RELIGIONS OF THE WORLD

Talking about religion Introduction

Talking about religion

Starter Questions What religions are common in China? Do you think Qingming is a religious festival? Why or why not? Is the Daodejing a religious book? Why or why not?

What religions are common in China?

Do you think Qingming is a religious festival? Why or why not?

Is the Daodejing a religious book? Why or why not?

The “Big Five” Religions + Irreligion What do you know about these religions? What countries can we find them in? Hinduism Judaism Buddhism Christianity Islam What does it mean to be “atheist”?

What do you know about these religions? What countries can we find them in?

Hinduism

Judaism

Buddhism

Christianity

Islam

What does it mean to be “atheist”?

Religion Vocabulary agnostic adherent missionary convert orthodox fundamentalist religious law ecumenicism syncretism polytheism monotheism mysticism organized religion sect cult “ doomsday cult”

agnostic

adherent

missionary

convert

orthodox

fundamentalist

religious law

ecumenicism

syncretism

polytheism

monotheism

mysticism

organized religion

sect

cult

“ doomsday cult”

Let’s look at some religions less common than the “big five” Lesser Known Religions

Let’s look at some religions less common than the “big five”

Eastern Orthodox Christianity Details 150-350 mil adherents Russia, Greece, Eastern Europe Part of the Catholic Church until a “schism” in the 11 th century Came after the Muslim invasions of Europe

Details

150-350 mil adherents

Russia, Greece, Eastern Europe

Part of the Catholic Church until a “schism” in the 11 th century

Came after the Muslim invasions of Europe

Eastern Orthodox Christianity Consider themselves the “original” Christians and follow ancient traditions Keep a different calendar than other Christians Famous for their “icons” (pictures) Strongest in Russia; most Russian leaders are this religion Eastern Orthodox often distrust Western Christians Cultural differences, historical troubles Reinforced by wars in Yugoslavia in 1990s

Consider themselves the “original” Christians and follow ancient traditions

Keep a different calendar than other Christians

Famous for their “icons” (pictures)

Strongest in Russia; most Russian leaders are this religion

Eastern Orthodox often distrust Western Christians

Cultural differences, historical troubles

Reinforced by wars in Yugoslavia in 1990s

Mormonism Details ~13 mil adherents US, South America, Africa Sect of Christianity founded by American Joseph Smith in 1830 Have their own holy book, The Book of Mormon

Details

~13 mil adherents

US, South America, Africa

Sect of Christianity founded by American Joseph Smith in 1830

Have their own holy book, The Book of Mormon

Mormonism Believe that Christ traveled to the Americas after he came back to life Mormon practices Multiple wives was a teaching in the early 1800s but was banned All encouraged to be missionaries Should not drink caffeine or alcohol, smoke, or use foul language Considered a cult by some Christians Based in the State of Utah, home to the Mormon Tabernacle Choir

Believe that Christ traveled to the Americas after he came back to life

Mormon practices

Multiple wives was a teaching in the early 1800s but was banned

All encouraged to be missionaries

Should not drink caffeine or alcohol, smoke, or use foul language

Considered a cult by some Christians

Based in the State of Utah, home to the Mormon Tabernacle Choir

Let’s listen to a bit of their music Mormon Tabernacle Choir

Let’s listen to a bit of their music

Hasidic Judaism Details ~650,000 adherents Main population: US, Israel, Europe Sect of orthodox Judaism founded in the 1700s Hasidim are often considered mysterious

Details

~650,000 adherents

Main population: US, Israel, Europe

Sect of orthodox Judaism founded in the 1700s

Hasidim are often considered mysterious

Hasidic Judaism Beliefs God is everywhere Unity with God through prayer Practices Men wear long locks of hair at the sides of their face Men dress in special clothing, including black coats and hats Women dress conservatively and often cover their heads Men will not touch a woman who is not their mother, sister, or wife Have larger families than most religious groups – 7.9 children per family in the US!

Beliefs

God is everywhere

Unity with God through prayer

Practices

Men wear long locks of hair at the sides of their face

Men dress in special clothing, including black coats and hats

Women dress conservatively and often cover their heads

Men will not touch a woman who is not their mother, sister, or wife

Have larger families than most religious groups – 7.9 children per family in the US!

