The document provides an overview of the major world religions including Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Sikhism. It discusses their origins, core beliefs, practices, sacred texts, places of worship, and important holidays. The religions are described as either monotheistic (believing in one God) or polytheistic (believing in multiple gods). Their histories and how they began are also outlined.

1. WORLD RELIGIONS
Christianity, Judaism, Islam
Buddhism, Hinduism

2. Monotheistic Religions


Belief in one god
Originated in Middle East
(Mesopotamia, Israel and Saudi
Arabia)
Judaism
Christianity
Islam

3. What is Judaism?



Oldest monotheistic religion
Religion of Ancient Israelites
(Hebrews)
Today is primarily found in
Israel, United States, and Eastern
Europe

4. Origins of Judaism
• Began in Ancient Israel
• Founded by Abraham
• Began nearly 4000 years ago

5. Beliefs of Judaism






One god called Yahweh (God)
God‟s “chosen people”
Have a covenant (agreement) with God
Follow Jewish law - the Ten
Commandments
One day a Messiah (messenger or savior)
will arrive
Can only eat kosher foods – no
pork, shellfish, or meat prepared with

6. Judaism



Holy Book – Torah
Place of Worship –
Synagogue
Sects/Branches –
 Orthodox
 Reformed
 Conservative

7. Holidays & Holy Days
Holidays:
 Yom Kippur –



Rosh Hashanah –


Day of Atonement
Fasting
Jewish New Year
Hanukkah –


Nine day festival
Lighting the menorah
Holy Day:
 Shabbat (Sabbath) –

Friday evening to
Saturday morning

8. Sacred Places


Jews consider
Jerusalem to be
holy
Western Wall
(“Wailing Wall”)

Only remaining wall
of ancient Jewish
temple

9. What is Christianity?



Monotheistic - Developed out of Judaism
Religion of followers (disciples) of Jesus
Today is primarily found in North
America, South
America, Europe, Southern
Africa, Australia

10. Origins of Christianity
• Began in Ancient Israel
• Founded by Jesus
• Began nearly 2000 years ago

11. Beliefs of Christianity


One god (God)
Follow the teachings of Jesus of
Nazareth





Was Son of God
Died on cross and rose again
Was the Messiah
Goal is to go to heaven
Follow Ten Commandments

12. Christianity

Holy Book – Bible



Place of Worship –



Old Testament
New Testament
Church
Cathedral
Sects/Branches –



Roman Catholic
Orthodox
Protestant

13. Holidays & Holy Days
Holidays:
 Christmas –


Birth of Jesus
Easter –

Death and Resurrection
Holy Day:
 Sunday
Rituals/Ceremonies:
 Baptism
 Communion

14. Sacred Places


Jerusalem
Vatican City




Holy Seat of Roman
Catholic Church
Home of the Pope
St. Peter‟s Basilica
Sistine Chapel

15. What is Islam?



Monotheistic
religion
Followers are
called Muslims
Today is
primarily found
in Middle
East, North
Africa, Central
Asia, Indonesia

16. Origins of Islam
• Began in Saudi
Arabia
• Founded by
Muhammad
• Began in 610 CE

17. Beliefs of Islam



One god called Allah („God‟ in Arabic)
Muhammad was the final prophet
(messenger)
Five Pillars

18. Five Pillars of Islam





Declare that there is only one God, Allah
Pray 5 times a day facing Mecca
Give to the poor
Fast during the month of Ramadan
Pilgrimage (“hajj”) to Mecca once during
lifetime

19. Islam



Holy Book – Qur‟an
Place of Worship –
Mosque
Sects/Branches –


Sunni
Shi‟i

22. Holidays & Holy Days
Holidays:
 Ramadan
 Month long period of
fasting
 Eid al Fitr
 Feast at end of
Ramadan
Holy Day:
 Friday prayers at
mosque

23. Sacred Places

Mecca



Great Mosque
Ka‟aba
Jerusalem

Dome of the Rock

24. Eastern Religions


Hinduism

Polytheisti
c
Buddhism

Way of life,
Philosophy

25. What is Hinduism?





Polytheistic religion
Followers are called Hindus
Today is primarily found in India
World‟s oldest major religion
Philosophy and way of life

26. Origins of Hinduism
• Began in Indus Valley (Ancient
India/Modern Pakistan)
• No single founder
• Originated between 4000 and 2000 BC

