5 major religions

Christianity:
  • number of adherents: around 2.2 billion (largest in the world)
  • call them: Christians
  • geographic location: Europe, the Americas, southern Africa
  • denominations: Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox Church, Protestants (Lutherans, Methodists, Baptists, Anglicans, Presbyterians, Episcopalians, many more)
  • founder: Jesus Christ (Christianity is Abrahamic in origin)
  • holy book: The Bible, especially the New Testament (gospels)
  • beliefs: Jesus is both human and divine - the Son of God; he led a virtuous life; he was crucified, died, buried, and resurrected; he ascended into heaven where he reigns w/God the Father 
  • clergy: the Pope is head of the Catholic Church, priests are local authorities
Islam:
  • number of adherents: 1.5 billion (second largest)
  • call them: Muslims
  • geographic location: Indonesia, Middle East, north Africa
  • denominations: Sunnis (75 - 90%), Shiites (10 - 20%)
  • founder: Muhammad  (570 - 632)
  • holy book: Qur’an (Koran)
  • beliefs: monotheistic, Abrahamic, Five Pillars (testimony, prayer, alms-giving, fasting, pilgrimage)
  • Muslims see their purpose in life as serving and submitting to Allah (God), and observing Islamic law 






Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Guns, Germs, and Steel part 3

The Fall of the Roman Empire

Guns, Germs, and Steel part 2