5 Major Religions

Christianity

- Number of adherents: around 2.2 billion ( largest in the world )

- Call them: Christians 

- Geographic locations: Europe, the Americans, Southern Africa

- Denominations: Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox Church, Protestants ( Lutherans, Methodists, Baptists, Anglicans, Presbyterians, Episcopalians, many more )

- Founder: Jesus Christ ( Its Abrahamic in origin )

- Holy Book: The Bible, especially the New Testament

- Beliefs: Jesus is both human divine - the son of God; he led a virtuous life; he ascended into heaven where he reigns with God the Father

- Clergy: the Pope is the head of the church, priests are local authorities

Islam

- Number of adherents: 1.5 billion ( second largest )

- Call them: Muslims

- Geographic location: Indonesia, Middle East, North Africa

- Denominations: Sunnis ( 75-90% ), Shiites ( 10-20% )

- Founder: Muhammad ( 570-632 )

- Holy book: Qu'ran

- Beliefs: Monotheistic, Abrahamic

  ~ Five Pillars ( Testimony, prayer, alms-giving, fasting Pilgrimage )

  ~ Muslims see their purpose in life as servicing and submitting to Allah ( God ), and observing Islamic Law

Hinduism

- Humber of adherents: 1.1 billion ( third largest )

- call them: Hidus

- Geographic location: India, Nepal

- Holy Book: The Vedas - eternal truths revealed to ancient sages; written in verse form ( meant to be sung and easily memorized )

- founder: no distinct founder - it is a series of intellectual or philosophical points of view, rather than a rigid, strict of beliefs - probably the oldest religion, although Hinduism is less a religion that a way of life or a faith