TABLEOF CONTENTS SECTIONI -- WORLDRELIGIONS 1 Tribal Re1igions I Hinduism 1 Jainism Sikhism tl Buddhi sm 17 Tao'ism t5 Confucianism ?7 Shintoism 31 Zoroastriani sm . 35 Juda'i sm 39 Chricti:nifv 45 Islam 51 Baha'i 55 SECTIONII -- CHRISTIANDENOMINATIONS RomanCatho l i c'ism 57 EasternOrthodox 6i Episcopal i ans 65 Luther an s 69 Presbyterians 73 Methodists 77 Bapti sts 81 Mennonites,Amish, and the Brethren 85 Society of Friends (Quakers) 6l SeventhDay Adventists 89 Churchof JesusChrist of the Latter Day Saints 93 Churchof Christ Scientist (Chrjstian Science) 97 Salvation Army 99 Jehovah'sWi tnesses i01 Ponforncl-alc i05 SECTIONIII -- MODERNRELIGIONS BI ack MusI ims 109 Childrenof God i11 Chrjstadelphians 113 Divjne Light Mjssion 115 ECKANKAR 1_!7 EST 119 Hare Kri shna( International Society of Krishna Consciousness) I?I Rajneeshi sm Rosicrucians I?5 Scientology I27 Subud I29 Theosophy 131 TranscendentalMedjtatjon (TM) 133 Un'ificat jon Church(Moonies) 1?q, Un'itarian-Universal i st Association i37 Unity Schoolof Christjanjty 139 v'l SECTIONIV -- APPENDICES APPENDIXI -- IJORLDRELIGIONS 141 Similarities Amongthe World's Relig'ions i43 World Religion Information at a Glance I47 Point of Origin and Philosophyof World Religions I49 World Religions Timel'ine 151 World Re1igjons Glossary I h.{ APPENDIXII -- CHRISTIANDENOM I NATI ONS 157 i- Additional Informat'ionon Christianity i n General 159 Additional Information on Catholicism T7T Additional Information on Protestanti sm 181 Christian DenominationsGlo ssary 197 APPENDIXIIi -- MODERNRELIGIONS 20r ModernRe1 igions' InfluenceS 203 ModernRe1 igions Glossary 205 I NDEX 207 BI BLIOGRAPHY 2IT vi i SECTION I WORLD RELICIONS TRIBAL RELIGIONS (c. 120 million adherents) FOUNDER: No particular one individual, though individuals from various nationalities have given their particular tribal religion its unique- ness and direction. These may have included priests, shamans, witch doctors or philosophers. GOD(S): Usually various gods or deities of tribe, village, nature or ancestors. But, the followers often look beyond to a single Creator God who is above all gods. The spirits or deities receive their strength from the SupremeGod. SCRIPTURES: various traditions and tribal legendsand rituals which were handed down mainly by word of mouth. Sorneregulations may be altered as generationschange and practices become obsolete. HISTORY: There is no single history which covers the various tribal religions. fulany seem to have developed according to happenings in nature and fear of certain events (lightning, thunderings,earihquakes for example) which were not understood. Normal tiappeningsin tite-- birth, adulthood, marriage, death--gave reason for rejoicing or sorrowing. This caused the followers to look to a higher power. These tribal religions are usually found in the rnore und6rdeveloped areas of the world. BELIEFSAND e HARACTEnrsrrcs:x Some Common Features: Animisrn: Nature and the world around is alive with soirits and rnystical forces (personalor irnpersonal),thus thinRsare worshippedand venerated. l\'lagic: Attempting to f orce nature to one's will. Svmpathetic Vlagic atternpts to coerce nature to behavein a certain manner by performing that act oneself on a smaller scale (exarnple: voodoo dolls) Fetish--an object that controls nature i^rr o- rrro*rLcrr*--;^^' 1d5r-^hion (example: lucky rabbitstfeet) Divination: Seeing into the future, usually through the use of a Shaman. Taboo: Certain actions and objects must be avoided so as not to anger the spirit world. -l- 5. Totems: Some primitive religions express the kinship they feel with nature, for example, identifying themselveswith a particular animal. 6. Sacrifice: One of the most common practices of all religions. It is variously consideredin terms of feeding the spirits, giving a gift to the spirits, or establishing a bond between men and the spirits. 7. Rites of Passage: Certain rituals are carried out at key points in the Iife of a person. 8. Worshipof Ancestors: Believing that the soul lives on after the death of the body, led to efforts to avert the evil the dead might do. Ancestors are worshipped to also please the dead so they will benefit the living. x Evil is causedby human rnistakes,chance and malicious sorcery. x Goal is to fulfill one's particular destiny now (a tribal position, attaining old age, dying of natural causes, bearing children). Salvationor the f uture are not consideredmuch. * For spiritual help tribal members go to the diviners or seek help from ancestor spirits. Belief that man and God became estranged when a greedy nran tried to take too much food. Also, a belief that man was cursed by a lizard-like creature. Worship consists of family rites, personal prayers, use of religious objects, and of ferings rnadeto a deity. x Circumcision is practiced in some tribes of New Guinea. * Shamansor holy men help reveal the will of God to the laity. x With some tribes, possessionby a spirit of the deity is desirable. MAN: Belief in the immortal soul concept. Some believe a person has two souls. One goesoff to where the dead go (there is no