World Religions Study Lesson

R4E130722 – Sikhism, Zoroastrianism, Jainism, Shinto (World Religions Study Lesson) by Douglas Jacoby

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Sikhism

1. c.1500
2. Guru Nanak (1469-1539)
3. The Granth, compiled by the 5th guru, Arjun, in 1604
4. The Punjab (India/Pakistan).

Zoroastrianism

1. 588 BC
2. Zoroaster
3. Persia, Iran, India (esp. Mumbai)
4. Avesta

Jainism

1. c. 520 BC
2. Mahavira, the last of 24 gurus, reacting to the worldliness of Hinduism
3. Purvas (all lost), Angas, Upangas
4. India

Shinto

1. c.550 AD
2. [no founder]
3. Kojiki, Nihongi, Yengishiki (8th century AD)
4. Japan

Outreach tips

1. Don’t write anyone off! The gospel is for all the world (1 Timothy 2:4).
2. Refuse to lump & label.

Further facts

• Sikhism
  • A compromise between Hinduism and Islam, monotheistic but incorporating many Hindu ideals.
  • Reject polytheism and priestly caste system of Hinduism.
  • Opposition to idolatry and asceticism. Sikhs seek not to escape the world, but to participate in it (opposite of the Jains [below]).
  • Janamsakhis legends: mythical accounts of the life of Nanak, including miracles. (Nanak never claimed to be a miracle worker).
  • Works salvation: “Sin and sorrow are destroyed by hearkening.”
  • Practices include: male turban, baptism in sugar-water while holding a dagger, warrior ethic.
  • At 30 million followers, Sikhism is the 5th largest organized religion in the world.
• Zoroastrianism
  • Monotheistic but also dualistic. God: Ahura Mazda.
  • Religion of classic Persia (think Xerxes, Darius, Cyrus)
  • Influenced the Jews living in the Persian diaspora
  • Zarathustra was a character utilized by the philosopher Nietzsche (1844-1900)
• Jainism
  • Strongly ascetic (ahimsa [non-violence], satya [honesty], asteya [no stealing], celibacy, non-attachment [to this world])
  • Theology similar to Hinduism.
    • Escape cycle of reincarnation through ascetic practices.
    • Think of Jains as the opposite of Sikhs (escape from, as opposed to participation in, the world)
  • Cosmology
    • Infinitely repeating cycles of time.
    • One guru lived 70 trillion years and was 3000 feet tall.
    • The earth is at the center of the universe, which has existed forever.
  • Sects
    • Digambaras: Monks are nude, and only males can reach enlightenment.
    • Shvetambaras: All wear white robes. Women can be ordained as nuns.
• Shinto
  • Shinto is Japanese for “way of the gods”
  • Indigenous religion of Japan
  • 120 million followers, depending on how you count; most also observe some Buddhist practices like ancestor worship. Life events are tied more to Shinto, death events to Buddhism.
  • Like Buddhism, Islam, Hinduism, Mormonism, and Pentecostal Christianity, “speaking in tongues” is practiced by ecstatic worshipers.