Hinduism
This sacred Hindu text features a dialogue between Lord Krishna and Prince Arjuna, explaining that physical death is temporary because the soul is eternal.
Bhagavad Gita
Founded in India around 500 B.C.E. by this prince who became known as the "Enlightened One" after meditating under a Bodhi tree.
Siddhartha Gautama (Buddha)
The sacred, binding agreement between God and Abraham where God promised protection and a holy land in exchange for total devotion.
The Covenant
Christianity emerged in the province of Judea during the height of the Roman Empire, founded upon the teachings of this figure.
Jesus
Founded Islam in Arabia in 610 C.E. after receiving revelations that were transcribed into the Holy Qur'an.
Muhammad
In Hinduism, this term refers to an individual's moral and religious duties based on their age, gender, and social position.
Dharma
These four central principles teach that all human life involves suffering, and that suffering is caused by selfish desires.
Four Noble Truths
The first five books of the Hebrew Bible, serving as the foundational sacred text of Judaism.
The Torah
This extensive physical infrastructure across the Mediterranean world enabled early Christian missionaries like Paul to travel and spread the faith.
Roman Roads
The essential obligations expected of all practicing Muslims, including faith, prayer, charity, fasting, and pilgrimage.
Five Pillars of Islam
This moral law of cause and effect states that a person's good and bad actions in this life determine their status in their next life.
Karma
This practical guide of eight ethical steps (including Right View, Right Action, and Right Mindfulness) helps Buddhists reach Nirvana.
Eightfold Path
Delivered to Moses at Mount Sinai, these laws provided strict rules for worship alongside universal moral standards prohibiting murder and theft.
The Christian holy book, which incorporates the Hebrew scriptures as the Old Testament and adds the New Testament.
The Bible
This specific Pillar of Islam (Hajj) requires able-bodied believers to make a journey to this holy city once in their lifetime.
Mecca
This rigid social hierarchy divided ancient Indian society into four main varna levels (Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas, and Shudras).
Caste System
Unlike Hinduism, Buddhism gained popular support among lower social classes because it explicitly rejected this social structure.
Caste System
Judaism is recognized as the earliest major belief system centered on this concept—the belief in one God.
Monotheism
This historic event took place in 313 C.E., marking the official _________ of Christianity across the Roman Empire.
This city in Muslim Spain became a world-renowned intellectual and artistic center during a time when Western Europe was in the Dark Ages.
Moslem Cordova
The ultimate spiritual goal in Hinduism of escaping the cycle of rebirth (samsara) to achieve spiritual union with Brahman.
Moksha
Statues of the seated Buddha in a meditative pose project this visual and philosophical message to followers.
Inner Peace
The geographic region in the Fertile Crescent / Middle East where Judaism originally developed.
Canaan (Israel/Palestine)
What is Mr. Sayles's Confirmation Saint?
Saint Lawrence
Arabic word for the one supreme God worshiped in Islam.
Allah