Five Main World Religions and Their Respective Beliefs

For centuries, humankind has sought to understand and explain the meaning of life. Many philosophers believe that this contemplation and the desire to understand our place in the universe are what differentiate humans from other species. Religion has existed in all human societies since the dawn of civilization.

Religion is a unified system of beliefs, values, and practices that a person holds sacred. While thousands of religions exist worldwide, the five oldest and most widely recognized are generally considered the main world religions: Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Hinduism, and Buddhism. Though these are the oldest major religions, they do not necessarily have the most followers.

These religions are the most influential and widely practiced, with nearly three-quarters of the world's population adhering to one of them. In this article, we will explore the core beliefs of these five major religions.

1. Christianity

Christianity is the largest religion in the world, with over 2 billion believers. It began over 2,000 years ago with the birth of Jesus Christ in Israel. The United States has the largest Christian population, but Christianity is also widespread in countries such as Canada, Mexico, the Philippines, Nigeria, South Africa, many European nations, and various Caribbean islands. The religion is broadly divided into three major branches: Catholicism, Protestantism, and Eastern Orthodoxy.

Christianity is a monotheistic faith, meaning its adherents believe in one God. However, Christians describe God through three manifestations known as the Holy Trinity—God the Father, God the Son (Jesus Christ), and the Holy Spirit. This concept is sometimes likened to water existing in different forms: liquid, ice, and vapor.

Another cornerstone of Christianity is the Ten Commandments, a set of divine laws prohibiting acts such as theft, murder, and adultery. Christians believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, sent to Earth as the Messiah to redeem humanity from sin. He was crucified, buried for three days, and resurrected. After His resurrection, Jesus ascended to heaven, where He remains until His prophesied Second Coming, when He will return to take Christian believers with Him.

Christian teachings are based on the Holy Bible, which is divided into the Old Testament and the New Testament. While multiple versions of the Bible exist, not all Christian denominations use the same edition.

2. Islam

Islam is the second-largest religion in the world, with approximately 1.8 billion followers. Its adherents are called Muslims. The religion was founded in the 7th century A.D. in what is now Saudi Arabia. While Muslims live in many countries, they form the majority population in several nations, including Algeria, Bangladesh, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Turkey, and Pakistan. Some regions also follow Sharia law, a legal system derived from Islamic teachings.

Islam is a monotheistic faith that recognizes Allah as the one true God. Muslims believe that Prophet Muhammad was Allah’s final messenger, chosen to convey divine revelations. After Muhammad’s death, leadership passed to his successors under a system called the caliphate, with leaders known as caliphs.

Islam is divided into two major sects: Sunni (about 90% of Muslims) and Shia. Muslims adhere to five daily prayers and are expected to make a pilgrimage to Mecca at least once in their lifetime. They also observe fasting during Ramadan. The Qur'an is their holy book, and Muslim women may wear hijabs (headscarves), niqabs, or burqas, which provide varying levels of coverage.

3. Hinduism

Hinduism, which originated in India around 2300 B.C., remains most prevalent on the Indian subcontinent. As of 2018, 94% of Hindus lived in India. Hinduism is the third-largest religion in the world, following Christianity and Islam. Like other religions, Hinduism has multiple sects, each with its own variations in practice.

In Hinduism, God is referred to as Brahman, the supreme, formless, all-knowing entity. Brahman manifests in different forms, including Shiva and Vishnu. Hindus also believe in an inner divine essence called "Atman," which exists within each person.

A fundamental belief in Hinduism is reincarnation—the cycle of birth, life, death, and rebirth. Hindus believe their present life is influenced by their karma (actions in past lives). Negative actions in a previous life may result in suffering, disease, poverty, or hardship in this one.

A Hindu’s ultimate goal is to attain moksha, liberation from the cycle of rebirth and karma, so that the soul can rest in eternal peace.

4. Buddhism

Buddhism is a philosophical and spiritual tradition founded by Siddhartha Gautama (Buddha) around 500 B.C.E. Siddhartha, born into an aristocratic family, renounced his privileged life to seek spiritual enlightenment. At the age of 35, after meditating under a sacred fig tree, he achieved enlightenment and became known as Buddha, meaning "the Enlightened One." His teachings soon attracted followers, leading to the establishment of monastic communities.

The majority of Buddhists reside in China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, Thailand, and other regions in East and Southeast Asia. Unlike other major religions, Buddhists do not worship a deity or God. Instead, they seek enlightenment and freedom from the cycle of birth and death.

Buddhists distinguish between reincarnation (returning as oneself multiple times) and rebirth (returning as an entirely different entity). They believe that cravings, attachment, and ignorance perpetuate the cycle of rebirth, and the goal is to achieve nirvana, a state of liberation from suffering.

Buddhists follow strict principles, practicing self-restraint, fasting, and meditation. They refrain from killing, stealing, lying, engaging in sexual misconduct, and consuming intoxicants like drugs or alcohol.

5. Judaism

Judaism is the smallest of the five major world religions, with an estimated 14 million followers. Approximately 41% of Jews live in Israel, another 41% reside in the United States, and the remaining population is concentrated in Europe, North America, and parts of Africa. Judaism has multiple denominations, including Orthodox, Conservative, and Reform.

Judaism is a monotheistic faith, considered the oldest monotheistic religion. Followers worship one true God. The Ten Commandments play a crucial role in Jewish teachings. Israel is central to Jewish identity due to its historical and religious significance as the "Promised Land."

The Tanakh is the primary holy text of Judaism. It contains the same books as the first five books of the Christian Old Testament, referred to as the Torah. Jewish places of worship are called synagogues.

Now you know the five major religions of the world and their core beliefs. 

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