EARLY WORLD
RELIGIONS
Hinduism
Buddhism
Confucianism
Legalism
Daoism
Judaism
Christianity
(Islam will be in the next unit)
Religions
of South
Asia
Religion in the Subcontinent
Hinduism
What is Hinduism?
• One of the oldest religions
– About 1500 B.C.E.
– Began in India
• Gave birth to Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism
• Tolerance and diversity
– "Truth is one, paths are many“
– “There is only one God, but endless are his aspects and
endless are his names”
– “We are not human beings having spiritual experiences;
We are spiritual beings having a human experience!”
What do Hindus believe?
• Hinduism has no formal theology that defines God
• It is henotheistic (acknowledging many but
worshiping only one)
• Brahman—One impersonal Ultimate Reality
– Manifest as many personal deities
• Atman—The soul, Brahma trapped in matter
• Samsara—Reincarnation – atman is continually born
into this world lifetime after lifetime
• Karma—Spiritual impurity due to actions keeps us
bound to this world (good and bad)
• Moksha—Ultimate goal of life – to release Atman
and reunite with the divine, becoming as one with
Brahman
• Vedas—Truth: myths, rituals, chants
Major gods of the Hindu Pantheon
Brahma, the creator god
Vishnu, the preserver god
Shiva, god of constructive destruction
(the transformer)
What are the spiritual
practices of Hinduism?
• Yoga—seeking union with the divine:
• Guru—a spiritual teacher, especially helpful for
Jnana and Raja yoga
• Bhakti Yoga—worship, seeking union with the
divine through loving devotion to manifest deities
• In the home (household shrines)
• In the temples (priests officiate)
How does Hinduism direct
life in this world?
• Respect for all life – vegetarian
• Human life as supreme:
– Four “stations” of life (Caste) - priests &
teachers, nobles & warriors, merchant class,
servant class
– Four stages of life – student, householder,
retired, wandering philosopher
– Four duties of life – pleasure, success, social
responsibilities, religious responsibilities
(moksha)
Buddhism
The essence of
Buddhism
 The “middle way of wisdom
and compassion.”
 The 3 jewels of Buddhism:
 Buddha, the teacher.
 Dharma, the teachings.
 Sangha, the community.
Siddhartha Gautama (563-483





BCE)
Born as prince in NE India
(Nepal)
At 29 rejected luxurious
life to seek enlightenment
and source of suffering
Lived a strict, ascetic
life for 6 yrs
Rejecting this extreme, sat in
meditation and found nirvana
Became “The Enlightened One,” at
35
What is the
fundamental cause of
all suffering?
Desire!
 Therefore, extinguish the self,
don’t obsess about oneself.
Four Noble Truths
1. There is suffering in the world.
To live is to suffer.
2. The cause of suffering is selfcentered desire and attachments.
3. The solution is to eliminate desire
and attachments.
4. To reach nirvana, one must follow
the Eightfold Path.
Eightfold Path
Nirvana
 The union with the ultimate
spiritual reality.
 Escape from the cycle of
rebirth.
Buddha –
19c Thailand
Buddha
2c
Pakistan
–
Mandala: Wheel of Life
Motifs

Types of
Buddhism
Therevada
Buddhism
The oldest school of Buddhism.
Found in southern Asia.
Focus on wisdom and meditation.
Goal: is to become a “Buddha,” or
“Enlightened One.”
 Mahayana Buddhism
Founded in northern Asia (China, Japan).
Buddhism “for the masses.”
Goal: Not just individual escape from the
wheel, but the salvation of all humanity
through self-sacrifice of those enlightened
few.

