trimurti hinduism. dharma sanatan by colleen...

NameMonday, November 18

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What is Hinduism?By Colleen Messina

Hinduism is quite different from other world religions. For example, if youwere a Muslim, you would read the Koran. If you were a Christian, you wouldread the Bible. However, if you were a Hindu, you would read a variety ofancient texts. While other major religions have a founding father or prophet,Hinduism has no original teacher. Hinduism is a unique religion in many ways.

Hinduism is over three thousand years old. The word "hindu" comes fromHind, which is a Persian word for India. Indians call their religion the SanatanDharma, which means "Universal Religion." In the broadest sense, Hinduism isthe religion of the many peoples of India.

The country of India has many different regions, and Hinduism is not the samein each region. However, all Hindus love their sacred scriptures. The Rig-Veda isthe oldest of the Hindu scriptures. In one part of this legend, a dragon named Vritra steals all of the water on earth.A god named Indra heroically fights the dragon to get the water back, and when he does, life is restored to theland. This story was first told orally. Later, Indians wrote them down in Sanskrit around 1500 B.C. Other Hinduscriptures include the Ramayana, the Upanishads, and the Mahabharata. These texts contain the core beliefs ofHinduism.

One central belief in Hinduism is a belief in Brahman, the universal spirit behind everything. He is the forcebehind all other deities. Brahman shows himself through many gods and goddesses. Every Hindu has his or herfavorite god or goddess, and many temples dot the landscapes of India. There are also stunning statues of theHindu deities in every home. This idea of a host of deities representing different aspects of Brahman is quitedifferent from the Jewish, Christian, or Muslim idea of one god.

Some of the most dramatic statues represent the Hindu trinity. Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva are the three partsof the Trimurti, or holy trinity. Brahma's job was to create the universe. He is different than Brahman, theuniversal spirit. Representations of Brahma sometimes show three heads so that he can keep an eye (or six ofthem) on his creation! After he made the world, he was done with his job.

However, the other two parts of the Hindu trinity have ongoing work like the rest of us. Shiva's job is todestroy one cycle of life so that a new cycle can begin. One common statue of Shiva shows him dancing with acircle of flames surrounding his head. He is balancing on his right foot, while lifting up his left foot. His right footrests on top of the Black Dwarf, a demon of ignorance. Shiva has four arms and wild, whirling hair! Flowers,snakes, and even a skull are held in his wavy locks. The symbols in this statue come from an ancient legendwhere Shiva conquered 10,000 non-believers by stomping on the demon of ignorance. Many Hindus love Shiva'sfierceness!

Another part of the Hindu trinity is Vishnu. He has the 24/7 job of keeping order in the universe, which isprobably a bit harder than keeping your room clean! Some of the liveliest stories in the Hindu tradition are aboutthe avatars of Vishnu who came down to earth. An avatar is an incarnation of a god. Each of the ten avatars ofVishnu came to rescue earth from trouble. The first avatar came as a fish to rescue the world from a flood.Another avatar was a warrior named Parashurama. He wiped out a bad king. One of the liveliest avatars of Vishnuwas Krishna. He was avatar number eight. He had the blue skin and was a butter-loving, flute-playing cowherd.Krishna has unofficially won the most popular avatar award in Hinduism!

One of the reasons that Indians love Krishna is because he is the central character in an enormous poem calledthe Mahabharata. One important part of this poem is called the Bhagavad-Gita, which tells the story of a warbetween relatives. One family represents good, while the other family represents evil. Arjuna is the leader of thegood side, and Krishna is his charioteer. Together they wage an exciting war against darkness!

However, this great story has a twist to it. Since Krishna is really a god, he gives Arjuna lots of divine advice


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and help. Krishna tells Arjuna to lead his people into battle and tells him that even if people die, their souls willlive forever. Hindus believe that a person has many lives. Krishna tells Arjuna that a soul can escape the cycles ofrebirth in three ways. The soul can be free by doing good works and making good karma, by meditation, or bydevotion to God. Hindu children enjoy the ancient Krishna stories in the same way that many Christian childrenlike Bible stories.

