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World Religions Profiles - Hinduism, Judaism, Buddhism, Christianity, Islam (Vocabulary)

Hinduism

  • Origin: one of the world’s oldest religions; began about 4{,}000 years ago in northwestern India; evolved from beliefs of many groups; no single founder; Hindus call it sanatana dharma (eternal religion).
  • Demographics: about 900{,}000{,}000 Hindus; ~15% of world population; US ~910{,}000 Hindus.
  • Gods: many gods/goddesses as forms of one Supreme Being, Brahman; major trio: Brahma (creator), Vishnu (preserver), Shiva (destroyer); others include Krishna and Ganesha.
  • Core beliefs: samsara (rebirth) with goal of moksha (salvation) and unity with Brahman; karma determines future rebirths; many Hindus are vegetarians; cows are sacred.
  • Society: caste system (Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas, Shudras).
  • Scripture: Vedas; Upanishads; Mahabharata; Ramayana.
  • Rituals/Observances: temple worship (mandir); prasad (offerings); tilaka; samskaras (life ceremonies, e.g., naming, sacred thread for the top castes at age 9–10); main festivals Holi, Dussehra, Divali.
  • Holy sites/symbols: River Ganges; Om (Aum); swastika (ancient symbol meaning well); animal reverence.

Judaism

  • History: began >4{,}000 years ago in the Middle East; first to worship one God; covenant with God starting with Abraham; Moses and the Exodus; Holocaust; Israel established 1948.
  • Demographics: ~15{,}000{,}000 Jews worldwide; US ~5.7{,}000{,}000; Israel ~4.5{,}000{,}000; others in Russia, France, Canada.
  • God: monotheistic; one God; belief in a coming Messiah to unite the world in peace.
  • Core beliefs: Ten Commandments; kosher dietary laws; Sabbath observance; Jews as God’s chosen people; Israel as holy.
  • Scripture: Torah (first five books) in Hebrew; contains daily-life laws; Talmud as interpretations of Torah.
  • Rituals/Observances: Shabbat (Friday evening to Saturday sundown); Passover (Seder, Haggadah); Rosh Hashanah; Yom Kippur; Hanukkah; life rites like bar mitzvah (boys) and bat mitzvah (girls).
  • Holy sites/Symbols: synagogue; Western Wall; Star of David; yarmulke (skullcap); tallit (prayer shawl).

Buddhism

  • History: founded by Siddhartha Gautama (the Buddha) in roughly 563 B.C.; journey to Enlightenment; taught across Asia.
  • Sects: Mahayana, Theravada, Vajrayana (Tantric); common emphasis on nonviolence, tolerance, meditation.
  • Demographics: about 360{,}000{,}000 Buddhists worldwide; 3–5 million in the United States.
  • God: no creator god; Buddha is not worshiped as a god; aim is Enlightenment; Dalai Lama is a spiritual leader.
  • Core beliefs: Four Noble Truths; Eightfold Path (Right Understanding, Right Thought, Right Speech, Right Action, Right Work, Right Effort, Right Mindfulness, Right Meditation); Five Precepts; nirvana as the end of suffering and cycle of rebirth.
  • Scripture: dharma; Pali Canon (Tripitaka) including Vinaya Pitaka, Sutta Pitaka, Abhidhamma Pitaka.
  • Rituals/Observances: meditation as central practice; Three Jewels (Buddha, Dharma, Sangha); festivals: Wesak, Dharma Day, Sangha Day.
  • Holy sites/Symbols: stupas; Dharamsala (Dalai Lama’s residence); eight-spoked wheel (symbolizing the Eightfold Path); lotus.

Christianity

  • History: began >2{,}000 years ago with Jesus Christ; Jesus’ crucifixion and Resurrection foundational; spread to become the world’s largest religion.
  • Major branches: Orthodox, Roman Catholic, Protestant.
  • Demographics: ~2{,}000{,}000{,}000 followers; US ~225{,}000{,}000; large populations in Mexico, France, Italy, the UK, the Philippines, Russia.
  • God: monotheistic, with the Holy Trinity (Father, Son, Holy Spirit).
  • Core beliefs: Jesus as the Son of God; Resurrection and eternal life for believers; Ten Commandments; love and service; Bible teachings.
  • Scripture: Old and New Testaments; Old Testament shared with Judaism; New Testament contains the Gospels.
  • Rituals/Observances: worship varies, but Holy Communion central for many; sacraments (baptism, confirmation); church services with sermons, readings, hymns; holidays: Christmas, Epiphany, Lent, Holy Week, Easter (with associated symbols and customs).
  • Holy sites/Symbols: cross; fish symbol; Holy Land (Bethlehem, Jerusalem); Vatican City (Catholic); Lourdes (Catholic).

Islam

  • History: began ~1{,}400 years ago in Mecca, Arabia; Muhammad as the final prophet; worship of Allah.
  • Sects: Sunni (majority) and Shiite; small Sufi presence (e.g., Whirling Dervishes).
  • Demographics: ~1{,}300{,}000{,}000 Muslims; about 22% of world population; large populations in Arab nations, China, Europe, and the United States.
  • God: Allah; belief in prophets including Moses and Jesus; Muhammad is the final prophet.
  • Five Pillars: shahada (faith), salat (prayer), zakat (almsgiving), sawm (fasting during Ramadan), hajj (pilgrimage to Mecca).
  • Dietary: no pork; no alcohol.
  • Scripture: Qur'an (Koran) revealed to Muhammad; originally in Arabic.
  • Rituals/Observances: prayers five times daily facing Mecca; wudu (ablutions) before prayer; Friday noon prayers at mosques; gender separation in many settings; Ramadan fasting; Id ul-Fitr (end of Ramadan); Id ul-Adha; Hajj to Mecca and Ka'aba.
  • Holy sites/Symbols: mosque (zulla/prayer hall, mihrab indicating qibla direction, imam, minbar, minaret); crescent moon and star; green (color associated with Islam).
  • Note: Ka'aba in Mecca is the holiest site.