Religions Of The World Study Supplement

NON-CHRISTIAN RELIGIONS OF THE WORLD [Outline of the major religions practised around the world and in particular the Caribbean]

Religions of the World Booklet, is designed to supplement the Bahamas Ministry of Education’s Religious Knowledge curriculum. Lessons will be focussed on the [a] history of the religion, [b] practises [worship and rituals], and historical leaders of the faith group. Students will be given the following exercises and/or activities: 1. Quizzes to test their knowledge; 2. Research Projects; 3. Composition on one or more of the religions or famous religious person Materials Required: Access to Library for Research Access to Computer [with Internet] Other [Books and articles on the religion or the historical leader[s] Evaluation: 2 Quizzes = Worth 100% 3 Compositions = Content will given grades from A – E 1 Research Projects = Extra credit

Religions of the World Booklet was complied by Mrs. R. Cecilia Askew, Teacher at Creative Vision Christian Academy. Data was collected from various sources including: http://www.religioustolerance.org/var_rel.htm - Religious Tolerance; http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/vjw/bahamas.html - Jewish History Tour; http://www.bahai.org/ - The Bahai Faith; http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/paganism/ - Religion & Ethics; http://www.teacherplanet.com/resource/religiousfreedom.php - Teacher Planet http://www.religion-cults.com/Ancient/Oceania/oceania.htm - Oceania Primitive Religions http://maaori.com/people/ - The Maori http://www.religionfacts.com/a-z-religion-index/confucianism.htm - Religion Facts http://www.unity.org/ - Unity Church http://www.adherents.com/index.html#GroupNameIndex - Religious Surveys

Mrs. R. Cecilia Askew copyright@2008

2

To begin this study we look first at “what is religion”? The oxford school dictionary defines religion in simple terms as: “what people believe about God or gods, and how they worship. The word comes from the Latin religio = reverence. The Handy Dictionary of the Bible describes religion in a more detailed way: “Man’s recognition to God and the expression of that in relation in faith, worship and conduct.” Another description says this: "Religion is any specific system of belief about deity, often involving rituals, a code of ethics, and a philosophy of life." This description is deliberately broad to cover as many religious beliefs as possible. There are at least 40 organized religions and faith groups, but for the purpose of this study we will deal those that are more widely known. Although most countries stand on Christian principles they also are home to other religions such as: Judaism, Bahai Faith, Buddhism, Muslim, Hinduism, Rastafarian and more recently Kabblah. We will be looking at all the religions that have survived and/or challenge the Christian Faith for membership: Bahai Faith The Bahá'í Faith is the youngest of the world's independent religions. Its founder was Bahaullah [1817-1892], and he is regarded by Bahá'ís as the most recent in the line of messengers of God, which goes back to and includes Abraham, Moses, Buddha, Krishna, Zoroaster, Christ and Muhammad. Bahá'í teachings emphasize the spiritual oneness of humanity and the underlying unity of the major world religions There are an estimated 5 to 6 million Bahá'ís around the world in more than 200 countries and territories including the small community in The Bahamas. Buddhism [Tibetan] Buddhism arose out of atheistic strands of Hinduism current in India in the sixth century B.C. Gautama, called the Buddha ["Enlightened One"], is said to have discovered that both the life of luxury and the life of extreme pleasure were of no use in gaining spiritual freedom; thus he propounded the "Middle Way." His teaching, however, have undergone many transformations. There is no absolute God in Buddhism, although it has been interpreted as a search for God. The Buddha did not deny the existence of God outright, but said that the question of His existence "tends not to edification." It was the Buddha’s belief that those seeking enlightenment need to concentrate on their own spiritual paths themselves rather than relying on an outside support. Many Buddhists believe the existence of suffering and evil in the world is evidence against belief in God. In 2004, there was an estimate of 376 million Buddhists worldwide. The head of the this faith group is the Dalai Lama. Confucius Confucianism is a way of life taught by Confucius in the 6th–5th century BC. Sometimes viewed as a philosophy, sometimes as a religion, Confucianism is perhaps best understood as an all-encompassing humanism that neither denies nor slights Heaven. For more than two millennia the Chinese have followed the teaching of Confucius. It has influenced both the spiritual and political life in China as well as it has extended its Korea, Japan, and Vietnam. It should be noted that Confucius, the common name of Confucianism's founder, is a translated from the Latin form of the Chinese K'ung-fu-tzu, "Master K'ung." The faith group was founded during the 6th – 5th Centuries BC and currently there are approximately 5-6 million followers.

