# The Big Religion Chart

The ReligionFacts "Big Religion Chart" is an attempt to summarize all the complexities of religions and belief systems into tiny little boxes on a single, quick-reference comparison chart. Yes, of course this is impossible. As we always warn with our comparison charts, this is no substitute for reading about religions in greater detail, talking with religious adherents, etc. But this religion comparison chart can (hopefully) be a useful and accessible way to "get the gist" of some unfamiliar groups and compare basic beliefs and practices of the world's religions and belief systems.

Despite the chart's simplistic title, we have been very inclusive with what is regarded as a "religion" for purposes of this comparison chart. Basically, the grounds for a group's inclusion are that it provides a set of teachings and/or rituals that deal with the traditionally "religious" issues of ultimate reality, the meaning of life, and/or how to find fulfillment, spiritual health or salvation. Also, all the groups listed below can be found in dictionaries of religion.

Inclusion of a group on this list does not mean that the group is a "religion" per se (note that atheism is listed) or a "true religion" or that "[one listed group] is just as much a religion as [another listed group]." Similarly, if a group does not appear on this chart it doesn't mean it's not a religion or doesn't matter; the chart is not comprehensive and is continually growing. In addition, listing groups separately does not mean they are mutually exclusive, nor does grouping them together mean that they are basically the same thing. This is not an authoritative list of religions, simply a resource on some worldviews and ways of life that hopefully some will find useful.

Links in the left column go to ReligionFacts articles where available (see also the A-Z Religion Index). For more information on numbers of adherents, please see Adherents.com, from which most of the stats are taken. Last updated: 12/4/07.

Religion/Sect/ Belief System | Origins & History | Adherents Worldwide (approx.) | God(s) and Universe | Human Situation and Life's Purpose | Afterlife | Practices | Texts | More Info
Aladura | Various prophet-healing churches founded since c.1918, West Nigeria. | 1 million | Generally monotheistic; a mix of Anglican, Pentecostal and traditional African beliefs. | Strong emphasis on healing and salvation in this life through prayer, fasting and other rituals. | Not emphasized; views vary. | Spiritual healing is central. Mix of Anglican and African rituals; a prophet plays a prominent role. | None | ReligionFacts article
Asatru | Revival of Norse and Germanic paganism, 1970s Scandinavia and USA. | unknown | Polytheistic, Norse gods and goddesses, Norse creation myths. | Salvation or redemption not emphasized. Fatalistic view of universe. | Valhalla (heaven) for death in battle; Hel (peaceful place) for most; Hifhel (hell) for the very evil. | Sacrifice of food or drink, toast to the gods, shamanism (less frequently), celebration of solstice holidays. Nine Noble Virtues is moral code. | Eddas (Norse epics); the Havamal (proverbs attributed to Odin) | ReligionFacts article Asatru Alliance Wikipedia
Atheism | Appears in history, but especially after the Enlightenment (19th cent). | 1.1 billion (this figure includes agnostic and non-religious, which tend to be grouped on surveys) | There is no God or divine being. Beliefs about the universe generally based on latest scientific findings. | Only humans can help themselves and each other solve the world's problems. | none | none | Influential works include those by Marx, Freud, Feuerbach, and Voltaire. | The Secular Web BBC Religion Wikipedia
Baha'i Faith | Founded by Bahá'u'lláh, 1863, Tehran, Iran. | 5-7 million | One God, who has revealed himself progressively through major world religions. | The soul is eternal and essentially good. Purpose of life is to develop spiritually and draw closer to God. | Soul separates from the body and begins a journey towards or away from God. Heaven and hell are states of being. | Daily prayer, avoidance of intoxicants, scripture reading, hard work, education, work for social justice and equality. | Writings of Bahá'u'lláh and other Bahá'í leaders | ReligionFacts section The Baha'i World