heaven - hell concept) after hovering around the cemetery. The other stays around the family shrine in the home. When a "special" child is born with unique features, it is thought that the ancestor has been reincarnated. Most of rnan'spurpose is concernedwith the present life with little thought of the afterlife. When dead, it is believed that the spirit or soul which lives on is more powerful than when the person was alive. LOCATION: The underdevelopedareas of Africa, the Americas, Australia, Asia and the isles of the Pacific. -2- HINDUISM (c. 660 million adherents) FOUNDER: No precise founding, but grew up largely between 1500 B.C. and 400B.c. cop(s): Brahman: "World Soul" is a three-in-one god or Trimurti. l. Brahma: Creator who is largely ignored in worship. 2. Vishnu: Preserver who is actively worshippedparticularly as I( rishna. 3. Shiva: Destroyer who is both worshippedand feared. Millions or lesser gods or spirits are also reverenced. SCRIPTURES: THE VEDAS--Hymns and rituals of priests which are the funda- mental scriptures. The RIG \/EDA is the oldest and most important of the Vedas. The UPANISHADS are commentarieson the Vedas. The BHAGAVAD GITA is an epic poem which is the most influential document in the religious history of India. It meansttthe Lord's Song." I{ISTORY: Aryans (rneaning"Noble Ones") led by rajahs or chieftains were nomads who invaded India from Persia between 1700-1500 B.C. They were Indo-Europeanand brought the worship of multiple gods with them. Their beliefs becarne mixed with the native Indian traditions to form what we now know as Hinduism. The Hindu faith endured rnany difficult and trying periods. From 500 B.C. to 500 A.D. internal difficulties both politically and economically caused the religion to fit rnore the character of the Indian people. Then, the Hindus had to endure 750 years of subjection to the \4uslims (999-1757A.D.). Christianity tried to leave its rnark on India, but did not succeed when the Europeans(mainly the British) dominatedIndia from 1757-1947. One of the rnost famous modern Hindus was Mahatma Gandhi (1869-1948)who through his pacifisrn and fasting led the Indiansto independence.Hinduism remains the dominant religion of India. -3- BELIEFS AND CHnRnCff,zuSftCS: * Karma--the force that binds the soul to an endlesscycle of death and rebirth unlessit is broken--good from good, evil from evil, law of cause and effect. x Moksha--release,to become at one with the universal spirit. * No Founder and No Fixed Creed. x Hindu ReligiousPractice--is very personal. x Two Common Beliefs of All Hindus: l. Validity of the Vedas--asthe inspired Word 2. Caste system--all people are born into one of four levels or castes. * Caste System: l. Brahrnin--holymen 2. Kshatriya--rulers and warriors 3. Vaishyas--merchantsand craf tsmen 4. Sudras--commoners Each caste has its own specializedduties (Dharma). x Transmigration of Souls--you move from caste to caste in various Iives. The ultirnate goal is to learn to deny the world and thus achieve releaseor moksha. * Vishnu--had many avatars or appearances as a fish, tortoise, dwarf, Rama, Krishna, Buddha. The last one is yet to corne. Kalkin--a warrior, will appear on a white steed with flaming sword, will judge the evil ones, reward the righteous and set up an ideal world. x PersonalSalvation--can be obtained through a number of ways: l. Jnana--knowledge(asceticism, meditation) 2. Karma--deeds (obedience to caste rules) i. Bhakti--devotion (worship of the gods) * Four Goals: l. Dharma (specifiedduties of one'scaste) 2. Artha (worldly concern--how to get along with the world legitimately) -4- 3. Kama (pursuit of love and pleasure) 4. Moksha(release) x ldeal life cycle of rnan in tiinduism (from the Code of Manu) as a man grows older: l. Student 2. Householder ). I'lermit 4. Wandering beggar x The Cow is sacred because it exemplifies non-aggression and non-materialism. i\4AN: [{as an immortal soul, separated from the soul of the universe, doomed to endlessreincarnation unless the cycle is broken. * There is seemingly no purpose to this life except man seeks to be released from the endless cycle of death and rebirth and to be united with the spirit of the universe through works. * Salvation fro;n the cycle of death and rebirth is through works. Works can be rituals, good deeds, meditation, or devotion to God. * lv{ankind are souls destined to inhabit the bodies of men and beasts until finallv released. LOCATION: India, Indonesia,Indian communities throughout the world. SAYINGSOF HINDUISM 'rln this world a two-fold basis(of religion) Has been declared by Me of old, blameless one: By the discipline of knowledge of the followers of reason-method, And by the disciplineof action of the followers of discipline-method" "For desired enjoyments to you the gods Will give, prosperedby worship; Without giving to them, their gifts Whoso enjoys, is nothing but a thief .rr "Good men who eat the remnants of (food offered in) worship Are freed from all sins; But those wicked men eat evil Who cook for their own selfish sakes." -5- "All actions of the senses And actions of breath.