Fajardo Academy Fajardo, Puerto Rico

Religions of the World

Angel G. Ortz Berros 8th Grade - History Mrs. Monette

Index
Introduction ................................................................................................................................................... 3 Christianism .................................................................................................................................................. 3 Catholicism ............................................................................................................................................... 3 Protestantism ............................................................................................................................................. 5 Budism .......................................................................................................................................................... 7 Hinduism ..................................................................................................................................................... 10 Islam............................................................................................................................................................ 12 Judaism ....................................................................................................................................................... 14 Conclusion .................................................................................................................................................. 16 Pictures........................................................................................................................................................ 17 Bibliography ............................................................................................................................................... 20

Religions of the World Introduction There are many religions in the world. The different religions have different beliefs and ways of living and how to worship. This work intends to expose and explain the main details or components of five of the main religions known to the mankind. Christianism Catholicism All the baptized according to their own rites and who have not made a formal act of apostasy belong to the Catholic Church. The head of the Catholic Church is bishop of Rome, the Pope, who received the honorific title of "His Holiness". The first pope was Peter and the current is Benedict XVI, name adopted by the elected Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger. The Catholic Church sees itself and proclaims himself as commissioned by Jesus Christ to help the spiritual path to God and mutual love living by the administration of the sacraments, through which God gives grace to the believer. The Catholic Church sees itself as the only Church founded by Christ, and therefore the only true against other Christian churches and denominations that have emerged historically afterwards. The Catholic Church believes that it has appointed to develop, deliver and spread the Christian teaching, as well as care for the unity of the faithful. You must also have the grace of the sacraments to the faithful through the ministry of its priests. In addition, the Catholic Church appears as a hierarchical and collegial, whose head is Christ, served the college of apostles, and in the later history the authority exercised by their successors: the Pope and the bishops. Catholics profess their faith in the four attributes (or notes) of the Church through the Apostles Creed and Nicene Creed. The notes of the Dogma of Faith Church are, they are as formal education: unity, Pope, Catholicism and apostolicity. Catholic dogmas are the core

beliefs that identify and define the Catholic faith against other Christian denominations, although some of these beliefs are common to other Christian denominations, for a Catholic dogma is a truth revealed by God and proposed by the Church for the indubitable belief of the faithful. Catholic dogmas are based on the Bible and Apostolic Tradition. Just as the Hebrews had a tradition (which was the basis for much of the books of the Old Testament), Catholics believe in the apostolic tradition handed down from generation to generation orally and in writing. Some basic tenets of Catholicism are: The Trinity of God (there are three divine persons, not three Gods: the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, one God form); The Eucharist (bread and wine transformed into the Body and Blood of Christ); The Immaculate Conception (holds the belief that Mary, mother of Jesus, unlike all other human beings, not been affected by original sin but from the first instant of her conception, ie, their personal, was free from sin); and the Divine Motherhood (the Virgin is the Mother of God). The five precepts of the church are: Celebrate the Eucharist every Sunday whole and holy days: Confess your sins at least once a year, in danger of death, and whether communion; Communion at least during the Easter season; Fast and abstain from eating meat when mandated by the Church; Help the Church in her needs. The Catholic Church has seven sacraments which they believe were instituted by Jesus Christ: Baptism, Communion, Confirmation, Penance, Anointment of the Sick, Marriage, and Holy Order. The total number of Catholics, if taken as such to the baptized, is more than one billion worldwide, focusing on the continents of Europe and America and in developing countries. In recent years, there has been an increasing Catholics with respect to the population in Africa. In Europe, the baptized as Catholics are the majority in the population of the following countries: Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, France, Hungary, Ireland, Italy,

Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Poland , Portugal, San Marino. In Germany, Czech Republic, Netherlands, Switzerland, and Northern Ireland are represented by numbers similar to those of the Protestants. In English-speaking countries and in general in the British Commonwealth of Nations (English, Commonwealth of Nations) Catholicism has not prospered as a result of Henry VIII's historic clash with the spiritual authority of the Vatican. Most of the population in Latin America is considered Catholic in varying degrees, (except Cuba, where Catholicism extends to just over half the population). The country with largest number of Catholics in the world is Brazil (139.5 million).The countries with the largest number of Catholics in Latin America, from highest to lowest percentage, are: Brazil, Colombia, Paraguay, Mexico, Argentina, Venezuela, Ecuador, Puerto Rico, El Salvador, Chile, Costa Rica, Peru, Bolivia. In Asia, Catholic countries like the Philippines (formerly Spanish colony) and East Timor (former Portuguese colony) are surrounded by Muslim countries, in others, such as Lebanon, are only half the population in Palestine and Syria, there are small minorities remarkable, and somewhat lower still in Korea, India, and Vietnam. In Africa, the number of Catholics would exceed 50% of the population in the following countries: Angola, Burundi, Cape Verde, Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Lesotho, Reunion, Sao Tome and Principe and Seychelles. The total number of African Catholics, according to the Pontifical Yearbook 2010, with data referring to 2008, would be of 173 million. Protestantism The term Protestant is used to refer to groups that split from the Roman Catholic Church with the Protestant Reform of the sixteenth century, as a particular theological developments of the reformers and the resulting churches. The name "Protestant" comes into use towards the supporters of Lutheran ideas of the Reformation in Germany after their protest and resistance to

