lifestyle
Down:
1) Buddhism is not a religion but a ……
2) ...... is the origin of Buddhism
4) Another word for the enlightened one
5) The end of all desire, ignorance and sorrow
6) A Buddhist temple
Exercise 13: Complete the crossword about Buddhism.
Exercise 12: Answer the questions about Buddhism.
1) Why is Buddhism considered to be a philosophy rather than a religion?
________________________________________________________________________________
2) What are the main beliefs of Buddhism?
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
3) Who is the founder of Buddhism and why did he did he do this?
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
4) What is a Buddha?
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
5) What is dharma?
________________________________________________________________________________
6) What is Nirvana?
________________________________________________________________________________
7) What must Buddhists do in order to reach Nirvana?
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________

12. Allah
Bible
Judaism
Hindu
Siddhartha Gautama
Exercise 15: Match the geographical areas on the world map to the religions on the left.
Judaism _
Islam _ _ _
Buddhism _
Hinduism _
Christianity _ _ _ _ _ _
Exercise 14: Fill up the blanks of the five main religions. Please note that not all blanks can be filled.
Exercise 16: Choose the best answers for the questions below.
1) What is the oldest religion?
a. Hinduism b. Judaism c. Christianity d. Buddhism
2) What is the world’s biggest religion?
a. Hinduism b. Christianity c. Islam d. Buddhism
3) Which religion believes in more than one god?
a. Judaism b. Buddhism c. Hinduism d. None of above
4) The Qur’an is the holy book of ..
a. Islam b. Christianity c. Hinduism d. Judaism
5) Which religion is most popular in India?
a. Buddhism b. Judaism c. Hinduism d. Christianity
6) Which religion believes in reincarnation?
a. Buddhism b. Hinduism c. Islam d. A and B
7) The biggest religion in Israel is ..
a. Judaism b. Christianity c. Hinduism d. Islam
8) Judaism is the origin of ..
a. Christianity b. Hinduism c. Islam d. A and C
Religion
_______________
_______________
_______________
_______________
_______________
Follower
_______________
_______________
_______________
_______________
_______________
God
_____________
_____________
_____________
_____________
_____________
Place of worship
_______________
_______________
_______________
_______________
_______________
Book
_______________
_______________
_______________
_______________
_______________
Founder
_______________
_______________
_______________
_______________
_______________
1
6
4
9
8 7
5
2
3
10
11
12

13. JOSEPH SMITH (1805 – 1844)
Joseph Smith founded the
Latter Day Saint Church; which
is also called Mormonism. The
religion is a branch of
Christianity. Smith received a revelation of
god through an angel and a book inscribed on
golden plates. He translated the messages he
received into the Book of Mormon. The book
tells the story of the ancient people of
America.
POPE FRANCIS (1936 – PRESENT)
The pope is the supreme leader of the Catholic Church. The first Pope was
Saint Peter, he was the leader of the apostles after Jesus was crucified.
Pope Francis is the current pope; he is the 266th Pope after St. Peter. 80
Cardinals can elect the Pope. Once a new leader is chosen, he will hold the
position until he dies or resigns. When a new pope is assigned, he will
choose another name. The actual name of Pope Francis is Jorge Bergoglio.
CONFUCIUS
(551 BC – 479 BC)
Confucius is the
most famous
philosopher of China. He worked for
the government but became
concerned about the increasing
disorder and chaos in his country. He
developed a moral code that focused
on respect, kindness, education,
honesty and strong family bonds. The
teachings of Confucius became the
basis for religious and moral life in
China.
MOSES
(1393 BC – 1273 BC)
Moses was an
Egyptian prince with
Jewish roots. He is
the most important
prophet in Judaism.
One day, Moses lost
his temper and killed
an Egyptian who killed a Jewish slave.
Because of this, he had to run away to
another country. God spoke to Moses
and told him to go back and free the
Jews from slavery in Egypt. When Moses
led the slaves out of Egypt, the army
trapped them at the banks of the red
sea. God told Moses to lift up his rod
and as he did so, the waters parted and
made a dry path for Moses and his
people to cross. When all Jews made it
safely to the other side, Moses lifted his
rod again and the waters closed again.
Moses was looking for Canaan (Israel) as
God had promised this land to them.
MUHAMMAD (570 – 632)
Muhammad was the last prophet of Islam. His
father died before he was born and his mother
died when he was six years old. He was raised by his grandfather
and uncle. When Muhammad was nine years old, his uncle took
him on a trading trip. When he was 40, Muhammad had an
encounter with an angel on a trading trip. After this miracle,
Muhammad returned home and began to spread the teachings
he learned. There are no pictures of Muhammad, Muslims
believe that the Qu’ran is against it.
JESUS OF NAZARETH (±3 BC – 33 AD)
Jesus was a Jew who lived in a country that
is now called Israel. At that time, Israel was
occupied by the Romans. He worked as a
carpenter until his thirties and lived a
traditional Jewish life. Around 27 AD, he
started teaching and healing, just as other
Rabbis did during that time. The Roman government
became concerned about the increasing popularity of
Jesus. Roman soldiers crucified Jesus soon after.
DALAI LAMA
(1935 BC – PRESENT)
The Dalai Lama is the
spiritual Leader in
Tibetan Buddhism. They have been
responsible for governing the
region until the Chinese
government took control of the
place in 1959. The current Dalai
Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, was
reincarnated from the past Lama.
After the Dalai Lama dies, the
Tibetan government finds his
reincarnation. They look for a boy
who was born around the same
time as the death of the Dalai Lama.
MARTIN LUTHER
(1483 – 1546)
Martin Luther was
a Christian monk from
Germany. As he studied the Bible,
Luther found many areas where the
Bible and the Catholic Church
disagreed. Many people agreed with
him that the Catholic Church had
become corrupt and much of
northern Europe began to separate
from it. Luther initiated the
Protestant Reformation which led to
Protestantism.
ABRAHAM
(±1800 BC – ±1638)
Abraham is an
important figure in
Judaism, Christianity and Islam. He is
considered to be the father of these three
religions. Abraham was the first to teach
that there was only one god. Before that,
people believed that there were many
different gods. In Islam, Abraham is called
Ibrahim and the father of Ishmael, the
father of the Arab people.

