Top 10 religions of the world

FOUNDED : Christianity began about 2000 years ago in what is now Israel.

FOUNDER :: Jesus of Nazareth, or Jesus Christ, “the Anointed One”, “The Messiah”.

WRITING HOME: The Bible – Old and New Testaments. Adherents :: is estimated at about 2 billion.

CULTS: Christianity is divided into three main sects: Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox and Protestant. Among Protestants there are over 20,000 denominations.

Currently Christianity is at the top practiced  religion in the world

2.Islam

FOUNDED: Islam began about 1400 years ago in what is now Saudi Arabia.

Started by: THE Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).

KEY SCRIPTURE: THE QURAAN, the revealed scripture of Islam, and the Hadith, the teachings, sayings and life of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).

Adherents: One billion, mostly in the Middle East, Indonesia, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Africa, China and Eastern Europe. According to Guiness

3.Hinduism

FOUNDED: Hinduism, the world’s oldest religion, has no beginning – predates written history.

FOUNDER: Hinduism has no single founder.

MAJOR SCRIPTURES: The Gita, Vedas, the Agamas and more.

Adherents: Almost one billion, mostly in India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, Malaysia, Indonesia, Indian Ocean, Africa, Europe and North and South.

CULTS: There are four major denominations: Saivism, Saktism, Vaishnavism and Smartism.

4.Buddhism

FOUNDED: Buddhism began about 2500 years ago in India.

FOUNDER: Gautama Siddhartha, the Buddha, or “Enlightened One.”

Major Scriptures: The Tripitaka, Anguttara-Nikaya, Fhammapada, Sutta-Nipata, Samyutta-Nikaya and many others.

Adherents: More than 300 million.

Cults: Buddhism today is divided into three main sects: Theravada, or Hinayana (Sri Lanka, Thailand, Burma, Cambodia), Mahayana (China, Japan, Vietnam, Korea), and Vajrayana (Tibet, Mongolia and Japan).

5.Taoism

FOUNDED: Taoism began about 2500 years ago in China.

FOUNDER: Lao-Tzu, whom Confucius described as a dragon riding the wind and clouds.

KEY SCRIPTURE: The Tao-te-Ching, or “Book of Reason and Virtue”, is among the shortest of all scriptures, containing only 5000 words. Also important are the sacred writings of Chiang-tsu.

Adherents: Estimated at 50 million, mostly in China and elsewhere in Asia.

CULTS: Taoism is a highly mystical tradition, so there have been various interpretations and sects are many.

6.Confucianism

FOUNDED: Confucianism began about 2500 years ago in China.

FOUNDER: The Supreme Sage K’ung-fu-tsu (Confucius) and Second Sage Meng-tsu (Mencius).

KEY SCRIPTURE: The Philosophical Reviews, Doctrine of the Mean, Great Learning and Mencius book.

Adherents: Approximately 350 million, mostly in China, Japan, Burma and Thailand.

CULTS: There are no formal sects Confucianism. The followers are free to profess other religions and still be Confucianists.

7. Jainism

FOUNDED: THE Jainism began about 2500 years ago in India.

FOUNDER: Nataputra Vardhamana, known as Mahavira “Great Hero”.

Pricipales Scriptures: The Jain Agamas and Siddhantas.

ADHARENTES: About 600 million, almost exclusively in Central and South India, especially in Mumbai.

CULTS: There are two sects. The sect Digambara (“sky clad”) argues that a saint should own nothing, not even clothes, hence the practice of wearing only a loincloth. They believe that salvation in this birth is not possible for women.

8.Shintoism

FOUNDED: Shintoism in Japan began around 2500-3000 years ago.

FOUNDER :: Each of the thirteen ancient sects has its own founder.

KEY SCRIPTURE: Kojiki (Record of Ancient Things), Nikongi (Chronicles of Japan), a later work, Yangishiki (Institutes Yengi period), and the Collection of 10,000 Leaves are the main works, but are not considered revealed scripture.

Adherents: About 30 million, mostly in Japan. Most are also Buddhists.

9. Judaism

FOUNDED: Judaism began about 3700 years ago in the Near East, mainly Canaan (now Israel) and Egypt.

FOUNDERS: Abraham, who began the lineage, and Moses, who emancipated the enslaved Jewish tribes from Egypt.

HOME WRITING: The Torah (the Old Testament and the Talmud).

Adherents: About 12 million worldwide, more than half in the United States.

CULTS :: The Jews are divided into sects: Orthodox, Conservative and Reform, with other regional and ethnic divisions.

10. Sikhism

FOUNDED: THE Sikhism began about 500 years ago in North India, today the nation of Pakistan.

FOUNDER: Guru Nanak.

KEY SCRIPTURE: The Adi Granth, revered as the present guru of belief.

Adherents: Estimated as nine million, primarily in the state of Punjab in India.

CULTS: Khalsa Besides, there are Ram Raiyas in Uttar Pradesh and two groups with gurus in life – the Mandharis and Nirankaris.

11. Zoroastrianism

FOUNDED: Zoroastrianism began 2600 years ago in ancient Iran.

FOUNDER: Spenta Zarathustra (Zoroaster).

KEY SCRIPTURE: Lots of Zend-Avesta (Persian).

Adherents: 125,000, mostly near Mumbai, where they are called Parsis.

Cults: Cults today are three: Shagenshai, Kadmi and Fassali.

These were the most preached and practiced  Top Ten Religions in the World. Below is table showing population and percentage of each religion.