imperial edicts trying to find religious uniformity of Germany. The Protestant doctrine revolves around the idea that only the Bible is the only authority in matters of faith for the Church and the absolute necessity of the grace of God to man, through faith alone in Christ and the Gospel can be saved by God in an act of internal conversion. It also advocates the doctrines of the absolute depravity of man and his total need of God, the sole mediation of Christ, the only sacramental baptism and Lord's Supper (when they are perceived as symbols), the conception of the good works the fruit of faith. It rejects the authority of the papacy, indulgences, purgatory, the bloodless sacrifice of the Mass, devotion to the saints, the intercession of departed saints, and other mainly catholic beliefs. Due to the diversity of groups that joined the Protestant and doctrinal differences, it does not correspond to the model of a single church or a homogeneous doctrine. Despite the original matching expressed primarily in the Five Solas, even in its origins, no one could speak of a uniform solid movement in this regard. The five solas comprise the core of the Protestant faith: The doctrine of "sola scriptura" is the belief that all sources of authority in matters of faith must be drawn exclusively from the Word of God, the Bible; The doctrine of "sola fide" which is the belief that only through faith in Christ man receive free salvation; The doctrine of "sola gratia" is the belief that salvation is received by man by God for free without merit or that it may acquire by their own forces; The doctrine of "solus Christus" is the belief that there is only one mediator able to redeem man to God, and it is Christ. From a theological point of view this doctrine is shared by all Christian churches, however, Protestantism took a number of new implications that did differ. The most important implication was the rejection of the intercession of the Virgin Mary and the saints in our favor from heaven. They also rejected the worship and veneration of these and other popular beliefs that even the Catholic Church does not recognize it as correct. Another important

implication is the rejection of what was perceived as an appropriation by the clergy of certain means of salvation or remission of sins as the celebration of the sacrament of penance and indulgences; and the doctrine of "Soli Deo Gloria" is the belief that only God can give glory and worship. It is also the belief that angels and all creation (including men) give glory to God and to do so and God created them. In addition to the "five solas" Protestantism as most streams of Christianity also shares the belief in the Trinity, Christology of the early classical ecumenical councils, the celebration of the sacraments of baptism and the Lord's Supper (Eucharist) but with important differences, belief in the Last Judgement and the resurrection of the flesh, and so on. Rank Country Population% of Protestantism: United States 163,653,774 50.8%, China 130,680,766 10.0%; Brazil 50,900,000 26.0%; United Kingdom 44,726,678 72.0%; Nigeria 34,100,000 23.0%; Germany 31,300,000 38.0%; Republic of South Africa 30,000,000 62.0%; Indonesia 15,460,000 8.0%; Kenia 12,855,244 38.0%; and Democratic Republic of Congo 12,017,001 20.0%. Budism Buddhism is a theist religion belonging to the dharma family. Buddhism has evolved in history to acquire the current multiplicity of schools and practices. Buddhism is not organized in a vertical hierarchy. Religious authority is based on sacred texts: the Sutras (literally 'discourses'). Moreover, there is abundant material for interpretation in which teachers help and characters throughout history who have commented and analyzed. The monastic community is organized historically by transmission lines in time, and in some schools the chains of relationships between teachers and students are central. Lay people have different roles depending on the two great branches, Theravada ("school of the elders") and Mahayana ('Great

