When we are talking about religions then a wave of thoughts like beliefs, view about the whole world in humanity, system of the followed religion culture and spirituality comes in our mind. In accordance with the Guinness Book of World Records, Islam is the world’s fastest-growing religion by number of conversions every year so far.
Following is the list of most practiced religions in the world, probably Top Ten Religions in the World (with most population):
1. Christianity
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. The sect Svetambara (“white robes”) disagree on that point.
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.
Top Ten Religion in the World By Population
| Religion | Members | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Christianity | 2.1 billion | 33.0% |
| Islam | 1.5 billion | 21 |
| Hinduism | 900 million | 14 |
| Buddhism | 376 million | 6 |
| Sikhism | 23 million | 0.36 |
| Judaism | 14 million | 0.22 |
| Bahaism | 7 million | 0.1 |
| Confucianism | 6.3 million | 0.1 |
| Jainism | 4.2 million | 0.1 |
| Shintoism | 4 million | 0.0 |
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.