Not all Hindu stories are thousands, or even hundreds, of years old. Sri Ramakrishna was a Hindu teacher wholived in the 19th century. He used stories all the time to teach his students different spiritual truths. You mighteven recognize some of his stories, like the story about four blind men and an elephant.

One day, four blind men were led to an elephant to "see" it. Each of them felt a different part of the great beast,but being blind, each had different idea about the nature of the animal. The first man felt the elephant's leg andsaid that an elephant is like a pillar. The second man felt the elephant's tummy and said that an elephant is like alarge jar. The third man had a different idea after he felt the elephant's trunk. He said the elephant is like a thickclub. The last man disagreed with all of his friends. He felt the elephant's huge ears and was sure that the elephantwas like a fan.

Soon the four friends were all arguing about the true nature of the beast. A passerby asked them what theywere fighting about, and they told him. The man explained to them that the elephant had different parts, and thateach of them had only experienced one part. Sri Ramakrishna used this elephant story to explain why it isridiculous for men to argue about which religion is best because anyone who fights about God has only seen apart of him!

One common theme in many Hindu stories is their belief in reincarnation, or the idea that we are born manytimes. In Hinduism, the soul does not stay in one body. The soul first enters the body of something simple, nothuman. You might be a bug in your first life! As your soul evolves, it enters more and more complex life forms(here kitty, kitty). Eventually, the soul enters a human body. Then the law of karma kicks in. This means thatgood choices in one lifetime lead to good things in the next lifetime. Unkind acts may mean hardships in the nextlife. Hindus believe that we create our own future circumstances. A belief in karma is a good reason to be nice topeople!

Another important idea in Hinduism is dharma. Dharma means fulfilling our purpose in life. Everyone has aspecial dharma. Your dharma right now is to be a student. Later, you might be a parent, an employee, abusinessperson, or something else. The idea of fulfilling one's purpose is important to every Hindu, and eachperson's ultimate goal is to reunite with Brahman.

Like many religions, Hinduism has many festivals throughout the year. One of the most important is Divali,the Festival of Lights, which celebrates the New Year. Divali means "row of lamps." Hindus light clay lampsfilled with oil and place them in windows, on roofs, and around courtyards. Divali celebrates the triumph of lightover darkness. Holi is the rowdy, spring harvest festival. Everyone throws colored powder at each other!Janmashtami is Krishna's birthday. During Janmashtami, the streets and homes are decorated with mango leavesand banana trees. Temples to Krishna are decorated with flowers and lights to honor the blue avatar.

With its many gods, colorful festivals, and rich stories, Hinduism is unique. Every Hindu can find a specialgod or goddess to worship. Hinduism affects all elements of life for those who follow it. Hindus don't simplypractice their religion. They live it!


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What is Hinduism?

Questions

1. How did Hindus originally transmit the Rig-Veda?

A. by word of mouthB. on scrollsC. through stone tabletsD. on cave paintings

2. What is the language of the Rig-Veda?

A. ChineseB. PersianC. EnglishD. Sanskrit

3. What is the name of the Hindu trinity?

A. the three great godsB. the three princesC. the TrimurtiD. the three Buddhas

4. According to Hindu scriptures, Krishna was the avatar of which deity?

A. BrahmaB. ShivaC. RamakrishnaD. Vishnu

5. Who was a 19th century Hindu teacher?

A. ShivaB. VishnuC. KrishnaD. Ramakrishna

6. What is another name for Divali?

A. Festival of LightsB. ChristmasC. Krishna's birthdayD. Holi

7. Complete the following analogy: Bible:Jesus::Bhagahvad-Gita:

A. MuhammadB. SupermanC. KrishnaD. Abraham

8. What is the main message behind Sri Ramakrishna's elephant story?

A. Elephants are an endangered species.B. Hinduism is a superior faith.C. Blind men should not visit a zoo.D. It is ridiculous to argue about which religion is best.

NameTuesday, November 19

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What Is Buddhism?By Colleen Messina

Sometimes having everything in the world isn't enough! It's what is inside you thatis most important. A prince discovered this 2,500 years ago. His name was SiddharthaGautama, and he was born in the country we now call Nepal. His discovery led to thefounding of Buddhism.

