North America

Latin America

89%

11%

11%

2%2%

85%

250 World Religions

World Population’s Religious Affiliations

A Global ViewReligion is defined as an organized system of beliefs, ceremonies, practices, andworship that centers on one or more gods. As numerous chapters in this bookexplain, religion has had a significant impact on world history. Throughout thecenturies, religion has guided the beliefs and actions of millions around theglobe. It has brought people together. But it has also torn them apart.

Religion continues to be a dominant force throughout the world—affectingeverything from what people wear to how they behave. There are thousands ofreligions in the world. The following pages concentrate on five major religions,as well as Confucianism. They examine some of the characteristics and ritualsthat make these religions similar as well as unique. They also present some ofeach religion’s sects and denominations.

orld eligions

32.7% Christianity

28.7% Other

6% Buddhism

19.6% Islam

0.2% Judaism

12.8% Hinduism

World Population: 5.9 billion*

*Estimated 1998 Figure Source: The World Almanac

250-251-Religion 10/11/02 3:51 PM Page 250

China*

Southwest Asia

Southeast Asia

Israel

Commonwealth of IndependentStates (Former USSR)

Europe

Africa

India

1%2%

91%

6%

49%41%

10%

15.5%

2.5%

82%

38%

15%

19%

28%

1%2%

11%3%

83%

11%

85%

6%

9%

42%15%

28%

96%2%2%

2%2%

World Religions 251

Religious Affiliation

■ Christian

■ Muslim

■ Hindu

■ Buddhist

■ Jewish

■ Other

■ OfficiallyNonreligious*

*Communist China is officially atheist (disbelieving inthe existence of God). Unofficially, the Chinese prac-tice a number of belief systems, including Buddhism,Taoism, Confucianism, and a variety of folk religions.

250-251-Religion 10/11/02 3:51 PM Page 251

Major Buddhist Sects

Wheel of the Law The Buddha is said to have “set in motion the wheel of the dharma” during his firstsermon. His teaching often issymbolized by a wheel.

WorshipCentral to the Buddhist religion is its creator,Siddhartha Gautama, who became known as theBuddha, or “enlightened one.” Statues of the Buddha,such as this one in Japan, appear in many forms andsizes throughout Asia. The Buddha preached that thekey to happiness was detachment from all worldlygoods and desires. This was achieved by following theEightfold Path and the Middle Way, a life betweenearthly desires and extreme forms of self-denial.

orld eligions

icons,textssymbols&

Mantrayana

Theravada Mahayana

Buddhism

Chapter ConnectionFor a more in-depth examination of Buddhism, including a closer look at its origins and beliefs, see pages 64–66 of Chapter 3, and page 177 of Chapter 7.

BuddhismBuddhism has been a dominant religious, cultural, and socialforce throughout Asia. Today, most Buddhists live in SriLanka, East and Southeast Asia, and Japan. Buddhismconsists of several different sects. A religious sect is a groupwithin a religion that distinguishes itself by one or moreunique beliefs. Buddhists are united in their belief of theBuddha’s teachings, known as the dharma.

252 World Religions

252-255-Religion 10/11/02 3:51 PM Page 252

LeadershipThose who dedicate their entire life to theteachings of the Buddha are known asBuddhist monks and nuns. In manyBuddhist sects, monks are expected to lead alife of poverty, meditation, and study. Here,Buddhist monks in Thailand carry what areknown as begging bowls. To learn humility,monks must beg for food and money. Theyare not allowed to speak to or notice theirdonors. Any communication with donors isbelieved to lessen the spirituality of the act.

The Three Cardinal FaultsThis image depicts what Buddhists

consider the three cardinal faults of humanity: greed (the pig); hatred

(the snake); and delusion (the rooster).

Sacred WritingsThis palm leaf is part of an 11th-centurytext called the Perfection of Wisdom Sutra,which contains some 8,000 verses. The text,written in Sanskrit, relates the life andteachings of the Buddha.

RitualWomen in Rangoon,Myanmar, sweep theground so that monkscan avoid stepping onand killing any insects. Many Buddhists believe in rebirth.Rebirth is the notion that human beings, after death, arereborn and continue to exist in one form or another. This also applies to animals, birds, fish, and insects. Buddhistsbelieve that all living beings possess the potential for spiritualgrowth—and the possibility of rebirth as humans. Because ofthis, Buddhists take special care not to kill any living being.

