The 2012 Yearbook of American and Canadian Churches. Used with permission.1. The Catholic Church 2. The Southern Baptist Convention 3. The United Methodist Church 4. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints 5. The Church of God in Christ 6. National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc. 7.

Gathered from online sources including the Quotations Page and the Brainy Quote websites. 1. Those who would perfect their work must first sharpen their tools. 2. Everything has its beauty but not everyone sees it. 3. A youth is to be regarded with respect. How do you know the youth’s future will…

Founded/Created: 531 BCE (more than 2,500 years ago). Adherents: 360 million, primarily in the East but growing worldwide. Ranking: Sixth. Prophets: Siddhartha Gautama, the Buddha (“the Awakened One”), for whom the faith is named. The Buddha, while revered, is not considered divine. Texts: The…

By Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Lucretia Mott, for the Women’s Right Convention, Seneca Falls, New York, 1848.When, in the course of human events, it becomes necessary for one portion of the family of man to assume among the people of the earth a position different from that which they have hithert…

Which of the following do you believe in (or think are likely)? Circle with a red pen….

A highly revered text from the Mahayana Lojong (mind training) tradition, composed by the Buddhist Master Langri Tangpa (1054–1123). (1) With the determination to accomplish The highest welfare of all sentient* beings, Who excel even a wish-granting jewel, May I at all times hold them dear. (2)…

James Luther Adams, John Adams, John Quincy Adams, Margot Adler, Amos Bronson Alcott, Louisa May Alcott, Horatio Alger, Jr., Steve Allen, Susan B. Anthony, Arius (256-336 CE), Roger Nash Baldwin, Adin Ballou, Hosea Ballou, P.T….

Emerged: Indigenous faith of India. Adherents: 900 million. Ranking: Fourth, behind Christianity, Islam, and Atheism/Agnosticism. Prophets: None, although there are numerous lineages of revered gurus and saints. Famous Hindu religious leaders include Mohandas Gandhi and Paramahansa Yogananda,…

Emerged: As early as three million years ago in China, Japan, Australia, various regions in Africa, and Southeast Asia (Hinduism is explored in Workshop 4.) Adherents: 420 million (not including Hinduism) Ranking: Fifth, behind Christianity, Islam, Atheism/Agnosticism, and Hinduism Prophets: Ther…

Birthed: Approximately 15th century BCE Adherents: 14 million, about .2-percent of the world population Ranking: Eighth, behind Christianity, Islam, Atheism/Agnosticism, Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism, Taoism. Nevertheless, Judaism is considered one of the “Big Five” world faiths with Christianity,…

Adapted from Christian scripture, various editions.Matthew 6:9-13 9 This, then, is how you should pray: “Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. 10 Thy kingdom come; thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven….

Circle in red the beliefs that are commonly held among most Pagan sects. Circle in pencil beliefs held by some sects, though not universally. It is important to keep our lives balanced. Female qualities and male qualities should be balanced. Neither is more important than the other. They are both…

The Five Pillars are considered the most essential instructions from Muhammad for how to live as a Muslim. Loyal Muslims are expected to follow the Five Pillars as closely as they can. Profess Faith—Shahada​ Shahada—Say with conviction, “There is no God but Allah, and Muhammad is his prophet.”…

From the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life’s U.S. Religious Landscape Survey report. The survey included 35,556 adults; interviews were done in English and Spanish from May 8 to Aug. 13, 2007. The numbers represented are percents….

1. Which is the third largest religion (in number of adherents) in the world? a. Atheism/Agnosticism b. Judaism c. Hinduism d. Buddhism 2. True or False: Unitarian Universalism resulted from the merger of two religions—Unitarianism and Universalism—that were each more than 200 years old. 3.

Sunni Shia Adherents called Sunnis Shiites, Shi’i, or Shia Meaning of name “tradition” or “well-trodden path” “partisans of Ali” Current adherents 80-90% of 1.8 billion Muslims 10-20% of 1.8 billion Muslims Did Muhammad designate a successor?…

Founded/Created: It is estimated that the Tao Te Ching (DOW duh jing) was written in China in 550 BCE; however, the origins of Taoism go back hundreds of years before that. Adherents: 20 million—predominately in Asia but distributed worldwide. Ranking: Seventh in size, behind Christianity, Islam,…

First, read Leader Resource 1, If You Believed. Circle one choice for each item….

The information in this handout was compiled from the International Cultic Studies Association, particularly the articleRobert Jay Lifton; and “Common Characteristics of How the Cults Operate” (2009) on the Let Us Reason Ministries website. What Makes It a Cult?…

Does your attitude about life, your base level of happiness and hope for the future, change when bad things happen to you? When bad things happen, do you tend to be: Happy and positive no matter what? Upset but generally trusting that good will come eventually? Recognizing things could be good…

TOP FIVE REASONS UNCHURCHED PEOPLE CHOOSE A CHURCH 1. Pastor/Preaching 2. Doctrines/Beliefs 3. Friendliness of members 4. Other 5. Someone witnessed/invited me TOP FIVE REASONS CHURCH ATTENDERS CHOOSE A CHURCH 1. Doctrine/Theology/Beliefs 2. People caring for each other 3. Preaching 4….

