What Is Christianity? Christianity is currently the largest religion in the world, with approximately 2 billion followers all around the world. The majority of Christians live in Europe, South America and North America, including about 159 million in the United States. Christianity began about 2,000 years ago and is based upon the life and teaching of Jesus of Nazareth, also known as Jesus Christ. Nazareth is a small town in the country of Palestine and the birth of Jesus was believed by some to be the fulfillment of an ancient prophecy of Jewish prophets. The followers of Jesus established Christianity after his crucifixion and death. Christianity spread through the Roman Empire and early Christians were persecuted for their faith. Eventually, however, Rome became the center for the Christian religion and the pope, the original head of the Christian Church, resided in Rome. The pope still heads the Catholic Church and lives in Vatican City within Rome. All Christians believe in the teachings of Jesus but over the centuries there have been disagreements over some points of the Christian faith. These disagreements resulted in various Christian denominations breaking away from the Catholic Church or from some other denomination. Examples of Christian faiths include Eastern (or Greek) Orthodox, Lutheran, Baptist, and Presbyterian, to name a few. Christians read the Bible as their holy book. A main symbol of Christianity is the cross because Jesus was crucified. Crucifixion was a method used for execution during the days of Roman rule. A simple line drawing of the outline of a fish was used by early Christians during the Roman persecution. Today some Christians place the fish symbol on the backs of their cars to show their faith. Christians also believe in the Holy Trinity, meaning God the Father, Jesus the Son of God, and the Holy Spirit. The Trinity is symbolized by a triangle and the Holy Spirit is often shown as a dove. Easter, celebrating the resurrection of Jesus from the dead, and Christmas, honoring the birth of Jesus, are the two major Christian holidays celebrated in the United States. Lent is a period of fasting and prayer that occurs during the forty days before Easter.

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Name: ____________________________________ Date: _______ What Is Christianity? - Multiple Choice Questions Circle the correct answer. 1. Christianity is based upon the teachings of a. Jesus of Nazareth b. Jesus Christ c. Both a. and b. above d. None of the above 2. When Christianity spread through the Roman Empire a. Roman officials believed in religious tolerance b. Roman officials ignored the new religion c. Roman officials converted to the new religion d. Roman officials persecuted the followers of the new religion 3. The original Christian church today is known as a. Lutheran b. Baptist c. Catholic d. Presbyterian 4. The main symbol of Christianity is a a. Cross b. Dove c. Triangle d. None of the above 5. In Christianity the Holy Trinity includes a. God the Father b. Jesus the Son of God c. The Holy Spirit d. All of the above 6. In the Christian religion Lent a. Celebrates the resurrection of Jesus b. Is a period of fasting and prayer c. Honors the birth of Jesus d. Remembers the fulfillment of an ancient prophecy

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Name: ___________________________________ Date: ________ What Is Christianity? - Short Answer Questions 1. As of 2009, the population of the United States was 305 million people. Based on the information in this reading, what percent of Americans identify themselves as Christians? 2. Recently historians adopted the use of the abbreviation CE (Common Era) and BCE (Before the Common Era) when referring to dates. In texts printed before these abbreviations were used, dates will be shown as BC and AD. What do these old abbreviations mean and how do you convert dates from BC and AD to CE and BCE? 3. Explain what a prophet is. Look up the word if you don’t know the answer. 4. Look up all the Christian churches in your town and list all the Christian denominations represented in your area. 5. Sometimes you will see a car on the road with a symbol that looks like this.

Explain what this symbol means and how long it has been a Christian symbol. 6. Name the two major Christian holidays celebrated in the United States and what they represent. 7. Do some research and write a short report that compares the Christian period of Lent to the Muslim period called Ramadan.

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What Is Christianity? - Answer Key Multiple Choice 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.

c. d. c. a. d. b.

Short Answer 1. 159 million Christians/305 million population * 100 = 52% 2. When Christianity was the major religion in Europe, scholars used the abbreviations AD and BC for dating historical events based on the birth of Christ. BC stands for “Before Christ” and AD stands for “Anno Domini” which is Latin for the “Year of Our Lord” counting forward from the birth of Jesus. BCE is the same as BC and CE is the same as AD. 3. A prophet is a person who claims to receive divine information from a god and/or a person who can foretell the future. 4. Individual response 5. A simple line drawing of the outline of a fish was used by early Christians during the Roman persecution. Today some Christians place the fish symbol on the backs of their cars to show their faith. 6. Easter, celebrating the resurrection of Jesus from the dead, and Christmas, honoring the birth of Jesus, are the two major Christian holidays celebrated in the United States. 7. Individual response

