More Information about World Religions

Islam

·        Created by Muhammad

·        Muhammad was said to report revelations that came from God

·        Holy Book- Qur’an

·        There are 1.6-1.7 followers

·        Muslims are found in Indonesia, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and the Middle East

·        Many Muslims make pilgrimages to Mecca- to the Muslims, this is the most holy city and it is the birth place of Muhammad

·        Muslim men go to Medina for a pilgrimage

·        Mecca and Medina are both in modern day Saudi Arabia

·        2^nd biggest religion

·        In 100 years= #of Muslims > # of Christians

·        5 times a day, devote Muslims should know where Mecca is in relation to where their location is and pray towards the direction of Mecca

Buddhism

·        Founded by Siddhartha Gautama

·        He was known as Buddha which means “enlightened one”

·        Neither a monotheistic or polytheism religion

·        No holy book but has the Four Noble Truths

·        No cravings for yourself

·        376 million followers

·        Most are in China, Japan, Mongolia, and many Southwestern Asian countries

·        Nirvana is achieved from within

Hinduism

·        Does not claim any one prophet

·        No one god

·        It is a way of life

·        Sacred texts are the Vedas and the Philosophical Epics such as the Bhagavas-Gita

·        1 billion Hindus worldwide

·        Most of them are in India

Judaism

·        Oldest surviving monotheistic religion

·        Covenant between God and his people an ethno religious group

·        Sacred books are the Talmud and the Torah

·        13.4 million followers