Religion

Ramadan

a month of fasting during daylight hours for Muslims

hajj

a pilgrimage to the city of Mecca, Saudia Arabia that all Muslims must make once in their lifetime

mosque

a place of worship for Muslims

church

a place where Christians worship

synagogue

a place where Jews worship

shrine

a place where people worship in their home

religion

a set of beliefs concerning the cause, nature, and purpose of the universe

Siddhartha Gautama

founder of Buddhism

Jesus

founder of Christianity

Muhammad

founder of Islam

Abraham

founder of Judaism

current day Nepal

geographic origin of Buddhism

Ancient Palestine (now Israel)

geographic origin of Christianity and Judaism

Indus River Valley

geographic origin of Hinduism

Mecca, Saudi Arabia

geographic origin of Islam

Four Noble Truths

guidelines of the Buddhist religion

Ten Commandments

guidelines of the Christian and Jewish religions

Five Pillars

guidelines of the Islam religion

reincarnation

the belief that the soul, upon death of the body, comes back to earth in another body or form

karma

the force generated by one's good or bad actions that determines your next life

religious diffusion

the spread of religion by ways of trade, military, missionaries, or migration

nirvana

the ultimate state for a Buddhist

heaven

the ultimate state for a Christian

moksha

the ultimate state for a Hindu

paradise

the ultimate state for a Muslim

Christmas

A Christian holiday celebrating the birth of Christ

A.D.

Anno Domini (in the year of our lord)

B.C.

Before Christ

B.C.E.

Before Common Era

O-bon

Buddhist holiday in Japan where lanterns are hung to guide the spirits of their ancestors.

Easter

Christian holiday celebrating the resurrection of Jesus

C.E.

Common Era

Eid al-Fitr

Festival of Breaking the Fast at the end of Ramadan

kosher food

Foods prepared according to Jewish dietary laws.

Divali/Diwali

Hindu festival of lights

Hannukkah

Jewish Festival of Lights

Rosh Hashanah

Jewish New Year

Holi

a Hindu spring festival celebrated in February or March in honor of Krishna

deity

another word for god/goddess

polytheism

belief in many Gods

monotheism

belief in one God

Vesak

holiday celebrating Buddha's birth, enlightenment, and death

Bible

holy book of Christianity

Qur'an

holy book of Islam

Torah

holy book of Judaism

Yom Kippur

holy day for the Jewish religion

Tripitaka

holy writings of Buddhism

Vedas

holy writings of Hinduism

Allah

name for God in Islam

persecution

unfair treatment based on beliefs