Islam

Name Arabic, "submission"

Means

Adherents 1.6 billion

Place Arabian Peninsula

Founded

Date 622 CE
Founded

Founder(s) Muhammad

Major Sunni, Shi'a, Sufism

Branches

Beliefs One God (Allah in Arabic); the same God revealed (imperfectly)
in the Jewish 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.

Main Al-Hijra, Ramadan, 'Id Al-Fitr

Holidays

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

Symbols Star and crescent; name of Allah in Arabic; color green;

mosque silhouette.

Islam is one of the largest religions in the world, with over 1 billion followers. It
is a monotheistic faith based on revelations received by the Prophet
Muhammad in 7th-century Saudi Arabia. The Arabic word islam means
submission, reflecting the faith's central tenet of submitting to the will of God.
Followers of Islam are called Muslims.

According to Islamic tradition, the angel Gabriel appeared to the Prophet over
the course of 20 years, revealing to him many messages from God. Muslims
recognize some earlier Judeo-Christian prophetsincluding Moses and
Jesusas messengers of of the same true God. But in Islam, but Muhammad
is the last and greatest of the prophets, whose revelations alone are pure and
uncorrupted.

The Prophet dedicated the remainder of his life to spreading a message of

monotheism in a polytheistic world. In 622, he fled north to the city of Medina
to escape growing persecution. This event marks the beginning of the Islamic
calendar. Eight years later, Muhammad returned to Mecca with an army and
conquered the city for Islam. By Muhammad's death, 50 years later, the entire
Arabian Peninsula had come under Muslim control.

The sacred text of Islam, the Qur'an, was written in Arabic within 30 years of
Muhammad's death. Muslims believe it contains the literal word of God. Also
important is the tradition of the sayings and actions of Muhammad and his
companions, collected in the Hadith.

Islamic practices center on the Five Pillars of Islamfaith; prayer; fasting;

pilgrimage to Mecca; and almsand include several holidays and rituals as
well.

Islam and the Judeo-Christian West have had a challenging relationship for
centuries and today's conflicts in the Middle East are religiously charged. Thus
a focus on the facts and efforts towards mutual understanding are particularly
important when it comes to Islam.

CHRISTIANISM

ChristianityChristianity fast facts and introduction

Name Means followers of Christ (Greek christos, Messiah)

Adherents 2.2 billion

Place Southern Levant (modern-day Israel, Palestine, and Jordan)

Founded

Date Founded c. 30 CE

Founder(s) Jesus, Peter, Paul

 Major Roman Catholic; Eastern Orthodox; Protestant
Branches

Practices Prayer, Bible study, baptism, Eucharist (Communion), church on

Sundays, numerous holidays.

Main Easter, Christmas, saints' days

Holidays

Texts Bible (Hebrew Bible + New Testament)

Symbols Cross, dove, anchor, fish, alpha/omega, chi rho

With over 2 billion adherents worldwide, Christianity is the largest religion in
the world. It has dominated western culture for centuries and remains the
majority religion of Europe and the Americas.

Christian beliefs center on the life of Jesus of Nazareth, a teacher and healer
who lived in first century Palestine. The primary source of information about
the life of Jesus are the Gospels, which were written sometime between 20
and 100 years after his death and became the first four books of the New
Testament. The Gospels describe a three-year teaching and healing ministry
during which Jesus attracted 12 close disciples and other followers who
believed him to be the Messiah (Christos).

Jesus' teachings focused on the themes of the kingdom of God, love of God
and love of neighbor. Along with some of his teachings, his growing popularity
with the masses was seen as dangerous by Jewish religious leaders and the
Roman government, leading to his execution by crucifixion. Christians believe
Jesus rose from the dead three days later, and in so doing made it possible
for those who believe to be forgiven of sin and attain eternal life. Much of
Christian belief and practice centers on the resurrection of Christ.

The sacred text of Christianity is the Christian Bible, which consists of the Old
Testament (the Jewish Bible) and the New Testament. The New Testament
contains 27 books: four gospels (narratives of Jesus' life), one account of the
apostles' ministry after Jesus' death, letters from church leaders (the earliest
of which predate the Gospels), and an apocalyptic book.

Nearly all Christians regard the Bible as divinely inspired and authoritative,
but views differ as to the nature and extent of its authority. Some hold it to be
completely without error in all matters it addresses, while others stress its
accuracy only in religious matters and allow for errors or limitations in other
areas due to its human authorship.

