Unformatted Attachment Preview
Religi
on
Origin of All Things
Nature of God
View of Human
Nature
View of Good and
Evil
View of
“Salvation”
View of After
Life
Practices and
Rituals
Celebrations
and Festivals
Week
2
No specific origin or
founder.
Gods are in male
and female form
and represent
many different
things. For
Hinduism
Brahman is a
supreme reality.
For Jainism’s
Mahavira or
Mahavir is the
great hero.
Actions have
consequences.
What goes around
comes around.
Karma will come
back from the
God’s and all
actions are gifts to
the absolute.
Good actions will
bring good things
and bad actions will
bring bad things.
Karma is a real
substance that flows
into people and
attaches itself in
them like an
impurity. People are
born again and
again until they get
rid of their impure
karma.
People are
born over and
over until they
are pure and
clean from
impurity and
will be saved
once the
impure
substances of
karma are
gone.
SamsaraReincarnation
Souls are
immortal and
imperishable.
Belief in many
heavens and
hells.
Public Worship
(Puja)
Darshan
Yoga
Images
Home Shrines
Meditation
Vedas
Reference:
Hinduwebsite.c
om
Reference:
Living Religions
Diwali
Tamil New Year
Makarsankranti /
Pongal
Vasant
Panchami
Maha Shivaratri
Holi
Telugu New
Year/ Ugadi/
Gudi
PadwaHindi
New Year
Ramanavami
Hanuman
JayantiVaisakhi /
Baisakhi / Vishu
Bengali New
Year
Akshaya Tritiya
Savitri Pooja
Puri Rath Yatra
Guru Purnima
Nag Panchami
Onam
RakshaBandhan
Krishna
Janmashtami
Ganesh
Chaturthi
Mahalaya
Amavasya
Navaratri begins
Hindui
sm &
Jainis
m
Reference:
Living Religions
Reference:
Hinduwebite.com –
Living Religions
Reference:
Hinduwebsite.com
Reference:
Hinduwebsite.c
om
Durga Puja
begins
Navaratri ends
Reference:
Hinduwebsite.co
m
Week
3
Buddh
ism
The word comes from
'budhi', 'to awaken'. It
has its origins about
2,500 years ago when
Siddhartha Gotama,
known as the Buddha,
was himself awakened
(enlightened) at the age
of 35.
Ref:
http://www.aboutbuddhi
sm.org/
There is no God.
Buddhism is an
atheistic religion
that believes in
self
enlightenment.
The Sanskrit word
for enlightenment
is "bodhi," which
means
"awakened."
Ref: Living
Religions
Buddha taught that
everything is
temporary (anicca),
and this includes
everything that we
associate with
being human:
sensations,
feelings, thoughts
and consciousness.
This is the doctrine
of anatta, "no-soul,"
a central concept of
Buddhism.
Ref:
http://www.aboutbu
ddhism.org
The Buddha never
directly addressed
the question of
whether humans are
essentially good or
evil. However, he
said that we have
the ability to do good
and implied that
given the right
circumstances, we
have receptiveness
towards goodness.
He said: ‘Develop
the good! It can be
done! If it were
impossible I would
not urge you to do
so. But since it can
be done I say to you
“Develop the good!”
And if developing
the good caused
you loss and sorrow
I would not urge you
to do so. But since it
conduces to your
welfare and
happiness I say to
For a Buddhist
salvation is
reaching
Nirvana.
Nirvana is a
transcendental,
blissful,
spiritual state of
nothingnessA
person
becomes a
Buddha..
To reach
Nirvana you
must follow the
Noble Eightfold
Path. a
Buddhist
Ref:
http://www.abo
utbuddhism.org
/ reaching
Nirvana.
Nirvana is
a
According to
Buddhism, after
death a person
is either reborn
into another
body
(reincarnated)
or enters
nirvana. Only
Buddhas those who have
attained
enlightenment
will achieve the
nirvana or the
reincarnation.
Ref:
http://www.abo
utbuddhism.org
/
Meditation in
Buddhism
refers to mental
concentration
and
mindfulness.
Mantras
Mantras refers
to sacred
sounds.
Mudras
Mudras are
symbolic hand
gestures.
Prayer Wheels
Prayer wheels
assist in
reciting
mantras with
the turn of a
wheel.
Buddhism
Symbols
These are used
in nearly all
expressions of
Buddhism.
Vesak or Visakah
Puja ("Buddha
Day")
Buddhist New
Year
Vesak or Visakah
Puja ("Buddha
Day")
Asalha Puja Day
("Dhamma Day")
The Elephant
Festival
The Buddha used
the example of a
wild elephant
which, when it is
caught, is
harnessed to a
tame one to train.
In the same way,
he said, a person
new to Buddhism
should have a
special friendship
of an older
Buddhist. To mark
this saying, Thais
hold an elephant
festival on the third
Saturday in
November
you “Develop the
good!”’ (A.I,58).
Later Mahāyāna
thinkers developed
the doctrine of
Buddha Nature, the
idea that all humans,
indeed all beings,
have the same
nature as the
Buddha and thus
are
inherently good.
Ref:
http://www.buddhis
ma2z.com/content.p
hp?id=180
transcende
ntal,
blissful,
spiritual
state of
nothingnes
s--you
become a
Ref:
http://www.bud
dhanet.net/festi
val.htm
The Festival of the
Tooth
Kandy is a beautiful
city in Sri Lanka.
On a small hill is a
great temple which
was especially built
to house a relic of
the Buddha - his
tooth. The tooth
can never be seen,
as it is kept deep
inside may caskets.
But once a year in
August, on the
night of the full
moon, there is a
special procession
for it.
