Religions of the World

1. Buddhism
Founder
Gautam Siddhartha Buddha (563-483 BC) born in Nepal (Lumbini)

Founded in
525 BC

Followed in India, China, Tibet, Korea, Mongolia, Nepal, Bhutan, Thailand, Japan, Laos, Myanmar (Burma), Sri Lanka, Cambodia, Taiwan, Indonesia, Bhutan and Vietnam

Sacred Text T
he Tripitaka (Collection of Buddha?s teaching) also called Sutras

Sacred Places
Lumbini (Nepal) where he received enlightenment and Kusinagar (UP) where he attained ?Nirvana?.

Place of Worship
Vihar (temple) and Monastery (where monks reside)

Sects
Mahayana and Hinayana




2. Confucianism

Founder
King Fu Tsu, Better known as Confucius (551-479 BC) born in the state of LU in china.

Founded in
500 BC

Followed in
China, Taiwan, South Korea, Nauru and Vietnam

Sacred Text
The Analects

Sacred Places
No church or temple


3. Christianity

Founder
Jesus Christ (5 BC to AD 30) born in Judea, also called Jesus of Nazareth

Founded in
2000 years ago

Followed in
Spread all over the world

Sacred Text
Holy Bible consisting of Old Testament (before Christ) and the New Testament (during and after Christ)

Sacred Places
Jerusalem where Christ lived and preached

Place of Worship
Church

Important Sects
Catholics and Protestants



4. Hinduism

Founder
Ancient Sages

Founded in
Around 1500 BC

Followed in
Concentrated in India and Nepal and also found in Bhutan, Fiji, Guyana, Indonesia, Mauritius, Sri Lanka, South Africa, Surinam, Trinidad and Tobago

Sacred Text
The Vedas, the Upanishads, the Bhagavad-Gita and the epics of the Mahabharata and the Ramayana

Place of Worship
Temple


5. Islam


Founder
Prophet Mohammed PBUH(AD 570-632) born in Mecca (Saudi Arabia)

Founded in
AD 622

Followed in
From west coast of Africa to the Philippines which includes Tanzania, Southern part of Russia and China, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Malaysia and Indonesia. Also parts of North Africa.

Sacred Text
Quran (words of God), Hadis (Collection of Prophet?s saying).

Sacred Places
Makkahand Madina in Saudi Arabia

Place of Worship
Masjid (mosque)

Sects
Sunnis and Shias


6. Judaism (Religion of the Hebrews)

Founder
Moses, born in Egypt

Founded in
1300 BC

Followed in
Worldwide with concentration in Israel and United States

Sacred Text
Talmads, found particularly in the five books of the Bible; commentary on Torah known as Talmud and Midrash
Sacred Places
Jerusalem
Place of Worship

Synagogue


7. Shintoism

Founder
Began with Japanese culture and developed out of tradition and ancestor worship

Followed in
Japan

Sacred Text
No specific text

Sacred Places
Central Shrine of Ise (central Japan) and the Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo



8. Sikhism

Founder
Guru Nanak (1469-1539)

Founded in
AD 1500

Followed in
India

Sacred Text
Shri Guru Granth Sahib

Sacred Places
The Golden Temple of Amritsar

Place of Worship
Gurudwara



9. Taoism

Founder
Lao-tse, a Chinese Philosopher

Founded in
6th century BC

Followed in
China, Taiwan, Nauru, Brunei, Singapore and Vietnam

Sacred Text
Tao-te-Ching

10. Zoroastrianism (Parsi Religion)

Founder
Zoroaster, born in Medea (modern Iran) in about 660 BC

Founded in
Around 500 BC

Followed in
Iran and north-west India. The Zoroastrians who fled to India during the eighth century are the ancestors of the present Parsi Community in India

Sacred Text
Zend Avasta

Place of Worship
Fire temple