Hinduism

Hinduism is a monotheistic religion with no

founder. Their main god is Brahman, and other
gods are just various expressions of Brahman.
It’s not centrally organized, and has a holy book
called Vedas which is a collection of the 4
sacred texts. They believe in karma and
reincarnation, and work by the caste system. It
started over 4000 years ago, and is the oldest
religion. Before the advent of Christianity, it
spread into Southeast Asia. Its point of
origination is in the present day Indus River
Valley. It then spread eastward and began
evolving in Pakistan. Hinduism reached its
fullest development in India and spread into the
rest of Southeast Asia through unknown
processes. Since Hinduism is not a
universalizing religion, relocation diffusion has
made pockets of Hinduism all around the world,
instead of a certain region. Migration such as
British Colonialism has affected how Hinduism
moved as a whole.

Buddhism
This religion was originally founded by Prince
Siddhartha, who would later be known as
Buddha. Buddhism is similar to Hinduism in its
belief, except it doesn’t work with the Caste
System. They believed salvation could be
attained by anyone, and enlightenment would
come through knowledge, elimination of greed,
cravings, and desires, and honesty. They didn’t
believe in hurting people or animals. Buddhism
originated over 2500 years ago in Nepal. After
Buddha’s death in 489 BCE, the religion grew
slowly until the 3rd century, when Emperor
Asoka helped it spread to Sri Lanka, West
towards the Mediterranean, North towards
Tibet, and East to China, Korea, Japan, Vietnam
and Indonesia over a span of 10 centuries. When
Hinduism reasserted itself in India, less people
practiced Buddhism, although it thrives in Sri
Lanka, Southeast Asia, Nepal, Tibet, and Korea.
Emperor Asoka helped how the religion spread
out by sending out missionaries to carry out the
religion.
 Shintoism
Shintoism was made the state religion of Japan
by the Emperor in the 19th century. This religion
is related to Buddhism, and focuses on nature
and ancestor worship. It also makes the emperor
the divine-right monarch. After World War II,
Japan separated Shintoism from the emperor.
Shintoism evolved in Japan when Buddhism
came and diffused with local religions. The
religion spread through Japan due to the fact
that the emperor made it the state religion.

Taoism
Taoism was started by Lao-Tsu, who was an
older contemporary of Confucius. It focuses on
proper political rule, and that the best
government is the least government. They
believe in the oneness of humanity and nature,
and Feng Shui, which is organizing living
spaces in order to best channel the life forces.
They respect simplicity, spontaneity, tenderness,
and tranquility, and believe that people and
animals are the objects of worship. It started in
mid 3rd century China, and while Buddhism was
gaining converts in India, it was spreading as
well. It is still located in China because Chinese
cultures have been trying to keep their religions
intact in order to keep their culture. It diffused
all through Southeast Asia and Europe and to
North America by migration.

Confucianism
Confucianism was founded by Confucius, who
believed the real meaning of life lay in the
present, not future abstract existence. The
religion also said that service to fellow humans
should supersede service to spirits. It was
basically Confucius’ philosophy of life. After
Confucius’ death in 479 BCE, the religion
started spreading out more to Southeast Asia,
and to societies ranging from Europe to North
America in about 2000 years. It started in China,
and is mostly preserved in China despite the
government trying to temper the religion. It
spread out through immigration.
 Judaism
Judaism is monotheistic, and based on the
teachings of Abraham, the founder of the
religion. They believed that if they believe in
God, then God will protect his chosen people
(The Jews). It started 4000 years ago in
Southwest Asia, Jerusalem, in Israel. In 70CE,
Romans destroyed their holy city which drove
the Jews away and in turn spread out the faith.
They retained a small presence near the
Mediterranean until about the 19th century. It
started in Southwest Asia, and the reason it’s
located where it is today is because of Diaspora
and migration after the Roman Massacre.
Christianity
Christianity was started by Jesus, who was
believed to be the son of God placed on Earth to
teach people how to live according to Gods
plan. It is monotheistic, and their holy book is
the Bible. The three main types of Christianity
are Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, and
Protestant. It started around 30 AD, and
worldwide diffusion of Christianity occurred
mostly during the era of European colonialism
in the 16th century. It originated from the same
hearth as Judaism in the Mediterranean;
Jerusalem, in present day Israel. Christianity is
located where it is today mostly due to
European Colonialism, and it moved by
migration.
Islam
Islam was founded by Muhammad, who was a
prophet believed to receive truths from Allah in
a series of revelations. The Qu’ran (Koran) is
their holy bible, and Allah is their one god. He
reveals himself to the world through prophets,
and is the only pure thing in the universe.
Earthly matters are profane. They believe in a
final judgment day (heaven or hell?) and have 5
pillars of Islam-Repeated expression of basic
creed, frequent prayer, month of daytime
fasting, almsgiving, and a trip to Mecca in ones
lifetime. It started in 571 CE in Mecca, and
spread west to Africa by Invasion and conquest,
and recently migrated to Europe, South Africa,
and the Americas.
 Shamanism and Traditional
This religion varies in different cultures
because it is founded by the shaman in a local
culture. The people follow their shaman, who is
a religious leader, teacher, healer, and visionary.
These faiths are small and isolated. Traditional
religions involve beliefs in God as the creator
and provider, and sometimes a belief in
divinities, spirits, and an afterlife. Shamanism
and Traditional religions are located mostly in
Africa, Native America, Southeast Asia, and
East Asia.

Secularism
Secularism is when a person rejects organized
religious affiliations and ideas. It occurred when
people started abandoning the organized
religions that they were in. The location varies
widely because it applies to all religions.