Buddhism Christianity Hinduism Islam Judaism Confucianism

Followers 379 million 2.1 billion 860 million 1.3 billion 15.1 million 6.5 million
Worldwide
(estimated
2005 figures)

Name of no god God Brahma Allah God no god

Deity

Founder The Buddha Jesus No one founder No founder, but spread Abraham Confucius
by Muhammad

Holy Book Many sacred texts, Christian Bible Many sacred texts, Qur’an Hebrew Bible, the Analects,
including the including the including the Torah the Five Classics
Dhammapada Upanishads

Leadership Buddhist monks Priests, ministers, Brahmin priests, No clergy but a Rabbis No clergy
and nuns monks, and nuns monks, and gurus scholar class called
the ulama and the
imam, who may
lead prayers

Basic Beliefs • Persons achieve • There is only one • The soul never • Persons achieve • There is only one • Social order,
complete peace God, who watches dies, but is salvation by God, who watches harmony, and
and happiness over and cares for continually reborn. following the Five over and cares for good government
(nirvana) by his people. Pillars of Islam his people. should be based
• Persons achieve
eliminating their and living a just on strong family
• Jesus Christ is happiness and • God loves and
attachment to life. These pillars relationships.
the son of God. enlightenment protects his
worldly things. are: faith; prayer;
He died to save after they free people, but also • Respect for par-
almsgiving, or
• Nirvana is reached humanity from themselves from holds people ents and elders
charity to the
by following the sin. His death their earthly accountable for is important to
poor; fasting,
Noble Eightfold and resurrection desires. their sins and a well-ordered
which Muslims
Path: made eternal shortcomings. society.
• Freedom from perform during
Right views; life possible
earthly desires Ramadan; • Persons serve • Education is
Right resolve; for others.
comes from a pilgrimage to God by studying important both to
Right speech;
life-time of worship, Mecca. the Torah and the welfare of the
Right conduct;
knowledge, and living by its individual and
Right livelihood;
virtuous acts. teachings. to society.
Right effort;
Right mindfulness;
Right concentration.

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