Transcript World Religions and Belief Systems

World Religions and Belief Systems
AP World History 2012
Religion vs. Belief System
• Religions
– Generally are a set of beliefs concerning the cause,
nature, and meaning of the universe and often include
the belief in a supernatural being (God)
• Belief Systems
– Generally are a set of mutually supportive beliefs,
which are often religious, philosophical, or ideological
and can be a combination of these three
Chinese Philosophies
• Period of the Warring States
 As the Zhou dynasty broke down during the 5th –
3rd B.C.E, China entered a period of violence and
political confusion
 Three new philosophies (belief systems) emerge
to shape Chinese history
1. Confucianism
2. Daoism
3. Legalism
Chinese Philosophies
• Period of the Warring States
Confucianism
• Started by Confucius (551-479 BCE)
during the Warring States Period in China
• Offers solutions to the problems plaguing
China
– Focus on life rather than the afterlife
• Does not advocate a specific deity
– Emphasizes worship of ancestors
Drawing of Confucius
• Teachings compiled in book known as the
Analects
Confucianism
• Goal is to promote harmony through relationships
– Less concerned with political affairs
• Five Relationships
– Filial Piety – relationship between children and parents
• Show respect for elders
Dacheng Temple in Confucius’ hometown
of Qufu in China.
Confucianism
• Emphasized studying and practicing the values of
the Five Relationships
– Believed those who observed them would gain influence
in society
• Promoted peace, education, and harmony between
people
• Traditional Chinese education based on the learning
of Confucian values
– Government posts earned through cycle of studies of it
Social Impact of Confucianism
• Becomes foundation of Chinese
government
• Reinforced importance of
patriarchal relationships
• Reinforced family as the center
of Chinese society
• Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Singapore
are influenced by Confucian
ethics
Family altar in Malaysian Chinese
home. Family is inviting ancestors
to partake in the Hungary Ghost
festival
Daoism
• Emerged about same time as
Confucianism
– Contrasted it and considered it wasteful to
try and create solutions to problems that
cannot be solved
• Political quarreling
• Founded by Laozi
• Belief that humans should strive to live
in harmony with nature
– Eventually bring peace and harmony to
society
Daoism
• Based on teaching of the Daodejing
• Everything revolves around the Dao
– Invisible force that governs the world
– Goal: create societal harmony by living according to the
natural laws of the universe (Dao)
• Centers on action of wuwei
– “without action” – remove self from engagement in
world affairs
Impact of Daoism
• Encourages respect for nature
• Heavily influenced Chinese art and
literature
– Landscape paintings
• Yoga and meditation
• Hygiene and cleanliness
• Medicine
Balance between Yin
(feminine, dark) and Yang
(masculine, light)
Legalism
• Philosophy seeking to
strengthen and expand the
state at any cost
• Did not seek principles of
relationships of Confucianism
and Daoism
• Emerged from teachings of
Shang Yang
Legalism
• Encouraged the development of strong agriculture
and military
• Focused on clear and strict laws (hence legalism),
with harsh punishment for offenders
– Fear as a deterrent to crime
Impact of Legalism
• Belief system of Qin Dyansty
– Unify China using Legalist beliefs and put end to the
Period of Warring States
– Centralized administration
– Use of Iron Weapons and Great Wall of China
• Later Han Dynasty built on this centralized state
about the same time as Roman empire
Impact of Legalism
Religions of India
• About the time of the emergence of the Chinese
belief systems, several new religions solidified
themselves in the regions of India:
1. Jainism
2. Buddhism
3. Hinduism
• All three were heavily influenced by the Vedas and
ancient Indian beliefs of reincarnation
Jainism
• Everything in the universe possesses a soul
– humans, animals, plants, rocks, etc…
• Need to escape this physical existence to
relieve suffering
• Do so by observing “ahimsa” or nonviolence to other living things or their souls
– Taken to extremes by Jainist Monks
• Appealed to lower classes because it does
not draw distinctions between social
groups
Buddhism
• Founded by Siddhartha
Gautama (563-483 BCE)
– Commonly known as the Buddha
• Life is a spiritual quest to escape
the suffering of human existence
• Use methods such as
meditation, fasting, and vows of
silence
Basic Beliefs of Buddhism
• Four Noble Truths
–
–
–
–
Life is suffering
Desire causes suffering
End suffering by ending desire
To end desire follow the
Eightfold Path
• Right view, right intention, right
speech, right action, right
livelihood, right effort, right
mindfulness, right concentration
Buddhist Wheel of Life; the eight
spokes represent the Eightfold Path
Impact of Buddhism
• Spreads throughout central and SE Asia
– The conversion of Ashoka (Mauryan emperor)
• Appeals to many lower social classes because did
not recognize social distinctions (Castes)
Hinduism
• Began in India c.1500 BCE
• God reveals self in many different
forms (known as Brahman)
– Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva
– Krishna
• Sacred Texts
– Vedas, Bhagavad Gita, Upanishads
Shiva, the Destroyer
Basic Beliefs of Hinduism
• Souls are reincarnated after death
• Ultimate goal is to escape the
cycle of rebirth and become one
with Brahman (known as Moksha)
• Major Ideas
–
–
–
–
Dharma (duty)
Karma (action)
Samsara (cycle of life)
Moksha (liberation)
Kali, goddess of death and
destruction
Impact of Hinduism
• Ultimately becomes religion of India
– Gupta Empire adopts it
• Leads to development and
solidification of the Caste System
• “Untouchables” considered the
lowest in society based on their
rebirth into that class
– Think Karma and how their previous life would
be perceived
Social Impact of Hinduism
Social Impact of Hinduism
Spread of Belief Systems
Spread of Belief Systems
• All belief systems and religions spread for many
interconnected reasons, but three main themes
include:
1. Trade
1. Buddhism into China along the Silk Road
2. Islam into West Africa along Saharan caravan routes
2. War and Conquest
1. Expansion of Islamic empire
2. Charlemagne's empire across Europe
Spread of Belief Systems
3. Conversion of Elites (Political, Military, and Commercial
leaders)
1. Ashoka’s conversion to Buddhism
2. Gupta empires acceptance of Hinduism
3. Constantine’s conversion to Christianity
Major Religions Today by Region