Teaching Acceptance, Empathy, & Civility with Juvenile Literature: Tolerance & World Religions

Buddhism originates from the teachings of Buddha Mahatma Gautama Shakyamuni, who lived in Northern India around 500 BCE. Rather than being worshipped as a deity, the Buddha is honored as a source of inspiration for personal transformation. There are numerous Buddhist traditions, and the ancient civilizations of India and China were significantly influenced by Buddhism. The Buddha's teachings were initially passed down orally by his followers and later organized into what Buddhists refer to as the Dharma. These teachings were ultimately documented and shared with anyone interested. Buddhism encourages its practitioners to cultivate wisdom and extend compassion to all living beings.

Christianity originated approximately 2,000 years ago in the region that is now known as Israel and Palestine. It is founded on the teachings of Jesus of Nazareth, referred to as Christ (meaning "the anointed one"). Central to Christian belief is Jesus, who is seen as the revelation of God. Many Christians perceive this revelation as indicating that he is the incarnation of God. The Bible serves as the Christian holy text, with baptism and Holy Communion (or Eucharist) being key practices. Christianity is a global religion embraced by individuals from diverse cultures and backgrounds. While Christians share many core beliefs, there exists a rich diversity of doctrines, ethical views, and worship styles among the various denominations and groups within the Christian Church. The three primary branches of Christianity are Catholics, Protestants (including denominations like Baptist, Lutheran, and Episcopalian), and Orthodox Christians.

Confucianism is an ancient Chinese belief system and philosophy that highlights the importance of personal ethics and morality. Many view Confucianism as more of a philosophical approach or a way of life rather than a traditional religion. Founded by the esteemed philosopher and teacher Confucius, this belief system focuses on individual morality, ethical conduct, and the responsible exercise of political power, underscoring the value of respecting rules and authority. His teachings on ethics, virtuous behavior, and moral character were recorded by his followers in various texts, with the Lunyu being the most significant.

Hinduism traces its origins to the banks of the Indus River more than 5,000 years ago, although some aspects of the faith date back even further. This tradition lacks a single founder and is better described as a collection of interconnected religious practices rather than a singular religion. It encompasses a complete way of life and is followed by over 900 million adherents, with 80% of India's population identifying as Hindu. Hindus believe in one God, worshipped through various manifestations, deities, or images. Notable Hindu deities include Krishna, Shiva, Rama, and Durga. Additionally, Hindus perceive existence as a continuous cycle of birth, death, and rebirth, which is influenced by karma—a complex principle of cause and effect.

Islam is a monotheistic religion, and its adherents are known as Muslims. Originating in Arabia during the 7th century, the word "Islam" means "surrender" or "submission" in Arabic. Muslims believe in one God, referred to as Allah, and recognize Muhammad as His prophet. While they hold Muhammad in high esteem, they do not worship him; instead, they acknowledge that all beings depend on Allah and view all individuals, regardless of their race, as part of a unified community called the ummah. The Qur'an is the sacred scripture of Islam, containing God's revelations to Muhammad. Muslims are encouraged to follow Allah's will by practicing the teachings found in the Qur'an and by modeling their lives after Muhammad's example. As one of the world's major religions, Islam is practiced by around one-fifth of the global population.

Judaism is recognized as one of the oldest religions in the world, with origins that trace back nearly 4,000 years. It is regarded as the original Abrahamic faith, which also encompasses Islam and Christianity. As a monotheistic religion, Judaism teaches that there is one God who revealed Himself through ancient prophets, including Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, Solomon, and others. Followers of Judaism hold the Torah (Divine Law) in high regard, believing it was revealed to Moses and remains unchanged. Additionally, they believe that God is all-knowing, rewarding the righteous and punishing the wicked at the end of time, when all the dead will be resurrected. Today, approximately 14 million Jews practice their faith globally, gathering in places of worship known as synagogues. While Judaism is not a racial group, many individuals may identify with their faith through ethnic or cultural traits. There are six main branches of Judaism, and each community may vary in beliefs, practices, politics, geography, language, and levels of autonomy.

