All through history, people have asked big questions: Who made the world? How should we live? What happens after we die? The answers of the world's faiths have shaped laws, holidays, art and the way billions of people live today. In this lesson we describe what the followers of three ancient faiths believe, in the way they themselves would describe it.
Key idea
| Faith | Began | Holy writings | Some beliefs; a festival |
|---|---|---|---|
| Judaism | land of Israel, over 3,000 years ago | the Hebrew Bible, beginning with the Torah | one God, the Ten Commandments, the Sabbath; Passover |
| Hinduism | India, over 3,000 years ago | the Vedas, the Upanishads, the Bhagavad Gita | dharma (right living), karma, rebirth; Diwali |
| Buddhism | India, about 2,500 years ago | the Buddha's teachings, collected by his followers | the Four Noble Truths, the Eightfold Path; Vesak |
The Jewish scriptures tell how God called Abraham to a new land, and how Moses led the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt and received the Ten Commandments on Mount Sinai. Jews trace their history through kings like David and Solomon, who built a temple in Jerusalem. Judaism's belief in one God was shared by Christianity and Islam, which began later.
Siddhartha Gautama was a prince in northern India, born at Lumbini in today's Nepal. Buddhist tradition says he left his palace after seeing sickness, old age and death, and searched for years for the cause of suffering. Sitting under a tree, he reached what Buddhists call enlightenment, and was called the Buddha, "the awakened one." He taught for about 45 years.
Worked example: Whose belief?
- Diwali, the festival of lights, is a Hindu festival.
- (Sikhs and Jains keep their own celebrations at the same time of year.)
Answer: Hinduism.
Common mistake
Try it at home
- Look at a calendar that lists holidays of several faiths. Which ones fall this month?
- If you know a family of another faith, ask them politely about a holiday they keep and what it means to them.