2. World Religions
Religions began as simple worship related to day-to-day activities such as
hunting and agriculture. As civilizations emerged, religions became more
complex with many gods and goddesses with complex relationships and
myths. The general trend has been towards less complex religions with a
strong central God surrounded by saints, prophets, and angels. An
exception is Hinduism that remains the main religion of India.
3. This is an excerpt from World History Lessons for Zoey and Kaya
Clickable links begin on next slide.
4. World Religions References
Love Gods from all cultures for comparison
Health Gods Five Major World Religions
United Religions Initiative
5. Egyptian Religion
Osiris was the original King of the Gods. He married his sister Isis. His brother Set was jealous of Osiris and killed him several times.
However Isis brought him back to life and they had a son Horus. Horus defeated Set. Nephthys was the wife of Seth and mother of
Anubis, God of mummies. In later centuries, the god Amun became popular as the savior of the country. He merged with Sun God Ra
to become the most powerful God, Amon-Ra. Pharaoh Akhenaten and his wife Nefertiti tried to reduce the influence of the priests by
creating a single God Aten (1350). When he died, the priests restored Amon-Ra and erased Akhenaten and Aten from history. Bastet
was the Goddess of Homes.Thoth was the God of Wisdom. Ptah was the God of Creation. Hathor was the Fertility Goddess.
Ptah Hathor
Anubis
ThothBastet
RaAmon AtenAmon Ra
Osiris Isis Horus
Set Nephthys
+ = vs
Akhenaten
More Gods
Ammit
Nefertiti
6. Hindu Gods and Temples
The Hindu religion has many gods including Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva, and Ganesh. There are many colorful
temples.They divided society into castes. The only way to move up was through reincarnation. Two other
famous Hindu gods are Rama and Krishna (reincarnation of Vishnu). Mitra was the Sun God.
Brahma
ShivaVishnu Ganesh
Hindu Temples + VaranasiRama KrishnaHanuman
Hinduism has many colorful holidays including Holi Diwali
Kali
and Dussehra
Mitra
7. Five Forms of the Chinese Supreme God (“Tian”)
Some of the original Chinese religious deities were the 5 forms of the Supreme God Tian.
They were associated with different colors, seasons, and planets. They were paired with
manifestations of the Dragon King who protect the waters around China
5 Deities
Dragon Kings
8. Some Chinese Gods and Goddesses
Pangu Guan Yin
350 ft High Statue
Xiwangmu
Chinese Goddesses
Jade Emperor
Guan Yu Shouxing Dragon KingMonkey King Menshen
Chinese Gods
Caishen
Chang’e
Pangu created the world. Guan Yin is the Goddess of Mercy that is revered in many countries. Chang’e is the
Moon Goddess. Xiwang dispenses good fortune. Her husband, the Jade Emperor, is ruler of the Gods. King
Menshen protects buildings. Shouxing is the God of long life. Dragon Kings guard bodies of water. Guan Yu is
the Good of War. Caishen is the God of Wealth. The Monkey King is a hero in the Journey to the West novel
Chinese Zodiac
10. Buddhism (6th Century BC)
Buddha was an Indian prince who renounced his wealth. He preached that living a simple life
would enable you to avoid reincarnation and obtain Nirvana. The religion started in India and
spread through East Asia. India later returned to Hinduism
Buddhist MusicBuddhist Beliefs
11. Buddhism (6th Century BC)
Buddhists believe in four truths:
1) existence brings suffering;
2) the cause of suffering is craving;
3) there is a way to end suffering;
4) one needs to break one’s earthly attachments to
obtain perfect happiness or Nirvana
To achieve Nirvana follow an eightfold way consisting of
1. right understanding,
2. right thought,
3. right speech,
4. right action,
5. right livelihood,
6. right effort,
7. right mindfulness,
8. right concentration.
12. Jewish (Old Testament) People and Stories
Moses parting
the Red Sea
Abraham
Moses receiving
10 commandments
David (950 BC) Solomon (930 BC)
Isaac
Abraham about to
sacrifice Isaac
Climbing
Jacob’s Ladder
Joseph sold as a slave
by his brothers
Abraham was the father of the Jewish people. He migrated from Ur in southern Mesopotamia to Palestine following God’s
instructions. He had many sons including Ismael (ancestor of the Arabs) and Isaac (ancestor of the Jews). God asked
Abraham to sacrifice Isaac but then stopped Abraham. Jacob was Isaac’s son who dreamt of a ladder to heaven. Jacob had
12 sons but his favorite was Joseph. Joseph’s brothers were jealous and sold him into slavery in Egypt. Jacob was a wise
man who was able to win the favor of Pharaoh and provide shelter to his family when there was famine in Palestine. However
later Pharaohs made the Israelis slaves. Moses was a leader who led the Jews out of Egypt by parting the Red Sea in 1250
BC. He later received the 10 commandments from God on Mt Sinai. King David was the most famous Jewish ruler. When he
was a young boy, he fought the giant Goliath. His son, wise KingSolomon, built the first Jewish Temple in Jerusalem.
