*RELIGIONReligare- “relationship”

- to “bind back”* is an organized system of beliefs, ceremonies, practices, and worship that centers on a supreme God or a deity.

* sum total of belief and practices.

* Generally, people who follow some form of religion believes that a divine power created the world and influences their lives.

* is a way of life of a particular group of people.

*REASONwhy peoplepracticereligion?

* It is a part of heritage or their culture, tribe, or family.* It gives many people a feeling of security because they believe that a divine power watches over them.* For help or protection.* It promises them salvation and either happiness or the chance to improve themselves in a life after death.* Brings a sense of individual fulfillment and gives meaning to life.* It provides answers to questions of life such as:

[a] What is the purpose of life?[b] What is the final destiny of man?[c] What is the difference between right and wrong?

* They enjoy a sense of kinship with their fellow believers (fellowship).

JainismConfucianism

Shinto

Judaism Hinduism

Buddhism

Islam Taoism

Christianity

Eight Major Religions of the World

Sikhism

*CHIEFCHARACTERISTICS of religion

[I.] BELIEF IN THE EXISTENCE OF A GOD OR A DEITYMost religions are theistic. They teach that deities govern or greatly

influence the actions of human beings as well as events in nature.

A. Forms of Beliefs[1] THEISM- generally believes in the existence of a God.[2] ATHEISM- believes that there is no God that exists.[3] AGNOSTICISM- say that the existence of a deity cannot

be proven or disproved.

B. Forms of Theism[1] PANTHEISM- believes that everything is God, everything is a

divine manifestation of God, and finally that nothing really exists that is not God.

[2] PANENTHEISM-believes that God is everywhere. God’s presence can be felt anywhere if only we open our eyes to this reality. God is present in His creation but Creation is not God.

[3] POLYTHEISM- those who believe in two or more Gods. The ancient Greeks and Romans have Polytheistic religions.Examples: Aphrodite- Goddess of Love; Mars- Roman God of War

[4] HENOTHEISM- worships a supreme God but does not deny the existence and power of the other Gods.

[5] MONOTHEISM- teaches that there is only one God.

*CHIEFCHARACTERISTICS of religion

[II.] DOCTRINE OF SALVATIONMost religions stress that salvation is the highest goal of the faithful

and that all followers should try to achieve.A doctrine of salvation is based on the belief that individual are in

some form of danger from which they must be saved.

[III.] CODE OF CONDUCTCode of conduct is a set of moral teachings and values that all

religions have in some form. It tells believers how to conduct their lives. It teaches them how to act toward the deity and towards one another.

*CHIEFCHARACTERISTICS of religion

[IV.] THE USE OF SACRED STORIES CONTAINED IN THE SACRED BOOKSSacred stories or myths are often used by religious leaders to

dramatize the teaching of their faith.

[V.] RELIGIOUS RITUALSRituals include the acts and ceremonies by which believers appeal

to and serve God, deities, and other sacred powers. The performance of a ritual is often called “service”, the most common form of ritual is prayer. Through prayer, a believer addresses worship and thoughts to an object of worship.

Prayer includes request, expressions of thanksgivings, confession of sins, and praise.

*CHIEFCHARACTERISTICS of religion

BUDDHISM

- The “Dharma wheel”, symbolizes Buddhist law, endless cycles of birth and rebirth. Eight spokes represent the “Eightfold path” to enlightenment- 6%- estimated followers, Buddhist- It teaches a way by which men and women, in a devout and confident spirit, maybe able either to acquire that state or perfect liberation, or attain, by their own efforts or through higher help

BUDDHISM

- Siddhartha Gautama, Hindu around 563 BCE, in Lumbini (now Nepal);16- married; 29- after the birth of his son, left his family; 35- realised ‘Enlightenment’ and became a Buddha (The “Awakened One” or “Enlightened One”); 80- died

