Buddhism Core Principles

Founder: Siddhartha Gautama (563 BCE)
Core beliefs:
- Four Noble Truths:
  - Life is suffering
  - Suffering is caused by desire
  - Desire can be overcome
  - The path to overcoming desire is the Eightfold Path
- Eightfold Path:
  - Right understanding
  - Right intention
  - Right speech
  - Right action
  - Right livelihood
  - Right effort
  - Right mindfulness
  - Right concentration
Practices:
- Meditation
- Mindfulness
- Karma (actions have consequences)
- Reincarnation (rebirth)
Branches:
- Theravada (Southeast Asia)
- Mahayana (East Asia)
- Vajrayana (Tibet and Mongolia)

Founder: Jesus Christ (4 BCE - 30 CE)
Core beliefs:
- Trinity: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit
- Jesus as the son of God and savior of humanity
- Original sin and redemption through faith
- Resurrection and eternal life
Practices:
- Worship and prayer
- Sacraments (e.g., baptism, communion)
- Bible study and scripture
- Charity and service to others
Branches:
- Catholicism
- Protestantism (e.g., Lutheran, Baptist, Methodist)
- Eastern Orthodoxy

Origin: ancient India (1500 BCE)
Core beliefs:
- Brahman: ultimate reality and unchanging essence
- Atman: individual soul or self
- Karma (actions have consequences)
- Reincarnation (rebirth)
- Moksha: liberation from the cycle of rebirth
Practices:
- Worship of multiple deities (e.g., Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva)
- Yoga and meditation
- Rituals and ceremonies (e.g., puja, yajna)
- Pilgrimage to sacred sites (e.g., Ganges River)
Branches:
- Vaishnavism (Vishnu-focused)
- Shaivism (Shiva-focused)
- Shaktism (goddess-focused)

Founder: Prophet Muhammad (570 - 632 CE)
Core beliefs:
- Tawhid: oneness of Allah (God)
- Quran: holy scripture revealed to Muhammad
- Five Pillars:
  - Shahada (faith declaration)
  - Salat (prayer)
  - Zakat (charity)
  - Sawm (fasting)
  - Hajj (pilgrimage to Mecca)
Practices:
- Prayer and recitation of the Quran
- Fasting during Ramadan
- Charity and zakat
- Pilgrimage to Mecca
Branches:
- Sunni
- Shia
- Sufism (mystical)

Founder: Abraham (1800 BCE)
Core beliefs:
- Monotheism: one God (Yahweh)
- Torah: first five books of the Hebrew Bible
- Covenant: agreement between God and the Jewish people
- Messiah: future savior
Practices:
- Worship and prayer
- Study of the Torah and Talmud
- Observance of mitzvot (commandments)
- Dietary laws (kashrut)
Branches:
- Orthodox
- Conservative
- Reform
- Reconstructionist

Founded by Siddhartha Gautama in 563 BCE
Four Noble Truths:
- Life is marked by suffering
- Suffering is caused by desire and attachment
- Desire and attachment can be overcome
- The path to overcoming desire and attachment is the Eightfold Path
Eightfold Path consists of:
- Right understanding: understanding the true nature of reality
- Right intention: having a positive and compassionate mindset
- Right speech: speaking truthfully and kindly
- Right action: acting ethically and responsibly
- Right livelihood: earning a living in a way that does not harm others
- Right effort: making an effort to overcome negative tendencies
- Right mindfulness: being fully present and aware
- Right concentration: cultivating a focused and concentrated mind
Other key practices:
- Meditation: cultivating mindfulness and concentration
- Mindfulness: being fully present and aware in daily life
- Karma: the idea that actions have consequences
- Reincarnation: the belief in rebirth and the cycle of existence
Branches of Buddhism:
- Theravada: prominent in Southeast Asia
- Mahayana: prominent in East Asia
- Vajrayana: prominent in Tibet and Mongolia

Founded by Jesus Christ from 4 BCE to 30 CE
Core beliefs:
- The Trinity: the concept of God as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit
- Jesus as the son of God and savior of humanity
- Original sin: the idea that humanity is born with a tendency towards sin
- Redemption through faith: the belief that faith in Jesus can bring salvation
- Resurrection and eternal life: the belief in life after death
Key practices:
- Worship and prayer: communing with God through prayer and worship
- Sacraments: sacred rituals such as baptism and communion
- Bible study: studying the scriptures to understand God's will
- Charity and service: showing compassion and kindness to others
Branches of Christianity:
- Catholicism: one of the oldest and largest branches
- Protestantism: a diverse group of denominations that emerged from the Reformation
- Eastern Orthodoxy: a branch that originated in the Eastern Roman Empire

Originated in ancient India around 1500 BCE
Core beliefs:
- Brahman: the ultimate reality and unchanging essence
- Atman: the individual soul or self
- Karma: the idea that actions have consequences
- Reincarnation: the belief in rebirth and the cycle of existence
- Moksha: the goal of liberation from the cycle of rebirth
Key practices:
- Worship of multiple deities: recognizing the many manifestations of the divine
- Yoga and meditation: cultivating physical, mental, and spiritual well-being
- Rituals and ceremonies: participating in sacred rituals to connect with the divine
- Pilgrimage to sacred sites: visiting sacred sites to deepen spiritual connection
Branches of Hinduism:
- Vaishnavism: focused on the worship of Vishnu
- Shaivism: focused on the worship of Shiva
- Shaktism: focused on the worship of the goddess

Founded by Prophet Muhammad from 570 to 632 CE
Core beliefs:
- Tawhid: the oneness of Allah (God)
- Quran: the holy scripture revealed to Muhammad
- Five Pillars: the fundamental practices of Islam
- Shahada: the declaration of faith
- Salat: prayer and communion with God
- Zakat: charity and giving to those in need
- Sawm: fasting and self-reflection
- Hajj: pilgrimage to Mecca and the sacred sites
Key practices:
- Prayer and recitation of the Quran: communing with God through prayer and scripture
- Fasting during Ramadan: developing self-control and compassion
- Charity and zakat: showing kindness and generosity to others
- Pilgrimage to Mecca: visiting the sacred sites and deepening spiritual connection
Branches of Islam:
- Sunni: the largest branch of Islam
- Shia: a branch that emerged from a disagreement over leadership
- Sufism: a mystical branch that emphasizes love and devotion

Founded by Abraham around 1800 BCE
Core beliefs:
- Monotheism: the idea of one God (Yahweh)
- Torah: the first five books of the Hebrew Bible
- Covenant: the agreement between God and the Jewish people
- Messiah: the belief in a future savior
Key practices:
- Worship and prayer: communing with God through prayer and worship
- Study of the Torah and Talmud: studying the scriptures to understand God's will
- Observance of mitzvot: following the commandments and laws of Judaism
- Dietary laws (kashrut): following the laws of what is permissible to eat
Branches of Judaism:
- Orthodox: a traditional and conservative branch
- Conservative: a branch that seeks to balance tradition and modernity
- Reform: a branch that emphasizes individual freedom and responsibility
- Reconstructionist: a branch that emphasizes community and social justice