Religions of the World

by Melony Brown

Sometimes as Christians we can get in our cocoon of beliefs and forget there are many other belief systems around the world. There are hundreds of different religions, but they all seek to answer three basic questions:

1. What is my purpose?

2. What happens when I die? 

3. How shall I live my life?

Learning about the beliefs and practices of other religions helps Christians to understand how other people live and worship, as well as having the tendency to solidify one’s own beliefs. The six largest religions are Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, and Jainism. Excluding Christianity, a brief discussion of each of the world religion’s beliefs and rituals follows.

  1. Islam. The name Islam means “submission to God.” Followers are called Muslims. Mohammad, the founder of Islam, received a revelation from God (Allah). They believe the afterlife is either paradise or Hell. Muslims primarily follow the teaching of Mohammad in the Qur’an, but also respect the Torah (the writings of Moses), the Psalms (the writings of David), and the Gospel (the writings of Jesus). The five pillars of their doctrine are: faith, prayers, alms, pilgrimage, and fasting.
  2. Hinduism. The name Hinduism is originally derived from the River Indus, but now denotes the religious, philosophical, and cultural traditions of the Indian subcontinent. Hindus believe in one Supreme Reality (Brahman) which is manifested in many gods and goddesses. Followers are believed to be reincarnated until they reach enlightenment. The sacred scripture, The Vedas, contains instructions about the family, society, politics, business, art, and healthy behaviors. Family life for Hindus is considered a sacred duty.
  3. Buddhism. This religion was founded by Prince Siddharta Gautama, who later became known as Buddha. The three groups of writings containing Buddha’s teachings are known as the “Three Baskets.” Buddhists believe in reincarnation until enlightenment is gained. The Eightfold Path, a doctrine of Buddhism, propels the seeker to perfect each quality on the path, thereby reinforcing the other qualities. The Eight Paths are: Perfect Understanding, Perfect Thought, Perfect Speech, Perfect Action, Perfect Livelihood, Perfect Effort, Perfect Mindfulness, and Perfect Concentration.
  4. Judaism. Judaism’s roots go as far back as Moses receiving the Ten Commandments at Mount Sinai. They believe in the one true God (Yahweh). Males are circumcised on the 8th day of life, and a bar/bat mitzvah is celebrated as the beginning of adulthood. There are varying beliefs about the afterlife within Judaism, so their emphasis is placed on living right in this life. The feasts and historical events found in the Torah are still followed today. Orthodox Jews observe most of the traditional deity and ceremonial laws of Judaism, while Conservative Jews put most of their emphasis on the historical and religious aspects of their heritage instead of the political aspects. Finally, Reform Jews are the most liberal of the three branches of Judaism, having little consensus on doctrinal or religious beliefs.
  5. Jainism. Derived from the word Jina, meaning “the conqueror” or “the victorious,” Jainism teaches its followers to refrain from worldly enticements. Most Jains, the followers of Jainism, live in India and purpose to gain liberation from the cycle of rebirth by avoiding all bad karma. The teachings of Mahavira record the Five Great Vows which are: non-violence, truth, celibacy, non-stealing, and non-possessiveness. 

Despite the differences in the various religions around the world, most believers have a need to worship a higher being. Most religions agree with the need to meet with other believers often to learn more about their beliefs and to experience a time of communal worship. Study and worship is the common ground you can rest on should you engage in a conversation with a follower of another religion.