Global Religions - up to 1200

Unit 0

Judaism

Judaism

Monotheistic, God referred to as Yahweh or Adonai

Christianity

Monotheistic, Holy Trinity (God, Jesus, Holy Spirit)

Islam

Monotheistic, referred to as Allah

Judaism

Centered in Israel but has spread through the movement of people to Egypt, Europe, and elsewhere

Christianity

Spread from the Middle East to Europe with an Orthodox branch in the east and a Catholic branch in the west.

Islam

Spread from Arabian Peninsula to North Africa and the Iberian Peninsula, the majority of the Middle East, and the Indian Subcontinent.

Hinduism

Believes in a moral balance of things, karma, reincarnation, and eventual eternal bliss.

Hinduism

Concentrated in India but slightly spread to parts of South East Asia.

Buddhism

Desire is the root of all suffering, life is suffering, by eliminating desire one can eliminate suffering and reach Nirvana

Confucianism

Believed in the importance of interpersonal relationships. Superiors must love subordinates, subordinates must respect superiors.

Buddhism

Spread eastward from India along the Silk Road and Indian Ocean trade routes. Became popular in China and Japan.

Confucianism

Concentrated in China, and slightly spread to other parts of South East Asia.

Taoism/Daoism

Believes in allowing the universe to take its course. “Go with the flow”

Shintoism

Polytheistic, believes in spirits (Kami). Believes that everything has the potential to be both good and bad.

Zoroastrianism

Monotheistic, the only God is Ahura Mazda. Fire and water are important symbols of purity.

Shintoism

Never left Japan.

Zoroastrianism

Spread slightly along the Silk Road. Mainly stayed in the Persian world (Iran and Afghanistan).