Judaism
The religion of Judaism is strictly monotheistic, and it's an ethnic and religious group descended from the people who bet on virtual sport of Israel and Judah. It traces its origins back to the Middle East in the 500s BCE. Certain beliefs and traditions can be traced back even further, as the Hebrew calendar indicates that the religion started in 3761 BCE.
Throughout history, Jews have been persecuted by religious groups. The Roman Empire ruined the Second Temple, which was the central component of Judaism. Through the years, the group has been the target of discrimination and violence. Despite this, religion still remains one of the most prevalent and visible of all religions worldwide.
Christianity
The main component of Christianity is centered on the personhood of Jesus, also known as Jesus Christ. It emerged during the 30s to the 50s CE as an offshoot of Judaism, following the teachings of Jesus. During its early years, it rejected various aspects of Judaism.
A recognizable church was established within a hundred years. The most significant creeds and texts of the faith were codified during the 300s CE, making Christianity the official religion of the Roman Empire. It's also the largest religion in the world by far.
Islam
In 607, in present-day Saudi Arabia, the prophet Muhammad established Islam as a monotheistic religion. His teachings are known to have similarities with Christian and Jewish beliefs. During his time in Mecca, he preached monotheism despite the opposition of local polytheists.
The Muslim community relocated to Medina in 622, and throughout the Arabian Peninsula, they codified and expanded their activities. Following the death of Muhammad in 632, most of Arabia converted to Islam. Over the years, it has become the second-largest religion in the world, mainly concentrated in Southeast Asia and the Middle East.
Zoroastrianism
One of the oldest monotheistic religions in the world is Zoroastrianism, which was founded by Zoroaster, the Persian prophet. It's believed that the religion was first established around the 900s BCE. Widespread Zoroastrianism became a dominant force in Persia, and it continued to be an important part of the region until the rise of Islam during the 700s.
Proponents of various religions attribute the growth of these sects to the influence of Zoroastrianism. The number of Zoroastrians has significantly declined throughout the Medieval era, and today, there are only around 200,000 individuals remaining.
Shinto
The religion of Japan known as Shinto includes various customs and beliefs from various parts of the country. Although these traditions were already in existence during the 800s CE, they are not considered to be an organized religion.
Only around 4% of Japan's population follows Shinto. This figure is due to the number of people who are members of various groups that promote this religion. However, over 80% of the country's residents still practice Shinto.
Hinduism
The oldest known religion in the world is Hinduism, which dates back to the 1500s BCE. It's a synthesis of various Indian traditions, and it has no founder. During its history, it was constantly in competition with Buddhism and Jainism, eventually seeing a huge resurgence following the medieval period.
Since it was first established in the Indian subcontinent, Hinduism has grown to become one of the most dominant religions in the world. It's estimated that there are over 1.12 billion people practicing this religion. In addition to this, there are also over a million practitioners in Nepal and India.
Buddhism
The religious tradition known as Buddhism was founded by the Buddha in the 400s BCE, and it draws from various traditions that are related to Hinduism. During its history, it has been involved in religious dialogues with other groups such as Jains and Hindus. It eventually saw a resurgence following the medieval period, and it received support from various powerful individuals.
East Asia has witnessed the growth and development of Buddhism, which has greatly impacted the region's cultural landscape. Today, it is regarded as one of the most prevalent religions in the world, with over 200 million practitioners.
Jainism
India's ancient Jainism is regarded as an ancient religion that's at least as old as Hinduism. It's believed that Buddhism is a Classical version of the Vedic tradition, and Jainism was in regular communication with India's various others religions. Like Buddhism, it was supported by powerful sponsors.
Unlike Buddhism, Jainism did not spread outside of India. Today, around four million people practice this religion in the country. The Jain community is very prominent due to the high literacy rates and Mohandas Gandhi's support for the religion.
Sikhism
The religion known as Sikhism was first established during the 1500s CE in Northern India, by the founder of the religion, Guru Nanak. He was a Hindu who became a proponent of his own religion after rejecting the dominant faiths. A community around him developed, and over the next two centuries, multiple gurus would be added to the group.
The last living guru of the Sikhs was named Guru Granth Sahib. Since this community is a religious minority, there has been no single leader. During the 1800s, the Sikhs seized control of Northern India and established a major empire. By some definitions, this religion is regarded as the fifth largest in the world.
