WPCz  v3 _q~Fu)ƭ/+:7t͆@arF UV3rS #2&%86Fl۠;5_ !ɹ,]z<!!m2U5Ѝ]|grJG+\;Ph]2:@g<Vr0 Vp+qC3Hmg 3y/yc"^- "(3q޶ Z+_sVݨl,{ HY^iY;2d)DrF-E^us`#@U<N %W 0:] ^ w 4   m f f a a  N f a f/ a1 fE aG f[ a] fq as f f a  f   a f1 a3 fG aI I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I B ] Canon PIXMA iP4000.**.0&d9 Z6Times New Roman RegularX($USUS.,7  I!7:i+003|xUTABLE ATABLE B PTABLE DTABLE ETABLE FTABLE GTABLE H \\R'3Letter Landscape\шTABLE I H/TABLE JTABLE CTABLE M d !USUS.,  _TRO'3Letter LandscapeX3' Letter'3Letter LandscapeX3'3'LetterTHHH   SXXwWORLDRELIGIONSCOMPARED#XXS#   YXXIhavenotincludedthosesecularteacherswhosebeliefsystemdidnotincludethesupernaturaladivinebeing,acollectiveconsciousness,orsomepromiseoflifeafter < death.Forexample:philosopherKarlMarx,orobserverCharlesDarwin.#XXYn# T   MXX  ZOROASTRIANISM #XX M#   *_"ddd Xdd Xdd XHH0HH0,dd ,dd +  $ F F $INTRODUCEDBY 'Z " 'MAINTEACHINGS Z " YXX Zoroaster   , Traditionplacesabout650B.C.somewhereinPersia.Hereceivedavision.A    largepersonage,VohuManahor goodthoughttookZoroasterintothe l   presenceofthewiselordAhuraMazda,whoinstructedhimintheonetrue 4  religion. L  TheReeseChronologicalBibleplacesthecaptivityoftheprophetDanielto   Babylonabout580BC.TheBabylonians(Arabs)weredefeatedbythe T  Persians(539BC).ItisprobablethatthereligionofDariustheMedewas l  Zoroastrianism.Themagiwholaterbroughtgiftstothenewborn kingofthe 4 JewsmayhavestudiedthewritingsofDaniel,acceptedasa wisemanof   thegood.  t AhuraMazdaThesupremedeity,creatoroftheworld.  , Deityimpersonal.   Notallpowerful,butcoequalwithhisopposite, l  AngramainyaTheevilcreator,archenemyofAhuraMazda. 4  Warbetweengoodandevil.   Goodwillwinout.   Rewardfortherighteous. T  Punishmentforthewicked. l  Fireworship.  PriestscalledMagi. t  #XXY̫#    MXXJUDAISM#XX Mt #  Z  h *%_&ddddd dd _"HH0HH0,Gdd ,dd +  !    INTRODUCEDBY J"     MAINTEACHINGS J#    YXXMoses (about1540BC)isbelievedtohavewrittentheTorahthe |$ first5booksoftheOldTestamentwhichcontaintheLAW.[Many D% believeMosesusedinformationfromolderrecordsforportionsofhis  \& history,concerningeventsandpeoplewholivedbeforehistime.] $' OtherOldTestamentsbookstellofpeoplewhokeptordidnotkeep ( Torahandtheconsequences. MosesidentifiedAbraham(about d) 1900BC),andhisdescendantsthruIsaac,andJacobasespecially ,|*  chosenofGod.GodpromisedtogivetoAbrahamthelandwhich D+ thenbelongedtothedescendantsofCanaan,grandsonofNoah.d  , dJews(descendantsofJudah,oneofJacobs12sons)wereessentially L!. theonlytribeleftafterothersweredestroyedbecausetheydisobeyed "d/ commandsofGod,andfailedtoheedwarningstorepent.  ",0 God=TheSupremeBeing,Thecreatorofall. |1 GodrevealedHimselfandHisLaw(Torah)toMoses. D2 IfyoukeepthecommandsoftheTorah,thenyouwillbeGodspeople,andthenHewillbless $4 you. 5 Messiah(ahumandescendantofKingDavid)willcometoleadGodspeoplebackto ,|7 obedienceofTorah. D8 Ѐ  9 MessiahwillbeusedofGodtodeliverGodspeoplefromoppression.  : Ѐ L!; Salvation=ResurrectiontolifewithGodspeopleinanewearthtobecreatedbyGod,and "d< ruledbyMessiahattheendofthisage. ",=  w H      MYCHRISTIANITY#Y M#   * _ddGdd Gdd %_&HH0HH0, dd ,kdd +  $<< $INTRODUCEDBY 'P" 'MAINTEACHINGS 'P" ' JesusofNazareth   AlsocalltheChrist,meaninganointedone. t (Bornabout4BC) <  FollowersofJesuswrotetheNewTestamentportion   oftheChristianBible.    TheOldTestamentwasregardedbyHisfollowersas $ t  thefoundationoftheirfaith.Christwasthe  <   PromisedOnewhosecomingwasforetoldinthe   OldTestament. '|  ' Jesusclaimed :  IcameforthfromGod.IamgoingbacktoGod(John16:28). t IsharedglorywithGodbeforetheworldexisted.(John17:5;John6:62). <  Noonewillreceiveeternallifeexceptthroughme(John10:9;John11:25;)  T  Iamtheway,thetruthandthelife.NoonecomestotheFatherexceptthroughme.(John14:6)    AllauthorityhasbeengiventoMeinheavenandonearth.(Matthew28:18).   IamGodsSon,thepromisedMessiah(Christ).(Mark14:6162;John10:36;John3:16)d \  dTheworldandeveryoneonitaredoomed.  <  Mydeathistheonlywaytosavetheearthandthosepeoplewhowillfollowme.(John3:16)   IwilldiebycrucifixionandIwillberaisedfromthedeadonthe3rdday.(Matthew16:21;17:23;20:19). D   Iamwithyoualways,eventotheendoftheworld.(Matthew28:20).  \  MansnatureisselfishbutcanbechangedbytheindwellingoftheHolySpirit, $  whichIwillsendtoyoufromtheFather.   Salvation=resurrectionattheendofthisage,toeternallifewiththeFatherandSon,intheearthmadenew.",|  "Ѐ &%YPERSONALCOMMENT:Inmysearchfortruth,yearsago,Istudiedforsometime,thedominantreligionsofourworldtoday.Iconcludedthat <  IFJesusChristhadNOTinfact,beenraisedfromthedeathonthethirdday,asHepredicted,THENIwouldchooseBahai.Itteacheseducation ! ofandequalityforwomen.Itsaimsareworthyanddesirable.Itevenallowsfordivorce,afteraoneyearwaitingperiod.Itisbasicallyaccepting " ofallfaithsseeingallreligionsasseekingafterthesameuniversaltruth.Itevenencouragesascientificapproachandrejectsthosebeliefswhich # cannotbeharmonizedwithscience. \$ Thekeywordhereis IF.Inmyownsearchfortruth,Ibegantoexaminethe evidencefortheresurrection.Wasthereenoughevidenceto d& supportbeliefintheevent?ForIFJesusChristdidindeedcomebackfromthedead,thenHisclaimsmustbetrue,andImustworshipHimas @' theonlywaytotheFatherGod.IdidlovetheideaofalovingFatherGod,whocaresaboutmepersonally,ratherthananunknowablearbitrary ( being,oracollectiveconsciousness.SoIadmitIwantedtofindsupportfortheresurrection.Ontheotherhand,Iwasapplaudedbytheidea ) thataFatherGodcould punishHisownchildreninaplaceoftortureforeternity.TodayIbelievethatthislastteachingisNOTsupportedby * theBible. `+ ThosewhosaythatJesusofNazarethwassimplyagoodandwiseteacher,oranascendedmaster,mustignorehisownclaims.Anymanwho !h- claimsthatheIShimselftheonlywaytoGod,mustbementallyunstable,orcruellymanipulative,orexactlywhatheclaimstobe. #Y%&1# !D. Ї=Y  ISLAM #Y=&#  &&*_dddd Pdd k _HH0HH0, dd ,kdd +  $bb $XXYINTRODUCEDBY#YXXh'# 'v" 'XXYMAINTEACHINGS#YXX'# v"  Muhammad  H BelievedbyhisfollowerstobethegreatestofGods  prophets.