According to ancient legends, the prince's mother had a dream when she waspregnant. Queen Maya dreamed that she was carrying a white elephant in her tummy!The elephant carried a lotus flower in his trunk. A wise man explained that the childshe was carrying would become a holy man. The man's words scared the prince's fatherwho definitely didn't want his son to become a skinny, hungry, holy man.

Siddhartha was born in 563 B.C. Queen Maya died when Prince Siddhartha was ababy, so his father raised him. The king wanted the prince to have the best ofeverything so that he would grow up to be a good king instead of a holy man. PrinceSiddhartha grew up in a white palace surrounded by gardens that had flowers of everycolor and shape. The prince ate the tastiest food and saw only handsome people. It isbelieved that he never saw any sickness, poverty, or death during his childhood!

When he turned 16, the prince married a lovely girl named Yashodhara. The wedding celebrations lasted forseven days and nights. The Prince settled into married life, and when Yashodhara became pregnant, Siddhartha'sfather finally believed that his son would follow in his footsteps and become the next king. He allowed the princeto go outside the palace walls for the first time.

Prince Siddhartha rode around the kingdom in a horse-drawn chariot. It is believed that he saw things thatmade him wonder about life's purpose. First he saw an old man, bent and wrinkled. On the next chariot ride, asick man crossed his path. Then, the prince saw a funeral procession. These three sights made him realize that lifeis full of misery for many people. On his last ride, Prince Siddhartha saw a holy man. He realized that thepeaceful, holy man was not afraid of old age, sickness, or even death. Prince Siddhartha realized that he wanted tofind his own inner peace, but to do that, he had to leave everything that he loved.

Prince Siddhartha left his royal life behind. He left his wife and newborn son behind. He changed out of hissilken robes. He cut off his hair and removed his jewels. Siddhartha went into the forest and sat in a cross-leggedposition in meditation for six years. Evil spirits assailed him, but he kept on meditating. Buddhists believe thatSiddhartha received enlightenment while sitting under a bodhi tree near the Ganges River. Traditionally, the datefor this event was the full moon in the month of May. Achieving enlightenment meant that Siddhartha had a deepunderstanding about life.

After his enlightenment, Siddhartha passed a man on the road. The man noticed something different about theformer prince. The man asked him whether he was a god, a magician, or a wizard. Siddhartha said he was none ofthese things, but that he was awake! That is how Siddhartha came to be called the Buddha, which means "TheAwakened One."

The Buddha began preaching. His teachings became known as the Four Noble Truths. See what you think ofthe Buddha's simple truths: Life is full of suffering. Desire for worldly things causes suffering. Suffering can stopwhen desire stops. There are eight rules to follow to stop wrong desire. These rules are called the Noble EightfoldPath.

Because of the Eightfold Path, a wheel with eight spokes became the symbol of Buddhism. The Buddha gavehis followers these rules in a sermon called the Deer Park sermon. After his sermon, his father, his wife, and hisson became his disciples! Here are the Buddha's eight rules for living a good life: right thought, right intent, rightspeech, right conduct, right work, right effort, right mindfulness, and right contemplation. They may seem simple,but it takes a lot of discipline to live up to all of these things.


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The Buddha thought that if people were together, it would help them follow his rules. He formed a communityof monks called the Sangha. Monasteries became a central part of Buddhism. Even children spend some time inthe Sangha. A young Buddhist boy can become a monk for a few months. He shaves his head and puts on amonk's robe, which is usually orange or red. A Buddhist girl can also become a nun for a little while. Buddhistsbelieve that a monastery experience will help children understand the Buddha's teachings. Imagine what it wouldbe like to set aside television and friends for a while to think about the eight-fold path. It may not be so easy!

Buddhist children enjoy being monks and nuns for a short time. They visit the beautiful temples that housegigantic statues of Buddha. These statues often show the Buddha sitting cross-legged, which is called the lotusposition. His right arm is outstretched and his fingers touch the earth. This position is called a mudra, and itsymbolizes the Buddha's enlightenment.

