Judaism - 3000 year old religion which has spawned a host of immitators and cults - followers have been scattered to the four corners of the globe, and although they have been severly persecuted have provided a financial backbone to most of the post medieval world.
Zororastorism - 3000+ year old religion founded in Peria - some would say post Babylonian diasphora Judeo-Christian religions owe more than a passing nod to its philosophy. Persia had a profound effect on the middle east, as well as keeping the Roman empire in check.
Christianity - 1950 year old religion spawned from Judaism. It's message was spread on the back of persecution, and after being established as the cult of the elite spread to the four corners of the world. Spawned numerous cults and sects, including Islam & Mormonism.
Islam - 1350 year old religion spread by Arabs across middle east and southern europe. Spawned from Nestorian Christianity, and has in tried to establish its own identity with varying degrees of success. It's major success has been is subverting local customs to its own ends, thus being one of the most successful in fostering the idea that belief and patriotism are linked.
Hinduism - 4000+ year old group of religious practices birthed in the Indus valley in India. Core beliefs in a pantheon of deities were tied in with many different vedic traditions that enabled it to appeal to a broad church of believers. Despite never really finding roots outside of the Aisian subcontinent is still the 3rd largest world religion.
Toaism & confusism - 2200+ year old set of beliefs and structures that are followed by the Chinese. Laid the foundations for the the middle kingdom, and over a billion people are wise to their teachings.
Marxism - 150 year old set of ideals which have been called socialist, communist, Leninist, Moaist, and Stalinist. It could be argued that communism ultimately stook as the final balwalk between tyranny and freedom, and that it was the greed of the few that corrupted its ideals for the many. At one point in the 20th century over 1.5 billion people were under its banner.
These are 7 of the key belief systems in human history, and while Buddhism, capitalism, libralism & animism are potent forces in their own spheres, they have usually been tied into social situations and ideals, rather than the broad movements that these 7 have tended to come to represent.
Zororastorism - 3000+ year old religion founded in Peria - some would say post Babylonian diasphora Judeo-Christian religions owe more than a passing nod to its philosophy. Persia had a profound effect on the middle east, as well as keeping the Roman empire in check.
Christianity - 1950 year old religion spawned from Judaism. It's message was spread on the back of persecution, and after being established as the cult of the elite spread to the four corners of the world. Spawned numerous cults and sects, including Islam & Mormonism.
Islam - 1350 year old religion spread by Arabs across middle east and southern europe. Spawned from Nestorian Christianity, and has in tried to establish its own identity with varying degrees of success. It's major success has been is subverting local customs to its own ends, thus being one of the most successful in fostering the idea that belief and patriotism are linked.
Hinduism - 4000+ year old group of religious practices birthed in the Indus valley in India. Core beliefs in a pantheon of deities were tied in with many different vedic traditions that enabled it to appeal to a broad church of believers. Despite never really finding roots outside of the Aisian subcontinent is still the 3rd largest world religion.
Toaism & confusism - 2200+ year old set of beliefs and structures that are followed by the Chinese. Laid the foundations for the the middle kingdom, and over a billion people are wise to their teachings.
Marxism - 150 year old set of ideals which have been called socialist, communist, Leninist, Moaist, and Stalinist. It could be argued that communism ultimately stook as the final balwalk between tyranny and freedom, and that it was the greed of the few that corrupted its ideals for the many. At one point in the 20th century over 1.5 billion people were under its banner.
These are 7 of the key belief systems in human history, and while Buddhism, capitalism, libralism & animism are potent forces in their own spheres, they have usually been tied into social situations and ideals, rather than the broad movements that these 7 have tended to come to represent.
