Religions all over the world
The history of mankind has shown the influence of religion on man. The study of religion has become increasingly important in modern times. There are a lot of religious denominations all over the world. Religions are divided into several major branches, which are subdivided into numerous smaller schools and sects.
Christianity is a worldwide religion; about 1.2 billion people are Christians. Most of us are Christians too. Christians believe in one God with three aspects: God the Father, God the Son (Jesus Christ), and God the Holy Spirit. The main Christian denominations are the Eastern Orthodox, Roman Catholic, and Protestant Churches. The Protestant Church includes Anglicans, Methodists, Baptists, Presbyterians, and others.
Islam is based од the teaching of Koran. In Islam five obligation should be observed: to believe in Allah (God) and Muhammad (the prophet); to pray five times a day; to give money to charity; to fast between sunrise and sunset during Ramadan; and to visit Mecca, the holiest city of Islam in Saudi Arabia, at least once. Muslims pray in mosque, most mosques have one or more minarets, from which the Muslims a called to pray.
Judaism is the religion of the ancient Hebrews and their descendants, the Jews. The sacred writing of Judaism is the Hebrew Bible, which includes the Torah, historical and prophetic books. Jews pray in synagogues. There are three main synagogue associations: the Orthodox, the Conservative, and the Reform.
Buddhists try to follow the life of Buddha. The Buddha is the title given to Gautama Siddhartha, a wealthy man from India who gave up all his possessions and family to teach the ideas on which the religion of Buddhism is based. Buddhism is a religion of eastern, southern and central Asia, the main idea of which that one must become free of human desires in order to escape from suffering. The followers of this religion believe in reincarnation, which means that people are born again after they die. And their next life depends on how well they behaved in their previous life. All Buddhists are meditating to reach nirvana.
Hindus also believe in reincarnation. Hinduism is the main religion of India, which has no founder and no sacred writing. According to Hinduism there are three main gods: Brahma, Siva, Vishnu, and many other god-like beings. There are about 400 million followers of this religion all over the world.
EXERCISE 11. Read and give a summary of the text.
Religions in the uk
The national church of England is Anglican Church, which is a branch of the Christian religion. It was King Henry VIII who broke away from the Church of Rome and declared himself Head of the Church of England, Anglican Church.
Nowadays, the Queen is the Head of Anglican Church. She appoints two archbishops and all the bishops. The Archbishop of Canterbury is the priest who is4he leader of the Church of England. Canterbury is a small city in southeastern England, which is famous for its impressive 11th century Cathedral, the main church of the Church of England. The Archbishop of Yoke, an important priest, who has the next highest rank to Archbishop of Canterbury. There are twenty-four senior bishops in the House of Lords, then come the eighteen remaining bishops. Each bishop is responsible for a district called a diocese. Each diocese is divided into parishes with a vicar at the head. Many vicars combine the tasks of a priest, social worker, and psychologist.
There are other religious denominations on the territory of the UK. The Presbyterian Church, a Protestant Christian Church, is the national church of Scotland, most of Protestants in Northern Ireland are Presbyterians too. John Knox, a Scottish Protestant, established the Presbyterian Church in Scotland in the 16th century. Presbyterians are typically thought to be rather strict and serious people.
EXERCISE 12. Find in the texts English equivalents for these words and word combinations:
история человечества, влияние религии, изучение религии, религиозные вероисповедания, по всему миру, делятся, подразделяются, большинство из нас, христиане, православный, римский, католический, протестантский, Англиканская церковь, Пресвитерианская церковь, основан, пять обязательств, пять раз в день, благотворительность, поститься между восходом и закатом, самый святой город, по крайней мере, в мечетях, один или больше, древние иудеи, их потомки, священное писание, стараются следовать, оставил свою семью, человеческие желания, чтобы избежать страдания, верят в перевоплощение, предыдущая жизнь, национальна церковь, разорвал отношения с, объявил себя, в наши дни, производящий глубокое впечатление, следующее самое высокое звание, по отношению к, ответственный за, во главе, совмещать задачи социальный работник, строгие и серьезные люди, чтобы достигнуть нирваны, в соответствии с, богоподобные существа.
