early religious belief systems

Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, Judaism, and the development of monotheism.

Polytheistic

Vedas-hymns and religious ceremonies-originally passed down orally and then written down

Reincarnation-Soul is reborn-reinforces the caste system of India

Karma- A persons action on Earth determine how the soul shall be reborn

Hinduism is mainly found in India

BUDDHISM

Founded by Siddhartha Gautama, born in the 6th

century BC to a noble family in Northern India.

Follows many of the beliefs of Hinduism, including non-violence, self-denial, and to seek oneness with the “Great World Soul”

Rejects the caste system and numerous gods

Based on the ideas of Confucius-Analects

Living in a time of confusion and chaos in China, he sought to restore order through a basic set of ideas…the universe has an order, therefore mankind should focus on order in human behavior.

Focus on the 5 relationships and do what is right and there will be order.

Abraham (initial covenant with God), Moses (led Hebrews out of slavery in Egypt), David (king of Israel who established the political state of the Jews & built the TEMPLE)

Ethical monotheism- Human behavior is a part of covenantal (agreement between God and humans) relationship with the one God

10 Commandments

Torah

“Promised Land”

Messiah

Gradual development

Mesopotamian civilizations-each city-state had a patron deity

Egypt-Pharaoh Akhenaton claims to be a supreme god.

India-references in the Rig Veda

Zoroastrianism- Ahura Mazda is a supreme deity

Abrahamic religions (Judaism, Christianity, and Islam): One supreme God; Yahweh or Allah