Why were Abrahamic religions able to expand beyond their areas of origin while others couldn't?

[Slog]

Discuss.

 

[ipl_fan]

Other religions are not based on spreading religion. I understand Muslims and Christians consider it their duty to spread religion.

 

[JaDed]

Other religions are not based on spreading religion. I understand Muslims and Christians consider it their duty to spread religion.

Problem is Dharmic religions esp the likes of ISKCON have started spreading it now and its annoying to say the least,I see a time in some decades when ISKCON,Sai Baba Worshipper and Brahma Kumaris will say they shouldn't be included under Hinduism.

 

[SandyB]

Well only Islam and Christianity had "Proselytisation" clause made the primary pillar of adhering to the Religion.

With most Dharmic and east asian faiths it was : "This stuff is good for you , it'd be good if you live by it , pretty please... "

But with Abrahamic faiths it's like " Our god, GOOOD ! everybody elses, BAAAD ! ", "tell everyone this TRUTH and ensure prime spots are booked for you in Heaven ! " . .

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

Other religions are not based on spreading religion. I understand Muslims and Christians consider it their duty to spread religion.

I have often heard defenders of Islam deny that it is a religion and is instead a way of life. That might be why they are so keen to spread it, in the same way America or Europe would want to spread capitalism and democracy and assume a similarly dominant position as a result.

 

[TM Riddle]

I have often heard defenders of Islam deny that it is a religion and is instead a way of life. That might be why they are so keen to spread it, in the same way America or Europe would want to spread capitalism and democracy and assume a similarly dominant position as a result.

Way of life or not it's duty of every individual in Abrahamic faiths to proselytize and spread their Deen as much as they can so that as many people can receive the message of god and come under their fold.Nothing wrong with it as its their belief but it answers OP's question.

 

[Buffet]

Follow the brownie points. Follow the incentive.

 

[yasir]

Part of the reason is that Abrahamic religions are relatively new (Christianity and Islam), they opt for newer strategies of expansion. Nobody knew about Christianity at time of Jesus, it become popular when it become state religion of one of the biggest empire.

After life concept was not that emphasized or mentioned in Old Testament, but become a central concept in new testament, Islam followed same path. One of the reason of after life concept is that you don't have to baby sit people to believe in your doctrine, they will do it without your stick, if you make them buy into the concept of better life after death...After Life concept was not that central in past religions (pagans, Hindus, Bhudism, Zoroastrians etc). In Islam its such a central concept and tied to faith, its a zero sum game for many.

Other reason is communication and trade as that becomes global, dominate culture spreads strongly. Spread of Western Culture and Idols in last few hundred years is a great example.

Religion is on the decline

As I alluded earlier religion is not dominate culture or way of life in many parts of the world. Christianity is not as strong force as it was 400 years ago. Science and Technology has reshape the culture and its on a different course, religion does not have resources or intellect to fight with it, its not going to come back again

In Islamic world, rise of religion is last century or so has many factors. Poverty and Illiteracy is main cause, those factors are true for India as well. Bulk of the Oil money is hand of people who were extremist, they used most of that money to spread it, but as with Oil, they will run out of gas soon, then its going to be hard for them to sustain. For west it was easy to deal with not so smart nut jobs, they tried to kept them busy with old school ideology, then its easy to exploit your resources. As a business man, you want to deal with less intelligent guy on the other end, even if it is hard headed. Capitalism works on same principle as feudalism, exploiting resources of weaker entities as much and as long as you can.

 

[troodon]

Dharmic religions do not advice their adherents to expand beyond their boundaries and start converting people.

Dharmic religion acknowledge that there is more than one way to reach the supreme soul. Acceptance of other ways to reach God means no more conversions.

Abrahamic faiths depend on the rule of - "If you don't do this, you will be be roasted in hell fires". There is only one path to reach supreme soul and hence it is important to follow only that one true God.

 

[CricketCartoons]

Problem is Dharmic religions esp the likes of ISKCON have started spreading it now and its annoying to say the least,I see a time in some decades when ISKCON,Sai Baba Worshipper and Brahma Kumaris will say they shouldn't be included under Hinduism.

Why is that a problem?

 

[Yossarian]

Part of the reason is that Abrahamic religions are relatively new (Christianity and Islam), they opt for newer strategies of expansion. Nobody knew about Christianity at time of Jesus, it become popular when it become state religion of one of the biggest empire.

"Nobody knew about Christianity at time of Jesus"? You're making it sound as if Christianity was already around before Jesus came along.

 

[yasir]

"Nobody knew about Christianity at time of Jesus"? You're making it sound as if Christianity was already around before Jesus came along.

Even after 100/200 years of his death, Christianity was still unknown, when it become state religion, then it wide spread...

 

[ipl_fan]

To add to this discussion, turning to Christianity is a huge monetary gain for utter down trodden people in India. They get handsome lumpsome amounts as welcome gifts and in some cases school books and stuff for their kids are also offered.

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

To add to this discussion, turning to Christianity is a huge monetary gain for utter down trodden people in India. They get handsome lumpsome amounts as welcome gifts and in some cases school books and stuff for their kids are also offered.

You have to admit, it beats being an untouchable.

 

[Third_Umpire]

Swords.

 

[Adil_94]

if im not mistaken dharmic faiths did spread in south east asia. i think it was the Gupta Empire that spread Buddhism and thats why Laos Cambodia Thailand Vietnam are Buddhist majority even though the faith originated in modern day India. Indonesia and Malaysia was also Hindu and Buddhist majority until the arrival of Islam in the middle ages.

But why the two dominant Abrahamic faiths spread is one the concept of helllfire n afterlife n also because of their claims of universal truth by stating they are the only true faith. Many empires n armies have rallied under the call of the one true God to spread the faith. They give adherents certainty.

Dharmic faiths like Hinduism Buddhism and Sikhism as far as i know dont claim to hold universal truth and acknowledge that there are many paths to God so generally they dont feel the need to prosletyse. as finding your own path to God is deemed more important.

 

[JaDed]

Why is that a problem?

Its always nice to believe that Dharmic is for seekers,but it seems to be changing now,problem just for me not for everyone i suppose.

 

[PakLFC]

The belief in one God is far easier to grasp then many demi Gods fighting for superiority. Dharmic faiths did spread like Indonesia was once majority Hindu before the coming of Islam. Most people just don't agree with idol worship or reincarnation philosophies, it is by and large against human nature.