The Major Religons of the World
Coppell High school World Geography
Hinduism- the religion that is culture in 80% of India
Hinduism, also known as Sanatan Dharm, (‘Sanatan’ means eternal and ‘Dharm’ means those actions) is unique among the world religions for it has no founder or date of origin. Hinduism is simply the religion of the people of India, which has gradually developed over four thousand years. The origins and authors of its sacred texts are largely unknown, though the writings within the Vedas and the Pandishads are widely validated as reference material.
Hinduism's roots date back as far as 2000 BC, making it one of the oldest surviving religions. The most ancient writings have yet to be deciphered, so the earliest periods scholars rely on educated guesses based on archaeology and the study of contemporary texts. some basic beliefs are that of reincarnation, the proper reward for actions(karma), sattvic practices such as austerity, and realization. There is a ritualistic holiday called Holi where colored powders are thrown in the air and at the participants, as well as the holiday of the day of Mahashivaratri is spent in meditation on shiva and fasting (some may take water or fruit) within temple walls. There is also the Ceremony of the Sacred Thread which is similar to the Jewish bar Mitzvah, for the adolescent goes from child to man.
Hunduism is a monotheistic religion, Krishn is the absolute form of God. Though she is of many faces (including male and animal), she has three main personalities, as they are sometimes referred to; they are, Brahma the god of creation (of the universe), Vishnu the goddess of preserving the universe, and Shiva is the goddess of destruction.
Holi Festival
Hinduism
God
Om (or as some pronounce, Aum)
The Faces of Krishn
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Buddhism
The Wheel
Buddhism
The founder of Buddhism, the buddha or the "enlightened one" was, Siddhartha Gautama. Buddhism is neither monotheistic or polytheistic for they believe in not a God, but in the humans ability to achieve enlightenment. The purpose of their life is to develop compassion for all living beings without discrimination and to work for their good, happiness, peace; and to develop wisdom leading to the realization of the Ultimate Truth and the achievement of Nirvana. There are four Noble Truths that lead to the achievement of Nirvana, or the end of suffering, they are described and named in the video below. The texts that were realized as true was vast, but the earliest texts of buddhist teachings were in the Tripitaka. but they also have the sutras that number of the thousands.
Rituals and practices of Buddhism are Meditation, (or central focus), Mantras (the sacred sounds), Mudras (symbolic hand gestures), and the prayer wheel (reciting Mantras with the turn of a wheel)
Major Holidays of buddhism are Vesak (buddha Day) is the birthday of the buddha, celebrated on the first full moon in May, the festival of the Floating bowl, and the festival of the tooth.
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Islam
The major holidays of the Islamic communities are Ramadan ( the holy month), Eid Al-Fitr (Festival of breaking the fast), Hijra (Islamic new year), and Eid Al-Adha (festival of the sacrifice).
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Judaism
Judaism
Judaism is a set of beliefs and practices originating in the Hebrew Bible, also known as the Tanakh, and also told of in the Talmud. Jews consider Judaism as a expression of the covenantal relationship God developed with the Children of Israel (originally a group of twelve tribes claiming descent from the Biblical patriarch Jacob) and later, the Jewish people.
Judaism claims a historical continuity spanning more than 3000 years. It is one of the oldest monotheistic religions. They believe in a God of faith, forgiveness, love, compassion, and acceptance. Its texts, traditions, and values have inspired later Abrahamic religions, including Christianity, Islam and the Baha'i Faith.
Holidays of Judaism Rosh Hashanah (Jewish new year), Yom Kippur (Day of atonement), sukkot (the Festival of booths), and Hanukkah (the Festival of Lights).
There is a special ritual that is performed at Hanukkah, the lighting of the Menorah.
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Christianity
There are dozens of denominations within Christianity, but the most commonly looked upon are Catholic, Baptist, Methodist, Church of England, and Anglican. All denominations believe in the Holy Spirit, and Jesus Christ, but they interpret different sections of the holy text within the bible and ideas differently, causing a small but distinct gap in beliefs. Rituals include the ritual of baptism, which is the sprinkling or submersion on a person in water, offering, you give 10% of what you have to the church as a sacrifice to God and all that he gives you, and communion or Eucharist, a ceremonial meal of bread and wine (for younger participants grape juice) to commemorate the sacrifice of Jesus on the Cross.
Holidays include Christmas (the birth of Jesus), Easter (the death and entombment of Jesus), Thanksgiving (the time to give thanks for what God has given you),and sundays, though sundays are not a holiday they are Gods day and a day of rest.
Bibliography
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Web. 13 Nov. 2013
<http://www.religionfacts.com/hinduism/holidays.htm>.
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<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kaaba>.
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<http://www.islamreligion.com/>.
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<http://www.crystalinks.com/judaism.html>.