history
 

History of the world's major religions  

The eight major religions practiced in the world today were either founded or developed their basic form between about 600 B.C. and A.D. 600. The following discussion traces the history of each of these religions.  

Judaism began among the ancient Israelites in the Middle East. Jewish tradition traces the roots of the religion back to Abraham, who lived between about 1800 and 1500 B.C. His grandson Jacob, who was also called Israel, had 12 sons. They founded the 12 tribes that became the Israelites.  

Over a period of time, many Israelites settled in Egypt, where they eventually became slaves. In the 1200's B.C., the great lawgiver Moses led them out of Egypt to Canaan (Palestine). Jewish tradition also says Moses received from God the first five books of the Bible, which are called the Pentateuch or the Torah. These books, sometimes known as the Mosaic Law, have been the basis of the Jewish religion.  

Judaism was the first religion to teach the belief in one God. Some scholars say that the Jews became monotheistic during the time of Moses. But most scholars believe that Jewish prophets (religious teachers and thinkers) converted the Jews to monotheism by about 600 B.C.  

During Biblical times, first the Assyrians, then the Babylonians, and finally the Romans conquered the Israelites. Many Jews were driven into exile. Over the centuries, the Jewish people settled in various parts of the Middle East and in European countries. Everywhere, they were always a religious minority, and they were often persecuted for their faith.  

After about 1800, Jews divided into three general groups-Orthodox, Conservative, and Reform. Orthodox Jews observed rituals in traditional ways. Conservative and Reform Jews modernized certain practices. Most eastern European Jews followed Orthodox Judaism, and most western European and North American Jews followed Conservative or Reform Judaism.  

In the 1930's, the German dictator Adolf Hitler and his Nazi Party began a vicious campaign against Jews. By 1945, the Nazis had killed about 6 million of the 8 million to 9 million Jews in Europe. Many of the survivors joined Jews living in Palestine. Together, they established the state of Israel in 1948 under the sponsorship of the United Nations (UN). It was the first homeland Jews had known since Biblical times.  

Hinduism began about 1500 B.C. At that time, a central Asian people called the Aryans invaded and conquered India. The Aryan culture gradually combined with the culture of a native people known as the Dravidians. Hinduism developed from a blend of the two cultures.  

The oldest Hindu scriptures are the Vedas. They were composed over a period of nearly 1,000 years, beginning about 1400 B.C. This stage in Hindu history is often called the Vedic period. During Vedic times, believers worshiped a number of nature deities. At the end of the period, the doctrines of reincarnation and karma were adopted.  

By the 500's B.C., Hinduism was splitting into various schools of thought. Two of these schools-Buddhism and Jainism-became new religions. The Hindu schools further split into smaller sects. Today, Hinduism includes a great number of schools and sects. Many of the sects were formed by saints or gurus (spiritual teachers). Each sect has its own philosophy and form of worship. But they all accept basic Hindu doctrines.  

Buddhism developed in India during the late 500's B.C. from the teachings of a prince named Siddhartha Gautama. Gautama became known as Gautama Buddha, meaning Enlightened One. Buddhism was partly a rebellion against certain features of Hinduism. Buddhism opposed the Hindu worship of many deities, the Hindu emphasis on caste and the supernatural, and the power of the Hindu priest class.  

Buddha taught that people should devote themselves to finding release from the suffering of life. Through this release, people would gain nirvana, a state of perfect peace and happiness. To achieve nirvana, they had to free themselves from all worldly desires and attachments to worldly things. Buddha taught that nirvana could be gained by following the Middle Way between the extremes of severe self-denial and uncontrolled passion. As Buddha preached, he attracted a growing number of followers. By the time of his death, about 483 B.C., Buddhism was firmly established in India.  

Buddhism spread into central Asia. By the end of the A.D. 100's, it had been introduced into China. Buddhism swept through much of China from the 300's to the 500's, challenging the native Chinese religions of Confucianism and Taoism in popularity. In the 500's, Chinese Buddhism spread to Korea and Japan. Buddhism became the chief Japanese religion for the next 1,000 years.  

Early in its history, Buddhism divided into two forms, Theravada and Mahayana. Today, Theravada Buddhism is strongest in Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, and Thailand. Most Mahayana Buddhists live in Japan, Korea, Mongolia, Nepal, Tibet, Vietnam, and scattered parts of India and Russia.  

Confucianism is a Chinese religion based on the teachings of Confucius, a philosopher who died about 479 B.C. Confucianism has no organization or clergy. It does not teach a belief in a deity or in the existence of life after death. Confucianism stresses moral and political ideas. It emphasizes respect for ancestors and government authority and teaches that rulers must govern according to high moral standards.  

Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism have been the major religions in China. However, Confucianism has had the greatest impact on Chinese society. Confucianism was the state religion of China from the 100's B.C. until the A.D. 1900's. Chinese rulers approved of its emphasis on respect for authority and dedication to public service. Confucian scriptures called the Five Classics and Four Books served as the foundation of the Chinese educational system for centuries. Candidates applying for government jobs had to pass examinations based on these scriptures.  

Beginning in the 1000's, a more philosophical approach to Confucianism known as Neo-Confucianism became widely popular. Neo-Confucianism also influenced Japanese moral codes and philosophy from the 1600's through the 1800's.  

In 1949, the Chinese Communists gained control of China. The government officially condemned Confucianism, as well as other religions. As a result, most followers lived outside mainland China, especially in Taiwan. In the late 1970's, however, the Communist government relaxed its policy against religion, and so Confucianism has enjoyed a revival on the mainland.