Buddhists bring presents like flowers or candy to the temple, and then they bow to the statue of Buddha, butthis is not as easy as it sounds. It doesn't mean just bowing at the waist a little bit. Your knees, forearms, andforehead must touch the ground! While you bow, you shouldn't think about your growling stomach or your nextmath assignment. It is best to think about the Buddha's teachings while you bow. These actions, as well asmeditation and chanting, help Buddhists strive for enlightenment.

Buddhists do not believe in one god, but they strive for a state called nirvana. Nirvana is a peaceful feeling ofjoy and freedom. Souls who achieve nirvana don't have to be born again! Buddhists are gentle and kind to allliving things because compassion and peace are key parts of Buddhism. Many Buddhists practice vegetarianismso they don't harm any living thing. Even young children are taught how to meditate. They also recite chants tohelp them learn about inner peace.

Buddhists also celebrate lively festivals throughout the year to remember the Buddha's life, enlightenment, anddeath. The most important festival is Wesak, which is celebrated on the full moon in May. It commemoratesBuddha's enlightenment. Buddhists clean their homes and decorate them with flags and lanterns. In Thailand,caged birds are released. In China, dancing dragons join the celebrations. In Sri Lanka, Buddhists dress all inwhite and bring flowers in baskets to the monasteries.

In many countries, Buddhists visit their temple for services and give the monks food, candy, and flowers forWesak. They also perform a ceremony called "Bathing the Buddha." Water is poured over the shoulders of thestatue of the Buddha to remind everyone to free themselves of hatred, greed, and ignorance. The monks burnincense and give chants to honor the Buddha.

Buddha died in 483 B.C. He had spent fifty years spreading his teachings. Many teachings were not writtendown until many centuries later. Today, there are different branches of Buddhism throughout the world,especially in the countries of Tibet, China, Korea, Vietnam, and Japan. Many westerners have also embraced thegentle path of Buddhism.

What Is Buddhism?

Questions

1. What did Siddhartha's father do to protect his son?

A. He kept him inside the palace walls.B. He gave him magic potions.C. He took him to a remote island.D. He sent him to a monastery.


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2. Which of the following did the prince see on his chariot rides?

A. a sick man and an old manB. an injured animal and an elephantC. a broken fountain and a holy manD. an old man and a donkey

3. What is the symbol of Buddhism?

A. an orange robeB. a wheel with 8 spokesC. a lotus blossomD. a begging bowl

4. What do Buddhist boys NOT do when they become monks for a short time?

A. They visit Buddhist temples.B. They fast.C. They wear special robes.D. They shave their heads.

5. What does enlightenment mean?

A. You have a deep understanding of life.B. You understand electricity.C. You look pretty shiny.D. You can become a prince or princess.

6. How many rules did the Buddha give for achieving enlightenment?

A. eightB. fourC. twoD. one

7. What does the term "Buddha" mean?

A. awakened oneB. nice personC. former princeD. budding with understanding

8. Which term is the best antonym for nirvana?

A. joyB. oblivionC. sufferingD. abandonment

NameWednesday, November 20

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What Is Judaism?By Colleen Messina

According to Jewish tradition, in the ancient city of Ur, a boy named Abrahamboldly hit clay statues with a hammer. They shattered. Bits of clay flew about theroom. His father had made the clay idols, but Abraham didn't like them. Hebelieved in one God. Abraham broke the statues when his father left him incharge of his store. He destroyed all the idols...except one.

Abraham did something mischievous next. He placed the hammer in thesurviving idol's hands! Abraham's father was probably furious when hediscovered what his son had done. Abraham blamed the last idol on the rampage,and his father said, "These idols can't do anything on their own, so you must havebroken them!" Abraham then had a good argument for his belief in one God sincehis father had finally admitted that the idols were useless. He survived his father'swrath and became one of the patriarchs, or founders, of Judaism.

Judaism is an old religion and is based on the belief in one God. It is at the heart of both Christianity and Islam. Itbegan with Abraham about 3,500 years ago. Abraham lived in what is now Iraq. When he grew up, he tendedflocks of sheep and wandered around the desert looking for water and pastures. Jews believe that God spoke toAbraham and made a covenant, or bargain, with him. In exchange for their obedience, Jews believe that Godmade them his chosen people.

