Santa Claus
System of written symbols representing sounds of a language.
Alphabet
Ancient people of Israel, central to Jewish religious history.
Israelites
Ancient Indian religion with diverse beliefs including karma, dharma, and reincarnation.
Hinduism
Religion founded by Siddhartha Gautama focused on ending suffering through enlightenment.
Buddhism
Social hierarchy in Hindu society dividing people into hereditary groups.
Caste
Monotheistic faith centered on the Quran and the prophet Muhammad.
Islam
Indigenous people of the Arctic regions of Canada, Alaska, and Greenland.
Inuit
Highest Hindu caste traditionally serving as priests and scholars.
Brahmins
Spiritual traditions rooted in the cultures of Native peoples.
Indigenous Religions
Monotheistic religion of the Jewish people based on the Hebrew Bible.
Judaism (Happy Hanukkah!!)
Chinese philosopher who emphasized ethics, family, and social harmony.
Confucius (The preferred name to call this system is The Scholarly Tradition, not "Confucianism.")
Biblical story of the Israelites' escape from slavery in Egypt.
Exodus
Concept of moral cause and effect influencing future experiences.
Karma Chameleon
State of liberation and peace in Buddhism, free from suffering and desire.
Nirvana
Ancient region in the Near East, often associated with biblical history.
Canaan
Ancient sacred texts of Hinduism composed in Sanskrit.
the Vedas
Belief in a single, all-powerful deity.
Monotheism
Persian ruler known for founding the Achaemenid Empire and respecting religious diversity. (Hint: One of Kerith's siblings has the same name as this ruler.)
Cyrus the Great
Aboriginal Australian belief system about creation and ancestral spirits.
Dreamtime or The Dreaming; The Dreaming is the preferred term, and individual Aboriginal societies have their own preferred terms too.
Monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ.
Christianity (Merry Christmas!!)
Hindu deity worshipped as an avatar of Vishnu and symbol of divine love.
Krishna
Series of disasters in the Exodus narrative sent to persuade Pharaoh to free the Israelites.
Ten plagues
Ancient civilization known for maritime trade and developing the alphabet.
Phoenicia
Founder of Buddhism, also known as the Buddha.
Siddhartha Gautama
Era of diverse philosophical ideas in ancient China.
Hundred School of Thought