Polytheistic Religions Pt 1

Aim: Why would a society (civilization) have a Polytheistic Belief System?

Do Now: In your notebooks, Define; Polytheism

Lesson Overview:

Item	Approx Time
Do Now	3-5 Min
Mini Lesson	15-20 Min
Activity	15 Min
Discussion	5-7 Min

Animism

Background

Animism is the oldest known type of belief system in the world. It is still practiced in a variety of forms in many traditional societies.

The Basics

Founder - There is no one person who is considered the founder of Animism.
Geographic Origin - Developed simultaneously in different parts of the world.
Currently Practiced - World-wide, but most common in areas of Africa and the Americas.
Significant Writings - Most traditional cultures that practice Animism also have an oral tradition of story-telling, rather than a developed writing system.
Places of Worship - Animist rituals tend to take place outdoors in nature.
Significant Religious People - Animist rituals are typically conducted by a Shaman, Medicine Man, or Medicine Woman.

Teachings and Beliefs

Animists practice nature worship. They believe that everything in the universe has a spirit. This is exemplified by the practices of the Plains Indians in North America who would praise the spirit of the buffalo that they killed for giving its life to them so that they might survive. Animists also believed that ancestors watch over the living from the spirit world. This belief resulted in ancestor worship as a means of communicating with and showing respect to ancestors.

Hinduism

Background

Hinduism is a polytheistic religion that was formed from a variety of different religious practices.

Basics

Established - Elements of the Hindu religion can be traced back to the Shiva, the Destroyer. Ancient Indus River Valley civilization (approximately 3000 BCE) in modern-day Pakistan.
Founder - It has been theorized that Hinduism is a result of cultural diffusion that occurred between Aryan invaders and the native peoples of India sometime around 1500 BCE.
Geographic Origin - Developed on the Indian subcontinent.
Currently Practiced - Most common in India.
Significant Writings - Vedas, Upanishads, Ramayana, Mahabharata, Bhagavad Gita.
Places of Worship - While Hindu temples do exist, Hinduism is usually practiced in the home where there is usually a shrine dedicated to a favored deity.
Significant Religious People - Hindu priests carry out traditional religious practices in temples.

Teachings and Beliefs

In Hinduism, salvation is achieved through a spiritual oneness of the soul, atman, with the ultimate reality of the universe, Brahman. To achieve this goal, the soul must obtain moksha, or liberation from the samsara, the endless cycle of birth, death, and rebirth. As a result of these basic teachings, Hindus believe in reincarnation, which is influenced by karma (material actions resulting from the consequences of previous actions), and dharma (fulfilling one's duty in life). Because all forms of animal life possess souls, Hindus believe in ahimsa, or that all life is sacred. and should not be harmed. In fact, one animal which Hindus consider to be extremely sacred is the cow. The peaceful and contented existence of cows is considered virtuous by Hindus and would represent a rewarding reincarnation for a soul. For this reason, most Hindus are vegetarians so that they do not harm other living beings. The belief in reincarnation, karma, and dharma also provides the religious justification for the existence of the rigid social structure known as the Caste System.

Reincarnation (Samsara)

Rivers represent reincarnation to Hindus. Samsara, or reincarnation, is a central teaching of Hinduism. Rivers are sometimes thought to symbolize reincarnation because they constantly flow, yet follow the same course. Perhaps the most sacred river is the Ganges, which is used for spiritual cleansing, funeral rites, and other Hindu rituals.

The concept of reincarnation can best be represented by the infinity symbol. When one is born, they are given life by Brahma, as the pass through life, they are preserved by Vishnu, until finally Shiva claims you in death. Then the cycle is repeated over and over again until one finally achieves moksha.

Caste System

The Caste System is a rigid class structure based on Hinduism which is found in India. It is believed that if one leads a good life, following good karma and dharma, then they will be rewarded by being reincarnated as a person belonging to the next highest level in the Caste System. However, if one is wicked during their life, they will be demoted, and possibly even removed from the Caste System altogether. Outcasts, or Untouchables, are members of Hindu society thought to have been removed from the Caste System, with no hope of returning to it, due to their misdeeds in previous lives. Work that is deemed unclean for all other Hindus is reserved for these Outcasts.

After winning its independence from Great Britain in 1947, India adopted a national constitution which stated that "Untouchability is abolished and its practice in any form is forbidden." Since that time many Caste reforms have been enacted to diminish discriminatory practices in India. Today, the Caste System still exists in practice, despite the many laws designed to legally abolish it.

Buddhism

Background

Buddhism developed in India, and is based on many of the core concepts of Hinduism..

The Basics

Founder - Siddhartha Gautama, or Buddha, which means "enlightened one."
Siddhartha Gautama Geographic Origin-Developed in India.
Currently Practiced - Most common in Southeast Asia and Japan..
Significant Writings - Tripitka, or Three Baskets of Wisdom.
Places of Worship - Buddhism may be practiced individually, but temples and monasteries do exist.
Significant Religious People - The Dalai Lama is the spiritual leader of the Tibetan sect of
Buddhism, and is considered to be the reincarnation of the bodhisattva, or "Buddha-to-be."
Buddhist monks can be identified by their traditional orange robes.

Teachings and Beliefs

Siddhartha was born into the Brahmin caste, and by all account led a luxurious lifestyle. However, he was troubled by the human misery that he saw around him everyday. Upon reflection, he deduced that desire was the root caused of all suffering. This idea has been recorded as the Four Noble Truths.

Four Noble Truths

Siddhartha's philosophy of the nature of human suffering and its relation to desire is articulated by these four statements:

Life is full of pain and suffering.
Human desire causes this suffering.
By putting an end to desire, humans can end suffering.
Humans can end desire by following the Eightfold Path.

Eightfold Path

The Wheel of Life is one of the most important symbols of Buddhism, as it represents the endless cycle of life through reincarnation and because each of its eight spokes represents one of the teachings of the Eightfold Path.

Wheel of Life

Know that suffering is caused by desire.
Be selfless and love all life.
Do not lie, or speak without cause.
Do not kill, steal, or commit other unrighteous acts.
Do not do things which promote evil.
Take effort to promote righteousness.
Be aware of your physical actions, state of mind, and emotions.
Learn to meditate.

Reincarnation

Buddhists believe in an endless cycle of reincarnation, or samsara, which is similar to beliefs of Hinduism. However, Buddhists do not believe that deities are responsible for the phenomenon. In addition, the Caste System is rejected by Buddhists who believe instead that one is reincarnated until they can achieve nirvana, best described as spiritual enlightenment.

The concept of reincarnation can best be illustrated using an infinity symbol:

Classwork & Homework

Lesson PowerPoint: Polytheistic Belief Systems Part 1

Lesson Activity: Complete Chart

Homework: Assignments