Abraham's people were called Hebrews, and later, Israelites. Being Jewish can mean different things todifferent people. For some, it means being born into a Jewish family and growing up with Jewish culture. Forothers, it also means following a way of life based on the values of the Torah. These laws apply to all parts of life,even food. The food that strict Jews eat is called kosher, which means fit.

The Torah is "the Law" of the Jewish faith. It is comprised of the first five books of the Hebrew Bible. Jewsbelieve it is God's instructions to them. It promotes the sanctity of life, justice, and equality. Hospitality andcharity towards others is also important. A Jewish teacher named Hillel in around 700 B.C. summarized themeaning of the Torah. One day a non-Jew came to him intending to make fun of the Torah. The non-Jew toldHillel that if Hillel could explain the Torah while the non-Jew balanced on one foot, the man would convert toJudaism. Hillel said, "What you think is hateful, don't do to your neighbor. The rest of the Torah is commentary."The man was so amazed that he became a Jew and a student of the Torah!

Jews also follow the Ten Commandments, and the story about these laws became a popular movie by the samename. The Ten Commandments include things that people should do, like keeping the Sabbath holy and honoringyour parents. It also includes things that you should not do, like kill, steal, commit adultery, or worship idols.Jews must pray to only one God.

Prayer is an important part of worship in Judaism. Jews are supposed to pray three times a day. The Jewishprayer book is called a siddur, and the most famous prayer is the Shema. The first line of this prayer is, "Hear, OIsrael, the Lord is our God, the Lord is one." Reading the Torah is an important part of Jewish worship. Jewshave many prayers for different occasions. Some prayers are said alone, while others are said in their synagogue.

The synagogue is the place of worship for Jews. Their Sabbath, or holy day, goes from Friday at sunset to thefollowing Saturday night. A rabbi conducts their services. The word synagogue means "place of assembly" inGreek. There is no set type of architecture for a synagogue, and the outer style of the building often depends onwhere it is. In Budapest, Hungary, the Dohany Synagogue looks almost Islamic with its globe-shaped towers,while in China, the Kaifeng Synagogue looks like a pagoda.

Certain things are always the same inside a synagogue. The bimah is a raised platform where the Torah isread. A cupboard called the Ark holds the Torah scrolls. The Ark always faces Jerusalem. Men often wear a headcovering called a yarmulke and a prayer shawl with tassels at both ends called a tallit. They also wear a pair of


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small black boxes that hold passages from the Torah. The synagogue is a place for worship, but also forcelebration.

Jews celebrate many festivals throughout the year. Jewish months last from one new moon until the next,which is shorter than ordinary months. Jews celebrate Purim in February or March. This holiday honors a Jewishqueen named Esther. Passover comes in March or April and celebrates the escape of the Israelites from slavery inEgypt. Rosh Hoshanah is the Jewish New Year in September. Sukkot is a harvest festival and Yom Kippur is atime of repentance. Both of these holidays fall in September or October. Hanukkah falls in December andcelebrates when the Israelites defeated a wicked king and regained the opportunity to practice their faith.

Today, there are 12 million Jews in many countries of the world, but most of them live in Israel and the UnitedStates. Jews have contributed in many areas of life. Albert Einstein was one of the greatest physicists of all time,and Sigmund Freud developed the science of psychoanalysis. Even some sayings that we commonly use comefrom the Bible. You might be surprised at some of these! For example, the phrase, "a drop in the bucket" comesfrom the book of Isaiah. Other light-hearted Yiddish (Hebrew) proverbs can make anyone smile, such as, "To berich is not everything, but it certainly helps!"

What Is Judaism?

Questions

1. Who is one of the founders of Judaism?

A. AlladinB. AkbarC. Alexander the GreatD. Abraham

2. Why did Abraham destroy the idols?

A. He believed in one God, not idols.B. He dropped them by mistake.C. He was hyperactive.D. He thought they were ugly.

3. What is the name of the Jewish holy book?

A. the KoranB. the TribuneC. the TorahD. the Scrolls

4. What is the name of the place of worship for Jews?

A. a synagogueB. a churchC. a mosqueD. a temple

5. Which word is a synonym for a "covenant"?

A. testB. promiseC. TupperwareD. covering


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6. Which city does the Ark face?

