1. Origins and Expansion

2.  Hinduism  Evolved slowly over a very long period of time  Indus RVC onward  NO ONE FOUNDER  No single set of beliefs  Religion is meant to liberate the soul from everyday existence

3.  Hinduism Cont.  Polytheistic Belief Structure  Many Gods  3 Main Deities  Brahma  The Creator  Vishnu  The Protector  Shiva  The Destroyer

4.  Hinduism  Belief in Reincarnation and a Soul’s Karma  Karma – the good or bad deeds one does  Followers believe that you live this life as a punishment / reward for your previous lives.

5.  Buddhism  Founded by Siddhartha Gautama  Same area of the world as Hinduism  Specifically was from modern day Nepal  Wandered through India looking for enlightenment

6.  Buddhism 4 Noble Truths  Life is filled with suffering and sorrow  The cause of all suffering is people’s selfish desire for the pleasures of this world  The way to end all suffering is to end all desires  The way to overcome such desires and attain enlightenment is to follow the Eightfold Path.

7.  Buddhism Cont  Following the Eightfold Path leads to Nirvana  Buddhism does involve Reincarnation  Reincarnation is not infinite though  Stops once one reaches pure enlightenment

8.  Founding  Tradition dictates that a man named Abraham founded Judaism  Raised in Ur around 1800 B.C.  Left and traveled around with his family  Made a covenant with his god to be faithful Judaism

9.  Judaism Cont  Judaism is one of the oldest monotheistic religions.  Perhaps the oldest still in practice today  Other Jewish leaders added to the religion  Moses – 10 Commandments  Laws governed society

10.  Judaism Cont.  The Jewish God was/is named Yahweh  Different because Yahweh was incorporeal  Other society’s Gods were idols or linked to a specific spot  Yahweh was everywhere.