Understanding Major World Religions: Hinduism, Buddhism, and More
Hinduism
Indian comes from Persian and GIS. The result is a long process of evolution.
Origin
No source is a lifestyle Hindu.
Indus
Four thousand years ago, educated deities represented by three letters: the goddess Shiva.
The Ganges
From the northwest, Arya signifies noble. Considered a superior race, it is not mixed with India.
Beliefs
- Membership: Religion is closely related to being born Hindu, belonging to a family.
Gods
Diverse conceptions of God: Brahman (the Absolute Spirit), many gods, and cults of goddesses.
Dharma
Set standards for universal harmony.
Reincarnation
A person is preceded by many other lives and will be followed by more lives.
Rules of Life
- Higher castes: the Brahmins (priests), the Kshatriya (warriors), the Vaishya (merchants, farmers).
- Lower caste: the Shudra (servants).
- Without caste: the Pariahs or untouchables (marginalized).
Mediation
Repentance: you do not Indu, Indu is born.
Buddhism
Founded in the 6th century BC in India, responding to pain and suffering.
Buddha
Born in 563 BC. At 29, he left the palace in search of enlightenment. Preaching: Sermon of Benares.
Branches
- Straight opinion, intention, action, lifestyle.
- Effort, thought, and concentration.
Judaism
Abraham
In the century BC in southern Mesopotamia, inhabited by semi-nomadic tribes. He was a patriarch, the leader of the clan family.
Bible
The Torah: is the Pentateuch, five books of the Bible (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy). All of the prophets: Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Zechariah. All sapiential: Psalms, Proverbs / Historical.
Decalogue
- Have no other gods.
- Do not take the Lord’s name in vain.
- Sanctify the Sabbath.
- Honor your parents.
- Do not kill.
- Do not commit adultery.
- Do not steal.
- Do not bear false witness against your neighbor.
Christianity
Beliefs
- Incarnation: God became man.
- Resurrection: Two days after His death, triumph over evil and death, proclaiming the good news of salvation around the world.
- Trinity: God is known as three distinct persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Beatitudes
- Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
- Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
- Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
- Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.
- Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
- Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God.
Islam
Confession of Faith / Prayer
Five times a day.
Almsgiving
Must be distributed to the needy.
Fasting
The month of Ramadan: abstaining from food and drink from dawn until sunset.
Pilgrimage to Mecca
A sacred journey to Mecca at least once in a lifetime.
Christian Denominations
The division of Christians began when Jesus, in bidding farewell to His disciples, said, “You are all one, as I am in you and you in me.” The first Christians met this desire of Jesus.
- A crowd of believers had one heart and one soul; everything was in the service of all.
Divine Dimension
The Church is holy, and Christ sanctifies it through the Holy Spirit.
Human Dimension
The Church is an institution made up of men with their defects and qualities.
Ecumenism
A movement that promotes the unity of Christians.
Orthodox
Maintains a straight path, loyal to the doctrines of the early councils of the Church.
170 million believers in Eastern Europe are represented in our country.
Protestants
The sixteenth-century reform responded to the desires of the modern age, leading to the creation of reformed Protestant churches, with 373 million faithful in northern Europe and North America.
Luther
Martin Luther began the Reformation and was supported by other significant figures like John Calvin in France and Switzerland. He was outraged when a priest, in the name of Pope Leo X, preached the sale of indulgences. As a protest, Luther hung his 95 Theses on the door of the Wittenberg Castle Church in 1520. The Pope excommunicated Luther, separating him from the Church.