3

Druids The Druids were the priests or ministers of religion among the ancient Celtic nations in Gaul, Britain, and Germany. Information with regard to them is borrowed from assertions in the Greek and Roman writers, compared with the remains of Welsh and Gaelic poetry still existing. The Druids did not use images to represent the object of their worship, nor did they meet in temples or buildings of any kind for the performance of their sacred rites. A circle of stones [each stone generally of vast size] enclosing an area of from twenty feet to thirty yards in diameter, constituted their sacred place. The most celebrated of these now remaining is Stonehenge in the United Kingdom. Modern druids are especially active in the British area. On the base of the old doctrine present druids have adapted to present times. Hinduism Among world religions, Hinduism is distinctive in that it has not been established who the founder was or date of origin. The origins and authors of its sacred texts are largely unknown. Historians believe that Hinduism's roots date back as far as 2000 BC, making it one of the oldest surviving religions. The most ancient writings have yet to be translated, so for the earliest periods scholars must rely on information gathered by way of archaeology and the study of contemporary texts. Hinduism is the world's thirdlargest religion, after Christianity and Islam. Presently there are approximately 650 million Hindus with the majority living in India where the religion began. In The Bahamas most of the persons that follow this religious belief are expatriates from other parts of the Caribbean, India or Pakistan. Islam The religion of Islam brought by Muhammad began in the Hejaz region of present-day Saudi Arabia in about 610. There are a number of Islamic religious denominations, each of which has significant theological and legal differences from each other. The major branches are Sunni, Shi'a and Sufi Islam, although Sufism is often considered an extension of either Sunni or Shi'a belief. According to adherents.com Islam now comprises 1.3 billion believers, 23% of the world's population broken-down in the following geographic locations: 18% of Muslims live in the Arab world; a fifth is found in Sub-Saharan Africa, about 30% in the Indian Sub-Continental region of Pakistan, India and Bangladesh, and the world's largest single Muslim community is in Indonesia. Currently Islam is the second largest religion in the world with an estimated 1.2 billion followers worldwide inclusive of those in the Caribbean and The Bahamas. Judaism Judaism is among the oldest religious traditions still being practiced today and the history, principles and ethics of Judaism have influenced other religions, such as Christianity, Islam and the Bahai Faith. In 2002, according to the Jewish Population Survey, there were 13.3 million Jews around the world, this includes the small Jewish communities around the Caribbean and in The Bahamas[ whose origins date back to the 17th century.] The official interpreter for Christopher Columbus, is thought to be have been the first Jew and European in the person of Luis De Torres. He was a Marrano, meaning a “secret Jew,” who publicly practiced Catholicism. Moses Franks, was another Jew, who served as Attorney General and Chief Justice of the islands in the 18th century.

