Essay On Monotheism

Improved Essays
Often, we look to religion for spiritual guidance and wisdom. Without religion, life seizes to have purpose. Some religions are polytheistic and others are monotheistic. Some of the earliest religions include Hinduism, Buddhism, and Judaism. These are some of the most influential religions that are still used in the world today. However, there are several similarities and differences between these religions such as philosophies and purposes. One of the first major religions is Hinduism. Consequently, it began in India around 1000 B.C.E. after the Vedic Epoch. It was known as a way of life. The earliest form of Hinduism was Brahmanism which was based heavily on the Varna Caste System. Similar to Judaism, Hindus believe in one true god unlike …show more content…
Originally, Buddhism was discovered in India, however it was extinct by 1000 B.C.E. Buddhism emerged around the 5th Century B.C.E. and was taught by Siddhartha Gautama who lived from 563 through 483 B.C.E. He traveled throughout China in search of answers to the purpose of life and suffering. He was known as Buddha, a teacher who taught his findings to his disciples and everyone. One rainy night, Buddha sat underneath a tree and as he sat there is came to him. He finally understood the reason for suffering. He said that suffering and loss are caused by desire for illusory power and happiness. Additionally, he believed that if anyone followed the Eight Fold Path and the Four Noble Truths would conquer desire and be released from suffering. The Four Noble Truths discuss how life is permeated by suffering and that suffering is caused by desire. Buddha also said once one sees that illusory happiness and power are not desirable, the temptation will vanish. And finally, one will find serenity of the soul, and harmony with society. One major points that attracted Hindus to convert was that there was no caste system and everyone can reach Nirvana. In Buddhism, there are not gods. It is nor polytheistic nor monotheistic. In addition, Buddha was an incredibly inspirational and impactful leader that Buddhism is still heavily practiced in China, Japan and other parts of the world

Related Documents

  • Improved Essays

    Rel101 Unit 2 Religions

    • 601 Words
    • 3 Pages

    REL101 Wiki Religions: Buddhism, Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Hinduism What is Buddhism? - Is a religion based on insight and inner peace [https://thebuddhistcentre.com/Buddhism] - ‘Buddhism’ comes from the word ‘budhi’ which means ‘to awaken’. [http://www.buddhanet.net/e-learning/5minbud.htm] - The religion was originated from Siddhartha Gotama, who is known as Buddha [http://www.buddhanet.net/e-learning/5minbud.htm] - Buddhism does not concern itself with any God or deity, therefore to most it is not considered a religion rather a way of life or philosophy.…

    • 601 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Although both Judaism and Hinduism exercise the worship in a superior being, Judaism is a monotheistic religion and Hinduism is a polytheistic religion. Judaism’s monotheism originates from the Hebrew Bible, Judaism’s main book of faith, where the followers of Judaism…

    • 461 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    1. Where is the point of origin? Buddhism originated in Northern India, around the 5th century. Buddhism traces its origin to Siddhartha who is known as the Buddha meaning the Enlightened One. Siddhartha observed the suffering in the world and set out to find a solution.…

    • 1214 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    Jews believe that the world was created in perfection, and then later ruined by humans (Genesis 1-3). Hindus believe that there are many worlds and there will always continue to be changing worlds. One of the stories Hindus believe is that the God Brahma breaks off parts of his body to create different parts of the world. There are many versions of the creation story in Hinduism, but all have the same basic concept, that the world was made from God. In both Hinduism and Judaism, there is a creation and destruction of the…

    • 1700 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Key Concept 1.3 The Development and Interactions of Early Agricultural, Pastoral, and Urban Societies 1. Civilizations are large societies with cities and powerful states. Defining characteristics of civilizations include: producing agricultural surpluses, specialization of labor, containing cities, complex institutions (political bureaucracies, armies, religious hierarchies), having clearly stratified social hierarchies, and organized long-distance trade. 2. As civilizations grew, and populations increased, competition for surplus resources (food), led to greater social stratification, specialization of labor, increased trade, more complex systems of government and religion, and the development of record keeping.…

    • 1239 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Three of the greatest religions in Indian Culture, include Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism. These religions were founded from Aryan and Dravidian culture. Brahmanism gradually changed overtime to form the more commonly known religion of Hinduism. The followers believed in many god and goddesses, with Brahman being the most elite. They also believed in the practices of karma and reincarnation.…