Ref:
http://www.buddh
anet.net/festival.h
tm
Week
4
Daois
m and
Confu
cianis
m
Confucianism has a
cosmology which can
explain the rise of
universe and of the
biological lives. It says,
"There is Wu-Ch'i which
causes Tai-Ch'i which
produces Yin and
Yang. Then Yin and
Yang form Eight Kwa
(Trigrams). The Sixtyfour Kwa (Hexagram)
can then be generated.
These Sixty-four Kwa
incorporates the entire
universe.
Ref:
http://www.chinesewordroots.org/confuciu.htm#
III
There is no
specific God.
Confucianism is
based on the
foundation of
Confucius. The
founder of
Confucianism was
Kong Qiu (K'ung
Ch'iu), who was
born around 552
B.C.E. in the small
state of Lu and
died in 479 B.C.E.
The Latinized
name Confucius,
based on the
honorific title Kong
Fuzi (K'ung Futzu), was created
by 16th-century
Jesuit
missionaries in
China. Confucius
was a teacher to
sons of the nobility
at a time when
formal education
was just beginning
in China.
Ref:
http://www.patheo
s.com/Library/Con
fucianism.html
Confucius said
heaven and the
afterlife were
beyond human
capacity to
understand, and
one should
therefore
concentrate instead
on doing the right
thing in this life.
The earliest
records from his
students indicate
that he did not
provide many moral
precepts; rather he
taught an attitude
toward one's fellow
humans of respect,
particularly respect
for one's parents,
teachers, and
elders.
Ref: Ref:
http://www.patheos.
com/Library/Confuc
ianism.html
Confucius did not
deny the existence
of a reality beyond
the human world,
but he said that the
nature of ultimate
reality and the
intentions and
expectations of
divinities are beyond
human capacity to
know or understand.
Human morals
should therefore be
based on human
relationships,
without reference to
some higher order.
According to some
interpretations of
Confucianism,
suffering and evil
are inevitable in
human life, and can
promote learning
and growth. A
mistake is not a
"sin," but an
opportunity to learn
and do better next
time. Empathy for
the suffering of
others also provides
motivation to grow
morally, but not all
humans are capable
of empathy.
Ref:
http://worldreligions.
Confucians do
not typically
hold beliefs
about the
individual
salvation or
damnation of
persons
beyond this life,
ancestor
worship is an
important part
of Confucian
faith and
practice.
Ancestor
worship is
among the
oldest and
most enduring
Chinese
religious
practices. Even
though the cult
of ancestors
frequently has
been described
as Confucian,
devotees of
nearly every
religious
tradition in
China practice
ancestor
worship
Ref:
http://www.path
eos.com/Librar
y/Confucianism
Kongzi stated
that the afterlife
was beyond
human
comprehension
. Humans
should live and
behave in such
a way as to
promote ideal
social relations,
rather than to
act based on
the
expectations of
rewards or
punishments
after death. In
Confucian
terms, a
meaningful life
is one in which
one develops
one's innate
moral potential
to the fullest
while fulfilling
all of one's
social
obligations. At
the same time,
from a
Confucian
perspective,
one cannot live
fully in the
present without
being fully
responsible to
the past, both
Birth is
considered by
confucianists
as a creative
life form. So
when a baby is
born, it is
symbolized as
a link in the
chain of
existence from
the past to the
future.
Reaching
Maturity
As mentioned
above, coming
of age and
maturity is a
very important
life passage to
Confucianism
They celebrate
these important
birthdays every
ten years:
Young
adulthood, Age
of
independence,
Age of mental
maturity, Age of
spiritual
maturity, Age of
acceptance,
Age of
unification.
They also
celebrate honor
your ancestors
In Confucianism
ritual takes on a
different meaning
than that of most
religions. Acts of
everyday life are
considered
rituals. Some
holidays are
Easter Monday.
Ching Ming
festival is
celebrated 106
days after the
winter solstice
and families visit
their ancestors or
relatives' graves.
They also
celebrate
Confucius'
birthday on
September 28.
Confucians do
not celebrate
specific Holy
Days for
Confucianism an
d they practice
days from other
religions
weebly.com/confuci
anism.html
/Beliefs/Afterlife
-andSalvation.html
in terms of
paying respect
to one's
ancestors and
making the
best of what
they have left
behind.
Ref:
http://www.path
eos.com/Librar
y/Confucianism
/Beliefs/Afterlife
-andSalvation?offse
t=0&max=1
day and
teacher day
which is known
as Confucius
birthday.
Week
5
Shinto
Shinto mythology,
naturally, begins
with a cosmogony,
or explanation of the
beginning of the
universe. This differs
from the Genesis of
the Old Testament.
In the Kojiki it
states: "At the time
of the beginning of
heaven and earth"
and does not refer
to whatever may
have preceded the
separation of
Heaven and Earth,
but simply suggests
that something
already existed
Ref: Encyclopedia of
Shinto
http://eos.kokugakuin.a
c.jp/modules/xwords/en
try.php?entryID=1319
Shinto is the
"way of the
gods" - and
Shinto Gods and
Goddesses are
called kami.
The term kami
refers to
anything that is
above, high,
special, unusual
or auspicious in
any way. It
refers to the
essence, or
internal quality,
of many
phenomena that
Shinto believers
consider an
aura of divinity.
These
phenomena
include rocks,
trees, rivers,
animals, places
and people. All
of these can
contain the
nature of the
kami.
Ref:
http://www.worl
d-religionsprofessor.com/s
hintogods.html
"This kami was
of a wicked
nature, and was
always fond of
wailing and
wrath. Many of
the people
(aokusa-hito) of
the land died,
and the green
mountains
withered." In
both cases it
should be
understood that
human beings
were born after
the land,
mountains and
rivers, plants and
trees had been
produced, also
as offspring of
the kami. This
notion is based
on the belief that
the kami, human
beings, and the
natural world are
related by blood,
and in essence
are bound in the
realm of life.