Go Down
Moses
13. Judaism History
Judaism was the tribal religion of the Jewish people in Palestine. The religion was centered in a
temple in Jerusalem and a book called the Torah (Bible). The Torah was a combination of myths and
history that emphasized that there was only one God. (monotheism). The Jews were conquered by the
Babylonians and Romans and dispersed but always returned. The Mishnah and Talmud are
commentaries on the Torah. The Zohar is a book that is the basis of the Kabbalah mystic teachings..
The current state of Israel was founded in 1948. The Jewish Temple was destroyed by the Romans
West Wall is the last Temple ruin The Torah
Passover Passover Song Hanukah Purim
The Talmud
Zohar
Mishnah
14. Greek/Roman Gods
Zeus/Jupiter Poseidon/Neptune
Helios/Apollo/Sol
Ares/Mars
Athena/Minerva
Hades/Pluto
Greek Gods Family Tree
Hera/JunoCronos/Saturn
Uranus
Gaia/Kaya Artemis/Diana/Luna
Uranus was the original sky God married to Gaia the Earth Goddess. Cronos the Titan overthrew his father Uranus and
ate his own children for safety. His son, Zeus escaped this fate, overthrew Cronus, resurrected his siblings, and became
king of the Gods. Hera was his wife. Poseidon (brother of Zeus) was the Sea God Hades (brother of Zeus) was the God
of the Underworld, Zeus had many children. Artemis was the Moon Goddess, Helios was the Sun God, Aphrodite was
the Love Goddess, Ares was the War God, and Minerva was the Goddess of Wisdom. Sophia were featured in later
Greek religion as the personifications of Wisdom (philosophy = lover of wisdom). Zoey (Zoe) was Sophia’s daughter.
Aphrodite/Venus
Olympian Gods
Zoey Sophia
Sophia Robot
Greek Mythology Details
15. More Greek/Roman Gods and Goddesses
Eros/Cupid
Hestia/Vesta
Hephaestus/Vulcan
Demeter/Ceres
Janus
Nike
Maia/Bona Dea
Dionysius/BacchusHermes/Mercury
Atlas
Hermes was the messenger of the Gods, Dionysius was the God of wine, Hephaestus was the God of Fire, Demeter
was the Goddess of Fertility, Hestia was the Goddess of Home, Atlas held up the world. Hercules was the world
strongest man (half-God), Maia was the Goddess of spring time, Janus had two heads looking into past and
future.Eros was the God of Love, Pan had a goat’s body and was the God of the woods. Mithras was an Iranian and
Indian sun god whose cult became very popular across the Roman Empire from about 100 AD to 300 AD
Constellations of the Zodiac
Pan/Faunus
Nemesis
Greek Gods Set to Music
Muses
Mithras
Greek Mythology Details
16. Jason and the Argonauts
Hydra
GegeneesHarpy
Stymphalians Kerberos Talos
Jason and MedeaOrpheusCastor + PolluxHercules
The story of Jason and the Argonauts is one of the most famous epics in Greece mythology. A
group of heroes led by Jason including mighty Hercules, the singer Orpheus, and the Gemini twins
(Castor and Pollux) sailed in the Argus to find the Golden Fleece. Jason had to kill the Harpy,
Gegenees, and the Tin Man, Talos. He was helped by Princess Medea who he married. Hercules
was famous for his 12 labors which included killing Hydra and the man-eating Stymphalia birds
and also capturing the 3 headed dog Kerberos. He also killed Chiron the Centaur. Orpheus was
also famous for his tragic love affair with Eurydice
Centaur
17. More Greek Mythology Monsters and Heroes
CyclopsCetusMedusa SatyrChimera
Perseus was a hero who killed the monsters, Medusa and Cetus. Medusa was so ugly that anyone who looked at
her was turned to stone. Typhon and Echidna were the parents of many monsters including Hydra, Cerberos, and
Chimera.. Cyclops were one-eyed giants, one of whom was killed by Odysseus. Argus had 100 eyes. Chimera had
a lion’s body, a goat’s head, and a snake tail. Bellerophon riding the winged horse Pegasus killed Chimera. Satyr
was a God of lust. The Furies tormented sinners. Sisyphus was condemned by the Gods to push a large rock
almost to the top of a hill where it would fall down forcing him to start over. Pandora was the first mortal woman
who then opened a gift box unleashing evil onto the earth. Prometheus stole fire from the Gods and brought it to
mankind for which he is eternally tortured. Adonis was the best looking mortal who Aphrodite loved.