(7thcenturyAD)Receivedrevelations   fromGod,whoidentifiedHimselfasAllah,given P  throughtheangelGabriel(alsobelievedtobethe  h holyspirit).Theserevelationsweregatheredand  0  recordedastheQuran(alsocalledKoran).Muslims    alsoreveretheTorah,Psalms,andGospelsofJesus, p   butteachthathumanwriters,suchasLuke,John, 8  andPaulchangedandcorruptedthem.The P  ChristianScripturesshouldbeavoided.   (Hadith9:614).   AbrahamwasblessedofGodasintheOld  p  TestamentoftheBible,buttookhisfirstbornson 8 IshmaelupthemountaininobediencetoGod,not  Isaac. EssentiallyIslamcorrectstheOld x TestamentandtheNewTestamentasbelievedby @ JewsandChristians. X  Womenareseenasultimatedistractions, ` seductresses.Muhammadtaughtthatwomenare (x lessintelligentthanmen.Menaretotakefour @ wives.Womenaretoservetheirhusbands,be  coveredexceptinthepresenceoftheirhusbandsor  malerelativestowhomtheycouldnotbemarried, H remainuneducated,andinthehomeforthemost ` part.Beatingofwiveswaspermittednottobe (  followedbysexonthesameday.  ! IncommonwithChristianity: H" Godisone,holy,truthful,rules,revealsHiswill,judges, # ismerciful,andforgives.  $ SatanisaspiritcreatedbyGod,whoisnowfallen. P % DiffersfromChristianityinHOWGod,rules,reveals,judges,loves,andforgives.  h& DiffersfromChristianity:  ( AllahdoesasHepleases.Mandoesnothavefreewill.Allahisallcontrolling. p ) Allahcreatedbothgoodandevil.AllahcananddoeschangeHismind. 8 * Allahcausesanddecideseachmansfate.Allahcreatedsometosendthemtohell.(Sura32:13). P + Allahhasnoaffectionorfeelingforanycreature.AllahisNOTadivinefather.AllareslavesofAllah.  , Allahiscompletelyseparatefromus.Heisaboveus,butisNOT withus,or inus.  - AllahdoesNOTmakecovenantswithmen. X . ЀTherewasno fall.Manwascreatedweakbutbasicallygood.Mandoesnotneedsalvation.(Sura4:28). 80 AllahwillprosperthosewhoobeyHim.Peoplecan,bytheirownefforts,freethemselvesfromthepowerofsin x2 (disbeliefordisobedienceofAllahscommands). @3 Salvation,or paradiseaplaceofsensualpleasures(formen)isgainedthroughprofessionofbeliefinAllah  5 andMuhammadHisprophet,ritualprayer,fasting,almsgiving,pilgrimage,wagingholywar).Thelost 6 (includingChristiansandJews)willgotoaburning hell,butmayonlysufferuntilAllahfreesthem. `7 ЀJesuswascreatedfromthedust.HisministrywasinferiortoMoses,orotherearlierprophets,andwasonlyto @9 announcethemessengerwhowouldfollowhim,thatis,Muhammad,thelastandgreatestprophetofAllah. : (Sura61:6).JesuswillreturntoearthtorestoreIslamtoperfectionandwillwipeoutJudaismandChristianity. ; (Hadith3:425). H< JesuswasNOTGodsson,andwasNOTcrucified.Someoneelsediedinhisplace. (> Ѐ(Sura4:157).Jesuswillneverrule.Onthegreatjudgmentday,Jesuswillnotintercedeforanyhumanbeings. ? Muhammadwillintercede. h@  !C  Ї   MY SIKHISM#Y M9# MY  *_dddd Pdd k_HH0HH0,dd ,dd +  $<< $#Y Mc9#XXYINTRODUCEDBY#YXX:# MY 'P" '#Y M:#XXYMAINTEACHINGS#YXXU;# MY P" #Y M;#Nanak (bornnearPunjab,Indiaabout1469AD) " Afairlyrecentreligion.NanataughtthatIslamandHinduismbothcontained b  errors.TheGrantSahibcontainshisandotherssacredwritings.Appointeda * z successor,LaminawhochangedhisnametoAngas(bodyguard),anddeclared  B NanaequalwithGod.Lateradherentstransferredobediencefromtheguru    successorofNanatothebookofsacredwritingscalled TheLordsBook.     Hindu: "   Retained   Ѐ1)salvation=polytheisticmergingwithmysticalworldsoul b   Ѐ2)doctrineofKarma3)Transmigrationofsouls * z Repudiated:1)Hindupolytheism2)Hinduscriptures  B Ѐ3)pilgrimages,ritualism,hermitasceticism   Ѐ4)degradationofwomen5)infanticide6)vegetarianism    Islam: b   Retained *  Ѐ1)beliefinaSupremeBeingwithabsoluterule,sovereignty,   arbitrariness j  Ѐ2)salvationthroughsubmissiontothewilloftheSupremeBeing,, 2  Ѐ3)worshipthrurepeatingprescribedprayersandrepetitionofthename J  ofdeity,  Ѐ4)devotiontothefounderasGodsprophet,extremereverenceforsacred  scripture, R Ѐ5)apowerfulchurchstate6)vehementdenunciationofidolatry. j Ѐ7)importanceofcentralshrineatMeccaandAmritsar, 2 Ѐ8)degradationofwomen  Difference: r Ѐ1)SikhismsfoundernotsoruthlessorviolentasIslams. :  Ѐ2)SikhismsdeitynotsoruthlessorviolentasIslams. R! Ѐ3)Sikhismssacredscripturesascribedtomanyteachers,(atleast37) " Ѐnottoone,asinIslam.  #   !+  TRO'3Letter LandscapeO'3Letter Landscape'3Letter LandscapeU XXB #'3Letter LandscapeX3'T    MYHINDUISM#Y MjF#    9*_ddddd dd _HH0HH0,dd ,add +  $<< $XXYINTRODUCEDBY#YXXG# 'P" 'XXYMAINTEACHINGS#YXX5H# P"  Theancientrishis  " Pureandcalmindividualswhocommunicatedeternaltruthtotheirdisciples  whowroteitdownthesewritingsarecalledvedas. b  ThenameHinduderivedformthePersianhinduorsindu(meaningriver)the  B namearosefromtheIndusRiver,andthoselivingneartheriver.Scriptures    writtenover2,000years[1400BCto500AD].    Many,manydifferentsects,eachfocusingononeofthepathstoNirvana, b  worshipofdifferentincarnations(indifferentforms)ofdeity,different *  enlightenedteachers.   Forthemostpartacceptingofotherreligions,seeingthemasalike,seeking 2  truth,indifferentways. J  Salvation(reachingNirvana)isthrough:  1.ThewayofknowledgeknowingoneisactuallyapartofultimateBrahman  2.Thewayofdevotionloveandobediencetoaparticulardeity R 3.Thewayofworksfollowingceremonialritual  j Brahman=TheThreeinOneGod(impersonal) " Brahma,CreatorVishnu,PreserverShiva,Destroyer  SubmissiontoFate b  Nosuchthingas sinagainstGodjustactsofignorance. * z ManissimplyamanifestationofBrahmanwithoutindividualselforworth  B TheearthandeverythingthatexistsissimplypartofBrahma.   