1. Monotheistic or Polytheistic
The Religions of Southern and Eastern Asia
Name of Religion
Date & Region Founded
Founder
Monotheistic or Polytheistic
Philosophy
Sacred Book
Basic Beliefs
Islam
610 AD
Saudi Arabia
Mohammad
Monotheistic
Qur’an
5 Pillars
Buddhism
532 BC
India
Siddhartha Gautama
Neither
None
Four Noble Truths
Eight-Fold Path
Nirvana
Hinduism
1500 BC
Aryan Vedic civilization
Polytheistic
Vedas
Book of Knowledge
Caste system
(reincarnation)
Confucianism
500’s BC
China
K'ung Fu Tzu
(Confucius)
The Four Books
The Five Classics
Golden Rule
Following the rules for proper personal behavior and good government
Shintoism
Native religion of Japan
Belief in kami (spirits) live in all things
Appreciation of ancestors