World Religions

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Hinduism

Taoism

-ethnic religion in China
-founded in 6th century BCE
-spread to Korea, Japan, and the rest of Southeast Asia
-263 million adherents
-5th largest religion in the world
-polytheistic
-Confucianism is the only branch
-no holy books
-Laozi-Founder of the religion
-temples and monasteries are important sites

Judaism

-Oldest Ethnic religion
-Founded 2000 BCE in India
-Hasn't spread much outside of India
-900 million adherents
-3rd largest religion in the world
-Polytheistic
-Shaivism and Vaishnavism are the main branches of Hinduism
-Holy Book: Vedas
-Unknown if there was one founder
-Important Sites: Ganges River, Brahmaputra River, and The Himalayan Mountains
-Shrines and Temples make up the cultural landscape

Christianity

Islam

Muhammad and "Allah"(God)

Abraham and "Yahweh"(God)

Jesus Christ and God

Buddhism

-First Universalizing religion
-Founded in India by Siddhartha Gautama (Buddha)
-Spread to China, Japan, Tibet, Mongolia, and the rest of southeast Asia
-350 million adherents
-4th largest religion in the world
-non-theistic
-Thevada 35%
-Mahayana 40%
-Lamaism 5%
-Zen less than 5%
-Holy Book: The Sutras
-Buddha-Founder
-Dalai Lama-Is the most important person in this religion present day
-Important Sites-Pagoda, and The Bodhi Tree
-ancient temples in remote locations make up the cultural landscape

Shintoism

-Syncretic religion
-not spread outside of Japan
-118 million adherents
-no holy books
-polytheistic
-unknown if there was a single or many founders of this religion
-no important sites
-shrines, temples, and familial shrines make up the cultural landscape

Sikhism

Guru Nanak and God

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-Small Universalizing religion
-Founded in 15th Century Pakistan
-Spread to India, Britain, and the US
-22 million adherents
-monotheistic
-Holy Book: Guru Granth Sahib
-Guru Nanak-Founder
-Golden Temple of Armistar in India is an important site

-Third Universalizing religion
-Founded around the year 600 by Muhammad in Madina
-Hearth: Saudi Arabia, spreads to North Africa
-1.6 billion adherents
-2nd largest universalizing religion
-Monotheistic
-Sunni=85% of the Muslim population
-Shia=15% of the Muslim population
-Holy Book: Qur'an
-Prophet Muhammad-founder
-Hajj-The pilgramage that Muslims make once in a lifetime to Mecca where they Pray
-The Dome of the Rock-The place where the rock from heaven is kept
-Mosques- where Muslims Pray

-Oldest Monotheistic religion
-Founded around 2000 BCE
-Hasn't spread from Isreal
-18 million adherents
-11th largest religion in the world
-Orthodox=10%
-Conservative=18%
-Reformed=35%
-Holy Book(s): Torah, Talmud
-Abraham-Founder
Important Sites-Western Wall, Temple Mount
-Places of Worship: Synagogues
Symbol: Star of David

-Second Universalizing Religion
-Founded around year 0 (birth of Jesus Christ)
-Hearth: Palestine (Modern-Day Israel)
Romans spread it around Europe
-2.2 billion adherents
-largest religion in the world
-Monotheistic
-Roman Catholic=50%
-Protestant=37%
-Orthodox=13%
-Holy Book: Bible
-Jesus Christ-Founder
-Pope-The most important person today in this religion
-Important sites: City of Jerusalem
-Catholic=Pray in large Cathedral
-Protestant=can Pray anywhere