World Religions Founders etc

1. World ReligionsWorld Religions

2. Five Main World ReligionsFive Main World Religions
•ChristianityChristianity 2 billion followers2 billion followers
•JudaismJudaism 14 million followers14 million followers
•IslamIslam 1.3 billion followers1.3 billion followers
•HinduismHinduism 900 million900 million
•BuddhismBuddhism 360 million360 million

3. BuddhismBuddhism

4. Siddharta Guatama founder of Siddharta Guatama founder of
the Religionthe Religion
•Born in the north of India.Born in the north of India.
•Son of a Rich Hindu noble man who Son of a Rich Hindu noble man who
wanted to protect Siddharta from the wanted to protect Siddharta from the
world. As a result the young Siddharta world. As a result the young Siddharta
was never allowed to leave the Palacewas never allowed to leave the Palace
•Sidharta married and had one Son.Sidharta married and had one Son.

5. SiddhartaSiddharta
•One day he got to take a trip outside the One day he got to take a trip outside the
palace and outside he saw four things that palace and outside he saw four things that
were to change his life.were to change his life.
•An old manAn old man
•A sick manA sick man
•A dead man A dead man
•A monkA monk

6. Inspiring VisionInspiring Vision
•He was confused . He wondered how the He was confused . He wondered how the
monk could be so poor, yet so content.monk could be so poor, yet so content.
•He left his wife and Son and joined a He left his wife and Son and joined a
group of monks. He fasted vigorously group of monks. He fasted vigorously
trying to find answers about life. This trying to find answers about life. This
proved to be bad for his health.proved to be bad for his health.

7. Inspiring VisionInspiring Vision
•He then found what he called a middle way He then found what he called a middle way
between suffering and luxury. He began to between suffering and luxury. He began to
meditate. He thought deeply about the meaning meditate. He thought deeply about the meaning
of life and the causes of suffering.of life and the causes of suffering.
•He meditated under a figHe meditated under a fig
(Bodhi tree) close to the (Bodhi tree) close to the
River Gaya.River Gaya.
•He eventually became enlightened.He eventually became enlightened.
This is called the “Sacred Night”This is called the “Sacred Night”

8. Inspiring VisionInspiring Vision
•He met monks that he once knew and told He met monks that he once knew and told
them about his new found knowledge.them about his new found knowledge.
•He told them about the Four Noble Truths He told them about the Four Noble Truths
and the Eightfold Path.and the Eightfold Path.
•They called Siddharta “The Enlightened They called Siddharta “The Enlightened
one”. Buddha.one”. Buddha.

9. Four Noble TruthsFour Noble Truths
•All life involves sufferingAll life involves suffering
•The cause of Suffering – Caused The cause of Suffering – Caused
by our desiresby our desires
•The end of Suffering - we can The end of Suffering - we can
free ourselves from suffering free ourselves from suffering
and find happiness if we stop and find happiness if we stop
wanting material things.wanting material things.
•The way to end suffering –The The way to end suffering –The
way to end suffering is to follow way to end suffering is to follow
the path to true happiness.the path to true happiness.
•There are eight steps along the There are eight steps along the
way.way.

10. The Eight- Fold pathThe Eight- Fold path
1.1.Right view pointRight view point
2.2.Right intentionRight intention
3.3.Right speechRight speech
4.4.Right conductRight conduct
5.5.Right workRight work
6.6.Right effortRight effort
7.7.Right mindfulnessRight mindfulness
8.8.Right meditationRight meditation

11. Sacred Text - TipitakaSacred Text - Tipitaka
•Tipitaka :Written in Pali, an ancient Tipitaka :Written in Pali, an ancient
language.language.
•It is an important collection of the It is an important collection of the
Buddhist teaching.Buddhist teaching.
It contains:It contains:
•Discipline, Instruction and TeachingDiscipline, Instruction and Teaching

12. Festival - WeaskFestival - Weask
•Takes place in May and lasts for 3 days.Takes place in May and lasts for 3 days.
•Celebrates the birth, enlightenment and Celebrates the birth, enlightenment and
death of the Buddha.death of the Buddha.
•It is a festival of light. The focus is the It is a festival of light. The focus is the
enlightenment to the Buddha.enlightenment to the Buddha.
•People go the Temples and make offerings People go the Temples and make offerings
to Buddha. Buddhists celebrate with their to Buddha. Buddhists celebrate with their
families.families.

13. Worship - TempleWorship - Temple
•A Temple is the Buddhist place of worship. A Temple is the Buddhist place of worship.
Buddhists go there to pray and make Buddhists go there to pray and make
offerings.offerings.
•A central feature is a statue of the A central feature is a statue of the
Buddha.Buddha.
•Many Buddhists worship before a shrine in Many Buddhists worship before a shrine in
their own homes. Flowers, incense, their own homes. Flowers, incense,
candles are used. candles are used.