Ref:
Encyclopedia of
Shinto
Purity is at the
heart of Shinto's
understanding of
good and evil.
Impurity in Shinto
refers to anything
which separates
us from kami, and
from musubi, the
creative and
harmonising
power. The things
which make us
impure are tsumi
- pollution or sin.
Shinto does not
accept that
human beings are
born bad or
impure; in fact
Shinto states that
humans are born
pure, and sharing
in the divine soul.
Badness, impurity
or sin are things
that come later in
life, and that can
usually be got rid
of by simple
cleansing or
purifying rituals.
Ref:
http://www.bbc.c
o.uk/religion/relig
Salvation is
related to the
concept of
purification.
The misogi
ritual consists
on the
cleansing of
the spirit.
Cleansing
power of the
water. They
practice this
ritual
entering a
natural
source of life
like the ocean
or a
waterfall.
Before even
entering the
waterfall they
must undergo
preliminary
purification
practices,
because the
waterfall is
considered
kami. The
ceremony is
designed to
restore one’s
natural purity
and sense of
mission in
life.
Shinto beliefs
in accordance
with the
afterlife
believe that
the human
spirit is to
remain
forever as
like the spirit
of Kami. The
spirits live in
another
world, this is
mentioned in
the Kojiki
(Ancient
Matters) and
the
Nihonshoki
(Chronicles of
Japan). It
tells that the
Kami is
present in
both worlds.
The most
known other
world is
named 'the
other world
of Heaven' in
which the
most
respected
and admired
Gods reside.
The most
common type
of ritual
involves
purification.
Symbolically
purifying
oneself or an
object before
interacting
with the
kami.
Shrine
worship is
also a
common
ritual. Shinto
rituals are
usually just
one part of a
type of large
public festival
called a
matsuri,
which is the
main kind of
celebration in
Shinto.
Hundreds and
thousands of
them fill the
calendar
thought the
year.Other
Shinto rituals
are
performed
during
The main
Shinto rites
and festivals
are for
celebrating the
New Year, child
birth, coming
of age, planting
and harvest,
weddings, and
groundbreaking
ceremonies for
new buildings.
special water
purification
(misogi)
confinement in
shrines for
devotional
purposes (okomori) the
procession of a
sacred
palanquin (omiyuki) or of
boats (funa
matsuri)
ceremonial
feast (toya
matsuri)
sumo wrestling
horseback
riding (kurabeuma)
archery (matoi)
a dance
devoted to the
lion (shishi
ions/shinto/beliefs
/purity.shtml
Ref: Living
Religions
Ref:
http://shintor
eligion.wikisp
aces.com/Shi
nto-Origins
smaller, more
local or even
private
festivals.
These mark
stages of life,
such as
births, rites
of passage in
the early
years of a
child's life,
marriages,
and funerals.
Ref: Living
religions
mai)
rice-planting
activities (otaue matsuri
Ref:
Encyclopedia of
Shinto.
Week
6
Judais
m
Jewish
cosmology,
generally known
as the Old
Testament
account of
creation, may be
viewed as the
Hebrew version
of the beginning
of the world, or
universe, but
particularly the
earth including all
things in it. The
essential focus of
this version is
that God is the
creative force, or
power, and
created
everything
himself; the God
being the Jewish
god Yahweh
Thus, God
created all things
through a series
of acts, or
methodology,
Judaism is the
oldest of the three
major
monotheistic
religions, the first
religion to
introduce the idea
of a single, perfect
and unified God
that was master
and creator of
everything. The
Jewish religion has
developed
through a
relationship to this
God. Although
Jewish philosophy
since the Hebrew
Bible has evolved
to include new
ideas about God,
the basic character
of the Jewish God
has remained the
same.
Ref:
http://people.opp
osingviews.com/e
xplanation-nature-
A fundamental to •
Jewish beliefs about
human beings is
that they are
created in the image
of God. This does
not mean that
people look like
God, for God is
incorporeal. The
general rabbinical
interpretation of
•
this concept is that
humans have the
ability to reason.
The two yods, the
rabbis explain, stand
for the two impulses
found in humans:
the yetzer tov and
the yetzer ra.
According to this
view, the yetzer tov
is the moral
conscience that
reminds a person of
God's law when one
considers a specific
action or choice.
The yetzer ra is the
impulse to satisfy
one's own needs
and desires.
God is good and will
always protect and
care for people. The
goodness of God is
shown by the
creation of the
world, by the giving
of the Ten
Commandments
and on the
occasions when God
saved the Israelites.
The story of
humanity’s battle
with good and evil is
told in the story of
Adam and Eve in the
Garden of Eden. The
serpent tempted
Eve to go against
God’s wishes.
However, Judaism
does not say that
the serpent was
Satan. Satan as an
evil power does not
appear in the Jewish
scriptures until the
book of Chronicles.
However, in the
Book of Job, Satan
appears as a sort of
spy for God.
Judaism of the
second Temple
period (and
prior)
considered the
concept of
salvation more
national
(corporate) than
exclusively
personal, as
modern
Christianity
views it. The
salvation of the
individual Jew
was connected
to the salvation
of the entire
people. This
belief stemmed
directly from
the teachings of
the Torah. The
idea of
corporate
salvation of
Israel is
reflected in
Paul's letter to
the Romans,
particularly in
chapters 9-11.
The concept of
The Torah,
the most
important
religious
text, is
surprisingly
silent.
Nowhere
does it
discuss the
afterlife in
detail. Over
the centuries
a few
possible
descriptions
of the
afterlife have
been
incorporated
into Jewish
thought.
However
there is no
definitively
Jewish
explanation
for what
happens
after we die.