EXERCISE 13. a) Find in the text the words, which have the similar meanings as the following words:
more, many, some, main, to found, old, rich, to leave, wish, well known, usually;
b) Find in the text the words, which have the opposite meaning to the following words:
less, ancient, big, night, forefathers, poor, to live, international, big, low, junior.
EXERCISE 14. Fill in the blanks with the missing words in the ft lowing sentences; the first letter of each word has been given help you:
1. There are a lot of religious d... all over the world. 2. Muslims must observe five o.... 3. Muslims must p... five times a day. 4. They must regularly give money to c.... 5. From the m... the Muslims are usually called to pray. 6. The Jews are the d... of the ancient Hebrews. 7. Buddhists and Hindus believe in r... . 8. They want to e... from the suffering. 9. They are some s... bishops in the House of Lords. 10. The bishop is responsible of the d....
EXERCISE 15. Find in the texts, translate, and analyze:
a) grammar forms with the ending -ing:
the teaching are meditating
the sacred writing god-like beings
the suffering remaining bishops
b) grammar forms with the ending -ed:
are divided he declared
are subdivided a district called a diocese
is based on he established
should be observed sacred
they behaved are called
c) grammar forms with the ending -s:
modern times religious denominations major branches numerous schools Christians three aspects the church includes five obligations five times in mosques one or more minarets the ancient Hebrews their descendants which includes prophetic books in synagogues his possessions |
the ideas human desires the followers main gods beings 400 million followers she appoints two archbishops senior bishops Lords parishes many vicars the tasks most of Protestants Presbyterians
|
EXERCISE 16. Complete the following sentences in a logical way:
1. Religious denominations are divided into...
2. Christianity is...
3. Christians believe in...
4. Islam is based on...
5. Muslims must...
6. Judaism is...
7. Jews pray in...
8. Buddhism is...
9. Buddhists try to follow...
10. The followers of Buddhism and Hinduism believe in...
11. The national church of England is...
12. The Queen is...
13. She appoints...
14. The Archbishop of Canterbury is...
15. The national church of Scotland is...
EXERCISE 17. Answer the questions about religion:
1. How many religious denominations are there all over the world?
2. How many Christians are there all over the world?
3. Christians believe in one God with three aspects, don't they?
4. What are the main Christian denominations?
5. What branches does the Protestant Church consist of?
6. What is Islam based on?
7. What are the five obligations in Islam?
8. How are the followers of Islam called?
9. What must Muslims do?
10. Where do Muslims pray?
11. What are the minarets for?
12. What is the religion of Jews?
13. Where do Jews pray?
14. What are the main synagogue associations?
15. Whose life do Buddhists try to follow?
16. What is the main idea of Buddhism?
17. The followers of Buddhism believe in reincarnation, don't thej
18. What does reincarnation mean?
19. What are Buddhists meditating for?
20. What is the main religion in India?
21. How is the national church of England called?
22. Who was the first Head of the Church of England?
23. Who is the Head of the Church of England now?
24. Who is the leader of the Church of England?
25. What is Canterbury famous for?
26. Who is at the head of each diocese?
27. What is a diocese divided into?
28. How is the national church of Scotland called?
29. Who established the Presbyterian Church in Scotland? ;
30. Most of Protestants in Northern Ireland are Presbyterians, aren’t they?
EXERCISE 18. Agree or disagree with the following statements; some more information:
1. There aren't many religious denominations all over the world 2. Muslims do not pray much. 3. Muslims pray in synagogues. 4. A lot of people all over the world are Christians. 5. Judaism is the religion of the Jews. 6. Gautama Siddhartha was a poor man. 7. Buddhists and Hindus believe in reincarnation. 8. The national church of England is Christian Church. 9. The Queen appoints all the bishops. 10. A vicar is responsible of his diocese.
EXERCISE 19. a) Read and translate the following dialogue;
b) memorize and dramatize the dialogue;
c) act out a similar dialogue.