Christianity has divided into three major branches. Roman

Catholicism represents the continuation of the historical organized church as it
developed over the centuries, and is headed by the Pope. Eastern Orthodoxy
and Roman Catholicism separated in 1054, when the Patriarch of
Constantinople and the Pope excommunicated each other. Eastern
Orthodoxy (which includes the Greek and Russian Orthodox Churches and
several others) differs from Catholicism in its refusal of allegiance to the Pope,
its emphasis on the use of icons in worship, and the date it celebrates Easter.
Other cultural, political, and religious differences exist as well.

Protestantism arose in the 16th century. Protestants do not acknowledge the

authority of the Pope, reject many traditions and beliefs of the Catholic
Church, and emphasize the importance of reading the Bible and the doctrine
of salvation by faith alone. Protestantism encompasses numerous
denominational groups, including Baptists, Methodists, Episcopalians,
Presbyterians, Pentecostals and Evangelicals.

Christian practices vary by denomination, but common elements include a

Sunday worship service, private and corporate prayer, study and reading of
the Scriptures, and participation in the rites of baptism and communion.
Distinctive Catholic practices include recognition of seven sacraments,
devotion to Mary and the saints, and veneration of relics and sacred sites
associated with holy figures. Eastern Orthodoxy holds many practices in
common with Catholicism, but is especially distinguished by the central role
of icons.

The most important Christian holiday is Easter, a spring holiday that

celebrates Christ's resurrection from the dead. Easter is immediately
preceded by Holy Week, which includes Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday,
and Good Friday. The 40 days prior to Easter form the Lenten season, a time
of fasting and repentance. Another holiday that has become important is
Christmas, which commemorates the birth of Jesus on December 25 (January
6 in Orthodox Churches). Saints' days are also important. Some of these,
such as St. Patrick's Day and St. Valentine's Day, have come to play a
prominent role in popular American culture.
BuddhismBuddhism fast facts and introduction
Name Means Teachings of the Buddha (Buddha means the "Enlightened One")

Adherents 500 million

Beliefs Varies: Theravada atheistic; Mahayana more polytheistic. Buddha

taught nothing is permanent.

Practices Meditation, mantras, devotion to deities (in some sects), mandalas

(Tibetan)

Main Vary by region, but often include Buddha's birthday, Buddha's

Holidays enlightenment, lunar quarters

Texts Tripitaka (Pali Canon); Mahayana sutras like the Lotus Sutra; others.
Buddhism began in India 2,500 years ago and remains the dominant world
religion in the East. There are over 360 million followers of Buddhism
worldwide and over a million American Buddhists today. Buddhist concepts
have also been influential on western culture in general, particularly in the
areas of meditation and nonviolence.

Buddhism is based on the teachings of a Nepali prince named Siddharta

Gautama who lived around 500 BCE. According to Buddhist tradition, the
sheltered young prince was shocked by the suffering he saw outside his
palace walls, so he left his life of luxury to seek answers. Eventually he
succeeded, becoming the Buddha--the "Enlightened One." He spent the
remaining 45 years of his life teaching the dharma (the path to liberation from
suffering) and establishing the sangha (a community of monks).

Over its long history, Buddhism has taken a wide variety of forms. Some
emphasize rituals and the worship of deities, while others completely reject
rituals and gods in favor of pure meditation. Yet all forms of Buddhism share
respect for the teachings of the Buddha and the goal of ending suffering and
the cycle of rebirth.

Theravada Buddhism, prominent in Southeast Asia, is atheistic and

philosophical in nature and focuses on the monastic life and meditation as
means to liberation. Mahayana Buddhism, prominent in China and Japan,
incorporates several deities, celestial beings, and other traditional religious
elements. In Mahayana, the path to liberation may include religious ritual,
devotion, meditation, or a combination of these elements. Zen, Nichiren,
Tendai, and Pure Land are the major forms of Mahayana Buddhism.

HinduismHinduism fast facts and introduction

Name Persian hindu, Sanskrit sindhu, literally "river," meaning "of the Indus
Means Valley" or "Indian." First used by British writers in the 19th century.

Adherents 1 billion

Beliefs One Supreme Reality (Brahman) manifested in many gods and

goddesses. Reincarnation based on karma.

Practices Yoga, meditation, worship (puja), devotion to a god or goddess,

pilgrimage to holy cities, live according to one's dharma (purpose/
role).

