Regents Review #2 - Belief Systems

Regents Review #2 - Belief Systems

Another theme that NYS has used on the Regents exam is the Belief System theme.  Belief systems develop with the earliest humans who tried to develop an understanding of the world in which they lived.  Many early people believed that the world was full of spirits and that events (harvests, disasters, healthy births, etc.) were due to the spirits and their interaction with the world.  Animism and Shinto both are nature based religions that stress the importance of keeping the spirits happy and having a profound respect for nature. 

However, as with most themes, it is best if you have two solid examples that you can provide detailed facts and explanations.  Two belief systems that I think are important for the NYS Regents are Hinduism and Islam.  This is not to say that their aren’t other equally important belief systems and faiths…you should feel free to pick a faith that you are familiar and comfortable with – providing you can go into detail. 

Let’s start with Hinduism.  Typical questions that NYS asks about belief systems include major characteristics…similarities or differences to other faiths, how it impacts culture and the lives of its followers and finally how it has spread (or if it has).  Hinduism is one of the world’s oldest and most complex religions.  It doesn’t have a single founder but it has developed and evolved over the last 3500 years growing out of the diverse peoples that settled India.  Both the original inhabitants of India and the Aryans who entered India through the Khyber pass have impacted the faith.  Information about the Hindu faith is contained in many sacred texts including the Vedas, the Upanishads, the Mahabharata, the Bhagavad Gita, and the Ramayana. 

Hindus believe in a single, unifying spirit called Brahman.   Since Brahman is too complex for human understanding, Hindus worship gods like Brahma (creator), Vishnu (preserver) and Shiva (destroyer) because they represent aspects of Brahman and are easy to understand.

Hindus also believe in reincarnation (samsara).  The eventual goal is to free yourself from selfish desires (like Buddhism) but most people can’t do this in a single life.  Reincarnation (the rebirth of the soul in a new body) allows people to continue their path toward union with brahman.  In order to be reborn into higher states of being (and be closer to brahman), Hindus obey the law of karma.  Karma is all the deeds that we do in our life that impact our existence in the next life.  Basically, if we act good, we will be reborn at a higher level.  If we are evil, we will be born at a lower level. Good deeds involve following dharma – or the moral and religious duties that we are expected to follow. 

Finally, the concepts of karma and reincarnation reinforce the rigid class structure that Hindus follow called the caste system.  Essentially, you are born into a caste (social group) and you cannot move out of it during your lifetime. 

Islam is a much younger faith, arising in Arabia in 622 CE.  Like Christians and Jews, people who follow Islam believe in one God.  Muslims (followers of Islam) believe that around 570 CE, an Arab named Muhammad was born in Mecca.  He became a caravan merchant, married and had children.  However, he was unable to find spiritual peace because many of his contemporaries (people living in his time) were polytheistic (idol worshippers).  According to Muslim tradition, the angel Gabriel appeared to Muhammad and commanded him to spread the message of Islam.  Muhammad obeyed this command but it made him very unpopular and ne was forced to flee (hegira) to Medina.  This was a major turning point for the faith because Muhammad found many more followers and the religion would begin to spread after he returned to Mecca and defeated his enemies.

Key beliefs of the faith include the Five Pillars of Faith which outline the basic duties of all Muslims.  Additionally, the faith’s beliefs are contained in the sacred scripture called the Qur’an.  For Muslims, this is the final authority on all matters and provides a guide to life for Muslims.  Muslim scholars have also developed a huge collection of laws that are called Sharia.  This system of law has helped to unite Muslims from different backgrounds.

Thought Questions:

1.       What are the characteristics of the major religions?  How are they similar and different?

2.       How has the belief system impacted the lives of its followers?  How did major religions affect cultures? (Confucianism and China or Islam and the Middle East)

3.       How did belief systems spread over large areas?