Largest Religions In The World

For many devout believers, religion plays an integral role in influencing every aspect of everyday life. Various religions can be found throughout the world, although the world’s largest religions generally fall into one of two major subgroups. These are Abrahamic religions (Islam, Christianity, Judaism, Baha’i, etc.) and Indian religions (Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism, Jainism, etc.). Based on the Pew Research Institute and other international demographic databases, listed below, the religions with the most followers, and subsequently the most influence, are within our world today.

10. Cao Dai (6.7 million followers)

Cao Dai was a belief system that originated in 1926 in Vietnam and is considered a distinctly nationalist Vietnamese religion. The faith was founded by Ngo Van Chieu, a former administrator who believed he had received a message from the deity revered as the “Supreme” during an extraordinary experience he had at a séance. Cao Dai draws elements from other major world religions, including Christianity, Buddhism, Hinduism, Judaism, islam and Taoism. The full name of the religion translates to”the great faith for the third universal salvation”. Devotees believe in the existence of one Supreme Being, no matter what label or name (i.e. God or Allah) other religions have chosen to impose this central deity. Practitioners of Cao Dai place great emphasis on universal concepts, such as Justice, love, peace and tolerance.

9. Muism / Sinism / Shingyo (10 million followers)

Muism (also known as cynicism, Shingyo, or Korean shamanism) is a religion closely associated with traditional Korean culture and history. The faith can trace its roots back to prehistory. In recent years, Muism has experienced a resurgence in South Korea. Even within the totalitarian regime of North Korea, it is estimated that about 16% of the population continues to subscribe to the belief system of Muism. Among the main components of religion are the existence of spirits, spirits and gods, and these are believed to inhabit the spirit world. The spiritual leaders in Muism, known as” Mudangs”, are mostly women, whose function is to serve as an intermediary between the gods and man.

8. Judaism (13.9 million followers)

Judaism has a long and storied history, and one that spans the beginning to the eighth century BCE. Can follow. This monotheistic religion originated in the Middle East and consists of three main branches. Namely, these are Orthodox Judaism, Conservative Judaism, and Reform Judaism (ranked from most to least conservative traditional). While each of these are rooted in a common belief system, they differ on elements related to scriptural interpretation and specific practices. The synagogues, each presided over by a rabbi, serve as Centers for Jewish worship and religious services. These are also used as a form of community centers. In it, followers have the opportunity to gather at regular intervals to socialize, celebrate, study the Torah, and learn about the Mitzvot (commandments of faith).

7. Sikhism (28 million followers)

In terms of world religions, Sikhism is a relatively new faith. It began in India and is based on the teachings of Guru Nanak and his ten successors. Historically, Sikhs have played an important role in regional politics and were a major influence during the Partition of India in 1947. Central to the Sikh faith are the core principles of sewa and Simran, which relate to community service and the remembrance of God, respectively. Although the majority of Sikh believers still live in northern India, very many followers have moved to a number of different foreign countries of the world over the years, including Canada, the United States, South Africa, Australia and the United Kingdom, among others

6. Daoism (93 million followers)

Daoism originated in China about two thousand years ago. Also called Taoism, this religion is associated with a belief in the occult and the metaphysical. The majority of Daoist followers live in Asian countries such as China, Japan, South Korea and Vietnam. A man named Laozi is considered the religion’s first philosopher, and he was believed to have written the Daodejing, a text central to the faith. In terms of political issues, Daoists are generally considered to be somewhat libertarians, with a preference for governments that are ashamed of political interference and the imposition of regulations and economic restrictions. Diet plays an important role in Daoist philosophy, especially when it comes to one’s everything around physical and psychological well-being. In accordance with this belief system, practices such as fasting and veganism (abstinence from animal products) are encouraged.

5. Shintoism (104 million followers)

Shintoism is based in Japan. and its beginnings are thought to date back to the eighth century. Followers of the faith believe in the existence of many gods, and the word Shinto itself translates into the ” way of the gods.” It is estimated that 80% of Japanese citizens subscribe to Shintoism, with that country serving only as home to more than 80 thousand Shinto shrines. A unique feature of the faith is that believers are not required to publicly declare their loyalty to the religion. The concepts of impurity and purification play an important role in Shintoism and its rites, which are known as Harae. These are carried out on a regular basis with the aim of purifying believers from sin, guilt, illness and even bad luck.

4. Buddhism (488 million followers)

Buddhism was founded in India about 2,500 years ago and is based on the teachings of Buddha, also known as Gautama Buddha or Siddhārtha Gautama. The religion includes two main branches. Namely, these are Theravada Buddhism and Mahayana Buddhism. In the Land of Tibet, followers subscribe to a form of Buddhism known as Vajrayana, while Zen Buddhism is more commonly practiced in Japan. The main principles of the Buddhist belief system are non-violence, as well as moral purity and ethical behavior. Meditation, karma, and nonviolence all play an important role in the daily lives of Buddhists. The most recognized figure in the Buddhist world is without a doubt Tenzin Gyatso, who is best known as the 14th and current Dalai Lama. This former monk is not only the current (and exiled) spiritual leader of Tibet, but also an outspoken peace activist.

3. Hinduism (1.05 billion followers)

The majority of Hindus live in South Asian countries such as India, Nepal and Indonesia. In the country of India alone, an estimated 80% of the population identifies itself as Hindu. Although not much is known about the founding of Hinduism, the faith is widely believed to have developed over a period of 4,000 years. Due to its status as an ancient belief system, Hinduism is deeply rooted in Indian society. In recent years, many of the practices of Hinduism have become increasingly popular in the West as well. Examples include participation in yoga and interests in information about the body chakra system (energy points throughout the body that can be used for healing and improving health, both mental and physical).

2. Islam (1.605 billion followers)

Islam began in Mecca in the seventh century. Followers of religion believe that there is only God (Allah) whose words were written down and given form in the Holy Book of the Quar’an, which still serves as the central spiritual text in the faith. One of the historical figures central to Understanding Muslim tradition is the Prophet Muhammad, who lived from 570 to 632 CE. Adherents of islam believe that this man was God’s ultimate prophet. Islamic religious law not only establishes the five pillars of islam, but also imposes rules and regulations on almost every aspect of a follower’s life. There are two main factions of Muslims, namely Sunnis (the largest worldwide including ~ 80% of all Muslims) and Shias (~ 15% of all Muslims), among Ibadi, Ahmadi and many other, much smaller denominations. Currently, islam is the fastest growing religion in the world in absolute terms of followers worldwide.

1. Christianity (2.22 billion followers)

Christianity began more than two thousand years ago and is a faith based on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. From its humble beginnings as a small subgroup evolved from Judaism, Christianity has become the most popular religion in the world, with followers found all over the world. Christians believe in the existence of one God who sent his only Son, Jesus Christ, to save humanity from their iniquity and hell. Followers believe that Christ’s sacrifice on the cross (crucifixion), his death, and his resurrection were all performed to grant eternal life and forgiveness to all who accept Christ as their personal savior. Even in our modern society, Christianity plays an important and powerful role not only in terms of religious rituals, but also on a much larger scale. To some extent, it does so even in terms of shaping social and political policies of Christian dominant nations.