Monotheism
the belief in only one god
Polytheism
the worship of many gods
Varnas
the social divisions of Indian society; Brahmins (priests), Kshatriyas (rulers and warriors), Vaisyas (farmers, craftspeople, and traders), and Sudras (laborers and non-Aryans).
Caste system
the division of Indian society into groups based on rank, wealth, or occupation
Hinduism
the main religion of India; it teaches that everything is part of a universal spirit called Brahman
Reincarnation
a Hindu and Buddhist belief that souls are born and reborn many times, each time into a new body.
Karma
in Buddhism and Hinduism, the effects that good or bad actions have on a person's soul
Ahimsa
the Sanskrit word for non-violence
Meditation
deep, continued thought that focuses the mind on spiritual ideas
Buddhism
a religion based on the teachings of the Buddha that developed in India in the 500s BC
Nirvana
in Buddhism, a state of perfect peace
Four Noble Truths
the guiding principles of the Buddha's teachings
Eightfold Path
steps the Buddha believed people could take in their daily lives to overcome their desire for material goods without denying themselves the pleasure of living.
Judaism
the religion of the Hebrews; it is the world's oldest monotheistic religion
Abraham
Biblical figure, according to the Bible, God led Abraham to Canaan, and Abraham's descendants became the Jewish people.
Moses
Biblical figure, according to the Bible, he led the Hebrew people out of Egypt and back to Canaan in the Exodus. During his journey, Moses received the Ten Commandments from God.
Torah
the most sacred text of Judaism
Passover
a holiday in which Jews remember the Exodus
Hanukkah
a Jewish holiday which occurs in December each year to honor the rededication of the Second Temple during the revolt of the Maccabees
Christianity
a religion based on the teachings of Jesus of Nazareth that developed in Judea at the beginning of the first century AD
Jesus
Founder of Christianity, he taught about kindness and love for God. His teachings spread throughout the Roman Empire and the world
Messiah
in Judaism, a new leader that would appear among the Jews and restore the greatness of ancient Israel.
Apostles
the 12 chosen disciples of Jesus who spread his teachings
Crucifixion
a type of execution in which a person is nailed to a cross
Resurrection
in Christianity, Jesus's rise from the dead
Islam
a religion based on the messages Muhammad is believed to have received from God
Muhammad
Founder of Islam, he spread Islam's teachings to the people of Arabia. His teachings make up the Qur'an.
Qur'an
the holy book of Islam
Five Pillars of Islam
five acts of worship required of all Muslims
Mecca
the city where an important Islamic shrine is located; thousands travel to it each year on a hajj, or pilgrimage, as one of the Five Pillars of Islam.