The Aussie Kid’s Guide To
World Religions
Written by
Nathalie Thomas
Images by
the Internet
EM Publishing
The Aussie Kid’s Guide To
World Religions
Written by
Nathalie Thomas
Images by
the Internet
Published by EM Publishing PO Box 136, Rosanna VIC 3081 Copyright Š Nathalie Thomas 2014 Every effort has been made to acknowledge and contact the owners of copyright for permission to reproduce material that falls under the 1968 Copyright Act. Any copyright owners who have inadvertently been omitted from acknowledgements and credits should contact the publisher for rectification in subsequent editions. This book holds information researched from various books and internet websites too numerous to name. For a copy of a Reference List please email: nat@editingmatters.com.au ISBN: Reserved until Finished All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without the prior written permission of the author. Designed by: Nathalie Thomas EM Publishing Cover symbol image: http://www.dominoperspectives.co.uk Typeset in: Helvettica & Charcoal CY
eventually a CONTENTS page... To my lecturer and ISSUU viewers, Welcome. Please enjoy the fragmented contents of these pages and bear in mind that this is for the purposes of a university assessment. What I am presenting is only a fraction of the finished project. This project has taken me just over two months to put together and, as I’m sure you can understand, this is truly a long-term project - in the real world I estimate this would take me at least 18 months to complete. It will be evident that the chapters vary in, this is because I want to receive feedback as to what works and what doesn’t (content-wise). However, overall I hope it presents itself as a cohesive piece of work. I intend to pursue this project and to apply it to the real world. In the meantime, please enjoy. Nat
WHAT IS RELIGION? Religion is how humans explain the world around them, and who they are in that world. Ever since the dawn of time, humans have wanted to know more about their existence, and so ‘Creation Myths’ were introduced by all the different cultures.
What are Creation Myths? Long ago, people made up stories to explain why things happened in the world. These stories are called Creation Myths and they explain things like the seasons and harvests, natural disasters and tragedies, and most importantly life and death. Many north-eastern Indian peoples share a legend of how the world was created on the back of a giant sea turtle.
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Today, we have science which gives us explanations of why and how things happen.
What is Faith?
Some people and cultures believe there is one god that created the world and everything in it, and some cultures believed that there were several gods, and others believe that the ‘natural world’ around them held special powers that controlled their lives. All of these beliefs are called ‘Faiths’. Whilst not everyone believe in gods – atheists – others believe that one or more Gods have an influence in their lives. Faith in religion is what holds these culture groups together.
Above: A man worshiping alone in a field. Centre: A group of Christians in church, sharing their Faith in the same God. Left: A young Muslim boy learning about faith from the older members of his community.
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Why are there so many religions?
Because people are different and they grew up in different parts of the world, they created religions particular to their areas and circumstances. Belonging to a religion helps people feel like they are a part of a community that shares their beliefs. All religions are based on love, peace and tolerance.
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Does everyone believe in God? Not everyone believes in God. These people are known as atheists. There are many more people in the world that believe in God, than people who do not. Different religions believe in different gods; Jews, Christians and Muslims ‘Monotheism’ all believe that there is only one god. Whilst Hindus, Buddhists and Shinto all believe in more than one God ‘Polytheism’.
What is praying? A Prayer or Praying is how religious people talk to their God. People can pray for help, protection and peace, as well as many other things. Sometimes people pray together, like when they are at church, and sometimes people pray alone.
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What are Morals and Ethics?
Morals and ethics are rules that people live their lives by. They include ideas like ‘stealing is bad’, ‘sharing is good’ and ‘being kind is a good thing’. These rules are what make up our laws today.
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Ancient Religions
Many ancient religions taught people that there were powerful invisible beings living among us. These Gods or Spirits lived in forests, the skies and under the waters. People turned to these Gods for helping their everyday lives. they offered gifts of food and other things to please the Gods, so that the Gods would look after the people. People prayed to these Gods for help with all sorts of things: • to provide a good harvest of food; • to help with the healthy birth of children; • to keep hunters safe on their journeys; and • to keep their enemies away and their communities safe. The Ancient Greek Goddess Athena was the goddess of reason, intelligent activity, arts and literature.
