1. Religion and Philosophy: Part 4

2. Buddhism It is the third largest universalizing religion.
The hearth of the religion was India where its founder, Siddharta (the Buddha) lived.
The religion diffused along the Silk Road across the Indian Ocean to East and Southeast Asia primarily.
Today, the predominant religion in India is Hinduism.

3. Overview of Buddhism
To many, Buddhism goes beyond religion and is more of a philosophy or “way of life.” It is a philosophy because philosophy “means love of wisdom.”
Buddhists adhere to the Four Noble Truths and follow the Eightfold Path.

4. The Four Noble Truths All human life contains suffering and sorrow.
A greedy desire for only pleasure and material things causes suffering and sorrow.
Renouncing desire frees people from suffering and helps their souls attain nirvana (a perfect peace).
Following the Eightfold Path leads to nirvana.

5. What is the Eightfold Path?
One should see life as it really is and understand the Four Noble Truths.
Right intention (a commitment to improvement)
Right speech (avoid lying and gossiping)
Right action (avoid harming others, committing crimes, and seek to be honest)
Right livelihood (work a job that does not harm others)
Right effort (work to prevent evil)
Right mindfulness (a constant awareness of one’s self)
Right concentration (to direct mind meditation)

6. The Diffusion of Buddhism
Buddhism became a strong force in India before Buddha's death.
The diffusion of Buddhism, however, was limited until the Indian emperor Asoka became a convert and supported missionary activities.
Soon, Buddhism became established in China, Japan, Korea, and Southeast Asia, where it is most practiced today. Hinduism is now the predominant Indian religion.

7. Buddhism Buddhism has three main branches:
Mahayana—56% of Buddhists; characterized by broad inclusion of ideas and dieties from other religions as it spread across East Asia
Theraveda—38% of Buddhists; stricter adherence to Buddha’s teachings; strong in Southeast Asia
Tantrayana—6% of Buddhists; emphasis on magic and meditation; found primarily in Tibet and Mongolia

8. Other Universalizing Religions
Sikhism stresses continual improvement and movement toward perfection by taking individual responsibility for actions.
It combines Hinduism and Islam but centers its teaching on the founder, Nanak.
Followers are concentrated in the Punjab region of India.

9. Other Universalizing Religions
Baha’i is a relatively new faith founded in Iran in 1844.
Most followers live in Iran.

10. Ethnic Religions

11. Ethnic Religions
These religions appeal primarily to one group of people living in one place.
Followers do not seek converts outside the group that gave rise to the religion.
These religions tend to be spatially concentrated.
Exception: Judaism
Adherents tend to be widely scattered.

12. Judaism
It is one of the world’s oldest religions founded by Abraham in the lands bordering the eastern Mediterranean Sea.
Its members are widely distributed across the earth because of diaspora, or forced exodus from their lands of origin.

13. Judaism World’s oldest recorded monotheistic religion
An ethnic religion
Approximately 18 million Jews worldwide (6 million in the U.S.)
Hearth: along the eastern Mediterranean Sea
Diffusion: Jews have lived in Europe, North Africa, North America, and Asia—maintaining their religion while adopting local languages and other cultural characteristics

14. Judaism (continued)
Diffusion—Historically, Jews were forced to live in ghettos in the less desirable parts of European cities. Note: Ghettos are neighborhoods set up by law to be inhabited by Jews. The term was first used in Venice, Italy during the 16th century.
During the 1930’s and early 1940’s, many European Jews were killed and forced to emigrate, with many coming to the U.S.

15. Place of Worship: Synagogue