Vehicle'). In Mahayana Buddhism, secular life is considered as useful to attain Nirvana as the monastic life, while in the Theravada emphasis is given to the monastic life. Another common classification is to identify a third branch, the Vajrayana (or Tantric), which can be considered a part or division of Mahayana. In general, Buddhism was implemented in many countries without direct conflict with indigenous religions, but in many cases, exchanging influences. Unlike other religions Buddhism does not know the notion of holy war, forced conversion, nor considers the notion of heresy as something always pernicious. The pluralism of approaches and acceptance of different doctrinal views has historically been something shared and accepted in the Buddhist community, which has led to an enormous amount of religious and philosophical literature. Estimates of the number of Buddhists in the world vary significantly according to different sources between 1691 billion and the 230 million, what would keep it as the fourth largest religion in the world after Hinduism. In any case, this means that Buddhism is the major religions of mankind. Also called the Dharma (in Sanskrit, means support, keeping the law, truth, the true nature of reality, the way), the Buddhist fundamentals are the foundation of the teachings of Buddhism. Despite a huge variety in the practices and demonstrations, Buddhist schools share common philosophical principles. All elements of the fundamental philosophical teachings are characterized by closely interrelated and contained in other, so that their understanding is needed to achieve a holistic view of a whole. Furthermore, it tends to emphasize the fact that all the teachings are just a way to target, guide or point to the Dharma, but which must realize the same

practitioner. The Dharma can only be experienced directly or discovered through a disciplined research and personal practice. According to Buddhism the Four Noble Truths are: Life includes duhkha (suffering, dissatisfaction or discontent): The birth is suffering, sickness is suffering, aging is suffering, death is suffering, sorrow is sorrow and lamentation, pain and despair. Contact with the unpleasant is suffering, separation from what is pleasant is suffering, unsatisfied desire is suffering.; The origin of suffering is trsna (longing, desire) Suffering arises from the anxiety caused by desires, senses and the sensual delight, seeking satisfaction now here then there, the desire to become , the urge to be born again and the anxiety of being annihilated; Suffering can be extinguished when the cause is extinguished: Suffering ceases with the cessation of craving for sensual pleasures, of becoming and of destruction, and with no passion, no longer hold; The noble path is the way to extinguish suffering, buddhism prescribes a method, or path, with which we try to avoid the extremes of excessive pursuit of satisfaction on the one hand, and an unnecessary mortification on the other. This path includes the wisdom, ethical conduct and training or culture of the 'mind through meditation, attention and mindfulness. According to Buddhism, every intentional action (karma) creates one or more effects that appear when the circumstances are prone to what is called maturation (vipaka) or fruit (phala). Karma pursuant to the Buddhist doctrine refers to any act of speech, body or mind. Thus the movements outside the volition or intent , as in the case of reflexes, are karmically neutral. However, any movement of the will is karma though not conscious. The darkness (evil) cant lead to a bright (happy) result, but still the karma can be mixed due to a variety of reasons good and bad. Karma in Buddhism also explains the differences by which beings have a rather long life, wealth, beauty, health and wisdom.

In many schools of Buddhism there is some kind of ceremony officiated by a monk or teacher who provides taking refuge in the Three Jewels. This is a public demonstration of commitment but is not essential. The person can take refuge for herself and sincerely enough to be considered Buddhist. Those who have taken shelter can benefit from Buddhism to consider a philosophy, a practical method of spiritual training. For this reason, and being detached from the devotion to deities, there are often people from other religions or no religion who study Buddhist meditation. Hinduism Hinduism is a religious tradition of India. Sanskrit is known as Sanatana Dharma ('eternal religion') or vaidika dharma ("Vedic duty '). It is the third largest religion, with over nine million members, after Christianity and islam. Hindus are the majority in: India 80.5%; Nepal 80%; Bali, Indonesia 90%; Mauritius 55%. There are prominent Hindu communities in: Afghanistan (second religion after Islam), Bangladesh (second religion after Islam),Bhutan (second largest religion after Buddhism), Burma (second largest religion after Buddhism); Fiji (second religion after Christianity); Indonesia (second religion after Islam); Malaysia (third religion after Islam and Buddhism); Oman (second religion after Islam); Pakistan (second religion after Islam); Singapore (third religion after Buddhism and Islam); Sri Lanka (second largest religion after Buddhism); Thailand (second largest religion after Buddhism). There are also significant in Hindu immigrant communities: United States, United Kingdom, Gibraltar, Arabian Peninsula, Trinidad and Tobago, South Africa, Mexico, Costa Rica, and Colombia. Hinduism has no founder, and that is a sum of various religions, a set of metaphysical beliefs, religious cults, customs and rituals that make up a tradition in which there is neither priestly orders to establish a single dogma, nor an central organization. It would be rather a