4

Kabbalah Kabbalah has its roots in Jewish mysticism. Kabbalah Centre is a spiritual and educational organization dedicated to bringing the wisdom of Kabbalah to the world. The Centre itself has existed for more than 80 years, but its spiritual lineage extends even further — to Rav Isaac Luria, in the 16th century, and through Rav Luria to Rav Shimon Bar Yochai, who revealed the principal text of Kabbalah, the Zohar, more than 2000 years ago. The National Research Institute of Kabbalah was established by Philip Berg [nee Feivel Gruberger] and Rav Yehuda Tzvi Brandwein in 1965 in the United States. Kabbalistic teachings explain the complexities of the material and the nonmaterial universe, as well as the physical and metaphysical nature of all humanity. Kabbalah shows in detail, how to navigate that vast terrain in order to remove every form of chaos, pain, and suffering. They teach that for thousands of years, the great Kabbalistic sages have taught that every human being is born with the potential for greatness. Kabbalah is the means for activating that potential. Historically many scholars of Kabbalah have been Jewish, but there have also been many non-Jewish scholars of this wisdom, such as Christian Knorr-von-Rosenroth, Pico Della and Sir Isaac Newton, just to name a few. Obeah Sometimes spelled "Obi" is a term used in the Caribbean to refer to folk magic, sorcery, and religious rituals derived from Central African and West African origins. Obeah is similar to other traditional practices like Palo, Voodoo, Santeria, rootwork, and hoodoo. Obeah is practiced in many of the Caribbean islands including The Bahamas. [However, it is widely held that the practise takes place mainly in the southern and eastern islands of the Bahamian chain of islands. Bahamians often refer to Cat Island as the land of obeah]. Odinism The religion now called Odinism is the indigenous tradition of the Indo-European peoples and is pre-Christian in origin. Odinism was largely found in Europe in the medieval period. However with the ascent of Christianity, Odinism lost its foothold. In 1386 the last stronghold of this religion officially converted to Christianity. Underground movements, such as the Odin Brotherhood has its roots in Odinism. Paganism Paganism describes a group of contemporary religions based on a reverence for nature. These faiths draw on the traditional religions of indigenous peoples throughout the world. Paganism encompasses a diverse community with some groups concentrating on specific traditions, practices or elements such as ecology, witchcraft, Celtic traditions or certain gods. Wicca’s, Druids, Shamans, Odinists and those that follow the teachings of Confucius are but a few make up parts of the Pagan community. A brief summary of each practice follows: Rastafarianism Although not widely known the beginnings of this religious group began with the National Hero of Jamaica, Marcus Garvey in the early 20th Century and the foundation of the movement is the African Orthodox Church. Marcus Garvey intended that the church would serve as an alternative to the established Euro-centric or "white" churches. However, Garvey's Church was later to become a fully canonical Greek Orthodox Church. In 1930 James Peregrine Howell a religious figure in Jamaica actually founded what we know today as the Rastafarian Movement and he is know as the “First Rasta”. Rastafarians believe that “Ras Tafari” is a living messiah who will lead peoples of

5

African descent into a promised land of freedom and justice. Haile Selassie I is regarded as the religious symbol of God Incarnate in this movement. Branches of this faith group exist in the Caribbean, United Kingdom [recognised as an official religion], Canada and the United States of America. Following a religious survey in 2000 there were at least 1,000,000 members of this movement worldwide. Santeria The religion of the West African Yoruba people was forced underground by centuries of slavery in the Americas. Several hybrid forms of worship, of which the best known is Santeria, were created by deliberate conflation of Yoruba spiritual entities with Catholic ones. The Yoruba people of West Africa recognized three levels of spiritual force: one creator god called Olodumare; numerous nature or messenger spirits (similar to Christian angels) called the orishas, and the revered spirits of the dead, called the eggun. The practice is usually found among persons from the non-English speaking Caribbean. Shamans Shamanism refers to a range of traditional beliefs and practices concerned with communication with the spirit world. Practitioners of shamanism are known as “shamans”. Although there are many variations of shamanism practised around the world, there are some beliefs that are shared by all especially the belief that spirits can play important roles in human lives. Mainly the aboriginal peoples found in Canada, Australia and Antarctica practise it. Scientology The history of Scientology starts with L. Ron Hubbard who founded Scientology in 1954 based on his book Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Health (1950). The book claims to be able to help the reader discover what is destroying their belief in themselves and what is holding them back from a happy life. It explains how to get rid of negative emotions, unhappy relationships and unexplained pains so the reader can get rid of their “reactive mind” (the part of the mind that works on a totally stimulus-response basis). The description Dianetics claims, that “this is the book that began a revolution in man’s understanding of the mind.” Surveys suggested that there are at least 8,000,000 followers of this teaching. Unity Unity is a non-profit organization that claims that they are based on the teachings of Jesus and the healing power of prayer. Charles and Myrtle Fillmore of the United States of America founded Unity Church in 1889. Charles Fillmore was considered an American Mystic and he himself felt that he was physically immortal and the reincarnation of Paul of Tarsus. They currently have churches on every continent including churches in the Caribbean. According to Adherants.com there are 1,000,000 followers of this movement worldwide. Voodoo The continent of Africa is the home of one the known world’s oldest religions – Voodoo. "Voodoo" comes from the West African word "vodun," which means spirit. The example of Voodoo, that we know today, was born in Haiti during the European colonization. This Afro-Caribbean religion is mixed with practices from many African ethnics groups such as: Fon, the Nago, the Ibos, Dahomeans, Congos, Senegalese, Haussars, Caplaous, Mondungues, Mandinge, Angolese, Libyans, Ethiopians, and the 6