World Religions 253

252-255-Religion 10/11/02 3:51 PM Page 253

ChristianityChristianity is the largest religion in the world, with about 1.9 billionfollowers. It is based on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. MostChristians are members of one of three major groups: Roman Catholic,Protestant, or Eastern Orthodox. Christianity teaches the existence of onlyone God. All Christians regard Jesus as the son of God. They believe thatJesus entered the world and died to save humanity from sin. Christiansbelieve that they reach salvation by following the teachings of Jesus Christ.

RitualEach year, hundreds of thousands of Christiansfrom all over the world visit the Basilica ofGuadalupe in northern Mexico City. The church isconsidered the holiest in Mexico. It is near the sitewhere the Virgin Mary, the mother of JesusChrist, is said to have appeared twice in 1531. Outof deep respect for Mary, some pilgrims approachthe holy cathedral on their knees.

Major Christian Sects

orld eligions

The CrossThe cross, a symbol of the crucifixionof Jesus Christ, represents Jesus’ lovefor humanity in dying for its sins.

Baptist

Eastern Orthodox Roman Catholic

Lutheran

Presbyterian

Episcopal

Methodist

Christianity

Pentecostal

AME

Mormon Church of God

Protestant

254 World Religions

*There are 30 Protestant denominations of over 400,000 members in eachin the United States alone.

Chapter ConnectionFor more about Christianity, seepages 153–57 of Chapter 6. Tolearn about the Protestant andCatholic Reformations, seesections 3 and 4 of Chapter 17.

icons,textssymbols&

252-255-Religion 10/11/02 3:51 PM Page 254

LeadershipIn some Christian churches, theperson who performs services inthe local church is known as a priest.Shown here is a priest of theEthiopian Christian Church holding apicture of the Virgin Mary with herinfant, Jesus. These priests, like thosein other Christian sects, perform suchduties as presiding over the liturgy, aswell as over marriages and funerals.Rules of behavior for priests differthroughout the Christian world. Forexample, priests with the EthiopianChurch may marry, while RomanCatholic priests may not.

WorshipChristians worship in many differentways. Pictured here is a Protestantworship service in the United States.Most Protestant services share severalbasic features. The service includespraying, singing, reading from theBible, and a sermon by a minister. The laity, or church members who arenot ministers, participate extensively inthe service. Some services includebaptism and communion.

The BibleThe Bible is the most sacred book of theChristian religion. It is divided into two majorparts. The Old Testament focuses on Jewishhistory and religion. The New Testamentdescribes the teachings of Jesus Christ.

World Religions 255

A Cross of PalmsPalm Sunday marks the beginning of Holy

Week in the Christian calendar. On thisday, palms are distributed in remembranceof the palms laid before Jesus’ feet as heentered Jerusalem days before his death.

252-255-Religion 10/11/02 3:51 PM Page 255

HinduismHinduism, the world’s oldest religion, is the major religion of India. It alsohas followers in Indonesia, as well as in parts of Africa, Europe, and theWestern Hemisphere. Hinduism is a collection of religious beliefs thatdeveloped over thousands of years. Hindus worship several gods, whichrepresent different forms of Brahman. Brahman is the most divine spirit inthe Hindu religion. Hinduism, like Buddhism, stresses that persons reachtrue enlightenment and happiness only after they free themselves fromtheir earthly desires. Followers of Hinduism achieve this goal throughworship, the attainment of knowledge, and a lifetime of virtuous acts.

RitualEach year, thousands of Hindus make a pilgrimage to India’sGanges River. The Ganges is considered a sacred site in theHindu religion. Most Hindus come to bathe in the water, anact they believe will cleanse and purify them. The sick anddisabled come in the belief that the holy water might curetheir ailments. After most Hindus die, they are cremated.Some then have their ashes cast into the Ganges. According to traditional belief, this assures them an entry into Paradise.

The Sacred OmThe sound OM, or AUM, representedhere, is the most sacred syllable forHindus. It often is used in prayers.

Major Hindu Sects

orld eligions

icons,textssymbols&

Vaishnavites

Shaktism Reform Hinduism

Hinduism

Shaivites

Chapter ConnectionFor a closer look at the origins and beliefs of Hinduism, see pages 62–63 of Chapter 3, andpages 177–78 of Chapter 7.

256 World Religions

256-261-Religion 10/11/02 3:52 PM Page 256

F E A T U R E T I T L E

LeadershipGurus, or spiritual teachers, like the one shownhere, play a major role in spreading Hindubeliefs. These holy men are believed to havehad the gods’ words revealed to them. Theyinterpret and provide insight into the religion.Gurus also travel to villages throughout thecountry and teach the ways of Hinduism tothose villagers who cannot read.

