Three of the biggest religions in the world, Buddhism, Christianity, and Islam, began as small groups with a single leader, but flourished into mass movements that attracted millions of followers. However, these transformations occurred through the mechanizations of individuals who had “secular political power.” According to the various documents provided in the chapter, what were these leaders trying to accomplish by espousing the virtues of these faiths? Why were these faiths embraced by those under them? What similarities and differences are there in their actions and what was considered most valuable to their communities?