World Belief Systems

Hearths ConceptsDiffusion

Judaism

• originated in Southwest Asia about 2000 BCE• first major ethical monotheism• Covenant

• founder: Abraham• sacred text: Torah and Talmud• sacred sites: Jerusalem (Western

Wall), land between the Mediterranean and the Jordan River

Judaism

• Ethnic Religion (very few converts)• social manifestation: Zionism • diffusion: into European cities during

the Diaspora, into N. America during WWII, into Israel over the last 50 years

The Western Wall and Cemetery in Prague

Great Synagogue (Czech Republic) and The Jewish Reconstructionist Congregation synagogue in Evanston, Ill.

Hinduism: Foundations

• Northern South Asia (Indus Valley)1800-1000 BCE-No specific founder

• Scholars interpreted the Vedic hymns into the Upanishads (750-550 BCE)

• Polytheistic: with a concept of unity• Caste system/varna: determines every

aspect of an individual life (dharma)• Concepts of reincarnation (transmigration)

• Way of Knowledge- yoga meditation• Way of Action- doing your job• Way of Devotion- worship

Brahma: The Creator

Vishnu: The Protector

Shiva: The

Destroyer

Hinduism:

• Ethnic religion• Diffusion limited to South Asia and

some parts of Southeast Asia (Bali) and the developed world• Trade routes• Relocation diffusion in Western world

(British colonialism)• Sacred sites: Ganges River and

thousands of holy sites.

• 750 million followers today

Largest Temple in New Deli

Buddhism

• Emerged as a protest to Hindu caste system 2500 years ago.

• founder: Siddartha (the Buddha) 525BCE• Atheistic: recognizing local

spirits/gods/traditions• Anyone can achieve salvation,

enlightenment• 4 noble truths• 8 fold path right knowledge, intentions,

speech, conduct, livelihood, effort, mindfulness and meditation.

Buddhism

• sacred sites: stupas contain relics of the Buddha

• Hearth: Nepal south to the Ganges River area.

• diffusion: most strongly into Tibet in the north and into East Asia • Relocation (monastic and missionary

traditions)• Chain migration• Trade routes

Christianity

• Hearth: Mediterranean 1st Century CE

• Founder: Jesus, split from Judaism• Basic concepts of ethical

monotheism• 10 commandments• Life of Jesus

• Early doctrinal split into Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholic 1054

Christianity

• Protestant revolution further split• Largest and globally dispersed (1.6

billion)• Diffusion: expansion and relocation

• strong missionary outreach• Follows colonial patterns

Africa

Thailand

Brazil

Greek Orthodox

France

Ohio

Islam

• originated on Arabian peninsula about 600CE- (newest of the big guys)

• ethical monotheistic religion• sacred text: Qu’ran• founder: Muhammad• sacred sites: Mecca, Medina,

Jerusalem• split in the church over succession:• Sunni Muslims (great majority)• Shi’ite Muslims (concentrated in Iran)

• Relocation/Chain/Conquest/Heirarchical: across Arabian peninsula, across North Africa, into Spain and also east into Southeast Asia, eventually Sub-Saharan Africa

Paris

Turkey

Tempe, AZ

Taoism

• Traced to prehistoric practices• Laozi, 250 BCE- text named for him• Diffused as different dynasties adopted

principles of the faith• Many small branches, but commonalities

focus on the concept of YIN/YANG • natural order, peace, vitality, receptiveness,

and flexibility are important and finally, action without action

• Tao literally means “the way” or the road/path emphasizing compassion, moderation, and humility

• The body is a microcosm of the universe (gain understanding of the universe, by understanding one’s self)

• Polytheistic with a hierarchy of gods, down to animist spirits

• # Taoists is hard to guess, due to a variety of factors including defining Taoism. Estimated that 400 million people practice Chinese folk religions

• Strongest in regions with high Chinese population, largest non Chinese following in Korea.

Taoist Architecture has no universal theme

Taiwan

Beverly Hills

Beijing

Ba’hai

• Youngest of the world faiths- Mid 1800s

• Founder Bahaullah drew from the previous teachings of; Zoroaster, Abraham, Buddha, Christ, Krishna, Muhammad

• Central Themes• Unity• Humanity is a single race, class, creed,

and nation• Gender equality• Universal education

Ba’hai

• Global distribution- 5 million followers worldwide- uninversalizing faith

• 189 countries- 2100 different ethnicities- 800 languages

• With stressing unity, there has been no sectarianism- policy is governed by the Guardianship and the Universal House of Justice (elected through direct voting)

• Holy sites in Israel (remains of founder) and

• No clergy- emphasis on individual, sermons, rituals

7 Houses of Worship: 9 sides central dome Ashkabad, Central Asia,

demolished in 1962.

Sydney, Australia

Kampala, Ugnada

Wilmette, IL

Langenhain, Germany

New Delhi, India

Panama City, Panama

Samoa

Proposed house of worship in Santiago, Chile