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HINDUISM There are two primary symbols
associated with Hinduism “The OM”
Hinduism is the world’s oldest religion and “Swastika” means good fortune or
and it has about 900 million followers being happy this symbol represents
today good luck.
It is the third-largest religion behind The om symbol is composed of three
Christianity and Islam. Roughly 95 Sanskrit letters and represents three
percent of the world’s Hindus live in sounds (a, u and m), which when
India. combined are considered a sacred
Hinduism is unique in that it’s not a sound
single religion but a compilation of
Hinduism Holy Books
many traditions and philosophies.
Hindus value many sacred writings as
HINDUISM BELIEFS SOME BASIC HINDU
opposed to one holy book. The primary
CONCEPT INCLUDE:
sacred texts, known as the Vedas, were
• Hinduism embraces many religious composed around 1500 B.C.
ideas
The Vedas are made up of:
• Most forms of Hinduism are
The Rig Veda – an ancient
henotheistic
Indian collection of vedic
• Hindus believe in the doctrines of Sanskrit hymns.
samsara The Samaveda – is the veda of
melodies and chants
• One of the key thoughts of Hinduism is
Yajurveda – a compilation of
“atman,” or the belief in soul
ritual offering that said by the
• One fundamental principle of the priest
religion is the idea that people’s actions Atharvaveda – called as “veda
and thoughts directly determine their of magical formula” and not
current life and future lives. concerned in sacred rituals but
addresses the daily problems of
• Hindus strive to achieve dharma, which vedic people.
is a code of living that emphasizes good Hindus believe that the Vedas
conduct and morality. transcend all time and don’t have a
HINDUISM SYMBOL beginning or an end
HINDU GODS
Brahma: the god responsible for the
creation of the world and all living
things
Vishnu: the god that preserves and
protects the universe
Shiva: the god that destroys the
universe in order to recreate it
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Devi: the goddess that fights to restore Refers to the freedom from samsara
dharma which is the end cycle of life, death and
rebirth that ultimate goal is overcoming
Krishna: the god of compassion,
of ignorance and desire
tenderness and love
SAMSARA
Lakshmi: the goddess of wealth and
purity A continuous cycle of in which the soul
is reborn over and over again according
Saraswati: the goddess of learning
to the law of action and reaction
SECTS OF HINDUISM
KARMA
Shaivism (followers of Shiva)
refers to action driven by intention
Vaishnava (followers of Vishnu) which leads to future consequences.
Shaktism (followers of Devi) BUDDHISM
Smarta (followers of Brahman and all • Buddhism is a faith that was founded by
major deities) Siddhartha Gautama (“the Buddha”)
more than 2,500 years ago in India
• Some Hindus elevate the Hindu trinity,
which consists of Brahma, Vishnu and • It has 470 million followers, scholars
Shiva. Others believe that all the deities consider Buddhism one of the major
are a manifestation of one. world religions
HINDU CASTE SYSTEM BUDDHIST BELIEFS
• Followers of Buddhism don’t
acknowledge a supreme god or deity.
• The religion’s founder, Buddha, is
considered an extraordinary man, but
not a god. The word Buddha means
“enlightened.”
• The path to enlightenment is attained
by utilizing morality, meditation and
wisdom.
• Buddhists embrace the concepts of
karma (the law of cause and effect) and
The caste system is a social hierarchy in reincarnation (the continuous cycle of
India that divides Hindus based on their rebirth).
karma and dharma. Many scholars
• There is no single Buddhist symbol, but
believe the system dates back more
a number of images have evolved that
than 3,000 years
represent Buddhist beliefs, including
MOKSHA the lotus flower, the eight-spoked
dharma wheel, the Bodhi tree and
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the swastika (an ancient symbol whose
name means "well-being" or "good
fortune" in Sanskrit).
DHARMA
BUDDHISM BRIEF HISTORY
• Buddha’s teachings are known as
• Founder Siddharta Gautama known as
“dharma.” He taught that wisdom,
“Buddha”
kindness, patience, generosity and
• When Gautama passed away around compassion were important virtues.
483 B.C., his followers began to
Five moral precepts, which prohibit:
organize a religious movement.
