Download World Religions Chart

Judaism
Christianity
Followers
14.5 Million
2 Billion
Worldwide as
of 2001
Name of
Yahweh (God)
God
Deity
Founder
Abraham
Jesus Christ
Holy Book
Hebrew Bible including the
Bible
Torah
Leadership
Rabbis
Priest, ministers, monks and nuns
Basic Beliefs
 There is only one God
 There is only one God watches
watches over and cares
over and cares for his people.
for his people.
 Jesus Christ was the Son of
 God loves and protects
God. He died to save humanity
his people, but also
from sin, His death and
holds people accountable
resurrection made eternal life
for their sins and
possible for others.
shortcomings
 Persons serve God by
studying the Torah and
living by its teachings
Islam
1.2 Billion
Allah (God)
Muhammad
Qur’an
No clergy but a scholar class
called the Ulama and the imam,
who may lead the prayers
 Persons avieve salvation by
following the Five Pillars of
Faith/Islam and living a just
life.
1. Faith
2. Prayer
3. Almsgiving or charity to the
poor
4. Fasting during Ramadan
5. Pilgramage to Meca
Followers
Worldwide
as of 2001
Name of
Deity
Founder
Holy Book
Buddhism
Hinduism
Confucianism
362 Million
820 Million
6.3 Million
The Buddha did not teach a
person deity
The Buddha
No one book- sacred texts,
including Dhammapada
Leadership Buddhist monk and nuns
Basic Belief  Persons achieve complete
peace and happiness
(nirvana) by eliminating
their attachment to worldly
things
 Nirvana is reached by
following the Noble
Eightfold Path
1. Right views
2. Right resolve
3. Right speech
4. Right conduct
5. Right livelihood
6. Right effort
7. Right mindfulness
8. Right concentration
3 main gods: Brahma, Vishnu,
Confucius
Shiva
No one founder
Confucius
The Analects and the Five
No one book- sacred texts,
including Vedas, the Puranas
Classics
Guru, holy men, Brahmin Priest
No Clergy
 The soul never dies, but
 Social order, harmony, and
continually is reborn.
good government should be
 Persons achieve happiness
bases on strong family
and enlightenment after they
relationships
free themselves from their
 Respect for parents and
earthly desires
elders is important to a well Freedom from earthly
ordered society
desires comes from a
 Education is important both
lifetime of worship,
of the welfare of the
knowledge, and virtuous acts.
individual and to society