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 between

the 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