Comprehensive Overview of World Religions: Beliefs, Texts, and Cultural Impact

Monotheistic

Belief in one single god.

Polytheistic

Belief in multiple gods.

Nontheistic

Belief in no god.

Hinduism type

Polytheistic

Sacred Text of Hinduism

The Vedas.

Caste System

A social hierarchy in India associated with Hinduism.

Who founded Zoroastrianism?

Zoroaster

Zoroastrianism type

monotheistic

When was Zoroastrianism founded?

Around 1500 BCE

Where was Zoroastrianism founded?

In the Middle East

What key concepts does Zoroastrianism emphasize?

Free will, right vs. wrong, and final judgment

Sacred Text of Zoroastrianism

Zend Avesta.

Judaism type

Monotheistic

Judaism founder

Abraham founded in the Middle East around 1500 BCE.

Sacred Text of Judaism

Torah.

Judaism beliefs

10 commandments, enthicity, religion, synagogue

Diasporic Communities (judaism)

Communities living outside their homeland.

Confucianism type

Nontheistic

Confucianism founder

Confucius in East Asia (China) around 500 BCE

Confucianism beliefs

strong family relationships (filial piety) and social harmony, govt through training

Christianity type

Monotheistic

Christianity founder

founded by Jesus of Nazareth in the Middle East in the 1st century CE

Christianity beliefs

Jesus as the messiah and son of God, resurrection, ascension

Sacred Text of Christianity

The Bible.

Buddhism type

Nontheistic

Buddhism founder

Siddhartha Gautama in South Asia (India) around the 5th century BCE

Buddhism beliefs

Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path.

Sacred Text of Buddhism

Tripitaka.

Sikhism type

Monotheistic

Sikhism founder

Guru Nanak in South Asia in the 16th century CE

Sacred Text of Sikhism

Granth Sahib.

Islam type

Monotheistic

Islam founder

Muhammad in the 7th century CE,

Islam Beliefs

Mecca and Medina, 5 Pillars

Sacred Text of Islam

Qur'an (Koran).

Animism

ancestral and spirit worship (inanimated objects)

Hinduism when founded

unknown person founded in South Asia around 2500 BCE

Hinduism beliefs

one God, karma, and reincarnation.

Animism founded

Sub-Saharan Africa and South America