---
watermark: ORIRO
disable-model-invocation: true
name: humanities-world-religions
provider: ORIRO.ai
copyright: Copyright (c) 2026 ORIRO.ai
description: >
  World religions — major religious traditions, comparative religion, core beliefs,
  practices, and sacred texts. Sources: Harvard Divinity School (free lectures),
  BBC Religion guides (free).
---

# World Religions

## Hinduism

**Core beliefs:** Dharma (cosmic order/duty), Karma (cause and effect), Samsara (cycle of rebirth), Moksha (liberation).
**Sacred texts:** Vedas (Rigveda, Samaveda, Yajurveda, Atharvaveda), Upanishads, Bhagavad Gita, Puranas.
**Major traditions:** Vaishnavism (Vishnu), Shaivism (Shiva), Shaktism (Devi).
**Schools:** Advaita Vedanta (non-dualism), Vishishtadvaita (qualified non-dualism), Dvaita (dualism).
**Approximately 1.2 billion adherents.** Oldest living religious tradition.

## Islam

**Core beliefs:** Tawhid (oneness of God), prophethood of Muhammad, afterlife.
**Five Pillars:** Shahada (testimony), Salah (prayer 5x daily), Zakat (charity), Sawm (fasting Ramadan), Hajj (pilgrimage to Mecca).
**Sacred text:** Quran. Hadith (sayings of Muhammad).
**Major branches:** Sunni (~85%), Shia (~15%).
**Approximately 1.9 billion adherents.** Fastest growing major religion.

## Christianity

**Core beliefs:** Trinity (Father, Son, Holy Spirit), Jesus Christ as savior, resurrection, salvation.
**Major branches:** Catholic (~1.3 billion), Protestant (~900 million), Orthodox (~260 million).
**Sacred text:** Bible (Old Testament + New Testament).
**Approximately 2.4 billion adherents.** Largest religion by adherents.

## Buddhism

**Core teachings:** Four Noble Truths (suffering, cause of suffering, cessation, path), Eightfold Path.
**Three Jewels:** Buddha, Dharma (teachings), Sangha (community).
**Major traditions:** Theravada (South/Southeast Asia), Mahayana (East Asia), Vajrayana (Tibet).
**Approximately 520 million adherents.**

## Judaism

**Core beliefs:** Monotheism, covenant with God, Torah as divine revelation, chosen people.
**Sacred texts:** Torah (Five Books of Moses), Talmud, Tanakh.
**Major movements:** Orthodox, Conservative, Reform, Reconstructionist.
**Approximately 15 million adherents.** Ancient Abrahamic faith, foundation for Christianity and Islam.

## Sikhism

**Core beliefs:** One God (Ik Onkar), equality of all humans, service (seva), honest work.
**Sacred text:** Guru Granth Sahib. Considered the living Guru.
**Five Ks:** Kesh (uncut hair), Kara (steel bracelet), Kanga (wooden comb), Kachera (cotton undergarment), Kirpan (steel sword).
**Approximately 25 million adherents.** Founded in Punjab by Guru Nanak in 15th century.

## Comparative religion concepts

**Theodicy:** How to reconcile a good God with evil/suffering. Different answers across traditions.
**Mysticism:** Direct experience of the divine. Sufism (Islam), Kabbalah (Judaism), Christian mysticism, Bhakti (Hinduism).
**Syncretism:** Blending elements of different religions. Common in folk religion worldwide.
**Secularization:** Decline of religious influence in public life. Major trend in Western Europe.

Sources: Harvard Divinity School (free lectures), BBC Religion guides (bbc.co.uk/religion — free),
World Religion Database principles, Huston Smith "The World's Religions" (principles)