Atheism/Agnosticism Existence/Reemergence: Prehistory/mid 1600s Adherents: 1.1 billion Ranking: Third—behind Christianity (2.1B) and Islam (1.5B) Influential Figures/Prophets: There are many famous people in many walks of life who identify as Atheists or Agnostics. Google “famous atheists” and…

Abusers can be hard to identify because at first they can be completely charming. Skilled at gaining people’s trust, they often seem approachable, honest, generous, and kind, as they ease into people’s lives and hearts. Slowly, though, things start to go terribly wrong. The abusive behavior…

The Crusades (1095-1291 CE) were a series of military campaigns by Christians primarily against the Muslims holding Jerusalem. The purpose was to regain control of Jerusalem—called the “City of God” by Christians—the city where Jesus had taught and was crucified. Muslims were equally determined…

CALVINISM HISTORIC UNIVERSALISM Humans are inherently sinful and depraved Humans are flawed but not inherently depraved….

Zoroastrianism Jainism Taoism Buddhism Confucianism Year 600 BCE 556 BCE 550 BCE 531 BCE 500 BCE Country Iran India China India China Prophet / Founder Zoroaster (Zarathustra) Mahavira, the 24th Tirthankara Lao Tzu Siddhartha Gautama K’ung-fu-tzu (Confucius) Followers 2.6 Million 4.2 M 20 M 360 M…

Public response by the Baha’i Community of the United Kingdom to government studies about the race-related riots in the UK in summer, 2001….

A sacred text of Hinduism. Introduction Circa 3000 BCE, cousins went to war over who would inherit a kingdom. Because the dispute was within a large, ancient family, the opposing armies comprised relatives, teachers, leaders, and friends. Arjuna was a master archer and renowned warrior—he was the…

Dates from: 622 CE in Mekka (in Saudi Arabia) Note: Muslims believe Islam is the only true religion and has no beginning; 622 CE is the date the Islamic calendar began, keyed to an important event in Muhammad’s life Adherents: 1.8 billion (80-90% Sunni; 10-20% Shiite) Ranking: Second, behind…

Hymn 78 in Singing the Living Tradition; words by Mark Belletini; musical arrangement by Grace Lewis McLauren.Summertime has turned the starwheel, autumn is upon us. Sweet the angling sun, sweet upon the air the smell of blue mist rising. Summertime has turned the starwheel, autumn is upon us.

Muslim women are equal to men and equally valued. The Holy Qur’an states that women and men were created from a single soul and are moral equals in the eyes of God. Qur’an 4:1: “O mankind!…

I. George Fox, in Declaration to King Charles II, 1660 All bloody principles and practices we utterly deny, all outward wars, and strife, and fightings with outward weapons, for any end or under any pretence whatsoever, and this is our testimony to the whole world….

From the website of the RiverTree Christian Church of Massillon, Ohio. Used with permission.There is ONE GOD who is the source of everything God is one and He exists as three equal persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. God has existed eternally and is the creator of everything that exists in the…

Here are some situations where you might have trouble keeping your cool. You drop your cell phone and somebody steps on it, destroying it. Someone hits your compact car with their SUV. You are a clerk in a store and a furious customer brings back a defective product. Two of your friends have a…

Traditional adaptations from Hebrew scripture, Exodus 20:2-14. Jewish Ten Commandments 1. I am the Lord your G-d. 2. You shall have no other gods before me; You shall not make for yourself an idol. 3. You shall not make wrongful use of the name of the Lord your G-d. 4….

Abram — Exalted Father Abraham — Father of Many / Father of Nations Amos — To Carry Baruch — Blessed Benjamin — Son of the South Chaya — Life Esther — Star Ethan — Solid, Enduring Ezra — Help David — Beloved Deborah — Bee Ephraim — Fruitful Eli — Height, Ascension Hannah…

Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Baha’i Faith Seventh-day Adventists Church of Christ, Scientist Jehovah’s Witnesses Known as… Mormons Baha’is Adventists Christian Scientists Witnesses Year 1830 1863 1863 1879 1879 Founder/ Prophet P/F-Joseph Smith P/F-Baha’u’llah F-Ellen G. White,…

Statistics from: Reference.com, UNICEF, Bread For the World, Child Trends Data Bank, Online Encyclopedia, Hunger Notes, and We Are Austin.Child Starvation Every 3.6 seconds a person dies of starvation Conservative figures show that five million children under age five die from hunger-related caus…

Founded/Created: 30 CE (crucifixion of Jesus) Adherents: 2.1 billion — 1.13 billion Catholics; 225 million Orthodox; 970 million Protestants Ranking: First; the most populous religion on earth. Catholicism alone would be second, behind Islam Prophets: Jesus of Nazareth, called Jesus Christ Texts:…

Origin: Dates from Greek and Roman antiquity; then, the European Renaissance; then as a philosophic and theological movement in the U.S. and Europe, mid-1800s and again in 1920s and 1930s, through today. Adherents: Number unknown….