14. HindusimHindusim

15. FoundationsFoundations
•A great civilisation grew up in the Indus A great civilisation grew up in the Indus
valley in India about 5.500 years ago.valley in India about 5.500 years ago.
•A nomadic people came from the North A nomadic people came from the North
and invaded India. The Ayrans adopted to and invaded India. The Ayrans adopted to
the culture and way of life of the people the culture and way of life of the people
around the Indus valley. around the Indus valley.
•Hinduism developed from the Religious Hinduism developed from the Religious
ideas of both of these peoples. By 1000BC ideas of both of these peoples. By 1000BC
Hinduism had evolved into the form that Hinduism had evolved into the form that
we find it today.we find it today.

16. Sacred Text.Sacred Text.
•There is no one sacred text.There is no one sacred text.
•Hindus have many holy books.Hindus have many holy books.
•They are written in an ancient language They are written in an ancient language
called Sanskrit that is not used very much called Sanskrit that is not used very much
today.today.

17. Sacred TextSacred Text
•VedasVedas: a collection of : a collection of
Hymns and poems Hymns and poems
that go back to that go back to
ancient times. Used in ancient times. Used in
Hindu celebrations Hindu celebrations
today.today.
•UpanishadsUpanishads: :
collection of teachings collection of teachings
about the Hindu way about the Hindu way
of life.of life.
•Mahabhata: Mahabhata: worlds worlds
longest poem with longest poem with
over one thousand over one thousand
verses. Most famous verses. Most famous
part is the part is the Bhagavad Bhagavad
Gita.Gita.
•Ramayana: Ramayana: Story of Story of
the God Rama and his the God Rama and his
wife Sita. Teaches wife Sita. Teaches
Hindus the virtues of Hindus the virtues of
courage, friendship courage, friendship
and love.and love.

18. GodsGods
•Brahman The Creator GodBrahman The Creator God
•VishnuVishnuThe Preserver GodThe Preserver God
•ShivaShivaThe Destroyer GodThe Destroyer God

19. Festival - HoliFestival - Holi
•This is a Spring festival to celebrate This is a Spring festival to celebrate
Krishna. Bonfires are a central part of the Krishna. Bonfires are a central part of the
celebrations. celebrations.
•People circle the bonfires and share People circle the bonfires and share
“prasad” or holy food. “prasad” or holy food.
•Images of Krishna are carried through the Images of Krishna are carried through the
streets.streets.

20. Festival - DivaliFestival - Divali
•This is a winter festival to mark the This is a winter festival to mark the
beginning of the Hindu new year. beginning of the Hindu new year.
•Divali means row of lights. Divali means row of lights.
•During the festival oil, lamps and candles During the festival oil, lamps and candles
are lit in the temple, in the home and in are lit in the temple, in the home and in
the work place. the work place.
•Lakshi is the Goddess of good fortune. Lakshi is the Goddess of good fortune.
Many Hindus believe that once a year at Many Hindus believe that once a year at
Divali she visits and brings good fortune.Divali she visits and brings good fortune.

21. Kumbh-MelaKumbh-Mela
•Every twelve years, up to twelve million Every twelve years, up to twelve million
hindus gather at Ujjain in Central India to hindus gather at Ujjain in Central India to
celebrate the Kumbh –Mela. celebrate the Kumbh –Mela.
•This involves ritual bathing in the place This involves ritual bathing in the place
where the river Ganges meets the Jumma where the river Ganges meets the Jumma
river.river.

22. IslamIslam

23. FounderFounder
•Islam began in Mecca 1500 years ago. It Islam began in Mecca 1500 years ago. It
was founded by a man called Muhammad.was founded by a man called Muhammad.
•He was born in Arabia. His parents died He was born in Arabia. His parents died
when he was small child and he was when he was small child and he was
raised by a kindly uncle.raised by a kindly uncle.
•He was a successful trader in Mecca.He was a successful trader in Mecca.
•He married a woman called Khadja and He married a woman called Khadja and
they had six children together.they had six children together.

24. MeccaMecca
•Mecca was a very busy place at this time. Mecca was a very busy place at this time.
Traders came from far and nearTraders came from far and near
•Pilgrims came to pray at a shrine in the Pilgrims came to pray at a shrine in the
centre of the city.centre of the city.
•The dishonesty in Mecca bothered The dishonesty in Mecca bothered
Muhammad.Muhammad.
•People gambled and consumed alcohol to People gambled and consumed alcohol to
excess.excess.