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What Is Islam? Islam is the second largest religion in the world today, with about 1.3 billion followers called Muslims who mainly live in the Middle East, Southeast Asia and Africa. According to the U.S. State Department, there are about six million Muslims in the United States and Islam is expected to be the second largest religion in this country by 2010. The church building of Muslims is called a mosque and there are 2,000 mosques in the U.S. Muslims follow the teachings of the prophet Muhammad who lived in Saudi Arabia around 600 CE. Islam was quickly adopted by the people of the Arabian peninsula and within one hundred years the religion had spread from the Atlantic Ocean on the west to China in the east. The first Muslims to come to the U.S. were West African slaves who arrived before the Civil War. By 650 CE though, the religion had split into Sunni and Shia sects but both groups follow the same core Islamic beliefs. Muslims believe in one god who is called Allah and also believe that Jesus was a true prophet of god. Muslims read the Qur’an, also spelled Koran, as their holy book. The Qur’an contains only the writings of Muhammad. The main symbol associated with Islam is a combination of a crescent on the left with a star centered on the crescent on the right. However, religious historians tell us that this is not a true symbol of Islam. Instead, historically this symbol comes from the Ottoman Empire and became part of Islamic culture when these Turkish peoples adopted the Islamic faith. Turkey and Pakistan, both Muslim countries, have the crescent and star as part of their flags. Instead of particular symbols, colors are important. The color green is a symbol of Islam and is prevalent in mosques. Saudi Arabia has a green flag. Muslims observe Ramadan during the ninth month of the Muslim religious calendar. Devout Muslims fast, that is do not eat or drink, from dawn to sunset during the entire month of Ramadan. The festival called Id Al-Fitr or "Festival of the Breaking of the Fast" begins at dawn of the first day of the month after Ramadan and lasts for three days. This is a time for visiting friends and relatives, giving gifts and wearing new clothes.

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Name: ____________________________________ Date: _______ What Is Islam? - Multiple Choice Questions Circle the correct answer. 1. The church building of Islam is called a a. Cathedral b. Mosque c. House of worship d. Chapel 2. The prophet who founded Islam is a. Muhammad b. Jesus c. Both a. and b. above d. None of the above 3. The Islamic religion began in a. Pakistan b. Palestine c. Turkey d. Saudi Arabia 4. The first Muslims to come to the United States came from a. Saudi Arabia b. West Africa c. Europe d. All of the above 5. What color is associated with Islam? a. Red b. Yellow c. Green d. Blue 6. The Muslim holy month of fasting is called a. Ramadan b. Lent c. Koran d. Ottoman

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Name: ___________________________________ Date: ________ What Is Islam? - Short Answer Questions 1. As of 2009, the population of the United States was 305 million people. Based on the information in this reading, what percent of Americans identify themselves as Muslims?

2. About half of the U.S. population says they are Christians. Based on the information in this reading, what is the ratio of Muslims to Christians in the United States? What does this ratio mean?

3. Briefly summarize the history of Islam during its first 100 years.

4. Do some research and draw a map of the Ottoman Empire. Show the location of Saudi Arabia on this map.

5. Explain why Saudi Arabia has a green flag.

6. Explain what Ramadan is.

7. The Christian holiday of Christmas and the Muslim holiday of Id Al-Fitr are celebrated for very different reasons. Even though the reasons for the holidays are different, describe how the customs of these holidays are alike.

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What Is Islam? - Answer Key Multiple Choice 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.

b. a. d. b. c. a.

Short Answer 1. 6 million Muslims/305 million Americans * 100 ~= 2% 2. Half are Christians 305 million/2 = 157 million Christians Ration 6 million Muslims:157 million Christians ~= 1:26 This means there is one person of the Islamic faith for every twenty six Christians in the U.S. 3. Muslims follow the teachings of the prophet Muhammad who lived in Saudi Arabia around 600 CE. Islam was quickly adopted by the people of the Arabian peninsula and within one hundred years the religion had spread from the Atlantic Ocean on the west to China in the east. By 650 CE though, the religion had split into Sunni and Shia sects but both groups follow the same core Islamic beliefs.

4. 5. Saudi Arabia is not only a Muslim country but is also the birthplace of Mohammad, the founder of Islam. The color green is a symbol of Islam and is prevalent in mosques. Saudi Arabia has a green flag. © www.GetWorksheets.com

6. Muslims observe Ramadan during the ninth month of the Muslim religious calendar. Devout Muslims fast, that is do not eat or drink, from dawn to sunset during the entire month of Ramadan. 7. Christmas and Id Al-Fitr are celebrated by visiting friends and relatives, giving gifts and wearing new clothes.

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What Is Hinduism? Hinduism is currently the third largest religion in the world, with approximately 900 million followers all around the world. The majority of Hindus live in India, followed by the United Kingdom and the United States, in that order. Many Hindus live in the United Kingdom because for many years India was a British colony. The U.S. Department of State estimates that there are about 1.5 million Hindus currently living in the United States. Hinduism is an ancient religion with its origins in India. Hinduism is a collection of beliefs but Hinduism is not a religion with an organized set of beliefs and principles like, for example, those found in Christianity or Judaism. Instead, Hinduism has evolved into its current form over the last 4,000 years. Hinduism is the oldest religion in the world that is still practiced today. Over the centuries four sects of Hinduism have emerged but these are not considered to be divisions of the religion because Hindus freely mix the pieces of the sects together. That’s part of why Hinduism is not considered an organized religion. Two major sects within Hinduism are Vaishnavism where the supreme god is called Vishnu and Shaivism which calls the supreme god Shiva. Even though there may be many gods in the Hindu faith, each god is believed to be some part of the Supreme Being. Yoga, which is a popular form of exercise and meditation in the United States, is a practice in Hindu philosophy. A prominent Hindu symbol is the bindi which is traditionally worn on the forehead of married women. The bindi is usually done in red and it is placed between the eyebrows. The bindi is believed to protect men and women while it symbolizes female energy. In modern times a bindi has been worn by young girls and unmarried women. Since Hinduism is such an old religion and it is not an organized religion, there are literally hundreds of holidays, some coming from ancient local festivals that celebrated harvests and other cycles of nature. Other festivals are held in honor of special gods and goddesses. Holi is one Hindu holiday that is celebrated across India. Holi announces the arrival of spring and at the same time celebrates events in ancient Hindu folklore. Holi is a time for merrymaking.

