While most ancient religions were polytheistic, the concept of a single supreme being also began to evolve during this time. Today, most religions are monotheistic.
| Word Roots: | ||
| mono = one | theos = god(s) | monotheism = one god |
Read the information on each of the tabs below to learn more about major ancient religions that continue to shape people's lives today. As you read, take notes on each religion using the worksheet linked to the Activity button below. When you have completed the worksheet, submit it to your teacher. (You can type into the fields in the worksheet--or print out the worksheet, write your notes, and then scan your worksheet to submit it to your teacher.)
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Zoroastrianism
Ancient Persians worshiped two groups of gods: ahuras and daevas. The ahuras were higher gods, and the most important of them were called Ahura and Mithra. They set the courses of the sun, moon, and stars. Mithra also stood for loyalty, and Ahura for true speech. The lower gods, daevas, represented more earthly concerns, such as the elements of earth, fire, water, and wind. In about 600 BCE, a Persian teacher called Zarathustra (also known as Zoroaster) began to teach that life was a struggle between Good and Evil, with Good embodied by a single supreme being called Ahura Mazda. According to Zaroaster, Ahura Mazda, the "Lord of Wisdom," created man, light and darkness, and all other things. Zoroaster also spoke of two opposing forces: Truth (Spenta Mainyu, the Holy Spirit) and the Lie (Angra Mainyu, the Destructive Spirit). He believed that every man must choose between Good and Evil, and that he would be judged in the afterlife based on his choices. Evil people would be tormented forever, while the righteous would live forever in bliss. The Persians' holy book, based on the teachings of Zoroaster, is called the Avesta. Fire was a very important element in Zoroastrian worship. It was said to be a special gift from Ahura Mazda to mankind--a symbol of truth because it takes away darkness. Fire was used in Zoroastrian ceremonies, which also involved the sacrifice of bulls and the drinking of the juice from a special plant. Judaism
Jews trace their ancestry back to a shepherd named Abraham, who lived in Mesopotamia in the land of Ur. The followers of Abraham believed that he was told by God to unite a group of chosen people. About 1900 BCE, Abraham left Mesopotamia with his family and followers and went to Canaan, where the Hebrews lived for many years as nomads. The history, beliefs, and practices of the Hebrew religion are all recorded in the Torah, which also makes up the first five books of the Christian Old Testament. The Talmud is a collection of folklore and writings from Jewish history, combined with legal information. It is a guide for the law of Judaism. Jews are taught that their God is all knowing and all powerful and that Hebrews are his "chosen people." They believe God has a high expectation for human ethics and behavior, but that He is also full of compassion and mercy. Both Christianity and Islam developed from Judaism, which is why all three are considered Semitic religions. (The word Semite refers to the people of the Middle East.) Christianity
At first, Christianity was outlawed in many places, including the Roman Empire, where it continued to be a crime punishable by death until the Toleration Act of CE 313. Under the Roman emperor Constantine, though, Christianity became the official religion of the Roman Empire. As such, it was spread throughout Europe as the empire grew. Government rulers began to refer to the Christian Church as the Catholic Church because of its universal presence throughout the Roman Empire. (Catholic means "universal.") European explorers took Christianity with them wherever they traveled, spreading its beliefs and practices to other parts of the world besides Europe. Today, nearly 33 percent of the world's population is Christian—more than two billion people. Hinduism
Two of the world's major religions began in ancient India—Hinduism and Buddhism. Hindu beliefs and practices have been around since prehistoric times, but the Aryans made Hinduism dominant in the area now known as India. Hindu beliefs played a large role in the creation of India's caste system, which determines how each person should live and behave, based on where—and to whom—he or she was born. In this way, Hinduism shaped the culture and social order of India. Two ancient epic poems–the Mahabharata and the Ramayana—are considered sacred texts in India and reveal the virtues and ideals that are important in Hindu life. The Mahabharata tells of a great war in which people and gods fought side by side to control a kingdom. The Ramayana teaches moral lessons as it follows the adventures of Prince Rama and Princess Sita, who represent what was considered at the time the ideal Hindu couple. Rama is a strong hero, and Sita is a devoted and obedient wife. Hindus worship many gods. The three most important ones are Brahma (the creator), Vishnu (the preserver), and Shiva (the destroyer). The three main goddesses are Kali (goddess of destruction), Lakshmi (goddess of wealth), and Saraswati (goddess of knowledge). All Hindu gods are born of Brahma, the one creator. Hindus also believe that cows are sacred, so they don't eat beef. In fact, many Hindus are vegetarian. Buddhism