    • 237 Words
    • 1 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Hinduism Vs Buddhism

    • 1055 Words
    • 5 Pages

    They believe in a better realm being promised once someone passes on. Hinduism is one of the world’s oldest religions, going back more than 3,500 years. It is a complex and diverse system of philosophies and traditions. Although there are numerous gods and goddesses one can worship, the emphasis is on an individual spiritual experience. Today, there are nearly one billion Hindus, making Hinduism the world’s third largest religion (Heaven: How Five Religions See It, JJ Streaming Films).…

    • 1055 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Thematic Essay Draft Religion has come very far throughout history some have failed and some are still practiced today. Religion can even influence millions of lives around the world. Two of these types of religions include Buddhism and Christianity. They are still alive and thriving all over the world today. Buddhism is one of the many religions and belief systems in the world today.…

    • 607 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Judaism and Hinduism are both well practiced religions. Judaism is one of the oldest monotheistic religions. Judaism in approximately 3,000 years old whereas Hinduism is approximately 4.5 billion years old. Both of these religions are monotheistic, but Hinduism being an older practice, is also referred to as 'The Vedic Religion'. Both both believe that God is transcendent but Hinduism believes that he is immanent AND transcendent.…

    • 1283 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    Religion is a way to respond to the sometimes unanswerable questions in life. Religion is used to look for the ultimate meaning, and the purpose to these questions, when answered they can give a peace of mind to people. In our society today there are five main religions practiced in the world, these are; Judaism, Hinduism, Islam, Christianity and Buddhism. The eight characteristics of a religion include cultic practices or rituals, beliefs, sacred stories, social structure, sacred texts, sacred symbols, religious ethics and religious experiences. Out of the 5 major religions I have chosen Buddhism.…

    • 1129 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Superior Essays

    Many people argue that their religion is superior, when in fact many religions have some similar concepts. Hinduism is the third largest followed religion; it originated in India. Unlike other religions, the beginning or origin of Hinduism is not linked to a particular person…

    • 1560 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Han Dynasty Religions

    • 1938 Words
    • 8 Pages

    The Han Dynasty had 3 main religions: Taoism, Confucianism, and Buddhism. Taoism started in the 6th century by Lao-Tzu. He recorded his own teachings into a book called the Tao Ti Ching. Taoism means living in harmony with Tao, or “the way” or “path” or “principle”. Taoism also focused on the Three Treasures: compassion, moderation, and humility.…

    • 1938 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Buddhism Vs Christianity

    • 823 Words
    • 4 Pages

    The dawning of the early second to seventh century C.E. is when the universal form of religion originated; these two beliefs, Buddhism and Christianity, captured a worldwide code of ethics and followers due to many mediums. Both beliefs grew with vast similarities and differences while possessing extraordinary advantages like writing and influential people like the Roman Emperor Constantine and the great Ashoka. Their similarities begin with the minor basis of religion and main purpose: being a code of ethics to measure up the mortal and outer world. The recognition of Buddhism and Christianity that earlier forms of religion like Judaism and many African traditions was the ability to join many diverse people together instead of a certain…

    • 823 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    While often deemed highly similar, Hinduism, Jainism, and Buddhism differ greatly in many of their core values and practices. The most significant differences lie in their stances on whether or not an all-powerful god is in existence. While the Hindu faith consists of millions of gods, most Hindus focus their worship on one all-encompassing god or objective Oneness, therefore making the religion henotheistic. However, because Hinduism is so internally diverse, some groups are atheistic in their views, similarly to Jains and most Buddhists. Some Buddhists, however, do consider the Buddha as the ultimate divine being and worship buddhas and other various divinities in methods similar to those found in Hindu worship.…

    • 744 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    This began to change c. 563 BCE or c. 480 BCE when The Buddha was born. Growing up as prince living a lavish lifestyle, The Buddha was shocked when he witnessed the suffering in the world. He then spent the rest of his life trying to understand sorrow and suffering and it’s place in the world. Through this journey he gained followers and his teachings became known as the eightfold path. Buddhism became appealing to followers of Hinduism who were born into the lower classes due to the fact that Buddhism did not have a social hierarchy as dramatic as the one of Hinduism.…

    • 1041 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays