From the Hearth of Huang He (Yellow) River Valley
From the Hearth of Huang He (Yellow) River Valley
• Taoism –originated in China more than 2500 years ago
* oneness of humanity and naturefounder: Lao-Tsusacred text: “Book of the Way”social manifestation: Feng Shuidiffusion: East Asia
Animistic, ethnic
From the Hearth of Huang He (Yellow) River Valley
• Confucianism –originated in China about 2500 years ago * real meaning of life lay in the presentfounder: Confuciussacred text: “Confucian Classics”diffusion: East Asia, Southeast Asia
None, ethnic
From the Hearth of the Eastern Mediterranean
From the Hearth of the Eastern Mediterranean
• Judaism –originated in Southwest Asia about 4000 years ago. * first major monotheistic religion, covenant betweenGod (one God) and Abraham (the chosen people)sacred text: Torahfounder: Abrahamsacred sites: Jerusalem (Western Wall), land betweenthe Mediterranean and the Jordan Riversocial manifestation: Zionismdiffusion: into European cities during the diaspora, into N. America during WWII, into Israel overlast 50 years
Monotheistic, ethnic
Western Wall, Jerusalem
Jewish neighborhoods in European Cities the Old Jewish Cemetery in Prague, the Czech Republic
• Christianity –originated in Southwest Asia about 2000 years ago.
* monotheistic religion, follow teachings of Jesus toachieve eternal lifesacred text: Biblefounder: Jesus (son of God)sacred sites: Bethlehem, Jerusalemsplit in the church:
* split into Eastern Orthodox and RomanCatholic churches in 1054
* Protestant sect split off in 1400s and 1500sdiffusion: into Western Europe, and then world wide
during colonialism and after.Monotheistic, universal
From the Hearth of the Eastern Mediterranean
Christianity• 2 billion adherents make it most practiced in the world.•Originated in Bethlehem (8-4 BC) and Jerusalem (AD 30) with Jesus Christ.• Spread by missionaries and the Roman Empire (Constantine A.D. 313).• It is the most practiced religion in Africa today.
Diffusion of Christianity
Christianity in the U.S.
First Split in Christianity, 1054 CE Western Roman empire = Roman CatholicismEastern Roman empire = Eastern Orthodox
Switzerlandconcentrations of Catholics and Protestants by canton and commune