Religions and

Belief Systems
Today’s Question:
Wha
t do you already know
about religion?
 How many religions can y
o
u
name?
 What is the most
widelypracticed
religion?
 RELIGION
 Religions and belief ste
y
msare
important parts of cultures
around the world.
 A religion is a set of b
e
lie
fs
and practices that is often
focused on one or more
deities, or gods.
 Major world religions
include Christianity,
Hinduism, Islam, Buddhism,
Judaism, and Sikhism.
 Monotheistic
 Beliefs in one deity.
 Examples: Christianity, I
la
s
m,
and Judaism.
 Polytheistic
 Have many d
e
ite
s
.
 Example: H
in
d
u
m
is
 All Religions
 Have a set of basic beliefs.
 Scriptures (sacred texts) th
a
t
communicate the beliefs of a
religion.
 Bible-Christianity; Koran-Islam;
Torah-Judaism
 Code of conduct, or
beliefsabout right and
wrong.
 Spread of Religions
 Have spread by trade a
n
d
migration.
 Also by missionaries.
 Spread of Religion

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bd5hvXgI_bQ
6 MajorReligions
World Religions
 Buddhism
 Founder: Siddhartha
Gautama,the Buddha.
 Followers: 4 million
 Basic Beliefs:
People reach
enlightenment, or wisdom, by
following the Eightfold Path
and understanding the Four
Noble Truths.
 Hinduism
 Founder: Unknown
 Followers: 860 million
 Basic Beliefs: Souls
continue to be reborn. The cycle
of rebirth ends only when the soul
achieves enlightenment, or
freedom from earthly desires.
 Christianity
 Founder: Jesus of N
a
z
re
th
 Followers: 2.3 billion
 Basic Beliefs:
There isone God,
and Jesus is the only Son of God.
Jesus was crucified but was
resurrected. Followers reach
salvation by following the
teachings of Jesus.
 Islam
 Founder: The Prophet
M
m
a
h
u
md
a
 Followers: 1.6 billion
 Basic Beliefs: There is
o
n
eGod.
Followers must follow the Five Pillars
of Islam in order to achieve
salvation.
 Judaism
 Founder: Abraham
 Followers: 15 million
 Basic Beliefs:
There isone God.
People serve God by living
according to his teachings. God
handed down the Ten
Commandments to guide human
behavior.
 Sikhism
 Founder: Guru
Nanak
 Followers: 25 million
 Basic Beliefs:
There isone God.
Souls are reborn. The goal is to
achieve union with God, which
a person does by acting
selflessly, meditating, and
helping others.
Explanation of the 6 Religions

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PHlykGFCSJw 8:10