Nature of Religion and Beliefs

• Semetic Religions


  Judaism

  Christianity

  Islam

  All religions with prophets
• Monotheism


  Belief in one God
• Transcendant Worldview


  Aspects of elements relating to the human experience of understanding that is beyond the ordinary.
• Immanent Worldview


  Discover of spiritual truth from within a human spirit
• Believers


  Those who adhere to the beliefs

  Believe in saints mystics, gurus
• Sacred Texts


  Give essential direction on how to live their life

  Through Myths, Legends, Parables
• Tripitaka (Buddhism)


  Three baskets

  Three various cannons of scripture
• Ethics


  Central to any religion
• Dharma (Hinduism)


  Refers to duty, virtue, morality

  Refers to the power which upholds the universe and society

  Ultimate goal: Moshka (Liberation from the cycle of birth and rebirth of souls)
• Rituals and Ceremonies


  Prayer

  Worship

  Rites of Passage

  Initiation Rites

  Connect living believers with the tradition of the religion
• Brit Milah (Jewish)


  Circumcision

  Connects Jews to Abraham and God through the covenant
• Christianity


  Beliefs- Jesus is the Son of God

  The trinity

  Jesus will come again

  Sacred Texts- The bible

  Ethics- 10 commandments

  Beatitudes

  Rituals/Ceremonies- Baptism

  Holy Communion

  Death

  Holy orders

  Annointing of the sick
• Judaism


  Beliefs- God is one, has no form

  Pray to God alone

  Moses is the greatest prophet

  Sacred Texts, stories and writings- Torah

  Jonah and the whale

  David and the goliath

  Ethics- One must do good by being charitable and compassionate

  Rituals and Ceremonies- Curcumcision

  Bat Mitsvah

  Charity
• Islam


  Beliefs- 5 pillars

  Only one God

  Muhammed is the messenger

  Sacred Texts- Quran

  Hadith

  Ethics- Charity

  Forgiveness

  Honesty

  Rituals and Ceremonies- Hajj

  Umrah

  Ramadan

  Eid
• Buddhism


  Beliefs- Human life is the cycle of suffering and rebirth

  Karma

  Merit

  Nirvana

  Sacred Texts/writings- Tripitaka

  Ethics- Interdependance

  Rituals and ceremonies- Spontana

  Passion and care
• Hinduism


  Beliefs- Views the entire universe and God's and everything in the universe as God.

  Dharma

  Artha

  Moshka

  Sacred Texts/writings- Vedas

  Vedas are hymns

  Ethics- Truth

  Right conduct

  Love

  Peace

  5 yamas

  Rituals and ceremonies- Scripture recital

  Puja

  Meditation

  Sielnt Prayers

  Yoga