For many believing believers, religion plays an essential role in influencing all aspects of daily life. You can find different religions around the world, although the largest religions in the world generally belong to one of the two main subgroups. These are the Abrahamic religions (Islam, Christianity, Judaism, Baha’i, etc.) and the Indian religions (Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism, Jainism, etc.). Based on the Pew Research Institute and other international demographic databases, the list below lists the most followed and, subsequently, the most influential religions in our world.
10. Cao Dai (6.7 million followers)
Cao Dai was a belief system originally from Vietnam in 1926 and is considered a distinctly nationalist Vietnamese religion. Faith was founded by Ngo Van Chieu, a former administrator who believed he had received a message from the revered deity as “Supreme Being” during an extraordinary experience he had had during a session. Cao Dai draws elements from other major world religions, including Christianity, Buddhism, Hinduism, Judaism, Islam and Taoism. The full name of the religion translates as “Great Faith for the Third Universal Redemption”. Devotees believe in the existence of a Supreme Being, no matter what label or name (ie God or Allah) that other religions have chosen to impose on this central deity. The practitioners of Cao Dai place great emphasis on universal concepts, such as justice, love, peace and tolerance.
9. Muisme / Sinisme / Shingyo (10 million followers)
Muism (also known as Sinisma, Shingyo or Korean shamanism) is a religion closely related to traditional Korean culture and history. Faith can go back to prehistoric times. In recent years, Muism has experienced a resurgence in South Korea. Even within the totalitarian regime of North Korea, it has been estimated that some 16% of the population continues to subscribe to the Muism belief system. Key elements of religion include the existence of ghosts, spirits and gods, and are believed to inhabit the spirit world. The spiritual leaders of Muism, known as “Mudangs”, are typically women whose function is to serve as intermediaries between the gods and human beings.
8. Judaism (millions of followers 13.9)
Judaism has a long and rich history, and its history can date back to the eighth century BC. This monotheistic religion originated in the Middle East and consists of three main branches. These include Orthodox Judaism, Conservative Judaism and Reformed Judaism (from the most traditional to the least conservative). Although each of them is rooted in a common belief system, they differ on elements related to scriptural interpretation and specific practices. Synagogues, each chaired by a rabbi, serve as centers of Jewish worship and religious services. These are also used as a form of community centers. There, followers have the opportunity to meet regularly to socialize, celebrate,(commandments of faith).
7. Sikhism (28 million subscribers)
In terms of world religions, Sikhism is a relatively new faith. It started in India and is based on the teachings of Guru Nanak and his ten successors. Historically, Sikhs played a major role in regional policy and played an important role in the partition of India in 1947. At the heart of the Sikh faith are the fundamental principles of sewa and Simran , which relate respectively to community service and the remembrance of God. Although the majority of Sikh believers continue to reside in northern India, many worshipers have moved over the years to a number of foreign countries, including Canada, the United States, South Africa , Australia and the United Kingdom. among others
6. Daoism (93 million followers)
Taoism was born in China about two thousand years ago. Also called Taoism, this religion is associated with a belief in the occult and metaphysics. The majority of Taoist supporters live in Asian countries such as China, Japan, South Korea and Vietnam. A man named Laozi is considered the first philosopher of religion, and it is he who is said to have written the Daodejing, a text central to faith. Politically, Taoists are generally viewed as libertarians, preferring governments that avoid political interference and the imposition of economic regulations and restrictions. Food plays an important role in Taoist philosophy, especially with regard to physical and psychological well-being. According to this belief system, practices such as fasting and veganism (abstaining from animal products) are encouraged.
5. Shintoism (104 million subscribers)
Shintoism is based in Japan. and its beginnings date back to the eighth century. Followers of the faith believe that there are many gods and the word Shinto itself translates to “the way of the gods”. It is estimated that 80% of Japanese citizens subscribe to Shintoism, this country serving as home to 80,000 Shinto shrines. A unique feature of faith is that believers are not required to publicly declare their allegiance to religion. The concepts of impurity and purification play a major role in Shintoism and its rites, known as Harae . These are practiced regularly for the purpose of purifying believers from sin, guilt, sickness and even bad luck.
4. Buddhism (488 million followers)
Buddhism was founded in India around 2,500 years ago and is based on the teachings of Buddha, also known as Gautama Buddha or Siddhārtha Gautama. Religion has two main branches. Namely, these are Theravada Buddhism and Mahayana Buddhism. In the land of Tibet, followers subscribe to a form of Buddhism known as Vajrayana, while Zen Buddhism is more commonly practiced in Japan. The fundamentals of the Buddhist belief system include nonviolence, as well as moral purity and ethical behavior. Meditation, karma and non-violence all play a major role in the daily life of Buddhists. The most recognized figure in the Buddhist world is undoubtedly Tenzin Gyatso, better known as the 14th and current Dalai Lama. This former monk is not only the current (and exiled) spiritual leader of Tibet, but also a declared peaceful activist.
3. Hinduism (1.05 billion subscribers)
The majority of Hindus live in countries in South Asia such as India, Nepal and Indonesia. In the Indian nation alone, it is estimated that 80% of the population identifies as Hindu. Although little is known about the foundation of Hinduism, it is generally believed that faith developed during some 4,000 years. Due to its status as an ancient belief system, Hinduism is deeply rooted in Indian society. In recent years, many practices of Hinduism have also gained popularity in the West. Examples of this include participation in yoga, as well as interest in information relating to the chakra organism. system (energy points located throughout the human body that can be used to heal and improve health, both spiritually and physically).
2. Islam (1.605 billion followers)
Islam began in Mecca in the seventh century. The followers of the religion believe that there is only god ( Allah ) whose words were written and took shape in the holy book of the Quar’an, which always serves as a central spiritual text in the faith. One of the historical figures essential to the understanding of the Muslim tradition is the Prophet Muhammad, who lived from 570 to 632 CE. Followers of Islam believe that this man was the ultimate prophet of God. Islamic religious law not only establishes the five pillars of Islam, but also imposes rules and regulations on almost every aspect of a disciple’s life. There are two main factions of Muslims, namely the Sunnis (the largest in the world, including ~ 80% of all Muslims) and the Shiites (~ 15% of all Muslims), among them Ibadi, Ahmadi and many other much smaller names. Currently, the
1. Christianity (2.22 billion subscribers)
Christianity began over two thousand years ago and is a faith based on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. From its humble beginnings as a small subgroup of Judaism, Christianity has become the most popular religion in the world, with followers around the world. Christians believe in the existence of a single God who sent his only son, Jesus Christ, to save humanity from their iniquity and from hell. The faithful believe that the sacrifice of Christ on the cross (Crucifixion), his death and his resurrection were all done for the purpose of giving eternal life and forgiveness to all who accept Christ as their personal savior. Even in our modern society, Christianity plays an important and powerful role, not only in terms of religious rituals, but also on a larger scale. To a certain extent, it does so even in terms of the formulation of social and political policies of predominantly Christian nations.