Buddha taught that life on earth consists mostly of pain, and that finding peace in the midst of this suffering is the way to heaven, or nirvana. Buddha said that the way to reach nirvana was to become detached from earthly life and to let go of all desires. He taught that there were Four Noble Truths: There is suffering. The cause of suffering is wanting. Suffering can end completely. The Eightfold Path is the way to cure suffering. Buddha's Eightfold Path (sometimes called the Middle Way) required:
Confucianism
The story of the birth of Confucius is full of mystery. It is said that when his mother was pregnant, she saw five old men leading a unicorn toward her. The unicorn spit out a piece of jade at her feet. On the jade was written the promise that her child would be a "king without a crown." When it was time for the baby to be born, his mother took refuge in a cave protected by dragons. Nature spirits rejoiced and welcomed the child when he was born. Confucius taught a practical code that could be applied to everyday life. He believed that order in the family was the key to a peaceful society and a well-run government, and that there were five main relationships that should contain goodness and respect. These five relationships existed between ruler and subject, parent and child, husband and wife, older and younger siblings, and friend and friend. The central and most important relationship was the one between parents and children. Confucius taught that parents should show love for their children and that children should have reverence and respect for their parents. If relationships between parents and children in a society were good, the other relationships would fall into their proper place. Confucius also promoted four important virtues: integrity, loyalty, generosity, and politeness. The Confucian tradition dominated Chinese society for more than 2,400 years. Taoism
Around the same time that the ideas of Confucius were gaining acceptance in China, another teacher named Lao-Tzu was promoting his own spiritual ideas. Lao-Tzu thought that the teachings of Confucius were of no use, and said, "This talk of duty to others drives me crazy! Leave the world in its original simplicity. As the wind blows where it will, let virtue establish itself." While Confucius focused on social order and trying to improve people's behavior, Lao-Tzu was more interested in the individual's life and spirituality. The teachings of Lao-Tzu are known as Taoism, and they have been written in a collection of meditations called the Tao Te Ching. The point of Taoism is to follow the Tao (pronounced "dow"), which means "The Way." The Way of the Tao teaches that people must try to be united with the course of nature in order to be in harmony with the rest of the universe. In this way they will understand the mysteries of life. Lao-Tzu taught that people shouldn't worry about the "trappings" of religion, but that they should simply be inwardly quiet—and through this quietude, they would spontaneously discover truth. Because Lao-Tzu was more interested in non-action than action, he was opposed to government and social improvement plans. He felt that good and bad were just ideas, with no real basis in reality. He taught that a life of simplicity was the correct way to live, and that simplicity required a person to focus on the "three treasures" in life: love, lack of ambition, and frugality—a willingness to give up the quest for endless wealth and material belongings. |
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In the Middle East, where most cultural groups were polytheistic, Hebrews (also called Israelites) practiced monotheism. Hebrews lived near the Mediterranean Sea in a land called Canaan, the area which now includes Israel, Lebanon, and parts of Syria and Jordan. The Hebrews' monotheistic religion survives today as Judaism, named for the kingdom of Judah, where most Hebrews lived. Those who practice Judaism today are known as Jews.
Christianity originated when a group of Jews proclaimed that Jesus Christ of Nazareth was the messiah and Son of God whose arrival on Earth was part of Jewish prophecy. Throughout his life, Jesus performed miracles and provided spiritual lessons to his followers. He was crucified in 33 CE by Romans. Christians believe that Jesus came back to life three days after his crucifixion and that He is now watching over the people of earth from heaven.
The Buddha was a teacher in India who did not believe in the Hindu gods or the caste system. Buddha, whose name means "enlightened one," was born a prince named Siddartha Gautama in 563 BCE. As a young man, he decided to leave his royal life and wander the countryside, searching for reasons for the pain and suffering he saw people endure. Eventually, the young prince came to a sacred tree and sat beneath it to meditate. Followers of Buddha believe that at this moment, Buddha reached a state of perfect joy, bliss, and peace—he became enlightened. This state of completeness came to be known as nirvana, and it is the goal of Buddhist spiritual practice. At his moment of enlightenment, it is said that Buddha learned how to live a spiritual life despite earthly suffering. Buddha and his followers decided to live a life of wandering and poverty, eating only the food given to them, and asking for shelter only at night. Together, they spread what Buddha had learned and wanted to share with others.
Confucius lived from 551–479 BCE, and his ideas have remained important in China ever since. He was a wandering scholar who taught a code of behavior rather than a religion, but his teachings are sometimes considered religious.
