THE INTERACTION BETWEEN EASTERN AND WESTERNRELIGIOUS THOUGHT IN SHAPING GLOBAL CIVILIZATION

Abstract

This article explores the complex interplay
between Eastern and Western religious thought and its role in
shaping global civilization across history. Eastern
philosophies such as Hinduism, Buddhism, and Confucianism
emphasize harmony, inner peace, and cosmic balance,
whereas Western traditions like Christianity, Judaism, and
Islam often prioritize ethical monotheism, linear time, and
salvation. While seemingly divergent, these traditions have
historically interacted through trade, colonization,
intellectual exchange, and globalization, leading to a
hybridization of ethical frameworks, governance models, and
humanistic ideals. This paper analyzes these intersections and
argues that the synthesis of Eastern introspection and Western
activism has deeply influenced global civilizational norms,
including human rights, education, law, and environmental
ethics. The article concludes with a reflection on the potential
of continued inter-religious dialogue in fostering a more
cooperative and morally grounded global order.