conglomeration of beliefs from people of different regions along with those brought by the Aryans who settled in the Ganges River basin and were written by way of disclosures in the various Vedic writings and other Hindu holy books. The Hindu religious tradition that called Sanatana Dharma ('eternal religion'), because they believe it has no beginning or end. According to them has existed for over 5000 years. They believe that Hinduism is the oldest religious tradition in the world. Hinduism is structured by various religions are as diverse as contrary to their forms. Within religious ideologies of Hinduism is polytheistic, monotheistic, pantheistic, and atheistic. Similarly there is a set of philosophies that opens up a range of possibilities. But despite apparently polytheistic ideology is clearly a monotheistic religion, each demigod of the Hindu pantheon, is the personification of one of the powers of one God. Hinduism lacks a doctrine. Each branch of this religion is their own: The Vaishnavas believe in an eternal supreme being, called Vishnu, however, the Gaudiya Vaishnava ('vishnuistas Bengali') worship Krishna exclusively. In the Vednta that supreme reality is called Brahman, has no past, present or future is infinite, the impersonal form of God, known as Impersonal Brahman, the creative principle of the world. All other beings in the universe are reflected, on what is considered the beginning of the universe. This view can be considered pantheism or monotheism from the point of view. The Kashmir shivaists believe in one god, Shiva, and deny the importance of Brahma and Vishnu. His monistic view of the universe has been reflected in the Shiva sutras. On the other hand the Sankhya philosophy of Kapila is a deeply atheistic philosophy and is currently considered orthodox.

Islam Islam is a monotheistic Abrahamic religion whose dogma is based on the Quran, which states as a fundamental premise for its believers that "There is no God but Ala and Muhammad is the last messenger of Allah ". Accepted as prophets primarily (but not limited) to Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, Solomon and Jesus. Besides the Quran, Muslims are Sunni tradition also the Hadith and the Sunna of the Prophet Muhammad, who make up the historical record of the actions and teachings of the Prophet. Are also accepted as sacred books of the Torah (the Old Testament of the Christians), the Books of Solomon and the Gospels (New Testament). Islam is a monotheistic Abrahamic religion that worships Allah alone without partners. It is estimated that there are currently between 1,000 and 1,200 million Muslims in the world. Islam began with the preaching of Muhammad in 622 in Mecca (in modern Saudi Arabia). Under the leadership of Muhammad and his successors, Islam spread rapidly. There is disagreement among Muslims and spread of whether religious or military imposition, or at converting people to Islam. The Islamic doctrine has five pillars of their faith as part of the inner workings of the Muslims. The pillars are: The profession of faith, that is, accept the basic principle that there is only one God and Mohammed is the last and most important of his prophets; Prayer; The zakat (sometimes translated as charity), ie, sharing resources with the needy; Fasting in the month of Ramadan; The pilgrimage to Mecca (for those who can) at least once in life. To these some Muslims add the sixth pillar of jihad or effort in defense of the faith. In strictly religious terms, it is understood primarily as a spiritual endeavor, within each believer revive their faith and live by it. This is called the greater jihad, while there is a lesser jihad that is to preach Islam and defend it from attack. This latter concept was born the idea of jihad as a struggle or war that has become

popular worldwide. Moreover, according to the Qur'an all Muslims have to believe in God, His angels, His books, His prophets, predestination and the next life. The Quran is the holy book of Islam. Muslims believe was revealed to Muhammad by the archangel Gabriel between 610 and 632, the last date on which the prophet died. In addition to its memory, it is said that the followers of Muhammad wrote the Quran in scrolls, stones and leaves. Muslims believe that the current text of the Qur'an is identical to the revelation received by Muhammad. He, in turn, dictated to his disciples, who memorized his words. Islamic law covers all aspects of Muslim life. Those Islamic laws that are specifically described in the Qur'an are called hudud. Include the prohibition of murder, extramarital sex, alcohol and gambling. The Qur'an also details laws relating to inheritance, marriage, compensation in cases of murder or bodily harm, as well as rules for fasting, almsgiving and prayer. The commands and prohibitions are interpreted in practice by scholars in religion or ulema. Muslims have respected Jews and Christians as "People of the Book", but say they have abandoned monotheism and corrupted the scriptures. Islam tolerates Jews and Christians, because they are allowed to live and practice their religion in Muslim lands, although they must pay a special tax, the "Jizya", replacement of zakat. It is forbidden to use force to convert the infidel to Islam. Apostasy is punishable (by death) under Islamic law as stated in Surah XVI, 106; About who denies God after his profession of faith, with the exception who was forced, but whose heart is firm in faith-and who opens his breast to the wickedness of these the wrath of God will fall and will have a terrible torment.

