Eastern Religions and Religions

Eastern Religions The author of this report has been asked to compare and contrast the religious belief systems that existed in the Ancient Near East, the Indian subcontinent and China. Indeed, there will be a recitation of what they have in common and how they differ. The religions in question would include ones like Judaism, those of ancient Egypt and others like Mesopotamia and beyond. The more Eastern religions like Confucianism and Daoism is also in the discussion.

While the religions in the regions cited are alike and similar in many ways, there are still absolutely differences and variations that exist. Some of the religions in question are Taoism/Daoism, Buddhism and Confucianism. Taoism, Buddhism and Confucianism are often collected in a set that is known as the "three teachings. All of the religions in question date back about fourteen centuries. One thing that they absolutely have in common is that many consider those teachings less a religion and more of a way of life and thinking.

Of course, Confucianism was created by the man known as Laozi, more commonly referred to as Confucius, and he penned his thoughts and teachings during one of the Chinese dynasties. Taoism and Daoism came about two centuries before. Despite the fact that it came earlier, there is actually a lot of overlay between Confucianism and Daoism/Taoism. Buddhism is similar yet places a rather heavy focus on meditation and a state that is referred to as nirvana.

Despite the subtle differences and stark similarities between the three religions (or schools of thought, if one prefers), the thinking and teachings have persisted and continued with mutual acceptance and tolerance through all of the centuries since their creation and prevalence. This is surprising despite the depth and breadth of the obviously different parts of the religion.

For example, Taoism is very much about living in sync with nature while Buddha's teachings centered more on trials and tribulations in life, reincarnating from one life to the next and the obtaining of salvation (Duiker, and Spielvogel) (ACM). The Eastern religions, of course, stand in contrast with Abrahamic religions and/or those that center on the God of Islam, the Jews and Christians. Indeed, the Jews hold the Old Testament part of the Christian Bible to be their main book.

Of course, the Jews and Egyptians had many issues with each other. However, the Egyptians also had other foes and adversaries. One such situation came up during the 18th dynasty during the time of Amenhotep. He introduced the god Aten, which was the god of the dun disk. Amenhotep asserted that Aten was the one true god and all others should not be adhered to or followed. He even closed the temples of the other gods.

This stands in contrast with the harmony that the Eastern religions, as mentioned before, were able to co-exist within. Also different is the fact that Eastern religions were less likely to be so brash and supposedly knowing. Indeed, Dao De Jing (the way of the Tao) specifically asserts that it is impossible to fully know the substance and content of the universe. Anyhow, some changes within the religions covered in this report came about via more intellectual and constructive means.

For example, it used to be common to sacrifice animals and such as part of religion. However, about halfway through the first millennium BCE, that came into question with more and more people (Duiker, and Spielvogel).