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Name: ____________________________________ Date: _______ What Is Hinduism? - Multiple Choice Questions Circle the correct answer. 1. Among the religions of the world, where does Hinduism rank in number of followers? a. First b. Second c. Third d. Fourth 2. Among the religions of the world, where does Hinduism rank in age? a. It is a new religion within the last 200 years b. It is a religion that arose along with Protestantism in Europe c. It is a religion that dates back to Roman times d. It is the oldest religion dating back about 4,000 years 3. Hinduism originated in a. India b. United States c. Europe d. Africa 4. One part of Hinduism that is practiced by many Americans is a. Yoga b. Vaishnavism c. Shaivism d. None of the above 5. Married Hindu women wear a symbolic bindi on the a. Arm b. Hand c. Cheek d. Forehead 6. The Hindu holiday of Holi celebrates the coming of the season of a. Winter b. Spring c. Summer d. Fall

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Name: ___________________________________ Date: ________ What Is Hinduism? - Short Answer Questions 1. Explain why there are many Hindus who live in Great Britain.

2. In the world there are 2 billion Christians, 1.3 billion Muslims and 900 million Hindus. Draw a bar graph that compares these numbers. Remember to label all the information.

3. Explain one way in which Hinduism is different from Christianity or Judaism.

4. Watch a yoga instruction program on television or on a DVD. Would you like to try yoga exercises? Explain why or why not.

5. Many women from the country of India place a red dot on the forehead. Explain what this symbol is and what it is for.

6. Do some research and write a short report about the Hindu holiday of Diwali.

7. Another Hindu symbol is called tilak. Do some research and write a short report about this symbol.

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What Is Hinduism? - Answer Key Multiple Choice 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.

c. d. a. a. d. b.

Short Answer 1. Many Hindus live in the United Kingdom because for many years India was a British colony and Indians are allowed to immigrate to England. 2.

World Religions - Number of Followers in Billions

Hindu

Muslim

Christian

0

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

3. Hinduism is a collection of beliefs but Hinduism is not a religion with an organized set of beliefs and principles like, for example, those found in Christianity or Judaism. 4. Individual response 5. A prominent Hindu symbol is the bindi which is traditionally worn on the forehead of married women. The bindi is usually done in red and it is placed between the eyebrows. The bindi is believed to protect men and women while it symbolizes female energy.

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6. Individual response 7. Individual response

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What Is Buddhism? Buddhism is the fourth largest religion in the world today, with about 360 million followers called Buddhists who mainly live in northeastern India as well as China, Japan, Korea, Tibet, Mongolia and Southeast Asia. According to a U.S. State Department report in 2004, there are about three million Buddhists in the United States. The first Buddhists in the United States were Chinese immigrants who built the first Buddhist temple in San Francisco, California in the 1850s. The number of Buddhists in the U.S. is growing as more immigrants arrive from Southeast Asian countries like Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam. Buddhists follow the teachings of Siddharta Gautama, an Indian prince, who is known as the Buddha. Buddhism began around 500 BCE. The Prince had lived a sheltered and privileged life; he was shocked to learn of the amount of suffering that other people experienced. He sought and found enlightenment and became the Buddha, the Enlightened One. According to Buddha, the purpose of life is to end suffering. There are almost countless sects (groups) within Buddhism that developed as the religion spread across Asia. The first major split in the religion occurred in the first century CE. Theravada Buddhism flourished in Sri Lanka, Thailand, Burma, Laos, and Cambodia while Mahayana Buddhism spread northward to Tibet and Mongolia as well as China, Taiwan, Japan, and Korea. The Dalai Lama is a great spiritual teacher of Tibetan Buddhists. Many Americans are familiar with some of the teachings of Zen Buddhism. With so many Buddhists sects there are lots of religious books that Buddhists read, some of which were written by the Buddha. Over the centuries, famous statues of the Buddha have been created. Followers of Buddhism will visit shrines where these famous statues are located. Many statues show a seated Buddha but the laughing Buddha is shown standing. Statues of Buddha are popular items sold in the United States. The most important holiday in Buddhism is the Buddha’s birthday which is celebrated on the first day of the full moon in May. Another major festival occurs on the New Year; New Year’s is celebrated at various times in different countries.

