1. Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, Judaism, and the
development of monotheism.

2.  Polytheistic
 Vedas-hymns and religious ceremonies-originally
passed down orally and then written down
 Reincarnation-Soul is reborn-reinforces the caste
system of India
 Karma- A persons action on Earth determine how the
soul shall be reborn
 Hinduism is mainly found in India

5. BUDDHISM

6.  Founded by Siddhartha Gautama, born in the 6th
century BC to a noble family in Northern India.
 Follows many of the beliefs of Hinduism, including
non-violence, self-denial, and to seek oneness with the
“Great World Soul”
 Rejects the caste system and numerous gods

7.  Based on the ideas of Confucius-Analects
 Living in a time of confusion and chaos in
China, he sought to restore order through a basic
set of ideas…the universe has an order, therefore
mankind should focus on order in human
behavior.
 Focus on the 5 relationships and do what is right and
there will be order.

9.  Abraham (initial covenant with God), Moses (led
Hebrews out of slavery in Egypt), David (king of Israel
who established the political state of the Jews & built
the TEMPLE)
Human behavior is a part of
 Ethical monotheism-
covenantal (agreement between God and
humans) relationship with the one God
 10 Commandments
 Torah
 “Promised Land”
 Messiah

12.  Gradual development
 Mesopotamian civilizations-each city-state had a
patron deity
 Egypt-Pharaoh Akhenaton claims to be a supreme god.
 India-references in the Rig Veda
 Zoroastrianism- Ahura Mazda is a supreme deity
 Abrahamic religions (Judaism, Christianity, and
Islam): One supreme God; Yahweh or Allah