The Mother Goddess was worshiped as the creator of life. In many ancient religions, women were seen to be very powerful and sacred.
Spirit ancestors are an important aspect of Aboriginal Dreamtime 6
Buddhism What is Buddhism?
Buddhism is a religion that focuses on a person’s spiritual development and reaching a deep understanding of the true nature of life. This goal is called Enlightenment. The history of Buddhism is the story of one man’s spiritual journey to enlightenment and the things he learned and shared along the way. The way to Nirvana is through the practice and development of meditation, morality and wisdom.
What is Karma?
Karma is the belief that for everything good you do, something good will come back to you. However, everything bad you do will also come back to you.
Buddhists believe that nothing in the world is fixed: that everything changes and that accepting these changes are a way to grow spiritually.
This is called the law of Cause and Affect or ‘Karma’ A symbol of Buddhism, the endless knot, represents the eternalness of our souls and the never-ending cycle of karma. 7
What is Reincarnation?
Reincarnation is the belief by Buddhists and Hindus that when a body dies, the soul goes on living and is reborn into another life. If a person is good, they will be reborn as a better person. If a person has been bad, they might return as an animal or in a worse position than they had been in before. The quest in reincarnation is to get to a point where you no longer need to be reborn; where you can be free from Karma and be at reunited with the Supreme Being.
Buddhists meditating in an ancient temple in Nepal.
What is Meditation?
Meditation is a practice in which an individual trains their mind and body to relax. It is a deep form of internal prayer, where people try to focus on their life energy and developing love, patience, generosity and forgiveness. It is a way of looking into yourself and working towards appreciating everything around you and how you interact with the world.
A Buddhist monk creating a Mandala. A Mandala a spiritual and ritual symbol in Hinduism and Buddhism, representing the Universe. It is often made from coloured sand.
Buddhist monks and nuns often use prayer beads other ritual objects during meditation in order to help keep their concentration.
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Buddhism
The Story of the Buddha
Over 2,500 years ago, there lived a man called Siddhartha Guatama. He was born into a very rich royal family in India and lived a life of privilege. His family had servants and everything else they needed to live comfortably within their house. Then, at the age of 29, Siddhartha decided to go beyond the walls of his home and for the first time saw an old man, a sick man, and a dead man. He had never seen these things before and was shocked. He could not bear the thought of some people having so much and others having nothing that he decided to leave his home and become a monk.
He shaved his head, changed his decorative clothes for a simple cloth and chose to live a ‘medium life’: one without luxury, but also without poverty. He wanted a simple life where he could pray to the gods and help others. For six years, Siddharta wandered throughout the land and listened to holy men and their teachings. The legend says that one day, as Siddharta sat beneath the Bodhi tree (a Holy Tree of Awakening), he went into a deep stage of meditation where he reflected on his experiences of life until he learnt that their were ‘Four Noble Truths’. It was then that he became Enlightened. By finding the path to Enlightenment, Siddharta became free of a life of suffering and re-birth. He had reached Nirvana and became known as the Buddha or ‘Awakened One’. 9
The Buddha then had a choice: he could remain enlightened and not stay in this world, but he chose to return in order to help others reach Nirvana. The Buddha continued to journey through the lands and teach his knowledge to others. When he died at the age of 86, he told his followers not to be sad, because ‘All Things Change’. All Buddhist seek to follow in the steps of Buddha to find enlightenment and freedom from suffering and rebirth. The lotus flower is a symbol of Buddhism. It symbolises purity and divine birth. The lotus flower grows in mud at the bottom of a pool, but rises above the surface to become a beautiful flower. Buddhist say this is how people should rise above everything which is dukkha (suffering). A flower may be very beautiful and have a wonderful scent, but it soon withers and dies. This shows that nothing in life is perfect. The buddha is often depicted sitting on top of a lotus flower. 10
Buddhism The Teachings of the Buddha
What do Buddhist believe?
