Religion

__**Religion**__

**__Buddhism:The Path to Personal Freedom__ ** __Ten Important Facts__

1) Buddhism is the fourth largest religion in the world. It is the most common in Europe and Asia. 2) Buddhists don’t punish people for disobeying the Buddha law; simply try to better themselves to benefit people around them and in the world. 3) Buddhism is not a religion that makes people stay; anyone can be a Buddhist; people of all races, genders, and religion are welcomed with open minds and no prejudice. 4) Focused on bettering oneself as a person so one’s actions have a positive effect on everyone 5) Buddhism don’t believe in a “hell”; a follower is never punished or sentenced to a life in “hell” for doing something “bad” 6) Buddhism gives a person a second chance at life through reincarnation 7) Buddhism is a peaceful way of life, NOT A RELIGION! Only guidelines set by the Buddha for people to follow so one can separate oneself from karma. 8) Buddhism is a life path (or lifestyle) that once can choose to follow or not 9) The goal is to reach Nirvana which is a “place” not of this world, where the soul or spirit is no longer tied to earth by bad karma (This is accomplished by following the Eightfold Path.) 10) No God, leader or supreme being: The Buddha is only a teacher

By: Rachel, Dakota, Cody, Maya!

__Christianity__

- 2 greatest commandments

1. Love God with all your heart, mind, and soul. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; display: block; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">2. Love your neighbor as yourself.

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; display: block; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">- 10 commandments

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; display: block; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">1. Have no other gods before me. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; display: block; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">2. Do not worship idols. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; display: block; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">3. Do not take the Lord’s name in vain. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; display: block; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">4. Remember the Sabbath Day to keep it holy. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; display: block; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">5. Honor your father and mother. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; display: block; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">6. Do not murder. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; display: block; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">7. Do not commit adultery <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; display: block; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">8. Do not steal. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; display: block; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">9. Do not lie against your neighbor. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; display: block; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">10. Do not covet (desire) anything that is your neighbors'.

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; display: block; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">- Holy book is the Bible: 66 books put together to make one big book.

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; display: block; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">- Christians believe in heaven and hell, Bible clearly states that it exists

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; display: block; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">- Christians believe that Jesus died for our sins so that we would be forgiven and have an everlasting life with Him in heaven

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; display: block; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">- Christians can face death without fear

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; display: block; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Psalm 23:4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; display: block; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; display: block; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">- three in one: Father, Spirit, Son

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; display: block; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">- God created the universe and everything in it.

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; display: block; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">- heaven and earth is available to everyone, no matter their social status <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; display: block; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Posted by Maggie, Kara, Nick, James

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; display: block; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 16pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Islam - important facts

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">• was the first religion to give women the right to: inherit, own, vote, voice their opinion, trade, invest/improve themselves financially, seek knowledge and education, and work

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">• followers of Islam are called Muslims

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">• believe in one god whom they refer to as Allah

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">• believe in an afterlife / believe that this life is simply a preparation for the next realm of existence.

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">• religious book is the Quran

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">• Muslims believe: <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> i) that <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline;">__everyone__ <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> is born pure. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">ii) in freewill (you decide your future and that Allah is not responsible for your actions and decisions) <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">iii) the path to spiritual development is open to all. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">iv) sins are anything that violate basic moral rules <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">v) everyone should dress modestly (not dressing in a suggestive way)

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">• Al-Qadar means Divine Predestination means that humans have been given freewill by Allah. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">The belief in Divine Predestination includes belief in four things: <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">i) God knows everything. He knows what has happened and what will happen. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">ii) God has recorded all that has happened and all that will happen. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">iii) Whatever God wills to happen happens, and whatever He wills not to happen does not happen. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">iv) God is the Creator of everything.

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">• Talib means “student”; Taliban is the plural form of Talib.