A. ChicagoB. JerusalemC. BethlehemD. Mecca

7. Which of the following is the name of Abraham's people?

A. HittitesB. StalactitesC. NazarenesD. Hebrews

8. Where do most Jews live?

A. BosniaB. The United States and IsraelC. GermanyD. Iran

Do you think that certain values are common in many different religions? List three universal values that existin different faiths.

NameThursday, November 21

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What Is Religion?By Colleen Messina

People love to wonder. Can you remember how many questions youasked your parents when you were small? We wonder about the darkcrevasses in the ocean floor, the nature of black holes, and what happensto us when we die. The five billion people of earth lead very differentlives, but they are united in their ability to wonder.

Everyone has something special that they wonder about because peopleare naturally curious. Some people concentrate on the mysteries of thephysical world. Benjamin Franklin boldly tied a key to a kite tounderstand lightning-and nearly fried himself in the process. ChristopherColumbus bravely sailed to what many believed to be the edge of theflat earth to discover a new world. Other "explorers of the spirit" leftkingdoms behind in order to discover more about the heavenly world.Their revelations and experiences became the cornerstones of the majorworld religions. All religions began with one person wondering about the meaning of life.

The word, "religion" comes from the Latin word religare, which means "to tie." People of all faiths believe thattheir religion ties them to a higher purpose. Some feel that religion ties them to a sense of community throughshared values. Religion has also tied art, culture, and societies together for thousands of years. Magnificentbuildings, beautiful works of art, and stirring books have been inspired by religious faith.

Religion helps people figure out the meaning of life and the mystery of death. Some faiths believe we only liveonce, while others, like Hinduism and Buddhism, believe that we reincarnate many times to fulfill our purpose.Long before any scribes scribbled on papyrus, religion has been important to men, whether they called it "religion"or not.

The oldest world religions are Zoroastrianism and Judaism, which began between three and four thousand yearsago. Christianity grew out of Judaism, and Islam grew out of both Judaism and Christianity. Jewish teachings werebeing written down by scholars in the Middle East around the same time as priests in India were writing down thebasic ideas of Hinduism. Buddhism and Taoism developed in China about 2,500 years ago. Within these majorreligions, there are smaller divisions. For example, within Christianity, there are about 22,000 different sects!There are also other religions that have fewer followers, such as Sikhism, Shintoism, and Jainism.

The major religions have some things in common. All of them have a founder or leader, and some of these menwere inspired by mystical experiences. All major religions have a sacred scripture or texts. People of differentfaiths have special prayers, clothing, and symbols of their religions. For example, fire is the symbol of AhuraMazda, the one god of Zoroastrianism. The yin yang is the symbol of Taoism. Religion gives a sense of purposeand comfort in times of trouble to its followers.

People also believe that religion can explain how the world was created. Many religions believe that the universewas created by a god. Judaism, Christianity, Islam, and Zoroastrianism recognize just one god, which is calledmonotheism. Buddhism doesn't have a deity, or god, but Buddhists do recognize many spiritual beings, whileHindus recognize more than three hundred million gods and goddesses! This is called pantheism. Other peopledeny the existence of any deity. This is called atheism.

Most religions have their own rituals and traditions that center around its belief in a god or divine beings. Ritualscan be serious, like the sacrament of Holy Communion in the Christian church. Other rituals are just plain fun, likethrowing colored powder and water during the Hindu holiday of Holi. Many rituals celebrate life's importantevents, like birth, marriage, and death.

In addition to special rituals, all religions have their own festivals and holidays. The English word "holiday"comes from the words "holy day." The yearly cycle of holidays tell stories of the faith. Followers sing songs and


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perform dramas to honor these events. Christians perform inspiring Christmas nativity plays. Taoists enjoy noisy,crackling fireworks during their New Year's celebration. Many of these festivals also commemorate an historicalevent of the faith. For example, Wesak celebrates Buddha's enlightenment, and Easter celebrates Christ'sresurrection.

