Religions of Religions of IndiaIndia

HinduismHinduism 80% of population80% of population Monotheistic (polytheistic Monotheistic (polytheistic

incarnation)incarnation) Divide infinity in half it is still infinityDivide infinity in half it is still infinity

ReincarnationReincarnation 4 Vedas – religious texts4 Vedas – religious texts All life is sacredAll life is sacred

Karma, Dharma, MokshaKarma, Dharma, Moksha Dharma – Stuff you do in this lifeDharma – Stuff you do in this life Karma – The total of your Dharma, Karma – The total of your Dharma,

carries through to next lifecarries through to next life Moksha – release yourself from the Moksha – release yourself from the

cycle of birth, life, death rebirth cycle of birth, life, death rebirth must build up good karmamust build up good karma

God(s)God(s) Life is cyclical, so are the godsLife is cyclical, so are the gods Brahma – giver of life Brahma – giver of life Vishnu – preserver of lifeVishnu – preserver of life

Also keeps balance good/evilAlso keeps balance good/evil Shiva --Shiva -- destroyer of worlddestroyer of world

IslamIslam MonotheisticMonotheistic AllahAllah MohammedMohammed 5 pillars5 pillars QuranQuran

SikhismSikhism There is only One God. He is the same God for all people There is only One God. He is the same God for all people

of all religions. of all religions. The soul goes through cycles of births and deaths before The soul goes through cycles of births and deaths before

it reaches the human form.. it reaches the human form.. The true path to achieving salvation and merging with The true path to achieving salvation and merging with

God does not require renunciation of the world or God does not require renunciation of the world or celibacy, but living the life of a householder, earning a celibacy, but living the life of a householder, earning a honest living and avoiding worldly temptations and sins. honest living and avoiding worldly temptations and sins.

Sikhism condemns blind rituals such as fasting, visiting Sikhism condemns blind rituals such as fasting, visiting places of pilgrimage, superstitions, worship of the dead, places of pilgrimage, superstitions, worship of the dead, idol worship etc. idol worship etc.

Sikhism preaches that people of different races, Sikhism preaches that people of different races, religions, or sex are all equal in the eyes of God. It religions, or sex are all equal in the eyes of God. It teaches the full equality of men and women. Women can teaches the full equality of men and women. Women can participate in any religious function or perform any Sikh participate in any religious function or perform any Sikh ceremony or lead the congregation in prayer. ceremony or lead the congregation in prayer.

SIKHSSIKHS

GurusGurus Sri Guru Nanak Dev Sri Guru Nanak Dev

JiJi Born in Punjab regionBorn in Punjab region Mix between Mix between

religions, but also religions, but also independentindependent

10 Gurus 10 Gurus (reincarnation)(reincarnation)

Direct faith to godDirect faith to god No ceremoniesNo ceremonies

SIKH PRACTICESSIKH PRACTICES

JAINSJAINS

BuddhismBuddhism SiddarthaSiddartha StoryStory 4 Noble Truths4 Noble Truths 8 Fold Path8 Fold Path Reincarnation wheel of lifeReincarnation wheel of life NirvanaNirvana

4 Noble Truths4 Noble Truths The Four Noble TruthsThe Four Noble Truths 1. Life is suffering;1. Life is suffering; 2. Suffering is due to attachment;2. Suffering is due to attachment; 3. Attachment can be overcome;3. Attachment can be overcome; 4. There is a path for accomplishing 4. There is a path for accomplishing

this.this.

8 fold Path8 fold Path 1. 1. Right view Right view is the true understanding of the four noble truths. is the true understanding of the four noble truths. 2. 2. Right aspirationRight aspiration is the true desire to free oneself from is the true desire to free oneself from

attachment, ignorance, and hatefulness. attachment, ignorance, and hatefulness. 3. 3. Right speechRight speech involves abstaining from lying, gossiping, or involves abstaining from lying, gossiping, or

hurtful talk. hurtful talk. 4. 4. Right actionRight action involves abstaining from hurtful behaviors, such involves abstaining from hurtful behaviors, such

as killing, stealing, and careless sex. as killing, stealing, and careless sex. 5. 5. Right livelihoodRight livelihood means making your living in such a way as to means making your living in such a way as to

avoid dishonesty and hurting others, including animals. avoid dishonesty and hurting others, including animals. 6. 6. Right effortRight effort is a matter of exerting oneself in regards to the is a matter of exerting oneself in regards to the

content of one's mind: Bad qualities should be abandoned and content of one's mind: Bad qualities should be abandoned and prevented from arising again; Good qualities should be enacted prevented from arising again; Good qualities should be enacted and nurtured. and nurtured.

7. 7. Right mindfulnessRight mindfulness is the focusing of one's attention on one's is the focusing of one's attention on one's body, feelings, thoughts, and consciousness in such a way as to body, feelings, thoughts, and consciousness in such a way as to overcome craving, hatred, and ignorance. overcome craving, hatred, and ignorance.

8. 8. Right concentrationRight concentration is meditating in such a way as to is meditating in such a way as to progressively realize a true understanding of imperfection, progressively realize a true understanding of imperfection,

impermanence, and non-separatenessimpermanence, and non-separateness. .