Religions Around the World

Religions Around the World — page 5 — O n e World ManyBelief s How did the universe come to be How did life on Earth begin For thousands of years people have searched for the answers to such questions Some look to science to solve these mysteries But in the earliest times science could not explain natural events such as earthquakes and storms day and night and life and death People believed these things consider their god to be merciful and kind But all gods play a part in helping people understand their world LEARN MORE READ THESE ARTICLES HINDUISM ISLAM JUDAISM D I D YO U K N O W Not only did the ancient Egyptians ly of gods but large fami ieved that their pharaoh in a ieve bel they also bel or king was a god 8 were the work of beings greater and more powerful than humans the gods Today many people still seek an understanding of life through the worship of a god or gods They often feel that their faith also helps them live better lives Some religions such as Judaism Christianity and Islam teach that there is only one God a supreme being who made the universe and controls the world This is Stained-glass image showing a Christian artist’s idea of God the Father with angels Royalty-Free Corbis called monotheism from the Greek words for one and God The worship of several powerful gods is called polytheism because poly means many Ancient Greeks and Romans believed in many gods whom we know today from ancient myths and art People from different places and cultures have their own names for their gods The God of the ancient Jews was called Yahweh Muslims use the Arabic word for God Allah Hindus believe in a large number of gods and goddesses female gods Each has a different personality and controls a different aspect of life They believe these gods are forms of one supreme god One popular Hindu god is the elephant-headed Ganesha Many Hindus appeal to Ganesha when they begin an important new project The behavior of a god can vary from religion to religion Some religions may see their god or gods as unforgiving and cruel Others

Religions Around the World — page 6 — S EA R C H LIG H T GOD Fill in the blank The Hindu god of successful beginnings is __________ In many world religions worshipers like this woman in Hong Kong burn incense to honor their gods Royalty-Free Corbis Answer The Hindu god of successful beginnings is Ganesha 9

Religions Around the World — page 7 — A LifeApart Most major world religions have a tradition of monasticism Monasticism comes from the Greek word for living alone So monks men who practice monasticism are people who choose to live apart from society This allows them to devote themselves to a religious life Women who choose this way of life are called nuns Not all monks and nuns live entirely by themselves Many live in communities with other monks or nuns These community homes are usually called monasteries or for nuns convents Life in a religious community generally focuses on prayer meditation and religious works Monks and nuns may concentrate on building a personal relationship with God They may work to purify their thought and reach spiritual perfection Some monks do live all by themselves as hermits And some wander from place to place their whole lives But whether they live S EA R C H LIG H T True or false Only Christians can be monks 10

Religions Around the World — page 8 — MONASTICISM DID YOU KNOW One Christian monastery in the United States specializes in training dogs The monks there feel that the connection between dogs and humans as well as the focus on discipline and responsibility helps them spiritually in a community or by themselves all monks and nuns give up certain of life’s pleasures Many don’t own property or have any money Others force themselves to face certain challenges such as fasting or other physical discomforts Monks and nuns choose to live apart so that they won’t be distracted by life Usually they are unmarried since having a family requires great dedication and time The monastic life allows people to focus as much of themselves as possible on God and on the salvation their religion promises Many monks and nuns do still take part in the world around them For example they may serve as teachers social workers missionaries or nurses In earlier times monks were often among the few people who could read and write So they’re responsible for having preserved much of written world history and culture LEARN MORE READ THESE ARTICLES DALAI LAMA ROMAN CATHOLICISM VIVEKANANDA tradition of monasticism Answer FALSE Almost all the world’s religions have some

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