Hunter, Alan2019-09-252019-09-252017-07-2720110009-4668http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12424/166210There is now evidence of a “world-wide web” of diffuse religiosity deeply embedded in large parts of the Eurasian continent, starting in pre-history, and continuing up to perhaps AD 500. Religions we know as “Christianity” and “Buddhism” (and various others) were at the time of their emergence important local embodiments of this pervasive religious and cultural complex. The now familiar institutionalised religions are crystallisations of a shared heritage. They may well have mutually influenced each other, and perhaps more importantly they each partly embody an ocean of religious belief and symbolism: each is unique in its precise configuration, but far from unique in its component parts.engWith permission of the license/copyright holderChristianity and BuddhismChurch history -- 0030-600Buddhism -- HistoryReligion, Primitive Religions -- RelationsEthics, Religious Asia -- ReligionChinaReligious ethicsComparative religious ethicsIntercultural and contextual theologiesAsian theologiesComparative religion and interreligious dialogueChristian-BuddhistArticle