STUDY GUIDE: WORLD RELIGIONS AND ETHICS
8TH GRADE
GENERAL DIRECTIONS:
READ. JUST READ IT. The test only requires your critical thinking.
Good Luck!
WORLD RELIGIONS SECTION
Buddhism
Core Beliefs:
The Four Noble Truths: Life involves suffering, the cause of suffering
is desire, there is a way to end suffering, and the Eightfold Path leads
to the cessation of suffering.
Karma and Rebirth: Actions have consequences, influencing future
lives.
Nirvana: Liberation from the cycle of birth, death, and rebirth
(samsara).
Major Practices:
Meditation and mindfulness.
Observing the Five Precepts: Avoid harm, stealing, misconduct,
lying, and intoxication.
Pilgrimage to sacred sites like Bodh Gaya.
Sacred Texts:
The Tripitaka (Three Baskets): Vinaya Pitaka, Sutta Pitaka, and
Abhidhamma Pitaka.
Key Figures:
Siddhartha Gautama (the Buddha).
Prominent Bodhisattvas like Avalokiteshvara.
Christianity
Core Beliefs:
Belief in one God who is triune: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Jesus Christ is the Savior, whose death and resurrection offer
salvation.
Love God and love your neighbor as yourself.
Major Practices:
Worship, prayer, and sacraments (e.g., baptism and communion).
Observing holy days like Christmas and Easter.
Sacred Texts:
The Bible (Old Testament and New Testament).
Key Figures:
Jesus Christ, the Apostles, and key saints.
Hinduism
Core Beliefs:
Dharma (duty), karma (action and consequence), and moksha
(liberation).
Worship of many deities representing one ultimate reality
(Brahman).
The cycle of samsara (rebirth).
Major Practices:
Puja (worship), meditation, and yoga.
Festivals like Diwali and Holi.
Sacred Texts:
The Vedas, Upanishads, Bhagavad Gita, and Ramayana.
Key Figures:
Deities like Vishnu, Shiva, and Lakshmi.
Saints and philosophers like Adi Shankaracharya.
Islam
Core Beliefs:
Belief in one God (Allah) and Muhammad as His final prophet.
The Five Pillars: Shahada (faith), Salah (prayer), Zakat (charity),
Sawm (fasting), and Hajj (pilgrimage).
Major Practices:
Daily prayers facing Mecca.
Fasting during Ramadan.
Sacred Texts:
The Quran and Hadith (sayings of the Prophet).
Key Figures:
Muhammad, the Prophets of Islam (e.g., Abraham, Moses, Jesus).
Judaism
Core Beliefs:
Monotheism: Belief in one God who is just and merciful.
Covenant: A special relationship between God and the Jewish
people.
Emphasis on moral law and justice.
Major Practices:
Observance of the Sabbath and festivals like Passover.
Prayer, kosher dietary laws, and studying the Torah.
Sacred Texts:
The Torah, Talmud, and Tanakh (Hebrew Bible).
Key Figures:
Abraham, Moses, and King David.
ETHICS, MORALS AND VALUES SECTION
Key Moral Concepts
Love and Compassion
Definition: Acting with kindness and empathy towards others.
Real World Example: Volunteering at a homeless shelter.
Cultural Context: In Buddhism, compassion (karuna) is a core principle; in
Christianity, love (agape) is central.
Integrity and Honesty
Definition: Upholding moral principles and being truthful.
Real World Example: Reporting accurate data in scientific research.
Cultural Context: Hindu dharma emphasizes honesty as a virtue, while
Islam encourages truthfulness (sidq).
Corruption and Dishonesty
Definition: Acting immorally for personal gain, often involving deceit.
Real World Example: Embezzlement of public funds.
Cultural Context: Corruption is universally condemned but varies in how
societies combat it.
Collaboration and Teamwork
Definition: Working together to achieve common goals.
Real World Example: A multinational team developing vaccines.
Cultural Context: Indigenous communities often emphasize collective
decisionmaking.
Peace and Conflict Resolution
Definition: Promoting harmony and resolving disputes nonviolently.
Rea lWorld Example: Negotiating treaties between nations.
Cultural Context: Peace is emphasized in many traditions, such as the
Islamic concept of *salaam*.
Inclusion and Diversity
Definition: Respecting and valuing differences in individuals.
Real World Example: Policies supporting workplace diversity.
Cultural Context: Many cultures promote diversity, such as India’s
multicultural ethos.
Respect and Tolerance
Definition: Accepting differences without prejudice.
Real World Example: Interfaith dialogues promoting mutual understanding.
Cultural Context: Tolerance is key in multicultural democracies.
Social Responsibility
Definition: Acting for the benefit of society at large.
Real World Example: Companies adopting ecofriendly practices.
Cultural Context: The Japanese concept of *giri* emphasizes obligations to
society.