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">• the Taliban should not be confused with the actual religion of Islam. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">They are a group who have more conservative interpretations of the Quran. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">There are some Muslims who do not view the Taliban as “true” Muslims because their interpretations of the Quran are viewed as overly strict, and a manipulation of various text of the Quran. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">For example: the Quran does not promote terrorism, nor does it state that all women must wear burkas to be considered as modestly dressed. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">posted by Kaija and Nathan :) <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Atheists

**• believe that “God” or “gods” or other supernatural beings are man-made and are created as a form of a “crutch” to get through the hardships of life**
Sage __ Ten important facts about Judaism __ 1) I am the Lord your God. You will have no other Gods besides me. 2) Do not make any images of God. 3) Do not swear or curse using God's name. 4) Remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy. 5) Honour your father and mother. 6) Do not commit murder. 7) Do not cheat on your marriage partner. 8) Do not steal. 9) Do not tell lies about other people in court. 10) Do not desire things that belong to other people. 5. There are 14 million followers of Judaism located in the main areas of Israel, Russia, Europe, and North America. 6. There is one God and the proper name is YHWH, although many names are related to God. 7. The teachers/founders are Abraham and Moses. 8. The places of worship are synagogues, and temples where rabbis may read scriptures like the Hebrew Bible, and the Talmud on the Shabbat (Friday night). Accessories worn for prayer are the Tallit (shawl), Tefillin (two small leather boxes containing words from the Torah tied to the forehead and the other to the left or weaker arm), Yarmulke (a small hat worn for the synagogue and other occasions), and some Orthodox Jewish women wear a wig or hat to cover their hair in public. 9. Major festivals are Rosh Hashanah (the Jewish New Year in September), Yom Kippur (the day of Purgation), Passover (Remembrance of the story where the Ancient Israelites were freed from slavery in Egypt). 10. The common story of the Jewish people: Abraham was spoken to by God who told him to bring his family to Canaan (modern day Israel). Abraham was promised that he would become the leader of a great nation. In Canaan Abraham had a son named Isaac, but after Abraham died, food became scarce, so Isaac's son Jacob left to take his family to Egypt. God named Jacob Israel whom had twelve sons and they and their families were called the Israelites. In 1300 B.C.E., a pharaoh made slaves of all the Israelites. All the Israelites were ordered to be killed, but a mother hid her baby and placed him in a basket on the Nile River. The Pharaoh's daughter then found him and raised him as Moses. Once Moses grew up he killed an Egyptian boss, because he saw him beating an Israelite. God then told Moses to bring his people back to Canaan. Moses asked the Pharaoh, but he refused. Afterwards God punished Egypt by sending ten terrible plagues. This included lice and locusts, and the last one killed all the eldest sons in the land. But Israelites marked their doorways, so their children were left alone. That plague convinced the Pharaoh to let the Israelites return to Canaan. Unfortunately, the Pharaoh changed his mind and sent his armies after the Israelites, but God parted the Red Sea, so that Moses and his people could escape. Then the waters closed over the armies. Finally the Israelites arrived at Mount Sinai, and God gave the Ten Commandments to Moses. Years later the people arrived in Canaan, although Moses never made it. Sage (Sorry it copied out like this, I hope it is still decipherable.)
 * 1) It is one of the oldest religions (over 3000 years old).
 * 2) The holy book is the Torah (is also called the Five Books of Moses).
 * 3) There is an afterlife, but no evidence of what afterlife is like has been found.
 * 4) The ten commandments are:

• Sikhs believe in reincarnation • Depending how you lived your previous life is how your next life will be. • God is without form or gender (can be anything) • Everybody has a direct access to God • Everyone is equal • Posted by: Kenyon and Rowen
 * SIKHISM**

• It is debated if it is a religion or a cult. • They believe you will reincarnate for a billion years then go to after life. • It has all the features of a religion but most people think they are too crazy and believe in nonsense. • Created by L. Ron. Hubbard in 1954, Scientology is a fast growing “religion” converting such famous people as Tom Cruise, Isaac Hayes, Katie Holmes and John Travolta. • A more notorious follower was Charles Manson; he later quit because he thought they are crazy • Only religion that you have pay for. • Posted by: James, Kenyon and Rowen
 * SCIENTOLOGY**