“Kashrut” means “fitness.” Food that has been prepared according to the laws of kashrut is kosher—”fit”—for consumption by an observant Jew. Many Reform Jews do not keep kosher; Orthodox Jews eat only kosher food; Conservative Jews usually follow the laws of kashrut but less strictly than their…

Emerged: Neo Paganism is based on what is assumed to be ancient, indigenous religions, but modern day Wicca is dated as beginning in 1959 and the current Neo-Paganism movement can be dated to the founding of the Church of All Worlds and Feraferia in 1967….

1975 Ecumenical Version, published by Prayers We Have in Common and adopted by the Roman Catholic Church and many mainstream Protestant denominations. NOTE: “Ecumenical” means pertaining to the whole Christian Church; promoting or fostering Christian unity throughout the world….

Muslim women are not considered equal to men or valued equally with men in Islamic society. The Holy Qur’an states clearly that women are to be subordinate to men. Qur’an 4.34: “Men stand superior to women in that God hath preferred some of them over others, and in that they expend of their…

From the no-longer-active website of Acquire the Fire, a touring event sponsored for 30 years by Teen Mania Ministries, a Christian youth organization that staged events with speakers and live music. Read in Christianity Today about the decision in 2015 to end the Acquire the Fire events.

There are seven Principles which Unitarian Universalist congregations affirm and promote: The inherent worth and dignity of every person; Justice, equity and compassion in human relations; Acceptance of one another and encouragement to spiritual growth in our congregations; A free and responsible…

The inherent worth and dignity of every person Justice, equity, and compassion in human relations Acceptance of one another and encouragement to spiritual growth in our congregations A free and responsible search for truth and meaning The right of conscience and the use of the democratic process…

Unitarian Universalist Principles in Children’s Language 1. We believe that each and every person is important. 2. We believe that all people should be treated fairly and kindly. 3. We believe that we should accept one another and keep on learning together. 4. We believe that each person must be…

From the Qur’an, Rodwell edition (1876) and Palmer edition (1880).Excerpt from Sura II, The Cow He said, “O Adam, inform them (the angels) of their names.” And when he had informed them of their names, He said, “Did I not say to you that I know the hidden things of the Heavens and of the Earth, a…

Founded/Created: Two Christian denominations with religious traditions dating back 2,000 years to early Christianity consolidated in 1961 to form the Unitarian Universalist Association. In the United States, Unitarian thought arose within established churches in the late 1700s; the American…

Excerpted from the website of the UUA’s Side with Love campaign; used with permission.Nov 16, 2010—UUs from Virginia didn’t allow the Westboro Baptist Church’s hate messages to go unchecked when the anti-gay group announced they were coming to town. By Melodie Feather On Wednesday morning…

From the Friends General Conference website. Accessed July 18, 2011. Used by permission.WELCOME Everyone is always welcome at a Quaker meeting for worship. In worship Friends gather into silent, expectant waiting. We hold ourselves open to the Light and reach for the divine center of our being….

These are names by which Satan is called in the Bible: Abaddon — Hebrew for “destruction” King of the Bottomless Pit Accuser Lawless One Adversary Leviathan Angel of Light (a being Satan can transform into) Liar Angel of the bottomless pit Lucifer Antichrist Murderer Apollyon — Greek for…

Full Name: Religious Society of Friends Founded: Great Britain, 1647 Founder: George Fox Derivation of Full Name: Jesus said, “You are my friends if you do what I command you” (Christian scripture, John 15:14). Derivation of Common Name (Quakers): Intended as an insult to George Fox by a judge…

From the Sikh Coalition, 40 Exchange Place, Suite 728, NY, NY 10004, 1-212-655-3095 and the website Khalsa Kids.1. If you meet a Sikh, an appropriate way to greet them is: a. “Salaam Alaikum” b. “Namaste” c. “Sat Sri Akal” d. “Bonjour” 2. Ninety-nine percent of the persons who wear turbans in the…

Originally published in UU World magazine, Winter, 2009 and available online. In 1870, President Ulysses S. Grant invited Protestant denominations to take over the management of American Indian reservations and agencies. His hope was that this move would cut down on reported government corruption…

The Five Ks (in Punjabi “Panj Kakkar”) are symbols of faith worn by baptized Sikh men and women. The name, Panj Kakkar or Five Ks, comes from all five items beginning with the letter “K.” It is considered an honor to wear the Five Ks and (for men) turban which publicly identify the wearer as Sikh.