Buddhist believe that the Buddha saw the truth about what the world is like. They believe that nothing in the world is perfect, and that the Buddha found the answer to why it is like this. They do not believe that the Buddha was a god. He was a human being just like them. They believe that he was important because he gained Enlightenment, and he chose to remain and teach others the path to Nirvana.
A Life of Compassion The Three Jewels Buddha taught his followers to be generous and compassionate towards other people.
His lessons were taught as five rules. These the rules that Buddhists live by. The main five are: • Do not take the life of anything living (Do not kill). • Do not take anything not freely given (Do not steal). • Do not disrespect the act of sex. • Refrain from untrue speech (Do not lie). • Do not consume alcohol or other drugs (Do not abuse your mind). 11
There are three Buddhist central beliefs. These are: • Belief in Buddha • Dharma - The teaching of Buddha • The Sangha - the Buddhist community whose purpose is to help others, and by doing so to cease to become selfish and to move on the way towards enlightenment.
Prayer flags are colourful triangles of cloth used to bless the area they are in.
At the heart of the Buddha’s teaching lie The Four Noble Truths and The Eightfold Path which lead the Buddhist towards the path of Enlightenment.
The Eightfold Path The Four Noble Truths • Life involves suffering and sorrow • The reason we suffer is because we want things for ourselves. We don’t want things to change, yet they do. • Suffering can end when we reduce selfishness • The cure for suffering is The Eightfold Path
The Buddha taught that the way to stop suffering is to follow these eight steps: • Right view – Understanding the Buddha’s teachings • Right thought – Think about others, not yourself • Right Speech – Tell the truth; say helpful things • Right Action – Do things that are kind and thoughtful • Right Work – Do jobs that help others and do no harm • Right Effort – Try to follow the right path • Right Mindfulness – Be aware of your thoughts and actions • Right Concentration – Focus your thoughts. By following The Eightfold Path, a person may reach enlightenment as the Buddha did. This state of enlightenment is called ‘Nirvana’ and means that a person is freed from attachment to this world and from reincarnation.
The Dharma Wheel has eight spokes in a circle to symbolise how The Eightfold Path to end suffering are 12
Buddhism The Three Baskets: The Tripitaka
When the Buddha died, his followers collected his teachings and memorised them. They traveled the lands retelling Buddha’s beliefs until, centuries later, they were written down onto palm leaves and placed into three baskets – the Tripitaka. The Three Baskets hold: 1. The Teachings of the Buddha. 2. The Monastic Rules. 3. The Buddha’s Philosophy.
This ancient statue of the Buddha in Bihar, India, is the size of a 21 storey building.
Where do Buddhists Worship?
Buddhist worship at home or at a temple. Worshipers may sit on the floor barefoot facing an image of Buddha and chanting. It is very important that their feet face away from the image of Buddha. They listen to monks chanting from religious texts and take part in prayers. When Buddhist worship alone they usually meditate and read from the Buddhist holy books. Every month. most Buddhists have special religious days. These are often days when there is a full moon. Many Buddhists go to temples to worship on these special days.
Buddhist Monks and Nuns Buddhists monks and nuns live their lives like the Buddha did. They shave their heads, wear plain robes, live their lives according to the Buddha’s laws and give away all their worldly goods. 13
What is Enlightenment and Nirvana?
Buddhist believe that there is a cycle of birth, life and death and rebirth. This goes on and on. They believe that unless someone gains Enlightenment, when they die they will be reborn. If a person can gain Enlightenment, they Prayer flags are colourful triangles can break out of this cycle. Breaking out of the cycle is called reaching Nirvana. It is the end of everything that is not perfect. It is perfect peace, free of suffering. Buddhists try to reach Nirvana by following the Buddha’s teaching and by meditating. Meditation means training the mind to empty it all of thoughts. When this happens what is important becomes clear.
