Religions in South Africa

Question 1

What are the major religions in South Africa?

Answer 1

Christianity
Islam
Judaism
Hinduism
Buddhism
Baha’i Faith
African traditional religion

Question 2

What is religion?

Answer 2

A war of believing in God or gods. Usually has certain customs and tradition.

Question 3

What is the symbol for Christianity? Why?

Answer 3

Cross
Symbolizes that Jesus died on the cross

Question 4

What is the symbol for Baha’i? Why?

Answer 4

Nine pointed star
The number 9 represents completeness

Question 5

What is the symbol for Buddhism? Why?

Answer 5

Wheel with eight spokes
Symbolizes the 8 things that all Buddhists must do

Question 6

What is the symbol for Judaism? Why?

Answer 6

6 pointed star
Symbolizes the start of David

Question 7

What is the symbol for African Traditional Religion? Why?

Answer 7

Calabash
Because it is used in many rituals

Question 8

What is the symbol for Islam? Why?

Answer 8

Crescent moon and star
Because phases of the moon mark their calendar

Question 9

What is the symbol for Hinduism? Why?

Answer 9

Aum (30 with for on top)
Symbolizes the sound Hindus chant at the beginning and end of their prayers

Question 10

What is a symbol?

Answer 10

A mark/sign/picture that has special meaning

Question 11

What are rituals?

Answer 11

Ceremonies that we perform (usually as part of a religion)

Question 12

Describe the African traditional religion (5 points)

Answer 12

Believe in
• god that created the life and earth,
• nature spirits in animals, water and earth
• ancestors (spirits of people who have died, they communicate between people and god)
• No book
• rituals

Question 13

Describe Buddhism (5 points)

Answer 13

• founded by Bhuddha (Siddharta Gautama) in India

They believe
• there is no god
• people can bring their own freedom /peace by letting go of wanting things
• people must love others and be kind
• reincarnation (when someone dies, they reborn as someone else) & enlightenment

Question 14

Describe the Baha’i Faith (6 points)

Answer 14

• Started by Baha’u’llah, died in 1892
• pray every day

They believe:
• one god who created the universe
• in all religions
• people should put aside their differences & unite
• most important teaching children spiritual

Question 15

Describe Hinduism (5 points)

Answer 15

• began in India
• one God called Brahman who appears in different shapes/forms and rules over many lesser gods
• teach all living things should be loved not harmed
• most are vegetarian
• believe that when they die they come back in a different form

Question 16

Describe Judaism (4 points)

Answer 16

believe
• in one God
• You must follow God’s laws (treat each other fairly)
• each person is made in God’s image
• book: Tanakh (Old Testament), of which the 5 Books of Moses (Torah) are a park

Question 17

Describe Islam (4 points)

Answer 17

•Followers of Islam are Muslim.

Believe in
• one God called Allah
• holy book is the Qur’an
• main prophet Muhammad born in Mecca in Saudi Arabia.

Question 18

What is the religion that joins Christian teaching with traditional African beliefs?

Answer 18

African Christian churches eg.
• Zionist Christian church (Moria on Limpopo)
• shembe church in KZN (Zulu)

Question 19

What do Jewish people celebrate at pass over and how do they celebrate?

Answer 19

To celebrate that they escaped from Egypt (the exodus)
They eat
• grated apple with nuts & spice (reminds them of cement slaves used in Egypt)
• flat bread (no time for yeast and rising dough)
• bitter herbs (reminds them of bitter time in Egypt)
• hard boiled eggs with warm salt water (reminds them of the tears cried in slavery)

Question 20

Where do Muslim worship?

Answer 20

Mosque

Question 21

How often do Muslims pray? Describe their prayer traditions.

Answer 21

• 5 times a day
• A muezzin (or bilal) calls them to prayer from the mosque’s tower (minaret).
• 10 minutes
• Men pray in mosque, women separately.
• they face Mecca
• The kneel down with face on the floor

Question 22

Where do Jewish people worship?

Answer 22

Synagogue

Question 23

Describe the synagogue?

Answer 23

• Entrance hall with steps
• Opposite the entrance is a special cupboard with the Torah
• Women sit upstairs in the gallery
• Men sit downstairs

Question 24

What is the leader in a Jewish service called?

Answer 24

Rabbi

Question 25

Where do African traditionalists perform ceremonies?

Answer 25

Near their homes.
If important, then they go back to the rural area they came from.

Question 26

Where do Hindus worship ?

Answer 26

In a temple or in their homes (where they have a shrine or prayer place; with statues and pictures of their gods/goddesses, lamp, incense burning