CelebrationEach spring, Hindusin India celebrate thefestival of Holi. This festival is atribute to Shiva, one of the leading gods ofHinduism. Shiva is considered to be beyond good and evil.Hindus call him the Destroyer because he occasionally destroysthe world in order to recreate it. The Holi festival honors Shivawith loud and colorful parades in some parts of India. In one ofthe more dramatic rituals, shown here, a throng gathers in asacred temple in the village of Nandgaon. There, they areshowered with colored powder and dyed water.

The VedasThe Vedas are the oldest Hinduscriptures—and are older than thesacred writings of any other majorreligion. They contain prayers andhymns, as well as works of philosophy.

BrahmaThis statue represents Brahma,creator of the universe. Brahma, Vishnu,and Shiva are the three main gods ofHinduism. Vishnu is the preserver of theuniverse, while Shiva is its destroyer.

257

256-261-Religion 10/11/02 3:52 PM Page 257

IslamIslam is a religion based on the teachings of the prophet Muhammad.Followers of Islam, known as Muslims, live throughout the world. Theyare concentrated from southwest to central Asia and parts of Africa.Islam also has many followers in Southeast Asia. Islam teaches theexistence of only one God, called Allah in the Arabic language. Muslimsbelieve in all prophets of Judaism and Christianity. They show theirdevotion by performing lifelong acts of worship known as the Five Pillarsof Islam. These include faith, prayer, almsgiving (charity), fasting, and pilgrimage. Islam affects nearly every aspect of Muslims’ lives.

Crescent MoonThe crescent moon has become afamiliar symbol for Islam. It may berelated to the new moon that beginseach month in the Islamic lunar calendar,which orders religious life for Muslims.

Major Islamic Sects

orld eligions

icons,textssymbols&

Shi'a

Sunni

Islam

Chapter ConnectionFor a closer look at Islam, including the rise and spreadof Islam, and significantMuslim achievements, seeChapter 10.

CelebrationDuring the sacred month known as Ramadan, Muslims fast, orabstain from food and drink, from dawn to sunset. They do thisas a sign of obedience, humility, and self-control. The fastingtraditionally ends with eating a few dates and milk or water,followed by the sunset prayer. These foods accompany the other dishes that families, such as the one shown here, eat each night during the month.

The most important night ofRamadan is called the Night ofPower (Laylat al-Qadr). Thisis believed to be the nightthe angel Gabriel, themessenger of God, firstspoke to Muhammad.

258 World Religions

256-261-Religion 10/11/02 3:52 PM Page 258

RitualFive times a day Muslims throughout the world faceMecca and pray to Allah. This prayer ritual, known asSalat, occurs at dawn, noon, late afternoon, sunset, andevening. Muslims recite these prayers at work, or school,or wherever they happen to be. Pictured here are Muslimspraying at an intersection in Alexandria, Egypt.

WorshipAt least once in their lifetime, all Muslims who arephysically and financially able, go on hajj, orpilgrimage, to the holy city of Mecca in SaudiArabia. There, pilgrims perform several rites, oracts of worship. One rite, shown here, is walkingseven times around the Ka’aba—the house ofworship that Muslims face in prayer.

The climax of the hajj is the day when millionsof believers stand at a place named Arafat. There,they ask forgiveness of God on the same spotwhere Muhammad gave a farewell sermon.

Prayer RugMuslims often pray by kneeling on arug. The design of the rug includes apointed or arch-shaped pattern. The rugmust be placed so that the arch pointstoward Mecca.

The Qur’anThe Qur’an, the sacred book of Muslims,consists of verses grouped into 114 chapters, orsurahs. The book is the spiritual guide on matters of faith and practice for all Muslims. In addition,it contains teachings that guide Muslim daily life.

World Religions 259

256-261-Religion 10/11/02 3:52 PM Page 259

JudaismJudaism is the religion of the more than 13 million Jewsthroughout the world. Judaism was the first major religion to teach the existence of only one god. The basic laws and teachings of Judaism come from the Torah, the first five books of the HebrewBible. Judaism teaches that a person serves God by studying theTorah and living by its teachings.

CelebrationJews celebrate a number of holidays that honortheir history as well as their God. Pictured hereare Jews celebrating the holiday of Purim. Purimis a festival honoring the survival of the Jews who, in the fifth century b.c., were marked for deathby their Persian rulers.

The story—found in the Book of Esther in theHebrew Bible—describes how Esther, the Jewishqueen of Persia, convinced the Persian king tospare her people. Jews celebrate Purim bysending food and gifts to friends, neighbors, andthe poor. In addition, they dress in costumes andhold carnivals and dances.

The Star of DavidThe Star of David, also called theShield of David, is the universalsymbol of Judaism. The emblem refersto King David, who ruled the kingdomof Israel from about 1000–962 B.C.