EverythingisBrahmaandBrahmaiseverything.   TheCasteSystemasdeterminedbytheLawsofManu J  LawofKarma(fromgoodcomesgood,fromevilcomesevil) b  Reincarnationthroughvirtuouslivingasoulmayrisetoahigherstate. *  Nirvanafinalstagesoulfreeofcycleofreincarnation,   ЀmysticalreabsorptionintotheInfinite j ! Yogasdisciplinestocontrolbodyandemotions 2 " Darma,LawofMoralOrderwhicheachsoulmustfindandfollowtoreachNirvana J #  $     MY BUDDHISM#Y MQ# MY N% *#_$dddd add a_HH0HH0,dd ,dd +  $& $Y MINTRODUCEDBY '>'" 'MAINTEACHINGS >(" SiddharthaGautama (about500BC) J) latercalledtheBuddhaEnlightenedOne b* (Approx.5thcenturyBC)Buddhabeganlifeasaprince,butlefttoseek , enlightenment.Foundenlightenmentindeepmeditationunderafigtree. j- GrewoutofdissatisfactionwithHinduismandthecastesystem. J/ Buddhaisnotrecordedtohaveclaimeddivinitybutwaslaterworshipedby  1 followersofhisteachings.Thiswasagainsthisearlyteachings.  R!2  DeniestheinspirationoftheVedas(Hinduscriptures) J3 Nosupremebeing,universeevolved. b4 Rejectedphysicaldeprivation. *5  MiddlePathtoenlightenment 6  FourNobleTruthsand EightfoldPath j7 Evil=emotion,desireorunsatisfieddesiresresultingfromignorance. J9 Salvationisthrougheradication/suppressionofalldesirethroughenlightenment. : Nirvana=peacewithnodesires(achievedprimarilythrumeditation)endscycleof  ; rebirth . R!<   J"< #YY/R# MYJAINISM#Y MX#   Q*_dddd :dd #_$HH0HH0,dd ,dd +  $<< $XXYINTRODUCEDBY#YXX(Z# 'P" 'XXYMAINTEACHINGS#YXXZ# P"  Mahavira 󀄀meaning greatman.(born599BCinnortheasternIndia) " TraditionrelatesMahavirawasthesecondsonofarajahlivinginluxury.  Marriedwithonedaughter,attheageof30decidetolivealifeofselfdenialin b  searchofenlightenment.Wanderedfor12yearsdestitute,inrags,ornaked. * z Experiencedenlightenmentwhileindeepmeditation.Thentookondisciples,  B preachinghisnewfoundbeliefs.    Thoughheneverclaimedthis,hebecametheobjectofworshipbylater b  followerswhocametoregardhimashavingdescendedfromheavenwithout *  sinandwithallknowledge.    BeganasahereticalmovementwithinHinduism. " DifferedfromHinduism:  1.IndividualsoulsremaindistinctinNirvana, b  0  insteadofbeingabsorbedintothecollectiveBrahman.* z// 2.Nocastesystem  B 3.NoworshipofdifferentmanifestationsofBrahman.   4.Opposedtotheconceptofasupremebeing.   5.Noanimalsacrifices,noharmtolivingthings J  Evil=encumbranceofbody. b  Nirvana=Freedomofsoulfromworldlyattachments. *  Salvationonlythroughrigidselfdenial.     XXY    MXXCONFUCIANISM #XX M&a#   a*_dddd :dd _HH0HH0,Idd ,dd +  $ $INTRODUCEDBY '(x" 'MAINTEACHINGS (x"  YXXConfucius (about550BC)  ContemporaryofBuddha(althoughtheyprobablynevermet). r TeacherwhorosetoprominenceinChina.Bornatatimeofwarringtribes, R! andgeneralviciousness. " Muchlaterdeifiedbyfollowersofhisteachings,butnorecordofhisdesire "r% forthis.  :& OptimisticHumanism: ' Venerationofancestorsandtheirwisdom. r( Spiritsofancestorsremainpresentwithfamilyifprovidedfor. :) Angryancestorsmaycausetrouble. R* Venerationoflivingelders,especiallyfatherbyhisson. + Taughtbasickindnesstoothers,manbasicallygood, Z- lifeexperienceforcesmantoevil "r.  Goldenrule:Donotdotoanother, 0 whatyouwouldnotwantdonetoyou . z1 Heavenrealbutundefined.  Z3 Salvationthroughselfefforts "4     @g ""r7 Ї  MY  SHINTOISM #Y Myg#  g*_dddd Ikdd _HH0HH0,Idd ,dd +  $<< $INTRODUCEDBY 'P" 'MAINTEACHINGS P" Nofounderidentified.  Originburiedinprehistory. t AbolishedasthenationalreligionafterdefeatofWWII.   T TheJapanesepeopleareSonsoftheGods,andJapanisthecountryoftheGods.  DivinedescentgivesJapanesepeoplesuperioritytoothersincourageandintelligence. t  Femaledeitygave birthtotheislandsofJapan. <   Kamisacredpowerfoundinanimateandinanimateobjects.  T      MY BAHAISM #Y Mgk#    [k* _ dddd Ikdd _HH0HH0,dd ,dd +  $ P  P $INTRODUCEDBY 'd " 'MAINTEACHINGS d " Bahaullah(inthelate1860s)   APersianvisionarycalled theBabpredicteda messiahwhowouldfulfillall   religions.ThispromisedoneturnedouttobeHussaynAli,whoassumedthe P  nameBahaullah( TheGloryofGodinArabic). h  ThisdidnotpleasetheresidentShiiteMuslims,andhefledtoBaghdad,thento   ConstantinopleandfinallytoOttomanpalestine,wherehediedin1892. p Leadershipwascededtohisson,thengrandsonandfinallythe UniveralHouseof 8 Justice.Today,theyarebasedonMt.Carmel,nearHaifa,Israel. P Claimingtobethe promisedoneofallreligionstheypreachglobalsocio  religiousreform.  X MonotheisticGodisinessencecompletelytranscendentandunknowable.   Centersonbeliefinaseriesof manifestationsofGod.Theseindividualsreflect   andmanifestattributesofGodandprogressivelyrevealthedivinepurposefor P  humankind.Manifestationsinclude:Abraham,Moses,Zoroaster,Gautama h  Buddha,Jesus,Muhammad,theBab,andforthepresentage,Bahaullah. 0  Furtherdivinemessengerswillperiodicallyappear.  ! Spiritualprogressrequires:obediencetothecommandsoftheGodmanifestations; 8# wellmotivatedgooddeeds. P$ Aunityofallthepeoplesandreligionsoftheearthisthedestinedhallmarkofthis & age.Governmentsandpeoplesmustworktosecureworldpeace,aworld X' auxiliarylanguage,aworldgovernment,theabolitionofallformsofracial,  p( national,andreligiousprejudice,theendingofallformsofeconomicandchattel 8) slavery,theabolitionofextremesofwealthandpoverty,andtheequalityofthe * sexes.Religionandtruesciencemustharmonize. x+ Marriageismonogamous,andconditionalonconsentofboththebrideandgroom X- andtheirparents.Forbiddenareallextramaritalsexualrelations,homosexual  . relationships,backbiting,gambling,begging,useofalcoholornarcotics,and / involvementinpartisanpoliticsorsedition.Honestwork,educationofbothsexes, `0 cleanliness,andcooperationareemphasized. (x1   &%Y