Buddha’s teachings became the Killing living things
foundation for what would develop into
Buddhism. Taking what is not given
• The thoughts and philosophies of Sexual misconduct
Buddhists became diverse, with some Lying
followers interpreting ideas differently
than others. Using drugs or alcohol
• In the sixth century, the Huns invaded FOUR NOBLE TRUTH
India and destroyed hundreds of
DUKKHA - The truth of suffering
Buddhist monasteries, but the intruders
were eventually driven out of the SAMUDAYA - The truth of the cause of
country suffering
TYPES OF BUDDHISM NIRHODHA - The truth of the end of
suffering
Theravada Buddhism: Prevalent in
Thailand, Sri Lanka, Cambodia, Laos and MAGGA - The truth of the path that
Burma frees us from suffering
Mahayana Buddhism: Prevalent in EIGHTFOLD PATH
China, Japan, Taiwan, Korea, Singapore
and Vietnam SAMMA DITTHI – Right understanding
SANKAPPA – Right thought
Tibetan Buddhism: Prevalent in Tibet, SAMMA VACA – Right speech
Nepal, Mongolia, Bhutan, and parts of SAMMA KAMMANTA – Right action
Russia and northern India SAMMA AJIVA – Right livelihood
Each of these types reveres certain texts and SAMMA VAYAMA – Right effort
has slightly different interpretations of Buddha’s SAMMA SATI – Right mindfulness
teachings. There are also several subsects of SAMMA SAMADHI – Right
Buddhism, including Zen Buddhism and Nirvana concentration
Buddhism. Some forms of Buddhism CHRISTIANITY/CHRISTIANISM
incorporate ideas of other religions and
philosophies, such as Taoism and Bon
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• Christianity is the most widely practiced grew up in Nazareth, he and his family
religion in the world, with more than 2 fled persecution from King Herod and
billion followers. moved to Egypt, and his “earthly”
father, Joseph, was a carpenter. Jesus
• The Christian faith centers on beliefs was raised Jewish, and according to
regarding the birth, life, death and most scholars, he aimed to
resurrection of Jesus Christ reform Judaism—not create a new
religion. When he was around 30 years
CHRISTIANITY BELIEFS old, Jesus started his public ministry
• Christians are monotheistic after being baptized in the Jordan River
by the prophet known as John the
• The essence of Christianity revolves Baptist. For about three years, Jesus
around the life, death and Christian traveled with 12 appointed disciples
beliefs on the resurrection of Jesus. (also known as the 12 apostles),
teaching large groups of people and
• Christians contend that Jesus will return
performing what witnesses described as
to earth again in what’s known as the
miracles. Some of the most well-known
Second Coming.
miraculous events included raising a
• The Holy Bible includes important dead man named Lazarus from the
scriptures that outline Jesus’s teachings, grave, walking on water and curing the
the lives and teachings of major blind
prophets and disciples, and offer
JESUS DEATH AND RESURRECTION
instructions for how Christians should
live. • According to the Bible, Jesus was
arrested, tried and condemned to
• The cross is a symbol of Christianity.
death. Roman governor Pontius
• The most important Christian holidays Pilate issued the order to kill Jesus after
are Christmas (which celebrates the being pressured by Jewish leaders who
birth of Jesus) and Easter (which alleged that Jesus was guilty of a variety
commemorates the resurrection of of crimes, including blasphemy.
Jesus).
• Jesus was crucified by Roman soldiers in
WHO WAS JESUS? Jerusalem, and his body was laid in a
tomb. According to scripture, three
• Most historians believe that Jesus was a days after his crucifixion, Jesus’s body
real person who was born between 2 was missing. In the days after Jesus’s
B.C. and 7 B.C. Much of what scholars death, some people reported sightings
know about Jesus comes from the New and encounters with him. Authors in
Testament of the Christian Bible. the Bible say the resurrected Jesus
According to the text, Jesus was born to ascended into Heaven.
a young Jewish virgin named Mary in
the town of Bethlehem, south THE CHRISTIAN BIBLE
of Jerusalem in modern-day Palestine.
• The Christian Bible is a collection of 66
Christians believe the conception was a
books written by various authors. It’s
supernatural event, with God
divided into two parts: The Old
impregnating Mary via the Holy Spirit.
Testament and the New Testament.
Very little is known about Jesus’s
childhood. Scriptures reveal that he
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• The Old Testament, which is also be as widespread without the work of
recognized by followers of Judaism, Paul. In addition to preaching, Paul is
describes the history of the Jewish thought to have written 13 of the 27
people, outlines specific laws to follow, books in the New Testament.
details the lives of many prophets, and
predicts the coming of the Messiah.
• The New Testament was written after TYPES OF CHRISTIANITY
Jesus’s death. The first four books—
Matthew, Mark, Luke and John—are • Baptist
known as the “Gospels,” which means • Evangelist
“good news.” • Methodist
• Pentecostal/Charismatic
• The Acts of the Apostles is a book in the • Evangelical
New Testament that gives an account of
• Church of Nazarene
the apostles’ ministry after Jesus’s
• Disciples of Christ
death.
• Seventh Day Adventist
• The final book in the New • Roman Catholic
Testament, Revelation, describes a
vision and prophecies that will occur at • Although the many sects of Christianity
the end of the world, as well as have differing views, uphold separate
metaphors to describe the state of the traditions and worship in distinct ways,
world. the core of their faith is centered
around the life and teachings of Jesus.
