Download World Religions Comparison Chart

Islam
Judaism
Key person
or Founder
Buddha - offshoot of
Hinduism 525 BC
Buddhism
Mohommad – about 610
AD
Abraham about 2000 BC
No founder. 1800 BC
– 1000 BC
Believer
Symbol
Buddhist
Dharma Wheel
Muslim
No official symbol but
Star and Crescent
popular
Jews or Jewish
No official symbol but
Star of David popular
Hindu
Om
Place of
Worship
Vihara
Mosque
Synagogue
Key Words
Buddha, Karma,
Nirvana, Eight Fold
Path, Dharma
Mecca, Prophet, Wudu,
Raka, Imam
Rabbi, Menorah, Kippah,
Mezzuzah
Temple (for group
worship)
Shrine (for home
worship)
Brahma, Brahman,
Vishnu, Shiva, Karma,
Nirvana, Dharma
Key Writings
Or
Holy Book(s)
Who is God
Tripitaka – 100
volumes
Koran – Hadith –
Mohammad’s words and
deeds
Allah – one God. Allah
revealed the Koran to
Mohammad through
Gabriel. Allah is severe
and merciful and not
depicted as loving.
Torah (first five books of
the OT) and the Tannakh
(Old Testament)
God is spirit, personal,
all-powerful, eternal,
holy and compassionate.
Many writings; Vedas,
Upanishads, and
Bhogavard-Gita.
God is “Absolute,”
a universal spirit.
Everyone is a part of
God.
Five Pillars of Islam;
Confess Allah is the one
true God and
Muhammad is his
prophet; pray five times
a day facing Mecca; give
money; fast during
Ramadan; and make
pilgrimage to Mecca
Observe the Sabbath;
O.T. dietary laws;
strive to keep the
commandments
Some disciples wear
orange robes.
Beliefs or
Practices
Buddhism is mostly
atheistic. Many do not
believe in any god.
Others speak of a
universal
enlightenment of
consciousness as a god.
Eightfold Path: right
knowledge, intentions,
speech,
conduct, livelihood,
right effort,
mindfulness,
and meditation.
Hinduism
Christianity
Sikhism
Jesus (but you could
also put in Paul and
the 12 disciples here)
Christian
Cross and Crucifix
Guru Nanak---about
1521 CE
Church
Gurdwara
God, Jesus, Trinity,
Salvation, Sin,
Resurrection,
Crucifixion,
Disciples, Son of God
New and Old
Testament
5 K’s, Guru,
Gurdwara, Sikh
Father, Son & Holy
Spirit (Trinity)
God is a presence
that makes all
people equal, God
is truth
Several but most
important would be
the greatest
commandment, "Love
the Lord your God
with all your heart,
soul, and mind and
love thy neighbour as
yourself."
One eternal God
the Ten Gurus and
their teachings the
Guru Granth Sahib
baptism by Amrit,
and is not a member
of another religion
Sikh
Khanda
Guru Granth Sahib
Pie-chart
Image from the U.S. Center for World Mission
http://youththeology.com/WorldReligionsComparisonChart.html
Geographical distribution of prevailing organized religions throughout the
world:
3
This map shows the most popular organized religion in each country of the world. So, for example, The
Netherlands is shown as steel blue (mixed Catholic and Protestant) even though the largest group in the country
are NOTAs (None Of The Above; persons not affiliated with any organized religion). Similarly, the UK is shown as
Protestant Christianity even though weekly church attendance is in the single digits.