World ReligionsWorld Religions

ICCF Bible BootcampICCF Bible Bootcamp

20092009

What is Religion?What is Religion?

DefinitionDefinition ReligionReligion

A religion is an organized approach to human A religion is an organized approach to human spirituality which usually encompasses a set of spirituality which usually encompasses a set of narratives, symbols, beliefs and practices, often with a narratives, symbols, beliefs and practices, often with a supernatural or transcendent quality, that give supernatural or transcendent quality, that give meaning to the practitioner's experiences of lifemeaning to the practitioner's experiences of life through reference to a higher power, God or gods, or through reference to a higher power, God or gods, or ultimate truth.ultimate truth.

a set of beliefs concerning the a set of beliefs concerning the cause, nature, and cause, nature, and purpose of the universepurpose of the universe, esp. when considered as the , esp. when considered as the creation of a superhuman agency or agencies, usually creation of a superhuman agency or agencies, usually involving devotional and ritual observances, and often involving devotional and ritual observances, and often containing a moral code governing the conduct of containing a moral code governing the conduct of human affairs.human affairs.

a specific fundamental set of beliefs and practices a specific fundamental set of beliefs and practices generally agreed upon by a number of persons or generally agreed upon by a number of persons or sects: the Christian religion; the Buddhist religion.sects: the Christian religion; the Buddhist religion.

That which is That which is ultimate for or supreme concernultimate for or supreme concern for for individuals or groupsindividuals or groups

Comparing religionsComparing religions ““I mix a little truth with every lie to tickle itching ears. I mix a little truth with every lie to tickle itching ears.

I’m drawing people just like flies, they like what they I’m drawing people just like flies, they like what they hear.”hear.” Keith GreenKeith Green

Common DevelopmentCommon Development BeginningsBeginnings Adding RitualAdding Ritual Folk adaptationsFolk adaptations

Saints, Holy Places, Talismans, MagicSaints, Holy Places, Talismans, Magic Explanations for life / Protections against powersExplanations for life / Protections against powers

Major ReligionsMajor Religions

““Western”Western” JudaismJudaism ChristianityChristianity IslamIslam

EasternEastern HinduismHinduism BuddhismBuddhism Jainism, Sikhism, Zoroastrianism, Jainism, Sikhism, Zoroastrianism,

Confusianism, Daoism, ShintoismConfusianism, Daoism, Shintoism

Hinduism – Sanatana DharmaHinduism – Sanatana Dharma900 million900 million

IntroductionIntroduction God God – 330 million gods– 330 million gods

God is "Absolute" universal spirit; everyone is part of God God is "Absolute" universal spirit; everyone is part of God (Brahman) like drops in the sea. (Brahman) like drops in the sea.

Shiva, Vishnu, BrahmaShiva, Vishnu, Brahma Avatars (Krishna, Rama, etc.)Avatars (Krishna, Rama, etc.)

Man and the UniverseMan and the Universe Brahman, atman, samsara, maya, karma, mokshaBrahman, atman, samsara, maya, karma, moksha

Salvation and the afterlifeSalvation and the afterlife Four yogas: jnana (knowledge), bhakti (devotion), karma Four yogas: jnana (knowledge), bhakti (devotion), karma

(works), raja (‘royal’ – meditative techniques)(works), raja (‘royal’ – meditative techniques) MoralsMorals

Stages – “renouncing the fruits of your labors” is supremeStages – “renouncing the fruits of your labors” is supreme Reincarnation and karma have supported caste system Reincarnation and karma have supported caste system

WorshipWorship Animals, Rivers, Holy Men, ecstatic prayer, songs, folk religionAnimals, Rivers, Holy Men, ecstatic prayer, songs, folk religion

BuddhismBuddhism360 million360 million

Introduction to the “Middle Way”Introduction to the “Middle Way” God God – primarily atheistic/non-theistic– primarily atheistic/non-theistic Man and the UniverseMan and the Universe

Illusory, all is changingIllusory, all is changing Transmigration rather than ReincarnationTransmigration rather than Reincarnation

Salvation and the afterlifeSalvation and the afterlife Ignorance not sin keeps from nirvanaIgnorance not sin keeps from nirvana 4 Noble Truths – 1) life is suffering, 2) which lies in desire, 3) 4 Noble Truths – 1) life is suffering, 2) which lies in desire, 3)

with only solution to cease desire, 4) solution is Noble Eight with only solution to cease desire, 4) solution is Noble Eight Fold PathFold Path

Meditation Meditation Bodhisattvas and meritBodhisattvas and merit

Morals – the Five PreceptsMorals – the Five Precepts WorshipWorship

JudaismJudaism14 million14 million

Introduction Introduction Orthodox, Conservative, ReformedOrthodox, Conservative, Reformed Tanakh, TalmudsTanakh, Talmuds

God – personal, just yet lovingGod – personal, just yet loving Man and the UniverseMan and the Universe Salvation and the afterlifeSalvation and the afterlife

Obey God’s commandmentsObey God’s commandments ““Fuzzy” on afterlifeFuzzy” on afterlife

Morals Morals Obey God’s commands and live ethicallyObey God’s commands and live ethically

WorshipWorship

IslamIslam1.4 billion1.4 billion

Introduction – Sunni, Shi’a, SuffiIntroduction – Sunni, Shi’a, Suffi GodGod

radical monotheism – distant, unknowable - radical monotheism – distant, unknowable - Mohammed and the Koran (Qur’an)Mohammed and the Koran (Qur’an)

Man and the UniverseMan and the Universe Not sinful, just disobedientNot sinful, just disobedient

Salvation and the afterlifeSalvation and the afterlife 5 Pillars – Shahadah, Salat, Zakat, Sawm, Hajj5 Pillars – Shahadah, Salat, Zakat, Sawm, Hajj Holy CitiesHoly Cities JihadJihad

MoralsMorals ““Straight Path”Straight Path” Women, DhimmitudeWomen, Dhimmitude

WorshipWorship

ChristianityChristianity2 billion2 billion

By HistoryBy History CatholicCatholic OrthodoxOrthodox ProtestantProtestant

By TheologyBy Theology ConservativeConservative LiberalLiberal

By PracticeBy Practice CharismaticCharismatic SecessionistSecessionist

Christian CultsChristian Cults

Definition Definition – sect considered to be false, – sect considered to be false, unorthodox, or extremist, with members often unorthodox, or extremist, with members often living outside of conventional society under the living outside of conventional society under the direction of a charismatic leader.direction of a charismatic leader.

Marks of a CultMarks of a Cult Jesus – Authority – LeadershipJesus – Authority – Leadership Salvation – Control Salvation – Control

ExamplesExamples MormonsMormons Jehovah’s WitnessesJehovah’s Witnesses

OtherOther

Atheism Atheism (1.1 billion, includes agnostics and (1.1 billion, includes agnostics and non-religious, communists)non-religious, communists)

New AgeNew Age WiccaWicca GnosticismGnosticism

So What?So What?

Apologetic NeedsApologetic Needs WitnessWitness Spiritual WarfareSpiritual Warfare Glory of GodGlory of God

Web sitesWeb sites http://www.religionfacts.com/big_religion_chart.htmhttp://www.religionfacts.com/big_religion_chart.htm http://www.wamware.com/world-religions/comparative/index.hhttp://www.wamware.com/world-religions/comparative/index.h

tmtm http://www.religionfacts.com/christianity/charts/denominationshttp://www.religionfacts.com/christianity/charts/denominations

_beliefs.htm_beliefs.htm http://www.religionfacts.com/christianity/charts/catholic_proteshttp://www.religionfacts.com/christianity/charts/catholic_protes

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