World Religions

There's nothing more human than believing in divine power, following a set of belief systems, and devoting our lives to them. Despite our differences, something that unites many humans worldwide is our attraction to religiosity and faith.

As sociologists, it's essential that we understand and study world religions, as religion is a massive driving force for people's beliefs and behaviors. In this explanation, we'll look at the core principles and beliefs of major world religions.

• First, we'll go over a summary of the different religions in the world.
• Next, we'll look at Christianity as the biggest religion in the world and go over some key features. This will also involve studying what an Abrahamic religion is.
• We'll study Islam as one of the most popular religions in the world and also look at its key features.
• We'll look at facts about Hinduism as the oldest religion in the world before considering Buddhism and its teachings.
• Next, we'll look at the key features of the last two major world religions of Sikhism and Judaism.
• Lastly, we will briefly study the common origins of other world religions, Confucianism, Taoism and Jainism.

Let's get started!

What are the Different Religions in the World?

With so many different religions in the world all holding varying core principles, it's crucial to consider religions by categories. Let's briefly consider the six major world religions.

Six Major World Religions

These are the six major world religions, in order of size:

1. Christianity

2. Islam

3. Hinduism

4. Buddhism

5. Sikhism

6. Judaism

We'll look at the core principles and beliefs of each of these religions and consider some other minor religions too.

Christianity as the Biggest Religion in the World

Christianity is the biggest religion in the world, with over 2.2 billion followers. As one of the three Abrahamic religions, it started 2,000 years ago in modern-day Palestine.

Although it is a monotheistic (belief in a singular divine power), religion, Christianity often represents its God through the Holy Trinity, consisting of the father (God), the son (Jesus), and the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit refers to the presence and experience of religion and sacredness in their lives.

What is an Abrahamic Religion?

An Abrahamic religion is part of a group of monotheistic religions that believe in the prophet Abraham as their forefather.

The three Abrahamic religions are Christianity, Islam, and Judaism. For Christians, Abraham is "a father in faith," for Muslims (who refer to Abraham as Ibrahim), Ibrahim is one of the prophets and the first Muslim. For Jewish people, Abraham is considered a highly respected ancestor of the Israelites, to whom God promised many things.

Variations of Christianity

Due to a religious revolution called the Reformation in 16th-century Europe, Western Christianity became divided into Roman Catholics and Protestants. The division resulted in large-scale wars in many European countries, and many still maintain their differences.

Some differences between Catholics and Protestants include their perspective on worship. Catholics believe in the Pope as the head of the church and follow the rules of the Catholic Church, while Protestants focus mainly on religious scripture for guidance.

Variations in Christian Sacred Texts

Although Christians' sacred text is the Holy Bible, different groups within Christianity have differing relationships with holy scripture.

Christian Denominations

Variations within Christianity include variations in denominations. A denomination is a branch of Christianity, typically considered a 'halfway' point between a church and a sect. Below are some Protestant Christian denominations in the US:

• Evangelical Protestant

• Mainline Protestant

• Historically Black Protestant

Below are some Catholic denominations in the US:

• Mormons

• Orthodox Christian

• Jehovah's Witness

Fig. 1 - Islam, Judaism, and Christianity are Abrahamic religions.

Islam: One of the Most Popular Religions in the World

As part of the Abrahamic religion group, Islam is one of the most popular religions in the world and the fastest-growing. It is also monotheistic, and its believers follow prophet Muhammad's teachings.

Prophet Muhammad was born in 570 C.E. in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. He is not a divine being himself but is considered to be the messenger of God (called Allah in Arabic). Worldwide, Islam has around 1.8 billion followers.

Beliefs of Islam

The five pillars of Islam guide all Muslims toward basic beliefs, practices, and duties. Adhering to these five pillars is the duty of Muslims to live a good and devoted life. These pillars are:

1. Shahadah - a declaration of faith and the belief that Allah is the only God and Muhammad is his prophet and messenger of God

2. Salah - a duty to engage in daily prayer five times a day once Muslims have reached puberty and/or can do so

3. Zakat - the practice of charity and generosity for those in poverty

4. Sawm - the duty to fast during the holy period of Ramadan to encourage self-discipline

5. Hajj - the duty to make a holy pilgrimage to Mecca at least once in a lifetime, as long as they can do so

Islamic Sacred Text

The Islamic sacred text is the holy Qur'an, which contains the teachings of Allah as conveyed to the prophet Muhammad. Due to this, the Qur'an contains the direct word of God, and the word itself means 'recitation'.

Another vital source of knowledge for Muslims is the Sunnah, a collection of the prophet Muhammad's practices and a model for ideal Muslim behavior. Muslims use the prophet's example and follow his words and movements during prayer.

Lastly, there are texts called Hadiths that are also sources of knowledge for Muslims. However, they are not as authoritative as the Qur'an as they are not direct words of God but rather teachings inspired by God. The two types of Hadiths are sacred (holy sayings from God which aren't in the Qur'an) and prophetic (sayings of wisdom by the prophet).

