1. caste system
The Hindu society is traditionally organized by a strict caste system. This system has been in place in India for several thousands of years, and it is something that has been the trademark of the Hindus throughout history. This system divides the people into four different castes, or classes, each caste being specialized in something. The caste system also is not allowing for people to move from one caste to another, so in which caste someone is born in that caste will remain until the end of that person’s life.
2. ethnic group
The Hinduism and the Judaism are religions that fall into the category of national religions. The reason for this is that these religions have traditionally been practiced by a particular ethnic group, and they were not gaining following out of that particular ethnic group. The Hinduism is a religion that can be found in India, and among the Indian Diaspora, while the Judaism can be found in Israel and among the Jewish Diaspora. Not just that these religions are only practiced by a particular ethnic group, but they are also two of the oldest religions in the world that have a significant following.
3. Universalizing religion is a religion that has been accepted by numerous ethnic or racial groups, as well as in multiple countries and regions. These types of religions have started at certain place, among certain group of people, but they have spread around among many other groups of people. Such religions are the Christianity, Islam, and Buddhism. The Christianity started in Israel, but it has spread out in parts of Africa, Europe, the Americas, and Australia, the Islam started on the Arabian Peninsula but it has spread in Africa, southwest Asia, central Asia, south Asia, and southeast Asia, while the Buddhism started in India, but it has moved on and has its following in China, Mongolia, Korea, Japan southeast Asia.
4. lower classes… emperor Ashoka
The Buddhism appeared in India. This new religion was seen very fondly among the majority of the people, or rather by the lower classes, especially because it was eliminating the discrimination. But the Buddhism didn’t really kick on until it got the support from emperor Ashoka. Ashoka thought that the Buddhism is much better and more practical than the Hinduism, and he was also not fond of the caste system. He was sending monks throughout his empire to spread the religion and gain more following, and the majority of the people of the lower classes accepted the Buddhism as it was very appealing to them with all of its positive characteristics, but also because they were sick of the treatment they received from the upper classes.
5. The main reason as to why the Christianity separated the state and the Church was because the people saw that when the Church has lot of political power it leads to stagnation, or even regression in pretty much every aspect. The Church was setting lot of limits because of its interests and teachings, and with the new age bringing in lot of new technology and ideas, there was a lot of tension. In order for the societies to progress the Church was pushed out of the politics, and it was given only religious authority, while having no political power whatsoever.
6. political/social… submission to Allah
The Islam started off with the preaching of the Prophet Muhammad. Muhammad managed to gradually gather a following in Arabia, and little by little more and more people saw the new religion as appealing and were joining in. Soon Muhammad had more followers than opponents, and on order to spread the religion even more, apart from religious he became a social and political leader, so he organized an army and attacked the ones that didn’t wanted to accept the new faith. The people of Arabia found it very appealing that there is only one God, Allah, and that everyone has to submit the life to him, and that was very highly valued in Islam.
