World Religions:World Religions:A ComparisonA Comparison

World History World History

Followers of the Major Followers of the Major ReligionsReligions

Buddhism:Buddhism: 373 Million followers373 Million followers No personal deity No personal deity Siddhartha Siddhartha

Gautama (563B.C. - Gautama (563B.C. - 483 B.C. ) was the 483 B.C. ) was the founder, people founder, people follow his teachings. follow his teachings.

Many sacred texts, Many sacred texts, no main oneno main one

Buddhist monks and Buddhist monks and nuns are the nuns are the leadershipleadership

The Buddha:The Buddha:

The Buddha is not The Buddha is not considered a god, considered a god, rather he is seen rather he is seen as an example on as an example on how to live your how to live your life. life.

Basic Beliefs of the Buddhist:Basic Beliefs of the Buddhist: People reach People reach

complete peace complete peace and happiness, and happiness, Nirvana, when they Nirvana, when they divorce themselves divorce themselves from worldly things from worldly things and desires. and desires.

Noble Eightfold Noble Eightfold Path is the way Path is the way that a person that a person reaches Nirvanareaches Nirvana

Hinduism:Hinduism:

840 million followers840 million followers Began around 3000 Began around 3000

B.C.B.C. Three main gods Three main gods

(Brahma, Vishnu, (Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva)Shiva)

No one founder or No one founder or holy book, several holy book, several texts including the texts including the VedasVedas

Leaders include the Leaders include the guru, Holy Man, and guru, Holy Man, and Brahmin priestsBrahmin priests

Since Hinduism has more than one god, what type of religion

is it?

Basic Principles of Hinduism:Basic Principles of Hinduism:

ReincarnationReincarnation People reach People reach

happiness when happiness when they let go of they let go of worldly worldly possessionspossessions

Worship, Worship, knowledge and knowledge and virtuous acts also virtuous acts also lead to happinesslead to happiness

Karma Karma

Islam:Islam: One God (Allah)One God (Allah) Began 622 A.D. after Began 622 A.D. after

Muhammad left Muhammad left Mecca.Mecca.

Muhammad is the Muhammad is the founderfounder

The Qur’an is the holy The Qur’an is the holy bookbook Sharia lawSharia law

There are no clergy There are no clergy leadersleaders

Followers are known Followers are known as Muslims (1.25 as Muslims (1.25 billion followers)billion followers)

Basic Beliefs of the Muslim:Basic Beliefs of the Muslim: Person achieves salvation by Person achieves salvation by

following the 5 pillars and living a following the 5 pillars and living a just life.just life.

The 5 pillars are:The 5 pillars are: FaithFaith AlmsgivingAlmsgiving FastingFasting HajjHajj Prayer Prayer

Confucianism:Confucianism: Not known how many Not known how many

followers due to blending followers due to blending with other ideas. with other ideas.

Confucius (551 B.C. – 479 Confucius (551 B.C. – 479 B.C.) was the founderB.C.) was the founder Some say the main deity as Some say the main deity as

wellwell Holy books include Holy books include

Analects and 5 Classics Analects and 5 Classics (Classic of poetry, Book of (Classic of poetry, Book of Documents, Book of Rites Documents, Book of Rites etc..)etc..)

No clergy No clergy

Basic Beliefs of Confucianism:Basic Beliefs of Confucianism: Strong family Strong family

relationshipsrelationships Social order, Social order,

harmony and good harmony and good government government

Education is very Education is very important important

Judaism:Judaism: 15 million followers15 million followers God (Yahweh)God (Yahweh) The founder is The founder is

Abraham around Abraham around 2000 B.C. 2000 B.C.

Holy books include Holy books include the Hebrew Bible or the Hebrew Bible or TorahTorah

Rabbis Rabbis

Basic Beliefs of Judaism:Basic Beliefs of Judaism: There is only one There is only one

god who watches god who watches over his people.over his people.

God protects his God protects his people, but also people, but also holds them holds them accountable for accountable for their sins.their sins.

A person serves A person serves god by studying god by studying the Torah and the Torah and living its teachings. living its teachings.

Christianity:Christianity:

2.1 Billion followers2.1 Billion followers Jesus Christ is the Jesus Christ is the

founder founder The main text is The main text is

the Holy Biblethe Holy Bible The leaders of the The leaders of the

Christian church Christian church are the clergy are the clergy membersmembers

Basic Beliefs of the Christian:Basic Beliefs of the Christian:

There is only one There is only one god and he god and he protects and protects and watches over his watches over his peoplepeople

Jesus was the son Jesus was the son of god and he died of god and he died for man’s sins.for man’s sins.