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A Comparative Look at the World's Religions
by Laura Ellen Shulman
Introducing the world's religions
(the "who", "what", "where" and "when"
of religions)
What are they? Where are they? - the geography of religion:
Major religions: Religions that are high in population, widespread
throughout the world, the basis upon which other religions were built and/or
otherwise highly influential:
| Ethnic Religions |
World Religions |
Judaism (Western)
Hinduism (India) |
Christianity (Western)
Islam (Middle East, Africa, Asia)
Buddhism (South East Asia) |
Minor Religions: Religions that are limited in population,
geographic locale and/or influence
When began & by whom? - A brief history of religion:
: in India (no particular person is founder)
pre-Hindu indigenous religion: 3500? BCE (or earlier). Vedic religion of
Aryan invaders enters India around 1500 BCE. Hindu Upanishads (transitional
period of philosophical speculation, origin of Hinduism proper): 8th - 4th
centuries BCE
Judaism : 1900-1200 BCE by Abraham & Moses in Middle
East
Zoroastrianism : tenth to sixth century BCE by Zarathustra
in Persia (Iran)
Buddhism : sixth century BCE by Siddartha Gautama in India
(grew out of Hinduism)
Jainism : fully developed in sixth century BCE by
Vardhamana Mahavira in India (legendary Jainism goes back beyond the Vedic
tradition)
Taoism : sixth century BCE by Lao Tzu in China
Confucianism : sixth century BCE by Confucius in China
Shinto : primitive Shinto developed in Japan beginning in
the fifth century BCE; fully developed by sixth century CE (no particular
person is founder)
Christianity : first century CE by Jesus & his
followers in Mediterranean (grew out of Judaism)
Islam : seventh century CE by Muhammad in Saudi Arabia
(influenced by Judaism, Christianity & ancient Arabian religion)
Sikhism : sixteenth century CE by Guru Nanak in India
(influenced by Hinduism & Islam)
Baha'i : mid 19th century by Baha'u'llah in Persia (Iran)
(grew out of Islam)
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