World Religions Comparison Chart

World Religions Comparison Chart Religion Location of Origin Time of Origin (Where did the religion originate) (When did it originate) Hinduism Indus River 3000-1750 BCE Valley Buddhism Northeast India Ancient Confucianis China m Prophet / Leader(s) or Spiritual Leaders Gurus, swami, Mata Amritananda mayi, Satya Sai Baba 480-400 Buddha, BCE (2,500 Sariputta, years ago) Mahamogall ana, Mahinda About Master Kong 2,500 years ago Name of God(s) Holy Book(s) Puranas, sruti (better known as Vedas), Bhagavad Gita Technically Tripitaka, no gods, Pali, at least no Tipitaka named gods Religious Symbol(s ) Global Reach (How many people practice this religion world wide & where is it practiced) Shiva, Ganesha, Lord Rama, Lord Krishna Nearly 1 billion people practice Hinduism traditions n/a Approxima tely 500 million (mainly practiced in Asia, more and more in Europe and the United States) n/a 13 sacred books (Shujing, Zhouli, Erya) Judaism Mesopota mia 3,800 years Moses, ago Abraham Christianit y Firstcentury Palestine 2,000 years ago (with birth of Jesus) Central Arabia About Muhammed, 1,400 years Abraham ago Islam God Torah Moses, Paul, God Johann, Jesus, Michael, other… Bible Allah Koran About 14 million (mainly in the United States and Israel also in Canada, Germany, France, Argentina and Australia 2.3 billion Christians (mainly in North and South America, southern Africa, Europe, Russia and Australia) About 1.6 billion, mainly in northern Africa, Asia, Arabia Religion Hinduism Buddhism Basic Teachings/Philosophies Social system of four castes: priests, kings, merchants, and servants. The soul needs many lifetimes to complete itself and full self-realization takes time and cannot be completed in one lifetime. With many Gods, Hindus pray to many different Gods, Hinduism is a very good example of polytheism, the believe in more than one god. Buddhists believe in a simple lifestyle. They believe that human life is one of suffering. It can be made better by meditation or and physical and mental training. With that and good behavior through all situation, people can achieve the enlightenment. Confucianism believes in the power of the elders and ancestors. It also believes in a Confucianis simple, peaceful life. m The trust in God is more important than affirming a set of believes. Jews believe in the ten commandments, which were given to the prophet Moses by God. They live by the laws of God, written down in their sacred book, the Torah. Other than Christians, Jews are still waiting for their Messiah to come to earth, they do not believe that Jesus was the elected Messiah sent by God. Christians believe in God, his son Jesus and the holy spirit. This is also called trinity. Christianity Christians believe in Jesus as Gods son and Messiah and savior of the world. Other than in Judaism, there is a new chapter of the bible. The new chapter is about Jesus’ live and actions. In the end of the bible, it says that Jesus would return to earth to save humankind again. Christians believe in the love to the next person. There are five mainly laws or rules of Islam, which are supposed to lead Muslims Islam through their live. Allah is the almighty God for Muslims and Muhammad is his prophet. A very important element of being a Muslim is, to do Ramadan. During one Judaism month, called Ramadan, Muslims do not eat or enjoy things during the day. Eating and enjoyable things can be done after the sunset. Every Muslim should also travel to Mecca at least once in his life if he has the opportunity to. Muslims should also pray five times a day at certain times, while sitting on a clean place, like a praying carpet, in the direction to Mecca. They should also help others by giving away money or goods.