Introduction to the Gods of World Religions

Christianity : 

Christianity Creation Story World Was Created In 7 Days Day 1: God Creates Light Day 2: Heaven Is Created Day 3: Makes Dry Land Appear Day 4: God Creates Lights In Sky To Mark Time Day 5: God Makes Birds and Sea Creatures Day 6: Animals and Humans Are Created Day 7: God Rests God: Monotheistic Religion That Has A Holy Trinity. 3 Separate Identities In One God God The Father God The Son Holy Spirit Religion’s Origin: Christians saw Jesus as the Messiah from Judaism Judaism rejected Jesus as their Messiah This is when Christians separated into their own religion.

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Religions Origin: Abraham rejected the worship was idols He embraced monotheism Moses is thought to have written the Torah with Gods help. God: YHWH is the name of God that is listed in book of Exodus. Their God is eternal and often talks to humans in Torah. People are considered God’s children. Omnipresent and Omniscient Judaism Story of Creation: God is the creator of everything. Responsible for both good and evil. Have the same 7 day creation story as Christianity since Christianity was formed out of Judaism.

Hinduism : 

Hinduism Limitlessly Polytheistic Brahma: Hinduism has a many gods of their own but Hinduism also allows Gods of other Gods to be seen as a form as a form of their own Gods. One of the most popular. Likes to help humans. God of love, benevolence and forgiveness. Vishnu: Shiva: The other most popular God God of Dance, Destruction and Disease Gods: Created Everything The one true God. All others are extensions of him. Origin: No Identifiable Founder Aryan invaders brought polytheism Dates back to even old animistic religions. Creation: Vishnu instructed Brahma to create the world. Brahma than calmed the winds and created the world from a a lotus flower.

Zoroastrianism : 

Zoroastrianism God Ahura Mazda is the God in a monotheist religion. He is believed to be the creator. Thought as a benevolent, wise creator, who fought against evil. Origin Zarathustra (to the left) was the founder of this religion. Only founder that was trained as a priest. An angel told him that there was only one true god, called the Ahura Mazda Creation Story: Ahura Mazda created 16 lands After he did the destructive spirit, Angra Mainya brought sin and plagues

Taoism : 

Taoism Gods: Gods are thought to be evolved from the flow of Tao. There is no need to pray to their Gods. The term God was actually only used once in religious texts. Origin: Lao Tzu founded this religion. He wrote the Tao Te Ching, which is the religious text of this religion He was a philosopher, but little is known really about him. Creation: The world started out as an egg. The creator, Pangu, cracks the egg and creates the universe. Then makes the first humans from yellow clay.

Confucianism : 

Confucianism Origin Confucianism is named after its founder Confucius. It is debated if Confucianism is a religion or a way of life. He talked about ethics, society and the interactions of people. Gods Unlike other religions Confucianism does not talk about Gods. The teachers are about life instead of Gods and the afterlife. Creation Story There are many different versions of the creation story in Chinese religions like Taoism and Confucianism. Pangu and the egg theory is one of the most common.

Shinto : 

Shinto Gods: Kami are spirits within objects. The term can be translated to mean God. Everything contains a Kami. When people die they become Kami. Origin: This Japanese religion is as old as the country it self. Japan did not even realize its own religion until the 6th century when other religions showed up. Creation: Long ago Heaven and Earth were not separated. The purest parts were drawn out to form Heaven. The heavier parts settled down and became the Earth.

Buddhism : 

Buddhism Origin: People felt unrest towards Hinduism, from which Buddhism started from. Founded by a man named Siddhartha. It is thought that he did not mean to start a new religion. Gods: Enlightenment must be gained without the help of Gods. Buddha is respected but not considered a God. There is no God that created everything. Creation: Buddhism teachers that the world in a state of becoming. The universe is never finished, but always a work in progress. Eventually, the universe will dissolve and a new cycle will occur.

Jainism : 

Jainism Creation: All matter is eternal, the universe always existed and always will. Therefore is no need for a god to create everything. Origin: Mahavira is considered the founder. He was a rich man who gave up everything because of his religious unhappiness before Jainism. Gods: The religion believes in Gods but does not rely on them. Gods exist but are simply being on a different plane of existence. Followers cannot get help from Gods.

Animism : 

Animism Origin: Most likely dates back to be the oldest of religions. Term meaning “breath’ or “soul.” Idea used in many different religions. Gods: Gods are often ones that relate to nature. Worshiping the sun or an elk would be a form of Animism. An African Animism Story: Bumba was in terrible pain and he vomited up the sun. Than he threw up the moon and stars. Lastly, came up animals and people.

Islam : 

Islam Origin: Muhammad is the founder and believed to be a prophet. He was concerned with polytheism. Thought he was adding on to other religions. God: There God’s name is Allah. They believe there is only one God. Actually the same God as Jews and Christians. Creation Story: Allah snapped his fingers created the world. He made man with dust and clay. Than named him Adam.

Sikhi : 

Sikhi God: They believe their God is formless in nature. God can be known through mediation. The creator without fear, immortal and self-existent. Origin: Shri Guru Nanak Ji, is considered the founder. There is thought to be reincarnations of their founder. Guru thought there only could be one God. Creation: God planned the creation and gathered all the resources. Their God contained all of the resources in and egg and when God willed the egg exploded to the universe.

The Baha’i Faith : 

The Baha’i Faith God: Monotheistic God is all controlling and all knowing. Despite different names religions have for God, it is all the same God. Origin: Started out as a sect of Islam. Bahá'u'lláh is the founder of this religion. Left a safe life to spread his message to others. Creation: Everything was created from God. Humanity was created to know and serve God’s will. Believe in a harmony of science and religion to explain creation.