1. Buddhism
Hearth = South Asia - originated in India as a reform movement of Hinduism
Founded by Siddhartha Gautama or the Buddha in 5th cent. BC
A strongly regional faith-it remains strong in SE Asia, China and Japan, but died out in India
Four Noble Truths and the Eight Fold Path are the guiding principles
Giant golden Buddha at Phra Phuttha Chinnarat in Thailand draws pilgrims from all over Southeast Asia

3. Buddhism came to Tibet from India in the 8th century (contagious diffusion) then spread into China
Spiritual leaders are called monks (lamas in Tibet)
A prayer wheel contains a mantra, a prayer or chant that is repeated many times. Each turn of the wheel counts as a prayer said and merit gained.

4. Sacred Landscapes of Buddhism
Buddhist temples
Buddhist monasteries

5. Judaism Hearth = Eastern Mediterranean
One of the world’s oldest religions
Monotheistic
3 branches - Orthodox, Conservative and Reformed
Not evangelical-does not seek converts
Concentrated in Israel, but widely scattered globally
Yemeni Jew in 1914 reads from the sacred Torah
Total number is about 18 million world wide
19th cent. Reform movement-goal to update Judaism
Orthodox wanted to keep old precepts
Conservative-less strictly Orthodox, but not as much change as Reformed.

6. Sacred Site of Jerusalem
Jerusalem is sacred to three major religions: Islam, Christianity and Judaism

7. Western Wall, Jerusalem