| The Baha'i
religion started in Persia, modern day Iran,
in the 19th century. Its first preachers were
a holy man called the Bab and his follower,
Baba'u'llah. They taught the oneness of the
human race, saying that 'you are the fruits
of the same tree' and that all people and all
religions are equal. |
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A Jain is
someone who follows the teachings of a holy
man known as Mahavira, who lived in India in
the sixth centuary BCE (Before the Common Era).
Today most Jains live in western India. They
share many beliefs with Hindus and Buddhists.
They believe they can achieve freedom from the
cycle of birth, death and rebirth by leading
a strict life and making sure they do not harm
any living creature. |
| This religion
takes its name from Ras Tafari, which means
Lion of Judah. This was the title given to Haile
Selassie, the last emperor of Ethiopia in North
Africa. Ethiopia, a Christian country, had fought
against rule by Europeans. People who came originally
from Africa think of Ethiopia as a homeland
and that Haile Selassie was a Messiah, or messenger,
sent by God to teach them how to live. |
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Shinto is
an ancient religion from Japan and means 'the
way of the gods'. Its followers believe the
Japanese islands were specially created by the
gods. They worship spirits, called Kami, which
include the sun goddess Amaterasu-o-Mikami.
Her sun symbol is on the Japanese flag. They
also believe in respect for their elders and
leaders. |
| Taoism is
an ancient religion followed by about five million
people in China, Japan and other parts of South
East Asia. It was started by Lao-tzu, a Chinese
philosopher, in the sixth century BCE (Before
the Common Era). He taught people about a great
power in the world called the Tao, or 'The Way'.
Taoists try to live a good life so that they
can become part of the Tao. They look after
the sick and feed the hungry.
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Zoroastrianism
was started by a man called Zoroaster in ancient
Persia, modern day Iran, over 3,000 years ago.
Zoroaster thought that there was one god, Ahura
Mazda, who had made the world in order to destroy
the evil spirit, Angra Mainya. He also thought
that life is a battle between good and bad. |
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