The Mitzov
The Hebrew
word mitzvot
means
"commandment
s” Although the
word is
sometimes used
more broadly to
refer to rabbinic
(Talmudic) law
or general good
deeds ("It
would be a
mitzvah to visit
your mother"),
in its strictest
sense it refers
to the divine
commandments
given by God in
the Torah. The
613
Commandment
s The important
Jewish
philosopher
Maimonides
made a list of
the 613
commandments
he found in the
Jewish Bible,
and here they
are. Rabbinic
Law In addition
Jewish Calendar
This page
contains
information on
the dates of
Jewish holidays
from 2013-2016.
Days of Awe The
Days of Awe are
the 10 days from
the beginning of
Rosh Hashanah
to the end of
Yom Kippur. This
time, which
occurs in the
autumn, is
devoted to
introspection,
repentance, and
atonement for
sin. Hanukkah
(the Festival of
Lights) This
Jewish holiday is
not the "Jewish
Christmas" - it
historically
predates
Christmas and is
an entirely
different
celebration.
Passover
described in the
Bible
Ref:http://www.t
hemystica.org/m
ystica/articles/c/c
osmology_jewish.
html
god-judaism5287.html
•
Ref:
http://www.religion
facts.com/judaism/b
eliefs/human.htm
•
•
God created
everything, so God
must also have
created evil. If God
is all-powerful
(omnipotent), then
evil will be under
God’s control. If God
is all-loving then it is
reasonable to
believe that God
created evil for a
purpose.
Ref:
http://www.bbc.co.
uk/schools/gcsebite
size/rs/god/jugooda
ndevil2.shtml
salvation was
tied to that of
restoration for
Israel. It
included such
ideas as:
Rescue from
national
enemies.
Restoration of
national
symbols State of
shalom among
peoples
Inauguration of
the age to come
Liberation from
Rome
Restoration of
the Temple.
Free enjoyment
of their own
land
Inauguration of
a new covenant
between Israel
and her God
Ref:
http://www.yas
hanet.com/studi
es/romstudy/ro
m2.htm
Ref:
http://judais
m.about.com
/od/judaism
basics/a/Afte
rlife-InJudaismJewishBeliefs.htm
to the 613
mitzvot, Jewish
law
incorporates a
large body of
rabbinical rules
and laws. These
are considered
just as binding
as the mitzvot,
although the
punishments for
violating them
are less severe.
Another
difference is
that it is
possible,
though unlikely,
for the
rabbinical laws
to be changed,
but no rabbi can
change the
Torah mitzvot.
The rabbinical
portion of
halakhah falls
into three
groups: a
gezeirah,
takkanah, and
minhag. The
Synagogue The
Jewish house of
worship is a
(Pesach)
Passover is a
spring holiday in
Judaism, which
commemorating
the Exodus - the
liberation of the
Hebrews from
slavery in Egypt
in the time of
Moses. Purim
Purim is a joyful
spring Jewish
holiday that
features a festive
meal, gift-giving,
costumes, and
noisemakers in
the synagogue,
commemorating
Esther. Jewish
New Year (Rosh
Hashanah) Rosh
Hashanah means
"head of the
year" and is
commonly
known as the
Jewish New Year.
This Jewish
holiday is a
solemn and holy
time. Shabbat
(the Sabbath)
synagogue. The
synagogue
predates the
destruction of
the Second
Temple, but it
became central
to religious life
after the
Temple was
lost. The
synagogue
replaces ritual
sacrifice with
Torah readings,
prayer and
teaching. Jewish
Worship and
Prayer Guide to
characteristics
of Jewish
worship and
prayer, the
weekday and
Sabbath prayer
services and
etiquette for
visitors. Keeping
Kosher: Jewish
Dietary Laws
One of the most
well-known
Jewish religious
practices is that
of eating kosher
foods. The laws
Many people
know that the
Sabbath is
Saturday, the day
of the week on
which Jews are
forbidden to
work. From the
Jewish
perspective, the
Sabbath is not
about rules but
about joyful
celebration and
rest. Festival of
Booths (Sukkot)
Sukkoth is known
by several
names: the
"Festival of the
Ingathering"
(Khag ha-Asif),
the "Festival of
Booths" (Khag
ha-Sukkot); "The
Festival" (Khag),
and the "Season
of Rejoicing"
(Zeman
Simkhateinu).
15th of Shevat
(Tu B'Shevat) The
Jewish holiday Tu
B'Shevat, or the
of kashrut
(Jewish dietary
laws) may be
puzzling or
meaningless to
the outsider,
but they have
held great
meaning for the
Jewish people
throughout
their history.
Not only are
they an
opportunity for
obedience to
God, they also
strongly
contribute to
Jewish unity
and identity.
Ref:
http://www.reli
gionfacts.com/j
udaism/practice
s.htm#sthash.c3
hJDYje.dpuf
"15th of Shevat,"
is the New Year
for Trees. It is the
day chosen to
count the age of
a newly-planted
tree for the
purposes of
obeying a
Levitical law. The
Day of
Atonement (Yom
Kippur) Yom
Kippur,
celebrated on
the 10th day of
Tishri, is the most
important and
solemn of Jewish
holidays. Yom
Kippur is the
occasion on
which otherwise
non-observant
Jews are most
likely to attend
synagogue,
refrain from
work, or fast
Ref:
http://www.religi
onfacts.com/juda
ism/holidays.htm
Week
7
Christi
anity
Christian cosmological
concept has remained
a three-status universe:
heaven above, earth in
the middle, and hell
below. Christianity
inherited the Jewish
cosmology, but almost
from the beginning of
the religion, as early as
Paul's letters; the
adherents associated
Christ with the creative
work of the Father. He
is "the one Lord
through whom all
things exist and by
whom we are" (1
Corinthians 8:6). He is
the Wisdom of God (1
Corinthians 1:24), the
image of the invisible
God and the first-born
of all creatures; in
whom all things were
made and now exist
(Colossians 1:15).
Furthermore, creation
now has its end and
purpose in him, Christ.
