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Judaism - 2000 BCE

Judaism, Christianity, and Islam all originated with a divine covenant between the God of the ancient Israelites (people 490 BCE from Israel) and Abraham around 2000 BCE. The next leader of the people of Israel, Moses, led his people out of captivity in Buddhism developed out of the teachings of Siddhartha Egypt and received the Law from God. Joshua later led them Gautama, a prince born around 563BC, in , Nepal into the Promised Land where Samuel established the Israelite near the present border of Northern India. The family name kingdom. King David established Jerusalem and King Solomon was Gautama and they were the rulers of a small feudal built the first temple there. In 70 CE the temple was destroyed kingdom of the clan. Siddartha left his family at age and the Jews were scattered throughout the world until 1948 twenty-nine and began life as a poor monk. For six years he when the state of Israel was formed. sought the answer to end suffering. After meditating under a , Siddhartha found enlightenment and became Jews believe in one creator who alone is to be worshipped as the Buddha or “Enlightened One”. He then began teaching absolute ruler of the universe. He monitors people’s activities and promoted 'The ' as the path to and rewards good deeds and punishes evil. The Torah is the law enlightenment. Long after his death the Buddha's teachings of God as revealed to Moses and recorded in the first five books were written down. This collection is called the Tripitaka. of the Hebrew scriptures (the Pentateuch). God also Buddhists believe in reincarnation and that one must go communicates with the Jewish people through prophets. Jews through cycles of birth, life, and death. After many such believe in the inherent goodness of the world and its inhabitants cycles, if a person releases their attachment to desire and as creations of God and do not require a savior to save them the self, they can attain . In general, Buddhists do from original sin. They believe they are God's chosen people not believe in any type of God, the need for a savior, prayer, and that the Messiah will arrive in the future, gather them into or eternal life after death. However, since the time of the Israel and the Jerusalem Temple will be rebuilt. Buddha, Buddhism has integrated many regional religious rituals, beliefs and customs into it as it has spread Two Jewish holidays are Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. Rosh throughout Asia, so that this generalization is no longer true Hashanah means "head of the year”. It is the Jewish New Year. for all Buddhists. This has occurred with little conflict due to It is celebrated on the first two days of Tishrei in the Hebrew the philosophical nature of Buddhism. . Rosh Hashanah customs include sounding the shofar and eating symbolic foods such as apples dipped in honey. This There are many special or holy days held throughout the year it was September 16-18, 2012. ‘Yom Kippur’ means the year by the Buddhist community. Many of these days ‘Day of Atonement’. That is, the day when we try to make up celebrate the birthdays of in the for any wrong things we have done. It is a day of fasting which tradition or other significant dates in the Buddhist calendar. starts at sunset on the 10th of Tishrei and finishes when night The most significant celebration happens every May on the falls on the 11th Tishrei (on the Jewish calendar). Yom Kippur night of the full moon, when Buddhist all over the world is the most holy day in the Jewish year. celebrate the birth, enlightenment and death of the Buddha over 2,500 years ago. It has become to be known as Buddha It is the day when God decides what will happen to every Day. Jewish person in the year ahead. Yom Kippur is not like other special Jewish days. This year, it was September 13-14, 2013. Christianity - 30 CE - 4000 to 2500 BCE Christianity started out as a breakaway sect of Judaism nearly 2000 years ago in Israel, located in what is called the The origins of Hinduism can be traced to the Indus Middle East. Jesus, the son of the Virgin Mary and her husband Valley civilization sometime between 4000 and 2500 BCE in Joseph, but conceived through the Holy Spirit, was bothered by modern day India. Though believed by many to be a some of the practices within his native Jewish faith and began polytheistic religion, the basis of Hinduism is the belief in the preaching a different message of God and religion. During his unity of everything. This totality is called Brahman. The travels he was joined by twelve disciples who followed him in purpose of life is to realize that we are part of God and by his journeys and learned from him. He performed many doing so we can leave this plane of existence and rejoin with miracles during this time and related many of his teachings in God. This enlightenment can only be achieved by going the form of parables. Among his best known sayings are to through reincarnation, which is the cycles of birth, life, death "love thy neighbor" and "turn the other cheek." At one point he and known as samsara. One's progress towards revealed that he was the Son of God sent to Earth to save enlightenment is measured by his karma. This is the humanity from our sins. This he did by being crucified on the accumulation of all one's good and bad deeds and this cross for his teachings. He then rose from the dead and determines the person's next reincarnation. Selfless acts and appeared to his disciples and told them to spread his message. thoughts as well as devotion to God help one to be reborn at Since Christianity and Judaism share the same history up a higher level. Bad acts and thoughts will cause one to be to the time of Jesus Christ, they are very similar in many of born at a lower level, as a person or even an animal. their core beliefs. There are two primary differences. One is that Hindus follow a strict caste system which determines Christians believe in original sin and that Jesus died in our place to save us from sin. The other is that Jesus was fully human the standing of each person. The caste one is born into is the and fully God and as the Son of God is part of the Holy Trinity: result of the karma from their previous life. Only members of God the Father, His Son, and the Holy Spirit. All Christians the highest caste, the brahmins, may perform the Hindu believe in heaven and that those who sincerely repent their sins religious rituals and hold positions of authority within the before God will be saved and join Him in heaven. Belief in hell temples. They have three main holy books: the Bhagavad- and Satan varies. Gita, Ramayana and Veda. There are a multitude of forms of Christianity which have One Hindu holiday is Diwali. The name means, “a row developed because of disagreements or cultural differences. For of lights”. Diwali is celebrated with small, earthenware, oil this reason there can be a great difference between the various lamps known as diyas. The Festival of Lights, as with most forms of Christianity they may seem like different religions to ancient legends, helps us to know the truth of victory of good some people. Their holy book is the bible; however, there are over evil. different versions of it used in different forms or denominations According to the , Diwali is celebrated on of Christianity. Amavasya, the 15th day of the dark fortnight of the Hindu Two of their holidays are Christmas and Easter. Christmas of Ashwin (Aasho), which is usually the month of is celebrated December 25, as the day Jesus was born. He is October or November every year. This year, it begins on often called Jesus Christ (which is why his birthday is called November 3, 2013. "Christ's Day.") To Christians, Easter is a religious holiday celebrating the resurrection of Jesus in the spring, which was said to occur 3 days after he died on a cross. It is he whom they believe is their Savior.

