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Christianity

Numbers of adherents: around 2.2 billion (largest in the world)

 

Call them: Christians

 

Geographic location: Europe, the Americas, southern Africa

 

Denominations: Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox Church, Protestants (Lutherans, Methodists, Baptists, Anglicans, Presbyterians, Episcopalians, many more)

 

 

Founder: Jesus Christ (it's Abrahamic in origin)

Holy book: the Bible, especially the New Testament

 

Beliefs: Jesus is both human and divine- the son of God; he led a virtuous life; he was crucified, died, buried, and resurrected; he ascended into heaven where he reigns with God the father

 

Clergy: the Pope is the head of the church, priests are local authorities

 

 

 

 

 

 

Islam

 

 

Number of adherents: 1.5 billion (second largest)

Call them: Muslims

Geographic location: Indonesia, Middle East, north Africa

 

Denominations: Sunnis (75-90%), Shiites (10-20%)

 

Founder: Muhammad (570- 632)

Holy book: Qur'an

Beliefs: monotheistic, Abrahamic

Five Pillars (testimony, prayer, alms-giving, fasting, pilgrimage)

Muslims see their purpose in life as serving and submitting to Allah (God), and observing Islamic law

 

 

 

 

 

Hinduism

Number of adherents: 1.1 billion (third largest)

Call them: Hindus

Geographic location: India, Nepal

Holy book: the Vedas- eternal truths revealed to ancient sages; composed in verse form (meant to be sung and easily memorized)

 

No distinct founder

In other words… reincarnation

 

 

 

 

Buddhism

Number of adherents: 500 million to 1.5 billion(estimates vary quite a bit)

Call them: Buddhists

Geographic location: southeast Asia. China, Nepal, Japan(there are 1.2 million Buddhists in the United States)