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You are here: Home / History / Did most founders of major religions live in humble surroundings?

Did most founders of major religions live in humble surroundings?

February 22, 2020 by Karen Hill

With the notable exception of one who was born in a manger, a disproportionate number of founders of major religions had anything but humble beginnings.

The founder of Buddhism, Siddhartha, was a prince in what is now Nepal, who abandoned opulent wealth, not to mention a wife and baby, to wander as a holy man.

Similarly, Lao-tze, the founder of Taoism, was said to have also been a prince who also lived in a nearby principality during exactly the same time.

And Islam’s Muhammad was raised by relatives in a nomadic desert tribe after his parents died.

But in his 20s he married a rich widow, allowing him the luxury of pursuing his spiritual quests, unhindered by the burdens of want.

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Filed Under: History

About Karen Hill

Karen Hill is a freelance writer, editor, and columnist. Born in New York, her work has appeared in the Examiner, Yahoo News, Buzzfeed, among others.

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