Variations of Islam

While all Muslims believe and follow the five pillars above, there are differences among Muslims due to the two major denominations, Sunni and Shi'a. The majority of Muslims belong to the Sunni denomination.

The division stems from differing claims to succession to the prophet Muhammad after his demise. Sunnis believe that the prophet's dearest companion, Abu-Bakr, should be the next leader of the Muslims - on the other hand, Shi'as believe that the prophet's son-in-law Ali should take on this role.

Hinduism and World Religions: Facts About the Oldest Religion in the World

Below we'll go over some characteristics and facts about Hinduism, the oldest religion in the world.

Hinduism emerged 4,500 years ago in (as it was then known) the Indus River Valley, the land of which is now northwest India and Pakistan. Although separate from them, Hinduism originated in conjunction with ancient civilizations and cultures, such as the Egyptian and Mesopotamian societies.

Hinduism has around 1 billion believers; many reside in the South Asian subcontinent, but millions worldwide follow the faith. As a result, it is the third-largest religion in the world.

Beliefs of Hinduism

Hindus believe in an ultimate reality, which is the origin of all life in this universe and the foundation for our existence and reality. This ultimate reality is called Brahman.

The most important forms of Brahman are the three incarnations (embodiments), called Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva. Together, they are known as the Trimurti, which means 'three forms' in the ancient language of Sanskrit. The word murti means an image or representation.

• Brahma is the creator God by whom the universe was brought into existence.

• Vishnu is the preserver of God and is seen as a symbol of enlightenment. Vishnu is highly worshiped by many Hindus and is seen as a powerful entity.

• Lastly, Shiva is the destroyer of God and is also powerful.

Some temples dedicate themselves to specific entities, but they are known to be a triad.

Hindu sacred texts consist of The Vedas, ancient religious scriptures containing rituals, hymns, and the basis of truth. The Vedas are split into four parts - the Rigveda, the Yajurveda, the Samaveda, and the Atharvaveda - each outlining core principles, beliefs, and rituals.

Other sacred Hindu texts include the Bhagavad Gita (an account of war) and the Ramayana (a tale about a prince rescuing his wife from a demon with the help of Hanuman, the monkey God). Such texts outline various aspects of Hinduism, such as the triumph of good over evil and fulfilling duties.

Reincarnation in Hinduism

Reincarnation is one of the first things that comes to mind when people think of Hinduism and refers to the spiritual process of souls moving through different bodies or forms based on karma.

Life is a cycle characterized by birth, karma, death, and rebirth. Upon death, someone's soul will be reborn and reincarnated into a different body (including that of a plant or animal). Which body the soul reincarnates into depends on whether the previous body had good or bad karma. It helps to think of one soul that goes on many journeys in different bodies.

To achieve freedom from this cycle is called moksha, meaning liberation. Moksha is the ultimate goal for a Hindu's soul, which can be achieved by building up good karma over several lifetimes. Once a soul achieves moksha, it does not reincarnate into another body but instead rejoins Brahman.

Buddhism: Teachings and Enlightenment

Buddhism emerged around 2,500 years ago in India, founded by Siddhārtha Gautama. Worldwide it has around 470 million believers, thus making Buddhism a major world religion.

Enlightenment in Buddhism

Siddhārtha Gautama was the royal heir to a king and queen and was given numerous luxuries growing up. On a trip to the outside world, Siddhārtha saw how much suffering there is in the world - specifically, he was exposed to old age, sickness, and death.

Following this, he left his family to live a life of spirituality and poverty. When he was 35, he meditated under a fig tree and did not get up until he attained nirvana (enlightenment). He became known as the Buddha, which means 'the enlightened one,' as he had not only discovered the answer to why humans suffer but also how to be released from it.

Teachings of the Buddha

Buddha's teachings come in the form of the Four Noble Truths, which are outlined below.

1. Life is dukkha (suffering).

2. Suffering is caused by attachment, desires, and ignorance: we always want endless material pleasures that cannot be satisfied and are ignorant of the world.

3. Suffering ends when our attachments, cravings, and ignorance ends. One must look to the fourth truth to understand how to do this.

4. For liberation from suffering, we should follow the "middle way".

What is the Middle Way?

The Middle Way is a crucial concept in Buddhist thinking, and it encourages mindfulness, living in the present, and rejecting extreme thoughts, emotions, behaviors, and lifestyles. The Buddha advocated a balanced and moderate lifestyle and emotional state through meditation.

The Middle Way is one part of the Eight-Fold Path, which is also known as the Wheel of Dhamma. The other seven tenets of the Eight-Fold path list other principles and practices to achieve liberation from suffering.

Fig. 2 - Buddha not only discovered the answer to why humans suffer but also how to be released from it.

