It is supranational, and recognizes a hierarchical structure with the Pope, or Bishop of Rome, as its head, located at the Vatican.

Its sacred texts include the Hebrew Bible and the New Testament (or the Christian Gospels).Ĭatholicism (or Roman Catholicism): This is the oldest established western Christian church and the world's largest single religious body. Christianity is one of the three monotheistic Abrahamic faiths, along with Islam and Judaism, which traces its spiritual lineage to Abraham of the Hebrew Scriptures. Hoa Hao: a minority tradition of Buddhism practiced in Vietnam that stresses lay participation, primarily by peasant farmers it eschews expensive ceremonies and temples and relocates the primary practices into the home.Ĭhristianity - Descending from Judaism, Christianity's central belief maintains Jesus of Nazareth is the promised messiah of the Hebrew Scriptures, and that his life, death, and resurrection are salvific for the world. Unlike Theravada Buddhism, Mahayana schools maintain the Buddha-nature is present in all beings and all will ultimately achieve enlightenment. Mahayanas have additional scriptures beyond the Pali Canon and believe the Buddha is eternal and still teaching.

Mahayana Buddhism, including subsets Zen and Tibetan (Lamaistic) Buddhism: Forms of Mahayana Buddhism are common in East Asia and Tibet, and parts of the West. Theravadans follow the Pali Canon of Buddha's teachings, and believe that one may escape the cycle of rebirth, worldly attachment, and suffering for oneself this process may take one or several lifetimes. Theravada Buddhism: The oldest Buddhist school, Theravada is practiced mostly in Sri Lanka, Cambodia, Laos, Burma, and Thailand, with minority representation elsewhere in Asia and the West. Several schools and sects of Buddhism exist, differing often on the nature of the Buddha, the extent to which enlightenment can be achieved - for one or for all, and by whom - religious orders or laity. Buddhism ascribes to a karmic system of rebirth. Buddhism focuses on the goal of spiritual enlightenment centered on an understanding of Gautama Buddha's Four Noble Truths on the nature of suffering, and on the Eightfold Path of spiritual and moral practice, to break the cycle of suffering of which we are a part. teachings of Siddhartha Gautama (also known as Gautama Buddha 'the enlightened one'). Bahais are an open community, located worldwide, with the greatest concentration of believers in South Asia.īuddhism - Religion or philosophy inspired by the 5th century B.C. Baha'i revelation contends the prophets of major world religions reflect some truth or element of the divine, believes all were manifestations of God given to specific communities in specific times, and that Baha'u'llah is an additional prophet meant to call all humankind. Its guiding focus is to encourage the unity of all peoples on the earth so that justice and peace may be achieved on earth.

The core characteristics and beliefs of the world's major religions are described below.īaha'i - Founded by Mirza Husayn-Ali (known as Baha'u'llah) in Iran in 1852, Baha'i faith emphasizes monotheism and believes in one eternal transcendent God. Religions: folk religion 21.9%, Buddhist 18.3%, Christian 5.2%, Muslim 2%, Hindu < 0.1%, Jewish < 0.1%, other 0.7% (includes Daoist (Taoist)), unaffiliated 51.8% (2020 est.)ĭefinition: This entry is an ordered listing of religions by adherents starting with the largest group and sometimes includes the percent of total population.

Revelation of kami shinto