the spread of world religions foundations lesson 6

The Spread The Spread of World of World ReligionsReligions

Foundations Lesson 6Foundations Lesson 6

Main Ideas:Main Ideas:• The Axial Age:The Axial Age: era from 500 BCE-500 era from 500 BCE-500

CE in which major world religious & CE in which major world religious & philosophical movements spread across philosophical movements spread across the E Hemispherethe E Hemisphere

• Religions spread based on ease of Religions spread based on ease of conversion and economic conditionsconversion and economic conditions

• Some religions fail to spread due to Some religions fail to spread due to cultural restrictionscultural restrictions

Why Religions Why Religions SpreadSpread

• Have universal appealHave universal appeal

• Conversion relatively Conversion relatively easyeasy

• Culture or location Culture or location promotes exchange (via promotes exchange (via trade)trade)

Why Religions Why Religions SpreadSpread

• BuddhismBuddhism– 4 Noble Truths reflect 4 Noble Truths reflect humanhuman problems problems– New Buddhists must simply follow teachingsNew Buddhists must simply follow teachings– Spreads from India via Silk Roads & Indian Spreads from India via Silk Roads & Indian

OceanOcean

Why Religions Why Religions SpreadSpread

• ChristianityChristianity– Focus on Focus on

brotherhoodbrotherhood of all of all menmen

– Baptism = ChristianBaptism = Christian– Spreads quickly Spreads quickly

through Roman through Roman world, then beyond world, then beyond via trade routes (St. via trade routes (St. Paul)Paul)

Why Religions Why Religions SpreadSpread

• IslamIslam– Emphasis on people Emphasis on people

as children of Allahas children of Allah

– Conversion = Conversion = affirmation of faithaffirmation of faith

– Spread by caravan Spread by caravan and war across Asia and war across Asia & Africa& Africa

Why Religions Don’t Why Religions Don’t SpreadSpread• Tend to be exclusive Tend to be exclusive

of new believersof new believers

• Rites of conversion Rites of conversion difficult difficult

• Interwoven into Interwoven into culture/societyculture/society

Why Religions Don’t Why Religions Don’t SpreadSpread

• JudaismJudaism

– Concept of the “Chosen People”Concept of the “Chosen People”

– Conversion requires years of intensive Conversion requires years of intensive studystudy

Why Religions Don’t Why Religions Don’t SpreadSpread

• HinduismHinduism– Religion closely Religion closely

linked to social linked to social castescastes

– Ancient, complex Ancient, complex faith hard to master faith hard to master if an outsider to if an outsider to Hindu cultureHindu culture

Why Religions Don’t Why Religions Don’t SpreadSpread• ConfucianismConfucianism

– Deification of a Deification of a Chinese philosopherChinese philosopher

– Principles intended to Principles intended to apply to apply to ChineseChinese society & culturesociety & culture

Impacts of the Impacts of the SpreadSpread

• Regional commonalities provide Regional commonalities provide somesome unity during interaction (trade, war)unity during interaction (trade, war)

• Reflects Reflects a degreea degree of openness in of openness in adoptive societiesadoptive societies

• Becomes a conduit for cultural Becomes a conduit for cultural exchange, migration, etc.exchange, migration, etc.