CONTEMPORARY WORLD

GLOBALIZATION OF RELIGION
REPORT: SUMMARY OF THE ACTIVITY

CHRISTIANITY
Christianity originated in the 1st century AD in Judea and now, Israel, through the
teachings of Jesus Christ. It spread within the Roman Empire and to Europe, Africa, and
Asia through missionaries and traders and further spread through the Byzantine Empire,
Crusades, and missionary activities. It also reached the Americas, Africa, and Oceania
due to European colonization.
Christian missionaries have played a significant role in spreading Christianity to different
regions. The advancements in transportation and communication have also facilitated
the global exchange of Christian ideas and beliefs. The internet and social media
platforms have also further enhanced the dissemination of Christian teachings
worldwide. Christianity have been adapted to the world through cultural syncretism,
through art and architecture, theology and practice. Christianity has often incorporated
elements of local cultures, rituals, and traditions, leading to diverse expressions of the
faith. Christian art and architecture have been influenced by local artistic traditions,
resulting in unique interpretations of religious motifs. The interpretation of Christian
theology and practices varies across cultural contexts, leading to diverse forms of
worship and religious expression. This overview highlights the historical origins, global
spread, exchange, and adaptation of Christianity as it interacts with diverse cultures
around the world.
In the contemporary world, Christianity during and after Covid-19 pandemic became
more accessible to people in which going to churches is not totally required and simply
watching mass from televisions and cellphones is enough to avoid the spread of the
virus. It changed the practices of the Christians and treating the new ways as the new
normal for the religion.
Advantage of this is that Christians became closer to God to be able to spend time to
reflect and repent with the grievances of the human soul wherever they are and
whenever they want, however, if this continues, it could absolutely affect the perspective
of the younger generations of treating religion as a light obligation which could lead to
abandonment and lesser faith with God. Although what we believe and perceive in life is
different, it is obviously undeniable that religion is somehow the root of our individuality
that is why giving much importance to its practices are very concerning especially to the
younger generations that have witnessed and were influenced by globalization.
ISLAM
The history of Islam is multifaceted, encompassing political, social, economic, military,
and cultural developments within Islamic civilization. While historians generally agree
that Islam originated with Muhammad's mission in Mecca and Medina in the 7th century
CE, Muslims view this as a return to the original faith passed down by earlier Abrahamic
prophets.

According to tradition, Muhammad began receiving divine revelations in 610 CE, calling
for submission to one God, preparation for the Last Judgement, and charity for the
needy. Despite attracting followers, Muhammad faced hostility and persecution from
Meccan elites. In 622 CE, he migrated to Medina, where he united Arabian tribes under
Islam. He later returned to Mecca in 630 CE, establishing Islam as the dominant faith
and ordering the destruction of pagan idols. By the time of his death in 632 CE, most
Arabian tribes had converted to Islam, though disputes arose over his succession.

The early Muslim conquests played a crucial role in spreading Islam. By the 8th century
CE, the Umayyad Caliphate extended from Muslim Iberia to the Indus River. Successive
dynasties like the Abbasids, Fatimids, Seljuks, and Mamluks became influential global
powers. The Islamic Golden Age fostered cultural and scientific advancements,
producing renowned scholars and polymaths.

In the following centuries, Turkic dynasties expanded Muslim rule into northern India
and Anatolia, while Mongol invasions and the Black Death weakened traditional Muslim
centers but gave rise to new powers like the Timurids, Mali Empire, and Bengal
Sultanate. The Reconquista saw Christian conquests of Islamic Iberia, yet Ottoman
Turkey, Mughal India, and Safavid Iran emerged as formidable states during the early
modern era.