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Name: ____________________________________ Date: _______ What Is Buddhism? - Multiple Choice Questions Circle the correct answer. 1. The first Buddhists in the United States were a. Chinese immigrants who lived in California b. Vietnamese immigrants who lived in Boston c. Laotian immigrants who lived in Iowa d. None of the above 2. The founder of Buddhism was a. Siddharta Gautama b. A prince from the country of India c. Both a. and b. above d. None of the above 3. The term Buddha means a. Enlightened Prophet b. Holy Prophet c. Enlightened One d. Holy One 4. The Dalai Lama is the leader of Buddhists in the country of a. Laos b. Tibet c. Mongolia d. All of the above 5. Americans may be most familiar with which form of Buddhism? a. Zen b. Theravada c. Mahayana d. None of the above 6. The Buddha’s birthday is celebrated on the first day of the full moon in a. January b. March c. May d. November

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Name: ___________________________________ Date: ________ What Is Buddhism? - Short Answer Questions 1. Why is the population of Buddhists growing in the United States?

2. Do some research on the Internet and find information about the location of Buddhist temples in the United States.

3. Do some research and write a short biography of the Dalai Lama.

4. Find pictures of Buddhist statues on the Internet or in books. Draw your own picture of one of these statues that you like the best.

5. What is a shrine? If you don’t know the answer, look up the word online or in the dictionary.

6. Locate Tibet and Mongolia on a map.

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What Is Buddhism? - Answer Key Multiple Choice 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.

a. c. c. b. a. c.

Short Answer 1. The number of Buddhists in the U.S. is growing as more immigrants arrive from Southeast Asian countries like Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Viet Nam. 2. Individual response 3. Individual response 4. Individual response 5. A shrine is a holy or sacred place, which is dedicated to a god, a hero, a saint or other person who is admired or respected. People will worship or revere the person at their shrine. Shrines often contain statues, relics, or other such objects associated with the figure being venerated. 6.

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What Is Sikhism? Sikhism is the fifth largest religion in the world today, with about 23 million followers called Sikhs who mainly live in the state of Punjab in India as well as Great Britain, Canada and the United States. Many Sikhs also live in Malaysia and Singapore. There are about one half million Sikhs in the United States. Sikhs first came to America in the 1900s from India in order to work on the railroads and in the lumber industry in California and the Pacific Northwest. Another major immigration of Sikhs occurred around 1965. Sikh men are visible in the U.S. population because they wear a turban. Sikhs follow the teachings of Nanak Dev who was born in India in 1469 CE to a Hindu family. He was born during a time of conflict between Hindus and Muslims in India and he preached religious tolerance to both religions. His followers were called Sikhs, an Indian word for disciples. A Sikh temple is called a gurdwara. The main book for Sikhs is called the Adi Granth. This book of sacred teachings was put together from Sikh writings in 1604 CE. It was painstakingly written by hand and the pages are elaborately decorated. The Adi Granth is a revered object that is stored on a throne under a canopy. Whenever the sacred book is moved, it is wrapped in a cloth and carried on a person’s head to keep it elevated in a prominent status. There are five symbols in Sikhism worn by male followers: Kesh means uncut hair that is covered by a turban to keep it clean; Kachh are a pair of white cotton shorts that symbolize moral strength; Kara is a steel bracelet symbolizing responsibility and allegiance to God; Kanga is a wooden comb to symbolize personal cleanliness; and Kirpan is a steel dagger for defending truth. There were ten Gurus (religious teachers) in the early days of the Sikh religion. Many of the Sikh holidays commemorate the birthday or other major event in the life of one of the Gurus. Since Hinduism was a major religion when Sikhism began and both religions co-exist in India, Sikhs celebrate their own holidays at the same time as the major Hindu holidays of Holi and Diwali.

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Name: ____________________________________ Date: _______ Sikhism - Multiple Choice Questions Circle the correct answer. 1. Many Sikhs live in a. India b. Great Britain c. Malaysia and Singapore d. All of the above 2. When Sikhs immigrated to the United States in the 19th century they lived in a. California b. The Pacific Northwest c. Both a. and b. above d. None of the above 3. In the Indian language Sikh originally meant a. Diaspora b. Disciple c. Divinity d. None of the above 4. The sacred book of Sikhism is the a. Bible b. Torah c. Qur’an (Koran) d. None of the above 5. How many Gurus have there been in Sikhism? a. One b. Ten c. One hundred d. One thousand 6. In Sikhism the item that symbolizes cleanliness is a a. Wooden comb b. Steel bracelet c. Dagger d. White shorts

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Name: ___________________________________ Date: ________ Sikhism - Short Answer Questions 1. Locate the state of Punjab on a map of India.

2. Do some research on the Internet and locate the Sikh gurdwara nearest to your home.

3. Describe how Sikhs preserve the original copy of the Adi Granth.

4. List the five symbols of Sikhism that are worn by men and what each symbolizes.

5. Do some research and write a short report about the function of the langar (kitchen) in a Sikh gurdwara.

6. Why do Sikh men wear a turban?

7. Do some research and write a report about the Golden Gurdwara at Amritsar in Punjab.

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Sikhism - Answer Key Multiple Choice 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.

d. c. b. d. b. a.

Short Answer 1.

