By: Hannah, Frances, && Nancy.

RELIGION

Religion….

Belief system concerning one or more deities and incorporating rituals, ceremonies, ethical guidelines, and life philosophies.

Religion adds meaning and purpose to the lives of followers through experiences in life.

Grants the appreciation of the past, understanding of the present, and hope for the future.

http://www.5min.com/Video/What-is-Religion-27299255

Religion as it evolves……

A 90 second clip illustrating the evolution and the expansion of well-known religions.› Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Judaism,

Buddism› Also when and where wars had been taken

place due to religion conquest› http://www.mapsofwar.com/ind/history-of-r

eligion.html

Types of Religion…..

CHRISTIANITY: two billion followers worldwide Sacred text: Holy Bible Beliefs: God as Father, Jesus Christ as God’s

son, and the Holy Spirit. -Jesus crucified and resurrected, paid the penalty for

sin -Heaven and hell -”Love thy neighbor as thy self.”

Islam

“Submission to God” More than one billion people in the

world Sacred Text: Qur’an Beliefs:

-Worship Allah, believe in angels, andMuhammad as the founder and prophet

disciplined and strict The Five Pillars guide Muslim life

Buddhism

religion and philosophy encompassing a variety of traditions, beliefs and practices, largely based on teachings attributed to Siddhartha Gautama Buddha.

Buddha(“enlightened one”) taught about ending suffering and rebirth cycle

Karma Reincarnation Eightfold path

Hinduism

80 percent of India is Hindu Hinduism is often referred to as "the

eternal law” No sacred text, but instead comprised of

religious traditions Hindu beliefs include: Dharma

(ethics/duties), Samsāra (The continuing cycle of birth, life, death and rebirth), Karma (action and subsequent reaction), Moksha (liberation from samsara), and the various Yogas (paths or practices).

Judaism

Based on the covenant relationship between God and the chosen Jewish people: Jews follow God’s laws

Sacred text: The Torah Most Jews regard themselves as a

people, members of a nation, and the ancestry of Jewish national identity

Mormons

Mormons believe that God has a body and a family, was once a man

Believe that they have the true “latter day” Gospel of Jesus Christ, Jesus came to America and brought the new word of God

All other sects of Christianity are not the truth

Believe in modern day prophets Sacred Text: Book of Mormon

Jehovah’s Witness

-Jehovah's Witnesses refrain from voting and having blood transfusions

-Believe that there are 144,000 that will receive salvation and enter heaven

Atheism

Atheism appeals to people who do not believe the concept of supernatural beings and do not rely on scriptures that rule life.

Religion: The Good And the Evil

Religion is a unique force in society The Good:

› motivated individuals to create massive support services for the poor, the sick, the hurting, and the broken.

The Bad:› Religion has justified human slavery; racial

segregation; oppression of women; other conflicts, and discrimination against homosexuals; mass murder terrorism, and genocide.

Oppression of Religion……

Religious Freedom› freedom of individuals to believe in,

practice, and promote their religion of choice without government interference, harassment, or other repercussions as long as practices based on, or resulting from, those beliefs do not break the law

Ex › 1st Amendment; guarantee of religious

freedom, and a wall separation between church and state.

Oppression cont….

Religious Discrimination› the devaluing of a person or group because of

their religion, or treating someone differently because of what they do or don't believe.

Ex: › U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity

Commission (EEOC) is enforced to protect employees from being harassed or mistreated by managers, co-workers based on religious beliefs.

Cont……

Religious Persecution› the practice of discouraging religious

freedom and the freedom to express and/or promote all or certain religious beliefs - with repercussions ranging from discrimination and harassment to prevention and prosecution (by legal and/or illegal means).

Ex. › Holocaust

Cont…..

Religious Intolerance› the refusing to acknowledge and support

the rights of individuals to have their own beliefs and related legitimate practices and the unwillingness to have one's own beliefs and related practices critically evaluated.

Stereotypes of Religion….

Christians: judgmental, hypocrites, intolerant, prude.  Jews: greedy, nit-picky, stingy misers, curly haired, large hook-noses,

thick lips, and wear kippahs.

Muslims: terrorists, intolerant, controlling, violent.

Buddhists: violent, and stone-worshipers.

Hindus: Caste system

Documentary on how a female Muslim is stereotyped and mistreated

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UiZYYUAnn3k

Muslims….

A Muslim is a believer in or follower of Islam. The word Muslim means one who submits and implies complete submission to the will of God (Allah). Muslims believe that nature is itself Islamic, since it follows natural laws placed by God. Thus, a Muslim strives to surrender to God's commands every step of the way.

The holiest book for Muslims is the Qur'an, or the 'Koran' in English. Muslims consider the Arabic Qur'an as the direct revelation of God; translations do exist to other languages but are not regarded as the literal word of God.

Muslims cont…..

It is believed to have began in 7th Century Arabia, by Muhammed Abduallah

The basic beliefs of Muslims are: belief in God, His angels, His revealed Books, His Messengers, the Day of Judgement, and the Al Qadar. The revealed books of Islam also include the Injil (Christian Gospels), the Torah and the Psalms.

