HISTORY OF ASIA’S RELIGIONS

ACCORDING TO MY RESEARCH ASIA HAS 11 RELIGIONS AND

THOSE WERE:

BUDDHISM-WHEN GUTAMA PASSED AWAY AROUND

483 B.C., HIS FOLLOWERS HIS FOLLOWERS BEGAN TO
ORGANIZE A RELIGIOUS MOVEMENT Buddha's teachings
became the foundation for what would develop into
Buddhism. In the 3rd century B.C., Ashoka the Great, the
Mauryan Indian emperor, made Buddhism the state

The Dharma
Wheel

religion of India.

CHISTIANITY-Christianity began as a Second Temple

Judaic sect in the 1st century Hellenistic Judaism in the
Roman province of Judea. Jesus' apostles and their

1
followers spread around the Levant, Europe, Anatolia,
Mesopotamia, the South Caucasus, Egypt, and Ethiopia,
despite significant initial persecution.

The Crucifix /
Cross

Confucianism-Confucianism is a philosophy based

on Yin Yang
symbol

mutual respect and kindness toward others. It was

developed to bring peace and stability in society. It was
founded before the birth of Confucius during the Zhou
Dynasty, developed through his later life and was made
popular soon after, during the Han Dynasty.

2
Hinduism Most scholars believe Hinduism started
-

somewhere between 2300 B.C. and 1500 B.C. in the

Indus Valley, near modern-day Pakistan. But many
Hindus argue that their faith is timeless and has always
existed. Unlike other religions, Hinduism has no one
founder but is instead a fusion of various beliefs.

AUM (OM)

Islam-Most historians believe that Islam originated in

Mecca and Medina at the start of the 7th century CE.
Muslims regard Islam as a return to the original faith of
the Abrahamic prophets, such as Adam, Noah, Abraham,
Moses, David, Solomon, and Jesus S.A.W., with the
submission (Islām) to the will of God.

Crescent and Star

3
JAINISM- Jainism has prehistoric origins dating
before 3000 BC, and before the beginning of Indo-Aryan
culture. Jain religion is unique in that, during its existence
of over 5000 years, it has never compromised on the
concept of nonviolence either in principle or practice.

The hand with a

wheel on the
palm

4
JUDAISM- Judaism is the world's oldest monotheistic
religion, dating back nearly 4,000 years. Followers of
Judaism believe in one God who revealed himself

The Star of David

through ancient prophets. The history of Judaism is

essential to understanding the Jewish faith, which has a
rich heritage of law, culture and tradition.

SHINTO- In the late 6th century AD the name Shinto

was created for the native religion to distinguish it from
Buddhism and Confucianism, which had been introduced
from China. Shinto was rapidly overshadowed by
Buddhism, and the native gods were generally regarded

5
as manifestations of Buddha in a previous state of
existence.

SIKHISM-Sikhism was born in the Punjab area of

South Asia, which now falls into the present day states of
India and Pakistan. The main religions of the area at the
time were Hinduism and Islam. The Sikh faith began
around 1500 CE, when Guru Nanak began teaching a
faith that was quite distinct from Hinduism and Islam.

The Khanda

TAOISM-Taoism was first recognised as a religious

system during the 4th and 3rd centuries BCE. The
publication of the Tao Te Ching and other works provided
a focus for Taoist thinking. Taoism became a semi-official
Chinese religion during the Tang dynasty and continued
during the Song dynasty.
6
 Yin Yang

ZOROASTRIANISM- Zoroastrianism is one of

the world's oldest known living religions and has its
origins in the distant past. It developed about three and a
half thousand years ago from the ancient Indo-Iranian
religion that was once shared by the ancestors of
nomadic herding tribes that later settled in Iran and

The Faravahar

northern India.

By:Sarah Zaidi Quimlat

7
8