2. Individual response 3. The Adi Granth is a revered object that is stored on a throne under a canopy. Whenever the sacred book is moved, it is wrapped in a cloth and carried on a person’s head to keep it elevated in a prominent status. 4. There are five symbols in Sikhism worn by male followers: Kesh means uncut hair that is covered by a turban to keep it clean; Kachh are a pair of white cotton shorts that symbolize moral strength; Kara is a steel bracelet symbolizing responsibility and allegiance to God; Kanga is a wooden comb to symbolize personal cleanliness; and Kirpan is a steel dagger for defending truth. © www.GetWorksheets.com

5. The Langar or free kitchen was started by the first Sikh Guru, Guru Nanak Dev Ji. Anyone who enters can get a vegetarian meal in order to uphold the principle of equality between all people of the world. 6. Sikh men do not cut their hair. They wear a turban to keep their long hair clean. 7. Individual response

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What Is Judaism? Judaism has about 14 million adherents called Jews who live in mainly Israel and the United States. About 6 million Jews live in Israel and another 6 million in the United States while over a million Jews live in Europe. The church building of the Jewish faith is called a synagogue and some Jews worship at minyan, a service that is lead by lay people instead of a rabbi. Judaism is one of the oldest religions still being practiced today and Judaism is the foundation for the two largest religions in the world, Christianity and Islam. Judaism dates back to 1300 BCE, beginning in the ancient area of Mesopotamia which was located between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers, about where the country of Iraq is today. The founder of Judaism was the prophet Abraham. Following God’s command, Abraham moved his people to Canaan, about where the country of Israel is located. The sacred writings and early history of Judaism are contained in the holy book called the Tanakh which contains 39 books. Other names for the Tanakh are the Jewish Bible or Hebrew Scriptures. The Old Testament of the Bible, the holy book of Christianity, is based on these writings. The Jewish holy writings called the Torah are about the same as the first five books in the Bible. There are four main divisions within Judaism called Orthodox, Conservative, Reform and Hasidic. Orthodox Jews closely follow ancient traditions; Reform Jews look to modernize Judaism while Conservative Jews blend the two viewpoints. Hasidic Judaism began in the 12th century in Germany and re-emerged in Poland in the 18th century. Hasidic Jews live very plainly. A well-known Jewish symbol is the Shield of David, usually called the Star of David in the United States. The Star of David has six points and is created by drawing two equilateral triangles merged together to make a star shape. Another well-known Jewish symbol is the Menorah, a candleholder with arms. The Menorah has been a symbol of Judaism for 3,000 years. Americans are most familiar with the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah, the Festival of Lights, because it occurs around Christmas. Two other major holidays are Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, and Passover.

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Name: ____________________________________ Date: _______ What Is Judaism? - Multiple Choice Questions Circle the correct answer. 1. The church building of Judaism is called a a. Mosque b. Minyan c. Synagogue d. Cathedral 2. Judaism is the foundation for other religions including a. Christianity b. Islam c. Both a. and b. above d. None of the above 3. Judaism began in Mesopotamia near a. The Tigris and Euphrates Rivers b. Palestine c. Israel d. Turkey 4. The Jewish Torah a. Is about the same as the Christian Old Testament b. Is about the same as the first five books of the Old Testament c. Is also called the Jewish Scriptures d. Contains thirty-nine books 5. Which group in Judaism follows Jewish traditions the most? a. Orthodox b. Conservative c. Reform d. Hasidic 6. Which Jewish holiday occurs about the same time as Christmas? a. Jewish New Year b. Rosh Hashanah c. Passover d. Hanukkah

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Name: ___________________________________ Date: ________ What Is Judaism? - Short Answer Questions 1. Some Jews worship at minyan, a service that is lead by lay people instead of a rabbi. What is the difference between a rabbi and a lay person? Do other religions have lay people?

2. Locate the ancient area of Mesopotamia on a map.

3. Locate the ancient area of Canaan on a map.

4. Both Judaism and Christianity call the first five books of the bible the Pentateuch. Do some research and list the names of the books in the Pentateuch.

5. Estimates for Judaism in the United States state that 16% of American Jews are Orthodox; 35% are Reform; and 43% are Conservative. What percent are not accounted for in these numbers? Since the reading lists Hasidic as a fourth category of Judaism, can you assume that the remaining Jewish population is Hasidic?

6. Draw a picture of the two symbols of Judaism, the Shield of David and the Menorah.

7. Select one of the Jewish holidays and write a report about how and why it is celebrated.

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What Is Judaism? - Answer Key Multiple Choice 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.

c. c. a. b. a. d.

Short Answer 1. A rabbi the chief religious official of a synagogue, trained usually in a theological seminary and duly ordained. A lay person in Judaism is anyone who is not a rabbi but only men can lead a Jewish service. Other religions have lay people; a lay person is anyone who is not a priest, rabbi or minister. 2.

3.

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4. Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy 5. Percents need to add up to 100% so there are 6% unaccounted for. We cannot assume anything about this remaining 6% because no additional information is given. 6.