14. 1) There are no pictures of the prophet of Islam.
2) Dalai Lamas belong to the same family.
3) Abraham was the first to have the idea of one single god.
4) Confucianism is a religion.
5) Muhammad lived before Jesus Christ.
6) Martin Luther was a Catholic.
7) Joseph Smith lived during the time of Jesus Christ.
8) Jesus was a Jew.
9) A Pope is the leader of all Christians.
10) Moses freed the Jews and led them to Israel.
11) Moses was a Jew.
12) Jesus Christ was killed by the Romans.
Exercise 17: Are the statements below true or false?
1) aaarmbh _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Who is the father of Christianity, Judaism and Islam?
2) ossem _ _ _ _ _
Who is the savior of the Jewish people?
3) ppeo iarfscn _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
The leader of the Catholic Church.
4) artnim leruht _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
The founder of Protestantism.
5) poejhs thism _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Who is the founder of Mormonism?
6) sofcnucui _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
A famous philosopher from China.
7) admmmauh _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
The prophet of Islam.
8) aaldi alam _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Who is the spiritual leader of Tibet in China?
Exercise 18: The table below contains words that have been chopped in half. Find the pieces that fit together and write down on
the right.
CRUCI CAT LIM MON
CONFU LES FIED CIUS
ISH STANT MOR MUS
HOLIC JEW APOST PROTE
1) ____________________ 2) ____________________
3) ____________________ 4) ____________________
5) ____________________ 6) ____________________
7) ____________________ 8) ____________________
Exercise 19: Unscramble the words below, hints are given.

15. Yom Kippur is the most important holiday
in Judaism. Jews ask for forgiveness for
the wrong things they have done. They
fast for 25 hours and pray in a synagogue.
They believe that on that day, God will
decide what will happen to them in the
year ahead.
Hinduism
Diwali is one of the most important festivals in Hinduism. It is
the festival of lights, which celebrates the New Year of the Hindu
calendar. During Diwali, many Hindus clean their houses and
open their windows to welcome the goddess of wealth,
Lakshmi. They also light up special clay lamps to show the way
for the goddess, this is the reason why it is also called the
Festival of Lights. Hindus believe that Lakshmi will bring good
luck and some Hindu families prepare offers to the goddess,
such as fruit and flowers.
Holi is probably the most
colorful festival in the
world, it is also called the
festival of colors. Hindus
celebrate it in March when
wheat is harvested. It is a
festival with singing,
dancing and throwing
powder paint at each other. The celebration originated with a
Hindu God, Krishna, who threw colored water over his
milkmaids. This, eventually, led to this joyful festival. Hindus
believe that Holi is the day when the Gods look away. It is the
day where people can get rid of evil demons and the colors
represent their sins. When the colors are washed off at the end
of the day, you are clean from your sins.
Buddhism
Vesak is the most important festival
in Buddhism, Buddhists celebrate the
birthday of Buddha but also marks his
enlightenment. On this day,
Buddhists go to a temple and pay
their respect to Buddha. Many homes
and temples will be decorated with
bright cloths, lanterns and lights.
People lit candles and offer all kinds
of gifts to Buddha to show their
gratitude for his teachings.
Ulambana is a celebration during the first 15 days of the
seventh lunar month. Buddhists believe that the gates of Hell
open and that the ghosts visit the world for 15 days. They bring
offerings to the ghosts in order to bring good fortune and luck.
The last day of the festival is called Ancestors Day; people will
visit cemeteries to make offerings to their ancestors, such as
food, medicine, money and clothes.
Christianity
Christmas celebrates the birth
of Jesus, it is also a holiday for
many non-Christians all over
the world. It is celebrated on
the 25th
of December and it is
one of the most important days
of the year for many Christians.
Many churches display
nativities that show the
newborn Jesus in a stable. He is surrounded by Mary, Joseph,
shepherds and several animals. Many people decorate their
homes with a Christmas tree and children write a letter to Santa
Claus for the gifts they desire.
Easter is the most important holiday in Christianity, they
celebrate that Jesus Christ returned from the death. Good
Friday is the day on which Jesus was crucified and Easter Day is
the day on which he came back to life. During Easter, people
decorate eggs and make Easter baskets filled with eggs and
sweets. Eggs are a symbol of Easter because they represent a
new beginning.
Islam
Eid Al-Fitr is a 3-day celebration at the end of Ramadan. During
the Ramadan, Muslims don’t eat or drink during the sunlight
hours for a month. The word ‘Eid’ means festivity and ‘Fitr’
means breaking the fast. During the Eid Al-Fitr, Muslims get
together at a mosque early in the morning and perform the Eid
prayer. After the prayer, they visit family members and friends
and exchange gifts.
Eid Al-Adha is the end of
the Hajj. The Hajj is a
pilgrimage to Mecca.
Muslims from all over the
world celebrate this day, it
starts around mid-October
and lasts three days. During
Eid Al-Adha, Muslims honor
Abraham, who wanted to sacrifice his youngest son, Ishmael, to
Allah. Instead, Allah provided Abraham with a lamb to offer
instead.
Judaism
Rosh Hashanah is the New Year festival for Jewish people that
lasts two days. It is also a time for reflection, Jews think of the
good and bad things they have done and decide how they will
live the next year. During Rosh Hashanah, there are several
rituals. One of the rituals is the blowing of the ‘Shofar’, a ram’s
horn trumpet. A hundred notes played in a special rhythm mark
the start of a ten-day period known as the ‘Days of Awe’; which
ends the festival of Yom Kippur.