Typhon
AdonisFury
Perseus
PrometheusPandoraSisyphus Bellerophon
Echidna Argus
EpimetheusPyrrha
18. Roman Religious Holidays
Lupercalia Feb 15
Bacchanalia Mar 17
Kalends of January Jan 1
Saturnalia Dec 17-23
The Romans had many festivals. Some major ones are pictured below. The Kalends of January
were the Roman New Year dedicated to the two-faced God, Janus. The gates of the Temple of
Janus were only closed in times of peace. The Lupercalia was a fertility celebration of the wolf
who raised Romulus and Remus. Bacchanalia was a drinking celebration of the God of wine.
The Saturnalia was a merry making holiday celebrating the Golden Age under the God Saturn.
19. Norse Gods
Tyr Odin Thor Frigg Loki
Valkyries Valhalla Ragnarok
The Norse Gods were the pre -Christian Gods of the Germans and the Vikings. Tyr was the God of War, Odin was the
leader of the Gods, Thor was his son who had a mighty hammer (for thunder), and Frigg was Odin’s wife. Note that
Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday come from these Gods. Loki was the God of Mischief. The Norse Gods were
warlike. Soldiers who died bravely in battle were transported by Valkyries to join the Gods in the hall of Valhalla.
However even the Gods would perish in the heaven in one last battle called the Götterdämmerung against monsters led
by Loki. Fenris is a son of Loki.
Baldur
20. Norse Mythology Heroes and Monsters
The Norse Gods were the pre -Christian Gods of the Germans and the Vikings. Tyr was the God of War, Odin was the
leader of the Gods, Thor was his son who had a mighty hammer (for thunder), and Frigg was Odin’s wife. Note that
Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday come from these Gods. Loki was the God of Mischief. The Norse Gods were
warlike. Soldiers who died bravely in battle were transported by Valkyries to join the Gods in the hall of Valhalla.
However even the Gods would perish in the heaven in one last battle called the Götterdämmerung against monsters led
by Loki. Fenrir is a son of Loki.
Fenrir Jörmungandr
Grendel
Kraken
Beowulf Grendel's Mother
Vikings Movie
Dragon
10 Coolest Norse Monsters
21. Native American Gods and Heroes
Quetzalcoatl
Aztec Gods
Ce Acatl Topiltzin
Inca Gods Inca Heroes
Mayan Gods
Kukulcan
Inca Music
Aztec Music Mayan Music
Arizona Native American Pow Wow
22. Christian Religious Figures
The Christian religion believes in a Trinity of the Father (God), Son (Jesus) and Holy Spirit/Ghost. Mary was the mother of
Jesus. St Joseph was the husband of Mary. John the Baptist baptized Jesus. Jesus preached for three years to the Jews. He
was betrayed by his apostle Judas and captured and crucified by the Romans. St Peter was an original apostle and the first
Pope. St Paul was a later convert to Christianity who spread the religion among the Romans. St Peter and St Paul were both
killed by the Romans. The Catholic Church has 10,000 Saints. The devil is the source of evil.
Father Son Holy Spirit
Mary John and Jesus St Peter St Paul
The Last Supper. Jesus says “One of you will betray me”. Where is Judas?
Click to see an example
Devil/Lucifer
St Joseph
Satanism
The Greatest
Story Ever
Told
23. Key Christian Events
Jesus was born in a manger. He lived a quiet life as a carpenter before starting to preach. He
performed miracles and healing. His most famous preaching was the Sermon on the Mount. He
entered Jerusalem in triumph. The Romans captured and crucified him. He returned from the
dead after 3 days. This is the Easter story.
Birth of Jesus
Healing Miracle Entry into Jerusalem
Sermon on the Mount
Crucifixion
Resurrection
24. More Christian Saints
Patrick
Francis
NicholasSerra
Anthony Santiago /James
Teresa
Augustine
John Paul 2John 23Mark
Barbara
St Valentine was martyred on February 14. St Augustine was a Roman who influenced Christian
Doctrine. St Francis loved animals. St Anthony helps lot travelers. St James is the patron saint of Spain.
Saint Barbara is the patron saint of mathematicians. St Thomas Aquinas was a famous philosopher. St
Juniper Serra was an early California missionary. St Nicholas was a gift giver. St Patrick brought
Christianity to Ireland. St Mark is the patron saint of Venice.Mother Teresa worked with poor in India. Pope
John 23 modernized the Catholic Church. Pope John Paul 2 was Polish and helped defeat Communism.