Ref:http://www.themy
stica.com/mystica/artic
les/c/cosmology_christi
an.html
There Is Only One
God. Both the
New and Old
Testament declare
there is only one
God. Not just one
God for this
universe, or many
gods united in one
purpose, but one
God. Both Judaism
and Christianity
are clearly
monotheistic. The
God of Christianity
has a triune
nature, and His
character is
reflected in His
creation. The Bible
teaches two
truths: there is
only one God, and
God the Father,
Jesus and the Holy
Spirit are all that
same.
Ref:http://coldcas
echristianity.com/
2014/what-doeschristianity-sayabout-the-natureof-god/
Christianity teaches
that the universe
was created
through love by an
intelligent power,
namely the God of
the Bible. Creation
was purposeful,
not arbitrary, and
therefore the
universe is not
morally neutral,
but fundamentally
good. In this
purposeful
creation,
everything and
everyone is
intrinsically
valuable. God's
design or purpose
for creation
reflects God's
intention that all
creatures enjoy
perfect love and
justice. God works
in human history to
fulfill that purpose.
God created
human beings in
the divine image,
enabling humans
to have some
Christianity teaches
that the universe
was created through
love by an
intelligent power,
namely the God of
the Bible. Creation
was purposeful, not
arbitrary, and
therefore the
universe is not
morally neutral, but
fundamentally
good. In this
purposeful creation,
everything and
everyone is
intrinsically
valuable. God's
design or purpose
for creation reflects
God's intention that
all creatures enjoy
perfect love and
justice. God works
in human history to
fulfill that purpose.
God created human
beings in the divine
image, enabling
humans to have
some understanding
of God and of God's
vast and complex
In his letter to
the Romans,
Paul wrote, "For
the wages of sin
is death, but the
gift of God is
eternal life in
Christ Jesus our
Lord" (Romans
6:23). This single
sentence neatly
summarizes the
Christian
doctrine of
atonement,
which teaches
that the
reconciliation of
sinful humanity
with the God of
love was
accomplished by
God in the
sacrifice of His
son, Jesus Christ,
on the cross.
Christianity
teaches that God
hates sin and will
punish the
transgressor. It is
in the nature of
humans to sin,
so all people risk
separation from
God, the source
of all life and
love. Cut off
Christians
believe that
human
existence does
not end at
physical death.
There is a
world to come,
and the
consequences
of sin will
follow humans
there. As the
judge of all,
God will assess
each
individual's
relationship to
Christ; people
risk a sentence
of eternal
punishment
and spiritual
death, forever
separated from
God. A great
deal of
Christian art
and writing has
vividly depicted
the grotesque
torture and
suffering of
those damned
Most Christians
attend worship
services at
church on
Sundays, which
generally
include singing,
prayer and a
sermon. Most
churches have
a special ritual
for ordination,
or designating
a person fit for
a leadership
position in the
church. At
home, most
practicing
Christians pray
regularly and
many read the
Bible. Many
Christians will
have been
baptized,
either as an
infant or as an
adult, and
regularly
participate in
communion
(also called the
Lord's Supper
Epiphany
Baptism of the
Jesus
Candlemas
St. Valentine's
Day
Ash Wednesday
St. Patrick's Day
St. Joseph's Day
Palm Sunday
Maundy
(Holy)Thursday
Good Friday
Easter
Easter Monday
St. George's Day
St. James the
Great Day
Ascension of
Jesus
Pentecost
Trinity Sunday
Corpus Christi
Saints Peter and
Paul
Saint Vladimir
Lammas
The Assumption
of Mary
Holy Cross Day
Michael and All
Angels
All Hallows Eve
All Saints' Day
understanding of
God and of God's
vast and complex
design. The
purpose of life is to
love and serve God
in order to help
bring about God's
glorious plan for
creation.
Ref:
http://www.pathe
os.com/Library/Chr
istianity/Beliefs/Hu
man-Nature-andthe-Purpose-ofExistence.html#ixzz
3SX6Bi2ky
design. The purpose
of life is to love and
serve God in order
to help bring about
God's glorious plan
for creation.
from God, we
suffer anxiety
and despair in an
insignificant and
unhappy life. We
become hateful
toward others
and ourselves,
inflicting pain on
each other and
on the rest of
creation.
Ref:
http://www.patheo
s.com/Library/Christ
ianity/Beliefs/Huma
n-Nature-and-thePurpose-ofRef:
Existence.html#ixzz3 http://www.pa
SX6Bi2ky
theos.com/Lib
rary/Christiani
ty/Beliefs/Aft
erlife-andSalvation.htm
l#ixzz3SX7T
We60
to hell.
and the
Eucharist).
Ref:
Baptism and
http://www.pa communion
theos.com/Libr are considered
ary/Christianity sacraments /Beliefs/Afterlif sacred rituals
e-andinstituted by
Salvation.html# Christ himself.
ixzz3SX7xlAcc
The Catholic
Church
recognizes five
additional
sacraments, as
well as many
other
distinctive
practices that
are known as
"sacramental"
or "devotions"
and include
praying the
rosary and
going on
pilgrimages. –
Ref:
http://www.rel
igionfacts.com/
christianity/pra
ctices.htm#sth
ash.tLRUgwiU.
dpuf
All Souls' Day
Christ the King
Advent - first
Sunday
St. Andrew's Day
St. Nicholas Day
Christmas Eve
Christmas
Holy Innocents
Watch Night
Week
8
Islam
The Quran begins with
the celebration that Allah
is lord of all the worlds. It
means the universe is not
confined to earth and
solar system, that there
are other worlds and God
has created all. Therefore
he is exalted. The first
thing regarding the
creation of universe is
that the universe is
created by God. There are
many verses in the Holy
Quran that clearly explain
that the authority over
the entire universe
belongs to Allah, the
Creator and Sustainer of
the universe. He created
the universe then made
laws and systems. It is a
fundamental belief of
Islam because it saves
humans from wild goose
chases. Islam lays stress
on its believers to think
and ponder over the
creation of God.