16. Birthday
Ghosts
Ancestors
Fasting
Lights
Eggs
Ram’s horn trumpet
Pilgrimage
Abraham
Colors
Forgiveness
New Year
Krishna
Resurrection
Christmas
Easter
Eid Al-Fitr
Eid Al-Adha
Yom Kippur
Rosh Hashanah
Diwali
Holi
Vesak
Ulambana
Exercise 21: Which of the religious holidays above would
you like to celebrate most? Give reasons.
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
______
Exercise 22: Match the words below with the religious festivals.
Exercise 20: Choose the best answers for the questions below.
1) What do Christian people celebrate during Easter?
a. the crucifixion of Jesus b. the birthday of Jesus
c. the resurrection of Jesus d. none of above
2) Who celebrates Ulambana?
a. Hindus b. Christians c. Muslims d. Buddhists
3) Which holiday is a pilgrimage?
a. Vesak b. Eid Al-Adha c. Holi d. Eid Al-Fitr
4) Why do Hindu people throw with powder during Holi?
a. to honor Krishna b. to make the gods look away
c. to get rid of the sins d. all of above
5) What is Rosh Hashanah?
a. a Jewish holiday b. a time of reflection
c. a 2 day festival d. all of above
6) What is the festival of lights?
a. Diwali b. Christmas c. Holi d. Vesak
7) What is the Ramadan?
a. the celebration of Eid Al-Fitr b. a time of fasting
c. a pilgrimage d. none of above
8) Which people believe in ghosts?
a. Christians b. Muslims c. Hindus d. Buddhists

17. Ra
The most important god was Ra, he
was the god of the sun. The
Egyptians believed that Ra created
all forms of life and he was the
supreme ruler of the gods.
In ancient Egyptian mythology, there are over 2000 different gods. Just like the ancient Greek and Roman religions,
Egyptian religion had many gods and goddesses. Some images of these gods show that they had human bodies with
the head of an animal. Different animals were chosen to represent different powers of these gods.
Temples
Temples were built by the ancient Egyptians to honor their gods. Each god had its own or more temples. The people
prayed to their gods in order to get the things they needed. Most Egyptians weren’t afraid of their gods; they would
sometimes hit the temple in case they didn’t get what they needed.
The afterlife
The Egyptians believed that there was life after death. In order to go to this afterlife, people needed to have
two parts: a ‘ka’; which is the force of life, and ‘ba’; which is the soul. If both of these parts could be united,
the people would live in the afterlife. In order to make this happen, dead bodies needed to be preserved,
mummification.
Gods and Goddesses
Some gods were more important than others. Different cities and Pharaohs in Egypt favored different gods;
some gods were worshiped throughout the country while others were only worshiped locally.
Isis
Isis was the wife
of Osiris and the
mother of
Horus. She used
powerful magic
spells to help
people in need.
Osiris
Osiris was the ruler of the underworld and
also the god of the dead. He was married to
Isis and was the father of Horus.
Horus
Horus was the god
of the sky. The
Pharaoh, a ruler of
the Egyptians, was
considered to be the
living version or the
intermediary of this
god.
1) Why do you think there were many different gods and
goddesses in ancient Egyptian religion?
_______________________________________________
_______________________________________________
2) Why did the Egyptian gods have animal heads?
_______________________________________________
3) Why did some Egyptian people hit temples?
_______________________________________________
4) How could Egyptian people reach the afterlife?
_______________________________________________
_______________________________________________
5) Who is the most important god or goddess?
_______________________________________________
6) Were pharaohs gods? Explain.
_______________________________________________
_______________________________________________
Exercise 23: Answer the questions about ancient Egyptian
religion.