25. Inspiring VisionInspiring Vision
•Muhammad retreated to a cave at the Muhammad retreated to a cave at the
bottom of Mount Hira.bottom of Mount Hira.
•An angel of God, Gabriel appeared to him. An angel of God, Gabriel appeared to him.
She told him that there is one God Allah She told him that there is one God Allah
and Muhammad is Allah’s messenger. and Muhammad is Allah’s messenger.
•He rushed home to Khadja who He rushed home to Khadja who
immediately that her husband was a immediately that her husband was a
prophet.prophet.
•The Angel spoke again to Muhammad and The Angel spoke again to Muhammad and
these words are written down in the these words are written down in the
Koran.Koran.

26. Inspiring VisionInspiring Vision
•Muhammad preached his message in the Muhammad preached his message in the
streets of Mecca. He tried to get people to streets of Mecca. He tried to get people to
change their ways.change their ways.
•People became angry with him and he had People became angry with him and he had
to leave Mecca.to leave Mecca.
•People in Medina invited him to come and People in Medina invited him to come and
teach there. He took his family across the teach there. He took his family across the
desert. This journey from Mecca to Medina desert. This journey from Mecca to Medina
is called the is called the HijraHijra

27. MedinaMedina
•Muhammad and his family were welcomed Muhammad and his family were welcomed
in Medina. He eventually became the ruler in Medina. He eventually became the ruler
there.there.
•He later went back to Mecca. He removed He later went back to Mecca. He removed
all of the statues from the shrine. It then all of the statues from the shrine. It then
became the Shrine of One God became the Shrine of One God Allah.Allah.
•Mecca Mecca became the holy city of Islam.became the holy city of Islam.

28. Sacred Text - KoranSacred Text - Koran
•The story of the The story of the
prophet and the word prophet and the word
of Allah are written in of Allah are written in
the Koran.the Koran.
•It is written in Arabic.It is written in Arabic.
•Muslim children are Muslim children are
taught to read the taught to read the
Koran in Arabic.Koran in Arabic.

29. JudaismJudaism
A Monotheistic ReligionA Monotheistic Religion

30. Abraham The Founder of Abraham The Founder of
JudaismJudaism
•Abraham lived 4000 years ago in Ur Abraham lived 4000 years ago in Ur
Mestoptamia.Mestoptamia.
•Married to Sarah. They were well off and Married to Sarah. They were well off and
had a nice life.had a nice life.
•Abraham believed in one God. Many of the Abraham believed in one God. Many of the
people around him were polytheistic.people around him were polytheistic.
•Abraham’s belief in one God was to Abraham’s belief in one God was to
change his life.change his life.

31. Inspiring VisionInspiring Vision
•Abraham felt the call of God .Abraham felt the call of God .
•God asked him to leave everything and God asked him to leave everything and
travel to another country.travel to another country.
•God made a promise to Abraham.God made a promise to Abraham.
•He promised him land and many He promised him land and many
descendants.descendants.
•Abraham and Sarah settled in Canaan.Abraham and Sarah settled in Canaan.

32. Inspiring VisionInspiring Vision
•Abraham and Sarah arrived in the land of Abraham and Sarah arrived in the land of
Cannan and set up their tents. They lived Cannan and set up their tents. They lived
here for many years.here for many years.
•God spoke to Abraham again.God spoke to Abraham again.
•God told him that his descendants would God told him that his descendants would
be as plentiful as the stars in the sky.be as plentiful as the stars in the sky.

33. CovenantCovenant
•God then made a covenant with Abraham.God then made a covenant with Abraham.
•““I will be your God and you will be my I will be your God and you will be my
people”people”
•God appeared to Abraham again one day God appeared to Abraham again one day
when visitors were at their camp. Abraham when visitors were at their camp. Abraham
was telling their guests about God’s promise.was telling their guests about God’s promise.
•Sarah was told that she would have a child Sarah was told that she would have a child
within a year. Abraham and Sarah thought within a year. Abraham and Sarah thought
this impossible because they were so old.this impossible because they were so old.
•Sarah gave birth to Isaac within a year.Sarah gave birth to Isaac within a year.

34. Sacred Text - TorahSacred Text - Torah
•The story of The story of
Abraham’s journey is Abraham’s journey is
told in a Holy Book told in a Holy Book
called the Torah. called the Torah.
•This book is written in This book is written in
Hebrew.Hebrew.
•The Torah Scrolls are The Torah Scrolls are
kept in the Ark of the kept in the Ark of the
Covenant in the Covenant in the
Synagogue.Synagogue.

35. FestivalFestival