Bön | Indigenous religion of Tibet. | 100,000 | Nontheistic Buddhism, but meditation on peaceful and wrathful deities. | Purpose is to gain enlightenment. | Reincarnation until gain enlightenment | Meditation on mandalas and Tibetan deities, astrology, monastic life. | Bonpo canon | ReligionFacts article Tibet.com
Buddhism | Founded by Siddharta Gautama (the Buddha) in c. 520 BC, NE India. | 360 million | Varies: Theravada atheistic; Mahayana more polytheistic. Buddha taught nothing is permanent. | Purpose is to avoid suffering and gain enlightenment and release from cycle of rebirth, or at least attain a better rebirth by gaining merit. | Reincarnation (understood differently than in Hinduism, with no surviving soul) until gain enlightenment | Meditation, mantras, devotion to deities (in some sects), mandalas (Tibetan) | Tripitaka (Pali Canon); Mahayana sutras like the Lotus Sutra; others. | ReligionFacts section BuddhaNet
Religion/Sect/ Belief System | Origins & History | Adherents Worldwide (approx.) | God(s) and Universe | Human Situation and Life's Purpose | Afterlife | Practices | Texts | More Info
Cao Dai | Founded in 1926, Vietnam by Ngo Van Chieu and others based on a séance. | 4-6 million | God represented by Divine Eye. Founders of Buddhism, Taoism, Hinduism, Islam, and Christianity venerated, and saints including Victor Hugo. | Goal is peace and harmony in each person and in the world. Salvation by "cultivating self and finding God in self." | Reincarnation. Bad karma can lead to rebirth on a darker planet; good karma to better life on earth. Eventual attainment of nirvana or heaven. | Hierarchy similar to Roman Catholicism. Daily prayer. Meditation. Communication with spirit world (now outlawed in Vietnam). | Caodai canon | ReligionFacts article CaoDai.org
Chinese Religion | Indigenous folk religion of China. | 394 million | Dualistic yin and yang; mythological beings and folk deities. | Purpose is a favorable life and peaceful afterlife, attained through rituals and honoring of ancestors. | Judgment, then reincarnation or temporary hell until gain a Buddhist-type paradise. | Ancestor worship, prayer, longevity practices , divination, prophecy and astrology, feng shui. | None | ReligionFacts section Chinese Cultural Studies
Chopra Center | Founded by Deepak Chopra in 1991, California | unknown | monism - God or Supreme Reality pervades all things; all is unity | Humans have limitless potential, but do not recognize this. Health and success can be had by focusing on whole self (mind, body, spirit). | Reincarnation | Yoga, meditation, massage, nutrition, mindfulness, detox sessions, positive thinking. | Deepak Chopra's many books, such as the Seven Spiritual Laws of Success | ReligionFacts article Official Website
Christianity (Catholic, Protestant, Orthodox) | Founded by Jesus Christ in c. 30 AD, Israel. | 2 billion | One God who is a Trinity of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit | All have sinned and are thereby separated from God. Salvation is through faith in Christ and, for some, sacraments and good works. | Eternal heaven or hell (or temporary purgatory). | Prayer, Bible study, baptism, Eucharist, church on Sundays, numerous holidays. | The Holy Bible (Old and New Testaments) | ReligionFacts section Wikipedia BBC Religion
Christian Science | Founded by Mary Baker Eddy in 1879, Massachusetts. | 150,000 - 400,000 | One God. No Trinity (in traditional sense). Matter and evil do not exist. | Salvation is "Life, Truth, and Love understood and demonstrated as supreme over all; sin, sickness and death destroyed." | Heaven is "not a locality, but a divine state of Mind in which all the manifestations of Mind are harmonious and immortal." | Spiritual healing through prayer and knowledge, Sunday services, daily Bible and Science & Health reading. | Christian Bible, Science & Health with Key to the Scriptures | ReligionFacts article Official Website
Confucianism | Founded by Confucius (551–479 BC), China | 5-6 million | Not addressed | Purpose of life is to fulfill one's role in society with propriety, honor, and loyalty. | Not addressed | Honesty, politeness, propriety, humaneness, perform correct role in society, loyalty to family, nation | Analects | ReligionFacts article Wikipedia
Religion/Sect/ Belief System | Origins & History | Adherents Worldwide (approx.) | God(s) and Universe | Human Situation and Life's Purpose | Afterlife | Practices | Texts | More Info