Ref:
http://www.patheos.com
/Resources/AdditionalResources/Quran-and-AllTruth?offset=1&max=1
In the religion of
Islam, belief in Allah
is the single most
important tenet.
The Muslim name
for God is "Allah,"
which is simply
Arabic for "the (al)
God (Ilah)." Muslims
believe that
Muhammad was
Allah's chief servant
and messenger.
Muslims believe
that Allah is the allpowerful Creator of
a perfect, ordered
universe. He is
transcendent and
not a part of his
creation, and is
most often referred
to in terms and with
names that
emphasize his
majesty and
superiority
Ref;
http://www.religion
facts.com/islam/beli
efs/god.htm#sthash
.bOamsASY.dpuf
Islam is a
monotheistic religion
like Judaism and
Christianity, and like
those religions, it
teaches that God
created the whole
universe and
everything in it. God
is the master
designer who put
order and purpose in
his creation, and he
rules over it with
compassion and
mercy. Everything in
creation depends
upon God, the
Sustainer, for its
existence. The
purpose of all
creation, including
humans, is to love
and serve God.
The Islamic definitions
of good and evil are
based on the purposes
of creation and the
meaning of human
life. The ultimate goal
of human life is to
become perfected
spiritually through
belief in God (iman),
the knowledge of God
(marifatullah), the
love of God
(muhabbatullah), and
the worship of God
(ibada). Accordingly,
whatever brings a
person closer to God
and will benefit him in
the Next World is
good, and whatever
takes a person away
from God, and thus
incurs His anger is evil.
Ref:
http://www.patheos.
com/Library/Islam/B
eliefs/HumanNature-and-thePurpose-ofExistence.html#ixzz3
TC6IqiTu
Ref:
http://www.fountain
magazine.com/Issue/d
etail/Good-and-Evilin-Islam
In the religion of
Islam, the
purpose of life is
to live in a way
that is pleasing
to Allah so that
one may gain
Paradise. It is
believed that at
puberty, an
account of each
person's deeds is
opened, and this
will be used at
the Day of
Judgment to
determine his
eternal fate. The
Quran, the most
important text in
Islam, also
suggests a
doctrine of
divine
predestination.
{1} The Muslim
doctrine of
salvation is that
unbelievers
(kuffar, literally
"those who are
ungrateful") and
sinners will be
condemned, but
genuine
repentance
results in Allah's
forgiveness and
The religion of
Islam beliefs
about the
afterlife are very
important.
Muslims believe
in the continued
existence of the
soul and a
transformed
physical
existence after
death. Islam
teaches that
there will be a
day of judgment
when all humans
will be divided
between the
eternal
destinations of
Paradise and
Hell.
Ref:
http://www.relig
ionfacts.com/isla
m/beliefs/afterlif
e.htm#sthash.BY
WvhVga.dpuf
Prayer
Fasting
Pilgrimage
Charity
Purification
Animal sacrifice
Akikah. An
informal birth
ceremony. This
ceremony is not
practiced widely.
Shadada. The
marking of a
young Muslim’s
formal entry into
Islam. There is
no set age for
this rite, though
it is most
commonly
celebrated
during the
teenage years.
Marriage Ritual.
Witnesses
observe the
groom’s formal
offer of marriage
and the bride’s
acceptance of it.
There is no
elaborate
ceremony.
The waleemah is
the reception
which includes
music and
dancing.
Ramadan. This
Holy Festival takes
place in the ninth
month of the
Islamic calendar. It
is a time of fasting
and daily
repentance.
Lailat ul-Qadr –
The final 10 days of
Ramadan. Muslims
celebrate
Muhammad’s first
revelation.
Id al-Fitr – The
feast period just
after the month
long fast of
Ramadan. It lasts
for three days.
Id ul-Adha. Two to
three months after
Ramadan, animals
are slaughtered to
benefit the poor.
The purpose of the
the Id ul-Adha is to
celebrate the
faithfulness and
obedience of
Abraham.
Al-Isra Wal Miraj.
Celebrated on the
27th Day of the 7th
month in the
Islamic Calendar. It
marks
Muhammad’s
entrance into
Paradise upon
death.
Ref:
http://www.relig
ionfacts.com/isla
m/beliefs/salvati
on.htm#sthash.Y
mQGrlff.dpuf
Funerals
and
Mourning. This
includes
the
recitation of the
janazah (prayers
for the dead) at
the gravesite and
may include a
service at the
funeral
home.
Muslims do not
condone
cremation and
burial of the
dead takes place
within 24 hours
of death. The
official mourning
period for a
family member is
40 days.
Ref:
http://www.dive
rsiton.com/religi
on/main/islam/h
olydays-festivalsrituals.asp
journey from
Mecca.
Maulid al-Nabi.
Celebrates the
birth of
Muhammad.
Ref:
http://www.diversi
ton.com/religion/
main/islam/holyda
ys-festivalsrituals.asp
Week
9
Sikhis
m
The Sikh Gurus bring
their own mystical and
philosophical powers to
provide an insight into
the origin of Existence.
For the Sikh Gurus, all
Existence is unified
into a singular
“Godhead”, sacred,
compassionate,
unchanging and
blissful, Ik Oaangkaar.
There is no room for
any dualistic or
polytheistic doctrines.
According to Sikh
world-view there was a
time when the world
had not yet appeared
and there will be a
time when the world
will again disappear.
Says Guru Arjan, “kai
bar pasario pasar sada
sada ik akankar—Many
a time you have
projected this
creation, yet you
always remained the
only formless One”
(GG, 276).
