World ReligionsSOL WHII.14

Five world religions have had a profound impact on culture and civilizations.

Judaism is a monotheistic religion. This means that followers believe in one God.

In Judaism, the Ten Commandments are the guide for moral and religious conduct.

According to Jewish thought, God gave his laws and commandments in the Torah. This is the written record and beliefs of Hebrews. The Torah is the first five books of the Old Testament in the Bible.

Although Jews live in many areas of the world, the country of Israel is the Jewish home state or country.

Christianity is a monotheistic religion since the followers of Christianity believe in only one God.

Christians believe that Jesus is the son of God. They believe in the New Testament which records the life and teachings of Jesus.

Christians believe that there is life after death. The way a person lives while alive determines what life after death will be like. Righteous, moral living will be rewarded in the after life.

Early church councils determined or established Christian doctrine. Christianity is practiced all over the world but is concentrated in North and South America and Europe.

The holy book for Christians is the Old and New Testament of the Holy Bible. This has the religious teachings and followings recorded for Christian believers.

Followers of Islam believe in the supremacy of one God, therefore, Islam is a monotheistic religion. Followers of the Islam religion are known as Muslims.

Muslims call their God, Allah. Islam followers believe that the prophet Muhammad is the messenger of Allah.

The Five Pillars of Islam are the five most important acts of a Muslim. Devout Muslims will perform the Five Pillars faithfully because they consider them essential for pleasing Allah.

The Holy book for Muslims is the Koran. Muslims believe that the Koran was revealed to Muhammad by God.

Mecca is the most holy city in Islam. It is located in Saudi Arabia. Followers of Allah journey on pilgrimages to Mecca and face Mecca during their daily prayers.

Medina, which is a city located in western Saudi Arabia, was the home of Muhammad the prophet. Medina only permits Muslims to enter and there is a shrine to Muhammad in this holy city.

Distribution of Islam Religion

The founder of Buddhism is Siddhartha Guatama known as Buddha. As the founder, Buddha is the key figure Buddhism.

Buddha taught his followers the Four Noble Truths. He also gives an Eightfold Path to Enlightenment.

Buddhism began in northern India. Asoka’s missionaries spread Buddhism from India to China and other parts of Asia.

Hinduism does not have a single founder but it originated in India. Hindus believe in one deity with many forms.

The pattern of social classes in Hinduism is called the "caste system." The caste system is basically a simple division of society in which there are four castes arranged in a hierarchy and below them the outcast caste.

Hindus believe in reincarnation of the spirit in another life form after death. A person may be reborn successively into one of five classes of living beings depending on the person's own actions.

Karma is the belief that a person’s actions determine his destiny in his next reincarnation.

Five world religions have had a profound impact on culture and civilization. These religions are found worldwide, but their followers tend to be concentrated in certain geographic areas.

Geographical distribution of world’s major religions:

• Judaism – Concentrated in Israel and North America

• Christianity – Concentrated in Europe, North and South America

• Islam – Concentrated in the Middle East, Africa, and Asia

• Hinduism – Concentrated in India• Buddhism – Concentrated in East and

Southeast Asia

Christianity

Islam Buddhism

Hinduism

1. Which is not matched with the religion it is associated with?

Christianity – New TestamentBuddhism – Karma

Judaism – Torah

Islam – Five Pillars

2. Which religion is not monotheistic?

Christianity

Hinduism

Buddhism

Judaism

Islam

3. What are the two major cities of the Islamic religion?

Mecca and Medina

4. What religion believes the Ten Commandments give a guide for moral and religious conduct?

Judaism

5. What are two major beliefs of the Buddhist religion?

Four Noble Truths

Eightfold Path to Enlightenment

6. Who was the founder of Buddhism known as the Buddha?

Siddhartha Gautama

7. What religion did the Asoka missionaries spread?

Buddhism

Where?

From India into China and parts of Asia

8. What is the belief that future reincarnations is based on present behavior?

Karma

9. What religion is concentrated mainly in India?

Hinduism

In Israel?

Judaism

10. What religion believed in a caste system?

Hinduism