Deism | Especially popularized in the 18th-cent. Enlightenment under Kant, Voltaire, Paine, Jefferson, and others | unknown | One Creator God who is uninterested in the world. Reason is basis for all knowledge. | Not addressed | Not addressed | None prescribed, although some deists practice prayer. | Thomas Paine's The Age of Reason and similar texts | World Union of Deists Wikipedia
Druze | Al-Darazi in 11th century, Cairo, Egypt. Roots in the Isma'iliyya sect of Shia Islam. | 500,000 | Universal Intelligence (al-Aql al-Kulli) or Divine Essence (akin to Neoplatonism), of which al-Hakim is believed to be an incarnation. | Live a good life for a favorable reincarnation. Await the re-appearance of al-Hakim (a Fatimid caliph who disappeared in 1021), who will usher in a Golden Age for true believers. | Reincarnation. Heaven is a spiritual existence when one has escaped reincarnation. Hell is distance from God in lifetime after lifetime. | Modest lifestyles, fasting before Eid al-Adha. Beliefs and practices are hidden for protection from persecution. Special group of initiates called uqqal. | Al-Naqd al-Khafi (Copy of the Secret); Al-Juz'al-Awwal (Essence of the First) | Wikipedia Lexicorient
Eckankar | John Paul Twitchell in 1965, Las Vegas. | 50-500,000 | The Divine Spirit, called "ECK" | "Each of us is Soul, a spark of God sent to this world to gain spiritual experience." Salvation is liberation and God-realization. | Reincarnation. The Soul is eternal by nature and on a spiritual journey. Liberation possible in a single lifetime. | Spiritual Exercises of ECK: mantras, meditation, and dreams. These enable Soul travel and spiritual growth. | Shariyat-Ki-Sugmad and books by Harold Klemp | ReligionFacts article Official Website
Epicureanism | Epicurus in c.300 BC, Athens. | unknown | A deistic sort of polytheism: the gods exist, but take no notice of humans. | Materialism: everything is made of atoms, including gods and the soul. | No afterlife. The soul dissolves when the body dies. | Pursue the highest pleasures (friendship and tranquility) and avoid pain. | Letters and Principal Doctrines of Epicurus | ReligionFacts article Epicurus.net
Falun Gong | Li Hongzhi in 1992 in China | 10 million | Countless gods and spiritual beings. Demonic aliens. | The Falun (wheel) is an energy source located in the navel. Goal is spritual transcendence, achieved by practicing Falun Gong. | Not addressed | Five exercises to strengthen the Falun. Cultivation of truthfulness, benevolence and forbearance. Meat eating discouraged. | Zhuan Falun and other writings by Master Li | ReligionFacts article Falundafa.org
Gnosticism | Various teachers including Valentinus, 1st-2nd cents. AD | ancient form extinct; small modern revival groups | The supreme God is unknowable; the creator god is evil and matter is evil. | Humans can return to the spiritual world through secret knowledge of the universe. | Return to the spiritual world. | Asceticism, celibacy | Gnostic scriptures including various Gospels and Acts attributed to apostles. | Wikipedia Gnosis.org
Greek Religion | Variety of religions of ancient Greeks | ancient form extinct | Olympic pantheon (Zeus, etc.) mixed with eastern deities like Isis and Cybele | Human life is subject to the whim of the gods and to Fate; these can be controlled through sacrifice and divination. | Beliefs varied from no afterlife to shadowy existence in the underworld to a paradise-like afterlife (mainly in mystery religions). | Animal sacrifice, harvest offerings, festivals, games, processions, dance, plays, in honor of the gods. Secret initiations and rituals in mystery religions. | Epic poems of Homer and Hesiod. | ReligionFacts section Wikipedia Ancient Greek Religion
Religion/Sect/ Belief System | Origins & History | Adherents Worldwide (approx.) | God(s) and Universe | Human Situation and Life's Purpose | Afterlife | Practices | Texts | More Info
Hare Krishna | Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, 1966, USA (with roots in 15th-century Hindu movement) | 250,000-1 million | Krishna is the Supreme God. | Salvation from this Age of Kali is by a return to Godhead, accomplished through Krishna-Consciousness. | Reincarnation until unite with the Godhead. | Chanting, dancing, evangelism, vegetarianism, temple worship, monastic-style living. | The Bhagavad-Gita As It Is | ReligionFacts article ISKCON.com Krishna.com
