Egyptian Religion Vs Pre-Axial Age

The Axial Age is a time period where many religions began and answered questions about how one should live his life. Pre-axial religions were focused on oneself and how to live in the present. They had local gods and as one moved around he worshiped the god of that area. These gods demanded sacrifices and other rituals. However, there was no emphasis on what happened after a person died. The pre-axial religions were more concerned with practical problems like winning wars and growing crops. The religions from the Pre-axial Age did not have any focus on these questions. It was up to each person to decide how he would live his life, if it was ethical or not. During the Axial Age, Hinduism provided some answers to Axial Age questions, while
Buddhism gave more fulfilling answers because in Buddhism the solutions made it possible for all the followers to achieve the ultimate goal during his lifetime. Hinduism does not have strict guiding principle on how to live an ethical and meaningful life.
Hinduism was a religion based on the caste system. This makes it impossible for someone to move up in the religion in one’s lifetime. The caste system has five parts: Brahmin, which is a priest, Kshatriyas, the warriors, Vaisyas, farmers, artisans, merchants and herders, Sudras, farmworkers, servants, other laborers and the lowest, Dalit, animal skin tanners. One is born into a caste. The Caste system you are born into controls who one married, where one lived, food that was available and clothes that were worn. However, when they reincarnate they might move up or down in the caste system. One of the ways Hinduism helps a person is to help him reach moksha, the goal of one’s soul to stop being reincarnated and reunite with Brahman, god. Hinduism also has a rule against violence called ahimsa, which is another way to live an ethical life. A person tried to do as many good deeds as possible so, that in his next life he can become a part of a higher caste. This causes a person to live both an ethical and meaningful life. Hinduism does not allow a person in the present lifetime to move up in caste preventing an even more meaningful life. Therefore there is no incentive for someone to live an ethical life because it will not affect his current
life. Buddhism answers more thoroughly the Axial Age questions with the Eightfold Path. It was founded by a Hindu prince. He was kept in the palace his whole life until he was 29 years old because his mother had a dream that he would run away and, become a holy man secluded from society. When he finally left the palace he discovered suffering and, he ended up becoming a holy man. He meditated until he believed he discovered the meaning of life, suffering, and how to cure suffering which was to overcome desire. He became the Buddha, which means the “Enlightened one”. Both Hinduism and Buddhism believe in karma, where actions affect one in a different life. There is also the concept of nonviolence, and reincarnation. Buddhists change the name of Moksha to Nirvana but, they are very similar. There is no caste system which allows all Buddhists to achieve Nirvana during one's life. This provides a more meaningful life because it is possible to do great things while one is living whereas in Hinduism an ethical and meaningful life, benefit the afterlife only. However, in Buddhism if one can accomplish all he needed to while living, one will do more to reach the goal. The Eightfold Path of Buddhism is the way to end suffering. It provides the way to live life in order to reach Nirvana and stop reincarnation. It includes wisdom, ethical behavior and meditation.