Religion has been a tool for people throughout time to explain how the world was created and how one should live in life. Two religions specifically, are still around after all the opposition they have encountered and have become universal religions. These two religions are known as Buddhism and Christianity. Each started as small local faith systems and began to spread like wild fire after being around for many years. Today, each religion has millions of followers who are devout believers. There are many economic, social, and political factors that shaped these religious beliefs and brought them into importance in their regions. With the rising trade throughout the world, it made the spread of each respective doctrine …show more content…
They believe in only one god which is known as monotheism. The beginning of Christianity and its teachings began in Israel and after the death, resurrection and later ascension back to heaven of their leader who is said to be fully man and fully God, Jesus of Nazareth. So during the time Christianity started, Israel was indirectly ruled by the Roman Empire, who promoted and believed in many different gods known as polytheism. Israel adamantly rejected polytheism and followed only their god, who they never made any images or paintings for. The roman government tolerated all this to allow Israel to keep their identity and not cause distress in one of the areas they ruled. The earliest and most reliable sources of Jesus’ life are the four gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John which were written between 70 and 110. Jesus was born in Bethlehem around 4 B.C.E. to a Jewish family who lived near by the Sea of Galilee. The gospels say little of his life before 26 C.E., the gospels start mentioning Jesus when he is baptized by this cousin John the Baptist in the River Jordan. Baptism is important in the Christian faith because it is the symbolic sheading of your old self and becoming new/ reborn through Jesus. Around 28 and 29 C.E., Jesus began his public ministry in Galilee and urged Jews to “repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven has come near” (Matt. 3:2). Historians, who do not believe in any one belief system, are often skeptical of whether Jesus preformed the miracles detailed in the gospels. Yet, they understand that many religious figures gained followers because of them. Jesus welcomed all to follow him, but had a special emphasis on the poor and destitute. In response to a Jewish religious leader’s question of what was the most important commandment, Jesus epitomized his teachings when he said: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all