Hinduism | Indigenous religion of India as developed to present day. | 900 million | One Supreme Reality (Brahman) manifested in many gods and goddesses | Humans are in bondage to ignorance and illusion, but are able to escape. Purpose is to gain release from rebirth, or at least a better rebirth. | Reincarnation until gain enlightenment. | Yoga, meditation, worship (puja), devotion to a god or goddess, pilgrimage to holy cities, live according to one's dharma (purpose/ role). | The Vedas, Upanishads, Bhagavad Gita, Ramayana, etc. | ReligionFacts section BBC Religion
Islam | Muhammad, 622 AD, Saudi Arabia | 1.3 billion (Sunni: 940 million) | One God (Allah in Arabic) | Humans must submit (islam) to the will of God to gain Paradise after death. | Paradise or Hell. | Five Pillars: Faith, Prayer, Alms, Pilgrimage, Fasting. Mosque services on Fridays. Ablutions before prayer. No alcohol or pork. Holidays related to the pilgrimage and fast of Ramadan. | Qur'an (Scripture); Hadith (tradition) | ReligionFacts section BBC Religion IslamiCity
Jainism | Mahavira, c. 550 BC, eastern India | 4 million | The universe is eternal; many gods exist. Gods, humans and all living things are classified in a complex hierarchy. | The soul is uncreated and eternal and can attain perfect divinity. Purpose is to gain liberation from cycle of rebirth, by avoiding all bad karma, especially by causing no harm to any sentient being. | Reincarnation until liberation. | Monasticism under the Five Great Vows (Non-Violence, Truth, Celibacy, Non-Stealing, Non-Possessiveness); worship at temples and at home. Meditation and mantras. | The teachings of Mahavira in various collections. | ReligionFacts section BBC Religion Jainworld.com
Jehovah's Witnesses | Charles Taze Russell, 1879, Pittsburgh | 6.5 million | One God, Jehovah. No Trinity - Christ is the first creation of God; the Holy Spirit is a force. | Salvation is through faith in Christ and obeying Jehovah's laws. The End of the World is soon. | Heaven for 144,000 chosen Witnesses, eternity on new earth for other Witnesses. All others annihilated. No hell. | No blood transfusions, no celebration of holidays, no use of crosses or religious images. Baptism, Sunday service at Kingdom Hall, strong emphasis on evangelism. | New World Translation of the Scriptures | ReligionFacts section Official Website BBC Religion
Religion/Sect/ Belief System | Origins & History | Adherents Worldwide (approx.) | God(s) and Universe | Human Situation and Life's Purpose | Afterlife | Practices | Texts | More Info
Judaism | The religion of the Hebrews (c. 1300 BC), especially after the destruction of the Second Temple in 70 AD. | 14 million | One God, Yahweh. | Obey God's commandments, live ethically. Focus is more on this life than the next. | Not historically emphasized. Beliefs vary from no afterlife to shadowy existence to the World to Come (similar to heaven). | Circumcision at birth, bar/bat mitzvah at adulthood. Synagogue services on Saturdays. No pork or other non-kosher foods. Holidays related to historical events. | Bible (Tanakh), Talmud | ReligionFacts section Judaism 101 BBC Religion
Mayan Religion | c.250 AD (rise of the Mayan civilization) | Historically, up to 2 million. Some survival today. | Many gods, including Itzamná, Kukulcán, Bolon Tzacab, and Chac | Appease and nourish the gods; determine luckiest dates for various activities. | The soul journeys through dark and threatening underworld; but sacrificial victims and women who die in childbirth go to heaven. | Astronomy, divination, human sacrifice, elaborate burial for royalty, worship in stone pyramid-temples | Dresden, Madrid, and Paris codices; Books of Chilam Balam; Popol Vuh; The Ritual of the Bacabs | ReligionFacts article
Mormonism (LDS) | Joseph Smith, 1830, New York | 12.2 million | God the Father, the Son Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost are three separate individual beings | Humans existed as spirits before this life, salvation is returning to God. Salvation by faith in Christ, good works, ordinances, and evangelism. | All return to spirit world for period of instruction before resurrection. Mormons to heaven with God and families; others rewarded but not with God; hell for those who reject God after death. | Abstinence from alcohol, tobacco, coffee and tea; baptism for the dead; eternal marriage; temple garments under daily clothes; active evangelism. | Christian Bible, Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, and Pearl of Great Price | ReligionFacts section Official Website BBC Religion
