World Religions: Beliefs Practices, and Global Influence

 Title: An Overview of Major World Religions: Beliefs, Practices, and Global Influence

Introduction
Religion has played a central role in shaping human history, culture, ethics, and social structures for thousands of years. Across continents and civilizations, diverse belief systems have emerged—each offering answers to fundamental questions about existence, morality, and the afterlife. This article provides a concise yet comprehensive overview of the world’s major religions, highlighting their core beliefs, key practices, historical origins, and contemporary global presence.

  • Followers: Over 2.4 billion (largest religion globally)
  • Origin: 1st century CE, in the Middle East (based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth)
  • Sacred Text: The Bible (Old and New Testaments)
  • Core Beliefs: Belief in one God; salvation through faith in Jesus Christ as the Son of God and Savior; resurrection and eternal life.
  • Major Branches: Roman Catholicism, Protestantism, Eastern Orthodoxy
  • Practices: Prayer, worship services, baptism, communion, charity, and observance of holidays like Christmas and Easter.

  • Followers: Approximately 1.9 billion
  • Origin: 7th century CE, in Mecca (modern-day Saudi Arabia), revealed to the Prophet Muhammad
  • Sacred Text: The Qur’an (believed to be the literal word of God, or Allah)
  • Core Beliefs: Belief in one God (Allah); the Five Pillars of Islam; prophethood (including Adam, Moses, Jesus, and Muhammad as the final prophet); Day of Judgment.
  • Major Branches: Sunni (85–90%) and Shia (10–15%)
  • Practices: Daily prayers (Salah), fasting during Ramadan, charitable giving (Zakat), pilgrimage to Mecca (Hajj), and recitation of the Qur’an.

  • Followers: Around 1.2 billion (predominantly in India and Nepal)
  • Origin: No single founder; developed over 4,000 years in the Indian subcontinent
  • Sacred Texts: Vedas, Upanishads, Bhagavad Gita, Ramayana
  • Core Beliefs: Dharma (duty/ethics), karma (action and consequence), samsara (cycle of rebirth), and moksha (liberation from rebirth). Belief in one ultimate reality (Brahman) manifesting in many deities (e.g., Vishnu, Shiva, Devi).
  • Practices: Yoga, meditation, temple worship, festivals (Diwali, Holi), rituals (puja), and pilgrimage to sacred sites like Varanasi or the Ganges River.

  • Followers: Roughly 500 million
  • Origin: 6th–5th century BCE in ancient India, founded by Siddhartha Gautama (the Buddha)
  • Sacred Texts: Tripitaka (Pali Canon), Mahayana Sutras
  • Core Beliefs: Life involves suffering (dukkha); suffering arises from desire; it can be overcome by following the Eightfold Path; goal is to attain Nirvana (liberation from the cycle of rebirth).
  • Major Traditions: Theravāda (Southeast Asia), Mahāyāna (East Asia), Vajrayāna (Tibet, Mongolia)
  • Practices: Meditation, mindfulness, ethical living, chanting, and monastic discipline.

  • Followers: About 25 million (mainly in India’s Punjab region)
  • Origin: Late 15th century CE, founded by Guru Nanak in South Asia
  • Sacred Text: Guru Granth Sahib (considered the eternal Guru)
  • Core Beliefs: One formless God; equality of all humans; rejection of caste, ritualism, and superstition; importance of honest living, community service (seva), and remembrance of God (Naam Japna).
  • Practices: Daily prayers, community kitchen (Langar), wearing the Five Ks (articles of faith), and visiting the Golden Temple in Amritsar.

  • Followers: Approximately 15 million
  • Origin: Over 3,000 years ago in the Middle East; covenant between God and Abraham, then Moses
  • Sacred Texts: Torah (first five books of the Hebrew Bible), Talmud
  • Core Beliefs: One God; chosen people; divine law (Halakha); importance of justice, study, and ethical behavior; awaiting the Messiah.
  • Major Movements: Orthodox, Conservative, Reform, Reconstructionist
  • Practices: Sabbath observance (Shabbat), kosher dietary laws, prayer, lifecycle rituals (bar/bat mitzvah), and holidays like Passover and Yom Kippur.

  • Indigenous and Folk Religions: Practiced by hundreds of millions, especially in Africa, the Americas, and parts of Asia. Often centered on ancestors, nature spirits, and oral traditions.
  • Non-religious Groups: Include atheists, agnostics, and secular humanists—significant and growing in many regions, particularly Europe and East Asia.

1. Christianity

2. Islam

3. Hinduism

4. Buddhism

5. Sikhism

6. Judaism

Other Notable Traditions

تعليقات