Types of
Zen Buddhism
Buddhism
Seeks sudden enlightenment through
meditation, arriving at emptiness
Use of meditation masters
Beauty, art, and aesthetics, such as gardens &
calligraphy
 Tibetan Buddhism
Developed in Tibet in the 7c CE.
A mix of Theravada and Mahayana
Include Lamas, like the Dalai Lama
Growth of Buddhism
Hinduism
only
Caste system
Animal sacrifice
Both
Reincarnation
Cyclical view of history
Belief in a state of
enlightenment (Hindu
moksha, Buddhist
nirvana)
Buddhism
only
The Middle Way
(Eightfold Path)
Four Noble
Truths
Confucianism
* 551 – 479 B.C.E.
* Born in the feudal
state of Liu
* Became a teacher
and editor of books
Li --> Rite, rules, ritual decorum (Binding
force of an enduring stable society)
Ren --> humaneness, benevolence,
humanity
Shu --> Reciprocity, empathy
Do not do unto others what you would
not want others to do unto you.
Yi --> Righteousness
Xiao --> Filial Piety (Respect your elders!)
* Status
* Age
* Gender
1. Ruler
Subject
2. Father
Son
3. Husband
Wife
4. Older
Brother
Younger
Brother
5. Older
Friend
Younger
Friend
* The single most important Confucian
work.
*Knowing what he knows and knowing what
he
doesn’t know, is characteristics of the person
who knows.
*Making a mistake and not correcting it, is
making another mistake.
*The superior man blames himself; the
inferior man blames others.
*To go too far is as wrong as to fall short.
* The emperor is the example of
proper behavior --> “big daddy”
* Social relationships are based on
“rites” or “rituals”
* Even religious rituals are
important for SOCIAL, not
religious reasons
INDIA
CHINA
1. Brahmin
1. Scholar-Gentry
2. Kshatriyas
2. Peasants
3. Vaishyas
3. Artisans
4. Shudras
4. Merchants
Untouchables
Domestic Slaves
Legalism
* 280? - 233 B.C.E.
* Late Warring States
period
* Legalism became
political philosophy of
Qin [Ch’in] Dynasty
1. Human nature is naturally selfish.
2. Intellectualism and literacy is
discouraged.
3. Law is the supreme authority and
replaces morality.
4. The ruler must rule with a strong,
punishing hand.
5. War is the means of strengthening
a ruler’s power.
One who favors the principle
that individuals should obey
a powerful authority rather
than exercise individual
freedom.
Daoism
*604 B.C.E. - ?
* His name means
“Old Master”
* Was he Confucius’
teacher?
1. Dao [Tao] is the first-cause of the
universe. It is a force that flows through
all life.
2. A believer’s goal is to become one with
Dao; one with nature.
3. Wu wei --> “Let nature take its course.”
--> “The art of doing nothing.”
--> “Go with the flow!”
4. Man is unhappy because he lives according
to man-made laws, customs & traditions that
are contrary to the ways of nature.
To escape the “social, political, & cultural
traps” of life, one must escape by:
1. Rejecting formal knowledge and
learning.
2. Relying on the senses and instincts.
3. Discovering the nature and
“rhythm” of the universe.
4. Ignoring political and social laws.
* Masculine
* Feminine
* Active
* Passive
* Light
* Darkness
* Warmth
* Cold
* Strong
* Weak
* Heaven;
Sun
* Earth;
Moon
How is a man to live in a world
dominated by chaos, suffering, and
absurdity??
Confucianism --> Moral order in society
Legalism --> Rule by harsh law & order
Daoism --> Freedom for individuals and
less government to avoid
uniformity and conformity
Judaism
5
Judaism
Monotheistic, believing in one true God
Omniscient, omnipotent, and omnipresent
Unity and singularity of God as He is
revealed though Torah
Sh’ma–cornerstone of all Jewish belief.
Deuteronomy 6:4 – “Hear, O Israel: The Lord
our God, the Lord is one.”
Israelites believed they were God’s “chosen
people.”
They believed that God would lead them to
“promised land.”
Judaism
Born in grace, live in grace, and die in grace
 Sin is not a fact of birth, it is a matter of choice
Olam Ha-Ba: “The World to Come”



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Messiah will reign
Jewish temple will be rebuilt
Nation of Israel will be fully restored
World order of justice and compassion.
5
Teachings on Law and Morality
Jewish prophets, or spiritual leaders,
preached code of ethics, or moral standards of
behavior
Torah—laws that addressed all aspects of
life, from cleanliness and food preparation to
criminal matters
Ten Commandments
Significant Jewish “Holy” Days
Shabbat – Sabbath–day of rest
Friday sundown through Saturday sundown
Prohibited: work, travel, commerce
Yom Kippur –"Day of Atonement"
Atone for sins of past year – sins between man and God
On Yom Kippur, judgments of God are entered into “the
books” and then sealed
Rosh Hashanah –New Year, plan better life and
begin introspection
 Passover –commemorate Israelites’ escape from
Egypt
Personal journey from slavery to freedom
Christianity
EARLY CHRISTIANITY
• Roots
– Judaism
– Teachings of John the Baptist, Jesus, and
apostles
• Earliest converts were Jews who did not
think they were breaking away from
Hebrew Law
– Early Christians wished to be considered
Jews
• Jewish religion officially recognized by Roman
government and its adherents had certain
privileges
BELIEFS
• Based on belief that Jesus is the
Christ/Messiah, the son of God
– One of Trinity
• God the Father, Son, Holy Spirit
– Teachings
• In Gospels
• 12 disciples
– Death at 33
• By believing in Jesus, his followers will
go to Heaven at their death
• Bible is Word of God
• Holy days—Christmas & Easter
EARLY WORLD
RELIGIONS
Hinduism
Buddhism
Confucianism
Legalism
Daoism
Judaism
Christianity
(Islam will be in the next unit)