New Age | Helena Petrovna Blavatsky and Annie Besant in the 19th C, Alice A. Bailey (1880-1949), flourished in 1970s and 80s | 5 million (very approximate) | The Divine is an impersonal life force that pervades all things | Dawning of a New Age of heightened consciousness and international peace. Individuals can obtain a foretaste of the New Age through spiritual transformation ("Ascension"). More emphasis on the latter now. Evil comes from ignorance. | Reincarnation based on karma | Astrology; mysticism; use of crystals; yoga; tarot readings; holistic medicine; psychic abilities; angelic communications; channeling; amulets; fortune-telling | Works of a variety of New Age writers | Beliefnet Religious Movements Homepage
New Thought | Phineas Parkhurst Quimby (1802-66) and others, late 19th century, USA. | 160,000 | Generally monism (all is One), but members might be theists, pantheists or panentheists. God is immanent; the universe is essentially spiritual. | Man is divine, essentially spirit, and has infinite possibility. Mind can control the body. Sin and sickness caused by incorrect thinking. Man can live in oneness with God in love, truth, peace, health, and prosperity. | "Life is eternal in the invisible kingdom of God." | Emphasis on spiritual and mental healing, but without rejection of modern medicine. Worship services; prayer for the sick; discussion of New Thought authors and ideas. | Writings of Quimby (such as the The Quimby Manuscripts) and other New Thought authors | ReligionFacts article International New Thought Alliance Religious Movements Homepage
Religion/Sect/ Belief System | Origins & History | Adherents Worldwide (approx.) | God(s) and Universe | Human Situation and Life's Purpose | Afterlife | Practices | Texts | More Info
Rastafari | Teachings of Marcus Garvey (1920s, Jamaica) and coronation of Haile Selassie (1930, Ethiopia) | 1 million | God is Jah, who became incarnate in Jesus (who was black) and Haile Selassie. | Humans are temples of Jah. Salvation is primarily in this world and consists of liberation from oppression and return to Africa. | Some Rastas will experience "everliving" (physical immortality). Heaven is a return to Eden, which is in Africa. | Many practices based on Jewish biblical Law. Abstinence from most or all meat, artificial foods, and alcohol. Use of marijuana in religious rituals and for medicine. Wearing of dreadlocks. | Holy Piby (the "Blackman's Bible). The Ethiopian epic Kebra Negast also revered. | ReligionFacts article The Afrocentric Experience Jamaicans.com
Scientology | L. Ron Hubbard, 1954, California | 70,000 or several million, depending on the source | God(s) not specified; reality explained in the Eight Dynamics | Human consists of body, mind and thetan; capable of great things. Gain spiritual freedom by ridding mind of engrams. | Reincarnation | Auditing, progressing up various levels until "clear". Focus on education and drug recovery programs. | Writings of Hubbard, such as Dianetics and Scientology | ReligionFacts section Official Website Beliefnet
Seventh-day Adventists | Rooted in Millerite movement; Ellen White was main leader; founded 1863 in New England | 10 million [source] | One God who is a Trinity of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit | Second Coming of Christ is imminent; salvation is by faith in Christ; emphasis on quality of life both now and in afterlife | A "peaceful pause" after death until the coming of Christ, then resurrection to judgment and eternity in heaven or hell | Sabbath observance on Saturdays; healthful lifestyle; baptism by immersion | Bible only; but later prophets like Ellen White are authoritative when tested against Scriptures | ReligionFacts article Official Website Beliefnet
Shinto | Indigenous religion of Japan. | 3-4 million | Polytheism based on the kami, ancient gods or spirits. | Humans are pure by nature and can keep away evil through purification rituals and attain good things by calling on the kami. | Death is bad and impure. Some humans become kami after death. | Worship and offerings to kami at shrines and at home. Purification rituals. | Important texts are Kojiki or 'Records of Ancient Matters' and Nihon-gi or 'Chronicles of Japan' | ReligionFacts article Wikipedia Japan Guide BBC Religion
