1. 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
2.Islam
FOUNDED: Islam began about 1400 years ago in what is now Saudi Arabia.
FOUNDER: 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.
3.Hinduism
FOUNDED: Hinduism, the world’s oldest religion, has no beginning – predates written history.
FOUNDER: Hinduism has no human 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.
4.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).
5.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.
6.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 Confucianist
7.Jainism
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\
8.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.
9. 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.
10. 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.
SUMMARY
Christianity 2.1 billion 33.0%
Islam 1.5 billion 21
Hinduism 900 million 14
Buddhism 376 million 6
Sikhism 23 million 0.36
Judaism 14 million 0.22
Bahaism 7 million 0.1
Confucianism 6.3 million 0.1
Jainism 4.2 million 0.1
Shintoism 4 million 0.0