7. Individual response

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What Is Bahá’í Faith? The Bahá’í Faith has about 5 million followers called Bahá’ís who mainly live in northeastern India, the United States, Iran and Vietnam. There are about three quarters of a million Bahá’í believers in the United States. Since the Bahá’í Faith counts followers in 236 countries, it is the second most widespread religion in the world after Christianity. Bahá’ís follow the teachings of Baha'u'llah, the founder of the Baha'i Faith who lived in Tehran, Iran and started the religion in 1863. Bahá’ís believe that Baha'u'llah is a modern Divine Messenger who follows the great prophets from Judaism, Christianity, Buddhism and Islam, namely Abraham, Moses, Buddha, Zoroaster, Jesus and Muhammad. The Bahá’í Faith is a modern religion that began rapidly expanding outside of Iran in the 1960s. Members of the Bahá’í Faith call their church building a House of Worship or a Bahá’í temple. There are seven continental Houses of Worship around the world, roughly on one each continent. The sacred book of the Bahá’í Faith is the Kitab-i-Aqbas, which was written by Baha'u'llah. Unlike most other organized religions, the Bahá'í Faith has no priesthood and no clergy. At the current time there are no divisions or religious sects within the religion. The nine-pointed star is one symbol of the Bahá'í Faith. A nine-pointed star is used because nine is the highest single-digit number and symbolizes completeness. Another important symbol is the ringstone symbol which adorns jewelry and is made up of two stars and the Persian (Iranian) symbol for Glory. The Bahá’í Faith has nine holy days per year, many of which commemorate significant events in the lives of the religion’s founders. As one of the holy days, Bahá’ís celebrate New Year's Day on March 21, the vernal or spring equinox. The Month of March, from March 2 until March 20, is the period known as the Nineteen Day Fast where followers go without food or water from sunrise to sundown every day. Another twelve-day event occurs from April 21 until May 2. Known as Ridván, this festival celebrates major events in the life of Baha'u'llah. © www.GetWorksheets.com

Name: ____________________________________ Date: _______ What Is Bahá’í Faith? - Multiple Choice Questions Circle the correct answer. 1. Even though the Bahá’í Faith has only five million followers it is a. The most widespread religion in the world b. It is the second most widespread religion c. The fastest growing religion in the world d. None of the above 2. The Bahá’í Faith was founded in a. Iran b. Iraq c. Vietnam d. United States 3. The clergy in the Bahá’í Faith are called a. Priests b. Ministers c. Rabbis d. None of the above 4. Members of the Bahá’í Faith call their church building a a. Synagogue b. Chapel c. House of Worship d. None of the above 5. The holy book of the Bahá’í Faith was written by a. Jesus b. Muhammad c. Buddha d. None of the above 6. The Nineteen Day Fast occurs in the month of a. January b. February c. March d. April

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Name: ___________________________________ Date: ________ What Is Bahá’í Faith? - Short Answer Questions 1. Islam is the second largest religion in the world with 1.3 billion followers. Yet the Bahá’í Faith, with 5 million followers, claims to be the second most widespread religion in the world after Christianity. Are these two statements in conflict with each other? Explain why or why not.

2. Select one of the prophets listed in the reading and do some research on this prophet. Name the religion or religions that recognize this prophet and identify the years when he lived.

3. Do some research and find pictures of the continental Houses of Worship. Which one do you like best? Explain you answer.

4. What are clergy? Look up the answer on the Internet or a dictionary if you don’t know.

5. What is the vernal or spring equinox? Look up the answer on the Internet or a dictionary if you don’t know.

6. Some American jazz musicians belonged to the Bahá’í Faith. Listen to the music of Bahá’ís Dizzy Gillespie, Mike Longo, and James Moody. Does their religious affiliation change what you hear in their music?

7. Draw a nine-pointed star that is a symbol of the Bahá’í Faith.

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What Is Bahá’í Faith? - Answer Key Multiple Choice 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.

b. a. d. c. d. c.

Short Answer 1. Islam may have more followers but the Bahá’í Faith has followers in more countries scattered in more remote locations in the world than Islam. Therefore the two statements can both be true. 2. Individual response 3. Individual response 4. Clergy: the general term for the priests, ministers or rabbis of a religion 5. The vernal or spring equinox is the date near March 21 in the northern hemisphere when night and day are nearly the same length. 6. Individual response 7. Individual response

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What Is Confucianism? Confucianism as a philosophy standing on its own has approximately 5 to 6 million followers all around the world. Confucianism began in China with Confucius who lived from 551 to 479 BCE. Confucianism is not really a religion but a philosophy of life that has greatly influenced the Chinese for centuries as well as Korean, Japanese and Vietnamese thinking. While people in these eastern Asian countries might belong to one of the prominent religions of the area like Islam or Buddhism, their thinking continues to be influenced by the principles that Confucius established hundreds of years before Christianity was a religion. There are four major texts that people read to learn about the teachings of Confucius. The Analects may be called the Bible of Confucianism and is a collection of twenty books written by his disciples to record the sayings of Confucius and his conversations with his pupils. Another text is the Philosophy of Mencius which deals with moral and ethical dilemmas that were posed by Confucius’ pupils. A third text is simply called Great Learning which deals with politics. The final text is called Doctrine of the Mean which was written by Confucius’ grandson. This text focuses on the philosophy of maintaining balance and harmony in life. Followers of Confucianism celebrate just two holidays. The first is the birthday of Confucius and the other is the Chinese New Year. However Confucians interpret the New Year differently from other Chinese. In Chinese culture each year is associated with one of twelve animals and the same twelve animals appear in rotation every twelve years. For example, 2009 is the year of the ox. Chinese people use the ox as a symbol of hard work and reliability while Confucians interpret the ox as a symbol of righteousness. Confucianism is a philosophy of life that emphasizes the “Golden Rule” that religions preach: treat others how you would like to be treated. Confucius emphasized the importance of education as well as respect for elders. The teachings of Confucius are in harmony with the principles of most religions. © www.GetWorksheets.com

