Tapestry of Faith: Building Bridges: A World Religions Program for 8th-9th Grades

Leader Resource 1: 600-500 BCE, Eastern Religions History Game

A

B

C

D

E

Zoroastrianism

Jainism

Taoism

Buddhism

Confucianism

Founded: 600 BCE

Founded: 556 BCE

Founded: 550 BCE

Founded: 531 BCE

Founded: 500 BCE

Iran

India

China

India

China

Founder: Zoroaster

(Zarathustra)

Founder: Mahavira

Founder: Lao Tzu

Founder: Siddhartha Gautama

Founder: K'ung-fu-tzu

(Confucius)

2.6 million followers

4.2 million followers

20 million followers

360 million followers

6 million followers

Teaches ahimsa

Teaches ahimsa

Teaches ahimsa

Teaches ahimsa

Teaches ahimsa

Monotheistic

Nontheistic

Nontheistic

Nontheistic

Nontheistic

Does not teach karma

Teaches karma

Does not mention karma

Teaches karma

Does not teach karma

Does not teach reincarnation

Teaches reincarnation

Silent on reincarnation

Teaches reincarnation

Does not teach reincarnation

Gender equality

Gender equality

Gender equality

Gender equality

Reflected much of the patriarchal thinking of the time

Never called a philosophy

Sometimes called a philosophy

Often called a philosophy

Sometimes called a philosophy

Very often called a philosophy