3 Western, 3 Eastern

 Old Testament tells their story (The Bible)  David vs. Goliath  Next Solomon makes Israel regional power ◦ Divides country between sons & Israel gone until 1948!!! Newman renders decision on Seinfeld

 Monotheism ◦ Yahweh ◦ 10 Commandments 10 Commandments  From God to Moses From God to Moses  Makes them hard to assimilate  Grandfather of “Western” Religions

 Born a Jew in the Roman Empire under Augustus. ◦ Historically proven by other sources.  His Teachings: ◦ Monotheistic Trinity, Separate Church & State, New Testament

 Caesars claimed to be of divine origin  Economic loss as much trade centered around old temple gods  Threat to the culture & society if people not united  CRUCIFIXION

 Peter builds Church as first Pope (not divine). ◦ ALL Christians were Catholic (universal)  Hunted down by Rome  Constantine at Milvian Bridge ◦ Chiros - IHSV  Edict of Milan converts Europe

 Found gods in nature & chief god was Allah ◦ The Ka’aba  Story of Muhammad (not divine), Gabriel & the Koran (part 3 of the Bible)

 The Five Pillars of Islam 1.Pledge to Allah “There is no god but Allah & Muhammad is His messenger.” 2.Pray 5 times per day 3.Give alms to poor 4.Fast in Ramadan 5.Pilgrimage to Mecca  SHARI’AH LAW

 Allah isn’t chief god, he is the ONLY god  The Ka’aba was his gift  Politics & religion are the same, NO separation  Polytheist Animists HATE Mohammed  He flees to Medina, build army, conquers Mid East

 Conquered India in c 1500 BC  Had a Monotheistic “Force” called Brahman ◦ Our souls (atman) seek to join with Brahman in death  Religious practices kept in the holy Vedas

 c 600 BC – Couldn’t perfect atman in one life = REINCARNATION  KARMA – invisible scoreboard of life  DHARMA – universal (unseen) rule book  YOGA – spiritual exercises

 Explains past sins or piety in terms of birth  One god couldn’t do everything… ◦ Brahma - Creates ◦ Vishnu - Preserves ◦ Shiva – Destroys  33K +!!! Top three are Aryans, bottom two not

 Born a Hindu in Nepal ◦ King Suddhodana protected life of happiness until 29  A shocking discovery, life as a hermit and the Middle Path The Truman Show Movie Trailer

 Problems with Hinduism- ◦ Reincarnation & Wheel of Life ◦ No escaping the “stacked pancakes”  Buddhism and Nirvana (by eliminating evil in the world)

 The Tripitaka is the Buddhist Holy Book (40 Volumes)

 China in horrible civil war.  K’ung Fu-tzu ( BC) worked for city-state of Lu. ◦ Asked why things so bad?  King Wu & the Duke of Zhou  5 Key Relationships RIGID social hierarchy to guide society = PEACE & STABILITY

 Face ◦ You must appear to be that which you are. If not, you have broken the relationship & no obligations exist.

 Mandate of Heaven ◦ Emperor rules because god chose him to be born  If he loses face, citizens don’t have to treat him as emperor… ◦ REVOLUTION!!!

 Confucian “Bible” ◦ Book of Quotations  Tells how to live by avoiding excess in all of its forms.