Ref:
http://www.sikh.co.uk
/cosmology/index.html
Sikhism preaches
a God who is
nameless and
formless and the
entire human
existence is
explained as the
creation of that
one God. Sikhs
focus their lives
around their
relationship with
God, and being a
part of the Sikh
community. The
Sikh ideal
combines action
and belief. To live
a good life a
person should do
good deeds as
well as meditating
on God. Sikh
spirituality is
centred round this
need to
understand and
experience God,
and eventually
become one with
God.
Ref:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/re
ligion/religions/sikhism/b
eliefs/beliefs.shtml
Sikhs perceive
•
human life as an
opportunity to merge
with the divine will.
However, the core
•
problem is that
human judgment is
occluded by a false
•
sense of self. Sikhism
teaches that Kartar
created the universe
in one command and
cares for it. His
command set the
world into being, and
his orders run it.The
Sikh ideal for human
life is to live within
•
the divine will.
Humans should enjoy
life amidst
remembrance of
Kartar and be
disciplined by prayer,
self-restraint, and
•
moral purity.
Ref:
http://www.patheos.
com/Library/Sikhism/
Beliefs/HumanNature-and-thePurpose-ofExistence.html#ixzz3
TqPSXbD7
•
Everything that happens
is Hukam, the will of
God. People should live
their lives in obedience
to God’s will.
God created everything
and gave people free
will.
Suffering is not inflicted
directly by God but is
permitted by God as a
test of courage and faith.
Suffering is appreciated
for the good that it often
brings out in humanity
eg, compassion. It is a
person’s own actions
that are responsible for
their suffering.
There is a divine spark or
soul, which is part of
God, in everyone. This
spark or soul is reabsorbed into God when
a person is finally
released from the cycle
of births and deaths.
The soul lives through
many different forms of
existence before being
born into a human body.
There are 8,400,000
different forms of life,
and many souls have to
travel though many of
these before they can
finally reach God.
Only humans know the
difference between right
and wrong, and can
make moral choices. So
Sikhs do not
believe in a time of
judgment during
which human souls
are rewarded by
entrance to
heaven or
punished with an
eternity in hell.
Nor do they
believe in a
resurrection of the
human body.
Rather, judgment
operates through
the process of
karma. Sikhs are
taught not to
practice ascetic
rituals like fasting
that isolate them
from the rest of
humanity. Ethical
practices and
commitment to
social justice also
play a role. Finally,
it is deemed
important to
remember one's
commitment to
the one God at all
times; chanting his
name can be a
conduit to bring
the believer closer
to God.
Ref:
http://people.opp
osingviews.com/si
khism-salvation4201.html
Sikhs do not
believe in an
afterlife in either
Heaven or Hell.
Sikhism teaches
that the soul
reincarnates
when the body
dies. Sikhs
believe that
good, or bad
actions, in this
life, determine
the life form into
which a soul
takes rebirth. At
the time of
death, demonic
ego centered
souls may be
destined to
suffer great
agonies, and
pain, in the dark
underworld of
Narak.
Ref:
http://sikhism.a
bout.com/od/sik
hism101/qt/Sik
h_Afterlife.htm
Nam Karan,
Naming of a
Child
Amrit Sanskar,
Baptism
Funeral
Ceremony
Akhand Path
Gurpurbs
Vaisakhi
Bandi Chhor
Divasi
Maghi
Hola Mohalla
Sangrand
Practices, rituals
and festivals play
a very significant
part in a
religion. It
allows to the
people to come
together as one
and celebrate
what they
believe in. Most
religious festivals
are symbolic and
honour a God or
a certain
belief. A
practice, ritual or
festival can
strengthen a
person's faith,
remind them of
the commitment
Gurpurbs. The
marking of
important
anniversaries
relating to the
birth or death
(martyrdom) of a
Guru. This includes
the full recitation
of the Guru Granth
Sahib as well as the
singing of hymns
and Sikh lectures.
Baisakhi. The day
is celebrated
around the 13th
April. It is the
celebration of the
founding of the
Khalsa Order and
Sikh nation. Many
Sikhs choose to be
initiated on this
day. Often, a
religious street
procession marks
this key event.
Bandi Chhor. Sikhs
commemorate the
release of Guru
Hargobind (Sixth
Guru) from false
imprisonment. It
coincides with the
Indian Festival of
Lights (Divali)
between the end
of October and
•
it is only when the soul is
in a human being that
the cycle can be broken.
Freedom from this cycle
of rebirth is called mukti.
Good actions do lead to
good karma. However,
Guru Nanak preached
that the birth is due to a
person’s karma, but the
final liberation (mukti) is
due to God’s grace.
Ref:http://www.bbc.co.
uk/schools/gcsebitesiz
e/rs/god/sigoodandevil
rev2.shtml
that they have
made to their
religion and
allow them to
enjoy the
“perks” of their
beliefs.
Ref:
http://brockbake
r.pbworks.com/
w/page/8688033
/Sikhism%3A%20
Practices%20Ritu
als%20and%20F
estivals
mid-November. A
Muslim saint laid
the foundation
stone of the
Golden Temple,
also on this day.
Maghi. This
celebration occurs
around the middle
of January and
marks the
martyrdom of forty
Sikhs at the hands
of the Mughal
army.
Hola Mohalla. On
this day Sikhs
practice military
exercises, stage
mock battles,
perform martial
arts and organize
sports
competitions. This
is to keep the
martial skills and
spirit alive.