Many people think that food is the best part of any holiday! Think of your favorite holiday. Does some specialfood come to mind? Food is a way of enjoying company, and it can also symbolize something in a family's faith.Sweet foods often represent some element of the faith, while bitter foods remember hard times. Some religionshave a platter of different foods that represent different parts of the faith. Zoroastrians have a platter with milk,wine, and fruit as well as other religious objects for their thanksgiving ceremony. Food feeds the body like faithsymbolically feeds the soul.

Foods for religious festivals are as varied as the clothes that people wear. Buddhists often eat a delicious, gooeyrice pudding to celebrate the Buddha's enlightenment, while Jews eat bitter herbs at their Seder meal to symbolizethe slavery of their ancestors. At the end of Ramadan, a month of fasting, Muslims eat sugared almonds andchocolates. Crispy Christmas cookies are often made in the shapes of stars, bells, and angels to represent parts ofthe nativity story, and Christians also often enjoy sweet mince pies at Christmas. These pies were originally madein an oval shape to represent baby Jesus lying in a manger. Enjoying these special treats is part of every worldreligion.

The faith represented in the world's religions has sprung out of man's wonderings about life. This basic quest for ahigher purpose is central to human nature, whether people belong to an organized religion or not. MahatmaGandhi, the leader of the independence movement in India, explained this perfectly when he said, "Religion is notalien to us...It is always within us; with some, consciously; with others, unconsciously. But it is always there."

What Is Religion?

Questions

1. What unites many people on earth?

A. the ability to wonderB. the same religionC. scientific discoveryD. a common faith

2. What does the root word of religion, religare, mean?

A. to tieB. to understandC. to worshipD. to celebrate

3. Which of the following are NOT a part of many religions?

A. a belief in god or godsB. festivalsC. sacred booksD. a common calendar

4. What does monotheism mean?

A. reincarnationB. many ideasC. figuring out one's purposeD. belief in one god


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5. Which of the following religions are NOT monotheistic?

A. IslamB. BuddhismC. ChristianityD. Judaism

6. What do sweet foods often symbolize in religious festivals?

A. revelationsB. dreams and visionsC. elements of faithD. a chance to visit the dentist

7. Which of the following is a synonym for "god"?

A. rulerB. fatherC. powerD. deity

8. What do religious festivals often symbolize?

A. real events and scientific achievementsB. stories about the faith and historical eventsC. scientific facts and real eventsD. fairy tales and myths

NameFriday, November 22

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What is Christianity?By Colleen Messina

If you found a time machine, traveled back to the first century A.D., and landed inJudea, you might hear about a man who could reportedly walk on water. Accordingto the locals, this man was either a great teacher or an outright rebel. Jesus Christwas the most controversial person in the Roman Empire! Christianity, the world'slargest religion, is based on his teachings.

The story of Jesus' birth is the story of Christmas. According the Bible, the angelGabriel appeared to a Jewish woman named Mary. Although she was a virgin, theangel told her that she was going to have a baby who would be the Messiah. Thiswas startling news! Jews had hoped that a savior, or Messiah, would come to freethem from Roman tyranny. The baby Jesus is traditionally shown with his parents,Mary and Joseph, in a stable full of animals. Angels hover brightly above.Shepherds stand close by. This "nativity scene" is often set up duringChristmastime.

We don't know many details about Jesus' life. We don't even know what he lookedlike. Christians believe that Jesus was a precocious young man who thought of God as his Father. He became acarpenter, but his wisdom exceeded his years. He even explained the Old Testament scriptures to the wise men ofthe temple when he was only 12! When Jesus turned 30, he gathered a band of disciples, and he began preaching,teaching, and healing. He left no writings behind except symbols in the sand, but his disciples loved him so muchthat they left their homes to follow him.

Jesus had a riveting message. He taught that people needed to repent, or ask for forgiveness for their sins. Hetaught about love and the Kingdom of God. However, he didn't always teach quietly. Sometimes, he shouted.Sometimes, he did surprising things, even in the holiest place in Jerusalem.

Tables were set up inside the temple so people could to buy animals to sacrifice for Passover. They came from allover Judea for this holiday, and they had different kinds of money. People had to exchange their money for thelocal currency in order to buy things in Jerusalem, and the moneychangers did that job. Jesus thought that that wasterrible! He knocked the tables over and told the people to stop turning his Father's house into a marketplace!