Main Holi, Diwali, Mahashivaratri

Holidays

Texts Vedas, Upanishads, Bhagavad Gita, Ramayana, etc.

Symbols lotus, swastika, trisula, om

There are an estimated 1 billion Hindus worldwide, making Hinduism the third
largest religion after Christianity and Islam. About 80 percent of India's
population regard themselves as Hindus and 30 million more Hindus live
outside of India.

Hinduism has no founder or date of origin. The authors and dates of most
Hindu sacred texts are unknown, although the oldest text (the Vedas) are
estimated to date from as early as 1500 BCE. Scholars describe Hinduism as
the product of religious development in India that spans nearly 4,000 years,
making it perhaps the oldest surviving world religion.
The broad term "Hinduism" encompasses a wide variety of traditions, which
are closely related and share common themes but do not constitute a unified
set of beliefs or practices. Hinduism is not a homogeneous, organized system.
Many Hindus are devoted followers of Shiva or Vishnu, whom they regard as
the only true God, while others look inward to the divine Self (atman). But
most recognize the existence of Brahman, the unifying principle and Supreme
Reality behind all that is.

Most Hindus respect the authority of the Vedas (the oldest sacred texts) and
the Brahmans (the priestly class), but some reject one of both of these
authorities. Hindu religious life might take the form of devotion to God or gods,
the duties of family life, or concentrated meditation. Given all this diversity, it is
important to take care when generalizing about "Hinduism" or "Hindu beliefs."

The first sacred writings of Hinduism, which date to about 1500-1200 BCE,
were primarily concerned with the ritual sacrifices associated with numerous
gods who represented forces of nature. A more philosophical focus began to
develop around 700 BCE, with the Upanishads and development of the
Vedanta philosophy. Around 500 BCE, several new belief systems sprouted
from Hinduism, most significantly Buddhism and Jainism.

In the 20th century, Hinduism began to gain popularity in the West. Its
different worldview and its tolerance for diversity in belief made it an attractive
alternative to traditional Western religion. Although there are relatively few
western converts to Hinduism specifically, Hindu thought has influenced the
West indirectly by way of religious movements like Hare Krishna and New
Age, and even more so through the incorporation of Indian beliefs and
practices (such as the chakra system and yoga) into health and spirituality.

JudaismJudaism fast facts and introduction

Name Means of the Kingdom of Judah

Adherents 14 million

Place Southern Levant (modern-day Israel, Palestine, and Jordan)

Founded
 Date c. 1800 BCE (Abraham); 6th cent. BCE (Pentateuch); or 70 CE
Founded (destruction of Second Temple)

Founder(s) Abraham, Moses

Major Orthodox, Reform, Conservative

Branches

Beliefs One God: Yahweh (YHVH), who chose the people of Israel and who
requires worship, ethical behavior, and rituals. A Messiah will come.

Practices Circumcision at birth, bar/bat mitzvah at adulthood, observing

Sabbath, wearing tallit and tefilin, prayer services

Main Hanukkah, Rosh Hashanah, Purim

Holidays

Texts Hebrew Bible (Tanakh); Talmud

Symbols Star of David, chai, hamsa, tree

"It has been estimated that one-third of our Western civilization bears the marks of its
Jewish ancestry." -- Huston Smith, The World's Religions
Judaism began as early as 2000 BCE as the religion of Abraham and of the
small nation of the Hebrews. Through thousands of years of suffering,
persecution, dispersion, and the occasional victory, Jewish religion and
culture has been profoundly influential.

Today, about 14 million people identify themselves as Jews, and nearly 3.5
billion others follow belief systems directly influenced by Judaism (including
Christianity, Islam, and the Bah'ai Faith). Modern Judaism is a complex
phenomenon that incorporates both a nation and a religion, and often
combines strict adherence to ritual laws with a more liberal attitude towards
religious belief.

The central religious belief of Judaism is that there is only one God.
Monotheism was uncommon at the time Judaism was born, but according to
Jewish tradition, God himself revealed it to Abraham, the ancestor of the
Jewish people. Judaism teaches that God took special care of the Hebrews
(who would later become the Jews). After rescuing them from slavery in
Egypt, God revealed the Ten Commandments to Moses, and many more
religious and ethical guidelines in the Torah ("the Law"). Many of the
guidelines (mitzvah) emphasized ritual purity and the importance of remaining
set apart from the surrounding polytheistic cultures.
Aside from its staunch monotheism, Judaism has few essential beliefs. Jewish
identity arises primarily from belonging to an ancient people and upholding its
traditions. Dogma, while important, is secondary. Although the medieval
thinker Rabbi Maimonides once enumerated "13 Articles of Faith," many Jews
do not accept all these, and Jewish beliefs vary widely on theological matters
such as human nature and the afterlife.