BUDDHISM

- Buddhism offers clear rules for its followers- Four Noble Truths - [1] Life involves suffering (dukkha); [2] The cause of suffering is craving and desire (tanha); [3] To cease suffering is to renounce craving and desire; [4] Desire can be eliminated by following the Eightfold Path

BUDDHISM

- The Eightfold Path to liberation involves:[1] Right viewpoint, [2] Right aspiration, [3] Right speech,[4] Right behavior, [5] Right occupation, [6] Right effort,[7] Right mindfulness, [8] Right meditation

BUDDHISM

-CONTRIBUTIONS TO GLOBAL RESPONSIBILITY[1] Interrelatedness rather the Individualism

- Greed and self-centeredness is the cause of much suffering in our world. Not happy- compete against each other. Ergo, live and act and be together, in a relationships of care and concern.

- A nation that is not based on competition, but based on compassion (being with).

BUDDHISM

-CONTRIBUTIONS TO GLOBAL RESPONSIBILITY[2] The Need for Possibility of Personal Transformation

- “Your efforts and plans are very important. But, you will not be able to bring about peace in the world, unless you bring about peace within yourself. And to do that, you have to meditate.

- Meditation is the key to mind cleansing and thought clarity.

BUDDHISM

[FOUNDER] Gautama Buddha, Siddhartha Gautama (Real Name)[PLACE OF ORIGIN] India[BOOKS/SACRED TEXTS]Tripitaka- known as the Three Baskets divided into three parts namely:

The Book of Discipline (VinayaPitaka)The Discourses of Lord Buddha (SutthaPitaka)The Book of Psychological Analysis & Synthesis

(AdhidhammaPitaka)[GOD/S] Dharma[BRANCHES]Hinayana (Lesser Vehicle; Conservative), Mahayana (Greater Vehicle; Liberal)

GODBuddhism denies the existence of a personal God.

JESUS CHRISTHe was a good teacher, less important than Buddha.

SINSin is anything which hinders human beings’ progress. Man or

woman is responsible for his or her own sin.

SALVATIONMan and woman is saved by self-effort only.

HINDUISM

- The “OM”, symbolizes the sound of the universe- 15%- estimated followers, Hindu- It contemplates the divine mystery and expresses it through an inexhaustible abundance of myths and through searching philosophical inquiry- They seek freedom from the anguish of our human condition either through ascetical practices or profound meditation or a flight to God with love and trust

HINDUISM

- Oldest living religion in the world; traceable to the Indus Valley c. 4000-2200 BC- In Hinduism, the Divine manifests itself in countless Gods that we are the reflections, emanations of absoluteness, “Brahman”- The divine trinity or Trimutri brings together these aspects of Brahman- Brahma, the Creator, Vishnu, the Sustainer and Shiva, the Destroyer

HINDUISM

- Each believer will undergo the process and series of re-incarnations or rebirths. These rebirths are as follows:- A person’s Atman (soul) may begin as a worm, then through death & rebirth it goes high and higher in the order of things until it becomes a human being. Once the atman becomes a real human body, it must progress by attaining higher social classes. The human being attains higher social calls by following dharma

HINDUISM

-CONTRIBUTIONS TO GLOBAL RESPONSIBILITY[1] The Sacredness of Creation

- The world is a sacred reality. They see the world as God’s body. [2] The Value of Diversity

- Diversity is as essential as unity. The one Divine is expressed in millions ways. Variety is not only the spice of life; it is also the source of life.

HINDUISM

-CONTRIBUTIONS TO GLOBAL RESPONSIBILITY[3] The Challenge of Nonviolence

- Nonviolence comes from Hinduism through Mahatma Gandhi. Our shared oneness with the divine forbids us to be violent to others or to one another.

HINDUISM

[FOUNDER] No[PLACE OF ORIGIN] Indus Valley, India[BOOKS/SACRED TEXTS] Vedas (Eternal Truth), Sama Veda (Verses for Chanting) Yajur Veda (Ritual Instructions), Atharva Veda (Mystical Verse on Healing Matters), Epics (Mahabharata, BhagavadGita)[GOD/S] Brahma (The Creator), Vishnu (The Sustainer/Preserver), Shiva (The Destroyer)[BRANCHES] Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism, Hari Krishna

GODBrahman is formless, abstract, eternal being, and without

attributes; takes form in a trinity as well as millions of lesser gods.

