This document provides information on 12 major world religions: Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Taoism, Confucianism, Jainism, Shintoism, Judaism, Sikhism, Zoroastrianism. For each religion, it outlines their founder, founding date, key scriptures, number of adherents, and main sects or denominations. The religions covered are among the most widely practiced globally and the information presented gives a brief overview of the history and beliefs of each faith tradition.

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.