The document provides an overview of several major world religions, including Islam, Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Judaism, and Confucianism. For each religion, it discusses the founder, date and location of origin, areas it spread to, current follower numbers, key beliefs and texts, religious leadership structure, and major sects. The religions originated across Asia, the Middle East, and Europe between 1500 BCE and 625 CE and have since spread globally, with over 2 billion Christians and over 1 billion Muslims worldwide today.

1. Comparative ReligionsElizabeth Pham

2. Islam

3. IslamHow It Began:Founder: Muhammed Founded: 610 C.E. (Muhammed received first revelation)Point of Origin: MeccaWhere It Spread: West and East Africa, Philippines, Central Asia, Western China, India, Malaysia, Indonesia, North America, and Europe.A Muslim must make a pilgrimage to Mecca once in their life. In the heart of Mecca, lays the Ka’aba. He/she must walk around the Ka’aba seven times and then, the Black Stone.

4. Islam [cont.]How It Spread: TradeWhere Most Influential Today: India and Indonesia, however being the fastest growing religion, North America is giving way to many Muslims.Followers, worldwide:1,387,454,500Prayer 5 times a day is part of the Five Pillars. When praying it is important to face the direction of Mecca, thus, everyone in the above picture is facing the same direction.

5. Islam [cont.]Holy Book: The Qur'an (or Koran) Main God/gods/deities: AllahBasic Beliefs: Strictly monotheistic; Allah is the Muslims must practice 5 Pillars of IslamSubmission to AllahFasting during RamadanPrayer 5 times a dayPilgrimage to MeccaZakat (pay alms to needy)The sacred text of Islam is the Qur’an, which is shown in the above picture.

6. Islam [cont.]Religious Leader Organization:Caliph is Islamic leader.Sects Evolved Overtime:ShiitesSunnisThe Holy Mosque (MasjidAl-Haram) in Mecca is the most famous Mosque in the world and holds the holy Black Stone, the Ka’aba.

7. Buddhism

8. BuddhismHow It Began:Founder: Siddhartha Gautama (The Buddha)Founded: c. 525 B.C.E.Point of Origin: near present-day Benares, IndiaWhere It Spread: Mainly throughout Asia and North America.The Life of a Buddhist Monk is meant to be simplistic. Thus, the shave their heads and wear robes in order to rid themselves of vanity.

9. Buddhism [cont.]How It Spread: By Trade and as Ashoka the Great spread the word throughout his Mauryan DynastyWhere Most Influential: Buddhism is predominately practiced in AsiaFollowers, worldwide: 385,609,000Holy Book: The Tripitaka and Mahayana SutrasThe Dharmashakra represents the Eightfold Path.

10. Buddhism [cont.]Main God/gods/deities: no divine being Basic Beliefs:KarmaReincarnationBirth, Life, Death, RebirthFour Noble TruthsLife means sufferingOrigin of suffering is desire.The stopping of all suffering is possibleBy following the correct path, one can achieve Nirvana (the state of no suffering).The Eightfold Path will lead to the cessation of suffering.

11. Buddhism [cont.]Religious Leader Organization: Monastic order where traditions passed down between monks and nunsSects Evolved Overtime:Mahayana (Zen & Sokagakkai) TheravadaVajrayana (Tantrism)One of the eight auspicious symbols for Buddhism, the white lotus represents the state of spiritual perfection.

12. Christianity

13. ChristianityHow It Began:Founder: Jesus (of Nazareth)Founded: c. 33 C.E.Point of Origin:PalestineWhere It Spread: Europe, North America, and South America A painting of Jesus Christ.

14. Christianity [cont.]How It Spread: Constantine made it the official religion of the Roman Empire.Where Most Influential Today: Europe, North America, and South America Followers, worldwide: 2,199, 817,400Jesus Christ died on the Cross in order to forgive everyone’s sins, thus, the cross is a symbol to represent Christianity.

15. Christianity [cont.]Holy Book: The BibleMain God/gods/deities: God Basic Beliefs:MonotheisticJesus died on the cross to forgive everyone's sinsThe Bible tells the life of JesusHeaven and Hell

16. Christianity [cont.]Religious Leader Organization:The Pope is head of the church.Sects Evolved Overtime: Main sects includeRoman CatholicEastern OrthodoxProtestantA church of Eastern Orthodox, one sect of Christianity.

17. Hinduism

18. HinduismHow It Began:Founder: Not SpecifiedFounded: c. 1500 B.C.E.Point of Origin: IndiaWhere It Spread: Mainly India, Nepal, Malaysia, Guyana, Suriname, and Sri Lanka.Symbol for Hinduism.

19. Hinduism [cont.]How It Spread: TradeWhere Most Influential Today: India and NepalFollowers, worldwide: 875,726,000A statue of Shiva, a Hindu trinity God.

20. Hinduism [cont.]Holy Book:Vedas, Upanishads, Sutras, Bhagavad GitaMain God/gods/deities: Brahman, Shiva, Vishnu, DeviBasic Beliefs: Four VedasKarmaReincarnation

21. Hinduism [cont.]Religious Leader Organization: Spiritual leaders known as gurus and sages.Sects Evolved Overtime:ShaivismVaishnavismVishnu, a Hindu trinity God.

22. Judaism

23. JudaismHow It Began:Founder: c. 2000 B.C.E.Founded: AbrahamPoint of Origin: IsraelWhere It Spread: Mainly across Israel and United StatesFor each night of Hanukah, a Jewish holiday, one candle is lit on the menorah.

24. Judaism [cont.]How It Spread:Started by passing down through families.Where Most Influential Today:IsraelFollowers, worldwide:14,956,000

25. Judaism [cont.]Holy Book: The Torah Main God/gods/deities: God Basic Beliefs: MonotheisticStresses ethical behaviorGod has special relationship with Hebrews; they shall bear witness to God’s mercy.The Holy Book of Judaism, the Torah.

26. Judaism [cont.]Religious Leader Organization: Other than the Rabbi, who teaches and preaches Judaism, there is no overall religious leader.Sects Evolved Overtime:OrthodoxConservativeReformReconstructionistHumanistThe Star of David.

27. Confucianism

28. ConfucianismHow It Began: Founder: ConfuciusFounded: 6th-5th Century C.E.Point of Origin: ChinaWhere It Spread: Koreans, Japan, Vietnam and Europe.The Chinese symbol for Confucianism.

29. Confucianism [cont.]How It Spread: Chinese tradition; Became state doctrine for the Han DynastyWhere Most Influential Today: ChinaFollowers, worldwide:6,111,100An analect of Confucianism.

30. Confucianism [cont.]Holy Book: Confucianism followed many different documents as sacred text, including, but not limited to: The Confucian Analects, The Doctrine of The Mean, The Book of Odes, The Book of Changes, The Book of Rites, and The Book of Filial PietyMain God/gods/deities: GodBasic Beliefs:Because Confucianism was more of a moral code, the basic beliefs were simply the stressing of certain values:Li: ritual, propriety, etiquette, etc.Hsiao: love among family membersYi: righteousnessXin: honesty and trustworthinessJen: benevolence towards others; the highest Confucian virtueChung: loyalty to the state, etc.

31. Confucianism [cont.]Religious Leader Organization: There’s no set religious leader for Confucianism.Sects Evolved Overtime:There are no formal sects of Confucianism, however Neo-Confucianism could be considered as Confucianism evolving over time, as it incorporates ideas from Buddhism and Daoism to form.A depiction of the founder of Confucianism, Confucius.