History

Based on teachings of
Siddharta Gautama (the
Buddha) in c. 520 BC, NE
India.

Adherents
Gods
360 million
Varies: Theravada atheistic;
Mahayana more polytheistic.
Buddha taught nothing is
permanent.

Meaning of Life
Avoid suffering and gain
enlightenment and release
from cycle of rebirth, or at
least attain a better rebirth by
gaining merit.

Afterlife
Practices
The Buddha said of death:
Meditation, mantras, devotion
Life is a journey. Death is a to deities (in some sects),
return to earth. The universe mandalas (Tibetan)
is like an inn. The passing
years are like dust. Regard
this phantom world As a star
at dawn, a bubble in a
stream, A flash of lightning in
a summer cloud, A flickering
lamp - a phantom - and a
dream

Buddhism
based on life and teachings 2 billion
of Jesus of Nazareth (born c.
4 BCE), a Jew from Palestine
under Roman rule

Holy Trinity = God the Father All have sinned and are
Eternal heaven or hell (most
+ God the Son + God the
thereby separated from God. denominations); temporary
Holy Spirit
Salvation is through faith in purgatory (Catholicism)
Christ and, for some,
sacraments and good works.

Prayer, Bible study, baptism,

Eucharist (Communion),
church on Sundays,
numerous holidays.

Indigenous religion of India

900 million
as developed to present day.

One Supreme Reality

(Brahman) manifested in
many gods and goddesses

Yoga, meditation, worship

(puja), devotion to a god or
goddess, pilgrimage to holy
cities, live according to one's
dharma (purpose/ role).

Christianity

Hinduism

Humans are in bondage to

Reincarnation until gain
ignorance and illusion, but
enlightenment.
are able to escape. Purpose
is to gain release from rebirth,
or at least a better rebirth.

History
Adherents
Gods
Meaning of Life
Afterlife
Based on teachings of the
1.3 billion
One God (Allah in Arabic); the Humans must submit (islam) Paradise or Hell.
Prophet Muhammad; founded
same God revealed
to the will of God to gain
622 CE in Mecca, Saudi
(imperfectly) in the Jewish
Paradise after death.
Arabia.
and Christian Bibles

Practices
Five Pillars: Faith, Prayer,
Alms, Pilgrimage, Fasting.
Mosque services on Fridays.
Ablutions before prayer. No
alcohol or pork. Holidays
related to the pilgrimage and
fast of Ramadan.

Founded by Charles Taze

Russell, 1879, Pittsburgh

No blood transfusions, no
celebration of holidays, no
use of crosses or religious
images. Baptism, Sunday
service at Kingdom Hall,
strong emphasis on
evangelism.

Islam
6.5 million

Jehovah's Witn
The religion of the Hebrews 14 million
(c. 1300 BC), especially after
the destruction of the Second
Temple in 70 AD.

Judaism

One God: Jehovah. No

Trinity. Christ is the first
creation of God; the Holy
Spirit is a force.

Salvation is through faith in

Christ and obeying Jehovah's
laws. The End of the World is
soon.

Heaven for 144,000 chosen

Witnesses, eternity on new
earth for other Witnesses. All
others annihilated. No hell.

One God: Yahweh (YHVH)

Obey God's commandments, Not historically emphasized.

live ethically. Focus is more Beliefs vary from no afterlife
on this life than the next.
to shadowy existence to the
World to Come (similar to
heaven).

Circumcision at birth, bar/bat

mitzvah at adulthood.
Synagogue services on
Saturdays. No pork or other
non-kosher foods. Holidays
related to historical events.

History
Founded by Joseph Smith,
1830, New York.

Mormonism

Adherents
Gods
12.2 million God the Father, the Son
Jesus Christ, and the Holy
Ghost are three separate
individual beings

Meaning of Life
Afterlife
Return to God by faith in
All return to spirit world for
Christ, good works,
period of instruction before
ordinances, and evangelism. resurrection. Mormons to
heaven with God and
families; others rewarded but
not with God; hell for those
who reject God after death.

Practices
Abstinence from alcohol,
tobacco, coffee and tea;
baptism for the dead; eternal
marriage; temple garments
under daily clothes; active
evangelism.

Texts
Tripitaka (Pali Canon);
Mahayana sutras like the
Lotus Sutra; others.

Bible (Hebrew Bible + New

Testament)

The Vedas, Upanishads,

Bhagavad Gita, Ramayana,
etc.

Texts
Qur'an (sacred text); Hadith
(tradition)

New World Translation of the

Scriptures

Hebrew Bible (Tanakh);

Talmud

Texts
Christian Bible, Book of
Mormon, Doctrine and
Covenants, and Pearl of
Great Price