ORIGIN OF WORLD RELIGIONS

Week II

I. HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

1. Three main categories of world religion

1. ABRAHAMIC RELIGIONS 2. DHARMIC RELIGIONS 3. DAOIC RELIGIONS

A. Judaism A. Hinduism A. Confucianism

B. Christianity B. Theravada Buddhism B. Daoism

C. Islam C. Mahayana Buddhism C. Shintoism

2. Historical Background (Abrahamic Religion)

Similarities and Judaism Christianity Islam

Differences

As to ancestry Abraham is an ancestor of They have the same view as They consider
the Israelites, through his that of Judaism, however, Abraham’s son Ishmael
descendants Isaac and they also view Abraham as as the ancestor of the
Jacob. “father in faith” as narrated Arabs.
in the Bible and the ancestor
of Jesus Christ.

As to basic They call their God Trinity – God the Father, Allah
tenets in their Elohim, Adoni, or Yahweh. God the Son, God the Holy
belief – they all But present-day Judaism Spirit
worship ONE uses the name “Lord” or
supreme being “God”

As to prophets 48 prophets and 7 It considers as prophets It has several prophets

and apostles prophetesses. They those of the Judaism found and Muhammad is the
include Abraham, Isaac, in the Old Testament. final prophet or the
Jacob, Moses, Aaron, “Seal of the Prophets.”
Joshua
It has 12 apostles found in
the New Testament.

As to divine God instructed Abraham to sacrifice his son Isaac at God commanded
intervention or Mount Moriah Muhammad to
establish a new religion
God presented the 10 Commandments to Moses at
 revelation Mount Sinai. at a cave in Mount
Hira.
God sacrificed his son Jesus
Christ through crucifixion as
the plan to salvation

3. Historical Background (Indian Mosaic)

India is one of the oldest surviving civilizations. Due to the many conquerors that came to India, and
the movement of people to and from India, it has developed a very diverse culture, languages,
literature, beliefs and many facets of their culture. This is the reason why it is called “mosaic.” These
influenced the diversity of religion of India.

Religion is an essential part of the Indian tradition. In fact, India is considered the melting pot of
world religions. This is because it is the only country that has produced four major world religions,
namely: Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and Sikhism, and a myriad of minor cults and local sects.

4. Historical Background (Indian Mosaic)

Hinduism as “museum of religions”

Hinduism reflects the heterogeneity of Indian culture.

Unlike other religions, it has no sacred book, and it has innumerable gods and goddesses.

5. Historical Background (Indian Mosaic)

Buddhism centers its attention to a human being, the figure of the Buddha.

Siddhartha Gautama Buddha, the revered founder, was born at the end of the 6 th century B.C.E. He
came from an aristocratic family, yet, he left the life of aristocracy and lived a life of simplicity.

His life and teachings gained a lot of converts and his influence spread from India to Sri Lanka and to
Southeast Asia. The religion was transported to China and it reached Korea, Japan, and Vietnam. Across
the Himalayas, it reached the Tibetan lands.

6. Historical Background (The Way of the Dao)

Two great philosophers emerged in China, Confucius and Laozi.

7. Historical Background (The Way of the Dao)

 Confucianism, has provided a backdrop for traditional Chinese values. Chinese dynasties used
Confucian morals and political ideals that became influential among the Chinese people.

Confucius writing frequently dwell upon the theme of the Dao understood as being the truth or way
things ought to be done concordant with a specific view to life, politics and customs.

8. Historical Background (The Way of the Dao)

Laozi, believed to be a contemporary of Confucius, was alleged to be the author of Dao De Jing (Tao
Te Ching or The Book of the Way and its Power).

He is believed to be the founder of Daoism.

9. Historical Background (The Way of the Dao)

SHINTOISM

It is somewhat an ardent religious form of Japanese patriotism.

The term originated from the Chinese words shen and tao roughly translated as the “way of the
gods”. It was coined around the 16th century C.E. to distinguish native belief system from the
imported religions of China and Korea, including Buddhism, Daoism, and Confucianism.

II. CULTURAL MILIEU

1. ON MONOTHEISM AND UNIVERSALITY

The three Abrahamic religions believe in a One God.

Christianity, however, differ in a sense that it acknowledges three persons in a one God: the
Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

The basic principles of the Muslim faith are reflected in the “Five Pillars of Islam.” The first pillar
states that “there is no God but Allah.” Muslims are urged to worship Allah alone and avoid veneration
of transitory things of the world.

Judaism called their God YHWH.

• Christianity and Islam are considered universalizing religions.

• Judaism can be considered an ethnic religion.

2. ON THE CONCEPT OF DHARMA

In Hinduism, dharma could mean duty, righteousness, ethics. For Buddhism, it means cosmic
law and order, or the teachings of the Buddha and the truth of the way things are.
 For the followers of dharmic religions, meditational and yoga rituals lead to right behavior and
ultimate understanding of the universe.

3. ON NATURE AND ANCESTORS

The elements of cult of heaven and ancestor worship are features of ancient Chinese culture
integrated into the Confucian philosophy and belief.

In Shintoism, divinities closely linked to nature and natural forces. The sacred Mount Fuji, and
abode of Japanese gods, is surrounded by temples and shrines.
III. GEOGRAPHY OF FAITH