In the 19th and 20th centuries, European colonialism dominated much of the Muslim
world, leading to struggles for independence and the formation of modern nation-states.
Contemporary conflicts in regions like Palestine, Kashmir, and Myanmar persist, while
oil wealth has transformed Gulf Arab states into major global players.
BUDDHISM
Buddhism, originating in the Indian subcontinent around the 5th century BCE, was
founded by Siddhartha Gautama, also known as the Buddha. Born in Lumbini (modern-
day Nepal), he led a sect of wandering ascetics (Sramanas), which later became known
as Sangha. The Sramanas movement, rooted in renouncing Vedic teachings and
conventional society, emerged around the 7th century BCE. It led to various religious
and philosophical traditions, including Buddhism and Jainism, rejecting societal norms
for spiritual pursuits. Siddhartha Gautama's teachings of enlightenment and
renunciation profoundly influenced the development of Buddhism and its relationship
with other Indian religions like Hinduism.
By the 3rd century BCE, Buddhism underwent significant transformation under the
Mauryan Indian emperor Ashoka the Great (304–232 BCE), who embraced it as the
state religion of India. Ashoka's patronage led to the spread of Buddhist ideas,
missionary activities, and the establishment of favorable conditions for the religion's
acceptance. Following Ashoka's reign, archaeological evidence for Buddhism became
abundant, reflecting its growth and influence.

The period following Buddha's death saw the emergence of various monastic schools
among his followers due to the ambiguity of his teachings on certain aspects. Buddha's
refusal to provide definitive answers on matters like the existence of the soul and his
lack of appointing a successor led to divergent interpretations within the Sangha
(monastic order). This eventually led to the division of Buddhist schools, notably into
Mahayana and Nikaya Buddhism branches around the 1st century CE.

Nikaya Buddhism, also known as Theravada, emerged as the "Lesser Vehicle." Today,
Theravada Buddhism is the sole surviving school from this tradition, predominantly
practiced in Sri Lanka, Burma, Thailand, and Southeast Asia. Theravada emphasizes a
monastic lifestyle and meditation, drawing its teachings from the Pali Canon or Tipitaka.

In contrast, Mahayana Buddhism, the "Greater Vehicle," emerged around 200 CE and
encompasses various schools prevalent in East Asia, including China, Japan, Korea,
and Tibet. Mahayana emphasizes the veneration of Bodhisattvas and Mahayana sutras,
which are not recognized by Nikaya Buddhists as authentic teachings of Buddha. The
emergence of Mahayana marked a significant divergence from Nikaya Buddhism's
emphasis on anatta (no soul) doctrine, emphasizing reform and rebirth until reaching
nirvana.
HINDUISM
The birthplace of Hinduism is believed to be the Indus River Valley, which stretches from
northwest India into Pakistan. The civilization that flourished there, known as the Indus
Valley Civilization or Harappan civilization, emerged around 4,500-5,000 BCE and
reached its peak between 2300 to 2000 BC. Major cities like Harappa and Mohenjodaro
displayed advanced urban planning, standardized construction methods, and evidence
of trade, agriculture, and domestication of animals.

The term "Hindu" is derived from the Sanskrit word for river, "sindhu," referring to the
Indus River. Persians referred to the region around the river as "Hindu," which later
became associated with the people and their religion. Archaeological discoveries in
1921 revealed the extent of this ancient civilization, which extended across parts of
present-day Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iran, and India.

The decline of the Indus Valley Civilization around 1800 BCE, possibly due to climate
change, led to subsequent invasions by various powers, including Alexander the Great,
the Persian empire, and the Kushan empire. In 712 AD, Muslims invaded the region and
referred to its inhabitants as Hindus.

Hinduism encompasses diverse beliefs about gods, with the concept of Brahman as the
supreme reality. Brahman is an impersonal ultimate reality, with all beings being part of
Brahman. The Hindu trinity consists of Brahma, the creator; Vishnu, the preserver; and
Shiva, the destroyer. Other important deities include Ganesha, the remover of
obstacles. These gods represent different aspects of Brahman and play significant roles
in Hindu cosmology and worship practices.

Hinduism expanded through a variety of channels including trade routes like the Silk
Road and Indian Ocean trade routes, voluntary migration to Southeast Asia, cultural
influence through Indian art, literature, and philosophy, conquests and empires such as
the Chola, Pallava, Gupta, and Vijayanagara empires, diaspora communities in regions
like the Caribbean, Africa, Europe, and North America, and colonialism, particularly
under British rule which led to Indian migration to British colonies in Africa, the
Caribbean, and Southeast Asia. Unlike centralized religions, Hinduism's decentralized
nature, lacking a singular authority or missionary tradition, contributed to its organic
spread. This expansion was a complex interplay of trade networks, cultural exchange,
migration patterns, imperial conquests, and colonial interactions, shaping the diverse
manifestations of Hinduism across different regions and cultures.