Top 10 Most Followed Religions in the World 2013

Especially in the present era, togetherness, motivation and sense of our world can only be achieved through a religion. Religion has now taken the place of that key element which helps to run countries, communities, societies or man as a whole. A true religion is all about teachings and art of living. Religious wholesome lives and thoughts have inspired people so much that now even a single religion possess millions of devotees. Some of the biggest religions of the world have been stated in the list below.

10. SHINTOISM

Shintoism is a traditional and indigenous religion of Japan having around 4 million followers in the world since 500 B.C. The term for this religion came forward due to the native and ethnic religious faiths and practices of Japan. Kojiki, Rokkokushi and Nihongi are among the some famous sacred books of the religion for Shinto’s. The home or kami or the Shinto shrines have their own importance. Ancestral Sun-God and Anaterasu-omi Kami is the supreme God of Shinto. Shinto art and architecture, calligraphy, Noh Theater, court music, etc. all serve as great attractions.

9. JAINISM

Jainism religion is the ninth largest religion of the world with 5 million devotees. Tirthankars is the religious deity of the Jain’s. Jainism religion came into light in the sixth century B.C in India. Lord Mahvir was the twenty-fourth and last guru of Jain religion. Truthfulness, Chastity, Non-violence, Non-possession, and Non-stealing form the center of lives of the believers of the Jainism dharm. Jaina Sutra is the religious text of the Jain’s. The adherents of Jainism or people living an ascetic lifestyle believe that the personality of man is both materialistic and spiritualistic. The beauty of Jain temples is world famous.

8. BAHAISM

It is said that Mirza Husayn Ali, remembered as ‘Baha Ullah’ was an Iranian who founded the Bahaism religion in the very 19^th century. But basically this religion was the paved a way by Babism faith by Mirza of Shiraz of Iran in 1844. Oneness of humanity and abolition of racial and religious prejudices are encountered as the main beliefs of the devotees of the Bahaism. Bahaism, a big religion has a different calendar which is used to decide all the happenings of the year. The writings and spoken words of Baha Ullah, Bab and Abdul Baha are the basis of Baha’s sacred texts. 7 million people from different parts of the world are followers of this religion.

7. JUDAISM

During the period of Jewish civilization i.e. four thousand years back ago, this oldest and one of the world’s biggest Judaism religion came into existence. It is said that the adherents of the monotheistic deity count up to 14.6 million with respect to the whole world. Talmud, Tanakh, Midrash, Tur, Zohar and Torah are some of the religious, ethical, social and sacred texts of the Jews. Reform, Orthodox, Conservative and Reconstructionist are four main sects within Judaism. The ethics, religious clothing, prayers are all unique observances of the Jewish people or more specifically Jews. Judaism incorporates both the nation and a religion.

6. JUCHE

Whenever any fact comes across about North Korea, a religion named ‘Juche’ immediately strikes the mind as it is the only government authorized socio-political communist ideology of the North Korea. Though its implementation was moved on further by Russian politics but Karl Marx was the first to develop this ideology which is also famous as Marxism. Near about 24 million believers of Juche religion are there in this world. Communal production, focused North Korean life, exclusivity, veneration of leadership, state defense, political and economic independence are some of the strong beliefs of the people following Juche religion.

5. SIKHISM

Guru Nanak founded the Sikhism religion about 500 years ago. Sikhism is a large religion covering around 25 million people from different parts of the world. Sikhism is a monotheistic religion. The teachings of Guru Nanak Dev oppose many of the beliefs of the Hindu community and Muslim society as well. Gurdwara is the place where Sikhs worship while Guru Granth Sahib is the holy Sikhism scripture. Kesh, kangha, kara, kachera, and kirpan are the five articles of faith of Sikhism followers. Triangular-shaped saffron colored Nishan Sahib denotes the Sikh flag. Guru Gobind Singh was the last human Sikh guru.

4. BUDDHISM

Siddhartha Gautama or Buddha led the beginning of this world’s living religion, the Buddhism. The present number of Buddhist all over the world has risen to 350 million. Theravada Buddhism and Mahayana Buddhism are two sects of Buddhism religion. Morality, meditation, suffering, wisdom, uncertainty, impermanence are some of the beliefs of the Buddhist people paving the way the path of Enlightenment. Not only India but even Britain is also heavily populated zone of Buddhist. Tripitaka and Mahayana Sutras are the sacred texts of the Buddhists.

3. HINDUISM

Another biggest religion of the world which is counted in the list of those religions that does not have single set of teachings and beliefs nor does it have only a single founder. The maximum number of Hindu’s is the residents of India i.e. 80% of Indian population and overall 900 million of world’s population. The sacred texts of Hindus include Bhagwad Gita, Vedas, Upanishads, and Sutras. Diwali, Holi and Mahashivratri are the best known celebrations of Hindu. Hinduism is considered as the way of life as well as the family of religions. Different deities like Ganesha, Vishnu, Sai Baba, Goddess Sarawati, etc. are worshipped by various devotees of Hinduism.

2. ISLAM

Islam is the world’s second largest monotheistic faith based religion with more than 1.2 billion believers. Followers of the religion Islam are known as ‘Muslims’. Prophet Muhammad’s revelations are the origin of this religion. Faith, prayer, fasting, pilgrimage and alms define the basic foundations of the Islamic practices. Muslims believe in Risalah, Tawhid and Akhirah and moreover they consider God as Allah. The Hadith explains the holy book of Muslims, Quran. Idul fitr and Idul adha are the two main festivals of the Islamic followers. Muslim community is so vast and dynamic that it is stretched all over from North America to India.

1. CHRISTIANITY

Christianity is not only one of the known true religions but is also the biggest religion in the whole world. The survey of researchers have stated that the today’s era is populated with around 2 billion of Christians and this rate is further expected to increase even more in the coming years. Christians worship Jesus of Nazareth whose teachings envelopes the themes of kingdom of God, love of God and love of neighbor. The sign of the cross, praying the rosary, speaking in tongues and idolization of the saints are some of the Christian practices.  The belief for the doctrine of Trinity as well as divine inspiration of bible is very common among the devotees of 1^st century AD religion, i.e. Christianity.

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