Judaism It is the oldest of the three monotheistic religions most widely used (along with Christianity and Islam), also known as "religions of the book" or "Abrahamic" and the least of which the number of faithful. Although there is no single body to structure and set the dogmatic content of Judaism, its practice is based on the teachings of the Torah, also called the Pentateuch, composed, as its name indicates, five books. The Torah or Pentateuch, in turn, is one of the three books that make up the Tanakh (or Old Testament, according to Christianity), which is attributed to divine inspiration. Also play an important role in religious practice oral tradition, as beliefs, were given to Moses along with the Torah and kept from his time and the prophets. The oral tradition governs the interpretation of the biblical text, coding and reviews. This oral tradition was transcribed, giving rise to the Mishnah, which later became the basis of the Talmud and a huge body of exegetical, which runs until today by scholars. The compendium of laws drawn from these texts form is the so-called Jewish law or Halacha. The main feature of the Jewish faith is the belief in an omniscient, omnipotent and provident, that would have created the universe and chose the Jewish people to reveal the law contained in the Ten Commandments and the ritual prescriptions of the third and fourth books of the Torah. Consequently, the rules derived from such texts and oral tradition, are the guides of life of the Jews, though the observance of these varies greatly from one group to another. Another feature of Judaism, which unlike other monotheistic religions, is that considered not only as a religion but as a tradition and culture. Other religions transcend various nations and cultures, while Judaism is considered the religion and culture of a particular people. Judaism does not require non-Jews join the Jewish people or take their religion. Religion, culture and the Jewish people can be considered as separate concepts, but are closely interrelated. The Jewish

tradition and culture are very diverse and heterogeneous, as it developed in different ways in different communities, each local community incorporated cultural elements of the various countries where Jews lived from the dispersion. Jewish identity does not depend primarily on the acceptance of beliefs or follow-up of a model of living. There are two versions as to who the Jewish religion. First, Orthodox Judaism holds that Jewish law (halacha) states that one born of a Jewish mother, or has made a conversion process (guiur) led by a rabbi, Jewish community (synagogue) and ended before a beit din (rabbinical court) Orthodox, is Jewish by definition. Second, Conservative Judaism advocates the same points, with the peculiarity that the conversion processes are performed by accepted orthodoxy (a process referred to above) or by the beit din's own Conservative Judaism. Third, the reformers believe they are Jewish people who have been "born of a Jewish mother or father" or converted to a beit din Orthodox, Conservative or Reform rabbi to a (it is noteworthy that every Reform rabbi is free to decide when becomes a proselyte Jew). Despite all this, you can convert to Judaism, as mentioned in the Talmud: The rabbis say: If someone comes and wants to be a convert, they say, "Why do you want to be a convert? Do not you know that Jews are harassed, hounded, persecuted and hunted, which afflict many problems?" If you answer: "I know, I am not worthy", then you are without having to argue anything else. The Torah is the primary source of the seven basic moral precepts that bind all human beings as such imposed refrain from action, one for each day of the year, and 248 precepts that bind positively to-one for each organ of the body. The most revered Jewish holiday is Shabbat, considered sacred and exceeded in solemnity, just for the Day of Atonement or Yom Kippur, just also called "Sabbath of Sabbaths." The leadership of the traditional Jewish community is up to the rabbi, educated and learned person in the Halakhah that leads his acolytes not only in

spiritual and religious, celebrating the Jewish worship, their festivals and celebrations, but earns the respect of his flock as a moral authority and community leader, offering advice, solving problems and all conflicts that may arise between its members. Jewish worship is held at the temple or synagogue, which also serves as a meeting place and community meeting, to which end the prayer in public requires a minimum of ten men. In 2001 lived in the world 13,200,000 Jews, of whom 4.9 million lived in Israel (approximately 37 percent of total), while the remaining 8.3 million in the Diaspora, the name given by Jews to the Jewish community outside Israel. The largest concentration of Jewish population is in Israel. The largest city in the Jewish world is the Gush Dan Tel Aviv or the Great, with 2.5 million, which was followed by New York, with 1.9 million, Haifa, with 655,000, Los Angeles, with 621,000; Jerusalem, with 570,000 , and Southeast Florida, with 514,000 Jews (all data 2001). Conclusion It is very important to know about other people beliefs in order to better understand them. Diversity is an important part of the world and part of that diversity is based on religious beliefs. This work helped me to know a great deal of information about our fellow human beings who believe in different religions. I learned that there are very different ways in which people express their religious views. Also, this work gave me a desire to know more about other religions that people follow and are not in this work, and more about the religions studied through this work.

Pictures

Catolicism

Protestantism

Budism

Hinduism

Islam

Judaism

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