Sufi Islam Details Millions of adherents Middle East, Africa, Central Asia Sufism is a sect of Islam which focuses on mysticism and humor Nasreddin, Afanti in China, is a famous Sufi

Details

Millions of adherents

Middle East, Africa, Central Asia

Sufism is a sect of Islam which focuses on mysticism and humor

Nasreddin, Afanti in China, is a famous Sufi

Sufi Islam Practices Meditation Asceticism (pursuing a simple life, like a monk) Experiencing God through music, song, or dance Dancing Sufis are called “Whirling Dervishes” Any kind of Muslim can be a Sufi if he/she follows their practices Fundamentalist (very traditional) Muslims often dislike Sufism because it doesn’t closely follow sharia (Muslim law)

Practices

Meditation

Asceticism (pursuing a simple life, like a monk)

Experiencing God through music, song, or dance

Dancing Sufis are called “Whirling Dervishes”

Any kind of Muslim can be a Sufi if he/she follows their practices

Fundamentalist (very traditional) Muslims often dislike Sufism because it doesn’t closely follow sharia (Muslim law)

Let’s watch them dance Whirling Dervish

Let’s watch them dance

Shamanism Details 400 mil+ adherents Found worldwide General term used to describe ancient, traditional religions around the world Religious practices are usually nature-oriented

Details

400 mil+ adherents

Found worldwide

General term used to describe ancient, traditional religions around the world

Religious practices are usually nature-oriented

Shamanism Beliefs The world is full of spirits A shaman can control the world by controlling these spirits A shaman can heal by controlling these spirits Practices Dancing Playing drums Singing Creation of effigies Wearing costumes Use of drugs Shamanism can really differ from place to place, but most share basic beliefs

Beliefs

The world is full of spirits

A shaman can control the world by controlling these spirits

A shaman can heal by controlling these spirits

Practices

Dancing

Playing drums

Singing

Creation of effigies

Wearing costumes

Use of drugs

Shamanism can really differ from place to place, but most share basic beliefs

Sikhism Details 23 mil adherents India, Britain, US An ancient Indian warrior religion Male Sikhs have long served as special soldiers in India and the British Empire

Details

23 mil adherents

India, Britain, US

An ancient Indian warrior religion

Male Sikhs have long served as special soldiers in India and the British Empire

Sikhism Beliefs Monotheism Avoidance of ego, greed, attachment, anger, and lust Will fight for justice and God Practices Five things are required of men Uncut hair To carry a special short sword To carry a comb To wear a special bracelet To wear special underwear Most sacred location is called the Golden Temple

Beliefs

Monotheism

Avoidance of ego, greed, attachment, anger, and lust

Will fight for justice and God

Practices

Five things are required of men

Uncut hair

To carry a special short sword

To carry a comb

To wear a special bracelet

To wear special underwear

Most sacred location is called the Golden Temple

Sikh Golden Temple

Jainism Details ~8 mil adherents India One of the oldest religions in the world, Jainism shares some ideas with Hinduism Stresses idea of ahimsa (nonviolence)

Details

~8 mil adherents

India

One of the oldest religions in the world, Jainism shares some ideas with Hinduism

Stresses idea of ahimsa (nonviolence)

Jainism Beliefs Belief in reincarnation and karma Every living thing has a soul Every soul is Godlike Treat every living thing as your self and generate good karma Practices Scholarship Vegetarianism Cover mouth while eating to avoid swallowing bugs Sweep ground in front of you to scare insects so you don’t step on them

Beliefs

Belief in reincarnation and karma

Every living thing has a soul

Every soul is Godlike

Treat every living thing as your self and generate good karma

Practices

Scholarship

Vegetarianism

Cover mouth while eating to avoid swallowing bugs

Sweep ground in front of you to scare insects so you don’t step on them

Zoroastrianism Details ~200,000 adherents Iran and India At least 3,000 years old, maybe older Formerly the official religion of Iran until replaced by Islam Strong influence on Christianity

Details

~200,000 adherents

Iran and India

At least 3,000 years old, maybe older

Formerly the official religion of Iran until replaced by Islam

Strong influence on Christianity

Zoroastrianism Beliefs There is one God, Ahura Mazda The universe is trapped in a battle between light and darkness Requirement of “good deeds, good thoughts, good words” among followers Ahura Mazda will prevail during the end times Came to China during the Liao Dynasty, may have influenced Chinese religion Fire and light are the main symbols Perform sky burials

