Worlds Major Religions

Throughout history and across all cultures, humans have pondered the fundamental questions of existence: where did we come from, what is our place in the world, and what happens to us after we die? In response to these eternal mysteries, religions have emerged as systems of belief that have evolved over time. Driven by the conviction that some questions can only be answered through faith and an intuition that there is something greater than ourselves, religions offer a framework for understanding the world and our place in it.

Hinduism, which originated in India, is not a single religion but rather a collection of related beliefs and spiritual practices that date back five millennia to the time of Krishna. According to Hinduism, all life follows the law of cause and effect, or karma, and our duty, or dharma, is to fulfill our role in society without concern for the outcome. When we die, we are reincarnated into a new body, and our rebirth is determined by our actions in this life. The ultimate goal is to escape the cycle of rebirth, or samsara, and achieve moksha, or liberation.

Hinduism teaches that everything is one, and the universe is a transcendent reality called Brahman. Within Brahman, there are many gods, each with their own roles, aspects, and forms. Brahma is the creator, Vishnu is the preserver, and Shiva is the transformer. Hinduism is the third largest religion in the world, with over one billion adherents.

Judaism began with God calling Abraham and Sarah to leave Mesopotamia and migrate to the land of Canaan. In return for their faith in the one true God, they were promised land and many descendants. From this promise came the land of Israel and the chosen people, but staying in that land and keeping those people together was difficult. The Israelites were enslaved in Egypt, but God freed them with the help of the prophet Moses, who received the Ten Commandments and later hundreds more. Judaism is a faith of symbolism, reverence, and deep meanings tied to the literature of its history. The many sacred scriptures make up the Hebrew bible, or Tanakh, and hundreds of written discussions and interpretations are contained in an expansive compendium of deeper meanings, called the Talmud. There are 14 million Jews in the world today.

Buddhism began with a young prince named Siddhartha, who became the Buddha after realizing that all of life abounds with suffering caused by selfish craving for one's own fulfillment at the expense of others. Following an eight-step plan called the Eightfold Path can teach us to reduce that craving and thus reduce suffering. Buddhism has pointed the way for millions to enlightenment, which is a state of compassion, insight, peace, and steadfastness. There are nearly a billion Buddhists in the world today.

Christianity grew out of Judaism, and Jesus is considered by Christians to be God in human form. Jesus taught about his heavenly father, who is affectionate, forgiving, and attentive. His message was to love one another as he loved them. Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus in December at Christmas and his suffering, death, and resurrection during Holy Week in the spring. There are two billion Christians worldwide.

Islam began with Muhammad, who was visited by the angel Gabriel and received messages from Allah. The verses he recited were full of wise sayings, beautiful rhymes, and mysterious metaphors. The Five Pillars of Islam are the most important duties of a Muslim, and the words of God are collected in the Quran. Islam is the world's second largest religion, practiced by over one and a half billion Muslims around the globe.

Religion offers a framework for understanding the world and our place in it, appealing to a meaning beyond ourselves. While there are countless variations in religious practice, common to all is the search for answers to the fundamental questions of existence.