A Buddhists priests performs a cleansing ritual.
of cloth tied to trees, mountains and houses to bless the area they are in.
Fast Facts:
• Buddhism is 2,500 years old • There are 375 million followers worldwide • Buddhism arose as a result of Siddharta Gautama’s quest for enlightenment around 500BC • Buddhism has no belief in a personal god; it is not focused on a relationship between man and God. • Buddhists believe that nothing if permanent – change is always possible and unavoidable. • Buddhist worship at home and in temples • The path to enlightenment comes through the practice and development of morality, meditation and wisdom. It means caring for other people and the earth.
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Judaism What is Judaism?
Judaism originated in Israel around 4,000 years ago. It is the oldest of the world’s four biggest religions with only one god. It is also the smallest, with only about 12 million followers around the world. Jewish history begins with the covenant (a Holy agreement) established between God and Abraham over 3,800 years ago, in a part of the world called the Middle East. Abraham is considered as the father of the family of Jews. Jews see Abraham as a symbol of trusting and obeying God. Abraham is also important to followers of Christianity and of Islam. The story of Abraham is told in the Book of Genesis (the first book of the Jewish and Christian Bibles). Moses is also an important figure in Jewish lore. He led the Jews from slavery in Egypt to the Promised Land of Israel. Moses gave the Jews the Ten Commandments The laws of God.
What do Jews Believe?
Jews believe that there is a single God who created the universe and everything in it. This God is known as Yahweh. Jews believe that everyone can have an individual relationship with God. personal relationship. 15
Where do Jews Worship?
Jews worship in Synagogues. Men and women usually sit separately in the Synagogues. Men are required to cover their heads. In most cases worship takes place in Hebrew, the ancient language of the Jews.
Who are the Jewish Spiritual Leaders?
The Jewish spiritual leaders are called Rabbis. Unlike leaders in many other faiths, a rabbi is not a priest and has no special religious status.
The Jewish Holy Book
The most holy Jewish book is the Torah - the first five books of the Hebrew Bible. No one is allowed to touch the Torah, so a special pointer called a yad is used to follow words when reading it. Another Holy Book is the Talmud. This is the written record of the Jewish oral traditions. The Torah (Jewish Law) was given to Moses and the Jewish people by God about 3,300 years ago 16
Judaism The Sabbath
The most important day of the week is the Sabbath (Shabbat), which is a day made holy by refraining from weekday work. The Jewish holy day, or Sabbath, starts at sunset on Friday and continues until sunset on Saturday. During the Sabbath, observant Jews will do nothing that might be counted as work. Among the things that they can’t do are driving and cooking. At the beginning of Shabbat Jewish families share a meal. They eat special bread called hallah. On the Sabbath, Jews attend services at the synagogue led by a Rabbi.
What is Kosher Food
Kosher foods are those that conform to Jewish law. This means no mixing of dairy and meat, and no shell fish. Jews do not eat any food that comes from a pig. Meat The animal from which the meat is taken must have been slaughtered in accordance with Jewish ritual. Jews cannot eat meat from any animal which does not both chew its cud (food brought up into the mouth by an animal from its stomach to be chewed again) and has a split hoof. That means that animals such as rabbit, pig, and deer are therefore prohibited. Fish Jews may eat fish that have both fins and scales that are detachable from the skin. 17
What is a Menorah?
The Menorah is one of the oldest symbols of the Jewish faith. It is a candelabrum with seven candle holders displayed in Jewish synagogues. It symbolises the burning bush as seen by Moses on Mount Sinai. The two most common menorahs have seven and nine candle-holders. The term chanukiah, refers to the nine-candled holder used during the Jewish festival of Hanukkah.
What is a Mezuzah?
