Christianity
With well over two billion followers throughout the world, Christianity is an Abrahamic religion centered on God, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit. One of the big issues surrounding Christianity is that some people question the existence of the Trinity. Other points of debate are the Christian beliefs in Immaculate Conception, the original sin, the existence of the Devil, and the coming of the apocalypse. Learn more about Christianity and find out how it became the world’s largest religion with holidays that are known worldwide.
Islam
More than one billion people in the world follow Islam, worship Allah, believe in angels, and consider Muhammad as the latest prophet. These are only a few of the beliefs set by the religion that is disciplined and strict in its rules and customs. The Five Pillars guide Muslim life, as do the Qur’an, the Hadith, and the fatwas which contribute to the Sharia. Discover more about the customs and beliefs of the second largest religion in the world. What do Muslims whisper in a newborn’s ear? Find the answer to this question and more.
Buddhism
Who is Buddha? What exactly is Buddhism? Learn about the quest for Enlightenment that intrigued people throughout history and learn about the Four Noble Truths of Buddhism. Meditation played a significant role in the life of Siddhartha Gautama, who left his princely lifestyle to find the meaning of true nature. Buddhism has continued to change the lives of people today who follow the path towards enlightenment. What is so special about the Bodhi tree? Discover more about the peaceful religion that worships no God and believes in a spiritual journey based on karma.
Judaism
Over twelve million people in the world follow Judaism and regard the Torah as the most important holy book of Judaism. Jews believe they are the chosen people of God and consider Moses as the founder of this religion. The laws of God guide Jews throughout their lives and followers of this religion spend a lot of their time praying. Delve into the religion of Judaism to find out more about their customs and beliefs. Learn about what Jews eat as part of their diet and the number of pilgrimages in which they participate.
Atheism
Atheism is the belief that God, deities, and spiritual beings do not exist. The term “Atheism†is a combination of a, which means without, and theism, which means belief in God or gods. According to Atheism, people do not need to rely on gods or holy writings to create moral codes to rule life. Many Atheists are avid secularists and are against the inclusion of religion in public affairs. Some people who are Atheists are actually religious. Religions as Buddhism comply with principles of Atheism, as do religions that grew out of Judaism and Christianity that take a more humanistic approach and do not focus on the existence of God. Richard Dawkins is a widely recognized atheist and considered to be the father of modern atheism.
Bahai
The Bahai religion is among the world’s youngest major religions. It exists in 235 countries and has six million followers in the world. The religion was founded in 19th century Iran. It grew out of Islam, just as Christianity grew out of Judaism. The faith welcomes all individuals who accept Bahá’u’lláh, his covenant regarding his son and successor Abdu’l-Bahá, and the governing rules and institutions of Bahai. Converts do not need to renounce their previous religions, since Bahais believe that all religions are different approaches to worshipping God, and that their faith is the most recent and current approach.
Candomble
Candomble is an African-Brazilian religion has around two million followers. It is a syncretic religion, meaning that it is a combination of various beliefs. At the core of the religion are the traditional African beliefs of Yoruba, Fon and Bantu. Candomble also has elements of Christianity, particularly of Catholicism. Candomble means “dance in honor of the gods.” Accordingly, dance and music play important roles in the religion. At the center of Candomble is God or Oludumare. Deities called orixas serve Oludumare. Candomble does not have any holy scriptures.
Hinduism
Hinduism is among the oldest religions of the world. It has more than 900 million followers, with around 80 percent of the Indian population claiming to be Hindu. Hinduism does not follow a single doctrine or teacher, but recognizes one God and eternal soul called Brahman. The different types of Hinduism recognize different deities.
Jainism
Jainism is an ancient religion that believes that bliss can be achieved if one lives a harmless life. The religion does not depend on gods, but on the self. Therefore, Jainism is known as a self-help religion. There are two major divisions of Jains: the Digambara (sky clad) and the Svetambara (white clad). There are about 4.2 million followers of Jainism in the world, mostly in India.
Jehovah’s Witnesses
Jehovah’s Witnesses are a Christian-based religious denomination that believes that most churches of Christianity have strayed. They consider themselves a brotherhood joined by religious belief. Jehovah’s Witnesses are known for visiting neighborhoods and knocking on doors in order to inform people about their religion and attract converts. There are around 6.5 million members worldwide. Jehovah’s Witnesses use the New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures, their own translation of the Bible which is available in around 70 languages.
Mormonism
The Mormon Church was founded in the United States in the 19th century. It is also called the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints or The Church of Jesus Christ. Although Mormonism is a Christian faith, it is very different from the other sects of Christianity. According to Mormons, the other Christian churches have gone off course, and their church is the only one that is modeled after the church envisioned by Jesus. Their holy books are: The Holy Bible (King James Version), the Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, and Pearl of Great Price. With 12 million members throughout the world, the Mormon Church has been active in spreading the gospel throughout its history.
Paganism
Paganism is a modern religious tradition based on the worship of nature and influenced by the religions of indigenous people. There are many different communities or types of Paganism. These include the Heathens, Wiccans, Druids, Odinists, Shamans, and Sacred Ecologists. With such a diverse range of subdivisions, Paganism involves a host of different practices and has experienced a rise in popularity in the past century.
Rastafari
Rastafari is a relatively new religion based on African traditions. Followers of the religion are called Rastafarians, Rastas, Dreads, Dreadlocks, Sufferers, or Locksmen. What started out as an entirely black-oriented religion spread throughout the world, particularly in the 1970s because of the popularity of reggae music, and currently has around one million followers in Japan, New Zealand, and elsewhere.
Santeria
Santeria is an Afro-Caribbean religion that developed from the Cuban slave trade. It is also called La Regla Lucumi and the Rule of Osha. Santeria means “the worship of the saints.” The religion is centered on African traditions and has some elements of Christianity. It is an oral tradition. The exact number of Santeria followers is unknown.
Shinto
Shinto is an ancient Japanese religion that is based on spiritual beings called kami. Shinto does not aim to explain existence; it focuses on enhancing human communication with kami through rituals. Shinto is an ethnic religion, which is almost exclusively found in Japan. Most people in Japan follow both Shinto and Buddhism. For followers of Shinto, Buddha is a kami.
Sikhism
Sikhism is a monotheistic religion that has around 20 million followers in the world. Most Sikhs live in India. The religious state of an individual is of great significance to the religion. The Sikh scripture is called the Guru Granth Sahib. It is the current Sikh Guru, according to instruction left by the tenth Sikh Guru who told followers to revere the book as a spiritual guide and guru after his death. There are 20 million Sikhs in the world, who mostly live in the Punjab province of India.
Taoism
Taoism, or Daoism, is an ancient religion based on various Chinese philosophies, religions, and customs. The Tao is central to Taoism. The Tao is difficult to describe, but it is connected to all things. Taoists do not worship the Tao, but they worship various deities that depend on the Tao.
Unitarianism
Unitarianism is a personal approach to religion that promotes religious freedom and is open to various beliefs. With around 800,000 followers worldwide, Unitarianism stresses the oneness of God and the unity of all humans. Unitarianism includes people who believe in different religions like Christianity, Judaism, Buddhism, Paganism and Atheism can follow Unitarianism.
Zoroastrianism
Zoroastrianism is among the oldest religions of the world. Many Westerners erroneously label Zoroastrians as fire worshippers. According to Zoroastrianism, there is one God called Ahura Mazda, or Wise Lord. Once one of the largest religions, it is currently one of the smallest religions. A quarter of a million Zoroastrians exist throughout the world.