3rd quarter world religions

Shinto

• has no founder, orthodox canon of sacred literature, and no explicit code of ethical requirements.
• scholars believe that the written chronicles of Shintoism were influenced by Buddhist, Confucian, Korean, and Chinese thought.
• they believe matter floated around in space until it came together and gave birth to several "kami" or spirits. Kami literally means "that which is above." They include both good and evil spirits. Shrines are built to honor the Kami. 
• very iconoclastic
• rites are conducted with great care
• one of the biggest annual festivals is New Year's
• water is used for the purification in powerful ascetic practices
• indigenous to Japan

Zoroastrianism

• comes from Iran
• one of the earliest monotheistic religions
• the "wise men" from Matthew are believed by many to have Zoroastrian Magi
• today, India is the center of Zoroastrian population
• At death, Zoroastrians believe each of us is judged according to the total goodness or evil of our thoughts, words, and deeds
• men and women are treated equally in this religion
• it is an ancient way of combating evil with personal goodness.

Daoism

• it's name was created by scholars
• Dao is the "original, unnamable force"
• final goal of Daoism is immortality
• Daoism is a mystical reality that cannot be conceived or grasped by the mind

Confucianism

• Confucius is known as Master Kong and the teacher of the arts of governing
• Confucius did not speak much about the unseen reality, but preferred to focus on the hear and now
• Women were asked to offer themselves in total sacrifice to others
• It is among one of the 5 religions now permitted in China

Judaism

• God created the world in 6 days and rested on the 7th. He then created Adam and Eve. One version says that God created Adam and Eve as equals, but another says Eve was just created to accompany Adam. Eve is the reason humans were kicked out of the Garden of Eden, for she ate from the forbidden tree of Good and Evil. But Jews trace their origins to Abraham. Abraham had two sons from which came the 12 Jewish tribes. God made a covenant with Noah that he would not flood the whole world again and later with Abraham and his descendants. 
  
  
  God then asked his people to only praise Him as their one and only God. When they were freed from many years as slaves in Egypt, Moses, the Jewish leader, went to talk to God and receive the new commandments from Him. The Jews thought he was not coming back, so they began making an idol out of gold to praise him. This angered God and he punished them. Then God instructed Moses to make the Arc of the Covenant. 
  
  
  Several prophets warned their people not to praise other gods, but they would always disobey. Many kings and prophets have come, but the country of Israel did not "exist" until 1948.
  (also by JOhn)