Sikhism: Virtues and God-centered Living

In comparison to the other religions, Sikhism is a relatively new religion established around 500 years ago in Punjab, which is now part of both India and Pakistan today. Sikhism has around 25 million followers worldwide.

Teachings of Sikhism

Sikhism is based on the teachings of Guru (teacher) Nanak, who founded the religion along with nine other Sikh Gurus following his path. Believers of Sikhism are called Sikhs.

Sikhs believe that people should develop particular virtues to help them increase good karma and eventually achieve Mukti (liberation) at death, which is when they are reunited with God (Waheguru). All living beings have souls that are part of the cycle of life, death, and reincarnation.

To break free from this cycle and achieve Mukti, Sikhs should lead a God-centered and not man-centered life. This means they should:

• accept God's love and focus on God all the time

• do Nam Japna - meditating on God's name

• Kirat Karna - making an honest living

• Wand Chakna - being charitable and helping those in need

• Seva - being selfless and serving others

If they do this, they will develop positive virtues such as truthful living, compassion, love, wisdom, humility, self-control, patience, and contentment.

Sacred Text of Sikhism

If you remember from above, the word Guru means 'teacher.' Why is a book referred to as a teacher?

This is because the holy book is seen as a teacher guiding Sikhs after the death of the tenth Guru, called Guru Gobind Singh, after whom there were no more living Gurus.

Judaism: Denominations and Sacred Texts

Judaism, the final Abrahamic religion, emerged around 4,000 years ago in the Middle East when God gave the prophet Abraham a vision. He was considered the first to make a covenant (promise) with God.

In the 13th century B.C.E, the nomadic society of Jewish people had a mass departure from Egypt led by Moses - this event is called the Exodus. It is celebrated each year during the Jewish festival of Passover. During the Exodus, Moses was given rules to follow by God, and these include the Ten Commandments. It was then that Moses became an essential prophet for Judaism.

After the Exodus, the society became monotheistic and made a covenant to worship only one God, whom they call Yahweh.

Denominations and Beliefs of Judaism

Many Jewish beliefs are informed by which denomination a Jewish person belongs to. The two main denominations are the Traditional (or Orthodox) and Progressive (or Reform) groups. Let's look at some differences between the groups.

Traditional or Orthodox Judaism

• The rules given to Jewish people by God must be followed and cannot change.

• Prayers should always be read in Hebrew, the ancient language of the Jewish people.

• In synagogues, men and women shouldn't sit alongside each other.

• The rules of Shabbat (the Jewish holy day) should be followed strictly, e.g., on this day, no phones should be used.

• Women can't be rabbis, only men can. Rabbis are Jewish leaders and teachers in synagogues.

• Food laws are followed strictly, such as not using the same pots for cooking meat and dairy.

Progressive or Reform Judaism

• The rules don't have to be followed strictly, and they can be changed.

• Prayers can be read in other languages.

• Men and women can sit alongside each other in synagogues.

• The Shabbat rules are not followed as stringently, e.g., phones can be used.

• Women can become rabbis if they wish to.

• Food laws don't have to be strictly abided by.

Sacred Texts of Judaism

Jewish sacred texts include the Hebrew Bible or the Tanakh. 'Tanakh' is an acronym from the first letters of the different sections of the book.

• (T) The Torah makes up the first five books of the Tanakh and is also used in the Christian Bible, known as the Old Testament. It has over 600 commandments, known as the mitzvah, and all Jewish people must follow them. Out of these, the Ten Commandments received by Moses are the most important.

  • People are not allowed to touch the Torah because of how important it is - even when reading from it, people use a stick to follow lines!

• (N) The Nevi'im contains the teachings of Jewish prophets.

• (K) Ketuvim is a collection of other significant writings.

Jewish rules are not only contained in writing but also in oral law called the Talmud. The Talmud expands on the written laws.

Symbols of World Religions

You might recognize some or all of the symbols of world religions below. Starting from the top and moving clockwise, the symbols are Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Buddhism, Sikhism, and Hinduism.

Fig. 3 - Many world religions are recognizable from their symbols.

Origins of World Religions: Confucianism and Taoism

While the six major religions are important, studying the characteristics and origins of other world religions is also necessary.

Confucianism's Teachings

Confucianism was China's official religion from 200 B.C.E. until its abolishment in 1949 due to communist takeover and disagreement with religion. The founder of Confucianism was Kung Fu-Tzu (Confucius), who taught self-discipline, respect for tradition and hierarchy, and kindness towards everyone.

Not all agree that it was a religion, as it didn't have specific rules for worship or any formal objects or symbols, although Confucian teachings were put in a book. Some argue it was simply a way to promote social cohesion.

Taoism's Teachings

Taoism primarily teaches internal harmony and peace as the purpose of life and emphasizes the practice of compassion and balance. The founder of Taoism was a man called Laozi who lived in the 6th century in China.

The yin-yang symbol is considered central to Taoist beliefs as it represents the order of the universe and harmony. The word 'tao' means "way" or "path".