Chapter 6. Religions and Philosophies
World religions have shaped ethics, law, art and politics. The summaries below are brief and descriptive [5].
| Tradition | Origin | Core ideas (brief) |
| Hinduism | South Asia, ancient roots | Dharma, karma, rebirth, many forms of the divine |
| Buddhism | India, about 5th century BCE, Siddhartha Gautama | Four Noble Truths, Eightfold Path, ending suffering |
| Judaism | Eastern Mediterranean, ancient | One God, covenant, Torah |
| Christianity | 1st century CE, Roman Judea | Life and teachings of Jesus, salvation |
| Islam | Arabia, 7th century CE | One God, Quran, Five Pillars, Prophet Muhammad |
| Confucianism | China, Confucius (551–479 BCE) | Social harmony, duty, respect, learning |
| Daoism | China | Living in harmony with the Dao (the Way) |
Philosophical traditions include Greek rationalism, Chinese schools of thought, and later scholastic and Enlightenment thought.
Spread. Religions spread by trade, missionaries, conquest, migration and conversion. They have both inspired cooperation and been involved in conflict.
Review: Which tradition’s founder is Confucius, and where did it originate? (Answer: Confucianism, in China.)