Muslims cont……

The Five Pillars of Islam on which a Muslim's life is founded are: The Testimony that there is none worthy of worship except God and that

Muhammad is his messenger. Establishing of the five daily Prayers (Salaah). These prayers are ritualistic

in nature and adherence to the ritual practice is required. The location at which one prays is not strictly defined as long as one is able to establish the Qiblat.

The Giving of Zakaah (charity), which is generally 2.5% of the yearly savings for a rich man working in trade or industry, and 10% or 20% of the produce for agriculturists. This money or produce is distributed among the poor.

Refraining from eating, drinking and having sex from dawn to dusk in the month of Ramadhaan (Sawm).

The Pilgrimage (Hajj) to Mecca during the month of Zul Hijjah, which is compulsory once in a lifetime for one who has the ability to do it. This ability includes the financial means and the physical strength since the hajj can be strenuous. Also, one has to obtain a permit from the Saudi government which is granted based on an annual quota based on country.

Other Ways of Practice…

Dietary Practices› No pork or alcohol. (with no specific reasons from the

Holy Qur’an.) Gender Roles

› There is an emphasis on the right’s treatment and responsibility of women.

› The Treatment of Women Women in Islam are not permitted to dress and act in a

way that draws sexual attention are to lower there gaze and guard there modesty.

Where is Islam Practiced….

Islam is practiced among 1 billion Muslims worldwide.

~50 countries are majority Muslim› EX. Saudi Arabia 100%, Turkey 99.8%,

Afghanistan 99%, Algeria 99%, Yemen 99% Majority of Muslims live in Asia(where

~62% live) and Africa Indonesia, Pakistan, India, and Bangladesh

~683 million U.S ~6-8 million.

Who Practices Islam (U.S Based Btw Immigrants & Non-Immigrants….

Immigrant Muslims-Arabians (26.2%)-South Asians (24.7%)-Middle Eastern (Non-Arabs) (10.3%)-East Asians (6.4%)

Non-Immigrant Muslims -African Americans (23.8%)

-Caucasians (11%)-Native Americans (11%)

Why are Muslims Oppressed?..

Why are Muslims oppressed???› Muslims have always been oppressed for years, because of the

way they dress, the way they follow religion, the language they speak, and for the actions that other Muslims commit, etc.

› Muslims are not only oppressed by Americans, but by other Muslims, as well.

Muslims are viewed in many different ways, by many different cultures.

-According to an Islamic advocacy group one in four Americans holds anti-Muslim views.

The Muslim religion teaches violence and hatred (26 percent agreed)

- Muslims value life less than other people (27 percent agreed)- Muslims want to change the American way of life (29 percent

agreed).

Stereotypes

Have you noticed that we are continually informed by the Muslim community that they feel unfairly oppressed, harassed and victimized ?

“These Muslim complaints are wrongly directed at the police and society, because Muslims are the victim of their own suicide bombers and various Islamic extremists, not society or the police. It is their own Koran which inspires terrorists to kill and maim in the name of Islam, so that Muslims are seen as suspicious when they carry a rucksack on the tube, or walk into a restaurant with a suitcase.”

Stereotypes, cont….

Stereotypes of Muslims often involve themes associated with violence.

Such negative examples include Muslims being heavily associated with bomb-making and terrorists plots.

Also some see Muslims as poor though this is not expressed in the media often

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UiZYYUAnn3k

Discussion of Maltreatment

How does that make you feel?? What would you have done if you were

in the bakery?? Would you have spoken up or stayed

quiet?? Do you think this type of behavior is

still occurring now??

Advocating for Muslims

Advocate is simply referring to an individual, ad, etc, that speaks, pleads, or argues in favor of a particular person, animal, or thing.

Ways one can advocate for Muslims;› Schools could take a role on greater cultural education.› People can educate themselves by volunteering for Muslim advocating

organizations. › As well as attending Educational Seminars the majority of

organizations hold monthly

Websites:

http://www.muslimadvocates.org/get_involved/

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Muslim-Advocates/50711561090

Religious Knowledge

  Which is the second largest religion in the World?

a). Christianity b.) Islam  The Torah is the sacred text for the Islamic religion?

a).True b. False   Buddhists are known stereotypically as stone-worshipers.

a).True b. False

The purpose of the video was to address discrimination of Buddhist Americans?

a).True b. False

How many people follow Islam worldwide?a). 2 billion b. 1 billion

  Buddhist and Hindu followers both believe in Karma?

a). True b. False

How many Pillars of Islam are there?a) 5 b. 8

  Muslims are not allowed to consume?

a). Pork b. beef

References

http://www.smh.com.au/news/National/Students-see-Muslims-as-terrorists/2006/02/06/1139074142017.html

http://education.yahoo.com/reference/dictionary/entry/advocate http://nwchurch-of-god.org.uk/muslims_oppressed.html http://www.muslimadvocates.org/get_involved/got_rights.html http://www.typesofreligion.com/ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UiZYYUAnn3k http://www.wordiq.com/definition/Jewish Ali, S., Liu, W., & Humedian, M. (2004). Islam 101: Understanding the Religion and

Therapy Implications. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 35(6), 635-642. doi:10.1037/0735-7028.35.6.635.

http://www.5min.com/Video/What-is-Religion-27299255