Name: ____________________________________ Date: _______ What Is Confucianism? - Multiple Choice Questions Circle the correct answer. 1. Confucius lived in a. China b. Korea c. Japan d. Vietnam 2. The important text of Confucianism that many consider to be the Bible of Confucianism is a. Philosophy of Mencius b. Great Learning c. Both a. and b. above d. None of the above 3. Confucianism has a had a great impact on the culture of a. Africa b. Asia c. Antartica d. Australia 4. When Confucians celebrate the Chinese New Year a. They stay up until midnight b. They celebrate like every other Chinese citizen c. They interpret the animal of the year in a different way d. None of the above 5. Treat others how you would like to be treated is often called the a. Golden Rule b. Golden Calf c. Basic Principle d. Social Rule 6. Confucius emphasized the importance of a. Fasting b. Prayer c. Education d. Respect for children

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Name: ___________________________________ Date: ________ What Is Confucianism? - Short Answer Questions 1. A statue called Great Confucius was erected in Houston, Texas in 2009. Do some research about the statue and write a short report about why it is important to the citizens of this city.

2. How old was Confucius when he died?

3. Do some research and list which other religion started about the same time as Confucianism. Was it Christianity, Islam or Buddhism?

4. This is saying from Confucius: “Learning without thought is labor lost; thought without learning is perilous.” Rewrite this saying in your own words or explain what it means.

5. One major theme in the Confucian book Doctrine of the Mean is balance in everyday life. Give three examples of how to keep a student’s life in balance.

6. What is righteousness?

7. Confucianism required that children obey their parents’ wishes for as long as the parents were alive. How does that explain that Chinese society remained essentially the same for centuries?

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What Is Confucianism? - Answer Key Multiple Choice 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.

a. d. b. c. a. c.

Short Answer 1. Individual response 2. Confucius who lived from 551 to 479 BCE so he was 72 when he died. 3. Buddhists follow the teachings of Siddharta Gautama, an Indian prince, who is known as the Buddha. Buddhism began around 500 BCE. 4. Individual response 5. Individual response – hint: balance study time with time for sports; don’t procrastinate on getting assignments done 6. Righteousness: always behaving according to a religious or moral code 7. Individual response

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What Is Jainism? Jainism is a religion with about 4 million followers called Jains who mainly live in the Eastern India. As of 2002 there are about 90,000 Jains in the United States and 25,000 Jains in Great Britain. The history of Jainism in the U.S. begins with an exhibit of a Jain temple at the St. Louis World’s Fair in 1904. The first immigrants of the Jain faith arrived in 1944 and twenty-two years later the Jain Center of America in New York was established. Since 1990 many Jain temples have been built in major cities across the U.S. Jainism began around 500 BCE in Eastern India at a time when the some of the local people were turning away from traditional Hinduism. Jainism and Buddhism developed about the same time. Jains believe that twenty-four Tirthankaras, individual humans who rise to the highest levels in Jainism ideals, had arisen in this time period of history. Mahavira was the twenty-fourth Tirthankara and he is credited with being the founder of Jainism according to historians. However, Jains do not mark Mahavira as the founder of the religion. Mahavira was the founder of a huge monastery for both monks and nuns and he is revered as the twenty-fourth Tirthankara. There are two major divisions in Jainism, Schvetambaras and Digambaras; that split occurred within the first 200 years of Jainism. The sacred text for Jainism is called the Agamas and the contents were handed down through history by memorization because monks and nuns were not allowed to have any possessions. There was a famine around 350 BCE during which many of the Jain monks and nuns died. The followers of Schvetambara Jainism believe that the Agamas survived the disaster mostly intact but the Digambaras believe the text was lost. This is a major difference between the two religious sects of Jainism. There are many holy days in Jainism. Jains celebrate the birthday of Mahavira in late March or early April. Paryushana, the most important Jain holiday, is an eight-day period of fasting for Schvetambaras (ten days for Digambaras) that occurs in the fall. Jains join with other Indian people in the celebration of Diwali, the Festival of Lights. © www.GetWorksheets.com

Name: ____________________________________ Date: _______ What Is Jainism? - Multiple Choice Questions Circle the correct answer. 1. Americans experienced the first Jain temple that was built in 1904 a. In New York City b. In Chicago c. At the St. Louis World’s Fair d. At the Columbian Exposition 2. How many Tirthankaras are there in Jainism? a. Twelve b. Twenty-four c. Forty d. None of the above 3. The sacred text for Jainism is called a. Schvetambaras b. Tirthankaras c. Digambaras d. Agamas 4. The sacred text of Jainism was originally preserved by a. Writing it on scrolls b. Writing it in a book c. Memorizing it d. All of the above 5. Paryushana is a. The most important Jain holiday b. Is a period of fasting c. Lasts more than seven days d. All of the above 6. Diwali is a. The Festival of Lights b. The celebration of Mahavira’s birthday c. Both a. and b. above d. None of the above

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Name: ___________________________________ Date: ________ What Is Jainism? - Short Answer Questions 1. Jain temples are architectural masterpieces. Locate at least five pictures of Jain temples on the Internet. Make a poster or notebook on these temples. Be sure to label where each temple is located.

