Download religions notes

World Religions and the
Classical Age
Codification and Development of
Existing Religions
•
Judaism
–Hebrew Scriptures reflect the influence of
Mesopotamian cultural and legal traditions
•Eye for an Eye justice
•God’s final judgment
–Assyrians, Babylonians, and Romans
conquered Jewish states
•Contributed to diasporic communities
Codification and Development of
Existing Religions
•
Hinduism
–Sanskrit scriptures = Vedas contribute to:
•Social and political
roles within caste
promoted
reincarnation system
doctrine
•Multiple forms of
Brahman
New Belief Systems

Buddhism – founded on beliefs
concerning desires, suffering, and the
search for enlightenment by Siddhartha
Gautama.
•Reaction to Hinduism
•Spread via Ashoka (Mauryan
Emperor), missionaries,
merchants
•Stressed Monasticism
New Belief Systems

Christianity – founded on teachings and
divinity of Jesus of Nazareth.
◦ Origins in Jewish faith but separated
from Judaism
◦ Despite Roman hostility, spreads via
missionaries and merchants
◦ Gained support in Rome
via Emperor Constantine’s conversion
◦ Monasticism
Read the following passage that
compares Christianity and
Buddhism

Using both the reading and the notes,
complete the diagram
Purpose: How was it possible that these diametrically opposed
religions managed each create a mass following during this time?
Compare Essay Toolbox
First step in preparing to write a compare essay is to carefully
examine what the question is asking you to compare and what
topic or topics will be used as the
source(es) of comparison.
For example: Compare and Contrast the major beliefs and
spread of Christianity and Buddhism
What is to be compared?
Christianity and Buddhism
__________________________________________
What is the topic or topics of comparison?
________________________________
Major Beliefs, Spread
Second step is to identify the most significant similarities and
differences within each topic
Third step is to provide evidence of these similarities and differences.
This can be key events, developments, dates or the work of a key
figure.
Finally, the fourth step is to analyze the reasons for the similarity and
difference.
Do not write an essay that dedicates one paragraph to similarities and
one paragraph to differences or one paragraph each about what is
being compared. You must generate direct comparisons. These
method tend to create indirect comparisons
Sometimes compare questions will not contain topics. In this case you
must develop your own. They should be broad enough to apply to
both civilizations and contain similarities and differences. This is what
we will do for our first compare essay of the year
Let’s examine some thesis statements below based on the question
above:
Make sure the thesis contains the following:
1. Addresses the themes and /or issues—In another words what is
being compared and the topics that will be used to do the comparing
2. Specify at least one similarity and one difference. Try to use the most
striking and significant ones available.
3. Insert analysis. This helps to add sophistication to a thesis statement.
Remember analysis means a reason for these comparisons
Incomplete/ poor thesis statements: There were many
similarities and differences between Christianity and Buddhism.
What is missing from the numbers
1. Topics 2. Sim. Diff. 3. Analysis
above?__________________
Incomplete/ average thesis statement: There were many
similarities and differences, in terms of major beliefs and
reasons for its spread, between Christianity and Buddhism.
What is missing from the numbers
above?____________________
2. Sim./Diff. 3. Analysis
Your task is to improve upon the thesis statements written on the
previous page and write an effective thesis that serves as a road map
to the rest of our essay. Start with specifying your similarities and
differences in the chart below.
Topics
1. Major Beliefs of
Buddhism and
Christianity
2. Spread of
Buddhism and
Christianity
Most striking and
significant similarity
Most striking and significant
difference
Think about beginning a thesis statement with words like
although, whereas, while, similar to, different from, both etc.
Write your thesis statement on the lines below.
_________________________________________________
_________________________________________________
_________________________________________________
_________________________________________________
_________________________________________________
_________________________________________________
_________________________________________________
_________________________________________________
_________________________________________________
_________________________________________________
_________________________________________________
_________________________________________________
_________________________________________________
_________________________________________________
_________________________________________________
New Belief Systems

Confucianism – founded to promote social
harmony by outlining proper rituals and
social relationships.
--Helpful in maintaining order in society
•Stressed importance of roles
in the 5 relationships
•Filial Piety
New Belief Systems

Daoism – founded on the belief that
balance between humans and nature is
supreme.
--Influenced Chinese culture in terms of:
•Medical theories and practices
•Poetry
Nature and Balance
•Architecture
Cultural Traditions

Greco-Roman philosophy and science
emphasized:
Plato’s political philosophy
Aristotle’s metaphysics
Questioning of religion

Shamanism and animism continued
because of reliance on outside world
Belief that natural events are explained by
spirits inhabiting objects and animals
Cultural Traditions

Ancestor veneration
◦
◦
◦
◦
Africa- Storytelling
Mediterranean
East Asia- Confucian tradition-Filial Piety
Andean States
Other Impacts
•
Gender Roles
– Belief systems impacted mostly negatively
– Religion reinforced Patriarchy
•
Artistic Expression
– Literature and Drama
Mythology
Bhagavad Gita
– Architectural Styles
•Greco-Roman and Buddhist Sculptures
(Columns and Arches)
Read chart
carefully,
Highlight
similarities
between
2 or more faiths
Cultural Traditions

Greco-Roman philosophy and science
emphasized:
•Logic
•Empirical observation
•Nature of political power and
hierarchy

Shamanism and animism continued
because of reliance on outside world.