A mezuzah is found on doorways in Jewish homes. It is a little case, containing a tiny scroll. The writing on the scroll is from the bible. It is in Hebrew and is called the Shema. It says that Jewish people should love God and keep his rules.
A Jewish father and son install a Mezuzah into the doorway of their new home.
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Judaism Important Jewish Ceremonies
Baby Naming Ceremonies
In the Jewish faith, baby boys are named at a Brit Milah, a special naming ceremony that takes place eight days after a boy’s birth. Girls have a similar ceremony called a Simchat Bat which takes place when the father is called up to read the Torah on the first Shabbat following the baby girl’s birth. Jewish children are given traditional Jewish names according to the Old Testament (the Jewish Bible). Naming ceremonies take place, with lots of ewish edding family around, at a synagogue. Jews call marriage Kiddushin. This is a Hebrew word which means made holy or special.
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The couple are married under a huppah: a canopy. The couple make a written contract or promises together. This is called the Ketubah. A glass is broken to remind them that their joy will never be complete until the Holy Temple in Jerusalem is rebuilt. Just like in Christian weddings, both couples give each other a ring. The ring is a token or symbol of their promises.
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A young Jewish boy and girl both study the Torah wearing a Kippah and Tallit. They do this to prepare for their Bat and Bar Mitzvahs.
What is a Bar Mitzvah and a Bat Mitzvah?
Bar and Bat Mitzvahs are both special ceremonies where Jewish boys (aged 13) and girls (aged 12) can become adults in the eyes of the Jewish religion. Bar Mitzvah is for boys and means ‘Son of the Commandment’. Bat Mitzvah is for girls and means ‘Daughter of the Commandment’. Jewish children must study the Torah before they can celebrate their Bar and Bat Mitzvahs. Part of the ceremony is when the child is lifted above their family’s shoulders.
A Bar Mitzvah and Bat Mitzvah is a very important part of being Jewish. There are many guests and presents and everybody has a good time. 20
Judaism Passover
Passover (Pesach) is celebrated to commemorate the liberation of the Children of Israel who were led out of slavery in Egypt by Moses. It is a major eight day festival. A highlight is the Seder meal held in each family’s home at the beginning of the festival, when the story of their deliverance is recounted as narrated in the Haggadah (the Telling, the Story). Matzah (unleavened bread) is eaten throughout the festival, as are other foods that contain no leaven. There is a great spring cleaning in the home before the festival to ensure that no trace of leaven is left in the home.
Passover is a time when Jewish families come together to celebrate. There are many delicious foods and sweets to eat, but the most important of these is the unleavened bread. Unleavened bread is simply bread with no yeast in it. That means that when it is cooked, it remains flat.
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Rosh Hashanah - Jewish New Year Rosh Hashanah is the Jewish New Year festival and commemorates the creation of the world. This festival marks the Jewish New Year and begins with ten days of repentance and self examination, during which time God sits in judgement on every person. The festival is also known as the Day of Judgement, the Day of the Sounding of the Shofar, and the Day of Remembrance. Over the two days of Rosh Hashanah, there are special services at the synagogue. A musical instrument, called a shofar, is blown. It makes a loud piercing sound like a trumpet and reminds Jews of God’s great power. People east slices of apple dipped in honey. This is a way of wishing each other a sweet and happy New Year.
Sukkot
Sukkot commemorates the years that the Jews spent in the desert on their way to the Promised Land. Some lived in tents whilst others built huts out of leaves and branches. These huts were called sukkot. During the festival, some Jews build their own sukkah in the garden or at the synagogue. Jews eat their meals in the sukkah for the eight or nine days of the festival. There is a special Sukkot service in the synagogue. Everyone holds branches from three trees in their hands and a citron fruit in their right. They walk around the synagogue seven times, waving the branches.
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Taoism What is Taoism?