Malgaches. Voodoo is considered the national religion of Haiti coexisting with Roman Catholicism. Wicca’s Historians have not found any exhaustive or authoritative source that traces Wicca back through ancient times. It is mainly a 20th century manifestation of ancient nature worship that existed in Northern Europe thousands of years ago. It has been given prominence by a retired British civil servant by the name of Gerald Gardner in 1954. He at the time called it Witchcraft and its supporters “the Wica". He said that the religion was a modern survival of an old witchcraft religion, which had existed in secret for hundreds of years. The secrecy was especially necessary during the European dominance of the Roman Catholic Church. A survey concluded that persons practicing this form of religion number around 800,000. Primitive Religion Primitive religion is practised largely by societies that live close to nature and who are not yet penetrated by modern society and the culture of highly organized industrial societies. They include the Australian aborigines, the pygmies of Africa, the jungle tribes of India and Southeast Asia, natives of New Guinea and of islands of the South Seas, the Indians of the Upper Amazon and of Central America, and certain Eskimo tribes. Following are a few of the religions practiced: 1. Ancestor-Spirits It is believed that the Ancestor-Spirits give access to supernatural powers to get good or ill. Gods, demons, land-spirits also intervene in human affairs; they practice sorcery, divination, healing, with the spirits making their presence known through sacred masks, dances, dreams, prophecies. The people of New Guinea, and Melanesia, between Asia and Australia practice this religion. 2. Ancestor Worship In nearly all primitive tribal religions of Africa ancestor worship is common practice. The ancestors of the tribe are honoured as spirits who preserve the moral standards of tribal life. They are also regarded as the intermediaries between the living and the divine powers. And the ancestor spirits play an important role in the initiation rites. Among some west-African peoples the belief is current that the ancestors reincarnate in their descendants. In Japan, ancestors were worshipped until 1945. At that time, the Japanese Emperor disclaimed any form of divine ancestry and the practiced was no longer permitted. 3. Maori "Maori" is the vital force present in each one, and also in talismans to protect vitality, fertility, the forests and mountains. This spiritual power comes from a god, and it is also related to the rank and authority... all men at death return to the Mother Earth [Papatuanuku]. This religion is practiced in the original peoples of New Zealand. 4. San Religion This is the religion of the Bushmen of southern Africa and consists of a spirit world and our material world. To enter the spirit world, trancing has to be initiated by a Shaman through the hunting of power animals.

7

5. Totemism "Totemism" involves a relationship between a person or group and a natural object specially united with the gods. For example, a "mountain" is where the gods dwell, and that "mountain" is the totem of a group; a "monkey" is united with a god, and a person or group honours that monkey to honour an influence that god. Some Prominent Religious Leaders [based on date of birth] The Buddha [Siddharta Gautam] – 563-483 B.C. Confucius [King-Fu-TZU] – 551-479 B.C. Muhammad – 570-632 A. D. Baha’Allah – 1817-1892 A.D. Charles Fillmore - 1854 L Ron Hubbard - 1911 Tenzin Gyatso, The 14th Dalai Lama 1935 -

8

Quiz 1 1a. How many religions are there in The Bahamas? 1.b. Name the religions found in The Bahamas 2. Choose the correct answer: Voodoo is the national religion of: [ ] Cuba;

[ ] Jamaica;

[ ] Suriname

[ ] Haiti

3. Choose the correct answer: Who was the founder of the Rastafarian Movement: [ ] Marcus Garvey; [ ] Bob Marley [ ] James Peregrine Howell 4. Where is Stonehenge? [ ] North America; [ ] Asia [ ] United Kingdom [ ] Africa 5. Name some primitive religions still being practised. 6. Where will you find persons practicing “ancestor worship”? 7. Name at least two religions that come under “paganism”.

9

Quiz 2

1. As of 2002, what was the approximate amount of the Jewish population worldwide? [ ] 1.4 Million; [ ] 15 Million;

[ ] 13 Million;

[ ] 13.3 Million

2. How far back in time Before Christ [BC] does Hinduism go? [ ] 1,500 years; [ ] 6,000 years;

[

] 2,000 years; [ ] 1,000 years

3. Where did Islam begin? [ ] Congo; [ ] Turkey; [ ] Iran;

[ ] Saudi Arabia

4. Who do historians say was the first Jew and European to come to the New World? 5. Who founded the Bahai Faith? 6. Did Confucianism start before or after the birth of Jesus Christ? 7. Explain what is meant by “primitive religion”.

10

11