The Big Religion Chart This "Big Religion Chart" is our attempt to summarize the major religions and belief systems of the world - Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism, and dozens more - into a quick-reference comparison chart. Oversimplication is unavoidable in charts like these, and it is not intended to be a substitute for advanced religious study and exploration, but simply a fast overview. It is our hope that this chart becomes a useful tool for you to compare basic religious beliefs and practices of the world's religions and belief systems. Over 40 religions and belief systems are currently listed. If a group does not appear, it doesn't mean it's not a religion or doesn't matter; the chart is not comprehensive and will continue to grow. See also our list of religions and definitions of religion. Links within the chart will take you to more detailed information on ReligionFacts on that religion or topic. Download our charts as PDFs in minutes! Adherents History Gods Meaning of Life Afterlife Practices Texts Aladura 1 million Various prophet- Generally Strong emphasis on healing Not emphasized; Spiritual healing is central. none healing churches monotheistic; a and salvation in this life. views vary. Mix of Anglican and African founded since mix of Anglican, rituals; a prophet plays a c.1918, West Pentecostal and prominent role. Nigeria. traditional African beliefs. Aladura Practices Adherents History Gods Meaning of Life Afterlife Practices Texts Asatru unknown Revival of Norse Polytheistic, Norse Salvation or redemption not Valhalla (heaven) for Sacrifice of food or drink, Eddas and Germanic gods and emphasized. Fatalistic outlook. death in battle; Hel toast to the gods, epics) paganism, 1970s goddesses, Norse (peaceful place) for shamanism (less Havam Scandinavia and creation myths. most; Hifhel (hell) for frequently), celebration of attribu USA. the very evil. solstice holidays. Nine Asatru Gods Noble Virtues is moral Asatru History of Asatru code. Asatru Practices Atheism 7.4 million self- Appears throughout There is no God or Not addressed. But many none none Influen identified history (including divine beings. atheists believe that since include atheists; 1.1 ancient Greek there is no afterlife, this one Marx, billion are philosophy), but life is of great importance. Feuerb religiously especially after the Only humans can help Voltair "unaffiliated" Enlightenment themselves and each other Twain. (19th cent). solve the world's problems. moder include Dawki Sagan Baha'i Faith 5-7 million Founded by One God, who has The soul is eternal and Soul separates from Daily prayer, avoidance of Writing Bahá'u'lláh, 1863, revealed himself essentially good. Purpose of the body and begins intoxicants, scripture Bahá'u Tehran, Iran. progressively life is to develop spiritually and a journey towards or reading, hard work, other B through major draw closer to God. away from God. education, work for social leader History of the world religions. Heaven and hell are justice and equality. Baha'i Faith meaning of life (Bahai) states of being. Baha'i Baha'i Beliefs Baha'i Practices about God afterlife (Baha'i) Bon 100,000 11th-century Tibet Nontheistic Gain enlightenment. Reincarnation until Meditation on mandalas Bonpo Buddhism, but gain enlightenment and Tibetan deities, meditation on astrology, monastic life. peaceful and wrathful deities. Adherents History Gods Meaning of Life Afterlife Practices Text Adherents History Gods Meaning of Life Afterlife Practices Texts Buddhism 500 million Based on teachings Buddhist gods Escape the cycle of rebirth Rebirth or nirvana. Meditation, mantras, Tripita of Siddharta include buddhas, and attain nirvana (Theravada Nirvana is seen devotion to deities (in some Canon Gautama (the bodhisattvas, Buddhism). Become a simply as the sects), mandalas (Tibetan) sutras Buddha) in c. 520 arhats and deities; boddhisatva then help others cessation of suffering Lotus BC, NE India. such as Tara, attain enlightenment by some and as a Buddhist Practices others Kuan Yin, and (Mahayana Buddhism). heavenly paradise by History of Amida Buddha. others. Buddh Buddhism The Meaning of Life in Buddhist Gods & Buddhism Buddhism on the Deities Afterlife Cao Dai 4-6 million Founded in 1926, God represented Goal is peace and harmony in reincarnation until Hierarchy similar to Roman Caoda Vietnam by Ngo by Divine Eye. each person and in the world. Nirvana/Heaven Catholicism. Daily prayer. Van Chieu and Founders of Salvation by "cultivating self Meditation. Communication others based on a Buddhism, and finding God in self." with spirit world (now séance. Taoism, Hinduism, outlawed in Vietnam). Islam, and Christianity venerated, and saints including Victor Hugo. Chinese 394 million Indigenous folk