Major Jewish Sects

orld eligions

icons,textssymbols&

Conservative

Reform Orthodox

Judaism

Chapter ConnectionFor an historical examinationof Judaism, as well as thedevelopment of the Kingdomof Israel, see pages 72–76 of Chapter 3.

260 World Religions

256-261-Religion 10/11/02 3:52 PM Page 260

RitualSome Jews follow strict dietary laws based onpassages from the Hebrew Bible. These lawshave established what is kosher, or acceptable,for Jews to eat. Kosher laws forbid the eatingof animals considered unclean. These animalsinclude pigs and shellfish.

The preparation of food is a significantpart of kosher law. Animals must be killed ina certain way—a single cut across the neckmade with a knife absent of nicks. This isintended to kill the animal as quickly andpainlessly as possible. Before the meat iscooked, it must be drained of its blood.

There are additional kosher laws thatdetermine everything from the preparationof food to what foods may not be eatentogether. Shown here, a rabbi inspects akitchen in the United States to ensure that it follows kosher guidelines.

The Torah ScrollDuring a synagogue service,the Torah scroll is lifted, while the congregation declares: “Thisis the Law which Moses setbefore the children of Israel.”

YarmulkeOut of respect for God, Jewish men are not supposed to leave their headuncovered. Therefore, many Orthodox and Conservative Jews wear a skullcapknown as a yarmulke, or kippah.

WorshipSeveral women worship at the Western Wall—a place ofprayer and pilgrimage held sacred to the Jewish people.The ancient structure formed the western wall of thecourtyard of the Second Temple of Jerusalem. TheRomans destroyed the temple in a.d. 70. The wall, whichdates back to the second century b.c., measures about160 feet long and about 60 feet high. Located inJerusalem, it is also known as the Wailing Wall. This termwas coined by European travelers who witnessed someJews loudly mourning the destruction of the temple.

256-261-Religion 10/11/02 3:52 PM Page 261

262 World Religions

CelebrationWhile scholars remain uncertain of Confucius’s date ofbirth, people throughout East Asia celebrate it onSeptember 28. In Taiwan, it is an official holiday, known as Teachers’ Day (shown above). Aside from honoringConfucius, the holiday pays tribute to teachers, who play asignificant role in Confucianism. Confucius himself was ateacher, and he believed that education was an importantpart of a fulfilled life. In Confucianism, teachers are highlyregarded, and their authority is just below that of a father.

The Yin–YangThe yin–yang symbol representsopposite forces in the world workingtogether. It symbolizes the social orderand harmony that Confucianism stresses.

ConfucianismA look at the world’s major religions would not be complete without anexamination of Confucianism. With no clergy, or gods to worship,Confucianism is not considered a religion in the traditional sense. However,this ancient philosophy guides the actions and beliefs of millions of Chineseand other peoples of the East. Thus, it often is viewed as a major religion.

Confucianism is a way of life based on the teachings of the Chinese scholarConfucius. It stresses social and civic responsibility. It also provides peoplewith an ethical system to follow. Over the centuries, however, Confucianismhas greatly influenced people’s spiritual beliefs as well. While East Asiansdeclare themselves to follow any one of a number of religions, many alsoclaim to be Confucian.

orld eligions

icons,textssymbols&

“Do not do untoothers what youwould not want others to do unto you.”

C O N F U C I U S ’ S

G O L D E N R U L E

Chapter ConnectionFor a closer look at the life and teachings of Confucius, see pages 97–99 of Chapter 4.

262-263-Religion 10/11/02 3:52 PM Page 262

F E A T U R E T I T L E

RitualA key aspect of Confucianism is respect for familymembers and elders. This helped promote thereligious practice throughout East Asia of honoringancestors. In homes such as the one in Chinashown here, residents build shrines to honor theirdeceased relatives. The family offers prayers andfood at the shrine. Family members then eat themeal—believing the ancestors have already tastedit. The Chinese believe showing respect forancestors will ensure continued cooperation andaid from their deceased relatives.

The AnalectsThe earliest and most authentic record ofConfucius’s ideas was recorded by hisstudents. Around 400 B.C., they compiledConfucius’s words in a book called theAnalects.

World Religions 263

WorshipConfucius is said to have preached more about social order than religiousmatters. In spite of this, the Chinese scholar has come to be viewed by many as agod. By the sixth century a.d., every district in China had a temple dedicated toConfucius. Since then, millions of people have come to revere him as a spiritualleader. Here, children in Taiwan take part in a ceremony honoring Confucius.

262-263-Religion 10/11/02 3:52 PM Page 263