The Religions
Religion is an organized collection of beliefs, cultural systems, and world views that relate humanity to an order of existence. Many religions have narratives, symbols, and sacred histories that are intended to explain the meaning of life or to explain the origin of life or the Universe. From their beliefs about the cosmos and human nature, people derive morality, ethics, religious laws or a preferred lifestyle. According to some estimates, there are roughly 4,200 religions in the world.
Many religions may have organized behaviors, clergy, a definition of what constitutes adherence or membership, holy places, and scriptures. The practice of a religion may also include rituals, sermons, commemoration or veneration of a deity, gods or goddesses, sacrifices, festivals, feasts, trance, initiations, funerary services, matrimonial services, meditation, prayer, music, art, dance, public service or other aspects of human culture. Religions may also contain mythology.
The word religion is sometimes used interchangeably with faith, belief system or sometimes set of duties; however, in the words of Émile Durkheim, religion differs from private belief in that it is "something eminently social". On average, women are more religious than men. Some people follow multiple religions or multiple religious principles at the same time, regardless of whether or not the religious principles they follow traditionally allow for syncretism.
(wikipedia)
The 10 most popular Religion in the World
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.
The foundations of Christian theology are expressed in ecumenical creeds that are accepted by followers of the Christian faith. These professions state that Jesus suffered, died, was buried, and was resurrected from the dead in order to grant eternal life to those who believe in him and trust in him for the remission of their sins. The creeds further maintain that Jesus bodily ascended into heaven, where he reigns with God the Father. Most denominations teach that Jesus will return to judge all humans, living and dead, and to grant eternal life to his followers.
Worldwide, the three largest groups of Christianity are the Catholic Church, the Eastern Orthodox Church, and the various denominations of Protestantism. The Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox patriarchates split from one another in the schism of the 11th century, and Protestantism came into existence during the Reformation of the 16th century, splitting from the Roman Catholic Church.
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.
Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable and the purpose of existence is to love and serve God. Muslims also believe that Islam is the complete and universal version of a primordial faith that was revealed at many times and places before, including through Abraham, Moses and Jesus, whom they consider prophets. They maintain that the previous messages and revelations have been partially misinterpreted or altered over time, but consider the Arabic Qur'an to be both the unaltered and the final revelation of God. Religious concepts and practices include the five pillars of Islam, which are basic concepts and obligatory acts of worship, and following Islamic law, which touches on virtually every aspect of life and society, providing guidance on multifarious topics from banking and welfare, to warfare and the environment.
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.
Hinduism consists of many diverse traditions and has no single founder. Among its direct roots is the historical Vedic religion of Iron Age India. As such, Hinduism is often called the "oldest religion" or "oldest living religion" in the world. Since Vedic times, a process of Sanskritization has been taking place, in which "people from many strata of society throughout the subcontinent tended to adapt their religious and social life to Brahmanic norms.
Besides being one of the world's numerically largest faiths, Hinduism is also the oldest living major tradition on earth with roots reaching back into prehistory. It is described as both the oldest of the world's religions and the most diverse. Hinduism has been variously defined as a religion, a religious tradition, and a set of religious beliefs.
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).
Buddhism is a religion indigenous to the Indian subcontinent that encompasses a variety of traditions, beliefs and practices largely based on teachings attributed to Siddhartha Gautama, who is commonly known as the Buddha, meaning "the awakened one". The Buddha lived and taught in the eastern part of the Indian subcontinent sometime between the 6th and 4th centuries BCE. He is recognized by Buddhists as an awakened or enlightened teacher who shared his insights to help sentient beings end their suffering (dukkha) through the elimination of ignorance (avidyā) by way of understanding and the seeing of dependent origination (pratītyasamutpāda) and the elimination of desire (taṇhā), and thus the attainment of the cessation of all suffering, known as the sublime state of nirvāņa.
Buddhist schools vary on the exact nature of the path to liberation, the importance and canonicity of various teachings and scriptures, and especially their respective practices. The foundations of Buddhist tradition and practice are the Three Jewels: the Buddha, the Dharma (the teachings), and the Sangha (the community).
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.
