ABSTRACT
Most religions are culturally specific, yet Islam, Christianity, and Buddhism transcended their environments of origin with apparently global potential. Even though Buddhism is often referred to as a philosophy, because its followers have disciplined communal practices, sacred writings, a belief in life after death, and strive to live in a compassionate and ethical way, this chapter considers it a religion. The Minutes of the Classis, detailed records of all church meetings, can be found for most of the colonies and for the Netherlands, and are a rich source for the study of global missionary movements. Universalism at the Mughal court was not entirely welcomed. At the time, Islam was spreading across Mughal India through the dominant Sufi missionary movements of the Indian Chishtis and the Central Asian Naqshbandis. While Buddhism was intent on expanding in some regions of the world, in other regions it was focused on revival.
