Judaism

Christianity

Symbol
Abraham is commonly attributed the role of Patriarch; Moses the
founder of the religious law; the 12 tribes founded by the sons of
Jacob & Joseph

Jesus is the primary teacher and Messianic figure; Paul (Saul of

Tarsus) was responsible for spreading the faith throughout the
Mediterranean

Place & Date of

Origin

c.2000 BCE around the Mesopotamian city of Ur; early Hebrews

were pastorialists who eventually settled along the eastern
Mediterranean

c.30 CE in the Roman Province of Judea; quickly spreads throughout

the Mediterranean region where it appealed to marginalized groups
ranging from the urban poor to slaves.

Modern Extent

Large Jewish populations can be found in Israel and the United

States

North & South America, Europe, Australia; can be found in three

primary divisions throughout: Roman Catholic, Eastern
Orthodox, & Protestant

Holy or Sacred
Texts

Tankah: includes the Torah (Books of Moses), Neviim (Books of

the Prophets), Ketuvim (the Writings)

Christian Bible; includes books of the Jewish Tankah (Old

Testament) and early disciples of Jesus (New Testament)

Founder or
Patriarch

Religion is non-proselytizing (does not seek converts);

traditionally relies on the mothers bloodline to establish ethnic
Jewish identity
Was the first form of monotheism that STRICTLY forbade the
acknowledgement of other gods.

Teachings &
Core Beliefs

Role of Women

Strong belief in Jews/Israelis as a Chosen People of God (Yahweh;

YHWH)
Beliefs include:
1. There is one true eternal, incorporeal God (YHWH).
2. Prayer is directed to YHWH alone.
3. Moses is the greatest prophet, and his Torah is the final law
4. YHWH knows the deeds and thoughts of men; will reward &
punish accordingly
5. Belief that the Messiah will come and establish a perfect
kingdom on earth, YHWH will resurrect the righteous dead to
partake in the new kingdom

Women, while respected, have a subordinate role in the religion

Only men could achieve the role of priest; no formal priestesses

Religion is proselytizing (actively seeks out converts from all

walks of life)
Core beliefs based on connection with Jewish faith (Jesus & Paul
were Jews)
Jesus offers a new perspective on ancient Jewish practices;
establishes new religious laws and ethics beyond the Torah
Beliefs include:
1. Jesus is the living Son of God & Messiah; was crucified and
resurrected
2. Agrees with Jewish belief in Gods solitary eternal, incorporeal
status
3. While Mosaic Law is to be respected, the teachings of Jesus take
precedence as the new testament
4. Strong belief in the Apocalypse; the Second Coming of Christ (as
outlined in the Book of Revelations)
5. Eternal life for the faithful and just; eternal damnation for the
wicked
6. Faith, not wealth, is the true measure of ones worth on earth
The status of women in the early Church was far more equal with
men. This equality would fade in time as Christianity began to take
on the Patriarchal traditions of converted peoples.

Hinduism

Buddhism

Symbol
Founder or
Patriarch

No clear founder; the religion is an amalgam of regional religious

practices of the last 3500 years

Siddhartha Gautama (posthumously known as the Buddha, the

Enlightened One)

Place & Date of

Origin

Aryan Classical Theory: Indus River Valley after Aryan invasions

(c.1500 BCE)
Emergence Theory: Indus River Valley w/o Aryan invasion (before
1500 BCE)

Northern India c.500 BCE; quickly spread throughout East Asia

Modern Extent

India, metropolitan areas of Great Britain, Australia, and the United

States

Mahayana Buddhism: Eastern Asia, including China, Korea, and Japan.

Theravada Buddhism: Indochina (Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand)

Holy or Sacred
Texts

Vedas: Rig Veda is the oldest with hymns, rituals, and oral traditions of
Indus
Upanishadas: Elaborates on the role of the soul and Karma

Tripitika is important primary document; most Sutras stress and

interpret the importance of the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold
Path.

Was at one time a proselytizing faith; now it is not

A proselytizing faith akin to Christianity and Islam in fervor

Core beliefs based upon Vedic (Hindu) doctrinean offshoot of
Hinduism that retains ideas of karma, reincarnation, and a universal
oneness or enlightenment

While polytheistic, three primary deities are stressed: 1.Brahma the

Creator 2.Vishnu, (Krishna) the Preserver 3.Shiva, the Destroyer
Specific rituals and beliefs are regional, most urban followers subscribe to a
Vishnu or Shiva dominated sect.