18. The Greek civilization prospered around 4,000 years ago. They lived in Greece and other
surrounding countries, such as Bulgaria and Turkey. The empire reached all the way to the
west of Europe. The ancient Greeks were most powerful between 2000 BC and 146 BC. They
had a very sophisticated society with revolutionary ideas for government, philosophy, religion
and art.
The Roman Empire started around 500 BC and was a very powerful and important civilization that
ruled the most parts of Europe for over 1,000 years. They spread their culture and ideas across
Europe and their influence can still be seen today. The basis of Western culture finds its origin in
Ancient Rome, mainly in areas such as government, architecture, engineering, literature and
language.
Religion was very important for the ancient Greeks and Romans, they believed that it would improve
their daily lives. They thought that their gods would take care of them after they died.
Most religions that we have today believe in one single God. The ancient Greeks and Romans,
however, believed in many different gods and goddesses. They thought that the gods controlled every single
aspect in their lives and the environment. Every aspect in life had a different god. It was very important for the
people to please the gods; a happy god would help a person, but an angry god would punish. Many people made
little shrines in their houses to worship the gods they found important. There were also public shrines where people
worshiped and made sacrifices.
Gods and Goddesses
The ancient Greeks and Romans believed in the same gods, but they had different names for them. They believed that all gods came
from the Earth and the sky. The gods they believed in were very different than the god in Christianity. The Greek and Roman gods
were very like humans, rather than a spirit in the sky. They could fall in love, have arguments, have children or play music.
Temples
Nearly every Greek or Roman town had a temple for their gods
and goddesses. Temples were built to honor specific gods, rather
than a temple for all gods. Temples were the homes for the
statues of their gods and were taken care of by priests. The priests
would also organize ceremonies and festivals that took place
outside the temple. The people highly respected the priests, they
thought that they had the power to communicate with the gods.
Mount Olympus
Mount Olympus is a mountain in Greece that was a very
important place for the ancient Greeks, but also for the Romans.
They believed that the mountain was the home for the 12 most
important gods and goddesses. Sometimes, if it was cloudy, the
top of the mountain could not be seen. That’s why they believed
it was the home of the gods.

19. Hades / Pluto
Hades is the brother
of Zeus and god of the
underworld, ruling over the
dead. He is also the god of
wealth. Hades has a helmet
that makes him invisible.
Hermes / Mercury
Hermes is the son of Zeus and the
messenger of all gods. He is the
fastest, wears winged sandals and
carries a magic wand.
Hermes is also the
god of thieves and
commerce, as well
as the guide for
the dead to go to
the underworld.
Aphrodite / Venus
Aphrodite is the
goddess of love,
desire and beauty.
She rises from the
waves of the sea,
enchanting anyone
who sees her and
inciting feelings of
love wherever she
goes.
Apollo / Apollo
Apollo is the god of music and
the god of healing who taught
men medicine. He is also the god
of light and the god of truth.
Ares / Mars
Ares is the son of Zeus
and the god of war. His
bird is the vulture and his
animal is the dog.
Exercise 24: Answer the questions below about the ancient
Greek and Roman religions.
1) The Roman Empire started in ________ .
a. France b. Italy c. Greece d. America
2) The Greeks believed in ________ .
a. Allah b. Brahman c. God d. Zeus
3) Many gods and goddesses lived ________ .
a. in the underworld. b. on the top of Mount Olympus
c. in temples d. in the sky
4) Ancient Greek and Roman temples were __________ .
a. built to honor the gods b. homes for gods
c. taken care of by priests d. A and C
5) ________ was the god of all gods.
a. Mars b. Poseidon c. Zeus
d. Pluto e. Hermes f. Venus
6) ________ is the ________ of Zeus and the god of the sea.
a. Poseidon / brother b. Ares / son
c. Poseidon / son d. Jupiter / son
7) Who is the god of music and light?
a. Jupiter b. Mars c. Apollo d. Hades
8) Greek and Roman religion still have many followers.
a. true b. false
Zeus / Jupiter
Zeus is the ruler
of the gods and
was married to
Hera. He is lord of the sky and the
rain god. His weapon is a
thunderbolt, which he hurls at those
who displease him.
Poseidon / Neptune
Poseidon is the brother
of Zeus and the god of
the sea. His weapon is a
trident, which can shake
the earth, and shatter
any object. He is second
most powerful god.
Exercise 25: Complete the crossword.
Across
5. Zeus was married to ..... .
6. The ..... civilization took place
around 4,000 years ago.
8. An important mountain for the
ancient Greeks.
9. The goddess of love.
Down
1. The ..... started around 500 BC.
2. The god of the sea.
3. The ancient Greek and Roman
gods are the ..... .
4. The messenger of all gods.
7. The ruler of the gods.

20. 1) Zeus Hades Jupiter Hermes Poseidon
2) Jesus Muhammad Abraham Brahman Siddharta
3) Qur’an Bible Stupa Torah Vedas
4) Osiris Ra Isis Venus Horus
5) Protestant Mormon Catholic Orthodox Muslim
6) Mecca Bethlehem Jerusalem Ganges River Mandir
Exercise 26: Write the names of the things on the right and
find the hidden word.
1) _ _ _ _ _ _
2) _ _ _ _ _ _
3) _ _ _ _ _ _
4) _ _ _ _ _ _
5) _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
6) _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
7) _ _ _ _ _ _
8) _ _ _ _ _
Answer: _ _ _ _ _ _ _
8
7
6
5
4
3
21
Exercise 27: Choose the word that is the odd one out.

