Five Major Languages Notes

Hinduism

• number of adherents- 1.1 billion (third largest)
• call them- Hindus
• geographic location- India, Nepal
• holy book- the vedas- eternal truths revealed to ancient sages; composed in verse form (meant to be sung and easily memorized)
• founder- no distinct founder- it is a series of intellectual or philosophical points of view, rather than a rigid, strict sets of beliefs- probably the oldest extant religion; although Hinduism is less a religion than a way of life, or a faith

Buddhism

• number of adherents- 500 mill. to 1.5 billion
• call them- Buddhists
• geographic location- Southeast Asia, China, Nepal, Japan (there are 1.2 million Buddhists in the United States)
• founder- Siddhartha Gautama
• denominations- Tibetan, Zen, Theravada, Amidst 
• Four Noble Truths
• There is suffering 
• Attachment to desire is the origin of suffering 
• There is a cessation of suffering 
• The Eight fold path will lead to the cessation of suffering 
• The Eight fold path 
• Right view 
• Right Intention
• Right Speech
• Right Action 
• Right Livelihood 
• Right Effort 
• Right Mindfulness 
• Right Dedication

Judaism 

• number of adherents- 14-18 million (ninth)
• call them- Jews 
• geographic location-
• Israel (6.4 million, 75.4%)
• US (5.3- 7 million, 1.7%- 2.6%)
• founder- Abraham 
• holy book- The Torah (the first five books of the Old Testament: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy)
• beliefs- ethical monotheism- God is one, and concerned with the actions of human kind
• Ten Commandments
• 13 Principals of Faith