Teachings &
Core Beliefs

Caste System interwoven into beliefs; rigid social structure with the Priest
(Brahmans) Class at the top, followed by warrior class, etc. (Laws of Manu)
Belief in reincarnation (transmigration of the soul) based on the summation
of ones life deeds, thoughts, and beliefs (karma). Cycle of Samsara
Goal is to transcend Samsara and achieve enlightenment (end of rebirth,
become one with the universal element that we were all once part)
Hindus base their daily lives around the Purusharthas (Four Aims):
1. Dharma (moral duty); 2. Artha (economic success); 3. Kama (earthly
pleasures); 4. Moksha (the quest to break the cycle of Samsara)

Role of Women

Women are to be respected, but could not own propertymany were

considered property of their husbands in a sense

Two major divisions:

1. Theravadamore traditional in form; holds tight to Buddhas
original philosophy
2. Mahayanamost popular form; introduces a pantheon of local
traditional deities that have been turned into Buddha. Also pray to
Bodhisattvas-those who have achieved enlightenment (Nirvana)
Buddha never deified himself; Mahayana hold him as a god of sorts,
Theravada does not openly deify the Buddha
Buddhism is very decentralized, numerous sects stress different beliefs
Core beliefs common to most Buddhists:
Four Noble Truths: 1. There is suffering in life; 2. Suffering is caused
by desire; 3. To eliminate suffering, you must eliminate desire; 4. To
eliminate desire, one must follow the Eightfold Path
Eightfold Path: 1. Know the truth; 2. Resist Evil; 3. Harm nothing; 4.
Respect all life; 5. Put the welfare of others before your own; 6. Resist
evil thoughts; 7. Control your thoughts; 8. Practice meditation (VERY
IMPORTANT!)
Role of women is heavily dependant upon the existing cultural norms
of the society that adopted Buddhist beliefs

Daoism

Confucianism

Symbol
Founder or
Patriarch

Laozi (Lao-tzu), otherwise known as the Old Master; birth/death

dates unknown (probably c.500 BCE)

Kongzi, or in the Latin form, Confucius. Mengzi (Mencius)

popularized his teachings later on.

Place & Date of

Origin

c. 500 BCE during the Zhou Dynasty; would become popularized

throughout China c. 200 BCE

c. 500 BCE, during the late Zhou Dynasty; would become

popularized throughout China c. 300 BCE

Modern Extent

China, as well as other regions formally under Chinese dynastic

influence, including Japan, Indochina, and Korea

China, as well as other regions formally under Chinese dynastic

influence, including Japan, Indochina, and Korea

Holy or Sacred
Texts

Tao-te Ching (Book of the Way) stresses the path toward wisdom
through experience; I-Ching (Book of Changes) analyzes & predicts
future events

Works are commonly compiled in a series of Analects, as well as

numerous interpretive works by later scholars, bureaucrats, and
Emperors

Dictates that the universe and all within are permeated by a natural
order that must be felt and experienced to be understood.

Made a departure from old Chinese Legalism, which stated that

human beings were essentially wicked and could only be controlled by
strict laws and punishment.

Temporal (worldly) matters are of little concern; seeking knowledge

of the dao (or Way) through nature, poetry, and experience is all that
matters.
Great emphasis on the individual and the balance with nature. (YinYang)

Teachings &
Core Beliefs

A true Taoist embraces the nature of things, and does not waste
effort effecting their whim on life, but rather surrenders themselves
to experience
Taoist rituals permeated other ancient practices, and commonly
became associated with the mystical.
Co-exists within Eastern concepts of Buddhism and Confucianism.
For Confucianism, the Taoist belief in balance accentuates the
balance between benevolence and respect that superiors must
show their subordinates.

Role of Women

Daoism makes no concrete distinction between men and women; all

individuals are equal in light of the Dao

Confucius stressed instead that positive human behavior can be

effected more efficiently by strengthening a social tradition of mutual
respect.
Social order is maintained by the interaction between righteous,
benevolent rulers and their respectful, dutiful subjects. Only a good
ruler can expect to retain the Mandate of Heaven.
Filial Piety: drew a parallel between respect and reverence within
the family to the state. Stressed respect for ancestors in line with
ancient practices
Stresses the Five Relationships (for Social Tranquility): 1. Ruler
should be just toward his subjects, and subjects should loyal to their
ruler; 2. Fathers should be loving, and sons respectful; 3. Husband
should be righteous, the wife should be obedient; 4. Older brother
should be genteel, younger brother respectful; 5. Older friend should
be considerate, younger friend should defer to the elder.
Women were viewed as mothers and homemakers; they were to
respect their husband and father as authority figures
Women had no property rights, but could be educated.