Taoism (modernly: Daoism) is a philosophical and religious tradition that emphasizes living in harmony with the Tao (modernly romanized as "Dao"). The term Tao means "way", "path" or "principle", and can also be found in Chinese philosophies and religions other than Taoism. In Taoism, however, Tao denotes something that is both the source and the driving force behind everything that exists. It is ultimately ineffable: "The Tao that can be told is not the eternal Tao."
Institutionalized forms, however, evolved over time in the shape of a number of different schools. Taoist schools traditionally feature reverence for Laozi, immortals or ancestors, along with a variety of divination and exorcism rituals, and practices for achieving ecstasy, longevity or immortality.
Taoist propriety and ethics may vary depending on the particular school, but in general tends to emphasize wu-wei (action through non-action), "naturalness", simplicity, spontaneity, and the Three Treasures: compassion, moderation, and humility.
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.
Confucianism originated as an "ethical-sociopolitical teaching" during the Spring and Autumn Period, but later developed metaphysical and cosmological elements in the Han Dynasty. Following the official abandonment of Legalism in China after the Qin Dynasty, Confucianism became the official state ideology of the Han.
The core of Confucianism is humanism, or what the philosopher Herbert Fingarette calls "the secular as sacred". Confucianism focuses on the practical, especially the importance of the family, and not a belief in gods or the afterlife. Confucianism broadly speaking does not exalt faithfulness to divine will or higher law. This stance rests on the belief that human beings are teachable, improvable and perfectible through personal and communal endeavor especially self-cultivation and self-creation. Confucian thought focuses on the cultivation of virtue and maintenance of ethics.
JAINISM
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.
Jainism is an Indian religion that prescribes a path of non-violence towards all living beings and emphasises spiritual independence and equality between all forms of life. Practitioners believe that non-violence and self-control are the means by which they can obtain liberation.
The word Jainism is derived from a Sanskrit verb Jin which means to conquer. It refers to a battle with the passions and bodily pleasures that the jaina ascetics undertake. Those who win this battle are termed as Jina (conqueror). The term Jaina is thus used to refer to laymen and ascetics of this tradition alike.
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.
Shinto is the indigenous spirituality of Japan and the people of Japan. It is a set of practices, to be carried out diligently, to establish a connection between present-day Japan and its ancient past. Shinto practices were first recorded and codified in the written historical records of the Kojiki and Nihon Shoki in the 8th century. Shinto today is a term that applies to public shrines suited to various purposes such as war memorials, harvest festivals, romance, and historical monuments, as well as various sectarian organizations. Practitioners express their diverse beliefs through a standard language and practice, adopting a similar style in dress and ritual, dating from around the time of the Nara and Heian Periods.
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.
Judaism is the religion, philosophy and way of life of the Jewish people. Judaism is a monotheistic religion with its foundational text, the Torah. Judaism includes a wide corpus of texts, practices, theological positions, and forms of organization. Within Judaism there are a variety of movements, some of which have evolved into full fledged denominations and others that remain highly localized. Today, most of these movements emerged from Rabbinic Judaism, which holds that God revealed his laws and commandments to Moses on Mount Sinai in the form of both the Written and Oral Torah.
Jews are an ethnoreligious group and include those born Jewish and converts to Judaism. In 2012, the world Jewish population was estimated at about 14 million, or roughly 0.2% of the total world population. About 42% of all Jews reside in Israel and about 42% reside in the United States and Canada, with most of the remainder living in Europe, and other minority groups spread throughout the world in South America, Asia, Africa, and Australia.
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.
Sikhism is a spiritual, social, and political system of beliefs which considers spiritual life and secular life to be intertwined Guru Nanak, the 1st Sikh Guru established the system of the Langar, or free kitchen, designed to safehold equality between all people and express the ethics of sharing, community, inclusiveness and oneness of all humankind.
The origins of Sikhism lie in the teachings of Guru Nanak and his successors. The essence of Sikh teaching is summed up by Guru Nanak in these words: "Realization of Truth is higher than all else. Higher still is truthful living". Sikh teaching emphasizes the principle of equality of all humans and rejects discrimination on the basis of caste, creed, and gender. Sikh principles encourage living life as a householder.
http://www.whichcountry.co/top-ten-religions-in-the-world/
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