Dualistic yin and A favorable life and peaceful judgment, then Ancestor worship, prayer, none religion of China. yang; mythological afterlife, attained through paradise or longevity practices, Religion beings and folk rituals and honoring of punishment and divination, prophecy and History of Chinese deities. ancestors. reincarnation astrology, feng shui. Religion Chinese afterlife (Chinese Chinese religious rituals Traditional Religion) and practices Religion Theism Christian 400,000 Founded by Mary One God. No "Life, Truth, and Love Heaven is "not a Spiritual healing through Christi Baker Eddy in Trinity (in understood and demonstrated locality, but a divine prayer and knowledge, Scienc Science 1879, traditional sense). as supreme over all; sin, state of Mind in which Sunday services, daily with K Massachusetts. Matter and evil do sickness and death all the manifestations Bible and Science & Health Scriptu not exist. destroyed." of Mind are reading. History of Christian harmonious and Science immortal." Christian Science Practices Adherents History Gods Meaning of Life Afterlife Practices Texts 2.2 billion Life and teachings One God, who is a All have sinned and are Resurrection of body Prayer, Bible study, Bible ( Christianity of Jesus of Trinity of Father, thereby separated from God. and soul; eternal baptism, Eucharist + New Christianity Nazareth (born c. 4 Son and Holy Salvation is through faith in heaven or hell (most (Communion), church on Adherents BCE), a Jew from Spirit; angels; Christ and, for some, denominations); Sundays, numerous Christi Palestine under demons; saints sacraments and good works. temporary purgatory holidays. Roman rule (Catholicism) God & Spiritual Christian Practices Christian History Beings in Christianity on the Christianity Afterlife Adherents History Gods Meaning of Life Afterlife Practices Text 5-6 million Based on the not addressed To fulfill one's role in society not addressed none Analec Confucianism teachings of with propriety, honor, and Confucius (551– loyalty. Confucian Practices Confuc 479 BCE, China) History of Confucianism Deism unknown Especially One Creator God not addressed not addressed None prescribed, although Thoma popularized in the who is some deists practiced Paine' 18th-cent. uninterested in the prayer. Reaso Enlightenment world. Reason is texts under Kant, basis for all Voltaire, Paine, knowledge. Jefferson, and others Adherents History Gods Meaning of Life Afterlife Practices Texts Druze 500,000 Founded by Al- Universal Live a good life for a favorable Reincarnation. Modest lifestyles, fasting Al-Naq Darazi in 11th Intelligence (al-Aql reincarnation. Await the re- Heaven is a spiritual before Eid al-Adha. Beliefs (Copy century, Cairo, al-Kulli) or Divine appearance of al-Hakim (a existence when one and practices are hidden for Secret Egypt. Roots in the Essence (akin to Fatimid caliph who has escaped protection from persecution. Awwal Isma'iliyya sect of Neoplatonism), of disappeared in 1021), who will reincarnation. Hell is Special group of initiates the Fir Shia Islam. which al-Hakim is usher in a Golden Age for true distance from God in called uqqal. believed to be an believers. lifetime after lifetime. incarnation. Eckankar 50,000-500,000 Founded by Paul The Divine Spirit, "Each of us is Soul, a spark of Reincarnation. The Spiritual Exercises of ECK: Shariy Twitchell in Las called "ECK." God sent to this world to gain Soul is eternal by mantras, meditation, and Sugma Vegas, 1965 spiritual experience." Salvation nature and on a dreams. These enable Soul by Har is liberation and God- spiritual journey. travel and spiritual growth. History of Eckankar realization. Liberation possible in Eckan a single lifetime. Eckankar practices texts Epicureanism n/a Based on the Polytheism, but Pursue the highest pleasures No afterlife. The soul none Letters teachings of the gods take no (friendship and tranquility) and dissolves when the Princip Epicurus, c. 300 notice of humans. avoid pain. body dies. of Epic BCE, Athens. Adherents History Gods Meaning of Life Afterlife Practices Text Falun Gong 3 million (acc. Li Hongzhi in 1992 Countless gods Good health and spritual Not addressed Five exercises to Zhuan to official in China and spiritual transcendence, achieved by strengthen the Falun. other w sources); 100 beings. Demonic practicing Falun Gong. Cultivation of truthfulness, Maste million (acc. to History of Falun aliens. benevolence and Falun Gong Gong forbearance. Meat eating Falun sources) discouraged. Falun Gong Practices Gnosticism ancient form Various teachers The supreme God Humans can return to the Return to the spiritual Asceticism, celibacy Gnost extinct; small including is unknowable; the spiritual world through secret world. includi modern revival Valentinus,