21. Exercise 28: To which religion(s) do the words below belong?
1) ahitcolc _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
A branch of Christianity.
2) epjiutr _ _ _ _ _ _ _
The Roman ruler of the gods.
3) thbhmeeel _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
The birthplace of Jesus.
4) mhnabra _ _ _ _ _ _ _
The supreme spirit of Hinduism.
5) uarqn _ _ _ _ _
The holy book of Islam.
6) iaind _ _ _ _ _
The country where Hinduism originated.
7) soisir _ _ _ _ _ _
The ancient Egyptian god of the underworld.
8) sosme _ _ _ _ _
The most important person in Judaism.
Exercise 29: Unscramble the words. Hints are given below.
Christianity
_________________
_________________
_________________
_________________
_________________
_________________
_________________
_________________
Judaism
_________________
_________________
_________________
_________________
_________________
_________________
_________________
_________________
Islam
_________________
_________________
_________________
_________________
_________________
_________________
_________________
_________________
Hinduism
_________________
_________________
_________________
_________________
_________________
_________________
_________________
_________________
Buddhism
_________________
_________________
_________________
_________________
_________________
_________________
_________________
_________________
Mosque New Testament Israel Hajj
Crucifixion Priest Mormon Muhammad
India Pagoda Minaret Star of David
Dharma Buddha Pope Protestant
Torah Nirvana Dalai Lama Abraham
Allah Moses Brahman Resurrection
Mecca Rabbi Siddhartha Easter

22. END
START
What do you
think of the idea
of heaven? How
would you
describe it?
What is a
pope?
Who was
Moses?
What kind of
foods can’t
Jewish people
eat?
Why do you
think religion is
so important
to some
people?
Who was
Confucius?
What is a
mosque?
Do you believe
in a religion?
What religion
do you
follow?
If someone
doesn’t believe in
your religion, what
do you think
happens to them
when they die?
What do you
think happens
when you die?
What is the
biggest
religion in
the world?
What is the
Resurrection
?
What is the
biggest
Hindu
country?
Who was
Brahman?
What are
different
types of
Christianity?
Which religious
festivals do
you know?
Who was
Siddharta?
What is the
religion of the
man above?
To which
religion does
the image on
the left belong?
If there is a god,
what do you think
he/she would say
about the world
we live in?
Who was
Abraham?
Which religious
holidays do you
know?
What is the
holy book of
Islam called?
What is a
synagogue?
Which Egyptian
gods do you
know?
What is the
name of the
god below?
Do you believe
that God is a
man or woman?
Explain.
What positive
things do
religions do
today?
Should religion
be taught in
schools?
Why/why not?
Name 6 Muslim
countries.
Who is the
prophet of
Islam?
What is the
religion of the
person below?
Which
different
religions do
you know?
Exercise 30: Play this board game
with your partner or in a group. Your
instructor decides how the game is
played.
What are the
five pillars of
Islam?
Why do you
think religion
started?
Do you think
that religious
people are
happier?
Why/why not?
Who is the
god of
Islam?
What do you
think of the idea
of hell? How
would you
describe it?

23. Exercise 1: Religions
1) true 3) false 5) false 7) true
2) false 4) false 6) true 8) true
Exercise 3: Christianity
1) Christians believe that Jesus is the Son of God and that he
speaks through him.
2) Jesus was a Jew and the prophet of Christianity. He was born
around 2000 years ago in Bethlehem.
3) When Jesus was 33 he was executed by the Romans on a
cross.
4) Christians believe that Jesus rose from the dead three days
after he was crucified.
5) A cross is the symbol because Jesus was executed on a cross.
6) Catholic, Protestant and Orthodox.
7) A mass is a Christian church service that is led by a priest.
8) United States, United Kingdom, Brazil, Mexico, Argentina,
Germany, Spain, France, Italy, etc
Exercise 4: Puzzle
1) Crucifixion 4) Priest
2) Jesus Christ 5) Church
3) Nun 6) Holy Bible
Answer: Church
Exercise 8: Judaism
1) Abraham
2) Torah
3) Jerusalem, Israel
4) Moses freed the Jews from slavery in Egypt and led them to Israel.
5) A Rabbi is a Jewish leader in a Synagogue. They are different from Christian
priests because they have no special religious status.
6) Commandments are written guidelines on how to live.
7) The holocaust is the mass murder of Jews under the German Nazi regime.
8) Because it is also an ethnic group.
Exercise 9: Judaism
Salmon X Mussel
Broccoli X Chicken Wings X
French Fries X Pizza (cheese & meat)
Cheeseburger Hot Dog
Lobster Cheese X
Bacon Shrimps
Wine X Steak X
Exercise 14: Religions
Religion Follower God Place of worship Book Founder
Islam Muslim Allah Mosque Qur’an Muhammad
Christianity Christian God Church Bible Jesus Christ
Judaism Jew God Synagogue Torah Abraham
Hinduism Hindu Brahman Mandir Vedas X
Buddhism Buddhist X Pagoda / Stupa Tripitaka Siddharta
Exercise 2: Religions
1. Christianity: 1, 7, 9, 13, 22, 25, 26, 27, 29
2. Buddhism: 3, 4, 10, 17
3. Judaism: 5, 14, 16, 20
4. Hinduism: 11, 15, 18, 21, 23
5. Islam: 2, 6, 8, 12, 19, 24, 28
Exercise 6: Islam
1) Saudi Arabia
2) In northern Africa and the Middle East.
3) Muslims worship in a mosque. It is different from a Christian church
because it has a domed roof and minarets. There are no statues and
paintings of holy figures. Women have a separate area in the mosque.
4) Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Iran, Turkey, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Egypt, Malaysia,
Indonesia, etc.
5) Allah
6) Muhammad is the prophet of Islam. He was born in Mecca 570 years
ago.
7) Muslims pray in a mosque, they wash themselves before entering the
mosque. There are separate areas for women and men.
8) To keep the mosque clean for prayer
9) Mecca is the birthplace of Muhammad and is the holiest place of Islam.
10) Shahadah: declaration of faith Salah: prayer
Zakat: giving to charity Saum: Ramadan
Hajj: pilgrimage to Mecca
Exercise 7: Word chop
1) Allah 6) Shahada
2) Muslim 7) Quran
3) Prophet 8) Islam
4) Muezzin 9) Minaret
5) Mosque 10) Mecca
Exercise 5: Christianity
Crucifixion Death by nailing ..
Priest Performer of ..
New Testament Bible
Mass Central act of ..
Prophet Messenger of God ..
Resurrection Rising from the ..
Exercise 10: Hinduism
1) Hindus worship in many different ways
because it consists of many different
belief systems and there is no central
leader.
2) The Hindu God is represented in all
things in the world, rather than just a
spirit in the sky. There are different gods
that all represent Brahman (the supreme
spirit).
3) Hindus worship in a temple (mandir).
Different mandirs represent different
gods.
4) Reincarnation is the belief that the soul
is reborn into another new form. Karma
is the belief that what people do in their
life determines how they will be reborn.
5) The ultimate goal is the one-ness with
Brahman and the end of the
reincarnation cycle.
6) The Ganges River is sacred, Hindus
personify it with the goddess Ganga.
Hindus bathe in the river to wash away
their sins.
Exercise 11: Hinduism Exercise 12: Buddhism
1) Because Buddhism has no God and it is a way of life.
2) The believe in Buddha and his teachings and to be helpful
to others to reach enlightment.
3) Siddharta Gautama is the founder of Buddhism. He created
his own belief system because of all the suffering he saw
around him.
4) A Buddha is a person who finds the true understand of life
through many years of spiritual investigation and meditation.
5) Dharma is a way of life to end suffering.
6) Nirvana is the end of the reincarnation cycle and is similar
to heaven.
7) Buddhists can reach Nirvana by following The Four Noble
Truths: Dukkha, Samudaya, Nirodha and Magga.Exercise 13: Buddhism
1. philosophy
2. hinduism
3. siddharta
4. buddha
5. nirvana
6. pagoda
7. suffering
8. tripitaka
9. dharma