Ref:
http://www.diversi
ton.com/religion/
main/sikhism/cere
moniescelebrationsfestivals.asp
Week
10
Moder
n
Religi
ons
Bahá'í cosmology is the
understanding of reality
in the Bahá'í Faith, and
for which reality is
divided into three
divisions. The first
division is God, who is
preexistent and on whom
the rest of creation is
contingent. The second
division is God's logos,
which is the realm of
God's commands and
grace. This realm
pervades all created
things. The
Manifestations of God,
messengers from God,
are appearances of the
logos in the physical
world. The third division
is creation, which
includes the physical
world. Creation is not
seen as confined to the
material universe, and
individual material
objects, such as the Earth,
are seen to come into
being at particular
moment and then
subsequently break down
into their constituent
parts. Thus, the current
universe is seen as a
result of a long-lasting
process, evolving to its
current state. In Bahá'í
Bahá'ís believe that
there is only one
God, the Creator of
the universe. This
one God has
absolute control
over His creation
(omnipotence) as
well as complete
knowledge of it
(omniscience).
Bahá'u'lláh
emphasized that
God is entirely selfsufficient and
independent of all
His creation. He has
no need of human
worship or
allegiance, so the
obedience he asks
of humankind is
entirely for the
benefit of
individuals and
motivated only by
his love for them.
Bahá'ís teach that
although we may
have different
concepts of God's
nature and call Him
by different names
– Allah or Yahweh,
God or Brahma
Ref:
According to Bahá'í
teachings, human
nature is
fundamentally
spiritual and the
essential identity of
each person is
defined by an
invisible, rational,
and everlasting soul.
Although
undetectable by
physical instruments,
the soul shows itself
through the qualities
of character that we
associate with each
person. The soul is
the focal point for
love and compassion,
for faith and courage,
and for other such
"human" qualities
that cannot be
explained solely by
thinking of a human
being as an animal or
as a sophisticated
organic machine
Ref:
http://www.religionf
acts.com/bahai/belie
fs/human_nature.ht
m#sthash.tqvM4eAS.
dpuf
The Bahá'í Faith
rejects the concept of
"original sin" or any
doctrine that teaches
people are basically
evil or have
intrinsically evil
elements in their
nature. All the forces
and faculties within us
are God-given and
thus potentially
beneficial to our
spiritual development.
However, if a person,
through his own Godgiven free will, turns
away from this force
or fails to make the
necessary effort to
develop his spiritual
capacities, the result is
imperfection. `Abdu'lBahá said that "evil is
imperfection." The
Bahá'í Faith denies the
existence of Satan, a
devil, or an "evil
force." Evil does not
have independence
existence, but is
rather the absence of
good, just as darkness
is the absence of light
and cold is the
absence of heat. Just
as the sun is the
unique source of all
Baha’is do not
believe that
salvation is a
free gift of
God. Salvation
is seen as a
collaboration
between God
and man. This
collaboration is
seen as being
initiated by
God, but it is
one that man
must
participate
in. Salvation is
not seen as a
one-time
event, but it is
seen as a
process that
involves both
the actions of
God and the
individual.
Ref
https://carm.or
g/the-bahaifaith-andsalvation
Bahá'ís believe in
an afterlife in
which the soul is
separated from
the body. At
death, according
to the Bahá'í
faith, the soul
begins a spiritual
journey towards
God through
many planes of
existence.
Progress on this
journey towards
God is likened to
the idea of
"heaven." If the
soul fails to
develop, one
remains distant
from God. This
condition of
remoteness from
God can in some
sense be
understood as
"hell." Thus
Bahá'ís do not
regard heaven
and hell as literal
places but as
different states
of being during
one's spiritual
journey toward
or away from
God.
Sacred Time
Sacred time in the
Baha'i Faith may
be divided into
the personal,
which includes
such activities as
prayer and
meditation, and
the communal,
which includes
the celebration of
Holy Days.
Sacred Space
Baha'is have a
number of holy
places, including
the shrines of the
central figures of
the religion and
places associated
with their lives.
There are also
Houses of
Worship
(Mashriqu'lAdhkar) where
prayers are
recited and
scriptures read.
Rites and
Ceremonies
There are few
rites and rituals in
the Baha'i faith.
There are,
however, several
practices of the
Baha'i community
that create what
Naw-Ruz (New
year) 21 March
Ridvan - first day
21 April
Ridvan - ninth
day 29 April
Ridvan - twelfth
day 2 May
The Bab's
declaration of his
mission 23 May
Passing of
Baha'u'llah 29
May
Martyrdom of
the Bab 9 July
Birth of the Bab
20 October
Birth of
Baha'u'llah 12
November
Ref:
http://bahailibrary.com/book
s/hinduism/ch7.h
tm
belief, the whole universe
is a sign of God and is
dependent on him and
humanity was created to
know God and to serve
his purpose.
Ref:
Lepain, J.M. (2010)
[1990]. The Tablet of All
Food: The Hierarchy of
the Spiritual Worlds and
the Metaphoric Nature of
Physical Reality. Baha’i
Studies Review 16, pp.
43–60. doi:
10.1386/bsr.16.43/1.
http://www.religion
facts.com/bahai/bel
iefs/god.htm#sthas
h.ertmotUb.dpuf
life in a solar system,
so ultimately is there
only one force or
power in the universe,
the force we call God.
Ref:
http://www.religionfa
cts.com/bahai/beliefs/
evil.htm#sthash.fwfkq
PvP.dpuf
Ref:
http://www.relig
ionfacts.com/ba
hai/beliefs/afterl
ife.htm#sthash.
MPaARBSk.dpuf
may be called a
Baha'i culture or
ethos.
Worship and
Devotion in Daily
Life
Baha'u'llah gave a
number of laws
and obligations
that were
designed to
develop the
spiritual life of
the individual.
These include the
obligation to
perform daily
prayer, reading of
the scriptures,
and meditation.
Symbolism
The writings of
Baha'u'llah are
rich in symbolism
and imagery.
Some of this is
the symbolism of
the Abrahamic
religions, which
form the
background to
the Baha'i Faith,
but many of
these symbols are
used in new
ways.
REF
http://www.patheos.
com/Library/Bahai/Ri
tual-WorshipDevotion-Symbolism