3. RELIGIONS
/
PHILOSOP
HIES
ORIGINS &
HISTORY
ADHERE
NTS
WORLD
WIDE
Hinduism
Indigenous
religion of
India as
developed
to present
day.
900
million
GOD(S) &
UNIVERSE
HUMAN
SITUATION
AND LIFE’S
PURPOSE
AFTERLIFE
PRACTICES
One
Humans are in Reincarnati
Yoga,
Supreme
bondage to
on until
meditation,
being
ignorance and
gain
worship
(Brahman) illusion, but enlightenment
(puja),
with three
are able to
devotion to
manifestation
escape.
a god or
Purpose is to
goddess,
gain release
pilgrimage
from rebirth,
to holy
or at least a
cities, live
better rebirth.
according
to one's
dharma
PLACES
Large
portion of
India
4. RELIGIONS
/
PHILOSOP
HIES
ORIGINS &
HISTORY
Buddhism Founded by
Siddharta
Gautama
(the
Buddha) in
c. 520 BC,
NE India.
ADHERE
NTS
WORLD
WIDE
360
million
GOD(S) &
UNIVERSE
HUMAN
SITUATION
AND LIFE’S
PURPOSE
AFTERLIFE
PRACTICES
PLACES
Varies:
Purpose is to Reincarnati Meditation, Myanmar,
Theravada
avoid
on until
mantras,
Thailand,
atheistic; suffering and
gain
devotion to
Laos,
Mahayana
gain
enlightenm deities (in Cambodia,
more
enlightenmen
ent
some
Sri Lanka,
polytheisti t and release
sects),
Japan,
c. Buddha from cycle of
Tibet,
taught
rebirth, or at
Nepal,
nothing is least attain a
Bhutan,
permanent better rebirth
some parts
by
of China
gaining merit
and Korea.
5. RELIGIONS/
PHILOSOPHIES
Jainism
ORIGINS &
HISTORY
ADHERENTS
WORLDWIDE
GOD(S) &
UNIVERSE
HUMAN
SITUATION
AND LIFE’S
PURPOSE
AFTERLIFE
PRACTICES
PLACES
Mahavira, 4 million
The
Purpose is to Reincarna Monasticism
Tamil
c. 550 BC,
universe
gain
tion until under the region of
eastern
is eternal; liberation liberation Five Great
South
India
does not from cycle of
.
Vows ;
India
believe in rebirth, by
worship at
Gods
avoiding all
temples and
bad karma,
at home.
especially by
Meditation
causing no
and
harm to any
mantras.
sentient
being.
6. RELIGIONS
/
PHILOSOP
HIES
ORIGINS &
HISTORY
ADHERENTS
WORLDWIDE
GOD(S) &
UNIVERSE
Sikhism
Guru
Nanak, c.
1500 AD,
Punjab,
India.
23 million
One God
(Naam)
HUMAN
SITUATION
AND LIFE’S
PURPOSE
AFTERLIFE
Overcome the Reincarnati
self, align life
on until
with will of merge with
God.
God.
PRACTICES
PLACES
Prayer and Malaysia,
meditation
Canada,
on God's
United
name,
States,
services at
United
temple
Kingdom,
turban and
and East
five Ks.
Africa.
Balance
work,
worship, and
charity.
No
monasticism
7. RELIGIONS/
PHILOSOPHIES
Judaism
ADHERENTS
WORLDWIDE
GOD(S) &
UNIVERSE
HUMAN
SITUATION
AND LIFE’S
PURPOSE
The religion 14 million
of the
Hebrews (c.
1300 BC),
One God,
Yahweh
Obey God's
commandme
nts, live
ethically.
Focus is more
on this life
than the next.
ORIGINS &
HISTORY
AFTERLIFE
PRACTICES
PLACES
Not
Circumcision
Israel,
historically
at birth,
United
emphasize
bar/bat
States,
d. Beliefs
mitzvah at
Russia,
vary from
adulthood.
France,
no afterlife Synagogue
Canada,
to shadowy services on Argentina
existence
Saturdays.
, and
to the
No pork.
South
World to
Holidays
Africa.
Come
related to
(similar to
historical
heaven).
events.
8. RELIGIONS
/
ORIGINS & ADHERENTS GOD(S) &
HISTORY WORLDWIDE UNIVERSE
PHILOSOPHIES
Founded
(Catholic, by Jesus
Protestant Christ in c.
Orthodox)
30 AD,
Israel.
