In case you missed it on Canvas, here is the slide presentation you’ll use to get your information
from: Basic Guide to World Religions
Vocabulary
Instructions: As a preparation activity or as you come across them in the presentation, define
the following World Religion Vocabulary words. For the first 9 vocabulary words, you’ll need to
search the internet to find a definition. Always make sure to put definitions into your own words.
Failure to do so is considered plagiarism, which is cheating.
1. Deity - a god or goddess in a multi god religion.
2. Shabbat - The Jewish day of rest.
3. Rabbis - A Jewish teacher that usually teaches Jewish law.
4. Synagogue - A jewish building for religious worship and instruction.
5. Covenant - A legal contract.
6. Monotheistic - Worshiping a single god.
7. Polytheistic - Worshiping multiple gods.
8. Mosque - A place of worship for Muslims.
9. Caliph - A political and religious leader of Islam in the time following the death of
Muhammad.
These words will be found in the presentation, or the associated videos. Remember to put these
definitions into your own words, and not copy/paste them from the presentation.
10.Analects - A collection of writing and sayings attributed to a given author.
11.Reincarnation - The rebirth of a soul in a new body.
12.Karma - the force produced by a person's actions in one life that influences what happens
to them in future lives.
13.Dharma - The eternal and inherent nature of reality.
14.Samsara - Refers to the belief that all living beings cyclically go through births and
rebirths.
15.Moksha - Release from the cycle of rebirth impelled by the law of karma.
16.Nirvana - A place of perfect peace and happiness, like heaven.
17.Torah - A scroll to guide and teach.
18.Diaspora - To scatter about.
19.Quran - The recitation of scriptural readings during church services.
Notes/Learning Guide
As you read and study the Basic Guide to World Religions Presentation, please complete the
learning guide below. Be sure to watch the embedded videos and use the hyperlinks in the
presentation to help clarify information.
On slide 3, there is an awesome video about the spread of religions. Watch that video, then
answer the following two questions:
1. Explain two things you have learned about the relationship between geography and world
religions.
Places close together typically have the same religions. People moving around can transfer
religions quickly.
2. Based on the video, what are two inferences (educated guesses based on evidence) you
can make about how and why world religions spread over time?
I think religions spread through missionaries and migration. I think people wanted to spread
their “truth” or wanted to move somewhere better.
Hinduism
3. Where do a vast majority of Hindu worshipers live?
India
4. Explain how Hinduism can be seen as both a polytheistic and monotheistic religion.
There are multiple gods but most Hindus choose to mainly worship one.
5. You defined karma, dharma, samsara, and moksha in the vocabulary section above. Using
those words and the slides as reference, explain the cycle of life and death according to
Hindu beliefs.
During ones life you need to make good actions and choices (karma) and do your duty in life
(dharma) when people die and are reincarnated in new forms a long continuous cycle
(samsara) the point of samsara is to find total peace and reunite with the universal spirit
(moksha)
Buddhism
6. Explain, in your own words, the story of how Buddhism was founded.
A prince wanted to understand and overcome suffering so he meditated for years until he
reached enlightenment.
7. Explain each of the 4 Noble Truths.
1. Life is filled with suffering.
2. Suffering is caused by desire and attachment.
3. Ending desire can end suffering.
4. By following the path of right understanding, intent, speech, action, livelihood, effort,
mindfulness, and concentration you can end suffering and achieve Nirvana.
8. Explain one way an aspect of Buddhists teachings could improve a person's life.
We get attached to a lot of things such as phones that can create lots of suffering. So getting rid
of attachments and desires will help make your life better.
Judaism
9. How did Abraham set the foundation for Judaism/Jewish faith?
He entered into a covenant with god, establishing the belief in one god and creating the faith.
10.What two contributions did Moses make to Judaism?
Led Israelites out of slavery, and received the 10 commandments.
11.Read through the ten commandments (located at the bottom of slide 10). Using this as
evidence, is Judaism a monotheistic or polytheistic religion?
Monotheistic.
12.What is the holy book of Judaism?
It is the first 5 books of the Hebrew bible.
Christianity
13.According to the video, explain 3 beliefs in Christianity.
1. Jesus is the son of god and savior of humanity.
2. Only one god who created the universe.
3. Jesus died for our sins.
14.From the reading, why are there so many different Christian sects?
People disagree about the leadership and power.
15.Using the internet, research the difference between an ethnic and a universalizing religion
and explain it here. As always, you must put what you learn into your own words.
Copy/pasting from the internet is considered cheating.
Universalizing means that the religion is actively trying to gain more members using
missionaries. Ethnic means that it is typically an old religion that is traditional but does not try
to get people to join.
Islam
16.Describe the life of Mahamud and the founding of Islam.
Muhammad was a member of the Umayyad clan. He was married to a successful merchant. In
the year 610, Muhammad was visited by the Archangel Gabriel in a cave. Gabriel said that
Muhammad was the Messenger of God. And then Muhammad had revelations.
17.What year was Islam founded, and how does this compare to the other religions?
The 7th century which makes it a young religion.
18.Using the video and text, explain 3 beliefs in Islam
1. They believe in God.
2. The prophet.
3. The year after.
19.Using the hyperlink on slide 15, describe each of the Five Pillars of Islam.
1. There is no God but God and Muhammad is his prophet. (shahada)
2. Muslims are expected to pray five times a day. (Salat)
3. Muslims believe that they are meant to share their wealth with those less fortunate in
their community of believers. (Zakat)
4. During the 9th month on the Islamic calendar Muslims are expected to fast from dawn
to dusk. (Saum)
5. All Muslims are expected to visit the Mecca and the surrounding holy sites at least
once in their lives during the 12th month on the Islamic calendar.
20.In a sentence or two, describe the spread of Islam.
They had an army that would conquer lots of land and people and convert them into Islams.
Holidays, Dietary Restrictions, and Afterlife
21.Which holiday seems the most similar to a holiday you have celebrated in your own life?
List some similarities and differences.
Christmas is a big holiday at my house but we don’t celebrate Jesus as much as we should
have. We do however share gifts and decorate. But we do not usually gather.
22.How do Yom Kippur, Ramadan, and Lent each incorporate fasting, and in what ways are
the purposes and practices of fasting during these holidays similar and different? (Make
sure to explain each one first, then compare them.)
Yom Kippur is a solemn holiday focused on repentance, prayer, and fasting. Ramadan is a holy
month in Islam when Muslims fast from dawn to sunset. Lent is when you give up bad habits
or luxuries for 40 days, pray, and fast. These are all similar because they are done for a reason.
They are different in the amount of time they are fasting for.
23.Look at the dietary restrictions on Slide 18. How might the dietary practices of the
different religions influence social gatherings or interfaith events?
You will find only food that fits the restrictions with none of the banned food.
24.Look at the beliefs in what happens after life on slide 19. Pick two religions and list two
similarities between their beliefs in the afterlife, then list two differences between their
beliefs in the afterlife.
Two religions
1. Christians
2. Jewish
Similarities
1. Monotheistic
2. Afterlife
Differences
1. Judaism rejects Christianity's idea of God as a human being.
2. Christians have different beliefs on the afterlife.