Jesus' disciples believed that he was the Messiah, or the incarnation of God who came to Earth to bring salvationto mankind. They believed that he set an example for his students to follow. His best known sermon is called theSermon on the Mount which contained the Lord's Prayer. Jesus gave this sermon at a mountain near Capernaumwhich was supposedly the site of an extinct volcano. The Lord's Prayer became the most well known prayer ofChristianity.

Jesus often taught in parables with secret messages, like the story of the lost sheep. According to the Bible, Jesusasked the Pharisees and scribes whether they would go after one lost sheep, even if they had ninety-nine others. Ifthey found their lost sheep, they would certainly bring the animal home. They might say, "Rejoice with me, for Ihave found my sheep which was lost." The Bible says that "...there will likewise be more joy in heaven over onerepentant sinner than over ninety-nine righteous people who have no need to repent." (Luke 15:2-7)

While many people loved Jesus, the chief priests and the Roman authorities did not. They felt threatened by hismessage. One of Jesus' disciples, Judas Iscariot, made a deal for 30 pieces of silver. He betrayed Jesus. Jesus wastried as a criminal and then crucified on a cross. According to the Bible, Jesus rose from the dead three days later.He appeared to his disciples and taught them for 40 days. He told them to spread the gospel, or the "good news" toall people. Jesus ascended to heaven. Christians believe that Jesus achieved victory over death and that his deathmade forgiveness of sin possible.

Because Jesus died on a cross, one of the most popular symbols of the Christian faith is the cross. Many Christianswear crosses around their necks on a chain, and many churches have crosses on their altars or walls. Another


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symbol of Christianity is a fish. It is believed that Jesus miraculously fed 5,000 people by multiplying two fishesand five loaves of bread! He also asked his disciples to become "fishers of men." Other Bible stories tell ofmiracles that Jesus performed, like turning water into wine at a wedding and restoring sight to a blind man.

The Bible, the sacred book of Christianity, has two parts. The first part is the Jewish Bible, which is called the OldTestament by Christians. The second part is the New Testament, and it is made up of the writings of the earlyChristians. The New Testament contains the story of Jesus. Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John were four of Jesus'disciples, and they wrote the first four sections, or books, called Gospels. Gospel comes from an old English wordmeaning "good news." Christians believe that the Bible is the authority for living a good life.

Christians have holidays that celebrate events in Jesus' life. Christmas celebrates his birthday, while Eastercelebrates his resurrection. Christians attend worship services in churches that are built in many different styles.Most groups of Christians have a minister or priest who gives talks during services. These sermons are based onthe Bible. Christians also have special rituals called sacraments, like baptism and Holy Communion.

Today, there are at least 22,000 Christian groups. There are Roman Catholics, Protestants, and Quakers. Evenwithin these big groups, there are small differences. For example, there are Russian and Greek OrthodoxChristians. There are also thirteen other Orthodox groups. There are Baptist, Lutheran, and Anglican Protestants.Some Christians have quiet meetings, like the Quakers, while Catholics hold formal masses in beautiful cathedrals,and charismatic groups have noisy celebrations. However, Christians of all kinds believe that Jesus Christ was "theLight of the world."

What is Christianity?

Questions

1. Which of the following is the best synonym for "messiah?"

A. leaderB. teacherC. saviorD. priest

2. Which is the holy book of Christianity?

A. the TorahB. the SutrasC. the KoranD. the Bible

3. Which religion was Jesus raised in?

A. JudaismB. ChristianityC. CatholicismD. Islam

4. What is a parable?

A. a true storyB. a famous Roman quoteC. a funny storyD. a story with a hidden meaning


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5. Which of the following are symbols of Christianity?

A. whale and a fishB. wine and a boatC. goat and hornsD. cross and a fish

6. There are not very many branches of Christianity.

A. FalseB. True

7. Who was in power when Jesus was born?

A. the shepherdsB. the GreeksC. the mommiesD. the Romans

8. What does "gospel" mean?

A. good newsB. moneyC. tax collectionD. cook and bottle washer

trimurti hinduism. dharma sanatan by colleen...

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