JESUS CHRIST

Christ is just one of many incarnations or sons of God.

SINGood and evil are relative terms. Whatever helps is good,

whatever hinders is vice.

SALVATIONMan is justified through devotion, meditation, good works,

and self-control.

ISLAM

- The “HILAL” (Crescent moon), symbolically guides people and illuminates their lives- 22%- estimated followers, Moslem/Muslim-“those who submit”- The word “Islam” means “submission” to Allah-Muhammed (570-632), founder- To be a muslim is to submit to Allah, to be Allah’s representative or Khalifa

ISLAM

- Their basic beliefs are contain in the Five (5) Pillars[1] There is no God but Allah and Muhammed is his prophet (Shahadah) [2] Pray five times a day (Salat)[3] Almsgiving (Zakat)[4] Fasting during the day of Ramadan (Sawm)[5] Pilgrimage to Mecca (Hajj)

ISLAM

-CONTRIBUTIONS TO GLOBAL RESPONSIBILITY[1] Realistic Optimism

- In the face of global poverty, violence, and injustice, Islam offers the world a message of what we might call R.O.[2] Religion and Politics

- Religion must influence politics. Religion has something to say to the state. According to Qur’an, it is meant not just to change one’ heart but also to change one’s society. “Religion is “something between God and the government.”

ISLAM

[FOUNDER] Mohammed[PLACE OF ORIGIN] Mecca,Saudi Arabia[BOOKS/SACRED TEXTS]Qu’ran (The Words of Allah), Hadith (A Collection of the Sayings of Mohammed)[GOD/S] Allah[BRANCHES] Sunni Muslims (Mainstream)- Traditionalists, Shi’ite Muslims (dispute over the succession)

GODThere is no God but Allah.

JESUS CHRIST

Jesus Christ was only a man, a prophet equal to Adam, Noah, Abraham, and Moses, all of whom are below Muhammed in

importance.

SINSin is a failure to do one’s religious duties as outlined in the

Five Pillars of faith.

SALVATIONMan or woman earns his or her own salvation; pays for his or

her own sins.

JUDAISM

- Symbolizes the Shield of David, “Menorah” the seven branched candlestick which originally stood in the temple of Jerusalem - 4%- estimated followers, Jew- Jews were first called Hebrews- They believed that God made a contract (Covenant) with Abraham- important ancestor- Jews see themselves as God’s “Chosen People”

JUDAISM

- Christians acknowledge that the beginnings of faith are found already among the ancestors of Israel, Moses, and the prophets -The church should not forget that she received the OT from the Jewish people; she must also recall that the early disciples who proclaimed Jesus were Jews- They were held responsible for the death of Christ- The 10 Commandments outlines the behavior of Jews that all their rules come directly from a sense of obeying God’s will

JUDAISM

- The “Six (6) Rights”: [1] Right to life; [2] Right to possessions; [3] Right to clothing; [4] Right to shelter; [5] Right to work; [6] Right to liberty-The Old Testament Bible is their official book specially the Torah or the “five books of Moses”- Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Deuteronomy and the book of Numbers

JUDAISM

-CONTRIBUTIONS TO GLOBAL RESPONSIBILITY[1] Hope

- Judaism keeps a message of optimism and hope alive. No matter the suffering maybe, things can be solved.[2] Human Responsibility

- Jews remind us that we can rely on the presence of God, it also reminds us that God is relying on us. The Torah constantly calls Jews to act responsibly as coworkers of God in bringing creation to even greater beauty.

JUDAISM

-CONTRIBUTIONS TO GLOBAL RESPONSIBILITY[3] Centrality of Justice

- Yahweh is not only a God who created the world but also a God who calls for justice within this world. Humanity will never attain shalom (peace) without humans who act for justice.