Christianity
2 billion
HUMAN
SITUATION
AND LIFE’S
PURPOSE
AFTERLIFE
PRACTICES
PLACES
One God
All have
Eternal
Prayer,
Most
who is a sinned and heaven or Bible study, part of
Trinity of are thereby
hell (or
baptism,
Europe
Father,
separated temporary Eucharist
and
Son, and from God. purgatory) (Communio America.
Holy
Salvation is
.
n), church
TimorSpirit
through faith
on Sundays,
Leste
in Christ and,
numerous
and
for some,
holidays. Philippines
.
sacraments
and good
works.
9. RELIGIONS
/
ORIGINS & ADHERENTS GOD(S) &
WORLD
UNIVERSE
HISTORY
WIDE
PHILOSOPHIES
Islam
Muhammad, 1.3 billion
622 AD,
Saudi
Arabia
HUMAN
SITUATION
AND LIFE’S
PURPOSE
AFTERLIFE
One God Humans must Paradise
(Allah in
submit
or Hell.
Arabic) (islam) to the
will of God to
gain Paradise
after death.
PRACTICES
PLACES
Five Pillars:
Faith, Prayer,
Alms,
Pilgrimage,
Fasting.
Mosque
services on
Fridays.
Ablutions
before prayer.
No alcohol or
pork. Holidays
related to the
pilgrimage and
fast of
Indonesia,
Pakistan,
Bangladesh
, Malaysia,
Afghanistan
, southern
part of the
Philippines,
and most
countries in
West Asia.
10. PHILOSOPHIES
ORIGINS ADHERENTS GOD(S) &
WORLDWIDE UNIVERSE
&
HISTORY
Shintoism
Indigenous
RELIGIONS
/
Animism
HUMAN
SITUATION
AND LIFE’S
PURPOSE
3-4 million Polytheism Humans are
religion
based on pure by nature
of Japan.
the kami, and can keep
ancient
away evil
gods or
through
spirits.
purification
rituals and
attain good
things by
calling on the
kami.
Ancient
Anito
Southeast
Nat
Asians
Phi
AFTERLIFE
PRACTICES
PLACES
Death is
bad and
impure.
Some
humans
become
kami after
death.
Worship
and
offerings to
kami at
shrines and
at home.
Purification
rituals.
Japan
Philippines,
Myanmar,
Laos.
11. RELIGIONS
/
PHILOSOPHIES
Confucianism
ORIGINS & ADHERENTS
WORLD
HISTORY
GOD(S) &
UNIVERSE
HUMAN
SITUATION
AND LIFE’S
PURPOSE
AFTERLIFE
PRACTICES
PLACES
Founded by 5-6 million
Confucius
(551–479
BC), China
Not
addressed
Purpose of
life is to
fulfill one's
role in
society
with
propriety,
honor, and
loyalty.
Not
addressed
Honesty,
politeness,
propriety,
humaneness,
perform
correct role
in society,
loyalty to
family, nation
China
WIDE
12. RELIGIONS
/
ORIGINS & ADHERENTS
WORLD
HISTORY
WIDE
PHILOSOPHIES
Taoism
Lao-Tzu, c.
550 BC,
China.
20 million
GOD(S) &
UNIVERSE
HUMAN
SITUATION
AND LIFE’S
PURPOSE
Pantheism - Purpose is
the Tao
inner
pervades
harmony,
all. Yin-yang peace, and
- opposites longevity.
make up a Achieved by
unity.
living in
accordance
with the
Tao.
AFTERLIFE
PRACTICES
General
Revert back
attitude of
to state of
non-being, detachment
and nonwhich is
simply the struggle, "go
with the
other side
flow" of the
of being.
Tao. Tai-chi,
acupuncture,
and alchemy
to help
longevity.
PLACES
China
13. ORIGINS & ADHERENTS
WORLD
HISTORY
GOD(S) &
UNIVERSE
HUMAN
SITUATION
AND LIFE’S
PURPOSE
AFTERLIFE
PRACTICES
PLACES
Legalism
Li Ssu (Li Si)
221 B.C
Not
Addressed
Not
Addressed
Not
Addressed
Not
Addressed
Not
Addressed
China
Doctrine of
the Mean
Mencius
(Mengzi)
Not
Addressed
Not
Addressed
Not
Addressed
Not
Addressed
Not
Addressed
China
RELIGIONS
/
WIDE
PHILOSOPHIES