Divisions within Judaism, known as "movements," have developed in modern

times as varying responses to secularism and modernity. Orthodox Judaism is
the most conservative group, retaining nearly all traditional rituals and
practices. At the opposite end of the spectrum, Reform Jews retain their
Jewish identity and some traditions but take a liberal approach to many
Jewish beliefs and practices. Conservative Judaism lies in the middle of the
spectrum, taking a moderate approach in its application of Judaism to the
modern world.

Jews of all movements celebrate many special days throughout the year and
throughout each person's life. Major Jewish holidays include Passover, Rosh
Hashanah and Yom Kippur. Hanukkah, historically a minor holiday, has
become more prominent in the last century for Jews who live in areas that
celebrate Christmas. The Sabbath, a day of rest and worship at the
synagogue, is observed each Saturday. In Judaism, all days begin at sunset,
so all holidays begin at sundown and end at sundown.

To recognize the role of God and the Jewish community in each person's life,
numerous life cycle events are observed with traditional rituals. At the first
Sabbath after the birth of a child, the proud father is called forward in the
synagogue to recite blessings for mother and child. Eight days after birth,
baby boys are circumcised.

At the age of 13, a boy becomes a Bar Mitzvah, or "Son of the

Commandment"; at age 12 a girl becomes a Bat Mitzvah, "Daughter of the
Commandment." The occasion is marked by the youth's first public reading of
the Torah in the synagogue (only boys may do this in Orthodox
congregations), followed by a large and joyous celebration.

Jewish wedding ceremonies incorporate many ancient traditions and symbolic

gestures (including the well-known breaking of glass), and divorces are
obtained within the Jewish community. At death, a Jewish person's body is
cared for by the chevra kiddisha, the "holy society," who wash the body and
prepare it for burial. The deceased is treated with great respect and never left
alone. After burial, the deceased's loved ones enter a formal period of
mourning, which decreased gradually over the course of a year. The dead is
then remembered and honored each year on the anniversary of death.

In addition to these special days and ceremonies, the Jewish life is marked
by regular religious observance. Each Saturday, Sabbath is observed by
ceasing work and spending the day in worship at the synagogue and at home
with family. The study of Torah and other Jewish scriptures is considered very
important, and many Jewish children attend Hebrew school so they can study
it in its original language. In everyday life, traditional Jews observe the laws of
kashrut, eating only foods that God has designated "kosher." Among non-
kosher, or prohibited, foods are pork, any meat that has not been ritually
slaughtered, shellfish, and any meal that combines dairy with meat.

TaoismTaoism fast facts and introduction

Adherents 20 million specifically of Taoism (Chinese religion contains Taoist
elements)

Major Religious Taoism (Daojiao) and Philosophical Taoism (Daojia)

Branches

Beliefs Pantheism - the Tao pervades all. Yin-yang - opposites make up a

unity.

Practices General attitude of detachment and non-struggle, "go with the flow" of
the Tao. Tai-chi, acupuncture, and alchemy to help longevity.

Texts Tao-te Ching; Chuang-tzu

Taoism (also spelled Daoism) is based on the teachings of the Tao Te Ching,
a short tract written in the 6th century BCE in China.

Taoism emphasizes spiritual harmony within the individual, complementing

Confucianism's focus on social duty. The two great Chinese belief systems
were founded at about the same time and continue to exist side-by-side in
today's China.
There are two main schools within Taoism, usually called "philosophical
Taoism" (Tao-chia) and "religious Taoism" (Tao-chaio). The two are not as
strongly distinguished as once thought, but philosophical Taoism tends to
focus on the philosophical writings of Lao-Tzu, Chuang-Tzu and other early
mystics while religious Taoism emphasizes religious rituals aimed at attaining
immortality.

There are 20 million Taoists worldwide, most of whom live in China, Taiwan or
Southeast Asia. Taoism is also increasingly influential in the West, especially
in the fields of alternative medicine and martial arts like Tai Chi.