·    Judaism: Concentrated in Europe and the Middle East

·    Christianity: Concentrated in Europe and the Middle East

·    Islam: Parts of Asia, Africa, and southern Europe

·    Hinduism: India and part of Southeast Asia

Buddhism: East and Southeast Asia

·    Monotheism

·    Ten Commandments of moral and religious conduct

·    Torah: Written records and beliefs of the Jews

 

Christianity

·    Monotheism

·    Jesus as Son of God

·    Life after death

·    New Testament: Life and teachings of Jesus

·    Establishment of Christian doctrines by early church councils

 

Islam

·    Monotheism

·    Muhammad, the prophet

·    Qur’an (Koran)

·    Five Pillars of Islam

·    Mecca and Medina

 

Buddhism

·    Founder: Siddhartha Gautama (Buddha)

·    Four Noble Truths

·    Eightfold Path to Enlightenment

·    Spread of Buddhism from India to China and other parts of Asia, resulting from Asoka’s missionaries and their writings

 

Hinduism

·    Many forms of one God

·    Reincarnation: Rebirth based upon karma

Karma: Knowledge that all thoughts and actions result in future consequences

·    Judaism: Concentrated in Israel and North America

·    Christianity: Concentrated in Europe and North and South America

·    Islam: Concentrated in the Middle East, Africa, and Asia

·    Hinduism: Concentrated in India

Buddhism: Concentrated in East and Southeast Asia

·    Refugees as an issue in international conflicts

·    Migrations of “guest workers” to European cities

 

Ethnic and religious conflicts

·    Middle East

·    Northern Ireland

·    Balkans

·    Horn of Africa

·    South Asia

 

Impact of new technologies

·    Widespread but unequal access to computers and instantaneous communications

Genetic engineering and bioethics