 Founding
Father

Abraham

Monotheistic
2. Famine drove the Hebrews out of their homeland
to Egypt. Egypt enslaved the Hebrews
3. Moses led the Hebrews out of Egypt in the
“Exodus", and recorded his peoples religion in the
Torah (including the Ten Commandments)
1.
2.
Jews founded and
continued the 1st
monotheistic
religion
Because of their
unique religion
they were
persecuted
 Main
religion of Persia, though other religions were
tolerated
 Monotheistic
 Belief in 2 opposing forces (good and evil) in the
world
Ahura Mazda, God of Zoroastrianism
Persepolis, Iran
Buddhism and Hinduism
-worship of many forms of one deity
-belief in reincarnation (cycles of
rebirth)
-belief in karma (good behavior in your
present life will raise your status in
the next)
-sacred texts are the Vedas and
Upanishads
**Founded by Siddhartha Gautama (Buddha)
Major Points
 Uphold the 4 Noble Truths
 Follow the Eightfold Path to Enlightenment
Confucianism and Taoism (Daoism)
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
People are naturally good
Respect elders
Follow code of politeness
Emphasis on education
Ancestor worship
1.
2.
3.
4.
Be humble
Live simply
Find inner peace
Live in harmony with
nature
Founder: Lao Tzu
 In
both philosophies, yin and yang represent how
opposite forces are interconnected in the natural
world
Had its roots in Judaism
1.


1st Christians were all Jewish by either birth or
conversion—known as the “Jewish Christians”
Originally revered the Jewish Bible; added the
gospels and letters of Paul, etc. as they developed
Was led by Jesus of Nazareth,
who was proclaimed
the Messiah
2.


Exact birth and death unsure
4 BC-30ish BC
Monotheism
Jesus as both Son and incarnation (“embodied in
flesh”) of God
Life after Death (Heaven or Hell)
New Testament—sacred text
1.
2.
3.
4.

Contains accounts of the life and teachings of Jesus, as
well as writings of early Christians
Christian doctrine established by early church
councils
5.

Council of Nicaea, 325 AD—decided which books became
part of the Bible we have today

Mosque:


Allah:


The Word of God
Mecca and Medina:


“God” (monotheistic)
Qur’an (Koran):


Muslim place of worship
Important Cities on Arabian Peninsula
Muslim: Follower of Islam

Literally means: “One who submits”
 Muhammad,
“Founder” and
Prophet

Born in 570 AD, in Mecca
Accept Judeo-Christian prophets,
including Abraham and Jesus