To
understand people and the world at large, we must not ignore the study of
religion.
Religion
has strongly influenced the development of society over time. Cultural norms
and official laws are heavily influenced by religious values, and religion is a
key part of daily life for the vast majority of the world's population.
So
what are the 12 major religions of the world? Keep reading for a quick theology
lesson.
1. Christianity
Christianity
began 2000 years ago and is now the largest religion in the world. The
religious beliefs of its followers are taught in the Bible. They are largely
based on the life and teaching of Jesus and his followers. Catholicism, Eastern
Orthodoxy, and Protestantism are the main denominations of Christianity.
Some
Christians, such as the Sound of Heaven church, believe that Jesus
Christ is the savior of humanity. These groups are known as evangelicals.
2. Islam
Islam
is the second most popular religion in the world. It was founded in the 7th
century AD by the Prophet Muhammad in the Saudi Arabian city of Mecca. The two
main branches of Islam are Sunni and Shi'ah. Around 80% of Muslims are Sunnis,
and 15% are Shi'ah. Their sacred text is the Qur'an and they all follow five
pillars that underpin their religion.
3. Judaism
Judaism
predated both Christianity and Islam. When the Jews left Egypt in the 13th
century BC, they began to worship only one god. The sacred text of Judaism is
the Torah, which places an emphasis on morality.
4. Hinduism
Hinduism
is the oldest of all the world religions, having originated in modern-day India
and Pakistan around 4,500 years ago. There are around 1.2 billion Hindus,
making Hinduism the world's third-largest religion. Central to Hinduism is a
belief in a divine power that manifests itself in different entities.
5. Buddhism
Siddhartha
Gautama, also known as Buddha, founded Buddhism in 500 BC. Buddha's teachings
aim to help followed achieve enlightenment by understanding that life is
suffering and suffering comes from attachment.
6. Sikhism
Sikhism
originated in the 15th century BC in Punjab. It grew from the teachings of Guru
Nanak and the nine Sikh gurus who followed him. Sikhs believe that serving
fellow humans is how we get closer to God.
7. Jainism
Jainism
is an ancient religion and is one of the oldest religions that is still
practiced today. It has three main pillars: non-violence, non-absolutism, and
non-attachment.
8. Taoism
Taoic
religions focus on the core concepts of spirituality, divinity, and world
order. The main religions of this type are Taoism, Confucianism, and Shintoism.
Taoism
was founded in the 6th century BC in China by Laozi. It teaches that life is
for achieving inner peace and harmony. Compassion and moderation are very
important values.
9. Confucianism
Confucianism
was founded by Confucious, who lived in the 5th and 6th centuries BC. He taught
self-discipline, respect for tradition, and kindness. It was the official
religion of China between 200 BC and 1949 when the communist government banned
it.
10. Shintoism
Shintoism
is a Japanese religion that focuses on tradition, family, and cleanliness. It
is a polytheistic religion and teaches that supernatural beings called kami
inhabit all things.
11. Zoroastrianism
Zoroastrianism
is an Iranian religion which is first found in recorded history in the 5th
century BC, although it may have been around since the 2nd millennium BC. It
developed from the teachings of the prophet Zoroaster, that God's creations are
pure and that purity is the way to defeat evil.
12. Traditional African Religions
Traditional
African religions are highly diverse. In general, oral traditions like songs
and stories are very important. There are over 100 million followers of such
religions across 43 countries.
What Are the 12 Major Religions of the World? Now You Know
The
world is home to many types of religions, but these 12 make up the majority of
the world's religious following.
If
a friend asks you: "what are the 12 major religions of the world?",
you have them covered. Share this article with them to spread the knowledge.
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