You may have learned about various religions, such as Judaism, Christianity, Buddhism, Hindutsm, and Islam. Each religion has had a profound Influence on Individual lives throughout history. These religions continue to influence many
Ilves today
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Review the founding of the three religions: Buddhism Christianity, and Islam.
The history of Buddhism begins with Siddhartha Gautama, who was born around 560 B. C. Disillusioned at the age of thirty-
five with how much suffering people had to endure, Siddhartha Gautama sat under a fig tree vowing not to move unul he
found truth. It was there that he attained what he termed enlightenment. From that day forward, Gautama traveled the
Gangetic Plain region of India as the Buddha, which means "the enlightened one."
Christianity emerged from the area surrounding the ancient city of Jerusalem. Its Jewish leader, Jesus Christ, stated that he
was the Son of God. Upon his death by crucifiodon at the hands of Roman soldiers, he was burled. The Bible states that
Jesus rose from the tomb three days later, and that he lives today.
Islam was founded in the late A. D. 600s by Muhammad, who was born in the city of Mecca in about AD. 570. He grew to
be a wealthy, welltraveled merchant. When he was about forty years old, he began to have visions in which the angel
Gabriel spoke to him. Gabriel told him that the Jewish and Christian religions were incomplete. According to traditional
Islamic teaching, Allah dictated the Quran through Gabriel to Muhammed.
Each of these religions spread to other parts of the world after their founding. Conquest, trade, and warfare enabled the
spread of religious Ideas
Directions
Write a three hundred-word essay in which you assess the impact that religion has on a society. Support your conclusions
with examples
Here are a few questions to help you get started:
• Does religion unite people or drive people apart?
• How do people of different religions Interact?
• Does religion Influence political life?
• How does one's religion influence his or her behavior?
• Has the impact of religion on society changed over time?