24. Exercise 24: Greek and Roman Religions
1) b 3) b 5) c 7) c
2) d 4) d 6) a 8) b
Exercise 25: Greek and Roman Religions
Across Down
5) Hera 1) Roman Empire
6) Greek 2) Poseidon
8) Mount Oympus 3) Same
9) Venus 4) Hermes
7) Zeus
Exercise 22: Holidays
Birthday Christmas, Vesak
Ghosts Ulambana
Ancestors Ulambana
Fasting Eid Al-Fitr, Yom Kippur
Lights Diwali, Vesak
Eggs Easter
Ram’s horn trumpet Rosh Hoshanah
Pilgrimage Eid Al-Adha
Abraham Eid Al-Adha
Colors Holi
Forgiveness Yom Kippur
New Year Diwali
Krishna Holi
Resurrection Easter
Exercise 16: Religions
1) a 3) c 5) c 7) a
2) b 4) a 6) d 8) d
Exercise 17: Religious Figures
1) true 7) false
2) false 8) true
3) true 9) false
4) false 10) true
5) false 11) true
6) false 12) true
Exercise 18: Religious Figures
1) Crucified 5) Apostles
2) Confucius 6) Protestant
3) Jewish 7) Muslim
4) Catholic 8) Mormon
Exercise 28: Revision
Christianity
New Testament
Crucifixion
Priest
Mormon
Pope
Protestant
Abraham
Resurrection
Easter
Judaism
Israel
Star of David
Torah
Abraham
Rabbi
Islam
Mosque
Hajj
Muhammad
Minaret
Abraham
Allah
Mecca
Buddhism
Pagoda
Dharma
Buddha
Nirvana
Dalai Lama
Siddharta
Hinduism
India
Dharma
Brahman
Exercise 27: Revision
1) Jupiter 4) Venus
2) Brahman 5) Muslim
3) Stupa 6) Mandir
Exercise 29: Unscramble
1) Catholic
2) Jupiter
3) Bethlehem
4) Brahman
5) Quran
6) India
7) Osiris
8) Moses
Exercise 15: Religions
Judaism: 12
Islam: 2, 3, 11
Buddhism: 10
Hinduism: 6
Christianity: 1, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9
Exercise 19: Religious Figures
1) Abraham 5) Joseph Smith
2) Moses 6) Confucius
3) Pope Francis 7) Muhammad
4) Martin Luther 8) Dalai Lama
Exercise 20: Holidays
1) c 5) d
2) d 6) a
3) b 7) b
4) c 8) d
Exercise 23: Egyptian Religion
1) Because they believed that a god belonged
to a specific thing, such as the sun, or the sky.
2) Because it represents the power that they
had.
3) They did this when they were angry with
the gods if they didn’t get what they needed.
4) If they had ‘ka’ and ‘ra’.
5) Ra
6) No, but the people believed that the
pharaohs had a special relationship with
Horus.
Exercise 26: Revision
1) Priest
2) Mosque
3) Muslim
4) Angels
5) Confucius
6) Dalai Lama
7) Pagoda
8) Quran
Answer: Poseidon
EXTRAExercise: Amish
1) a
2) c
3) a
4) b
5) a
6) a, b, f and g
Exercise: Amish
1) Religious
2) Separated
3) Technology
4) Bible
5) Amish
6) Community
7) Farmers
8) Ordnung
Exercise: Shintoism
1) d 3) d 5) b 7) d
2) a 4) b 6) d
Exercise: Shintoism
1) Kami 4) Inari
2) Natural 5) Buddhism
3) Archway 6) Priest
Exercise: Confucianism
1) false
2) true
3) true
4) false
5) true
6) false
7) false
Exercise: Sunni & Shia
1) false 6) true
2) true 7) true
3) false 8) true
4) true 9) true
5) false 10) true
Exercise 8: Sunni & Shia
1) Abu Kabr 5) Ali ibn Abi Talib Shia
2) Muhammad Prophet 6) Qur’an
3) Saudi Arabia 7) Caliph
4) Iran