Religion/Sect/ Belief System | Origins & History | Adherents Worldwide (approx.) | God(s) and Universe | Human Situation and Life's Purpose | Afterlife | Practices | Texts | More Info
Sikhism | Guru Nanak, c. 1500 AD, Punjab, India. | 23 million | One God (Ik Onkar, Nam) | Overcome the self, align life with will of God, and become a "saint soldier," fighting for good. | Reincarnation until resolve karma and merge with God. | Prayer and meditation on God's name, services at temple (gurdwara), turban and five Ks. Balance work, worship, and charity. No monasticism or asceticism. | Adi Granth (Sri Guru Granth Sahib) | ReligionFacts section Sikhs.org SikhNet.com
Stoicism | Zeno in c.313 BC, Athens. | unknown | Pantheism: the logos pervades the universe. | Purpose is happiness, achieved by virtue, i.e., living reasonably. | Possible continued existence of the Soul, but not a personal existence. | Ethical and philosophical training, self-reflection, careful judgment and inner calm. | Fragments of founders plus later writers like Seneca, Epictetus, Marcus Aurelius. | ReligionFacts article Encyclopedia of Philosophy
Taoism | Lao-Tzu, c. 550 BC, China. | 20 million (394 million adherents of Chinese religion) | Pantheism - the Tao pervades all. Yin-yang - opposites make up a unity. | Purpose is inner harmony, peace, and longevity. Acheived by living in accordance with the Tao. | Revert back to state of non-being, which is simply the other side of being. | General attitude of detachment and non-struggle, "go with the flow" of the Tao. Tai-chi, acupuncture, and alchemy to help longevity. | Tao Te Ching, Chuang-Tzu | ReligionFacts section Taopage.org Beliefnet
Unification Church | Sun Myung Moon, 1954, South Korea. | Over 1 million (3 million acc. to official sources) | Monotheism, with the duality of God (esp. masculine and feminine) emphasized. No Trinity doctrine. | Purpose is true love and world peace instead of selfish love. True love and the kingdom of God on earth will be restored by the creation of "true families." | Eternal life in a spirit world. | Blessing Ceremony | The Divine Principle (1954) by Rev. Moon. | ReligionFacts article Official website
Unitarian Universalism | Formal merger of Unitarians and Universalists in 1961, USA. | 800,000 | Not specified. Members might believe in one God, many gods, or no God. | Salvation is "spiritual health or wholeness." Members seek "inner and outer peace," insight, health, compassion and strength. | Not specified. Some believe in an afterlife, some do not. Very few believe in hell - "Universalism" indicates the belief that all will be saved. | Ceremonies for marriages, funerals, etc. Church services have elements from various religions. Emphasis on civil rights, social justice, equality and environment. Most UUs are anti-death penalty and pro-gay rights. | Many sacred texts are revered by various members; some none at all. The Bible is the most commonly used text. | ReligionFacts article UUA.org
Wicca | Based on ancient pagan beliefs, but modern form founded early 1900s. Founder generally said to be Gerald Gardner. | 1-3 million | Polytheism, centered on the Goddess and God, each in various forms; also a belief in a Supreme Being over all | "If it harms none, do what you will." | Reincarnation until reach the Summerland | Prayer, casting a circle, Drawing Down the Moon, reciting spells, dancing, singing, sharing cakes and wine or beer | No sacred text; foundational texts include The Witch Cult in Western Europe and The God of the Witches | ReligionFacts article Wicca.org Wikipedia
Zoroastrianism | Zoroaster in c.6th cent. BC, Persia. Official religion of ancient Persia. May have influenced Judaism and Vedic religion. | c. 200,000 | One God, Ahura Mazda, but a dualistic worldview in which an evil spirit, Angra Mainyu, is almost as powerful. | Humans are free to do good or evil, must choose the side of good. | Judgement followed by heaven or hell. Hell is temporary until final purgation and return to Ahura Mazda. | Good deeds, charity, equality, hard work. | Zend Avesta | ReligionFacts article BBC Religion WZO
Religion/Sect/ Belief System | Origins & History | Adherents Worldwide (approx.) | God(s) and Universe | Human Situation and Life's Purpose | Afterlife | Practices | Texts | More Info