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Overview of World Religions

Sep 2, 2025

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Overview

This lecture presents an overview of the major world religions, their histories, key beliefs, denominations, and how they developed and interacted. It covers Christianity, Judaism, Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam, Chinese religions, and select modern movements.

World Religion Overview

  • The four largest religions are Christianity (~2.4B), Islam (~1.8B), Hinduism (~1.2B), and Buddhism (~500M).
  • Judaism is included as a major world religion due to its historical influence, not size (~16M).
  • Chinese folk/syncretic religion is significant in numbers.
  • Religious "denominations" often mean distinct branches or subgroups, but the term fits best in Christian contexts.

Ancient and Prehistoric Religions

  • Prehistoric religious sites like Göbekli Tepe predate written traditions.
  • Ancient Egyptian, Mesopotamian, Proto-Indo-European, and Indus Valley religions influenced modern faiths.
  • Judaism and Hinduism both trace roots to early regional and Indo-European beliefs.

Hinduism

  • Hinduism is a complex cluster of religious traditions, called a dharma (cosmic law/order).
  • It features many gods, with Brahma (creator), Vishnu (preserver), and Shiva (destroyer) as the "trimurti" or Hindu trinity.
  • Hindu scriptures: Shruti ("heard", includes the four Vedas) and Smriti ("remembered", includes Mahabharata, Bhagavad Gita, Ramayana, and Puranas).
  • Major denominations: Vaishnavism (Vishnu), Shaivism (Shiva), Shaktism (Shakti/Parvati), Smartism (five deities).
  • Hindu philosophies: Astika schools (accept Vedas: Yoga, Mimamsa, Vedanta, etc.) and Nastika schools (reject Vedas: Buddhism, Jainism).
  • Goal: moksha (liberation from rebirth) via paths like karma (action), bhakti (devotion), jnana (knowledge), and raja (meditation) yoga.

Buddhism

  • Founded by Siddhartha Gautama (the Buddha) in 5th century BCE.
  • Core teachings: Four Noble Truths and Eightfold Path.
  • Oldest scriptures: Pali Canon (Tripitaka—Vinaya, Sutta, Abhidhamma).
  • Major types: Theravada (focus on arhat path) and Mahayana (focus on bodhisattva path, additional Mahayana Sutras).
  • East Asian Buddhism includes Chan/Zen, Pure Land, and Tientai/Tendai.
  • Tibetan Buddhism (Vajrayana) is esoteric and led by figures like the Dalai Lama.
  • Jainism, a related but separate faith, emphasizes non-violence and has Svetambara (white-clad) and Digambara (sky-clad) branches.

Chinese Religions

  • Ancient Chinese polytheism centers on Shangdi and later the Jade Emperor.
  • Three Teachings: Mahayana Buddhism, Taoism (based on the Tao, yin-yang), and Confucianism (practical, ethical, founded by Confucius).
  • Modern movements: Salvationist religions like Yiguandao, new traditions such as Falun Gong.

Judaism

  • Originates from ancient Israelite religion, becoming monotheistic after Babylonian exile.
  • Second Temple Judaism (537 BCE–70 CE) produced sects: Pharisees (rabbinic ancestors), Sadducees, Essenes, Zealots, and early Christians.
  • Rabbinic Judaism centers on Torah, Mishnah, and Talmud.
  • Regional groups: Ashkenazi (Europe), Sephardi (Spain/Mediterranean), Mizrahi (Middle East).
  • Modern branches: Orthodox (law binding/unchanging), Conservative (law binding but evolving), Reform (law optional), plus Reconstructionist and Renewal.
  • Israeli Jews are categorized by observance: secular, traditional, religious, ultra-Orthodox (Haredi).

Islam

  • Islam's core is the Qur'an, revealed to Muhammad (610–632 CE); also follows Sunnah (prophet's deeds and sayings).
  • Two main branches: Sunnism (~90%, four main schools of jurisprudence: Hanafi, Maliki, Shafi'i, Hanbali) and Shi'ism (~9%, with Twelvers, Ismailis, Zaidis).
  • Key divisions arose over succession (Caliph vs. Imam).
  • Sunni schools further divided by theological approach (Athari/traditional, Mu'tazilite/rationalist, Ashari/Maturidi/intermediate).
  • Shia Imams are considered divinely guided; Sunnis view religious scholars as fallible authorities.
  • Sufism: mystical tradition crossing Sunni-Shia lines.
  • Other groups: Kharijites (now almost extinct except for Ibadis), Ahmadis (disputed Muslimhood), Nation of Islam (distinct movement in the US).

Key Terms & Definitions

  • Syncretism — blending of different religious beliefs.
  • Trimurti — Hindu trinity: Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva.
  • Shruti/Smriti — Hindu scriptures: "heard"/"remembered".
  • Moksha — liberation from cycle of rebirth (Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism).
  • Tripitaka — Buddhist scriptures: Vinaya, Sutta/Sutra, Abhidhamma.
  • Halacha — Jewish law governing daily life.
  • Madhhab — school of Islamic jurisprudence (Sunni legal schools).
  • Sunnah — Prophet Muhammad's practices/sayings in Islam.
  • Imam — religious leader, in Shia Islam considered infallible.
  • Caliph — political/religious successor to Muhammad (Sunni Islam).

Action Items / Next Steps

  • Review the family tree poster and infographics on world religions.
  • Optional: Watch linked videos for deeper dives on specific branches or histories.
  • Read primary scripture excerpts (e.g., Dhammapada, Torah, Quran) for key concepts.
  • Prepare questions on denominations for class discussion.

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