Dbq South And East Asian Religions

South and East Asian religions are more closely related and focus on a person’s actions and experience to guide them in life as opposed to emphasizing on a supreme being. These religions are more philosophical and less authoritarian than southwestern religions that primarily focus on a single supreme deity to lead them in life and are more dictatorial. South and East Asian religions such as Confucianism, Buddhism, Hinduism and Taoism are centered around one’s behavior and are more adjustable to one’s perception, while Southwestern religions are not.
South and East Asian religions, as discussed in Documents 1, 3, 4 and 7, are primarily focused on an individuals choices and experiences in life. In these religions a key concept is that behaving

The concept of this religion is that an individual is only the actions they demonstrate. Although there is a mention of a supreme lord in this document there is no direct link to how this deity is important in the life of the individual. Another South Asian religion is Buddhism, which is described in Document 4. This religion stresses on the middle path, something the perfect one focuses on. This religion highlights the importance of balancing pleasure and suffering rather than following the direction of one supreme authority. Both documents 1 and 4 mention a supreme god, but do not mention the importance of this supreme deity in an individual’s life. An East Asian religion, Confucianism, as mentioned in Document 3, also stresses the importance of actions. This document talks about codes of acceptable behavior, which are to respect your elders and to be truthful. It also, unlike document 1 and 4 does not mention any supreme lord. The main focus is that one should stress on the importance of experience and age as opposed to following one supreme source. The document even mentions how we should use our spare energy for the literature and arts rather than

Documents 2, 5, 6, and 8 all focus on one supreme lord. Documents 2 and 8 both highlight the teachings of Islam. These documents are centered around the importance of one specific god and making that god pleased with one’s actions. Document 8 also talks about humans actions being monitored and how these actions will be revealed and judged in the end. Documents 5 and 6 talk about Christianity and Judaism. These documents also have the same major concepts focused on central authority. Unlike documents 1, 3, 4 and 7, there is no sense of balance or freedom to interpret the teachings in different ways. In document 6 a new idea is mentioned when it introduces a messenger. This messenger is sent it enlighten, but it also states that this person’s message might not be accepted by the people. Overall all four documents are centered around the reason for existence, which is to follow the central authority’s path and to please them with your