25. The Amish people are an old religious sect, there are around 200,000 members. They
originally come from Germany but moved to America around 200 years ago to escape
persecution. The majority of the Amish live in Pennsylvania and Ohio in the northeast
of the United States. All Amish communities have separated from American society.
They live a very traditional lifestyle and have maintained their way of life as it was in
the 18th
century. Most Amish people are farmers and they don’t use electricity or cars,
they don’t use any modern technology. According to the Amish people, conveniences such as TVs, telephones and tractors could be
a temptation that causes jealousy or inequality, that’s why these items are not accepted in most communities. Most people farm
their land with horse-drawn machinery and they get around on horse-drawn buggies.
The Amish beliefs are governed by the Ordnung, which is a set of rules that the Amish
people follow. They interpret the Bible literarily and the Ordnung is designed to make sure
that all members of the group live their lives according to their scriptures. The Ordnung
dedicates nearly every aspect of the lives of the Amish people, the farming techniques, the
hairstyle and many more things. The life of an Amish person is devoted to his or her family,
the community and God, individualism is avoided at any time. All members work together
and help a member when he or she is in trouble. They don’t accept any state benefits and
have no insurance, their community is their only support. Typical Amish families have
between 7 and 10 children. The men usually work on the farm, while the ladies do the
household chores.
RELI BLE MERS NUNG
SEPA ISH TECHNO AM
LOGY COMMU FAR ORD
BI GIOUS NITY RATED
1) __________________ 5) __________________
2) __________________ 6) __________________
3) __________________ 7) __________________
4) __________________ 8) __________________
Exercise: The words below are chopped in half. Find the
pieces that fit together and write them down below.
1) What religion do Amish people practice?
a. Christianity b. Islam
c. Buddhism d. they have no religion
2) Why do Amish people live separately from American society?
a. because they have created their own state and laws
b. because it is mentioned in the Ordnung
c. because they have a different way of live
d. none of above
3) In what part of the U.S. do most Amish people live?
a. in the northeast b. the southern states
c. in California d. all over the country
4) What is the Ordnung?
a. the Amish Bible b. a set of rules
c. a holy scripture d. all of above
5) Why do Amish people not use any modern technology?
a. because they think that technology will cause problems
b. because they want to have the same lifestyle as their ancestors.
c. because they don’t know how to use it.
d. all of above are correct
6) Choose the things that are important in the lives of Amish people.
a. family b. god c. the Internet
d. tractors e. smart phones f. the Bible
g. the community h. jewelry i. cars
Exercise: Choose the best answers for the questions below.
EXTRA

26. Shintoism is a very old Japanese religion, it means “the way of the gods”. The religion was founded around 3,000 thousand years ago
and is still being practiced today by many Japanese people. The followers of Shintoism greatly value nature and believe that the
natural world has spiritual powers. These spiritual powers are called “kami” and live in animals, stones, plants and people.
Followers of Shintoism worship in temples called shrines. They are usually located in beautiful
natural areas. In the center of the shrine there is an inner hall, which is only entered by Shinto
priests. They believe that kami is present in these places. A Shinto priest can be male or female.
When people enter a shrine, they wash their hands and rinse their mouth; they believe that purity
is important. The religious ceremonies start with a bell and after that, rice and money is offered to
the kami. After this takes place, the worshipper bows two times and claps to welcome the kami
and then bows again.
At the entrance of a shrine, there is a special archway, called a torii.
According to Shintoism, the torii divides the sacred spirits in the shrine from
the outside world. In Japan, there are more than 80,000 shrines and each
single one of them has a yearly ceremony where people pay their respects
to the kami.
Japanese people also worship at home and at work. They do this with prayers and simple offerings such as tea
and rice. The offerings are usually placed on a specific shelf, which is called a “godshelf”. Most of the time, the
people pray to their family ancestors.
In Shintoism, there are different kamis. Amaterasu is the most important and is the goddess of the sun. The people believe that she
is the ancestor of the ancient emperors of Japan. The goddess has a shrine that is considered to be the most important shrine in
Japan. Inari, the rice producer, is another important god. This god is believed to be both male and female.
Many people in Japan practice both Shintoism as Buddhism. Both religions have many things in common.
Torii
Shinto Priest
Exercise: Choose the best answers for the questions below.
1) What is “kami”?
a. the Shinto god b. a follower of Shintoism
c. animals, plants and people d. spiritual powers of nature
2) Where are most Shinto shrines located?
a. in areas with nature b. in urban areas
c. in spiritual places d. none of above
3) What is a torii?
a. the inner place of a shrine b. a Shinto priest
c. a Shinto temple d. the entrance of a temple
4) Followers of Shintoism worship in the inner hall of a shrine.
a. true b. false
5) What do people do before they enter a shrine?
a. they brush their teeth b. they wash their hands
c. they offer rice and money d. they bow and clap
6) Where do followers of Shintoism pray?
a. in the shrine b. in their homes
c. in the office at work d. all of above
7) Who is Amaterasu?
a. a Japanese emperor b. the most important priest
c. the god of rice d. the goddess of the sun
1) kmai _ _ _ _
The spiritual powers of Shintoism.
2) anulrta _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Shrines are located in beautiful ….. areas.
3) acywrha _ _ _ _ _ _ _
A torii is an ….. of a shrine.
4) airni _ _ _ _ _
The god of rice.
5) sddbiuhm _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Shintoism is similar to ….. .
6) stprie _ _ _ _ _ _
The inner hall can only be entered by a ….. .
Exercise: Unscramble the words. Hints are given below.
EXTRA