Shinto, which translates to "the way of the gods," is the indigenous belief system of the Japanese people, deeply rooted in the history of Japan. This faith focuses on the reverence of numerous deities or spirits known as "kami." These kami are believed to inhabit various elements of nature, embodying sacred spirits that play crucial roles in life, such as wind, rain, mountains, trees, rivers, and fertility. Essentially, Shinto is a polytheistic and animistic belief system that stresses the importance of maintaining harmony with the natural world through rituals and offerings made at shrines. Shinto shrines, referred to as jinja, are both places of worship and the residences of kami. Core principles of Shinto include purity, respect for family, and the prioritization of community over the individual. Importantly, Shinto lacks a singular founder or central scripture.

The Sikh faith is a unique religion that has emerged from the teachings of ten Gurus. Sikhs firmly believe in one God, who is both transcendent and present within all things and individuals. While God surpasses human understanding, He can be realized and experienced through deep contemplation and dedicated service. The primary goal of a Sikh's life is to cultivate awareness of God and to attain His grace through living truthfully and engaging in selfless service within the framework of family life. A Sikh's lifestyle is guided by the following principles:

• Constantly remembering and praying to God
• Earning a livelihood through honest means
• Generously sharing with the less fortunate
• Engaging in selfless service to God and all of creation
• Treating every human being as equal.

Taoism (also spelled Daoism) is a religion and a philosophy from ancient China that has influenced folk and national belief. Taoism has been connected to the philosopher Lao Tzu, who, around 500 B.C.E., wrote the main book of Taoism, the Tao Te Ching.  Taoism is broadly based on the key concepts of yin and yang, ch'i and the five elements of matter (water, fire, earth, metal and wood).

Scientology is a belief system centered around the exploration of the spirit and its connection to the physical realm. Practitioners, known as Scientologists, hold the belief that humans are eternal beings referred to as thetans, confined within human bodies. Founded by L. Ron Hubbard, Scientology provides a clear pathway toward achieving a comprehensive and certain understanding of one's true spiritual essence and one's connections to self, family, communities, humanity, all living beings, the material world, the spiritual realm, and the Supreme Being.

The Baha'i faith is a distinct world religion that began in Persia (modern-day Iran) during the mid-19th century. Its founder, Baha'u'llah, meaning "Glory of God," proclaimed himself as a messenger from God, tasked with ushering in a new era of global civilization defined by unity and peace. Baha'u'llah faced persecution and was ultimately exiled to Akka (Acre) in Palestine, where he passed away in 1892. Consequently, the spiritual and administrative hub of the Baha'i faith is located in present-day Israel.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS), commonly known as the Mormons, was established in the early 19th century in America by Joseph Smith. Both the Bible and the Book of Mormon are regarded as vital scriptures by Latter-day Saints. The Church teaches that the Holy Trinity—comprising the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost—consists of three distinct members of a unified Godhead. Members uphold the belief in pre-existence, which refers to a spirit life before birth that individuals do not remember. They perceive earthly life as an opportunity to become worthy of returning to live in the presence of Jesus Christ and God.

The Jehovah's Witnesses were established in 1872 by Charles Taze Russell, though the official name wasn't adopted until 1931. Identifying as Christians, Jehovah's Witnesses regard Jesus Christ as the Son of God, but they do not believe He is equal to or one with God. They perceive their faith as a restoration of early first-century Christianity and recognize both the Old and New Testaments of the Bible as divinely inspired. However, they choose not to use the cross as a symbol, believing it has pagan origins.

Paganism traces its origins back to the pre-Christian religions of Europe. Its revival in Britain mirrors similar movements in other Western nations, where it has been experiencing significant growth. Pagans perceive the divine as present in nature and acknowledge various forms of divinity, encompassing both goddesses and gods. Central to paganism is the worship of the goddess. Pagans hold the belief that nature is sacred, and that the natural cycles of birth, growth, and death observed in our surroundings carry deep spiritual significance. Humans are regarded as part of nature, alongside animals, trees, stones, plants, and everything else that exists on this earth. Most pagans embrace some concept of reincarnation, viewing death as a transition in an ongoing cycle of existence.