BRIRF HISTORY OF CHRISTIANITY
ISLAM
• According to the Bible, the first church
organized itself 50 days after Jesus’s • is a faith and comprehensive way of life
death on the Day of Pentecost—when that literally means ‘peace through
the Holy Spirit was said to descend onto submission to God.’ It provides a clear
Jesus’s followers. Most of the first understanding of a person’s
Christians were Jewish converts, and relationship with God, purpose in life,
the church was centered in Jerusalem. and ultimate destiny.
Shortly after the creation of the church, • A Muslim is someone who adopts the
many Gentiles (non-Jews) embraced Islamic way of life by believing in the
Christianity. Early Christians considered Oneness of God and the prophethood
it their calling to spread and teach the of Muhammad, peace be upon him
gospel. One of the most important (pbuh). Today, Islam is one of the
missionaries was the apostle Paul, a fastest growing religions and is
former persecutor of Christians. Paul’s practiced by more than 1.2 billion
conversion to Christianity after he had a Muslims across the world.
supernatural encounter with Jesus is
described in Acts of the Apostles. Paul ISLAM: MONOTHEISTIC BELIEF IN GOD
preached the gospel and established • The most essential principle in Islam is
churches throughout the Roman the purely monotheistic belief in one
Empire, Europe and Africa. Many God. God is the Creator of everything in
historians believe Christianity wouldn’t the universe and is unique from His
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creation. Muslims are encouraged to human history: “What is the purpose of
develop a direct and personal life?” God declares in the Quran, “And I
relationship with God without any did not create … mankind except to
intermediaries. worship Me.” (51:56) For Muslims, the
• Muslims often refer to God as Allah, purpose of life is to worship God, the
which simply means “God” in the Arabic Creator of all things. Worship in Islam is
language. a comprehensive concept that urges
people to be conscious of God
A UNIVERSAL FAITH OF ISLAM
throughout their daily lives and
• Islam is the culmination of the universal provides a framework to help people
message of God taught by all of His live a balanced and virtuous life.
prophets. Muslims believe that a • This way of life promotes strong moral
prophet was chosen for every nation at character, good relations with people,
some point in their history, enjoining and just and harmonious societies.
them to worship God alone and Devoting one’s self to a life of
delivering guidance on how to live submission to God is the key to
peacefully with others. Some of the attaining a true sense of peace because
prophets of God include Adam, Noah, it produces a balance of spiritual needs
Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, with worldly affairs. It also lends special
Moses, Jesus, and Muhammad, peace meaning to the concept of living one’s
be upon them all. The prophets all life responsibly, aware of the
conveyed the consistent divine message accountability to come in the hereafter.
of worshiping one God, along with
FIVE PILLARS IN ISLAM
specific societal laws for each nation’s
circumstances. 1. SHAHADAH – Testimony of faith. The
• Muslims also believe that God sent first of the five basic foundations is
revealed books as guidance to humanity knowingly and voluntarily asserting
through His prophets. These include the that, “There is nothing worthy of
Torah given to Moses, the Gospel worship except God, and Muhammad is
conferred upon Jesus, and the Quran the Messenger of God.”
received by Muhammad (pbuh). 2. SALAH – Prayer. Muslims are required
• The Quran is the last revelation from to pray five times a day to maintain a
God, consisting of God’s literal speech. spiritual connection with God and
It confirms truths from the previous remind themselves of their ultimate
scriptures and maintains the same core purpose in life. Through sincerity,
message of worshiping God and living repentance, and direct prayer to God,
righteously. It is the only holy book that Muslims strive to establish a personal
has been meticulously preserved in its spiritual relationship with their Creator
original text. all throughout the day.
3. ZAKAH – Charity. This is an annual
PURPOSE OF LIFE ACCORDING TO MUSLIM
charity given to the poor. Muslims must
BELIEFS
give 2.5% of their yearly savings to help
• Islam clearly addresses one of the most the poor, the needy, and the oppressed.
central and challenging questions in
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4. SAWN – Fasting. Muslims fast during
the month of Ramadan, the ninth
month of the Muslim lunar calendar, by
refraining from eating, drinking, and
sexual interaction from dawn to sunset.
It is an act of self-restraint and spiritual
cleansing that increases one’s empathy
for the less fortunate and enables one
to consciously control bad habits such
as foul language, idle talk, and anger.
5. HAJJ – Pilgrimage. The (journey) to
Mecca is an act that every Muslim must
perform once in their life if they are
physically and financially able. It
symbolizes the unity of humankind as
Muslims from every race and
nationality assemble together in
equality to worship God, following the
traditions of Prophet Abraham.
• HAJI – is a Muslim who has made the
pilgrimage to Mecca