Tao means The Way. Tao is a religion of unity - everything in the universe is connected. Taoism is an ancient religion of philosophy and religious belief that is deeply rooted in Chinese tradition and customs. It is approximately 2,000 years old. Tao is a state of thought and of being and many Taoist ideas come from other Asian beliefs such as Buddhism.
What Taoist Believe? Tao means The Way. It is hard to define, but generally it means that all things in the universe are connected with the Tao. The Tao is not a God, but the belief in Taoism includes worshiping many gods and goddesses that are part of the universe. Everything depends on the Tao. It is a way of guidance and all human actions must be for the good of the energies of the natural universe as a whole. Taoist live a life of balance and harmony.
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Boys above are having fun while purifying their bodies for prayer. Taoists believe that every living thing is a part of the energy of the universe.
What is Chi?
Chi is the cosmic energy of the universe. It runs through every living thing. Taoists believe that a person is a part of the energy of the universe. That everything is linked through the power and energy of Chi. The Chinese word for Chi is represented by this character.
Yin Yang Taoism is a religion of unity and opposites: the Yin and the Yang.
Living the Tao Way
Taoists believe that the body as a miniature of the universe, filled with the Tao. Parts of our bodies are the same as parts of the plane and also of the universe. The Taoist ideal is for a person to take action by changing themselves, and thus becoming an example of the good life to others. They should develop themselves so that they live their life in complete harmony with the universe. So the philosophy is not do good things; but become a good person.
These are the forces of nature, and they are equal. Yin and Yang are the universal forces that guide the world: light and dark; hot and cold; male and female; good and evil. It is the balance of life and the universe and everything within it.
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Taoism
Taoist Temples and Worship
Taoists prayer ribbons are used to ask the Gods for protection and for good luck.
Although the Tao is not a god, but an universal energy, Taoists pray to many of the Gods and Goddesses that exist within that universe. Many of the Taoist Gods come from other Chinese and Indian religions . Taoists pray at temples and monasteries. They have priests and rituals and ceremonies like many other religions. And because the Tao is the life force of the universe, these different religious elements find a place in Taoism. Taoist rituals include purification, meditation, and offerings to their different Gods. Rituals involve chanting prayers, playing instruments and dancing. The sacred book of Taoists is the Tao Te Ching – The Way and its Power. Taoists offer fruit, flowers and pretend money to their Gods in return for blessings. 25
Tai Chi Tai Chi is a type of martial art very well known for its defense techniques and health benefits. It has been considered to be a form of ‘meditation in motion’ which promotes serenity and inner peace. People practicing Tai Chi in a park.
How Taoists Live their Lives Taoist try to: • Achieve harmony with nature • The pursuit of spiritual immortality • Being good • Self-development Taoist practice: • Meditation • Feng Shui • Fortune Telling • Reading and chanting to scriptures Taoist disapprove of killing, stealing and lying and believe in helping others, caring and being kind. They believe that doing good These three Tao Gods represent Health, Wisdom and Prosperity. 26
Hinduism What is Hinduism?
Hinduism is the world’s third most popular religion, with around 750 million followers. The religion of Hinduism originated in Northern India, near the river Indus, about 4000 years ago and is the world’s oldest existing religion. Hindus believe in a Supreme God - Brahman, and many other Gods and Goddesses who help run the world and universe.
There are thousands of Gods and Goddesses in Hinduism. The main three are Brahma the Creator, Shiva the Destroyer and Vishnu the Preserver. Collectively, they are known as the Trimūrti. All of the other God are related the Trimūrti.
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What is Reincarnation? Reincarnation is the belief by Buddhists and Hindus that when a body dies, the soul goes on living and is reborn into another life.
If a person is good, they will be reborn as a better person. If a person has been bad, they might return as an animal or in a worse position than they had been in before. The quest in reincarnation is to get to a point where you no longer need to be reborn; where you can be free from Karma and be at reunited with the Supreme Being.
What is Karma?
