Philosophies and Religions: Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism, and Ajivika (an ancient philosophy that declined over time).
Core Themes: Dharma (duty, righteousness), karma, moksha (liberation), non-violence, the nature of the self (atman), and the cyclical nature of existence (samsara).
Key Schools: Vedanta, Nyaya, Samkhya, Yoga, and Buddhist schools like Theravada and Mahayana.
2). Western (Abrahamic) Traditions
Philosophies and Religions: Judaism, Christianity, Islam.
Core Themes: Monotheism, prophecy, covenant (especially in Judaism), salvation, moral law, faith, and the relationship between God and humanity.
Historical Overlap: All three religions trace their origins to the Middle East, with theological roots connected through shared prophets and scriptures (especially in Judaism and Christianity).
3). Chinese Philosophy
Philosophies and Religions: Confucianism, Daoism (Taoism), and later Chinese Buddhism.
Core Themes: Social harmony, ethics, respect for ancestors, yin-yang balance, harmony with nature, and personal virtue.
Key Schools: Confucianism emphasizes social order and family respect, while Daoism focuses on harmony with the Dao (the Way) and simplicity.
4). Persian (Iranian) Philosophy
Philosophies and Religions: Zoroastrianism, Mithraism, and later contributions to Islamic philosophy.
Core Themes: The duality of good versus evil, the struggle between Ahura Mazda (the supreme god of good) and Angra Mainyu (evil spirit), ethical living, and the importance of fire as a symbol of purity.
5). Greek Philosophy
Philosophies and Religions: Ancient Greek polytheism and philosophical schools.
Core Themes: Inquiry into the nature of reality, ethics, politics, metaphysics, and epistemology.
Philosophies and Religions: Islamic philosophy and Sufism (Islamic mysticism).
Core Themes: Integrating reason with faith, exploring the nature of God, the soul, ethics, and the purpose of life through both revelation and reason.
Key Schools: Kalam (Islamic theology), Sufism, and Islamic Neoplatonism.
7). African Philosophy
Philosophies and Religions: Indigenous African religions, with influences from Islam and Christianity.
Core Themes: Communalism, respect for nature, the interdependence of all beings, and a strong emphasis on oral tradition and ancestral wisdom.
8). Japanese Philosophy
Philosophies and Religions: Shinto, Zen Buddhism, and Bushido.
Core Themes: Harmony with nature, simplicity, ritual, and mindfulness. Shinto focuses on reverence for kami (spirits), while Zen emphasizes meditation and experiential wisdom.
9). Latin American Philosophy
Philosophies and Religions: Indigenous Andean and Mesoamerican spiritualities, Liberation theology.
Core Themes: Interconnectedness of nature and humanity, anti-colonialism, and community well-being.
Source
“A History of Western Philosophy” by Bertrand Russell
“The Philosophy of India” by Surendranath Dasgupta
“The World’s Religions” by Huston Smith
“The Cambridge History of Philosophy in Late Antiquity”
Various scholarly articles and texts on Chinese, African, and Indigenous philosophies, available through platforms like JSTOR or academic databases.
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