3 Western, 3 Eastern

Old Testament tells their story (The Bible)David vs. Goliath

Next Solomon makes Israel regional power◦Divides country between sons & Israel gone until 1948!!!

Newman renders decision on Seinfeld

Monotheism◦Yahweh◦10 CommandmentsFrom God to Moses

Makes them hard to assimilate

Grandfather of “Western” Religions

Born a Jew in the Roman Empire under Augustus.◦Historically proven by other sources.

His Teachings:◦Monotheistic Trinity, Separate Church & State, New Testament

Caesars claimed to be of divine origin

Economic loss as much trade centered around old temple gods

Threat to the culture & society if people not united

CRUCIFIXION

Peter builds Church as first Pope (not divine).◦ALL Christians were Catholic (universal)Hunted down by Rome

Constantine at Milvian Bridge◦Chiros - IHSV

Edict of Milan converts Europe

Found gods in nature & chief god was Allah

◦The Ka’aba

Story of Muhammad (not divine), Gabriel & the Koran (part 3 of the Bible)

The Five Pillars of Islam1.Pledge to Allah “There is no god but Allah &

Muhammad is His messenger.”

2.Pray 5 times per day3.Give alms to poor 4.Fast in Ramadan5.Pilgrimage to Mecca

SHARI’AH LAW

Allah isn’t chief god, he is the ONLY godThe Ka’aba was his giftPolitics & religion are the same, NO separation

Polytheist Animists HATE MohammedHe flees to Medina, build army, conquers Mid East

Conquered India in c 1500 BC

Had a Monotheistic “Force” called Brahman◦Our souls (atman) seek to join with Brahman in death

Religious practices kept in the holy Vedas

c 600 BC – Couldn’t perfect atman in one life = REINCARNATION

KARMA – invisible scoreboard of life

DHARMA – universal (unseen) rule book

YOGA – spiritual exercises

Explains past sins or piety in terms of birth

One god couldn’t do everything…◦Brahma - Creates◦Vishnu - Preserves◦Shiva – Destroys 33K +!!!

Top three are

Aryans, bottom two not

Born a Hindu in Nepal ◦King Suddhodana protected life of happiness until 29

A shocking discovery, life as a hermit and the Middle Path

The Truman Show Movie Trailer

Problems with Hinduism-◦Reincarnation & Wheel of Life

◦No escaping the “stacked pancakes”

Buddhism and Nirvana (by eliminating evil in the world)

The Tripitaka is the Buddhist Holy Book (40 Volumes)

China in horrible civil war.K’ung Fu-tzu (551-471 BC) worked for city-state of Lu.◦Asked why things so bad?King Wu & the Duke of Zhou

5 Key Relationships RIGID social hierarchy to guide society =

PEACE & STABILITY

Face◦You must appear to be that which you are. If not, you have broken the relationship & no obligations exist.

Mandate of Heaven◦Emperor rules because god chose him to be born

If he loses face, citizens don’t have to treat him as emperor…◦REVOLUTION!!!

Confucian “Bible”◦Book of Quotations

Tells how to live by avoiding excess in all of its forms.