27. Beliefs of Hinduism





Polytheistic
Every living thing is a part
of one soul – Atman
Reincarnation – eternal soul
reborn into different bodies
till it finds liberation
Karma – the result of good
and bad actions that
determine the soul‟s next
life
Ultimate goal in life – to
release the soul and return
to Brahman (the universal

28. Who do Hindus worship? –
the major gods of the Hindu
Pantheon
Brahma, the creator
Vishnu, the preserver
Shiva, god of
constructive destruction
(the transformer)

29. How does Hinduism direct
life in this world?




Respect for all living things – vegetarian
Caste System – rigid social class system
based on Hindu beliefs
 Four “castes” - priests & teachers,
nobles & warriors, merchant class,
servant class
Practice Yoga
Guru – spiritual teacher

30. Holy Cow!


Hindus have always
had great respect
for Mother Nature
and its creatures
Cow is especially
significant because
it symbolizes
gentleness

31. 
Holy Book –




Hinduism
Vedas
Written in Sanskrit
Place of Worship –
Temple
Sects/Branches –
many different
branches

32. Holidays & Holy Days
Holidays:
 Diwali
 Festival of Lights
 Holi
 Festival of Colors

33. Sacred Places


Varanasi
Ganges River

34. 


What is Buddhism?
Neither monotheistic or polytheistic
Followers are called Buddhists
Today is primarily found in East and
Southeast Asia
(China, Japan, Koreas, SE Asia

35. Origins of Buddhism
• Began in northern India
• Founded by Hindu prince
• Siddhartha Gautama
• Called “Buddha” – the
enlightened one
• Began almost 2,500 years
ago

36. Beliefs of Buddhism






Buddha is NOT considered a
god
Reincarnation
Karma
Four Noble Truths
Eightfold Path
Nirvana

37. Buddhism





Siddhartha Gautama was an Indian
Prince who lived in luxury and comfort
inside the palace.
One day he left the palace gardens
and saw an Old man, a sick man, and
a dead man.
Left his home and went on a search to
find the reason people suffer and how
to end it.
Meditated under a bodh tree.
Buddha realized: Life is full of

38. Buddhism
He explained the FOUR NOBLE
TRUTHS:
1.
2.
3.
4.
All life is full of suffering, pain,
and sorrow.
The cause of suffering is desire
for things such as riches, power
and long life.
The only cure for suffering is to
overcome desire.
The way to overcome desire is to
follow the 8-fold path.

39. Cure for
suffering
The only cure for suffering is to follow
the Eightfold Path, a middle road
between a life devoted to pleasure and
a life of harsh self-denial.
It is important to live a moral life.
Enlightenment is achieved through
meditation.
The ultimate goal is nirvana, union with
the universe and release from the cycle

40. Buddhism

Sacred Writings –




No one holy book
Collection of
Buddha‟s sayings in
Tripitaka
Place of Worship –
Temple (stupa)
Sects/Branches –




Mahayana
Theravada
Tibetan
Zen

41. 



What is Sikhism?
Monotheistic
Name of Supreme Being: God
Followers are called Sikhs
Today is primarily found in
Northwestern India (Punjab
region), United
Kingdom, Canada, United States
Punjab region of India

42. Origins of Sikhism
• Began in northern
India in the Punjab
• Founded by a guru
named:
• Guru Nanak
• Spread by nine
later gurus
• Began and spread in
the 16th and 17th
centuries

43. Beliefs of Sikhism





Believe in one god
called God
All human beings are
equal
Meditation
Sikhs are to live
honestly and work
hard
Share with others

44. Sikhism - Practices

Sikhs practice their faith by wearing
the 5 articles of faith or 5 K‟s:

45. Sikhism - Practices

Joining the Khalsa:



This is a committed group of Sikhs
Members of the Khalsa wear the Five K‟s
There is a special ceremony for those
that choose to join the Khalsa

46. Sikhism

Sacred Writings –




Guru Granth Sahib
Collection of
teachings by Guru
Nanak and other
Gurus along with
Sikh, Hindu and
Muslim saints
Place of Worship –
Gurdwara
Sects/Branches –

None

47. Sikhism

Major Holidays/Holy
Days



Vaisakhi – Celebrates the
founding of Sikhism and the
Khalsa
Diwali – Celebrates a guru‟s
release from prison
Hola Mohalla – festival of
martial arts