1. Prominent Religious Figures Buddha, Jesus, and Muhammad

2. Gautama Buddha, Founder of Buddhism  Born approximately 563 B.C. in Lumbini (today known as Nepal)  Buddha means ‘awakened one’ or ‘enlightened one’  Born to King Suddhodana, leader of the Shakya clan, and Queen Maha Maya, a Koliyan princess  He was meant to be a great king, so his father shielded him from religious teachings and any knowledge of human suffering

3.  After an arranged marriage and a life of Splendor, Buddha felt that material wealth was not life’s ultimate goal  He left the palace one day to find an aging man, a diseased man, and a decaying corpse – this led him to the life of asceticism to find a way to overcome these things  Soon he had an awakening where he found the ‘Four Noble Truths’ to achieve a state of supreme liberation known as Nirvana  He is said to be the founder of Buddhism  His life and teachings were passed on orally for 400 years and then written down in the Buddhacarita  Died around 483 B.C. in Kushinagar (today India)

6. Jesus Christ, Founder of Christianity  Born around 5 B.C. in the town of Bethlehem, Judea  Lived in Nazareth, Galilee  Parents: Mary and Joseph  Born of virginal conception  Worked as a carpenter  Claimed to be the Son of God  Performed miracles, had many disciples  Born Jewish and regarded as a teacher and healer

7.  His followers believed him to be the promised Messiah of the Old Testament  His account is found in the four gospels of the Holy Bible  Died from crucifixion at the hands of Pontius Pilate, due to the charge of sedition against the Roman Empire  Died approximately 33 A.D.  His followers claim he rose from the dead three days later

10. Muhammad, Founder of Islam  Born around 570 A.D. in Mecca, Arabia  Orphaned at an early age and brought up by his uncle  Worked as a merchant and shepherd  At the age of 40, he received a revelation from God  Three years later, he began publicly preaching  Claimed to be an Islamic prophet and preached a monotheistic religion

11.  Gained some followers and after much persecution in Mecca, they moved to Medina  He fell ill and died around 632 A.D.  By this time most of the Arabian peninsula had converted to Islam  Muhammad’s revelations are recorded in the Koran (Qur’an)