Religions Of the World

(2012-2013)Census

Alden B. Patria8-Earth

Christianity

• FOUNDED : Christianity began about 2000 years ago in what is now Israel.• FOUNDER :: Jesus of Nazareth, or Jesus Christ, “the Anointed

One”, “The Messiah”.• WRITING HOME: The Bible – Old and New Testaments.

Adherents :: is estimated at about 2 billion.• CULTS: Christianity is divided into three main sects: Roman

Catholic, Eastern Orthodox and Protestant. Among Protestants there are over 20,000 denominations.• Currently Christianity is at the top practiced religion in the

world

Islam

• FOUNDED: Islam began about 1400 years ago in what is now Saudi Arabia.• Started by: THE Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).• KEY SCRIPTURE: THE QURAAN, the revealed scripture

of Islam, and the Hadith, the teachings, sayings and life of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).• Adherents: One billion, mostly in the Middle East,

Indonesia, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Africa, China and Eastern Europe. According to Guiness

Hinduism

• FOUNDED: Hinduism, the world’s oldest religion, has no beginning – predates written history.• FOUNDER: Hinduism has no single founder.• MAJOR SCRIPTURES: The Gita, Vedas, the Agamas and more.• Adherents: Almost one billion, mostly in India, Sri Lanka,

Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, Malaysia, Indonesia, Indian Ocean, Africa, Europe and North and South.• CULTS: There are four major denominations: Saivism,

Saktism, Vaishnavism and Smartism.

Buddhism

• FOUNDED: Buddhism began about 2500 years ago in India.• FOUNDER: Gautama Siddhartha, the Buddha, or

“Enlightened One.”• Major Scriptures: The Tripitaka, Anguttara-Nikaya,

Fhammapada, Sutta-Nipata, Samyutta-Nikaya and many others.• Adherents: More than 300 million.• Cults: Buddhism today is divided into three main sects:

Theravada, or Hinayana (Sri Lanka, Thailand, Burma, Cambodia), Mahayana (China, Japan, Vietnam, Korea), and Vajrayana (Tibet, Mongolia and Japan).

Taoism

• FOUNDED: Taoism began about 2500 years ago in China.• FOUNDER: Lao-Tzu, whom Confucius described as a dragon

riding the wind and clouds.• KEY SCRIPTURE: The Tao-te-Ching, or “Book of Reason and

Virtue”, is among the shortest of all scriptures, containing only 5000 words. Also important are the sacred writings of Chiang-tsu.• Adherents: Estimated at 50 million, mostly in China and

elsewhere in Asia.• CULTS: Taoism is a highly mystical tradition, so there have

been various interpretations and sects are many.

Confucianism

• FOUNDED: Confucianism began about 2500 years ago in China.• FOUNDER: The Supreme Sage K’ung-fu-tsu (Confucius) and

Second Sage Meng-tsu (Mencius).• KEY SCRIPTURE: The Philosophical Reviews, Doctrine of the

Mean, Great Learning and Mencius book.• Adherents: Approximately 350 million, mostly in China,

Japan, Burma and Thailand.• CULTS: There are no formal sects Confucianism. The followers

are free to profess other religions and still be Confucianists.

Jainsim

• FOUNDED: THE Jainism began about 2500 years ago in India.• FOUNDER: Nataputra Vardhamana, known as Mahavira

“Great Hero”.• Pricipales Scriptures: The Jain Agamas and Siddhantas.• ADHARENTES: About 600 million, almost exclusively in

Central and South India, especially in Mumbai.• CULTS: There are two sects. The sect Digambara (“sky clad”)

argues that a saint should own nothing, not even clothes, hence the practice of wearing only a loincloth. They believe that salvation in this birth is not possible for women. The sect Svetambara (“white robes”) disagree on that point.

Shintoism

• FOUNDED: Shintoism in Japan began around 2500-3000 years ago.• FOUNDER :: Each of the thirteen ancient sects has its own

founder.• KEY SCRIPTURE: Kojiki (Record of Ancient Things), Nikongi

(Chronicles of Japan), a later work, Yangishiki (Institutes Yengi period), and the Collection of 10,000 Leaves are the main works, but are not considered revealed scripture.• Adherents: About 30 million, mostly in Japan. Most are also

Buddhists.

Judaism

• FOUNDED: Judaism began about 3700 years ago in the Near East, mainly Canaan (now Israel) and Egypt.• FOUNDERS: Abraham, who began the lineage, and Moses,

who emancipated the enslaved Jewish tribes from Egypt.• HOME WRITING: The Torah (the Old Testament and the

Talmud).• Adherents: About 12 million worldwide, more than half in

the United States.• CULTS :: The Jews are divided into sects: Orthodox,

Conservative and Reform, with other regional and ethnic divisions.

Sikhism

• FOUNDED: THE Sikhism began about 500 years ago in North India, today the nation of Pakistan.• FOUNDER: Guru Nanak.• KEY SCRIPTURE: The Adi Granth, revered as the present guru

of belief.• Adherents: Estimated as nine million, primarily in the state of

Punjab in India.• CULTS: Khalsa Besides, there are Ram Raiyas in Uttar Pradesh

and two groups with gurus in life – the Mandharis and Nirankaris.

Zoroastrianism

• FOUNDED: Zoroastrianism began 2600 years ago in ancient Iran.• FOUNDER: Spenta Zarathustra (Zoroaster).• KEY SCRIPTURE: Lots of Zend-Avesta (Persian).• Adherents: 125,000, mostly near Mumbai, where they are

called Parsis.• Cults: Cults today are three: Shagenshai, Kadmi and Fassali.• These were the most preached and practiced Top Ten

Religions in the World. Below is table showing population and percentage of each religion.