Religion has shaped human history, cultures, laws, and daily life for thousands of years. While there are many belief systems worldwide, most people belong to one of a handful of major traditions.
Christianity
Christianity is the world’s largest religion, with over 2 billion followers. It is based on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ, who Christians believe to be the Son of God and Savior of humanity.
- Origin: 1st century CE, in the Roman province of Judea
- Core Beliefs: Faith in Jesus as the Son of God, salvation through His death and resurrection, and living according to His teachings
- Sacred Text: The Bible (Old and New Testament)
- Main Branches: Catholicism, Eastern Orthodoxy, and Protestantism
Catholicism
Catholicism is the largest branch of Christianity, with about 1.3 billion members worldwide. It is led by the Pope in Vatican City. Most other Christian denominations are branches of the Catholic Church, called Protestants, because they protested many aspects of the Catholic Church and split from it.
- Beliefs: The authority of the Pope, the importance of the sacraments (like baptism and communion), and tradition alongside scripture
- Practices: Weekly Mass, confession, prayer to God and veneration of saints, devotion to the Virgin Mary
- Global Influence: Catholicism has played a major role in art, education, politics, and humanitarian work for centuries
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS or “Mormons”)
The Church is Christian; the latter-day restoration of the original Christian Church. It was restored by Jesus Christ Himself through the Prophet Joseph Smith in the 19th century in the United States. It has about 17 million members worldwide.
- Sacred Texts: The Bible, the Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, and Pearl of Great Price
- Beliefs: Jesus Christ, the Son of God, as Savior, modern prophets and revelation, eternal families, missionary work
- Practices: Sunday worship, temple ordinances, health guidelines (Word of Wisdom), strong emphasis on family and community service
Judaism
Judaism is one of the oldest monotheistic religions, with about 15 million followers worldwide.
- Origin: Ancient Israel, over 3,000 years ago
- Core Beliefs: One God, covenant relationship with the Jewish people, following the Torah
- Sacred Texts: The Hebrew Bible (Tanakh), especially the Torah
Islam
Islam is the world’s second-largest religion, with over 1.9 billion followers. Muslims believe in one God (Allah) and that Muhammad is His final prophet.
- Origin: 7th century CE, Arabia
- Core Beliefs: The Five Pillars (faith, prayer, charity, fasting, pilgrimage), belief in one God, and following the Qur’an
- Sacred Text: The Qur’an
Hinduism
Hinduism is one of the world’s oldest religions, practiced by over 1 billion people, mostly in India and Nepal.
- No single founder—developed over thousands of years
- Core Beliefs: Reincarnation, karma (cause and effect), dharma (duty), and moksha (liberation from the cycle of rebirth)
- Sacred Texts: The Vedas, Upanishads, Bhagavad Gita
Buddhism
Buddhism began in India with the teachings of Siddhartha Gautama (the Buddha) in the 5th century BCE. It has about 500 million followers.
- Core Beliefs: The Four Noble Truths (about suffering and desire), the Eightfold Path (a guide to living wisely), and reaching enlightenment (nirvana)
- Sacred Texts: Various sutras and teachings depending on the school (Theravāda, Mahāyāna, Vajrayāna)
Key Takeaways
- Christianity is the largest global religion, with Catholicism and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as two significant branches.
- Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Judaism are the other major religions that continue to shape global culture and history.
- Each religion has unique beliefs, practices, and sacred texts, but all seek to answer life’s biggest questions about purpose, morality, and the divine.