Taoism, like Confucianism, is a native Chinese religion. Its roots go back to the earliest history of China. However, Taoism did not begin to develop as an organized religion until the 100's B.C.  

Taoism teaches that everyone should try to achieve two goals, happiness and immortality. The religion has many practices and ceremonies intended to help people. They include prayer, magic, special diets, breath control, meditation, and recitation of scriptures. Taoists also believe in astrology, fortunetelling, witchcraft, and communication with the spirits of the dead.  

Taoists worship more deities than do the followers of almost any other religion. Some deities are ancestors, and others are the spirits of famous people.  

During its early history, Taoism borrowed heavily from Buddhism. Many Taoist deities, temples, and ceremonies show the influence of Buddhism. By the A.D. 1000's, Taoism had divided into many sects. The members of some of these sects withdrew from everyday life to meditate and study in monasteries. Other sects were based in temples. The temple priests passed their positions on to their children. The members of this hereditary priesthood lived among the common people. They gained a reputation as highly skilled magicians who could tell the future and protect believers from illness, accidents, and other misfortune.  

Chinese governments of the early and mid-1900's opposed Taoism, claiming it was based on superstition. Today, the Chinese government permits the practice of the religion and followers are gradually increasing in number. In addition, Taoists remain active in Chinese societies outside China, especially in Taiwan.  

Shinto is the native religion of Japan. According to Shinto mythology, deities created Japan and its people. Until the mid-1900's, the Japanese worshiped their emperor as a direct descendant of Amaterasu-Omikami, the sun goddess and most important Shinto deity.  

Shinto developed from native folk beliefs. Followers worship spirits and demons that live in animals and in mountains, trees, and other parts of nature. In early Japanese history, Shinto was devoted chiefly to this form of nature worship. Beginning in the A.D. 500's, Buddhism influenced the development of Shinto. Confucianism became influential in the A.D. 600's. Both of these religions helped shape Shinto rituals and doctrines. Buddhist and Shinto services have occasionally been held in the same temples. But unlike Buddhism, Shinto never developed strong doctrines on either salvation or life after death.  

During the late 1800's, the Japanese government sponsored a form of Shinto called State Shinto. State Shinto stressed patriotic religious ceremonies and the divine origins of the emperor. In 1882, the government officially separated Shinto into State Shinto and Sectarian Shinto. The government administered State Shinto. Sectarian Shinto was popular among the common people. After World War II, the government abolished State Shinto and the doctrine of a divine emperor.  

Christianity is based on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. Most Christians believe God sent Jesus to the world as the Savior. Christianity teaches that humanity can achieve salvation through Jesus.  

After Jesus' Crucifixion, a number of His followers spread His teachings. One of the most important of these followers was Saint Paul. After Paul's death, about A.D. 67, Christianity continued to grow in spite of persecution by the Romans, whose empire covered most of Europe, the Middle East, and northern Africa. In the early 300's, the Roman emperor Constantine the Great became a Christian. By the late 300's, Christianity was widely practiced throughout the empire.  

During the Middle Ages, Christian missionaries converted many European peoples, which led to the Christian church's dominant influence on European life for centuries. For many years, a split had been developing between Christians in western Europe and those in eastern Europe and western Asia. The split finally occurred in the 1000's. The churches in Greece, Russia, and other parts of eastern Europe and western Asia became known as the Eastern Orthodox Churches. The church in western Europe became known as the Roman Catholic Church.  

In the 1500's, a religious movement called the Reformation divided western Christianity into several bodies. Most southern Europeans remained Roman Catholics. A great number of northern Europeans, known as Protestants, formed new churches. The largest included the Baptist, Congregationalist, Episcopal, Lutheran, Methodist, and Presbyterian churches.

 Beginning in the 1500's, Catholic missionaries converted many people in Africa, Asia, and the Americas to Christianity. Protestant missionaries became active in the 1600's and made converts in the Far East, Africa, and North America.  

Islam is based on the life and teachings of the prophet Muhammad, who lived in Arabia during the early A.D. 600's. Before Muhammad's time, the people in the region worshiped Allah (God) as well as other deities. But Muhammad said Allah was the only God.  

According to Islamic tradition, Muhammad had the first of several visions about 610. The vision occurred while Muhammad was meditating in a cave on Mount Hira, a hill near his birthplace of Mecca. The vision commanded Muhammad to preach the message of Allah to the people of his country. He began preaching in Mecca. A tribe called the Quraysh controlled Mecca and opposed Muhammad. To avoid persecution by the Quraysh, Muhammad fled to the city of Medina. Muhammad's journey from Mecca to Medina is called the Hijra, also spelled Hegira, and is one of the central events in the founding of Islam.  

In 630, Muhammad led an army to Mecca. He offered the people of the city generous peace terms. As a result, his forces were able to take the city with little resistance. He made Mecca the sacred city and center of Islam.  

After Muhammad's death in 632, his friend and disciple Abu Bakr became the first caliph (leader) of Islam. Abu Bakr defeated a rebellion against his rule by Arabian tribes and began a campaign of religious conquest outside Arabia. Succeeding caliphs continued Abu Bakr's conquests. Within 100 years of Muhammad's death, Islam had spread throughout the Middle East, across northern Africa, and into Spain. In 732, Muslim and Christian armies fought a major battle near Tours, France. The Muslims were defeated, and western Europe remained Christian.  

Muslim missionaries and traders carried Islam to India and other parts of Asia. From the 1000's to the 1200's, Islam spread into western Africa. Today, Islam is the major religion of nearly all countries in northern Africa and the Middle East. It is also the chief religion in Bangladesh, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Pakistan.

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Last modified: 08/18/08