Chapter 3 World Religions 1 Introduction

China. Judaism was well established in the Middle East, and later Christianity and Islam developed there.

Hinduism and Buddhism arose in India. And China developed Confucianism, a philosophy that became a state

religion.

All these religions are unique, but they also have key elements in common. They all set down basic ethical

principles to guide human actions. They use sacred texts to teach moral values, often through stories or

parables. They offer a universal message that appealed to people in different places and with diverse cultural

backgrounds.

This broad appeal and emphasis on ethics made the new faiths different from earlier religions. Previously, most

religions had been local, based on the worship of gods and spirits associated with particular places. They

involved rituals, such as animal sacrifice, that were designed to appease the gods and win their favor. People

looked to the gods to help them in their daily lives, to bring prosperity and protect them from their enemies.

In contrast, universal religions look beyond this world and its practical needs. They offer the hope of a better

life and access to a higher truth. quotesdbs_dbs2.pdfusesText_4

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