Islam - 622 CE Sikhism - 1500 CE

Islam was founded in 622 CE by Muhammad the Prophet, in Makkah (also spelled Mecca), Saudi Arabia. The Sikh faith was founded by Shri Guru Nanak Dev Ji in the Punjab area, now the country of Pakistan. He began preaching Muhammad is the main prophet. The two sacred texts the way to enlightenment and God after receiving a vision. After (books) of Islam are the Qur'an, which are the words of Allah his death a series of nine Gurus (regarded as reincarnations of 'the One True God' as given to Muhammad, and the Hadith, Guru Nanak) led the movement until 1708. A book, the Shri which is a collection of Muhammad's sayings. The duties of Guru Granth Sahib, was compiled by the tenth Guru, Gobind all Muslims are known as the Five Pillars of Islam and are: Singh. It consists of hymns and writings of the first 10 Gurus, along with texts from different Muslim and Hindu saints. The 1. Recite the shahadah at least once. holy text is considered the 11th and final Guru. 2. Perform the salat (prayer) 5 times a day while facing Sikhs believe in a single formless God with many names, who the Kaaba in Makkah. can be known through meditation. Sikhs pray many times each 3. Donate regularly to charity day and are prohibited from worshipping idols or icons. They 4. Fast during the month of Ramadan, the month that believe in samsara, karma, and reincarnation as Hindus do, but Muhammad received the Qur'an from Allah. reject the caste system. They believe that everyone has equal 5. Annual Hajj: Make pilgrimage to Makkah at least once status in the eyes of God. During the 18th century, the Reht in life Maryada -- the Sikh code of conduct and conventions was created. It contains 27 articles. Article 1 defines who is a Sikh: Muslims follow a strict monotheism with one creator who is just, omnipotent and merciful. They also believe in Satan Any human being who faithfully believes in: who drives people to sin, and that all unbelievers and sinners One Immortal Being called God will spend eternity in Hell. Muslims who sincerely repent and Ten Gurus, from Guru Nanak Dev to Guru Gobind Singh The Guru Granth Sahib submit to God will return to a state of sinlessness and go to The utterances and teachings of the ten Gurus Paradise after death. Alcohol, drugs, and gambling should be the baptism bequeathed by the tenth Guru avoided and they reject racism. They respect Abraham, does not owe allegiance to any other religion Moses, and Jesus as prophets of God. is a Sikh.

Ramadan is the ninth month of the Muslim calendar. The A major holiday of theirs is Vaisakhi (also known as Baisakhi, Month of Ramadan is also when it is believed the Holy Quran Vaishakhi, or Vasakhi) is an ancient harvest festival. In many "was sent down from heaven, a guidance unto men, a places, the day is marked by ritualistic bathing in sacred rivers declaration of direction, and a means of Salvation". like the Ganges in India. Vaisakhi is on April 13th or April 14th. On this day, Sikh devotees generally attend the Gurudwara It is during this month that Muslims fast. Ramadan is a time (building where they worship) before dawn with flowers and when Muslims concentrate on their faith and spend less time offerings. Processions through towns are common. Vaisakhi is on the concerns of their everyday lives. It is a time of the day on which the Khalsa was born and Sikhs were given a worship and contemplation. This year, it was July 8-August clear identity and a code of conduct to live by. 7, 2013.