ThomasValentine
25. Jewish and Christian Demons
Leviathan
Anti-Christ Four Horsemen of the ApocalypseLilith
Beast of Apocalypse Behemoth 😀
Golem
In Jewish mythology, Leviathan (sea) and Behemoth (land) were large monsters. Lilith was the first wife of Adam
before Eve. She left Adam because he wanted to dominate her. In the Middle Ages mythology, the Golem was a clay
man brought to lift protect the Jews. In the Christian Book of Revelations, the Beast with number 666, the Anti-
Christ, and the Four Horseman are described. The Four Horsemen are White Horse (pestilence), Red Horse (war),
Black Horse (famine). and Pale Horse (death).
Witches
Maleficent5 Heresies
26. Seven Deadly Sins and Demons
Lucifer: Pride
Mammon: Greed
Asmodeus: Lust
Azazel:Wrath Beelzebub: Gluttony
Leviathan: Envy
Baelphegor: Sloth
In Christian mythology, there are seven demons associated with the seven deadly sins.
They help the Devil torture people in Hell. Astaroth is the Devil’s deputy.
Astaroth: Duke of Hell
27. Christian Religion (1 AD)
Rome is the center of the Catholic Religion. It is the home of the Popes who lead the Church.
St Peter’s Square and Cathedral with Egyptian obelisk. The dots are people.
St Basil’s in Moscow is the center of the Russian Orthodox Christianity
Reggae
Service
Speaking
in Tongues
Billy Graham
Papal Speech
28. More Christian Churches
Sagrada Familia in BarcelonaSacre Cour in Paris
Pentecostal Services Gospel Music Service
Mormon Temple
Mormon Choir
More Mormon Choir
The Mormons are a Christian Sect centered in Salt Lake City, Utah. However they send
missionaries all over the world. They run the Polynesian Culture Center in Oahu
Polynesian Cultural Center
29. Christian Holidays
Christmas Dec 25
Easter
Carnival
All Saints Day Nov 1
Christmas celebrates the birth of Jesus. All Saints Day honors all the Saints. The night before is called Halloween. In
Mexico, November 1 is the Day of the Dead (Dia de Muertos). Mardi Gras (Carnival) is the last day of partying before the
40 sad days of Lent leading up to Easter. Easter celebrates the Resurrection of Jesus after his crucifixion.
Mardi Gras Feb
30. Muslim Religion (622 AD)
Kaaba Mosque in Mecca
The dots are people
The center of the Muslim religion is the Kaaba temple in Mecca. Millions of Muslims
go on pilgrimage (Hajj) there to worship every year. Religious Muslims also bow 5
times a day to day towards Mecca Inside the black cube is a meteorite.
Dome of the Rock
Mosque in Jerusalem
Muhammed
31. Beautiful Mosques
United Arab Emirates.Blue Mosque Istanbul
Russia Uzbekizstan
PakistanIran
Call to
Prayer
Call to
Prayer 2
Sufi Whirling
Dervishes
There are two main branches of Islam, Sunni and Shiite. The Mosques below are all Sunni except
for the one in Iran. The Sufi are a mystical branch of Sunni Muslims.
32. Some Other Asian Religions
Zoroastrianism SikhJain
The Jain religion began at about the same time as Buddhism in 600 BC. Its followers are noted for being very peaceful
and honoring the sanctity of all life forms. Zoroastrianism was the official religion of Persia from the 600 BC - 700 AD
(Islam conquest). It was based on the teaching of the prophet Zoroaster (Zarathusta) and is still practiced in some parts
of India and Iran. The Sikh religion was founded by Guru Nanak in 1600 AD as a monotheistic tolerant religion. Sikhs are
known for their successful hard work and strong culture. Shinto is the native religion of Japan founded in 300 BC. and
coexisting with Buddhism. It gives high status to the Emperor. The Baha’i religion was founded by Baháʼu'lláh in 1863. It
attempts to unify multiple religions by claiming Buddha, Jesus, and Mohammed were all prophets. Baha’i is known for
its beautiful temples. The Yazidi are an ancient religion from 5000BC in Iraq that worships the Peacock Angel.
Baha’i
Shinto
(2001) Thus Spoke Zarathustra
Yazidi
33. African Related Religions
West Africa had a religion based on spirits called Orishas. Elements of this still exist along side
Christianity and Islam. The slaves brought to the Americas maintained and modified the religion.
Famous examples are Candomblé in Brazil and Voodoo in Haiti. Voodoo is especially well-known
for legendary traditions such as voodoo dolls (curses) and zombies (living dead).
VoodooOrishas Candomblé
Voodoo in United States Voodoo Zombie Voodoo Dolls
34. Modern Paganism
The term “paganism” was applied by Christians to worshippers of other gods.
Modern Paganism is a revival of ancient religious practices that were close to
nature and predated the Roman Gods. The Druids are the most famous ancient
Pagans. The Wicca practitioners are a leading modern Pagan group.
Druids
Wicca