27. Confucius or K’ung Fu-tzu was a Chinese philosopher who was born in 551 BC. He believed
that a society could be better or perfect if the people exhibited “beautiful conduct”.
Confucius had a job with the government, but he gave that up to devote his life to teach the
people how to life their lives. Today, there are over 6 million followers of his belief and most
of them live in China.
There are five basic principles about behavior that Confucius taught the people.
 Always be considerate to others.
 Respect your ancestors.
 Try for harmony and balance in all things.
 Avoid extremes in behavior and emotion.
 If you live in peace and harmony, then you will be in contact with the spiritual forces of the universe, including nature.
These principles were taught in five basic points:
1) kindness 2) fairness 3) soberness 4) wisdom 5) trustworthiness
Confucius believed that a person’s actions would directly affect his or her well-being
as well as the well-being of others. This idea is called Jen. Jen emphasizes the
importance of being polite and loyal to others.
People who practice Confucianism believe that the family and its values are very
important. Parents teach their children to be respectful to others and obey their
parents.
Confucianism has five texts that contain the scriptures. These scriptures include
rituals, poems, sayings and history.
Confucianism is actually more a way to be a good person instead of a religion. There are no prophets or a single god. Nevertheless,
after the death of Confucius, many temples were built as a monument in his honor. One of Confucius’ most famous sayings is “Heaven
is the author of the virtue that is in me”. This means that Confucius believed that he saw heaven as a kind of god who created the
virtue in us. Other religions, such as Hinduism and Buddhism have influenced Confucianism over time. Many people in China practice
a combination of these beliefs.
Exercise 11: Are the statements given below true,
false or not given?
1) The government did not like Confucius’ ideas.
2) Confucius believed that being good for others is
being good for yourself.
3) According to Confucius, children should do what
their parents tell them.
4) Confucianism has 5 different ‘holy’ books.
5) Confucianism is a way of live rather than a
religion.
6) Confucianism was influenced by Christianity.
7) Most people in China follow Confucius
teachings.
EXTRA

28. Islam is divided into two main groups, Sunni and Shia. The 2 groups
are not very different from each other, they both agree on the
fundamentals of Islam and share the same Qur’an. The main
differences between Sunni and Shia Muslim are in the politics of
early Islam and the interpretation of the Qur’an.
After Prophet Muhammad had died early in the 7th
century, there was a debate over who should become the new leader of the
religion. Most Muslims believed that Muhammad had not assigned a successor. They wanted Abu Bakr to become their new spiritual
leader. Bakr was the closest advisor and a good friend of the prophet. But other Muslims did not agree, they believed that
Muhammad had assigned Ali ibn Abi Talib to become his successor. Ali was the son-in-law of Muhammad and was the closest male
relative.
The supporters of Ali became known as Shia, they believed that direct descendants of Muhammad were the rightful spiritual leaders
of Islam. The Sunnis, who supported Bakr, had the opinion that the most capable person should become the leader.
Finally, Abu Bakr was appointed as the first Caliph (ruler of the Muslim community). In
order to keep peace in the Muslim community, Ali accepted the leadership of Bakr. Umar
ibn al-Khattab became the second ‘Caliph’, he was assigned by Bakr on his deathbed. The
third spiritual leader was Uthman ibn ‘Affan. Eventually, Ali was chosen as the fourth
‘Caliph’ after Uthman was murdered. He moved the capital of the Islamic state from Saudi
Arabia to Iraq. Muslims accused Ali of not bringing Uthman’s murderers to justice. Violent
clashes followed which divided the community once again.
The Sunnis are the largest group in Islam, they make up around 85% of the Muslims in the
world. Most Shi’as live in Iraq and Iran, 90% of the Iranian population is Shia.
Exercise: Complete the sentences with the words below.
Caliph Muhammad Qur’an
Prophet Iran Saudi Arabia
Abu Bakr Ali ibn Abi Talib Shia
1) _____________ was the first Muslim leader after
Muhammad.
2) _____________ was the _____________ of Islam
3) Prophet Muhammad lived in _____________.
4) _____________ has a majority of Shia Muslims.
5) _____________ was a _____________ leader.
6) Sunni and Shia interpret the _____________ differently.
7) A _____________ is a spiritual leader of a Muslim
community.
Exercise: Are the following statements true or false?
1) Abu Bakr was a prophet.
2) Muhammad was the last prophet of Islam.
3) Sunni and Shia are two different religions.
4) Uthman was a Sunni Muslim.
5) The differences between Sunni and Shia are mentioned
in the Qur’an.
6) Most Muslims are Sunni.
7) There are no major differences between Sunni and Shia
Muslims.
8) A ‘Caliph’ is a Muslim spiritual leader.
9) Saudi Arabia has a majority of Sunni Muslims.
10) The main difference between Sunni and Shia is based on
the successor of Prophet Muhammad.
EXTRA