Where did the major religions originate and why?

Answer 1

A:

Hinduism and Zoroastrianism are both believed to have originated in the Aryan culture of southern Russia. Hinduism spread south to India and eventually across Indonesia. Zoroastrianism adopted monotheism and spread south to eastern Iran and eventually to western Iran (Persia).

Buddhism arose in the Hindu milieu of northern India and spread across Central Asia and eastwards to China and eventually to south-eastern Asia.

Daoism arose in China during the Axial age, alongside Confucianism, and was heavily influenced by the later arrival of Buddhism.

Shintoism originates in Japan, arising out of earlier animist beliefs.

Monotheistic Judaism originated in Judah, arising out of earlier Hebrew beliefs which, in turn, we now know arose from the predecessor Canaanite beliefs of the late Bronze Age and early Iron Age. Judaism appears to have been heavily influenced by Zoroastrianism during the Babylonian Exile.

Christianity arose in Palestine during the Roman Empire, when Jesus was crucified in Jerusalem. The Christian gospel appears to have been influenced by the Greek philosophers. Christianity quickly spread through the eastern empire, and it is likely that many of the early converts were Jewish proselytes and God-fearers. Christian beliefs and doctrines matured and solidified during the fourth century, under the Christian emperors.

Islam began in the southern Arabian peninsula, when Muhammad announced that he had received revelations from the angel Gabriel. Muhammad's cousin was a Christian and many Jews and Christians lived in Mecca and Medina, so it is not impossible that Muhammad was also inspired by what he learnt from these people.

The Greek pagan religion arose in Greece, but was influenced by other cultures. For example, the goddess Athena is believed to have originated in Phoenicia and the god Zeus to have come from the Aryan culture of southern Russia. Alexander the great took his religion across the Near East and into India, where we still see images of the Buddha with the halo that originated as the sun disc of the god Apollo.

The Roman pagan religion is often seen as the Greek religion with different names for the gods, but there are substantial differences. The Romans adopted gods from their Etruscan neighbours and later from the Greeks, then added various gods from other conquered peoples. At the same time, they retained some animistic beliefs and rituals, including divination by entrails. By relying on divination, they never had the need to adopt the oracles of the Greeks.

Answer 2

They were centered mainly around Asia and Europe.

Answer 3

There are only Three Main Religions - and they originated from Heaven. Judaism, Christianity and Islam.

Answer 4

From various people over a long period of time.

Answer 5

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