Overview of Major World Religions and Their Beliefs

Bible

Holy book

Gospels

Books about Jesus

Communion

Sacrament of bread and wine

Christmas

Celebrates Jesus' birth

Easter

Celebrates Jesus' resurrection

Jesus

Central figure

Holy Spirit

Part of the Trinity

Pope

Catholic leader

Sabbath

Day of rest (Sunday)

Fish

Early Christian symbol

Mount

Holy places

New/Old Testament

Parts of the Bible

Genesis

Creation story

Adam/Eve

First humans

Bethlehem

Jesus' birthplace

Jerusalem

Holy city

Quran

Holy book

Muhammad

Final prophet

Allah

God

Mosque

Place of worship

Imam

Prayer leader

Shia/Sunni

Islamic branches

Medina/Mecca

Holy cities

Hajj

Pilgrimage

Kaaba

Sacred site

Ramadan

Fasting month

Five Pillars

Core practices

Prayer

Daily ritual

Fasting

Ramadan practice

Torah

Holy book

Talmud

Interpretive text

Rabbi

Religious leader

Synagogue

Place of worship

Yom Kippur

Day of Atonement

Passover

Exodus celebration

Hanukkah

Festival of Lights

Menorah

Candleholder

Kosher

Dietary laws

Abraham/Moses

Key figures

Covenant

Divine agreement

Bar Mitzvah

Coming-of-age ceremony

Buddha

Founder of Buddhism, 'the awakened one.'

Noble Truths

Core Buddhist beliefs about suffering.

Four Noble Truths

Suffering's truth, cause, end, and path.

Eightfold Path

Path to nirvana: right understanding, etc.

Meditation

Training the mind.

Mindfulness

Present moment awareness.

Enlightenment

Spiritual insight; discovering truth.

Nirvana

Perfect peace, liberation.

Sangha

Buddhist community.

Siddhartha Gautama

The Buddha's original name.

Caste

Hereditary social class (historical).

Reincarnation

Rebirth of the soul.

Moksha

Liberation from rebirth.

Shiva

Hindu deity, the destroyer.

Dharma

Righteous conduct.

Karma

Cause and effect of actions.

Compassion

Understanding others' suffering.

Ganges

Sacred river in India.

Vishnu

Hindu deity, the preserver.

Vedas

Oldest Hindu scriptures.

Brahman

Ultimate reality.

Tao

The Way, the fundamental principle of the universe.

Tao Te Ching

Taoism's central text, by Laozi.

Laozi

Founder of Taoism.

Balance

Equilibrium in life.

Immortality

Spiritual goal of eternal life.

Inner Peace

Mental and emotional calm.

Simplicity

Living without complexity.

Wu Wei

Effortless action.

Nature

Source of wisdom.

Yin and Yang

Complementary opposites.

Civil Service

Government based on merit.

Filial Piety

Respect for parents.

Five Relationships

Key social relationships.

Analects

Teachings of Confucius.

Education

Self-cultivation.

Virtue

Moral excellence.

Respect

Honoring others.

Confucius

Founder of Confucianism.

Harmony

Social order.

Ancestors

Revered deceased family.

Purification

Cleansing rituals.

Torii

Shrine gate.

Kojiki

Early Japanese chronicle.

Shrines

Places to worship Kami.

Matsuri

Japanese festivals.

Amaterasu

Sun goddess.

Ancestor Worship

Honoring ancestors.

Animism

Belief in spirits in all things.

Kami

Spirits or deities.

The Torah

The most sacred text in Judaism, containing the first five books of the Hebrew Bible.

Synagogue

A Jewish house of worship.

Rabbi

A Jewish religious leader and teacher.

Sabbath

The weekly day of rest and worship in Judaism, beginning at sunset on Friday.

Kosher

Foods that are prepared according to Jewish dietary laws.

Abraham

Considered the 'Father' of the Jewish people because of his covenant with God.

Moses

Led the Israelites out of Egypt and received the Ten Commandments on Mount Sinai.

Yom Kippur

The holiest day in Judaism, dedicated to atonement and repentance.

Passover

The Jewish holiday that commemorates the Exodus from Egypt.