Religions of the world 2012-2013 census

1. Religions Of the
World
(2012-2013)
Census
Alden B. Patria
8-Earth

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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.

5. 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).

6. 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.

7. 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.

8. 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.

9. 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.

10. 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.

11. 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.

12. 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.