Beliefs

There is one God, Ahura Mazda

The universe is trapped in a battle between light and darkness

Requirement of “good deeds, good thoughts, good words” among followers

Ahura Mazda will prevail during the end times

Came to China during the Liao Dynasty, may have influenced Chinese religion

Fire and light are the main symbols

Perform sky burials

Bahá'í Details 6 million adherents India, Iran, US Founded in the 19 th century, Bahá'í is a “universalist” church Claims to follow the Buddha, Jesus, Mohamed, and all other religious leaders

Details

6 million adherents

India, Iran, US

Founded in the 19 th century, Bahá'í is a “universalist” church

Claims to follow the Buddha, Jesus, Mohamed, and all other religious leaders

Bahá'í Beliefs/Goals All gods are one God All men are brothers Equal rights for women Elimination of discrimination Harmony of science and religion World peace Has a connection to Sufi Islam, but is not a Muslim religion The leadership is called the Universal House of Justice Has a strong influence in the United Nations

Beliefs/Goals

All gods are one God

All men are brothers

Equal rights for women

Elimination of discrimination

Harmony of science and religion

World peace

Has a connection to Sufi Islam, but is not a Muslim religion

The leadership is called the Universal House of Justice

Has a strong influence in the United Nations

Rastafarianism Details ~1 mil+ adherents Jamaica, US, Britain, and even Russia Afro-Caribbean religion founded in Jamaica in the early 1900s

Details

~1 mil+ adherents

Jamaica, US, Britain, and even Russia

Afro-Caribbean religion founded in Jamaica in the early 1900s

Rastafarianism Beliefs Haile Selassie, the former Emperor of Ethiopia, was God Black nationalism Rejection of modern society Practices Men grow hair out in “dreadlocks” Eat a special religious diet Smoke marijuana for religious purposes Dress in colors taken from the Ethiopian flag Has spread thanks to the appeal of reggae musician Bob Marley

Beliefs

Haile Selassie, the former Emperor of Ethiopia, was God

Black nationalism

Rejection of modern society

Practices

Men grow hair out in “dreadlocks”

Eat a special religious diet

Smoke marijuana for religious purposes

Dress in colors taken from the Ethiopian flag

Has spread thanks to the appeal of reggae musician Bob Marley

Scientology Details ~500,000 adherents US, Britain, Europe Founded in 1953 by an American science fiction writer, L. Ron Hubbard Many famous stars are Scientologists

Details

~500,000 adherents

US, Britain, Europe

Founded in 1953 by an American science fiction writer, L. Ron Hubbard

Many famous stars are Scientologists

Scientology Beliefs Souls/minds are haunted by past lives and by the spirits of people who died in an intergalactic war Therapy can release these spirits and help people to lead happy lives Psychiatry is evil Practices People can buy higher levels of happiness through training Members should get their families to join Considered by many to be a dangerous cult Some Scientologists have died mysteriously

Beliefs

Souls/minds are haunted by past lives and by the spirits of people who died in an intergalactic war

Therapy can release these spirits and help people to lead happy lives

Psychiatry is evil

Practices

People can buy higher levels of happiness through training

Members should get their families to join

Considered by many to be a dangerous cult

Some Scientologists have died mysteriously

Aum Shinrikyo, a Doomsday Cult Founded by Shoko Asahara in 1984 Started as a global Buddhist yoga club but turned violent Launched a terror attack on the Tokyo subway in 1995 Wanted to cause the end of the world

Founded by Shoko Asahara in 1984

Started as a global Buddhist yoga club but turned violent

Launched a terror attack on the Tokyo subway in 1995

Wanted to cause the end of the world

A few questions to end this lecture Discussion

A few questions to end this lecture

Pick any question As sciences advances, will the number of religions become fewer and fewer? Why/why not? What causes religious violence? Can a universal religion promote world peace? What’s the difference between a religion and a cult? What do you think about a religion where you need to pay money to participate?

As sciences advances, will the number of religions become fewer and fewer? Why/why not?

What causes religious violence?

Can a universal religion promote world peace?

What’s the difference between a religion and a cult?

What do you think about a religion where you need to pay money to participate?