Buddhism
And the wheel turns… that is, the wheel of dharma, the Buddha’s teachings about the path to Nirvana, turns. Followed by more than 350 million people throughout the world today, Buddhism is based on the teachings of revered spiritual leader Siddhartha Gautama, known as the “Supreme Buddha, the Enlightened One.”
Catholicism
The earliest known use of the term “Catholic Church” is by Ignatius of Antioch around 107 AD. The early church was organized based on the rule of three patriarchs, those of Rome, Alexandria and Antioch- to which were later added the patriarchs of Constantinople and Jerusalem.
Confucianism
During his life, Confucius sought to instill a strong belief in personal morality, social responsibility, and family loyalty, as each person served their “proper” role in society. He set his musings down in the so-called Five Classics. As a humanist philosophy, Confucianism focuses on the ability of every human being to learn, grow, and improve.
Eastern Orthodoxy
The Orthodox Church traces its roots to the Great Schism. During the 9th and 10th centuries AD the Christian church under the Patriarch of Constantinople made significant conversions among the peoples of Eastern Europe, including Kievan Russia and the Balkans.
Hinduism
With one billion (and ever growing) followers throughout the world today (most being concentrated in India and Southeast Asia), Hinduism is a fusion of various cultures and traditions, with no single founder nor creed, and as much a way of life as a religion.
Islam
The Five Pillars of Islam, the framework through which salvation can be attained, state in their most basic form that there is no god but God, and Muhammad is his prophet; one must pray daily to God at the five established times; one must give to the needy to support them;
Judaism
In point of prosaic fact, it is generally believed by scholars that Judaism first appeared some 3500 years ago, one of the earliest monotheistic religions, as an evolution of several Babylonian religions around the 6th Century BC.
Protestantism
The Protestant Reformation, as a movement that would eventually divide Christian Europe, began as a protest in Germany against Catholic doctrine and practices, especially in regard to salvation, justification and interpretation of the Bible.
Shinto
Based on oral traditions, the first establishes the imperial family as the soul of Japanese culture, while the second focuses on the “correctness” of the social hierarchy and orderly living. If Hinduism is a polytheistic religion turned world religion, Shinto is animism turned state religion.
Sikhism
Founded in the 15th Century AD by the Guru Nanak Dev, Sikhism has grown through the efforts of successive Sikh gurus who espoused the virtues of peace, equality, and selfless service. Sikhism currently has over 20 million followers, based primarily in the Punjab region of India.
Taoism
Followers of Taoism are encouraged to exercise humility, kindness, and compassion in their daily lives in order to maintain this balance in the world. Throughout its history, Taoism has had many sects and branches split from the original school, as other elements of Chinese tradition crept into the philosophy.
Zoroastrianism
Zoroastrianism, an ancient faith based on the teachings of the prophet Zoroaster, is believed to have been founded some 3500 years ago in the region around Persia. Once one of the largest religions in the world, Zoroastrian is only followed today by an estimated 200 thousand adherents, living primarily in India, Pakistan, and Iran.