2. Do some research and list the location of Jain temples in major cities of the United States.

3. List two differences between the Schvetambaras and Digambaras in Jainism.

4. Do some research and describe how the Indian holy day of Diwali is celebrated.

5. Do some research and draw the Jain hand symbol. Explain what this symbol means.

6. Explain why some Jains believe the sacred text of the Agamas was lost.

7. Do you think this article is hard to read? Is it hard to read because the names have so many syllables or because they are unfamiliar to most Americans?

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What Is Jainism? - Answer Key Multiple Choice 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.

c. b. d. c. d. a.

Short Answer 1. Individual response 2. Individual response 3. Schvetambara Jainism believes that the Agamas survived the famine mostly intact but the Digambaras believe the text was lost. Paryushana, the most important Jain holiday, is an eight-day period of fasting for Schvetambaras (ten days for Digambaras). 4. Individual response 5.

This is a symbol of non-violence. 6. The sacred text for Jainism is called the Agamas and the contents were handed down through history by memorization because monks and nuns were not allowed to have any possessions. There was a famine around 350 BCE during which many of the Jain monks and nuns died. 7. Individual response

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What Is Shintoism? Shintoism, one of the world’s oldest religions, is the national religion of Japan. Since Shintoism is so old, it contains many beliefs and rituals that have evolved through the centuries. There is no founder to Shintoism; there are no official sacred texts like are found in other religions; and there are no fixed beliefs that the followers of Shintoism all profess to believe in. Since Shintoism is a cultural part of Japan, Japanese people can follow Shinto customs while practicing another religion, especially Buddhism. There are about 4 million people around the world who claim to follow the Shinto religion instead of just following Shinto traditions. Shintoism has been influenced by other religions. Around 500 CE Confucianism reached Japan from China and over the next two hundred years Confucian ideas about ethics became part of Shintoism. About the same time Chinese Taoism influenced Shintoism. Around 800 CE Buddhism became an important religious movement in Japan and Shinto gods were merged into Buddhist beliefs. Over the centuries, many divisions or sects of Shintoism were created. There are over twenty-five variations of Shintoism listed in a history of the religion. Even though there is no official sacred writing that is equivalent to the Bible of Christianity and the Qur’ran of Islam, Shinto’s oldest writing is the Kojiki, a story of the creation of the world written in 712 CE. Since Shinto is so closely allied with Japan, the other important text is Nihongi, The Chronicles of Japan, which tells the history of Japan from its beginning up to 697 CE. A traditional Japanese home contains a Shinto altar for revering the local spirit or kami and the goddess Amaterasu Omikami, a sun goddess. The shrine is an important place of worship in the Shinto religion. Followers typically visit their local shrine to honor kami (local spirits) about twice a month. A shrine has a complex layout and the inner shrine is the most important building. Every shrine has a traditionally shaped gateway entrance and this gateway is the most important symbol of Shintoism. Shintoism places great emphasis on local kami and festivals honor these local spirits.

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Name: ____________________________________ Date: _______ What Is Shintoism? - Multiple Choice Questions Circle the correct answer. 1. Shintoism is the national religion of a. China b. Japan c. Both a. and b. above d. None of the above 2. Shintoism is different from many other religious because a. Shintoism has no founder b. Shintoism has no official sacred text c. Shintoism has no fixed set of beliefs d. All of the above 3. Over the centuries Shintoism was influenced by a. Confucianism b. Taoism c. Buddhism d. All of the above 4. Shinto’s oldest writing is the Kojiki which is a. The story of creation b. The history of Japan c. Both a. and b. above d. None of the above 5. An important text in Shintoism is Nihongi which is a. The story of creation b. The history of Japan c. Both a. and b. above d. None of the above 6. In Shintoism kami are a. Holidays b. Symbols c. Local spirits d. None of the above

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Name: ___________________________________ Date: ________ What Is Shintoism? - Short Answer Questions 1. Explain how Shintoism influenced Buddhism in Japan.

2. Do some research and write a short report about the clothing worn in a Shinto wedding ceremony.

3. Mount Fuji in Japan is the sacred mountain of Shintoism. Do some research and explain why Mount Fuji is called the Fiery Goddess.

4. Name and describe the two most important texts in Shintoism.

5. Do some research and draw the Shinto gateway symbol.

6. Do some research and find pictures of Shinto shrines. Select a shrine that interests you and draw your own picture of it.

7. The Japanese have special music that is played at Shinto ceremonies. Find a recording of Shinto music on the Internet and listen to it.

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What Is Shintoism? - Answer Key Multiple Choice 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.

b. d. d. a. b. c.

Short Answer 1. Around 800 CE Buddhism became an important religious movement in Japan and Shinto gods were merged into Buddhist beliefs. Japanese people can follow Shinto customs while practicing another religion, especially Buddhism. 2. Individual response 3. Individual response 4. Shinto’s oldest writing is the Kojiki, a story of the creation of the world written in 712 CE. Since Shinto is so closely allied with Japan, the other important text is Nihongi, The Chronicles of Japan, which tells the history of Japan from its beginning up to 697 CE. 5. Individual response 6. Individual response 7. Individual response

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