world religions

• Hinduism

  an unorganized polytheistic religion with no founder --- based in India --- over 3000 years ago
• Untouchables


  lowest level of the caste system --- usually handles the dirty/miserable tasks
• Caste System


  a social structure in Indian history where the ranking depends on hereditary history
• Brahma

  the creator ultimate god of Hinduism
• devas


  Hindu gods and goddesses
• atman

  Hindu soul
• Reincarnation


  the belief that you live multiple lives on earth (decided by karma)
• karma


  the belief that you get what you deserve
• dharma

  an unknown set of spiritual duties
• moksha


  Hindu heaven
• puja

  Hindu worship
• Mahatma Gandhi

  a religious leader that inspired unviolent protest and studied Hinduism + Christianity
• Buddhism

  a religion based on the teachings of Buddha (4 noble truths) 560 BC
• Siddhartha Gautama


  "The Buddha" founder of Buddhism that went through many trials in order to be enlightened and teach the ways to achieve Nirvana
• Enlightenment


  a state when you are free of suffering and desire
• fasting


  a period without food for religious purposes
• Meditation


  focusing the mind on spiritual ideas
• missionaries


  people who travel the world spreading their religion
• Bodh Gaya


  the place where Siddhartha Gautama reached enlightenment --- being under a tree for 49 days
• Four Noble Truths


  the main teachings of the Buddha
• Eightfold Truths


  the eight ways to reach nirvana -- taught by Siddhartha Gautama
• Nirvana

  the state of being free from suffering
• Therevada


  an older Buddhism division -- improve your life to reach nirvana
• Mahayana


  a newer Buddhism division -- improve others lives to reach nirvana
• Ishmael

  one of Abrahams sons that Muslims trace Muhammad back to
• Kaaba

  a very sacred building to Muslims in mecca that they travel to in the pilgrimage to mecca
• Mecca

  the birthplace of Muhammad --- sacred place to Muslims
• caravan

  a group of travelers crossing the desert
• oasis

  a fertile spot in the desert
• pilgrimage/ haji


  a sacred journey
• mosque


  Islamic place of worship
• Muhammad

  founder of islam --- messenger of Allah ---- born in Mecca --PROPHET
• Islam

  "submission or surrender" a monotheistic religion based on Muhammad's teachings and Allah
• Muslims

  "those who submit" Islam followers
• Qur'an


  the Islam holy book -- made from messengers of Muhammad
• jihad


  the daily struggle of being a good muslim
• imam


  an Islamic religious leader
• sunni Muslims

  majority of muslims... believe that muslim -> Allah + jihad is the daily struggle to be a good muslim
• Shia Muslims

  minority of Muslims... Muslim -- imam---> Allah + believe that jihad is a violent war against other religions
• 5 Pillars of Islam

  5 daily prayers, fasting, pilgrimage to mecca, giving of Alms, profession of faith ----- basic principles/teaching of Muhammad