Doodlebrary

Doodlebrary

• Christianity
  • Followers: Approximately 2.3 billion
  • Major Branches: Roman Catholicism, Eastern Orthodoxy, and Protestantism.
  • Key Beliefs: Belief in Jesus Christ as the Son of God and Savior of humanity, the Bible as the holy scripture.
• Notable Denominations:
  • Catholics
  • Baptists
  • Lutherans
  • Methodists
  • Anglicans, etc.

• Islam
  • Followers: Around 1.9 billion
  • Major Branches: Sunni Islam (majority) and Shia Islam.
  • Key Beliefs: Monotheism (belief in one God, Allah), the Quran as the final revelation, and Prophet Muhammad as the last prophet.
  • Sub-sects of Shia Islam: Twelvers, Ismailis, Zaidis.

• Hinduism
  • Followers: Approximately 1.2 billion
  • Key Concepts: Polytheistic and henotheistic practices, belief in karma, dharma, samsara (cycle of rebirth), and moksha (liberation from this cycle).
  • Main Deities: Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva, and many others.

• Buddhism
  • Followers: Around 520 million
  • Major Branches:
    • Theravada (mainly practiced in Southeast Asia)
    • Mahayana (practiced in East Asia)
    • Vajrayana (Tibetan Buddhism)
  • Key Beliefs: Four Noble Truths, Eightfold Path, belief in reaching enlightenment (nirvana) to escape suffering (dukkha).

• Sikhism
  • Followers: Around 30 million
  • Founder: Guru Nanak
  • Key Beliefs: Monotheism, equality, service, and devotion to one God, Guru Granth Sahib is the holy scripture.

• Judaism
  • Followers: Around 14–15 million
  • Major Branches: Orthodox, Conservative, Reform, and Reconstructionist.
  • Key Beliefs: Monotheism, belief in the covenant between God and the Israelites, Torah as the sacred text.

• Bahá’í Faith
  • Followers: 5–8 million
  • Founder: Bahá’u’lláh
  • Key Beliefs: Oneness of humanity, unity of all religions, and world peace.

• Jainism
  • Followers: Around 4–6 million
  • Key Beliefs: Non-violence (ahimsa), truth, asceticism, and spiritual purity.
  • Main Sects: Digambara and Svetambara.

• Confucianism
  • Mainly Practiced in: China and East Asia
  • Key Beliefs: Ethical principles for family and social harmony, virtues like respect for elders, loyalty, and righteousness.

• Taoism
  • Followers: Mainly in China
  • Key Concepts: Tao (the way), balance of opposites (Yin and Yang), living in harmony with nature.

• Shinto
  • Followers: Primarily in Japan
  • Key Beliefs: Worship of kami (spirits), connection to nature, and reverence for ancestors.

• Zoroastrianism
  • Followers: Around 100,000–200,000
  • Key Beliefs: Dualism between good (Ahura Mazda) and evil (Angra Mainyu), sacred text is the Avesta.

• Rastafarianism
  • Followers: Around 1 million
  • Key Beliefs: Reverence for Emperor Haile Selassie of Ethiopia, Afrocentrism, belief in the return to Africa (Zion), and use of the Bible.

• New Religious Movements
  • Examples: Scientology, Wicca, Falun Gong, and others.
  • Key Features: Diverse beliefs and practices, often with modern origins, focused on personal spirituality or alternative interpretations of existing religious traditions.

• Indigenous and Folk Religions
  • Examples: Native American religions, African traditional religions, Australian Aboriginal beliefs, etc.
  • Key Practices: Animism, ancestor worship, rituals tied to nature, and localized spiritual practices.

• Atheism and Agnosticism
  • Followers: Estimates vary, often included in non-religious demographics.
  • Key Views:
    • Agnosticism: Uncertainty about the existence of deities.
    • Atheism: Lack of belief in any deities.