JUDAISM

[FOUNDER] Abraham[PLACE OF ORIGIN] Palestine, Israel[BOOKS/SACRED TEXTS] Bible (OT), Torah (5 Books of Moses), Mishnah (Ethical and Ritual teachings), Talmud (Collection of Traditions)[GOD/S] YHWH (Too holy to be spoken)[BRANCHES] Conservative Judaism, Humanistic Judaism, Orthodox Judaism, Reform Judaism, Mystical Judaism, Zionism

GODThere is only one God. They called their God Yahweh or Elohim.

JESUS CHRIST

While some Jews may accept Jesus as a good teacher of ethics, they do not accept Him as Messiah.

SIN

Man or woman is not born in original sin nor is he or she born good. Human beings are born free, with the capacity to choose

between evil and good. Each is accountable for himself or herself.

SALVATIONAnyone, Jew or not, may gain salvation through commitment to

the one God and moral living.

CHRISTIANITY

- The “Cross”, is a symbol of the Crucifixion of Jesus, suffering, and the deliverance from suffering- 33%- estimated followers, Christian- Christianity maybe likened to a tree with many branches- Christianity comprises 1/3 of the world population (33%).- Within Christianity, the following churches are: Roman Catholics- 50%, Protestants- 21%, Orthodox- 11%, Anglicans- 4%, others- 14% of the world population

CHRISTIANITY

- How this division within Christianity happened?- Disagreements on issues mostly about interpretation of the

Bible and on the basis of faith- The 10 Commandments spell out Christian ethics- The emphasis is salvation - Christians believe that God is actively interested in them and that by worship they can receive guidance and release from their sins

CHRISTIANITY

-CONTRIBUTIONS TO GLOBAL RESPONSIBILITY[1] Jesus’ Ethic of Love

- Jesus radically focused on “love of neighbors” as the central concern not only to Christianity but to all religions. The whole law is summed up in a single commandment: “You shall love your neighbors as yourself”. Jesus teaches us to care and to share, to be able to forgive and to repent, to practice mercy and renunciation, and to give help.

CHRISTIANITY

-CONTRIBUTIONS TO GLOBAL RESPONSIBILITY[2] A House of all Nations

- The Roman Catholic and the Protestant Churches are united in witnessing how the world can become one home for all nations.

- Hopefully, his example will continue to inspire us, as we create a home where all are welcomed because we can share with one another the light we all received from the one who received many names, like God, Allah, Brahman, and so many others.

CHRISTIANITY

[PLACE OF ORIGIN] Israel[BOOKS/SACRED TEXTS] Bible & Tradition [GOD/S] Trinity (God the Father, Son J.C., Holy Spirit)[BRANCHES] Catholic, Protestant, Lutheran, Anglican, Methodist, and Baptist

ROMAN CATHOLIC

GODBelieve in One God, revealed Himself in Three personages

(Trinity).

JESUS CHRISTJesus Christ is both God and man (Jn 1:14).

SINAll men and women are born in sin and naturally separated

from God.

SALVATIONSalvation is secured by faith plus good works.

ORTHODOX

GODAccepts the mystery of the Holy Trinity.

JESUS CHRISTChrist is God that He died for humanity’s sins.

SINBy nature man or woman is sinful, spiritually dead, and that his or

her only hope of salvation is faith in Christ’s death and resurrection.

SALVATIONWhen Christ died on the cross, he rendered satisfaction to the

Holy standard of God and paid the penalty for the sins of all men and women.

PROTESTANT

GODAccepts the doctrine of the Trinity.

JESUS CHRISTThey believe the virginal birth and divinity of Jesus. However,

devotion to the Virgin Mary is not part of their liturgical services.

SINAgrees with Catholics that all men and women are born in sin and

naturally separated from God.

SALVATIONGod gives eternal life when the believer has faith in Jesus Christ,

his or her own personal Saviour.