Very simply Karma can be explained as: doing good things will bring good things to you; and doing bad things will cause bad things to happen. Hindus believe that the soul passes through a cycle of successive lives and its next incarnation is always dependent on how the previous life was lived. This is very similar to Buddhist beliefs. Karma is the cause of our particular destiny. Negative things that happen in our present life are the result of acts that we have committed in our past life. In the same way, our actions in our present lives will determine our fate in the lives that follow. 28
Hinduism What is the Hindu place of Worship? Most Hindus worship (puja) every day at home and have a shrine there. A shrine can be anything from a room, a small altar or simply pictures or statues. Family members often worship together. At the shrine, Hindus make offerings to a murti. A murti is a sacred statue of a God or Goddess. A Hindu temple for communal worship is called Mandir. The temples are dedicated to different gods and are the focus of religious life. People mainly gather at the Mandir at the weekend. Worshipers repeat the names of their favourite Gods, Goddesses, and the mantras.
People offer water, fruit, flowers and incense to the Gods in the hope that their prayers will be answered.
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What is the Hindu Way of Life?
For many Hindus there are four goals in human life (purusharthas); Moksha: the release of the soul (Atman) from the cycle of rebirth. The individual soul unites with Brahman the universal soul. Ways to achieve Moksha include: • acquiring spiritual knowledge through yoga and meditation. • devotion to god. • working selflessly for the good of society. Dharma: this is the way, or rules, for leading one’s life. Artha: the pursuit of material gain by lawful means. Karma: through pure acts, knowledge and devotion, you can reincarnate to a higher level.
Glossary Afterlife
a life that follows death
Baptism
a ceremony that uses water as a sign that a person is accepted into a Christian Church
Church
a building for Christian worship
Clergy
the leaders of a religion who teach and perform rituals
Congregation
a group of people gathered for worship; members of a Synagogue or Church
Covenant
an agreement between a deity and humans
Dalai Llama
the physical reincarnation of the Buddha
Deity
a God or Goddess
Divine
sacred; belonging to or action of a deity
Divine Being
a God or Goddess
Faith
the belief in a religion or God
Fast
to go without food
God
a Supreme Being with supernatural powers
Gurwarda
a Sikh place of worship
Heaven
a beautiful place where good souls live happily
Hell
a horrible place where bad souls are punished
Holy
something sacred or connected to a deity
Hymn
a song that celebrates a deity
Idol
a statue or image of a deity that is worshiped
Immortal
living forever
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Glossary Incense
an aromatic material which releases fragrant smoke when burned
Initiation
a ceremony to admit someone into a religion or group
Mantra
a word or phrase that people repeat as a part of meditation or prayer
Meditation
being very still and your mind to concentrate on your thoughts
Miracle
a wonderful event brought about by a God
Monk
a man belonging to a religious community who prays, meditates and helps others
Monotheism
the belief that there is only one God
Mosque
a building for Muslim worship
Nun
a woman belonging to a religious community who prays, meditates and helps others
Parable
a story with a message about religion or living life peacefully
Philosophy
a set of ideas about life, the world or the universe
Pilgrimage
a Holy trip to a religious place or building
Prayer
thoughts and words sent to a deity; a call upon a deity for help, blessings or direction in life
Prophet
a person that is believed to speak with, or interact with, a deity
Reincarnation
the rebirth of a soul into another body
Ritual
a religious ceremony
Sacred
Holy or connected to a deity
Scripture
a holy book
Soul
the part of a person that is not their body
Worship
ceremonies declaring love and dedication to a God 32
The Aussie Kid’s Guide To
World The Aussie Religions Kid’s Book Of World Religions Religion is all around us, but how much do we know about them?
The Aussie Kid’s Guide to World Religions is a children’s nonfiction reference book on world religions.
It serves to be a teaching guide to children in the middle primary year group levels. Its main aim is to introduce children to the different religions in the world in order to encourage acceptance and tolerance towards others.
ISBN 978-123-45-6789-
EM Publishing