Be it a God, some eternal cycle, or even science, all peoples believe in some sort of central universal power that brought about existence - a higher power under which all things are subject. Western traditions predominantly preach monotheism: that there is one all-powerful God to who is to be worshipped, and that faith will allow entrance into a Paradise after death. Eastern traditions on the other hand, such as those originating in China and …showed first 75 words of 2422 total…

…showed last 75 words of 2422 total…but ultimately, serve the same purpose as God in Western beliefs. Conversely, most Eastern religions teach that ordinary actions can affect the supernatural realm in ways that are unheard of in Western ideolology. The ultimate realities are entities and not 'gods' as the word is perceived in the West. While in the West people pray to God for Paradise and salvation, in the East religious people meditate and hope to achieve a state of paradise.